SEMINAR: Researching Patent and Trademark Information

Dr. O’Neal currently serves as the Associate Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UCF, Executive Director of the UCF Business Incubation Program (UCFBIP), Executive Director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute (GrowFL), and the Executive Director of I-Corps at UCF, Florida’s first I-Corps site.

His pioneering work in business incubation and entrepreneurial ecosystems has helped build Central Florida’s innovation-based economy, which in turn has become an internationally-recognized model for economic development being used across the globe today.

Dr. O’Neal’s international recognition as an expert in research, engineering, technology transfer, business incubation, and economic development has led to presentations and instructional engagements on five continents. He has presented or taught at 18 international conferences, 35 national conferences, and 178 conferences throughout the State of Florida. His expertise has resulted in requests for consultations from government, academic and private industry leadership across international and national levels. He has been engaged by 20 international organizations and 13 national organizations, and helped them create entrepreneurial ecosystems to advance their community’s economic prosperity.

Dr. O’Neal currently serves on multiple international and local boards that advocate for research, commercialization, and entrepreneurism. These include the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), the National Entrepreneur Center (NEC), Florida Business Incubation Association (FBIA), The Corridor (formerly the Florida High Tech Corridor Council), and FireSpring Fund, and the Florida Research Consortium, among many others.

Lois Perry is Chapter Chair for the Orlando chapter of SCORE, a non-profit, volunteer organization that provides mentors to small businesses. Prior, Lois was Vice President of Advertising for CEC Entertainment, Inc. in the Dallas, TX area. During her 30 year tenure with the company, she focused on building the brand Chuck E. Cheese's and its character. An advertising expert, she led the marketing team & its 10 plus agencies. Sales growth, operational excellence, team building and development of leadership and people are areas of expertise. She also served as a franchise expert for the company. Her passion is consumer trends and their impact on businesses.  

Stefan Price is the owner and Creative Director for Roundtable Productions, LLC.  He has over two decades of professional experience in the entertainment industry working in Special Effects and Art Department.  Specializing in fabrication of mechanical elements, props, sets, scenic elements, and FX for the film and entertainment industry, and the theme and amusement park industry.  Stefan works as an Art Director and Project Manager, and specialty fabricator for large to small fabrication projects for the themed attractions industry, with a special focus on work for Disney and Universal.

Stefan's focus as a professional maker is to incorporate a synthesis of traditional techniques with new technology to create better outcomes.  He has extensive experience with molding and casting as well as digital fabrication methods, including 3D Printing, Laser cutting, and CNC fabrication.  He is an active member of the Maker Movement and contributing exhibitor to Maker Faire Orlando.  His focus as a maker on a personal level is to advance the level of STEM/STEAM education and evangelize an awareness of the opportunities available due to the greater access and availability of technology, both equipment and software, that is vastly changing the landscape of jobs, manufacturing, and entrepreneurial possibilities.  This has lead him to co-found Makers Hollow, a retooling of his 30,000 sqft facility into a professional Maker Space focused on creating opportunities, education, and engagement with the arts, technology, and the maker movement.

Stefan has earned Bachelors degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Theater from the University of Central Florida.  He is proud to have served in the Florida Army National Guard as a Machinist and having earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

Antonio G. Tapia, Esq. is a registered patent attorney who has built a successful practice in the highly specialized field of intellectual property law. His firm, AGT Law, P.A. – The Venture & Intellectual Property Law Firm – is a full-service intellectual property firm offering patent, trademark, and copyright services to a diverse range of clients, including venture investors, published authors, actors, small businesses, start-ups, and franchises. His firm is a proud legal partner with the University of Central Florida Business Incubator Program. AGT Law, P.A. is a well-established and highly-regarded firm including of-counsel attorney relationships with large multi-state firms. Tapia has tried cases in state and county courts, and resolved matters in federal courts.

Tapia serves as an adjunct professor at the Burnett Honors College at UCF, and has taught for Florida A&M College of Law, ABA approved paralegal studies program at Seminole State College, the Florida Supreme Court Justice Teaching Program, the Florida Bar Entertainment, Art and Sports Law Section, as well as other colleges and learning institutions.

Additionally, Tapia is a member of MENSA, is the recipient of the Avvo Legal Services Marketplace Clients’ Choice Award (2014), and has been recognized for 10 years of service by Martindale Hubble (2016).  He is member of the Florida Bar and the District of Columbia Bar, and is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Middle District and Southern Districts of Florida.

Tapia is a graduate of Emory University School of Law and completed his undergraduate studies in Biology and Psychology, with honors, at the University of Central Florida.