Conference Co-Chairs

Wendie Johnston, Ph.D., Director, Los Angeles/Orange County Biotechnology Center

Diane Palumbo, Corporate VP, Human Resources, MannKind Corporation

Stephen Williams, Ph.D., President, Bench International

Sponsors


EMBA


Agenda

7:00 am

 Registration Opens
7:30 am Breakfast and Opening Remarks
8:00 am The New Leadership Imperative: From Compliance to Decency

Keynote Presentation by 

Stephen G. Harrison
 Chairman
Lee Hecht Harrison
9:00 am Alignment to Value
Innovation, Human Capital and Competitive Advantage
Translating business strategy and shareholder value objectives into specific directions for human capital planning is a key objective for today's life-science companies. Learn from the experiences of Southern California biotech and device HR executives how this "alignment to value," can be accomplished throughout the company's life cycle.   

Moderator:

  • Brigitte Frankel, Consultant, Spencer Stuart

Speakers:

  • Julie Casciani, Director, Human Resources, Xencor
  • Diane Palumbo, Corporate VP, Human Resources, MannKind Corp.
  • Donna Thiessen, Vice President of Human Resources, Allergan
10:30 am The Soft Stuff Is The Hardest Stuff
 Filling the Life-Science Industry's Talent Pipeline
 Learn about innovative educational and training initiatives seeking to fill the biotech and device talent pipeline from k-12 to entry-level jobs and beyond. The list of programs highlighted includes the Medical Device Training Initiative of Orange County, Amgen Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Lab Program, College of the Canyon's 126 Corridor Biotechnology Education and Training Collaborative, St. Jude Medical Biomedical Engineering Masters Program at Cal Poly, and USC Master's of Regulatory Science Program.

Moderator:

  • Frances Richmond, Ph.D., Director, USC Regulatory Science Program & Regulatory and Clinical Manager, AMI - USC
  • Rosemarie Christopher, President & CEO, Med Exec International

Speakers:

  • Alonza Cruse, Los Angeles District Director, Food and Drug Administration
  • Sharon Dalmage, Director, Medical Device Training Initiative of Orange County
  • Martin Ikkanda, Ph.D., Director, Director, Amgen Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Lab Program
  • Suzanne Moore, Human Resources, St. Jude Cardiac Rhythm Management Division 
  • Jim Wolf, MS, Professor of Biology, College of the Canyons
12:00 noon Clusters of Knowledge in the Life-Science Sector: Leveraging Know-What, Know-How, and Know-Whom

Lunch and Keynote Presentation by 

Richard Seline
CEO
New Economy Strategies
2:00 pm Work Smarter. Stay Informed
Employment Law and Public Policy Affecting HR Practice
Get updates on legislative issues pending at the federal and state levels, as well as compliance and regulatory issues that affect how you conduct day-to-day HR business. Session will address:

  • Critical steps to avoid the top five reasons why employers get sued because of HR-related matters 

  • The outlook on immigration reform

  • Legislative proposals requiring paid leave and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of genetics or sexual orientation, as well as other important HR policy issues.

  • Important court cases and regulatory developments impacting employers

  • Staying in compliance and reconciling federal, state and local law obligations

Moderator:

  • Debora Roland, Director of HR, Osmetech Molecular Diagnostics

 Speakers:
3:30 pm It's the People
 Talent Recruitment, Retention & Nurturing Strategies:  Biotech and Medical Device Company Case Studies
 Human capital is the key to success in any industry - but is especially relevant to the life-science industry where knowledge is the name of the game. It has become increasingly important for biotechnology and medical device companies to develop strategies to attract, develop and retain top talent. What else do they do to get the most out of their human capital?

Moderator:

Speakers:

  • David Briers, Sr. Director of Human Resources, Baxter BioScience 
  • Joel R. Graves, Vice President - Business Development, Employee Benefits Division, ABD Insurance & Financial Services--a Wells Fargo Company
  • Robert Hurley, Sr. VP, HR, Beckman Coulter
  • Stephen J. Williams, Ph.D., President and Chief Business Officer, Bench International
4:45 pm Award Ceremony & Closing Remarks
An educator and a life -science company employee will be honored for their unique services to their organizations and distinguished contributions to the community. 
5:00 pm Networking Reception
6:30 pm Conference Adjourns

Serving the life-science industry in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino and Santa Barbara Counties
444 South Flower Street, 34th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
213-236-4890
scbc@socalbio.org