Diversity Alliance for Science Announces Speakers For Inaugural Conference

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!

• 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

• 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

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

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

• 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.

About Diversity Alliance for Science, Inc. 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 disabled-owned enterprises (both large and small) in the life sciences industry. For more information, please visit www.diversityallianceforscience.com.