Da4s Annnounce Speakers For Conference

Media Contacts: Patty Briguglio MMI Associates, Inc. (919) 233-6600 (919) 233-0300 (fax)

Ryal Curtis MMI Associates, Inc. (919) 233-6600 (919) 233-0300 (fax)

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Diversity Alliance For Science Announces Speakers For Inaugural Conference Life Sciences Leaders To Address Issues Targeting Diverse Suppliers MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Diversity Alliance for Science, Inc. (DA4S) (www.diversityallianceforscience.com) has announced speakers for its inaugural networking conference and expo scheduled for May 19-20 at the Westin Governors Morris in Morristown, N.J. The two-day event will focus on developing and integrating more minority, women and service-veteran disabled business owners into the life sciences space. The speakers will be part of a multi-track educational component that cover topics in pharmaceutical industry trends, diverse supplier development and supply chain management.   Diversity Alliance for Science inaugural conference speakers are: •

Dan Nardi, Executive Director, Research Procurement, Global Procurement o Company: Merck & Co., Inc o Topic: Developing Outsourcing Agreements with Diverse Vendors; The right way to do it the first time!

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John Prakash, Ph.D., MBA, Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer o Company: AMAR-International, Inc. o Topic: Ingenuity & Innovation: Outcomes of Diversity in Emerging Pharmaceutical Product Development Programs

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Mark Schäfer, eSourcing Manager-GP Strategy Solutions, and Lean Six Sigma; Global Procurement o Company: Merck & Co., Inc. o Topic: Implementing eSourcing Tools that create a winning environment for Inclusion

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Sandra R. Lottes, PharmD, Vice President, Clinical Development o Company: UBC Strategic Solutions Group o Topic: “Your” Value in the Drug Development Process

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Yvette Dukes, Supplier Diversity Sourcing Manager o Company: GlaxoSmithKline o Topic: Low Down on the Flow Down; Tier 2 Reporting and Relationships

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Raul Mercado, Supplier Diversity Development o Company: Schering-Plough Corporation o Topic: Developing and leveraging multi-tier relationships through the utilization of the online supplier registration site

The DA4S event will feature leaders from pharmaceuticals, government agencies, universities and contract research organizations addressing the needs for diversity in the life sciences industry. The comprehensive educational component, led by industry procurement, diversity and

scientific leaders, will be held in the afternoon of May 19. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. on May 20, formally kicking off the corporate tradeshow portion of the conference. The corporate tradeshow will provide corporations an opportunity to meet top minority, women and service-veteran disabled business owners and suppliers of products ands services that support the clinical and scientific arena. Merck & Co., Inc. is the keynote sponsor for the event. Related Links: www.diversityallianceforscience.com www.merck.com www.mmimarketing.com News Facts: • Diversity Alliance for Science, Inc. (DA4S) (www.diversityallianceforscience.com) has announced speakers for its inaugural networking conference and expo scheduled for May 19-20 at the Westin Governors Morris in Morristown, N.J. • The two-day event will focus on developing and integrating more minority, women and service-veteran disabled business owners into the life sciences space. • The speakers will be part of a multi-track educational component that cover topics in pharmaceutical industry trends, diverse supplier development and supply chain management. • Diversity Alliance for Science inaugural conference speakers include Dan Nardi of Merck & Inc., Co., Dr. John Prakash of AMAR-International, Inc., Sandra R. Lottes of UBC Strategic Solutions Group, Yvette Dukes of GlaxoSmithKline and Sheri Shafir of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. • Novartis Panelists are: Kurt Kumentz, Lorenda Dasher and Robert DiRenzo • The comprehensive educational component led by industry procurement, diversity and scientific leaders will be held in the afternoon of May 19. • Merck & Co., Inc. is the keynote sponsor for the event. Quotes: ”We are extremely excited that the collaborate learning program of this conference has attracted such renowned industry leaders and internationally-known speakers,” said Leah Brown, Program co-chair of DA4S. “The depth and breathe of the workshops will provide all program-participants valuable tools to improve the utilization of diverse vendors in the Life Sciences space. About Diversity Alliance for Science, Inc. (DA4S): Diversity Alliance for Science, Inc. (DA4S) is a nonprofit organization aimed to provide pharmaceutical/bio-tech companies, academic medical centers and governmental agencies the ability to identify, develop, mentor and partner with woman, minority, veteran and disabledowned enterprises (both large and small) in the life sciences industry. For more information, please visit www.diversityallianceforscience.com. Keywords: Diversity Alliance for Science, DA4S, National Networking Conference and Expo, Life Sciences, Drug Development, Scientific Enterprises, Clinical Enterprises, Pharmaeutical Companies, Biotech Companies, Diverse Suppliers, FDA, Biomarkers, eSourcing, RNA, Assays, Clinical Research, Regulatory Compliance, Drug Analysis, Minority-Owned, Woman-Owned, VeteranOwned, Disabled-Owned, MBEs, Science Nonprofits, ATEN Solutions, Merck & Co., Inc., AMARInternational, Inc., UBC Strategic Solutions Group, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline, Schering-Plough Corporation Patty Briguglio MMI Associates, Inc. (919) 233-6600 [email protected]

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