Cynthia Dowd Greene '78 Entrepreneur and Leader in the Pharmaceuticals Industry

Cynthia Dowd Greene '78

Cynthia "Cindy" Dowd Greene '78 (ChE) believes that engineers, by training and inclination, "look at things differently."

"As an engineer you look at what already exists, what you want to do, and then you figure out the best way to get from one point to the other," says Cindy. "As a result, you develop important analytical and problem-solving skills."

These skills, combined with a strong work ethic, have resulted for Cindy in a notable 27-year career in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Cindy, now a successful consultant and entrepreneur, has been recognized over the years with a number of professional awards. Most recently she was honored by her peers in the Central New York business community with admission to the Greater Syracuse Area "Women in Business" Honor Roll for 2005.

"Hard work, honesty, openness and the ability to ask questions are the core values that I believe have enabled me to succeed," she told CNY Business Magazine of her "Women In Business" honor.

Cindy began her career working for General Foods as an assistant process engineer, and then gained experience in commercial development and product management at Stauffer Chemical Company. She went on to join Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1983 as an industrial sales manager for North and South America , and later for Europe and China . Over the next 15 years she rose quickly within the Technical Operations Division of the company. Her results-oriented business acumen and proven leadership were instrumental in increasing sales and profits and identifying new opportunities for tactical growth.

Her 1998 appointment as senior director of Franchise Development for the company's Oncology/Immunology Division is an achievement Cindy considers one of the highlights of her career to date. As part of her responsibilities, Cindy gained valuable experience in Life Cycle Management, an industry process of managing commercialized product portfolios to assure the needs of patients are met.

Since leaving Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cindy has established herself as a valued consultant to Newport Strategies Inc., a Thomson Scientific Company, where she now serves as vice president of Industry Research. She plans to continue as a consultant to Newport part-time as she embarks on her latest career endeavor. Cindy and a number of her former colleagues from Bristol-Myers Squibb have recently founded Rondaxe Pharma, LLC, a company that will provide drug product development and manufacturing strategies to pharmaceutical companies. Cindy will also serve as vice president of Business Development for the new company.

Throughout her remarkable career, Cindy has maintained close ties with her alma mater. "Alumni can play a vital role in the ongoing evolution of the University," she says. "We are, after all, part of Clarkson's history."

"As an engineer you look at what already exists, what you want to do, and then you figure out the best way to get from one point to the other," says Cindy. "As a result, you develop important analytical and problem-solving skills."

In addition to serving as an alumni admission volunteer, for which she received the Alumni Admission Recognition Award in 1993, Cindy's activities on behalf of Clarkson are extensive. After serving the Alumni National Executive Council as a member-at-large as well as vice president, she became the first woman to serve as president of the Clarkson Alumni Association in 1996. In addition to her work in the CNY Alumni Chapter, Cindy has worked as a phonathon chair and chaired a number of class reunion activities, and returns to Clarkson regularly as a guest speaker. Her ongoing contributions to Clarkson have been widely recognized and in 2003, Cindy was honored with the Golden Knight Award, Clarkson's highest alumni honor.

"Clarkson afforded me with many opportunities and I believe it is important to give something back by sharing my positive experience with others," explains Cindy. "There's lots of CU blood in our family," she adds referring to husband, Mark Greene '77 (ChE), brother Rick Dowd '81 (ID), brother-in-law John Greene '79 (CEE), son Bryan '04 (ChE), and daughter Beth '07 (ME). Extended family members William Budd '48, Jon Payne '87 (ID), and James Lowell '82 (ID) are also Clarkson graduates.

Cindy's work on behalf of the University has influenced countless numbers of other students in their decision to attend Clarkson, among whom, Cindy hopes, are new or aspiring engineers. "Given the alarming shortage of engineers hailing from the U.S., I really hope I can inspire more young people, particularly women, to join the ranks of the profession, which remains largely dominated by men. I hope by example I am able to make a difference in their careers and ultimately in the future of my profession."