Online Registration

Instructor Information


NameBio
Ken J Pedersen

Ken J. Pedersen is a Boise patent attorney. He first worked with patents as a corporate patent agent beginning in 1977.

 

He has taught patent, trademark and copyright classes for Boise Community Education since before 2003.

 

Currently, he teaches two classes in the fall session and two classes in the spring session

His website is pedersenco.com.

INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT

Ken J. Pedersen grew up in the Treasure Valley during the 1950s when he and his family lived in the Boise Hills Village. Early on, he was inspired by his father to pursue the legal profession. "My dad was a U.S. Social Security Administrator. I often observed him helping people with their questions about benefits and claims," Pedersen said. "I noticed the appreciation in their faces from being guided through a possibly complex procedure, and decided I wanted to help people in a similar way. Law is a similar way to help people."

Obtaining his degree was another adventure all together. Pedersen earned an engineering degree, with honors, at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), putting himself through school while driving taxi in Chicago. He went on to pursue his law degree at night school at DePaul University also in Chicago (at a time when Blue Demon's basketball tickets were included in tuition). He then worked as a chemical engineer and patent agent in the oil refinery industry for 10 years before making his way home to the Treasure Valley.

A licensed attorney in Idaho, and in the United States Patent Office, Pedersen returned to Boise in 1991 when he joined a local small patent law firm. Just three years later, he ventured out on his own; in 1994 he established his own firm, Pedersen & Company.

Pedersen has been teaching with Community Education for more than ten years, sharing his expertise on patents, copyright and trademarks. Initially he volunteered to build his business and clientele-that has since changed. "Now I appreciate the stimulus of interacting with the students. Their questions, some of which I could not answer-on-the-spot, often forced me to dig deeper in to my own understanding of my topics and broaden my experience." Pedersen said. "Now I volunteer teach for fun."

Pedersen and his wife of 24 years, Barbara, work together. Also a native Idahoan from the Magic Valley, Barbara is an experienced engineer and patent agent at Pedersen & Company. They have two sons who grew up here, attending Lowell Elementary, North Jr. High and Boise High schools. Pedersen also enjoys time with his 2 older children from a prior marriage. He enjoys getting out and about in Boise, walking their family dog in the foothills.

Pedersen has been an invaluable resource for our students, providing information and direction through the legal processes involving patents. His volunteer efforts are greatly appreciated!