Stephanie R. Swanson
Stephanie R. Swanson
Intellectual Property Paralegal
Stephanie Swanson joined Suiter Swantz IP 2009 as an intellectual property paralegal for the Firm. Stephanie has a B.S. in Geography from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri.
Stephanie has significant experience with all aspects of client representation, including the filing and prosecution of patents and trademarks for both U.S. and international applications.
Outside of the office, Stephanie enjoys cooking and spending time with her husband and puppy Ozzy.
Patrice B. Sokolowski
Patrice B. Sokolowski
Executive Assistant
Patrice B. Sokolowski joined Suiter Swantz IP in 2008 as an executive assistant. Patrice has a B.S. in Special Education from Creighton University and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from the University of Connecticut.
Patrice oversees administrative processes in the office and excels in organizing tasks into a seamless operation so things are handled accurately and efficiently.
When not at work, Patrice enjoys singing in choral and musical theatre groups. She has served on the boards of several nonprofit music and theatre organizations.
Shane R. Thielen
Shane R. Thielen
Patent Attorney
Shane R. Thielen is a patent attorney with Suiter Swantz IP. Shane received a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He worked as a computer programmer for Ameritrade Inc. where he became a registered investment advisor. Shane received a Juris Doctor with honors from Creighton University School of Law.
Shane is currently a member of the Patent Bar, and the Nebraska State Bar.
Outside the office, Shane enjoys video gaming, woodworking, and triathlons.
Eric M. Newhouse
Eric M. Newhouse
Patent Attorney
Eric M. Newhouse is a patent attorney with Suiter Swantz IP. Eric graduated with honors from the University of South Dakota, receiving his B.S. in Computer Science. He received his Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law, graduating with honors and a concentration in litigation. While at Creighton, Eric served as a student articles editor for the Creighton Law Review, in which he was published in 2012.
Eric is admitted to practice as a patent attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, Eric is admitted to practice before the Iowa Bar.
Outside the office, Eric enjoys casual curling at the Aksarben Curling Club, and collects and enjoys wine, particularly from the Loire Valley and southwest France. He is also a retired Jeopardy! champion, having appeared on the show on several occasions, most recently in 2005.
Andy Kruse
Andy Kruse
Patent Attorney
Andy is a patent attorney with Suiter Swantz IP. Prior to joining Suiter Swantz, Andy flew fighter aircraft in the U.S. Military and commercial aircraft for a major U.S. Airline.
While in the military, Andy gained extensive experience flying the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon in the South Dakota Air National Guard, the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in the U.S. Navy, and taught military students from around the world in various trainer models. Andy continues to maintain currency in the Boeing 757/767 family of aircraft. Andy previously held a Top Secret security clearance and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Andy received his bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1986 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska.
Andy is admitted to the Nebraska Supreme Court and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska and is registered to practice as an attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Andy is a church youth leader accompanying students on annual mission trips, he has been a Boy Scouts of America Cubmaster and Scoutmaster.
Outside the office, Andy enjoys listening to his children fill his house with music (viola and guitar). He loves to travel and explore new places on foot or bicycle.
Nicholas R. Grennan
Nicholas R. Grennan
Patent Attorney
Nicholas R. Grennan is a patent attorney with Suiter Swantz IP. Nick received his engineering degree from Cornell University with a major in Operations Research & Information Engineering.
For several years prior to attending law school, Nick served as a project engineer intern for the nation’s largest privately-held mechanical contractor, where he gained an excellent understanding of the construction industry and mechanical systems.
Nick graduated with honors from the Creighton University School of Law.
Prior to joining Suiter Swantz, Nick practiced complex commercial litigation.
Nick’s clients operate in a broad spectrum of technological areas, including semiconductors, integrated circuits, telecommunications, data processing devices, data storage devices, user-interface systems, networking, software, e-commerce, electro-mechanical devices, aerospace and aviation, medical devices, nutritional products, and the mechanical arts.
Nick was recently selected to Super Lawyers’ 2016 Great Plains Rising Stars list and was previously selected to Super Lawyers’ 2013, 2014, and 2015 Great Plains Rising Stars lists.
Nick is admitted to practice as a patent attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In addition, he is admitted to practice in all Nebraska state courts, the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Nick is a member of the Omaha Bar Association and the Nebraska State Bar Association.
In addition to patent related matters, Nick routinely represents his clients with respect to various intellectual property matters related to trademarks, trade secrets, licensing, infringement analysis, and ownership of intellectual property rights.
Nick frequently enforces his clients’ intellectual property rights throughout the United States and defends his clients from intellectual property claims asserted by third parties. When necessary, Nick represents clients in lawsuits in various United States District Courts.
Troy P. Anderson
Troy P. Anderson
Patent Agent
Troy P. Anderson is a patent agent with Suiter Swantz IP. Troy holds a Ph.D. and a M.S. in Optics from CREOL, the College of Optics at the University of Central Florida, as well as a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska. Through graduate and post-graduate pursuits, he has developed a broad technical background in laser optics, geometric optics, spectroscopy, optical sensors, femtosecond laser systems, laser machining, materials science, surface science, electrochemistry, nanotechnology, image processing, electrical engineering, and metrology.
Troy has co-authored over 15 peer-reviewed journal publications and numerous technical conference presentations related to his research on tailoring material properties using femtosecond laser pulses.
Troy is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Matt A. Poulsen
Matt A. Poulsen
Owner and Patent Attorney
Matt Poulsen is a patent attorney and co-owner of Suiter Swantz IP. Matt obtained his Ph.D., M.S. and B.S. in physics from the University of Nebraska and his Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law, graduating with distinction.
Matt represents clients including large Fortune 500 companies, universities, start-up companies and individual inventors. His practice is generally focused on IP procurement and protection, including U. S. and foreign patent preparation and prosecution, patentability and freedom-to-operate analysis and various trademark, copyright and trade secret matters. Matt also advises clients with respect to various start-up related activities, such early-stage IP strategy.
As a physicist, Matt developed a broad technical background in experimental solid state and condensed matter physics and materials science. His research on the molecular engineering of self-organizing electroactive organic systems has appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals. His clients operate in a broad spectrum of technological areas, including telecommunications, integrated circuitry, the optical arts, semiconductor fabrication and testing technologies, nanotechnology, nuclear and renewable energy, biofuels, chemical processing, software, agriculture, e-commerce and the mechanical arts.
Matt also serves as mentor for local startup accelerators NMotion, Straight Shot and Year of the Startup.
Matt is admitted to the Nebraska Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska, and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Scot M. Ringenberg
Scot M. Ringenberg
Owner and Patent Attorney
Scot M. Ringenberg is a patent attorney and co-owner of Suiter Swantz IP. Scot received his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering (B.S.C.E.) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law. He continued his education with the University of Kansas Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department graduate studies program. Scot is registered to practice as an attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Additionally, he has been admitted to the state bars of Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. He is also a member of numerous professional and community associations including the state Bar Associations of Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Alumni Association.
When not practicing Intellectual Property law, Scot enjoys golfing, traveling, attending his family’s numerous activities, and following University of Nebraska Athletics.