PDA Southern California Chapter
Chapter's Region:
Arizona / California (Southern) / Hawaii
Welcome to the PDA Southern California chapter website. Here you will find information regarding all Southern California chapter activity. We encourage you to stay connected to your local industry community by participating in an upcoming chapter event or forum discussion. Chapter leaders welcome your question/comments and look forward to hearing from you.
About Us
The Southern California Chapter was formed in 1996 as a result of discussions between past PDA Chair Floyd Benjamin and former PDA President Edmund Fry. With Glenn Wright as their leader, a group of Southern California PDA members subsequently met to form the chapter. Since the 1996 chapter launch, we have hosted many successful events.
We are very pleased to be a part of PDA’s family of chapters and look forward to holding more successful scientific and technical events in the future. We welcome the active participation of PDA members as well as non-members as we chart our course for the future.
Members at Large
- Renee Klein, LATITUDE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Rick Jaenisch, Open Biopharma
- Margaret Stava, BioPharmEquip, LLC
- Stephanie Kurtz, SQA Services, Inc.
- Tyler Hansen, AbbVie
- Stephen Greco, Amgen
- Sheba Zaman, Novatek
Chapter Advisors
- Randy George, ValGenesis, Inc.
- John Holmgren, Allergan, Inc.
- Gerard Pearce, SQA Services, Inc.
- Bonnie Ward, Quality Compliance Partners, Inc.
Get Involved
We welcome the active participation of PDA members as well as non-members as we chart our course for 2021 and beyond. If you would like more information about ways to get involved with the PDA Southern California Chapter please contact:
- Greg Mills, SoCal PDA Chapter President, at 714-803-5111 or greg@axrtech.com
- Amy Stanton, SoCal PDA Chapter President-Elect at 805-313-1556 or amgonzal@amgen.com
Chapter Events
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9 May
PDA Southern California Chapter: Networking & Clean Room Tour Event
- 09 May 2024
- Vista
- , CA
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13 Jun
PDA Southern California Chapter: Data Integrity and Artificial Intelligence Learning Symposium
- 13 Jun 2024
- San Diego
- , CA
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25 Jul
PDA Southern California Chapter: Visible Particulates Evening Event
- 25 Jul 2024
- Santa Monica
- , CA
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3 Oct
PDA Southern California Chapter: Quality Security Management Event
- 03 Oct 2024
- Thousand Oaks
- , CA
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7 Nov
PDA Southern California: Poster Competition and Networking Event with KGI Student Chapter
- 07 Nov 2024
- Claremont
- , CA
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5 Dec
PDA Southern California Chapter: Year End Event
- 05 Dec 2024
- Orange County
- , CA
Sponsors
2024 Sponsorship Program
All Sponsorships Include:
Exhibitor table at events and programs (except for networking events) with exhibitor logo recognition on SoCal PDA events, program communications, marketing materials, chapter web page, printed agendas, signage, and any event and/or program correspondences with chapter membership. List of attendees before an event or program as allowed by PDA.
Sponsor Opportunities
Returning Sponsors
$3,800- 2 min elevator pitch at our marquis events (Full day, vendor night, evening program
- Mentions on SoCal PDA LinkedIn Ads
- Post a 1-2 min video on our PDA SoCal Website
- Attendee List with First Name, Last Name, Title, Company
- Complimentary Passes for Paid Events (Full day, vendor night, evening program)
- Banner ads in all newsletter/emails (5000 + contacts)
- Posts on LinkedIn Page (400+ followers)
- Logo listed on the PDA SoCal Website with hyperlink connection
- Exhibitor at our marquis events (Full day, vendor night, evening program) where sponsors will have a full table to showcase
- All Networking Mixers will include a table, to be shared with others, with available space for adding swag/flyers/info sheet on the table, plus 22" Roll-Up Banner. Items should not be larger than 12" by 18" in size as space is limited.
