Sonia P.

A love of learning and teaching led Sonia to her career field, and the collaborative, inclusive culture has kept her at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

A South Chesterfield, Virginia, native, Sonia is energized by working through problems in order to gain new skills. This work ethic is part of what made her an accomplished pianist who accompanied her kids’ competitions and school choral and orchestra groups.

These values have also led Sonia to always be a teacher in some capacity—formal or informal. Her passion for facilitating the process of learning led her to pursue her master’s degree in education from George Mason University, after receiving her bachelor’s of arts degree from the College of William and Mary.

Previously in her career, Sonia worked for the Department of Defense. She became interested in how the pedagogy of instruction and training for employees differed outside of that agency, so she decided to apply to the USPTO.

She currently serves as an Instructional Systems Specialist in the Office of Information Technology for Patents, part of the Office of Patent Information Resources. She spends her time helping solve technical but critical employee user issues.

Sonia proudly describes her team’s culture as one of customer service. “Our team performs daily monitoring of a training contract that employs the Information Technology Resource Providers. This involves evaluating performance, as well as troubleshooting with training logistics and providing ad hoc data,” she says.

Understanding customer requirements while managing expectations can be hard work, but ultimately helping customers get access to the resources they need is rewarding. The role also requires soft skills including verbal and written communication, problem solving, and being curious by asking questions.

For others considering a similar career, Sonia advises, “While it’s interesting to analyze a training solution, it can be challenging. However, it offers a skillset that can be used in a variety of ways." 

“The best part of my job is solving problems and answering questions, no matter how small,” Sonia explains. This positive outlook mirrors her personal mantra for success: “Get it done!”

Sonia explains that her role differs from other roles she has held, because the USPTO is a fee-funded agency that generates its own revenue through patent and trademark filing fees. “The USPTO is a money-generating government agency; my previous experience is with money-spending agencies,” she details.

Sonia also sums up the USPTO’s culture in one word: “Welcoming!”