Name, Image, Likeness tips and strategies all student-athletes should know

Derrick Brent is the Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As the Acting Director, he manages a wide portfolio of programs and operations for one of the largest intellectual property (IP) offices in the world, with more than 14,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $4 billion. His responsibilities include leading the USPTO; advancing IP policy and procedures for the benefit of the country; expanding the USPTO’s outreach efforts to incentivize and support more innovation and entrepreneurship nationwide; and executing the agency’s policies, priorities, and programs. 

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Julia Murphy is a seasoned political staffer with experience in state and federal government, campaigns, community organizing, and political operations. She serves as an Advisor for Strategic Initiatives at the U.S. Department of Commerce, directly supporting Deputy Secretary Don Graves and advancing the Department's mission to create conditions for sustainable growth and global competitiveness.

In her role, Julia manages office operations, executes long-term project planning, drives alignment among 13 bureaus, and supports strategic engagement with internal and external stakeholders. Her portfolio includes private sector and legislative engagement, interagency communication, national security, and domestic economic development.

Previously, Julia served as Chief of Staff to Massachusetts State Representative Smitty Pignatelli, where she was the Representative's top strategist for policy decisions, legislative initiatives, media outreach, and constituent relations. She has a proven track record of crafting and executing strategic communications plans for political campaigns to engage diverse audiences, most notably on the Biden Presidential and Ed Markey for U.S. Senate campaigns in 2020.

Born and raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Julia holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina and a B.A. in Political Science from Providence College. She was a member of the Division 1 varsity softball team at Providence—captaining the team her senior year—and was honored with multiple awards recognizing outstanding performance in athletics, academics, and leadership, including being nominated as Providence’s 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year. Julia served as the President of Providence’s Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) where she championed initiatives focused on civic engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and mental health awareness. 

Shawn Springs is the CEO and founder of Windpact, an impact protection technology in Northern Virginia, and Innate Technologies, a software company in Bethesda, Maryland. His companies innovate in the realm of manufacturing technology, enabling advanced product development across various industries.

Shawn’s entrepreneurial spirit is fueled by his 13 seasons in the NFL, where he was drafted third overall in the 1997 draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He played for the Seahawks, Washington Commanders (formerly Redskins), and New England Patriots, earning his first Hall of Fame nomination in 2015.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from The Ohio State University, where he excelled both academically and athletically, being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 1996 and later inducted into the university’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.

As a vocal advocate for sports safety, Shawn delivered a TEDx talk titled “Tackling Helmet Protection Head On” and has pledged to donate his brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation to support research on CTE and concussions. He also holds senior advisory roles at Novus Intelligence and Cerebro NeuroTech and serves on the Board of Advisors for Alpha Impact 8, contributing his expertise to enhance technological advancements in neurotechnology.

Shawn's invention, the Crash Cloud™, an impact protection system, is featured in the "Change Your Game" exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and has earned him a place in the USPTO Invention Hall of Fame. This recognition highlights his significant contributions to innovation in sports equipment.

Born in Williamsburg, Virginia, Shawn attended high school in Silver Spring, Maryland, and now resides in Northern Virginia. His leadership and commitment to innovation and safety continue to impact industries and communities alike.