Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Timeline
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Frances Winkler

Frances Winkler

San Antonio,TX

Summary

Innovative technology professional with extensive experience in enhancing systems and aligning technical solutions with business objectives. Proven success in leading projects from inception to completion, significantly contributing to organizational growth. Expertise in scaling innovation groups and community programs, along with a strong ability to engage and motivate expert teams. Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills facilitate effective collaboration across all organizational levels, driving measurable outcomes in complex, matrixed environments.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience

Work History

Manager, IP Operations

Pure Storage Inc.
02.2022 - Current
  • Expanded standard patent program to encompass an innovation for all initiative.
  • Implemented multi-level access strategy, resulting in 75% year-over-year increase in new innovator participation.
  • Led Patent and Innovation Program Operations, managing $7M+ operating budget, patent spend forecasting
  • Manage outside counsel teams and tech stack vendor relations, including collaborative operational standards across firms
  • Maximize operational excellence through continuous monitoring, review and evaluation
  • Managed full tech stack for patent legal tools including IPFolio, MaxIDS, Innography, IPAN, and SimpleLegal
  • System administrator for Salesforce and CRM systems
  • Received the Pure Storage Equality Award for work with Berkley sponsored research collaboration relating to new program focused on participation of underrepresented groups, global cross-collaborations, and diversity of inventorship

Business Systems Analyst

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
12.2016 - 08.2021
  • Led process improvement initiatives to enhance paralegal and departmental workflows.
  • Collaborated with diverse business teams and project groups to develop an internal knowledge management site using Microsoft SharePoint
  • Devised and recommended a company-wide Virtual Patent Marking (VPM) program in conjunction with a patent-to-product (P2P) mapping initiative creating an automated VPM and P2P management module at no cost within the existing IP management system
  • Designed spend and metrics dashboards to assist IP leadership and corporate finance teams in tracking and adjusting budgets during annual planning
  • Customized and configured global IP database (FoundationIP) and handled workflow management
  • Directed cross-functional collaboration among licensing, product, and contracts teams to incorporate data into IP records

Sr. Paralegal

Life Technologies (acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific)
03.2010 - 12.2016
  • Advanced intellectual property administrative prosecution for multiple practitioners, including managing stakeholder and outside counsel communications
  • Database administrator managing ≈90K records for data and docketing integrity, workflow processes, M&A portfolio integrations
  • Prosecution budget process and tracking and vendor relationship management for IP related invoices

Education

Some College (No Degree) - Communications, Public Relations

Our Lady of The Lake University
San Antonio, TX

Paralegal Certification -

University of Texas At San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
01.2000

Skills

    I have been honored to share my vision, voice, learnings in the field of intellectual property, innovation programs, gratitude, and creativity in publications and presentations as follows:

    Moderator

    IP Counsel Cafe-Adapt Session - Mountain View, Ca

    May 2025

    Presenter

    ABSL Czech Edge Conference - Prague, CZ

    Creativity In Innovation Pitch & Session

    Nov 2024

    Panel Presenter

    Innovation Diversity Pilots Program - Atlanta, Ga

    Emory University

    Sep 2024

    Panel Presenter

    IP Counsel Café - San Jose, Ca

    Engaging Inventors/Getting Buy-in

    May 2023

    Panel Presenter

    US Patent Office - Washington, DC

    Gaining management buy-in for innovation programs and diversity in inventorship

    Apr 2023

    Add IAM & Managing IP Publications

Timeline

Manager, IP Operations

Pure Storage Inc.
02.2022 - Current

Business Systems Analyst

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
12.2016 - 08.2021

Sr. Paralegal

Life Technologies (acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific)
03.2010 - 12.2016

Some College (No Degree) - Communications, Public Relations

Our Lady of The Lake University

Paralegal Certification -

University of Texas At San Antonio

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