SQA Interviews: Recent Episodes

Society of Quality Assurance

Join us as we interview a variety of members in the Society of Quality Assurance about the early years of the organization, their career path in QA, and what keeps them engaged with the SQA community.

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In this episode, Robert Minicucci chats with Tommi Papson who has served as President of the PRCSQA and now as the Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging Director on the SQA Board.

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Join a conversation with Kamila Novak and Jane Loke on the "mutual enrichment" of their mentor/mentee relationship through SQA's Mentoring Program.

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Our SQA 2024 Roving Reporter, Tommi Papson, stopped JoAnn Boyd during her busy conference day to have a brief chat about her SQA activities.

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It's 2024 and we're welcoming SQA President, Joe Franchetti to this episode. Joe has been a key part of SQA's development in recent years, serving on many committees and Specialty Sections before taking on leadership positions on the Board of Directors. He shares his journey to a career in QA consulting and looks ahead to SQA's future in 2024 and beyond.

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Say Aloha to MaryEllen! Thanks to SQA Treasurer, MaryEllen Lander, RQAP-GCP for taking some time to talk about her role in SQA and her life as a consultant living and working in Hawaii.

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In this episode, we speak with Melanie Willis, RVT, BS, RQAP-GLP. Melanie joined the SQA Board as the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Director and shares how her unique life experiences influence her approach to that role.

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Karrel Joseph has dual RQAP credentials and more than seven years of experience as a quality professional. Through a professional mentor, he was encouraged to get involved with SQA. After realizing the benefits of being active in the Society, he continues to volunteer as much as possible and currently serves as the Early Career Director on the SQA Board.

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Steve Drzick, RQAP-GLP is a Quality Assurance Specialist at Charles River and a Director on the SQA Board. Steve shares a little insight into his approach to QA, including a memory he shared post-interview about an interaction with some SQA greats!

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Tracy Henthorn, RQAP-GLP is the Secretary for the Board of Directors and joined us for this chat about her path to a QA career and experience in SQA.

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Join member of the SQA Board of Directors, Hector Gamboa, for a short chat about his background and the benefits of SQA in developing a QA career.

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Learn how SQA Past President, Michelle Holbrook, RQAP-GLP went from teaching middle school to a job in the QA world and found a sense of community within SQA. Thanks for sharing your story, Michelle!

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SQA Board Director, Sherry Lee Dawson, shares her experience in her nearly 20 years with Charles River Labs as well as her efforts to launch online courses as part of the SQA Education Committee. Listen to learn more about Sherry!

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Alison serves as Executive Director for SQA and the SQA Learning Foundation. She works closely with the Society Boards on matters of governance, strategic planning, fundraising, policy and program development, membership development, and overall oversight of the organization. Get to know Alison on a more personal level in this episode!

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This month we welcome Lori Wright, RQAP-GLP to the interview chair. Lori is a current member of the SQA Board of Directors, SQA Distinguished Speaker and frequent Annual Meeting presenter.

“I attended my first SQA meeting in 1997 in Seattle, Washington and the various sessions appealed to me, but what really struck me was everyone was so knowledgeable and experienced… there was so much comradery, and I could feel that these people in this room really enjoyed being together!”

Thank you Lori for taking the time at the 7th Global QA Conference for this interview!

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Tom Purdue has been an SQA member since it's Roundtable days and has a lot of advice to share about getting the most out of your SQA membership and advancing a career in quality assurance. Our interviewer for this episode was Karrel Joseph, member of the SQA Board of Directors and Communication and History Committee, as well as the founding Chair of the Early Career Professional Development Specialty Section.

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We're starting 2023 with a conversation with SQA President, Cheryl McCarthy, CQA, RQAP-GCP, CMDA. Cheryl brings a wealth of QA experience to the job from her over 20 year career in quality assurance. We also get a little personal and get to know Cheryl outside of work (like her love for her family and 80's hair bands)! Thanks to SQA HQ social media guru, Robert Minicucci for hosting this fun interview.

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Steve and Cheryl continued their conversation "off air" but allowed us to share this insightful conversation about Steve's early struggles in his career.

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Steve Drzick has a long history of service in SQA, including as Chair of the Education Committee and Regulatory Forum (now Specialty Section Council) but he didn't always think he was cut out for a job in Quality Assurance. Cheryl McCarthy, of the Communication and History Committee, asks Steve about those early days and his journey to this point in his career. 

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Jackie Bushong, Chair of the Communication and History Committee, interviews one of the early members of QA Roundtables that started SQA - Linda Brown. Hear about Linda's experience with SQA over the years and interaction with FDA regulators through SQA Annual Meetings.  

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Robyn Durr-Henry has over 20 years of experience in the Quality Assurance profession. She is currently the Director of R&D Quality at Elanco in Greenfield, IN. In this interview, CHC member Patty Brant asks Robyn about her experience in the QA field and her advice for the next generation entering their quality assurance careers.

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Beth is the outgoing President of SQA and has shepherded the Society through this tumultuous year. In this interview with longtime SQA member Cheryl McCarthy, Beth shares her perspective on SQA's past, the challenges we face now, and the opportunities to come in 2021. 

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Join Karrel Joseph (Communications and History Committee member and Chair of the Early Career Development Specialty Section) as he interviews SQA past president, Stephen Rogenthien on his experience in QA and the Society and advice for the next generation of QA professionals.

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conducted by Patricia Brant

William is a recently-retired GLP QA consultant and has been an active member of the GLP Specialty Section and a founding member of the Mid-Atlantic Society of Quality Assurance.

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conducted by Cat Bens

Stu has been in the EPA regulated research throughout his career. He has been an SQA member since 1997 and is currently active on the board of the Rocky Mountain Regional Chapter. 

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conducted by Melissa Eitzen

Moira Bandoli is a long-serving SQA member, volunteering on many committees and specialty sections over the years and has served on the Board of Directors.

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conducted by Moira Bandoli

Stephanie has been in the QA field for over 30 years and has served as the President of the North Carolina Regional Chapter and the Pacific Regional Chapter of SQA. 

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conducted by Moira Bandoli

Richie Siconolfi is a Regulated Systems Compliance Leader at Procter & Gamble and a past SQA President and founding member of the precursor to SQA, the QA Roundtable.

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conducted by Jackie Bushong

Ralph has been active in SQA since it's QA Roundtable days and had a lot to share with us. He is a past-President and volunteer extraordinaire, and our Annual Meetings wouldn't be the same without his signature wit and friendly smile!

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conducted by JoAnn Boyd

Colin Brown is recently retired from his job as Head of Regulatory Compliance at Charles River Laboratories in Edinburgh, UK. He is a longtime member of SQA and plays in The Deviations, the SQA band.

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conducted by Jackie Bushong

Jim is a veteran SQA member and Past-President.

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conducted by JoAnn Boyd

Cat is a veteran SQA member, Past-President and Chair of the Communications and History Committee (formerly the Board of Publications).

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conducted by JoAnn Boyd

Kathryn Hackett Fields is a consultant with QualiStat, Inc. and long-time SQA member and leader of the Council for Professional Registration.

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conducted by JoAnn Boyd Rita Hattemer-Apostel has been a member of SQA since 2000 and has helped to expand the GCP focus of SQA trainings. Rita was Editor-in-Chief of the Quality Assurance Journal and President of the Swiss Professional Association of Quality Assurance.