Agenda

4:00 P.M.-7:30 P.M.

Registration Open

 

7:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.

Chairs' Reception
Sponsored By: Saylor & Hill Co., a Barney & Barney LLC Company

7:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.

 

7:00 A.M.-8:00 A.M.

 

8:00 A.M.-8:15 A.M.

 

8:15 A.M.-10:15 A.M.

Session I - Opening Breakfast Plenary and Q&A
Sponsored By: Culpepper and Associates, Inc.

Keynote Speaker:
Jim Collins, Author

Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap. . . And Others Don't

 

10:15 A.M.–10:45 A.M.

Refreshment Break–Visit Sponsors
Sponsored By: Career Solutions International

 

10:45 A.M.–12:00 P.M.

Breakout Session I
Track 1: HR Global
Sponsored By: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

Get Ready for the Hybrid Worker. The Down Economy May be Creating a Layoff Pandemic, But It's Also Leading to a New Way of Doing Business

Panel:
Victoria Tucker, M.A., Managing Director, ZB Global

Like a deadly airborne pandemic, layoff is a wretched thing leaving you unsure where it will land and who it will infect next. Still, not all is doom and gloom. Just as we saw the hybrid engine result from the convergence of sky rocketing oil prices, Middle East politics and eco-friendly policies, current global events are leading to a new type of worker - perhaps even more agile and creative than previous workplace generations. The economic calamity is giving birth to savvy approaches for surviving (and even succeeding) in a shriveling marketplace. Workers are beginning to think of unusual ways to peddle their skills apart from traditional career paths and normal disciplines. Learn about this trend and the mass movement underway for virtual collaboration and tribal knowledge transfer. Hear stories of the newest skill set mixes to hit our cubicles, our communities and our companies.

Track 2: HR Strategic
Sponsored By: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

The Best of Both Worlds: The Convergence of Pharma and Biotech - How To Define the Integration Model Up Front and How to Keep That Dynamic Post-Deal?

Speakers:
Erin Lanciani, Vice President, Human Resources, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company
David Cohen, Senior Director, Human Resources, Research & Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb acquired Adnexus Therapeutics in October 2007. It has been about a year and a half since the acquisition - business goals were exceeded, retention was excellent, and the partnership has been a huge success.

We will walk you through our Alliance ~ Acquisition ~ Acceleration. Having a successful acquisition is a challenge and BMS-Adnexus has employed strategies that have worked. We will walk you through our strategies for a successful partnership and ensuring you leverage the best of pharma and biotech.

From the pharma perspective: what was our thought process as we planned the acquisition in terms of how we would accommodate the biotech into our own operations; how did we balance the benefits of autonomy versus integration and their respective effects on biotech innovation and flexibility; what have been our experiences so far in reality; and, what would we have replicated and what would we have done differently with the benefit of hindsight.

And from the biotech perspective: how have we have capitalized on the benefits of being part of a larger organization while maintaining our own biotech culture and level of productivity; what have been the key specific integration opportunities and challenges, and to what extent do they need to be addressed in advance; and where we are today & lessons learned.

Track 3: HR Development
Sponsored By: Radford

Building a Resilient Organization

Speaker:
Shiva Gohari Fritsch, Associate Director, Organization and Leadership Development, Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
Barbara H. Yoli, Principal, Change Results Consulting

Biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies navigate rough rapids as they bring new cures and products to market. A significant percentage of new drugs fail to complete Phase 3 clinical trials. Increased pressure from investors creates uncertainty in the work environment. How do you keep your organization focused and productive in this climate of uncertainty and change?

More than ever before, resiliency is a critical organizational and individual competency. Resilient employees and teams bounce back from setbacks and tend to place much more emphasis on what can be done rather than on what can't. They are more likely to work around and through obstacles to deliver results. As companies face the challenges and change inherent in the business and economic climate of today, resiliency becomes a differentiator and a predictor that will determine which companies will survive and thrive.

In this session, you will learn strategies for hiring for resiliency, developing this skill in individuals and teams, and building resiliency into the culture of your organization. Can resiliency be taught? How do we build it into our core competencies? During this case-study based session, you will learn about companies that are building resiliency into their culture and leave with ideas about how to do it in your own organization.

