Pfizer staff to explore new career opportunities at Wayne State University

Wayne State University’s Department of Executive and Professional Development, in collaboration with Wayne State’s TechTown research and technology park, will host the Wayne State University Career Opportunities Day at Pfizer on Thursday, June 14, 2007 in the Pfizer Research Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Mich. The event is intended to introduce more than 500 Pfizer managers and executives to potential job opportunities, as well as opportunities in continuing education, research and entrepreneurship.

“We want to help the State of Michigan retain the expertise and talent that exists at Pfizer and leverage it in ways that can promote and support business development in the region,” notes Ahmad M. Ezzeddine, associate vice president for educational outreach at Wayne State University. “We have resources at Wayne State University that we can mobilize to support that endeavor, and help Pfizer employees in the process.”

Randal Charlton, interim executive director of TechTown, Wayne State’s 43-acre research and technology park, adds that it is important for Pfizer managers and executives to understand the breadth and scope of options available to them through Wayne State.

“We have a $220 million annual research budget driven by our milestone achievements in emergent industries such as life sciences, alternative energy, nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing among others,” explains Charlton. “Wayne State’s medical, law, nursing, social work and pharmacy schools are regarded as among the best in the nation. Our College of Liberal Arts and Sciences boasts an impressive number of internationally acclaimed scientists and our Office of Technology

Transfer licenses patents and successful start-ups on a regular basis. Wayne State is a place where mature students can thrive either by adopting a new vocation or realizing their business aspirations.”

In addition to presentations on employment and educational opportunities by each of Wayne State’s 11 schools and colleges, Thursday’s event will feature 45-minute workshops that give participants a taste of “Wayne State’s Advanced Entrepreneurial Program,” a CEO boot camp designed to help prospective entrepreneurs cultivate a business idea and understand the dynamics of starting a company. According to Ezzeddine, the “Advanced Entrepreneurial Program” could be available to Pfizer employees as early as this summer.

The June 14 workshops encourage Pfizer managers and executives to assess their readiness to start a new business by posing such self-analytical questions as:

• Do I have the background and education to be successful?
• What is the right business for me?
• How do I secure financing?

Wayne State experts at the event will specifically address financing, marketing, human resources planning and venture capital funding challenges among others.

“Wayne State and Pfizer have a long and impressive history as partners,” says Charlton. “Pfizer has engaged in many collaborative research projects with Wayne State over the years, supported us philanthropically and even employed the spouses of many of our faculty members. Helping them find ways to become a part of the Wayne State family is the very least we can do to help them, help ourselves and in the long run, help our state.”

TechTown empowers entrepreneurs to build successful technology businesses that improve the quality of life for people across the country and around the world. At TechTown, we provide the support and access to capital needed to build high tech companies in Detroit.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to nearly 33,000 students.