Pete Canalicho

“Every brand owner and organization has the right to expand, grow and ultimately thrive. That is why I have made it my mission to develop tools, talks and training designed to inspire, educate and empower you to achieve all that is possible.” PETE CANALICHIO

Pete Canalichio is an award-winning author of the Amazon #1 New Release, "Expand, Grow, Thrive" (2018) and most recently “Strategic Brand Licensing” (2024). A TEDx speaker, Pete has worked in brand strategy, expansion and licensing for the past 25 years for The Coca-Cola Company, Newell Brands and most recently, BrandAlive, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business that he founded in 2009. 

Before starting his business career, Pete attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he earned a BS in physics. Pete went on to serve in the Navy as an award-winning aviator and instructor pilot, honing his leadership and decision-making skills as commander of a large multi-engine aircraft and 12-member crew during the height of Cold War tensions.

His “crisis-tested leadership skills” were forged not in a battle with the competition or a challenging business turnaround—although he has certainly excelled in those arenas—but in the dark skies above the Pacific Ocean as he flew a military aircraft whose engine had caught on fire. Clear-headed and decisive under those extraordinary circumstances, he has applied that same leadership style to every challenge and opportunity he has faced in a distinguished executive career.

Before transitioning to the marketing and licensing arenas, Pete earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School where he was a Richard H. Jenrette fellow and salutatorian of his class.  Upon graduation, Pete was recruited into the global finance unit at Coca-Cola. He rose quickly to managing $32 billion in transactions yearly as Treasury Operations Manager in London and built a strong foundation of business skills and diverse experiences within the world-class company.

Throughout his career, Pete has operated in the global arena, having worked in more than 40 countries and managed extensive projects across national and continental borders.

Don Drinkwater is currently providing consultant services and mentoring after retiring from the Bose Corporation where he served as the Director of Licensing since 2004. At Bose he was responsible for licensed technologies used in Bose products as well as licensing out patents and technology to support Bose’s strategic direction. Don worked very closely with leading audio, consumer electronics, semiconductor, and contract manufacturers to implement strategic licensing arrangements. Don supported all Bose divisions which included Consumer, Professional Audio, Automotive and Manufacturing.  Previous to Bose, Don directed licensing activities for 3Com Corporation. In that role Don developed multiple licensing programs based upon 3Com’s networking patent portfolio. In addition to generating a revenue stream, Don initiated a patent program that resulted in a $70M+ settlement for 3Com. At PWC, Don served as a director in a newly formed Intellectual Asset Management practice. Working closely with PWC’s Defense Analysis & Investigation and Corporate Value Consulting practices, Don evaluated multiple companies patent portfolios, including two major defense contractor’s to determine alternative commercial uses of their technologies to produce incremental revenue. At PWC, Don also worked on evaluating IP for companies in bankruptcy and helping companies assess the potential of licensing programs in multiple technologies. At Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), and later Compaq Computer, Don directed the licensing group to license patents and technology related to computer and networking technology. Earlier in Don’s career he achieved the level of principal engineer developing and managing groups to develop computer sub-assemblies at DEC. 

Don served as an adjunct professor, teaching Micro Electronics at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell for 13 years. While there, Don received the Haskell Memorial Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Don’s experience with the Licensing Executive Society (LES) includes the trustee of Member Engagement for which he served for six years, the chair of the High Tech Sector for the period 2009 to 2010 and the chair of the Computer Hardware and Consumer Electronics committee. Don has published articles in les Nouvelles (the Journal of the Licensing Executive Society International) and IEEE publications as well as a speaker at several LES meeting Workshops. Don also took responsibility for the LESI IP Management Primer. Don is a receipting of the Frank Barnes Mentoring award which is awarded every year at the LES Annual meeting. 

At Home, Don has served as the chairperson for the Carlisle, MA scouting program for the past ten years. Don also served as an assistant scout master where he took responsibility for scout advancement helping many scouts achieve the Eagle rank.

Don holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and a Master of Business Administration from Clark University. Don is a member of Eta Kappa Nu (the honor society of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers "IEEE"). Don has also taken a number of Licensing and Negotiation courses including completing The Franklin Pierce Law Center’s Advanced Licensing Institute and The Harvard University Law School’s Negotiation Workshop. Don has negotiated hundreds of licensing agreements and is very familiar with the business terms of such agreements. Don has creatively solved many negotiation issues and was told by a major semiconductor company that he was able to receive a major concession because he was able to explain the technical and business reasons that the company he was working for needed the concession. Don is an inventor on multiple patents related to computer, networking, home automation, patent analysis and Bluetooth technologies.

