Passing the Torch… and Lighting Some New Ones

By Jack Campion, Immediate Past President, Boston Area Chapter

It’s an old analogy but an apt one… the relay runner, finishing one leg of the race, passes the torch to the next runner.  Teamwork makes the torch move forward to the finish line.   For ISPE, the torch keeps moving forward but there really is no finish line!  So the race goes on. 

In the 2017-18 program year, important legs of the race were run and torches passed to new leaders.  I’ll mention a few…

Stacy Price (ZioPharm Oncology), a two-year board member, assembled a team that completed a pilot effort to establish a formal Mentoring Program.  Mentoring, both formal and informal, is one of the keys to career success – in one sense, what ISPE is all about.  Stacy passes the torch to Kyllan Alwyn (independent talent strategist and coach) whose energy and leadership will make this program blossom and bear fruit for many years to come.  To check it out, or to sign up as a mentor or “mentee,” just go to https://www.ispeboston.org/about/mentoring/.

Bob Lucas (CAI) has led the Educational Programs Committee for several years now, bringing us a myriad of monthly opportunities to expand our technical horizons.  (See a list of all prior educational programs with descriptions, some with slide presentations, at https://www.ispeboston.org/events/past-events/.)  Recently Janelle Carretero (New England Controls) joined Bob as co-chair and will be “receiving the torch” over the coming months.  With more than thirty in attendance, the vibrancy at their July strategy meeting leads me to predict great programs will be coming to our calendars!

Setting a new torch ablaze, the Boston Chapter’s Women In Pharma^® leaders Katie Leitch (Alexion) and Kathy Marini (CRB) have left the starting line to advance our industry toward gender parity – something I firmly believe is achievable.  Thanks also to their committee, including Caren Jenkins, Tina Smith, Katie Shannon, Caroline Rufo and Christine Conley.  The WIP inaugural event in June was nothing short of remarkable!  To keep it succinct I’ll just say don’t miss the WIP follow-up at the Product Show next month!

A newly “re-lit” torch is our Industry Advisory Council made up of senior managers from pharma / biopharma manufacturers within our Chapter’s area, as well as past presidents of ISPE.  We met in March to brainstorm and hone in on ways for ISPE to be more responsive to the industry.  I’m excited that this renewed initiative will bring ever more relevant programs to all members.

What an awesome year it has been!  I’m gratified many times over for the experience of leading the Boston Area Chapter since last August.  At all levels, the accomplishments of this phenomenal team of volunteers under terrific leadership have moved our Chapter ahead by leaps and bounds!

The new torch-bearers, led by incoming President Kevin Chronley, will achieve no less in the coming months.  Join me by getting involved to work with them for a great, fun, fantastic year ahead!