US Patent & Trademark Office, 3/30/16; Honoring Women in Public Service and Government

Blog by Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Michelle K. Lee, US Patent & Trademark Office; Honoring Women in Public Service and Government:

"When I reflect on this year’s women’s history month theme, “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government,” I am inspired by the women here at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) who have made vital contributions to public service, intellectual property, invention, and innovation. These are women such as Marilyn Ricks-Beach, who we have highlighted in our Women’s History month video, and who exemplifies dedication to federal service, having worked at the USPTO since 1980. You can read more about the USPTO’s women employees on the All in STEM page of the USPTO website, which is part of the USPTO’s broader campaign to encourage more women and girls to go in to STEM fields and stay in them.

Recently, I’ve had the honor of swearing in three outstanding women as regional office directors: Christal Sheppard, Director of the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional Office in Detroit; Hope Shimabuku, Director of our Texas Regional Office in Dallas; and Molly Kocialski, Director of the Rocky Mountain Regional Office in Denver. In addition to embodying the spirit of thme of this year’s Women’s History Month—public service—Christal, Hope, and Molly are trailblazers who have set high standards for excellence and achievement throughout this agency. They take their places as part of an executive team that is 41 percent female, which as compared to the national rate of women executives at 15 percent, shows the progress we are making at the agency of encouraging inclusive practices."