Track 4: HR Best Practices
Sponsored By: Pharmaceutical Institute

Living Through Change: How Can HR Leaders Manage Budgets, Morale and Communication In Times of Uncertainty?

Moderator:
Elizabeth Holland, Senior Director, Human Resources, IntelligentMDx

Panel:
Grace Dobson, Recruiting Manager, QIAGEN, Inc.
Brad Hartman, Manager of Recruiting and Talent Acquisition, Dyax Corporation

While some companies continue to prosper, the economic down turn has still created a unique opportunity for us to keep the business on course and give employees greater support and guidance. Living with change can be daunting. How can HR Leaders help employees with manage through change? How can companies be sure to retain the best employees? What other alternatives exist in the time of a budget cut other than layoffs? How can you as the HR Professional help lead your management team through these questions and also ensure employees feel "tucked in" at the end of the day?

 

12:00 P.M.-1:00 P.M.

 

1:00 P.M.–2:15 P.M.

Session II - Luncheon Plenary and Q&A
Sponsored by: Wells Fargo Insurance Services

The Changing Role of The Human Resources Professional

Moderator:
Jennifer Troia, Vice President, Human Resources, CoMentis, Inc.
Panel:
Dennis Driver, Vice President, Human Resources, Theravance, Inc.
Erin Lanciani, Vice President, Human Resources, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company

 

2:15 P.M.–2:45 P.M.

 

2:45 P.M.-4:00 P.M.

Breakout Session II
Track 1: HR Global
Sponsored By: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

Cutting Edge Immigration Solutions and Best Practices: How to Land and Retain Foreign Talent and Keep Your Company Out of Trouble in the Bargain

Speakers:
Susan J. Cohen, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Ayesha C. Blackwell, Counsel, Immigration for Bristol Myers Squibb

This session provides HR managers and specialists, General Counsel, CFO's, COO's and others who are responsible for immigration matters with creative solutions to immigration obstacles, including how to quickly bring a new hire on board when the H-1B visa quota has been reached; how to make the most effective use of the business visitor visa; and, how to avoid security-related visa processing delays, etc.

The session also recommends best practices for drafting and revising corporate immigration policies that both protect your company from liability and promote transparency and employee "buy-in". The session will cover the increasing importance of immigration compliance, including strategic guidance on E-Verify enrollment mandated for federal contractors and hot button I-9 issues. Finally, this session gives you tips for maximizing the value of your company's outside immigration counsel in terms of service, technology, transparency, and cost.

Track 2: HR Strategic
Sponsored By: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

Strategies for Managing Equity and Compensation in a Down Economy

Panel:
Moderator: Linda E. Amuso, President, Radford
Howard Simon, Senior Vice President, Intermune
Rob Surdel, Assistant Vice President, Radford

The last year has been a tumultuous one for the global economy. In the US, the economy slipped into a recession and we subsequently saw the Dow and NASDAQ plunge by 40 percent at one point, as the financial crisis expanded. The market issues and lack of access to capital has lead life sciences companies to seek strategic ways to cut costs while maintaining a competitive edge, as they move their products forward and bring new products to market.

This panel will provide real-time examples of the actions companies are taking to address cost control measures and discuss how these actions are changing the way they address compensation. Panelists will share their experiences and discuss the emerging market trends that are impacting approaches to: incentive plan design; equity plans; underwater retention issues; and, changes to benefit plans in order to control costs.

Additional areas of discussion will include severance plan design, trends and ways to examine your practices to be cost effective and fair; changes with respect to equity compensation practices given the decline in the market; prevalence and practices around underwater stock option exchange programs; retention alternatives/strategies in these uncertain economic times; and, forward looking trends and issues to consider to be ready to respond when the market growth takes off.

Track 3: HR Development
Sponsored By: Radford

Generational Leadership: Bring Out the Best In Each Generation

Speaker:
Kim Huggins, President, KHR Solutions, LLC

Businesses today rely on four generations working productively together in a business climate that expects a rapidly growing shortage of qualified employees starting in 2010. You can compete in hiring and retention by managing your employees to fit their generational based preferences and expectations. Then, using knowledge gained from this workshop, you can create a generationally desirable workplace, build stronger teams and improve customer relationships.

