Board & Staff
The HBA Board of Directors sets policies, identifies and acts on strategic issues of vital
importance to the mission of the HBA, and works to meet the needs of all individual
members and corporate partners
Front Row (left to right): Carol Davis-Grossman; Lori Ryan; Elizabeth M. Mutisya, MD; Cathy Kerzner; Donna R. Cryer, JD; Susan E. Torroella, MBA. Back Row (left to right): Laurie Cooke, RPh; Violet B. Aldaia; Ceci Zak; Sheryl “Sherry” Fox; Karla Gonye; Eileen Woods; Arlene Kirsch, PhD; Leanne C. Wagner; Eve Dryer; Susan Adler; Deborah Coogan Seltzer; Leigh Ann Soltysiak Luzzi.
Click here for a list of HBA's Previous Presidents
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 2008 Officers
President
Elizabeth M. Mutisya, MD
VP, US Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer
Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
President-Elect
Ceci Zak
VP, General Therapeutics Marketing
sanofi–aventis
First Vice President
Susan E. Torroella, MBA
CEO & President
Columbia MedCom Group, Inc.
Second Vice President
Lori Ryan
Head of Finance CVM Sales Force
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Immediate Past President
Cathy Kerzner
SVP, Commercial Portfolio Management
Wyeth
Treasurer
Yvonne D'Amelio
Chief Financial Officer and Principal
Vox Medica, Inc.
Secretary
Deborah Coogan Seltzer
Vice President
Pearson Partners International
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 2008 Directors-at-Large
Membership & Corporate Development
Susan Adler
Vice President, Commercial Analytics
Sepracor Inc.
Positioning & Marketing
Violet B. Aldaia
EVP, Director of Branding and Strategic Marketing
BrandEdge Global
External Communications & Strategic Alliances
Eve Dryer
President
Vox Medica Health Care Public Relations Group
Enduring Research
Sheryl “Sherry” Fox
President North America
THE PLANNING SHOP international
Professional Development
Arlene Kirsch, PhD
Area/Segment Vice President, Managed Markets, Kaiser Team
GlaxoSmithKline
Special Recognition Programs, Key Opinion Leaders & Advisors
Lativia Ray-Alston
Business Development
Leigh Ann Soltysiak Luzzi
Marketing Director, Worldwide
ETHICON, Inc a Johnson & Johnson Company
Member Communications & Talent Development
Eileen Woods
Managing Partner
Agentive Sales & Marketing Solutions
Organizational Alignment & Effectiveness
Leanne C. Wagner
Vice President, Commercial Differentiation Strategy
Wyeth
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 2008 Director, Council of Chapter Presidents
Director, Council of Chapter Presidents
Karla Gonye
Athena Diagnostics
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 2008 Non-Voting Director
Chair, Chapter & Affiliate Mentors
Barbara Pritchard
President
The Pritchard Group/
Intermedica, Inc.
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Chief Executive Officer
Laurie Cooke, RPh
Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association
Executive Director
Carol Davis-Grossman
Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association
Director, Chapter Development
Mary-Margaret Armstrong
Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association
Director, Corporate Development
Marianne Fray
Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association
Director, IT
A. Alison Otstot, PhD
Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association
Event Database Associate
Mary Ann “Maddie” Dillon
Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE HBA BOARD FUNCTIONS
The HBA Board of Directors sets policies, identifies and acts on strategic issues of vital importance to the mission of the HBA, and works to meet the needs of all individual members and corporate partners.
The structure of the leadership roles has been created to allow for effective succession planning by a clearly defined progression through the ranks of increasingly senior leadership positions. Typically, individuals progress first by volunteering to serve on regional committees, then by showing interest and aptitude in chairing committees with an opportunity of being selected for election to a Chapter/Affiliate Board of Directors. Individuals serving on boards are often considered by the HBA nominating committee to serve on the HBA Board in future years. Election to the Executive Committee generally involves subsequent progression through several positions of increasing responsibility to groom individuals for the key HBA leadership roles.
