Alumni Profiles

John Marino ’83 : Vice President, Marketing Actelion Pharmaceuticals, South San Francisco, CA 1. Briefly, what is it that you do? My role is to lead the marketing for the US Operations of Actelion Pharmaceuticals, a Swiss-based, top-ten Biotech Company with three marketed products, and a number of significant products in development. 2. What, if any, obstacles did you face trying to get your first job in this field? A marketing career in the pharmaceutical industry is built upon having a great foundation in the sciences plus a keen understanding of business (which typically requires an MBA degree). 3. What advice would you give to students interested in working in your field? Learn the science; there are Professors all around you ready to help. Ask lots of questions. You are just beginning to build a foundation that will last a lifetime and you will never have to see another organic chemistry textbook if you pass the course the first time! The world needs your contribution. 4. What are some of the activities you were involved in while at SLU? President, SLU Outing Club (which was a great passion of mine); US Army ROTC (how I paid the bills :) ) 5. How can students best prepare themselves while still at SLU? Look for leadership opportunities to further develop your skill set and capabilities. But most importantly, enjoy your time during an important part of your life! 6. In retrospect, is there anything you would have done differently with regard to your career? Seek out new opportunities; they are usually right in front of you. If you build a solid foundation and establish a great reputation, it will last a forever and new opportunities will always present themselves. 7. What are your future plans? Continue to develop great pharmaceutical marketing talent for the industry and contribute in leadership positions to help develop truly innovative pharmaceutical products which change people's lives. 8. Are you willing to talk with students interested in a career in your field? If so, how may they best contact you? Absolutely- LinkedIn works great. http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmichaelmarino Additional Alumni Profiles: John Marino, '83 : Vice President for Marketing, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, South San Francisco, CA Dawn Montanye, '89 : Manager of Conservation Economics, World Wildlife Fund Northern Great Plains Program, Bozeman, Montana Amanda Valenta '04 : Senior Audit Associate, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP Moira Collins '84 : Senior Vice President, Product Development, Gartner, Inc. Bruce E. Seely '75: Professor History and Department Chair, Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technological University Mark Tavern '94: Director, A&R Administration at the RCA Music Group, a unit of SONY BMG Music Entertainment and home of the J, Arista and RCA record labels. Anthony (Tony) Ross '75, M'78: Vice President for Student Affairs California State University, Los Angeles George Ashline '89: Associate Professor of Mathematics, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, VT Alissa Bibb '03, Program Officer: American Councils for International Education Rick Persons, '83, Senior Television Producer, PGA TOUR Productions Ronald T. Burkman, M.D., '65 Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Ken Dowling ‘84, Executive Vice President, Grey Worldwide Advertising David Dusek ’93, Senior Managing Editor of golfonline.com Noelle Laing ‘03, Senior Consulting Associate at Cambridge Associates Dan Lee 05', Investment Banking Analyst, Cochran, Caronia & Co. Armand A. Rapetti ’73, President, CEO: JBS & Associates, Lakeland, FL Ken Polk & '91, Major Accounts District Manager: Automatic Data Processing, Williamsville, NY Wendy Davidson Freihammer & #8217;94, Financial Advisor: American Express Financial Advisors, Cambridge, MA Mayela C. (Calabria) Harris '87, Family Therapist (Social Worker): Hospice of Wake County, Raleigh, NC Peter J. Dalton '94, Affiliate Support Manager: Habitat for Humanity International