First Bachelor of Science Program in Biomanufacturing Class Honored
Solano Community College Hosts Advisory Panel to Honor First Graduating Class
On 22 April 2019, more than 40 professionals and students attended the ISPE- Solano Community Advisory Panel at Solano Community College. This event was held in honor of the first graduating class from the Solano Community College Bachelor of Science Program in Biomanufacturing, which occurred May 2019, and focused on industry trends and areas of focus for future career opportunities as well as advice on career establishment and growth. Solano Community College has long had an excellent reputation with respect to their lower division Biotechnology graduates. What is not as well known is that Solano Community College now offers an outstanding Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomanufacturing. We all have a strong desire to see each and every one of the students in this program succeed and want the absolute best for one another. With those thoughts in mind, Heather Bennett, Joel Banks, my team and our Chapter Advisor Dekloe of the Solano Community College Chapter of ISPE collaborated and established a Career Advisory Panel on behalf of graduates. Panelists included Sri Gavini (Business Development Manager, Process-West Coast, Emerson Automation Solutions), Kim Ngan Huynh (Quality Control Associate, Genentech), Paul Lauer (Strategic Facilities Advisor at Business Development Connections) and Cassy Gardner (Group Engineering Manager, Banks integration Group).
Key points addressed regarding specific career development strategy included the importance of identifying a mentor within your company, the sage advice to maintain excellent interpersonal working relationships with coworkers, the benefits of seeking out and taking advantage of opportunities offered as well as the value of face-to-face interactions and connections with future potential employers. Areas of future career focus centered on career opportunities in cell therapy and automation. This was a fantastic event that allowed for interaction between students and industry professionals. Anne Beaudoin, a Solano Student slated for graduation in 2020 stated “The collective knowledge about the job landscape, opportunities for mentorship with companies and resume tips gave me a clearer focus on what companies are looking for in an individual.”
Cassy Gardner provided invaluable advice regarding finding a way to truly “know yourself”. She emphasized that by doing this, students would find themselves better able to identify companies that would be a good fit with potential for long-term happiness and satisfaction. She also placed great importance on the value of direct communication with potential employers of interest, suggesting that while necessary, a resume will not provide the same impact that a face-to-face conversation will. Paul Lauer emphasized the need to seek out and identify a mentor early on in your career, preferably one outside of your immediate circle, who should possess qualities that you admire and wish to emulate to help you grow within the company. He also stated that upcoming graduates had chosen an excellent career path and were in a field in which leaders would be born. Kim Ngan Huynh advised students on the importance of maintaining excellent interpersonal communication and professional working relationships with coworkers. She encouraged students to keep their options open and to never burn bridges with anyone in the industry. Sri Gavini shared his thoughts concerning future areas of industry focus with students, indicating that automation is predicated to be a major area of industry growth and strongly advised students interested in this area to actively pursue their passions.
This event provided tremendous value to the students at Solano Community College. We came away from this event inspired and prepared with new insights into how to actively search for and create new opportunities for career advancement. Anne Beaudoin, an upcoming graduation of the class of 2020, stated “The collective knowledge about the job landscape, opportunities for mentorship within the company and resume tips gave me a clearer focus on what companies are looking for in an individual.” Once again ISPE has proven to be an invaluable community filled with generous, intelligent and outstanding professionals. Thank you, ISPE, for your outstanding work and your continued focus on student development. You are all amazing!
This event provided tremendous value to the students at Solano Community College. We came away from this event inspired and prepared with new insights into how to actively search for and create new opportunities for career advancement. Anne Beaudoin, an upcoming graduation of the class of 2020, stated “The collective knowledge about the job landscape, opportunities for mentorship within the company and resume tips gave me a clearer focus on what companies are looking for in an individual.” Once again ISPE has proven to be an invaluable community filled with generous, intelligent and outstanding professionals. Thank you, ISPE, for your outstanding work and your continued focus on student development. You are all amazing!
Attendees of the Solano Community College Biomanufacturing Program Advisory Panel, 22 April 2019 received advise from Industry Professionals on industry trends and areas of focus for future career development strategies, growth, and opportunities
