What advice would you give your younger self who is just starting out in the industry? 
Get active in professional organizations. Working at a lab bench and fighting fires day in and day out can make a person myopic and can lead to burnout. But getting involved in SCC and ACS and other organizations can broaden your perspective. Find a mentor in your field who can help you along, and then after you have been around awhile, give back by mentoring newer members.

What is the favorite part of your job?

One thing that I love about being a patent attorney is working with inventors on patent applications. Cosmetic chemists are very creative people! They are dynamic problem-solvers, and it is amazing how they are able to work within the constraints of economic, regulatory, and environmental mandates to develop new products that are not only effective, but also aesthetically pleasing.

What has been your most recent professional accomplishment?

My most rewarding professional accomplishment has been as coordinator of the Project SEED program for the Akron Section of the American Chemical Society for the past six years. I place economically disadvantaged high school students with professional chemists, who mentor them for the 10 week summer program. My favorite part of the program is the poster session at the end of the summer, when the students present the results of their research projects.

How has membership in the SCC been of value to you?

Attending SCC meetings gives me the opportunity to meet many interesting people, and what I learn from the speakers helps me to write better patents. Through my contacts in SCC, I have found experts to assist me with technical aspects of infringement and patent invalidity opinions.

What is a fun fact about yourself, outside of the SCC and your professional life?

A fun fact about me is that I am named after the metric system: the two most adorable boys in the world call me “Gram.”