Since 1997, the Madden Institute has brought to Le Moyne College speakers and programs that illuminate the forces, trends, and issues that are transforming the world of business.
With a renewed emphasis on service learning and community outreach, Le Moyne continues to engage students with entrepreneurial challenges that extend beyond the classroom. The Madden Institute for Business Education is a vital component of Le Moyne's commitment to strengthen the business environment within Syracuse and beyond by providing unique and comprehensive programs that enhance the professional development of students, alumni, and practitioners.
For more information about the Madden Institute, please contact Dr. George Kulick, Director of the Madden Institute, at (315) 445-4786 or MaddenInst@lemoyne.edu
Madden Lecture Series
The Madden Institute for Business Education has a long history of bringing influential business leaders to the Le Moyne College campus to discuss the issues and trends that are shaping the business climate. The Madden Institute prides itself in presenting a diversity of speakers that highlight business concerns that appeal to students, faculty, and the public-at-large.
Fall 2012 Madden Lecture: "Leadership Strategies for a 21st Century Patent Office"
Margaret A. Focarino, commissioner for patents for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (U.S.P.T.O.), will deliver the Madden Lecture at Le Moyne College on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. Her talk is titled “Leadership Strategies for a 21st Century Patent Office” and will take place in Grewen Auditorium.
Patent protection is critical to the economic vitality of global markets. Innovation protected by strong intellectual property rights is one key pillar to the creation of jobs, businesses and investments. Inventors, applicants and investors all look towards the global patenting system for stability and consistency. Focarino will discuss leadership strategies that are creating a high quality and productive 21st Century Patent and Trademark Office.
Prior to being named commissioner in January 2012, Focarino served as deputy commissioner, providing administrative oversight to nine patent technology centers and coordinating patent application studies and re-issues of patents. Focarino began her career with the U.S.P.T.O. in 1977 as a patent examiner. She became a supervisory patent examiner in 1989 and was promoted to senior executive service in 1997.
Well respected by her colleagues, Focarino was honored with the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award in 1993 for her work as a supervisory patent examiner and with the Department of Commerce Silver Medal for Leadership in 2010 for leading a joint task force that developed and implemented the first significant changes to the patent examiner work credit system in more than 30 years.
Focarino earned her undergraduate degree in physics from the State University of New York at Oswego and a Certificate in Advanced Public Management from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
The lecture is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Madden Institute for Business Education. For more information, call (315) 445-4786.
Past Madden Lecture Videos
Fall 2012 Madden Lecture: "Leadership Strategies for a 21st Century Patent Office"
Spring 2012 Madden Lecture: "Celtic Tiger Redux"
More videos from past lectures are available at the Madden Lectures page.