PRESS RELEASES
Licensing Executives Society Foundation Honors Canadian E.B. (Ted) Cross with the Frank Barnes Mentoring Award
Vancouver, B.C., Canada, October 16, 2007 - The Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada), Inc., and the LES Foundation honored Canadian E.B. (Ted) Cross with its Frank Barnes Mentoring Award during their Annual Meeting this week.
Now in its 7th year, the Award was established by a group of LES members to memorialize Frank Barnes' vast contributions to the field of licensing through mentorship. An award of $500 is giving annually to an LES member who, like Mr. Barnes, has devoted considerable time to mentoring licensing executives.
"Ted's years of service and guidance to LES members throughout Canada and the U.S. has distinguished him among his peers and colleagues. His commitment to sustaining excellence in the licensing profession embodies the spirit and purpose of this award," said Ada Nielsen, the LES Trustee and Foundation Board member, who nominated Mr. Cross.
In addition to the many professionals who have benefited from his leadership, Mr. Cross has ignited interest in the field of licensing among the numerous students he has recruited to participate in the LES Foundation's annual Graduate Student Business Plan Competition. In fact, his team from the University of Waterloo won the competition in 2004.
Upon receiving his award, Mr. Cross expressed gratitude to the important mentors in his life, including his wife of 42 years Helen and his esteemed professional mentor, LES Past President John Woodley.
Mr. Cross received his degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto and served as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He spent 25 years working in the Canadian chemicals industry where he completed his industrial career as President and General Manager of Chinook Chemicals Company.
In 1982, he joined the University of Waterloo as Director of the Waterloo Centre for Process Development. He successfully pulled the WCPD out of debt and transformed it into a world-class model technology transfer and licensing office.
A longtime member and leader within LES, Mr. Cross currently sits on the LES Foundation Board. Over the years he has also been very active in the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), and from 1990-1991 served as Chairman of the Society of Chemical Industry's Canadian Section. Currently, he is Chairman of the Board of the Canadian Innovation Centre and runs E.B. Cross & Company, an intellectual property and licensing consulting firm.
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The LES Foundation was established in 2000 by the Licensing Executives Society of U.S.A. and Canada (LES) to promote public awareness and provide educational resources on the value and importance of licensing intellectual property in its many forms. The Foundation is working to communicate the importance of recognizing the intellectual property rights of owners and the important role that licensing plays in bringing creativity and innovation to commercial realization. www.licensingfoundation.org