Stepping Out and Making Connections

by Madelyne Kaewmanaprasert, Litigation Assistant, VPG

I had the wonderful opportunity of attending the 2026 Annual PTAB Bar Association Conference in Washington, D.C. this past week with Ashley Cheung, and it was an unforgettable experience. As a senior at American University interested in pursuing a career in law, I knew this was an opportunity I could not pass up, and I am extremely proud of myself for saying yes. Despite feeling anxious before attending the event, I was surprised and pleased by how naturally everything came to me once I arrived at the conference.

Once there, my nervousness turned into excitement. I couldn’t wait to introduce myself to Ashley’s colleagues and strike up interesting conversations with them. I had the pleasure of listening to panels with notable figures from the USPTO and meeting with Helen Wan, Jessica Broyles, Beth Shaw, Angela Olivers, and others. I not only enjoyed speaking with the members at our table, but I also learned, through observing other conversations, how beneficial networking skills are and how they help create meaningful connections in the legal space. Ultimately, I could not be more grateful to have attended my first legal conference alongside Ashley and as a proud member representing the VPG team!