New Sponsors
$4,800- 2 min elevator pitch at our marquis events (Full day, vendor night, evening program
- Mentions on SoCal PDA LinkedIn Ads
- Post a 1-2 min video on our PDA SoCal Website
- Attendee List with First Name, Last Name, Title, Company
- Complimentary Passes for Paid Events (Full day, vendor night, evening program)
- Banner ads in all newsletter/emails (5000 + contacts)
- Posts on LinkedIn Page (400+ followers)
- Logo listed on the PDA SoCal Website with hyperlink connection
- Exhibitor at our marquis events (Full day, vendor night, evening program) where sponsors will have a full table to showcase
- All Networking Mixers will include a table, to be shared with others, with available space for adding swag/flyers/info sheet on the table, plus 22" Roll-Up Banner. Items should not be larger than 12" by 18" in size as space is limited.
Support Student Chapter
$1,000Sponsorship Includes:
- Special name recognition as student chapter sponsor at all SoCal PDA chapter and student chapter events
- Recognition as a supporter for student chapter scholarship program, poster competition, career day and related student chapter activities
- Ability to participate in Student Chapter Career Day
Table Exhibitor Only
$2,000Exhibitor Only Fee Per Event Includes: 1
- Recognition as an exhibitor
- Logo listed on the SoCal PDA Website as an exhibitor
- Logo placement on all promotional materials and event handouts
- First come first serve for exhibitor space at an event
- (1) Vendor attendee pass
Thank you to our Sponsors
Student Chapter
Established in May 2012 on the Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) campus, the PDA Southern California Student Chapter was founded with a mission to develop future leaders in the applied life sciences, establish a culture of life-long learning and professional development, and foster stronger relationships between students and pharmaceutical/biotechnology professionals.
Located in the beautiful college town of Claremont, informally known as “the City of Trees and PhDs”, we are the first student chapter in Southern California. To carry out our mission, we set 2-year term goals, mirroring the length of a Master’s program at KGI, so as to ensure continuity in the pursuit of goals and overall organizational growth.
Our chapter is best known for organizing semester learning/networking events each of which involves at least three industry speakers and the annual bio-facility tours which have been done at sites such as Baxter and Gilead Sciences. With three core project teams, motivated officers, and team members, we remain focused on professional development and organizational growth while aligning ourselves closely with the PDA SoCal regional chapter.
For more information about becoming a PDA Student Chapter Member and its benefits, contact Student Chapter President Indah Kusumawardhani, or visit PDA Southern California Student Chapter for more information.
Philanthropy
Giving Back
Are you interested in volunteering side-by-side with fellow PDA members to benefit our community? As we build upon the Philanthropy arm of our chapter, we are asking members who are interested in participating in future philanthropic events to please contact us as we create a database of volunteers.
What We've Been Doing
On April 2, 2017 the Southern California Chapter participated in the PDA Annual Meeting Charity Walk/Run benefiting Global Genes of Aliso Viejo, CA, which is one of the leading rare disease patient advocacy organizations in the world. Global Genes promotes the needs of the rare disease community under a unifying symbol of hope – the “Blue Denim Genes Ribbon”
In March 2017 the SoCal chapter presented Big Brothers Big Sisters Los Angeles with a check for $1,500 at the Aseptic Processing & Contamination Control Symposium (from left to right - John Holmgren (PDA Chapter Advisor), Laurel Hacche (PDA Chapter Program Manager), Randy George (PDA Chapter President), Daniel Rodriguez (Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator), Stephanie Kurtz (PDA Chapter Treasurer), Amy Stanton (PDA Chapter Volunteer), Ileana Ayala (PDA Chapter Secretary), Ruchika Raval (PDA Chapter Corporate Outreach).
2016 Food donation delivery in conjunction with PDA National to local San Diego charities (Mama's Kitchen, Father Joe's Villages, and The Salvation Army).
2015 Pipeline to a Cure, benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Volunteer of the Quarter
Stephanie Lee
Project Manager, Process Development, Amgen
Member since 2019
Featured Volunteer, September
1. What is your educational background?
I have a B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Master of Business and Science from Keck Graduate Institute (KGI)
2. What is your favorite part of your job?
Working with the cross-functional team members to complete deliverables so we can serve patients!
3. What is your favorite book/movie/podcast and why?
One of the books I've read recently is Bad Blood by John Carreyrou. I enjoyed reading about the rise and fall of the biotech startup, Theranos. Also, as a former phlebotomist, it was particularly interesting to read how they claimed they were going to revolutionize blood testing and technology with a single drop of blood.