This engaging and interactive workshop will provide you with valuable information to become a more effective leader. Topics to be discussed include leadership styles, traits, and preferences of each generation; effective feedback and coaching techniques for each generation; and, tips and tools to motivate employees with different perspectives.

Track 4: HR Best Practices
Sponsored By: Pharmaceutical Institute

Think First: Training Strategies for Tough Times

Speaker:
Gaylene Xanthopoulos, President of The Leadership Edge

4:15 P.M. - 5:30 P.M.

Breakout Session III
Track 1: HR Global
Sponsored By: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

Recruiting and Staffing Leadership Roundtable: Agenda for Change in 2009

Panel:
Pearl Freier, President, Cambridge BioPartners
Kevin Harley, Vice President, Human Resources, Illumina, Inc.
Ginger Gregory, Global Head of Human Resources, Novartis Institutes of BioMedical Research
Angela Peters, Head of Global Talent Acquisition, Life Technologies

Join what promises to be a lively interactive discussion with recruiting and staffing executives in biotech, pharma, and contract research regarding hiring strategies and creative solutions during challenging economic times.

The panel will include discussions of global recruiting landscape, opportunities and challenges for 2009, and comments on metrics, internal search functions, vendor relationships, hiring of recruiting staff, employment branding, relocation issues, and training programs for candidates.

Track 2: HR Strategic
Sponsored By: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

Legislative Initiatives Affecting the Workplace

Panel:
Thomas A. Linthorst, Partner, Morgan Lewis

The election of Barack Obama as President and the Democratic gains in Congress mean that employers face a new legislative and regulatory environment on labor and employment law issues. We will discuss the legislative and regulatory changes to workplace laws that have already occurred, and are likely to occur in the future, including the recently-enacted Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), ADA Amendment Act (ADAAA) regulations, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. We will also discuss practical ways for employers to respond to these changes to comply with the new laws and minimize legal challenges.

Track 3: HR Development
Sponsored By: Radford

You Need Leaders to Lead During Times of Change, Not Managers

Speaker:
Jason Slusher, Site Director, Operations Head, sanofi-aventis

Growing the biotech workforce is critical. Equally as important is the prevention of voluntary attrition during times of change. As an experienced leader in both HR and Operations, I have often seen scientists flee from the bench due to lack of leadership and inspiration from their mangers. While scientists are typically not trained to be mangers they are even more often not trained to be leaders.

This session will focus on the critical leadership skills required to retain and motivate the scientific workforce. Trust and confidence in top leadership are the single most reliable predictors of employee satisfaction, thus retention in an organization. Yet, companies spend more time teaching scientists on quantitative management skills such as finance and not qualitative leadership skills such as methods of communication and problem solving. These soft-type skills are more likely to instill trust and confidence in others. I will conduct an exercise highlighting the distinctions between management and leadership while listing the actions needed to reach a common understanding of leadership in today's cross cultural alliance, merger, and acquisition environment.

Track 4: HR Best Practices
Sponsored By: Pharmaceutical Institute

Changing Times - Sustaining the Essence of a Company’s Culture during times of change. Regeneron Case Sturdy

Speakers:
George Renton, Sr. Director, Staffing & HR Operations, Regeneron
Ross Grossman, Vice President, Human Resources, Regeneron

We will show how the insights from an external branding initiative can be used internally to focus leaders on important attributes of a culture which can lost in times of change .We will briefly outline the history of Regeneron, and the bulk of the presentation will be explaining the process we followed to brand our culture, and how this culture has been critical to Regeneron over the years. From a practical point of view we will share the results, and show how they were used in 2008 to support a major expansion, and how we will use the insights going forward.

7:15 P.M.-9:00 P.M.

7:30 A.M.-3:30 P.M.

 

7:30 A.M.–8:30 A.M.

 

8:30 A.M.–10:00 A.M.

Panel:

 

10:00 A.M.–10:30 A.M.

Refreshment Break – Visit Sponsors
Sponsored By: ORC Worldwide

 

10:30 A.M.–11:45 A.M.

