Stevens Alumni Pharmaceutical Club to host former Congressman Bob Franks, Dec. 10

HOBOKEN, N.J. - On the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 10th, against a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, the Stevens Alumni Pharmaceutical Club (SAPC) will host its quarterly professional event, featuring a talk by the distinguished former New Jersey Congressman, Hon. Bob Franks. Since leaving the US Congress, Franks has become heavily involved in the advancement of the New Jersey pharmaceutical industry.

The evening begins with cocktail and jazz hour at 5:30 p.m. in the 4th floor Bissinger Room of the Wesley J. Howe Center, one block east of Castle Point Terrace and 8th Street in Hoboken, N.J. All alumni, students and press are welcome to attend this special dinner event. To register and obtain more information, visit stevens-alumni.org/pharma/meeting.htm before Dec. 1. For related questions or other information e-mail MaryAnne Rizk, SAPC President,
at mrizk1@alumni.stevens.edu. For parking information please contact Henry Dobbelaar at hdobbela@stevens.edu.

Stevens alumni and invited guests can take advantage of networking opportunities with pharmaceutical professionals from throughout New Jersey, the state which supports the largest concentration of pharmaceutical headquarters and facilities in the world.

The topic that Franks will discuss is "The Worldwide Dominance of New Jersey's Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Industries." New Jersey is sometimes referred to as the "medicine cabinet of the world," and many representatives from New Jersey's top pharmaceutical companies will be in attendance, in addition to board members of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey.

"This will be a joint gathering of all the Stevens Alumni Clubs, hosted by the SAPC," said Ken DeGraw, Class of '57, M.E., Stevens Alumni Association Clubs Director. "Professional clubs increasingly serve as instruments to assist in the career advancement of our alumni, especially for the growing number of our graduate school alumni. Bob Franks' speech about New Jersey's leadership in the pharmaceuticals industry should prove of keen interest to all who attend."

"Our major goal," said MaryAnne Rizk, Class of 2001, B.E., M.S., "is to enhance the careers of pharmaceutical professionals within the Stevens community. This event is specifically tailored to this outstanding group."

Bob Franks is President of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ), based in Hillside, N.J. Franks, who was appointed in August 2001, is the second chief executive of the Institute. Established in 1997, HINJ is an association of 21 research-based pharmaceutical and medical technology companies in New Jersey.

As president of HINJ, Franks is responsible for fostering greater understanding of the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry and for advancing the Institute's objectives with New Jersey's elected and appointed officials, media, citizens, and opinion leaders. He also leads HINJ's efforts to align the interests of the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry with other stakeholders in the health care field, such as academic research institutions, hospitals, public health officials, physicians, nurses and other health care professionals.

Franks has also enjoyed a long and distinguished career in public service; he has been a leader in New Jersey politics and government for three decades. Prior to joining HINJ, Franks served four consecutives terms as Congressman for New Jersey's 7th District, which covers parts of Union, Somerset, Middlesex, and Essex counties. Franks completed his fourth term in January 2001.

Franks has a B.A. from DePauw University and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University. He resides in Berkeley Heights, N.J., with wife Fran and their daughters, Kelly and Sara.

Also speaking at the event will be Stevens President Harold J. Raveche and Jerry MacArthur Hultin, Dean of the Howe School of Technology Management. Closing remarks will be provided by Ms.Rizk.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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