Uche, Harvard alumni (2019), joined her firm in 2003 and was admitted to partnership in 2008.  She heads the Intellectual property department of the firm and advises local and international clients on the full range of brand-related matters, including tech transfers with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), and product registration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Uche was recognized as the National Practitioner of the Year (2024) and named Nigerian Practitioner of the Year 2023 and 2024 by Managing IP. She was ranked as a Band 1 lawyer in Nigeria for her exceptional work in the field of Intellectual Property by Chambers and Partners Global Guide for 2023 and 2024, and an outstanding Intellectual Property practitioner in the elite World IP Review (WIPR) 2022. Featured by Legal Business Africa as one of 20 Outstanding Nigerian Women in Business Law for 2021 and recognized as a leading patent and trademark practitioner. Listed among the 11 individual rankings across 5 main practice areas by Chambers Global for Nigeria for 2021. Ranked in 2020 and 2024 by World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000, recognized in Who's Who Legal in 2014, 2020 and 2024 as a global expert in intellectual property, Top 250 Women in IP worldwide for 2020-2024 by Managing Intellectual Property (MIP), named “IP Star” (2016-2024) and Trademark Star (2019-2024) by World IP Review (WIPR).

She served as a board member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) from 2018-2020. She was chair for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia subcommittee of INTA's ACC and was nominated by the United States Mission in Nigeria as a panellist for World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2021.

She currently serves as a board member at Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group (GACG), Secretary of Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration (ACC) Nigeria, and a committee member of the European Communities TradeMark Association (ECTA)’s International Trade Committee.  Uche continues to bring value to brands that she represents. WWL says: Internationally renowned IP specialist Uche Nwokocha draws praise for her expertise in portfolio management and licensing issues.

Lewis Stark

Mr. Stark’s compliance practice focuses on protecting intellectual properties, maximizing licensing and royalty revenue, and providing his clients with value added business intelligence and other nonmonetary benefits. His experience includes performing various types of forensic, royalty and contract compliance audits to identify, quantify and recover amount due his clients. Mr. Stark has also conducted hundreds of financial due diligence reviews in connection with music catalog acquisitions, financing, and securitizations. He provides litigation consulting and expert witness testimony primarily with respect to royalty and profit participation disputes and other contractual breaches. Mr. Stark and his colleagues provide other services, including IP valuation, royalty administration and accounting services, and royalty audit defense.

Mr. Stark enjoys consulting with clients to help them improve the financial and audit provisions within their contracts, identify untapped opportunities and enhance relationships. His approach is holistic, as compliance auditing is more than just tracing numbers. He considers the big picture, business relationships, IP protection, contractual intent, equity positions, business conditions, risks and opportunities, and more, in order to provide additional value to clients.    

Mr. Stark has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients, which range from individuals to Fortune 500 companies. The industries in which Mr. Stark operates include Sports and Entertainment (Music, Film, TV, Broadway, Professional Leagues and Teams); Life Sciences (Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Medical Devices); Technology and Software; Apparel, Footwear and Accessories, Food, Beverage and Restaurants; Toys, Games and Video Games; Print and Digital Media; Automotive and more.

Johanna Sullivan

Johanna C. Sullivan is a seasoned executive with extensive expertise in scaling global businesses through partnerships, licensing and business development. With over two decades of experience across diverse industries such as consumer products, durable goods and entertainment, Johanna has successfully led initiatives to drive revenue growth and enhance brand loyalty across B2C and B2B markets.

Currently serving as Senior Director of Global Licensing and Partnerships at Newell Brands, Johanna leads the company’s efforts to expand its brands through strategic licensing partnerships. She is responsible for developing a centralized global licensing capability and optimizing brand and product licensing strategies.

Prior to joining Newell Brands, Johanna held senior leadership roles at companies including Nexii Building Solutions, Serta Simmons Bedding, Kimberly-Clark, Coca-Cola, and Turner Broadcasting. At Nexii, as Senior Vice President of Global Partnership Development, she led the company's efforts to identify key global markets and develop the end-to-end licensing partnership operating model. At Serta Simmons, Johanna directed global licensing strategy and operations, growing revenue by double digits year-over-year and managing partnerships that spanned over 100 markets globally.

Johanna’s career is marked by her ability to develop and operationalize innovative brand growth strategies, lead high-performing teams, and navigate complex global markets. A native of Brazil, she is fluent in English and Portuguese, enhancing her ability to lead across diverse international markets.

She is currently working on her MBA at Auburn University, and has a BBA in International Finance from Georgia State University.  Her past and current association leadership roles include Board Member & Chair of Human Capital Committee – LaAmistad,Member – Society of Product Licensors Committed to Excellence (SPLiCE), and Member – Licensing International (LIMA).