Breakout Session IV
Track 1: HR Global
Sponsored By: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

Emerging Trends in the Global Workforce

Speakers:
David Hole, National Lead Globalizing Work, Deloitte Consulting
Christie Smith, Principal Human Capital, Deloitte Consulting

Business leaders are increasingly required to consider the challenge of managing in a global basis. In terms of bringing value to the strategic discussions around globalization, Human Resource leaders need to act as 'futurists', able to present emerging people and organization trends as well as new ways to address them in a manner that is informed by changing industry and world views.

In this session the presenters will share insight into the changing nature of work globally by focusing on three broad dimensions: the future of work; the changing workforce; and, the new workplace. Structured as a discussion, the participants will hear some provocative thoughts and insight into how HR leaders can respond to these trends and bring insight to the development of strategy in their organization.

Track 2: HR Strategic
Sponsored By: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

Securing Executives in Venture Backed Biotech Organizations Acting Like A Public Company Before An IPO

Speakers:
Theodore Sharp, Managing Director, Pearl Meyer & Partners
Christine Moore, Vice President, Pearl Meyer & Partners

Whether a private company is venture-backed and slated to go public, or a mature stable company in its own right, shareholders or buyers essentially are buying its executive talent and vision. That makes it critical that the senior management team have sufficient security to maintain a singular focus on company growth.

This session will explore how well-designed severance and change-in-control (CIC) arrangements can are being used to provide a measure of assurance to executives and shareholders alike that the company will remain stable as it transitions to the public arena, or in the event that the IPO doesn't transpire or the time horizon is much longer than expected as a result of the economic conditions. In addition to continuity of leadership, such arrangements also are proving effective in promoting retention and recruitment at companies that are not yet ready to embark on the road to public ownership.

Track 3: HR Development
Sponsored By: Radford

Tackling the Lake Wobegon Effect When Assessing Employee Performance

Speaker:
Dennis O. Driver, Vice President, Human Resources, Theravance, Inc.

At least once a year companies require all of their managers to assess the performance of the employees who they lead. What should be a time of excitement, this opportunity to meet with each employee and provide performance feedback, identify strengths and areas of development, establish training needs, set expectations and objectives and subsequently allocate organizational rewards, instead is more a time of procrastination and dread, with one key inhibitor being managers having concerns over assigning each employee a performance rating. Managers frequently stress over what performance rating to assign an employee for past accomplishments or lack of accomplishments.

Tackling the Lake Wobegon effect is intended to help organizations and managers assess performance and assign performance ratings without falling into the trap of rating a disproportionate number of their employees above average or better than average.

Lake Wobegon is a fictitious town in Minnesota, from the radio series, A Prairie Home Companion, where according to the presenter, Garrison Keillor, "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average". The Lake Wobegon effect reflects the human tendency to overestimate one's achievements and capabilities in relation to others. Does this sound like your company, where your employees are only pleased if their performance is rated above average and being assigned a rating of "good" is perceived to be unfair or an insult? We will share with you the approach that we implemented at Theravance to successfully address this challenge.

Track 4: Best Practices
Sponsored By: Pharmaceutical Institute

HR Leadership in the Mergers and Acquisitions Process

Speakers:
Heather Ace, Vice President, Cell Systems Division HR, Life Technologies
Dan Spaulding, Director, HR M&A, Life Technologies

Inorganic growth through mergers & acquisitions will continue to be an opportunity in the foreseeable future as the biotechnology industry continues to mature. Accordingly, learning how to conduct effective due diligence and integrate newly acquired organizations will increasingly become a core organizational capability for success. As HR leaders, we have a significant opportunity to create value and drive growth in our respective organizations through the cultural integration of newly acquired organizations. Come learn how to strategize and execute an integration plan through detailed and thoughtful communication planning, management of human capital risks and focused effort on building one common culture for success.

Life Technologies has been involved in numerous acquisitions over the past five years, including the $7 billion integration of Applied Biosystems in 2008. This session will share some of the key HR and business learning's from our successes and challenges in building our organization through M&A.

 

12:00 P.M.–1:00 P.M.

