Melody was most recently Trademark Counsel for Exxon Mobil Corporation, managing globally famous brands and coordinating the activation of a Brand Protection team with representative stakeholders from all aspects of the business to combat counterfeit products.  Melody assisted with the review of trademark-related issues in a number of significant acquisition and divestiture projects while at the company, as well as advising on issues related to product packaging, distributor brand use, and licensing.  Prior to her position at Exxon Mobil Corporation, Melody was the first Trademark Counsel at Motorola, Inc., strategically consolidating a fractured trademark portfolio and successfully obtaining registration of the FLIP PHONE trademark.

Melody was awarded Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music Performance from SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music and New England Conservatory, respectively, and holds a J.D. cum laude from Northern Illinois University College of Law.  Prior to entering practice in the trademark area, Melody served as Law Clerk for the City of DeKalb, Illinois, obtaining experience in annexation and condemnation issues, criminal law and serving as a Rule 711 Prosecutor in Municipal Court.

Melody is licensed to practice in the State of Texas.  Melody has been an active member of the International Trademark Association ("INTA"), including serving as Subcommittee Chair for the U.S. Subcommittee of the Anti-Counterfeiting Committee, Committee Chair for the Online Resources Committee, and Co-Chair of the Brand Value Task Force, overseeing the publication of that task force report in late 2019.  She currently serves as a Committee Member on the Commercialization of Brands Committee as well as participating in the IP Accounting & Brand Valuation Standards Project Team, and recently completed a three-year term on the Board of Directors of INTA.

Melody has been selected by the World Trademark Review WTR 300: The World's Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals, as well as a Managing Intellectual Property Corporate IP Star for a number of years.

EDUCATION

• Northern Illinois University College of Law – J.D. cum laude
• New England Conservatory -- Master of Music (Clarinet Performance)
• State University of New York at Potsdam -- Bachelor of Music cum laude

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Bar of State of Texas, September 2001

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS

• International Trademark Association (INTA)

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS

• 2020 World Trademark Review WTR 300:  The World's Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals
• 2019 Managing Intellectual Property Corporate IP Star
• 2018 Managing Intellectual Property Corporate IP Star
• 2018 World Trademark Review WTR 300: The World's Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals

PUBLIC SPEAKING APPEARANCES

• "Unreal" Program Teacher for 2 day session on anti-counterfeiting at R.L. Turner High School, Carrollton, Texas
• Speaker at Roundtable on Counterfeit Goods held by Rep. Ted Poe, 2nd District, Texas, at Port of Houston, Texas
• INTA Annual Meeting Session “Trademark Legal Research Using INTA Online Resources”
• INTA Annual Meeting Session “Maximizing Brand Value: Top Tax Strategies for Brand Owners”
• USPTO China Road Show Session, Houston, TX “Trademark Protection and Enforcement in China”
• INTA Leadership Meeting Session “Dealing with the Dilemma: Clearing, Protecting and Enforcing Descriptive and Highly Suggestive Marks”
• INTA Annual Meeting Table Topic “Conducting a Corporate Trademark Audit”

OTHER

• Volunteer at Stonebridge Church Food Pantry
• Past President Riverchase Owner’s Association