Leadership

Dr. Joan Fusco has thirty years’ experience in the biotechnology/vaccines industry serving across major functional areas with 20 of those years in executive management holding responsibility for technical, programmatic, and general operations. Her expertise is navigating the biopharmaceutical product development life cycle from concept to commercialization. Her various operational leadership positions have resulted in the successful commercialization of four new products with significant healthcare and revenue impact (2 US and 2 EU/Can/Global).

Dr. Fusco earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology (Biological Sciences; bacterial virulence/immunity factors) from the University of Pittsburgh. She has deep experience in the development of a multitude of vaccine products for existing and emerging infectious diseases and biothreats, including filoviruses, meningitis A/B/C, Hib, Group B strep, Group A strep, pseudomonas, gonorrhea, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, pneumococcus, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, smallpox, anthrax, plague, influenza (seasonal and pandemic), and Zika. She has presented at numerous conferences and served on Welcome Trust’s Ebola Vaccine Team B.

Michael McGinnis has nearly thirty years of general management, international business development, strategic planning, alliance management, marketing, and program management experience in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries. He has executive-level industry experience, with particular competencies around progressing product development programs and driving the achievement of organizational growth targets.

Mr. McGinnis earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Towson University, an M.B.A. from Loyola University Maryland, and an M.S. in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University.

Joe has more than 35 years of experience in the vaccine and biopharmaceutical industry, with extensive expertise in Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC), including the design, construction, and operation of CGMP manufacturing facilities, technology transfer, process development, manufacturing, and supply chain management. He has demonstrated expertise in the ownership and operation of small- and large-scale CGMP cell culture, fermentation, and purification facilities, with a focus on live viral vaccines and recombinant technologies.

Prior to joining Public Health Vaccines, Joe held positions of increasing responsibility, leading multiple drug and vaccine candidates from early-stage development through licensure, commercialization, and global product launch. Most recently, he served as a founding partner and technical operations leader at Crozet BioPharma. His industry experience includes executive and leadership roles with BioProtection Systems/NewLink Genetics, GSK/Novartis Vaccines, GE/Xcellerex, Wyeth, Lonza, Becton Dickinson, Repligen Corporation, and Abbott Biotech.

Joe earned a BS degree from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Rick brings more than over 30 years of experience in non-clinical vaccine research, analytical development, analytical validation, and GCLP testing of clinical trial specimens and for analytics supporting manufacturing and control of biological products. Rick’s emphasis is in the field of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against infectious diseases and has had substantial involvement in the licensure of 7 vaccines: 2nd and 3rd generation smallpox, yellow fever, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, and Ebola focusing on both systemic and mucosal immunity.

Rick received his BS degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and his MA from Boston University. He has published over 23 scientific papers and has 3 patents.

Kelly Scappaticci has over 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical and vaccine industry with expertise in project management and quality control. Her experience includes successful management of government and non-government programs as well as oversight of various subcontracting organizations including government institutes, universities, CDMOs, and contract testing organizations. In addition, Ms. Scappaticci has extensive quality control expertise in establishing product in-process testing and release specifications, validation of release assays, and stability testing of vaccine products.

Ms. Scappaticci earned her bachelor's degree in Chemistry with Honors from the College of the Holy Cross.

Becky has 25+ years of experience in corporate business roles including marketing communications, administration, and accounting & finance in a variety of industries and for non-profits to Fortune 50 firms. Her leadership in these roles allowed those organizations to successfully plan for and meet their business goals. Specific areas of interest and strength include developing and implementing strategies for internal and external communications, brand management, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring internal operations facilitate the ability of staff to deliver on customer needs.

Becky earned her undergraduate and MBA degrees from Northeastern University, Boston.