 

1:00 P.M.–2:15 P.M.

Session IV - Luncheon Plenary and Q&A

Sponsored By: Clark Executive Search, Inc.

Current CEO Challenges - How Can HR Help?

Moderator: Howard Simon, Sr. Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Services, InterMune, Inc.

Panel:
Gajus Worthington, President & CEO, Fluidigm Corporation
Christy Schaffer, President & CEO, Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Gail Schulze, CEO, Zosano Pharma, Inc.

 

2:30 P.M.–3:45 P.M.

Breakout Session V
Track 1: HR Global
Sponsored By: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

The Tug of War for Talent between Big Pharma and Emerging Biotech

Panel:
Robert Hennessy, CEO, The Hennessy Group
Al Altomari, Chairman, Agile Therapeutics, Inc.
Cameron Durrant, Worldwide Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing, Johnson and Johnson, Inc.
Andrew Suchoff, the former Senior Vice President, Human Resources, EMD Serono

The Hennessy Group, a leading global pharmaceutical and life sciences executive search firm, recently completed an original research study entitled The Tug of War for Talent (TOW.) We conducted the study in response to the changing dynamics of talent within the biopharmaceutical industry - that begin a significant increase in the movement from larger, traditional companies to smaller, emerging growth companies. Little did we know that simultaneous with our study, some of the most monumental events of our lifetime would occur. As a result, the velocity of change and the need for new thinking have increased. Big Pharma, once subject to the talent drain to emerging biotechs, now has an unplanned and unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on the shifting dynamics and re-capture some of the best talent in the industry. Thirty in-depth one-on-one interviews were conducted between July and November of 2008 with C-level executives and Board members from a variety of disciplines in both pharmaceutical and life sciences companies across the U.S.

Track 2: HR Strategic
Sponsored By: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

The Consultant Roundtable: A Panel Discussion on Today's Top Issues

Speakers:
Olivia Wakefield Lee, Senior Consultant, Towers Perrin
Linda Amuso, President, Radford
Nancy Arnosti, Principal, Arnosti Consulting
Carl Schmitt, Senior Consultant, Towers Perrin

This panel presents the unfiltered perspective of senior consultants working with biotech management and Boards on pressing compensation and engagement issues. Covering a range of perspectives from East Coast to West Coast, and start-up to commercialization, these consultants will provide their perspective and speak to their experience on today's top issues for biotech organizations. The panelists will share highlights of their latest research and work, and provide views on what's working and what's not in the new environment. This interactive panel will welcome questions and participation from the audience and provide a fresh perspective on critical issues.

Track 3: HR Development
Sponsored By: Radford

Human Resources Professional Certifications: What? Why? and How?

Speaker:
Lynn Hughes, Director, Organizational Development

PHR, SPHR, CCP, CEBS . . . What do all those letters really mean? Should I obtain one or more of these certifications? How do I decide which is best for me? Do they really give you a competitive edge? How do I go about obtaining a certification? What does it cost in money and time? What ongoing obligations will I have to fulfill to keep my certification current? There are many different certifications available to human resource professionals. In this session we will examine the various professional certifications, discuss their value in the employment marketplace, review the certification process, and compare costs associated with each certification program.

We will present results of an exclusive survey among life science executives and recruiters regarding perceptions, attitudes and value of HR certifications. Information will be available for enrolling in the certification programs discussed in the session.

Track 4: HR Best Practices
Sponsored By: Pharmaceutical Institute

Surviving the Storm: Retention Strategies That Are Working!

Panel:
Ken Wechsler, Principal, Remedy Compensation Consulting
Steve Zug, Human Resources Director, Neurocrine Biosciences
Howard Simon, Senior Vice President, Intermune

As employers struggle through these challenging economic times, focusing on employee retention has become a critical issue for many. Contrary to popular opinion, some of your best, most desired and savvy employees may be at risk to move where they have more opportunities.

This panel session will include three employers who have utilized a variety of programs to successfully retain employees. Each speaker will discuss their decision making process, alternatives considered, and why some programs were not utilized. A review of the communications efforts made during the roll out of each program will also be addressed.

 

3:45 P.M.-4:30 P.M.