Steven R. Smith, R.PH, M.S., was raised in Nelson, a small Wisconsin town near the Mississippi River. He attended high school in Alma Wisconsin, graduated in a class of 37, and went on to earn a BS in Pharmacy and an MS in Pharmacy Administration, both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His advisor and major professor in graduate school was the late Dr. Robert W. Hammel, R.PH., Ph.D who was a great teacher, a great mentor, and a great friend.

Steve started his career in 1968 as a Marketing Research Analyst at the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo Michigan and then held Market Analyst, Product Manager and New Products Manager positions at Ross Laboratories and Abbott Laboratories.

Steve’s first managerial position was in 1978 when he was hired to establish a Marketing Research Department at American Critical Care, a small cardiovascular drug company. Subsequently Steve held licensing positions at American Critical Care, G. D. Searle and Fujisawa Healthcare, and taught both marketing and management evening classes to adult students pursuing BS degrees.

In 1987 Steve joined Miles Laboratories as VP Business Development, responsible for licensing, business development and marketing research. In 2000 he joined Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences in Petaluma, California as VP Marketing and Business Development, responsible for sales, marketing, licensing and business development. Steve is now retired and lives in Petaluma California with Judy, his wife of 45 years.

With an industry career spanning 42-years, Steve gained broad real world experience at prescription drug, OTC drug, and pharmaceutical formulation development companies. Working for a dozen companies also allowed him to experience multiple cultures, bosses and managers, all of which were helpful in writing this guide.