In This Issue Return to LES Home Are You an Experienced Licensing Professional? Become a CLP President's Message: Global Excellence In Licensing And Acquisition Through Certification Foundation Focus Grad Student Business Plan Competition Goes Global Ted Cross Receives The 2007 Frank Barnes Mentor Award 2007 Annual Survey Of The Licensing Industry Mark Your Calendars For Foundation Day 2008 LES Foundation Board President Retires What the Heck is Mentoring? Annual Meeting Recap Vancouver Local Chapter Plays Key Role In Meeting 2007 Deals of Distinction Awarded At Annual Meeting: Consumer Products Chemicals, Energy and Materials High Technology Healthcare Industry/University & Government Laboratories (IUGT) About the LES Deals of Distinction Awards Program Traveler’s Guide: The Local Chapters Calgary Ottawa Toronto LES 2008 Spring Meeting & LESI Conference: Licensing Without Borders LES Calendar of Events		Foundation Focus News from The Licensing Executives Society Foundation By Lydia Steck Grad Student Business Plan Competition Goes Global The LES Foundation’s Graduate Business Plan Competition has gone global! Students from the U.S., Canada and around the world are invited to submit business plans that contain core IP components. This year, five teams will be selected to present their plans in the international finals held at the LES Spring Meeting and International Conference in Chicago, May 4-7. These finalists will receive not only an all-expenses paid trip to the conference and cash and in-kind awards, but also world-class mentoring and feedback from LES industry experts and valuable networking opportunities. Past finalists report that while the cash prizes are helpful, attending the conference is the "real gold mine." How about recruiting a team from your local university or alma mater? Or, maybe you’re interested in participating as a judge or university mentor? If so, please contact Linda Chao at bplan@lesfoundation.org. Upcoming 2008 Graduate Student Business Plan Competition deadlines: March 1: All submissions due. April 4: Five teams selected to attend the 2008 LES Spring Meeting and International Conference in Chicago. May 4-7: Final round, award presentation and workshop in Chicago. Ted Cross Receives The 2007 Frank Barnes Mentor Award The LES Foundation awarded E.B. (Ted ) Cross The Frank Barnes Mentor Award during the Annual Meeting in Vancouver. Now in its 7th year, the Award was established by a group of LES members to memorialize former Abbott executive Frank Barnes’ vast contributions to the field of licensing through mentorship. An award of $500 is given annually to an LES member who, like Mr. Barnes, has devoted considerable time throughout their career to mentoring licensing executives. Ted Cross (right) accepts The Frank Barnes Mentor Award from Bill Mattson. "Ted’s years of service and guidance to LES members throughout Canada and the U.S. have distinguished him among his peers and colleagues. His commitment to sustaining excellence in the licensing profession embodies the spirit and purpose of this award," said Ada Nielsen LES (USA & Canada) and LES Foundation Board member, who nominated Mr. Cross. In addition to the many professionals who have benefited from his leadership, Mr. Cross has ignited interest in the field of licensing among the numerous students he has recruited to participate in the annual LES Foundation Graduate Student Business Plan Competition. In fact, his team from the University of Waterloo won in 2004. Upon receiving his award, Mr. Cross expressed the importance of mentors in his life, including his wife of 42 years, Helen, and his esteemed professional mentor, LES Past President John Woodley. 2007 Annual Survey Of The Licensing Industry Results from the 4th Annual Survey of Licensing were presented at a miniplenary session during the LES Annual Meeting in Vancouver. If you missed that informative session, look for the results in the December 2007 issue of les Nouvelles and at www.lesfoundation.org. The LES Foundation survey is unique in that it is the only survey in existence that compiles information on the field of licensing from across all industry sectors. Our 2008 survey will begin in January. Please be on the lookout for the e-mailed survey and take a minute to share your valuable input with us. Mark Your Calendars For Foundation Day 2008 The LES Foundation and The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation of The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University will hold Entrepreneurship and Innovation Commercialization: The Business of IP and Technology and Licensing in cooperation with The Council for Entrepreneurial Development on February 19th and 20th in Durham, North Carolina. The goal of the day will be to stimulate those seeking to embark on the entrepreneurial and innovation path to embrace ethical and rational business strategies that position them for success. The event will also provide insight into successful business practices as they relate to utilization and management of IP by panelists expert in the issues currently in play as well as successful licensing strategies. We are hopeful that the event will facilitate personal interactions between Duke students and academic, legal and corporate leaders dealing with IP protection, licensing and business strategy. Check the LES Foundation site for more information. LES Foundation Board President Retires After three years as President of the LES Foundation, Dr. Richard Razgaitis retired from the Board in Vancouver passing the reins to Arthur Rose, partner at Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP, in Irvine, California. Mr. Rose has served on the LES (USA & Canada) Board and as Secretary of the Foundation. During his tenure, Dr. Razgaitis provided strong and steady leadership. "Raz had the uncanny ability to incorporate humor and levity in his insightful comments and explanations of important Foundation initiatives," said Foundation Treasurer, Ted Cross. "Those special messages will be missed by all who participated." Also in Vancouver, the LES (USA & Canada) Board approved two additional seats for the Foundation Board, which will be filled by Linda Chao, Senior Associate, Office of Technology Licensing at Stanford University and Peter Ross, Legal Manager, University of Western Ontario. The LES Past President’s seat on the Foundation Board will pass from Dwight Olson to Allen Baum.
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