Ice, Grit, and Laughter: A Fun Evening with Jane Channell

by Heather Martin, VPG Editor

On Wednesday, May 7th, I was honored to attend Ashley Cheung’s party commemorating five years of VPG and the launch of her new book, The Leadership Catalyst: Igniting Inspired Change. Held in a beautiful penthouse in downtown D.C., the venue graciously sponsored by Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP, the event—Ice, Grit, and Grace: Women Overcoming Obstacles—also paid tribute to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The night featured two guest speakers: Jane Channell, a two-time Canadian Olympian in Skeleton, and Megan F. Raymond, recognized as one of the Top 50 women PTAB practitioners.

The evening started with a fantastic dinner provided by VPG, featuring a variety of Asian cuisine. Guests ate and mingled during the beautiful evening meal. It was fun to be able to talk to people I had only seen on podcasts or whose books I had read. Ashley even selected mocktail brand, “Mingle”, tea, and other non-alcoholic drinks to encourage networking amongst the guests.

Following dinner, we all gathered to listen to the speakers. Ashley opened the evening with a heartfelt thank you to all those who had helped her throughout the past five years. She was vulnerable and relatable as she related the origin of her company and the struggles she had overcome to make it successful. Ashley’s talk was funny and personable, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.

She then introduced Jane and Megan, who took the stage for an engaging Fireside Chat. Megan's thought-provoking questions, coupled with Jane’s engaging personality, made for an enchanting exchange. We listened as Jane spoke about both setbacks and Olympic triumphs, with Megan drawing parallels to her own experiences in the courtroom. Jane’s stories captivated the room, and the conversation felt less like a formal interview and more like two friends catching up.

Of course, there are the highlights of raffle prizes, cookies and swags from sponsors, including Unified Patents, IP Copilot, Planet Depos, Contact Discovery Services, etc. The evening concluded with an open Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to ask Jane questions both in the group and one-on-one. It was an enlightening and entertaining evening thanks to Ashley and her wonderful guest speakers. It was certainly a night to remember.