Each of the chapters, affiliates and prospective affiliates has a Board of Directors that is closely aligned with the HBA organizational structure with differences that allow flexibility so they can meet regional member needs.
2008 Officers (Executive Committee)
President: Elizabeth M. Mutisya, MD. The President of the HBA presides over meetings of the HBA Executive Committee and the HBA Board of Directors, guides the organization’s activities, and identifies appropriate strategic activities essential to ensure the growth and vitality of the organization on a worldwide scale. Term is one year.
President-Elect: Ceci Zak. The President-Elect serves as the Executive Committee liaison to the Directors-At-Large who oversee Enduring Research and Business Development. She also serves as co-chair of the WOTY event. Term is one year.
First Vice President: Susan Torroella, MBA. The First Vice President serves as the Executive Committee liaison for the Directors-At-Large who oversee Membership & Corporate Development, the Council of Chapter Presidents, and the Chapter and Affiliate Mentors. She also has responsibility for the board’s annual Leadership Institute. Term is one year.
Second Vice President: Lori Ryan. The Second Vice President serves as the Executive Committee liaison to the Directors-At-Large who oversee Positioning & Marketing and External Communications & Strategic Alliances. Term is one year.
Treasurer: Yvonne D'Amelio. The Treasurer oversees the budget and finance activities of the worldwide organization. Term is two years.
Secretary: Deborah Coogan Seltzer. The Secretary is responsible for corporate governance including corporate Board meeting minutes, the Annual HBA Business Meeting and policies and procedures. She also serves as the Executive Committee liaison to the Directors-At-Large who oversee Organizational Alignment & Effectiveness and Member Communications & Talent Management. Term is one year.
Immediate Past President: Cathy Kerzner. Serves as the Executive Committee liaison to the Directors-At-Large who oversee Special Recognition Programs, Key Opinion Leaders & Advisors and Professional Development. In addition, she serves as Chair of the Nominating Committee who nominate the slate of officers and directors for the coming year and the Woman of the Year (WOTY), Honorable Mentor and Star Volunteer. She also serves as co-Chair of the WOTY committee. Term is one year.
2008 Directors-At-Large
Membership & Corporate Development: Susan Adler. This directorship is responsible for the recruitment, retention and support of corporate partners and individual members.
Positioning & Marketing: Violet Aldaia. This directorship manages all marketing strategy and brand development for the association and all of its assets.
External Communications & Strategic Alliances: Eve Dryer. This directorship manages the image of the HBA through public affairs, media and strategic alliances.
Enduring Research: Sherry Fox. This directorship manages all research including member polling, targeted research, such as the new HBA E.D.G.E. in Leadership Study, as well as the HBA’s research publication strategy.
Professional Development: Arlene Kirsch, PhD. This directorship is responsible for the annual international Leadership Conference and all professional development offerings of the HBA.
Special Recognition Programs, Key Opinion Leaders and Advisors: Lativia Ray-Alston. This directorship is responsible for managing the annual HBA Woman of the Year award luncheon, the ACE Award, and the Advisory Board.
Business Development: Leigh Ann Soltysiak Luzzi. This directorship is responsible for reviewing and recommending new initiatives including an analysis of new program feasibility to grow the organization and better meet member needs.
Member Communications & Talent Development: Eileen Woods. This directorship is responsible for intra-chapter and member communications, the recruitment and leadership development of volunteers, and HBA publications.
Organizational Alignment & Effectiveness: Leanne C. Wagner. This directorship oversees operational alignment as well as all system and process designs, strategic plan and the HBA web site.
2008 Director, Council of Chapter Presidents
Council of Chapter Presidents: Karla Gonye. This is an ex officio directorship that represents the interests of chapters and affiliates and key driver of the annual Leadership Institute.
2008 Non-Voting Directors
Chair, Chapter & Affiliate Mentors: Barbara Pritchard. This is a non-voting member of the 2008 board who serves as the liaison to the Mentors of the Chapters and Affiliates.