4. What is one fun fact about yourself?
I've run 3 half marathons, and just completed the SF Marathon in July.
5. How did you get involved in PDA?
I joined the PDA SoCal Student Chapter at KGI during grad school and served as the President-Elect and President of the PDA SoCal Student Chapter from 2019-2021. Currently, I am on the Board of the PDA SoCal Chapter as a Communications Volunteer.
6. Describe your mentorship project?
My mentorship project is to create and streamline an Official PDA Guidebook. I am working with PDA Global and the local/regional chapters, with the eventual goal of providing a guidebook that chapters can look to for a template/reference. The anticipated guidebook will be readily accessible on the appropriate PDA platform upon completion, and will draw upon established principles, best practices, and lessons learned from PDA Global and the local/regional chapters. (Note: this is not meant to replace chapters' practices, it is meant as a guide to help developing chapters and provide a framework to enhance chapters if needed.)
7. What is one thing so far that you have liked or enjoyed about the PDA ECP mentorship program?
I've enjoyed getting to work with my mentor, Jason Kerr, and meeting/learning from various PDA leaders across the different chapters and PDA Global as I work.
Chapter Officers
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Greg MillsDirector
President
AxR Tech
Greg Mills is Vice President of Acumen Technology, and since 2009 working in the contamination control in life sciences and chemical processing, and over thirty-five years in the high technology field in chemical process engineering.
Greg holds an MS in Engineering Management from Santa Clara University and a BA in Chemistry from Illinois College. He has worked various fields in QA/QC engineering functions plus strategic product development and technical marketing, internationally and of course domestically, as development and profit centers. The bulk of his career has been in management and executive roles across several organizations in marketing and custom product development in close cooperation with Asian and European companies, as well.
Greg Mills is very active in his community with continuing Rotary International, city council, Elks, and special districts, to further enhance an even more rounded professional development for the benefit of local and regional organizations. Mr. Mills is keen to assist in expanding and continuing an exceptionally relevant, solvent and vibrant PDA for our entire SoCal PDA membership and region.
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Amy StantonQuality Systems Specialist, External Affairs
President-Elect
Amgen, Inc.
Amy Stanton joined Amgen in 2003 in Thousand Oaks, CA. During her time at Amgen, she has held multiple positions within the Amgen Corporate Quality Compliance Department and External Affairs. Amy helped develop and support the GxP Intelligence Program at Amgen and continues to enhance and manage the program over the years. She also co-founded the Regulatory Intelligence Discussion Group (RIDG), establishing a group of industry representatives to share and benchmark intelligence information and requirements. Currently Amy is Rapporteur Supporter/Content Manager for the ICH Q3E Guideline on Extractables and Leachables and Project Manager (PM) for the PDA Visible Particles Team (Technical Report No. 85). Previously Amy was the PM for the PDA Technical Report No. 74 on Reprocessing of Biopharmaceuticals which was published in June 2016. Amy currently sits on the Board for PDA Southern California. Prior to Amgen, Amy worked within the Compliance Department at Intel. Amy holds a BS Business Management and an MBA in Organizational Behavior and Management from California Lutheran University.
In her spare time, Amy volunteers and sits on the Board for Honoring Our Fallen, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving our nation’s fallen and the families these heroes have left behind. She also enjoys spending time with her husband Scott and daughter Scottlyn and loves to stay active playing sports, hiking and working out.
Amy is proud tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and is proud to share with friends, family and those who want to learn more about the traditions and culture so that it continues to live through her, her daughter and future generations to come.
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Jason KerrGXP Senior Specialist
Secretary
Redica Systems
Kerr is an experienced quality and regulatory professional and has been a champion in engaging, connecting, and promoting regulatory compliance in the dynamic biopharmaceutical landscape. At Moderna, Kerr strives to ensure regulatory compliance by monitoring the regulatory landscape and engaging with external stakeholders on hot topics. Kerr holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from UCLA, a Master of Business and Science from the Keck Graduate Institute (KGI), a Master of Business Administration from the Quantic School of Business and Technology and holds a certificate in Bioscience Industry Law and Practice from Southwestern Law School. Kerr is also an adjunct professor teaching regulatory affairs and quality systems at KGI.
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