Meet the WashPat Staff

“Patent Searching is our chosen profession and we’ve been doing it since 1975.  We don’t farm out work overseas and we fully understand that the skill, training and educational background of our searchers, and the timeliness and accuracy of our searches can directly affect multi-million dollar investments in new products, the reputations and repeat business of patent practitioners who rely on us, and the outcomes of patent application filings and litigation.  With over 100 years of combined searching experience in the patent profession, meet WashPat’s PATENT SEARCH TEAM

Brian D. Goldych is the Search Manager for Washington Patent Services (aka WashPat). Brian is a seasoned intellectual property professional who has worked for Washington Patent Services for over 15 years.  He graduated from the University of Mississippi with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Physics and Mathematics, and then furthered his education with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of South Florida.  More recently, he attended the Stetson University College of Law, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Juris Doctor.  He is currently a member of the Florida Bar, and is now preparing for the Patent Bar examination.  As a result of his education and substantial long-term professional searching experience, he has accumulated considerable expertise with such diverse topics as electrical, optical, mechanical, biological, and biomedical arts. His exposure to law has also allowed him to diversify his skill set to include trademark and copyright search skills.  

Don E. Ferrell is a former Patent Examiner in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is one of the owners/founders of Washington Patent Services.  Don graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Engineering Science and a minor in Electrical Engineering.  He was elected to the National Engineering Science Honor Society and received the Grover L. Rogers Award his senior year for graduating number one in his engineering college.  Don then attended Texas A&M University on a full scholarship where he received a Master of Science degree (with thesis) in Industrial Engineering and was elected to the Industrial Engineering Honor Society.  While working as a Patent Examiner, Don attended the University of Baltimore School of Law by night where he earned his Juris Doctor.  For electives in his Juris Doctor program, he completed ALL the courses (but obviously no degree) for a Master of Patent Law at Georgetown University’s School of Law.  As a Patent Examiner, Don specialized in and examined more than 1,800 utility patent applications, most of which were directed to torque converter automatic (self-shifting) transmissions, semi-automatic hydraulic transmissions, continuously variable transmissions, and hydraulic planetary gear trains.  He is still recovering (humor).

Jake Draughon, who has been with us for more than five years, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology  from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Jake began his formal education in electrical and mechanical engineering processes while serving in the US Air Force as an aircraft avionics specialist.  Before attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Jake earned an Associates of Science from the Air Force Community College for Aircraft System Sciences and another Associates of Arts from St. Petersburg College for Engineering Studies.  His extensive background in mechanical, electrical and software system maintenance and usage has become a foundation on which he has built the skills needed to assist in providing patent research information to inventors.  Jake is now studying to become a member of the Patent Bar.

Olga C. Nasthas is a highly skilled Patent Engineering Consultant (one of three in our consulting team) and an expert Patent Illustrator who has worked in our offices for over 15 years.  Olga grew up in Honduras, Central America, and is fully bilingual in English and Spanish.  In addition to its search services, Washington Patent Services has a separate corporate division strictly devoted to preparing utility and design patent drawings.  These drafting services are available by request only from licensed patent practitioners and are not advertised or available to the general public.  Olga has effectively managed the design and preparation of patent drawings by a number of off-site patent illustrators during her tenure, and when necessary and with attorney client consent, she often consults with inventors to more specifically define confusing and/or incomplete invention structure and function, thereby to vastly improve the quality of both searches and patent drawings.  Olga graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering.  She was elected to the Engineering Honor Society of Tau Beta Pi and graduated with Honors.  Passionate about community involvement, she currently volunteers as secretary of the executive board of a charter school in Tampa, Florida.  Prior to entering our employ, her professional experience encompassed process and manufacturing improvement in various industries, including Coors Brewing Company and Dole Food Company, as well as a background in clothing manufacturing production.  

Michael A. Nasthas is also a Patent Engineering Consultant and expert Patent Illustrator who has worked in our offices for over 15 years.  He is married to Olga (above) and they have two young children.  Starting his formal education in civil engineering while in the Corp of Cadets at Norwich University (the Military College of Vermont), he later transferred to Texas Tech University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering.  His engineering experience has encompassed different areas, including the dairy processing, petroleum, and construction industries, where he solidified his knowledge in production management, flow process design, and plant layout, as well as industrial design.  He also had the opportunity to work internationally in Honduras, Central America, for many years and is fully bilingual (English and Spanish).  Like his wife, he multi-tasks between managing and preparing patent drawings, and assisting with patent searching when needed. 

Brian Welch is our long time IT Manager and is responsible for coordinating, planning, designing, building, installing and maintaining the remote and in-office computer systems necessary to run our business. Brian came to us over 21 years ago as a college student and patent analyst intern. For years when he wasn’t studying, he was in front of a computer doing patent searches.  Brian has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of South Florida and is both CCENT (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician) and CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certified.