Two Wayne State University alumni who have made significant contributions to the business world will be recognized at the 15th Corporate Leadership Awards program Tuesday, May 20, in WSU's Community Arts Auditorium.

Howard Birndorf, chairman and chief executive officer of Nanogen Inc., and Bella Marshall, president and CEO of Waycor Development Co. and president of Barden International Inc., are this year's recipients.

Birndorf and Marshall will be honored for their academic and professional careers and for the leadership they provide in their fields.

Birndorf received a bachelor's degree from Oakland University and a master's degree in biochemistry from WSU's School of Medicine.

Nanogen, which he co-founded, is a biotechnology company that combines molecular genetics and microelectronics to develop medical diagnostic products. Birndorf helped establish six other biotechnology companies and is a consultant for several venture capital firms.

A founding director of the San Diego Biomedical Industry Council, Birndorf is a director of the Cancer Center of the University of California at San Diego and is a presidential appointee to the U.S. Department of Commerce Biotechnology Technical Advisory Committee. He is president and a director of the San Diego Polo Club.

Marshall received a bachelor's degree in political science from Wayne State and a law degree from the University of Michigan. After graduation she joined the legal affairs division of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and was that agency's first female officer.

In 1982 Marshall became the first woman to serve as finance director for the city of Detroit. In addition to the operational and administrative responsibilities for the city's budget, she was active in several entities responsible for development of major projects, including the Cobo Convention Center, Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Facility and Chrysler's Jefferson Jeep Plant.

In addition to her duties with Waycor Development Co. and Barden International, Marshall is active with the Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Detroit presidential appointee to the U.S. Department of Commerce Biotechnology Technical Advisory Committee. He is president and a director of the San Diego Polo Club.

Marshall received a bachelor's degree in political science from Wayne State and a law degree from the University of Michigan. After graduation she joined the legal affairs division of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and was that agency's first female officer.

In 1982 Marshall became the first woman to serve as finance director for the city of Detroit. In addition to the operational and administrative responsibilities for the city's budget, she was active in several entities responsible for development of major projects, including the Cobo Convention Center, Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Facility and Chrysler's Jefferson Jeep Plant.

In addition to her duties with Waycor Development Co. and Barden International, Marshall is active with the Boy Scouts of Metropolitan Detroit, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Museum of African-American History.

The awards ceremony will begin with a 5:30 p.m. reception in the McGregor Memorial Conference Center followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Arts Auditorium and dinner at 7:15 p.m. in the Community Arts Gallery. Tickets are $45 for the reception, program and dinner, or $15 for the reception and program only.

Reservations are requested by Friday, May 9. For more information call Donna Morrison at 577-6486.

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