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Welcome to the ISPE San Diego Chapter

History of the Chapter

The San Diego Chapter was founded in 1993 and consists of biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturers, architects/engineers, construction firms, government agencies, universities, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers. Individual functions within these companies include production/manufacturing, project/facility maintenance engineering, QA/QC, process development, microbiology, regulatory affairs, training, materials management, purchasing, and corporate and product management.

ISPE provides tremendous value through various products and services that include on-going education and training programs, the ability to stay current on the latest industry trends on a worldwide basis, working with the FDA to develop Baseline® Pharmaceutical Engineering Guides, articles, career opportunities activities and ISPE Discussion Forum Groups.

The San Diego Chapter was formed by a core of engineers and other professionals associated with the rapidly growing biotechnology community in the fall of 1992. The inaugural meeting was held in March 1993 and was attended by more than 140 representatives from some of San Diego’s primary biotechnology and related firms.

Ted Keenan was the Chairman of the steering committee and the Chapter’s first President. He has been succeeded by Andy Darragh, Doug Hoover, Ed Domanico, David Chin, John Lohnes, Ken Hamilton, E J Brandreth, Jim Ferguson, Brian Croll, Phil Boncer, Clint Pepper, PhD, V. Swaminathan (Swami) and currently by Don Holden as President. The San Diego Chapter has nearly 500 members.

This seemingly "relaxed" group has been a silent powerhouse in the local industry. In 1994, the Chapter was instrumental in helping develop the University of California San Diego’s Biotechnology Extension Program. At the time five of the Chapter’s board members were among the program’s 15 instructors. The program was initially designed to re-train laid-off defense workers to become viable biopharm industry employees. The current course is a certificate program geared specifically to keeping professionals and others up-to-date on current advances and regulatory issues in the biomedical industry.

Today, the San Diego Chapter offers regular Extended Education classes in Validation, Process Piping and Building Automation as well as facility tours, CEO Night and FDA Night dinner meetings, social events, an exhibit show and golf tournaments.

2010 Chapter Theme: Investing in the Future
Staying in the Black by Going Green

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