Merit and Biographies

Roy Vagelos - 2015 Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award

Dr. Vagelos has an unmatched record in building both pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies into top world-class enterprises that effectively translate science into medicine. Under his leadership Merck was elected Fortune’s Most Admired Corporation seven years in a row, an extraordinary achievement.

“It is remarkable to have an active career over six decades but it is truly exceptional to head the legendary Merck & Co., Inc. for a decade, taking it to new heights, retire, and subsequently spend two decades developing Regeneron into the fifth largest biotech company in the USA,” Mr. George Rodriguez, Chair of CME and Board member of the ACS NY Section noted. “Further, his passion and support for STEM education are truly exemplary.”

“My career began when I majored in chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania.  Then my knowledge of chemistry permitted me to work in medicine, biochemistry and drug discovery, and ultimately to lead a giant research-based pharmaceutical company, Merck.  After retirement, I agreed to chair the board of Regeneron because of the superb quality of its science.  It was bound to succeed,” Dr. Vagelos said. “I wholeheartedly support the American Chemical Society, and in particular the CME group, for their initiatives to expand STEM student programs and to provide a venue for the industries of chemistry to learn the many paths to progress and growth.”

Roy Vagelos is the retired Chairman and CEO of Merck & Co., Inc.  He received an AB in 1950 from the University of Pennsylvania and an MD in 1954 from Columbia University.  After working at Massachusetts General Hospital, the National Institutes of Health and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, he joined Merck Research Laboratories in 1975. In 1985, he became CEO and subsequently Chairman of the company until retirement in 1994.

Since becoming Chairman of the biotech company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in 1995, he continues in that role while also serving as Chairman of the Board of Advisors at Columbia University Medical Center.  Dr. Vagelos is a member of a number of public policy and advisory boards, including the National Math & Science Initiative and The Nature Conservancy.

The author of more than 100 scientific papers, Dr. Vagelos is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. He has received many awards in science and business as well as 14 honorary doctorates.  In the past, he was Chairman of the Board of the University of Pennsylvania and served on many boards including TRW and McDonnell Douglas.

Erik Fyrwald - 2015 Global Growth Leadership Award

Growth is the word most sought after in the business world yet it is a word that firmly characterizes Mr. Fyrwald’s track record at DuPont, Nalco, Ecolab, and now Univar, which holds the leading position in North America for the distribution of chemistry and related products and services, and No. 2 in the world.

“The meteoric rise of Erik’s career has been breathtaking. He has a unique ability to engineer a business culture of performance and collaboration that surely yields results,” Mr. George Rodriguez, Chairman of CME and Board member of the ACS NY Section noted. “His commitment to advancing the industries of chemistry and supporting STEM students is a quality that CME admires.”

“It is an honor to receive this personal and professional recognition from the American Chemical Society,” Mr. Fyrwald said. “Over the years, I have appreciated the American Chemical Society, and in particular the CME group, for their successful efforts in giving STEM students industry perspectives that encourage leadership in innovation and sustainability.”

Mr. Fyrwald joined Univar in May 2012 as President and Chief Executive Officer. From December 2011 to May 2012, Mr. Fyrwald was President of Ecolab, a cleaning and sanitation, water treatment and oil and gas products and services provider.

From February 2008 to December 2011, Mr. Fyrwald was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nalco, a water treatment and oil and gas products and services company. From 2003 to 2008, Mr. Fyrwald served as Group Vice President of the Agriculture and Nutrition Division of the DuPont Company.

Mr. Fyrwald serves on the board of directors for Eli Lilly, Amsted Industries, The Society of Chemical Industry and The Field Museum. He holds a chemical engineering degree from the University of Delaware and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Michael Fisch - 2015 Private Equity Leadership Award

American Securities has a proven record of generating superior returns by making investments in great businesses and helping existing management better them.  American Securities invests in market-leading North American companies, and has more than $15 billion under management.

“Partnership. Consistency. Stability. They represent the qualities that Michael Fisch and Scott Wolff bring to their relationships with management teams,” Mr. George Rodriguez, Chairman of CME and Board member of the ACS NY Section noted. “Further, American Securities lives by its core values, including giving back to the community.”

“We are proud of the partnerships we have established with management teams, intermediaries, and others in the chemical industry,” Mr. Fisch said. “We commend the dedication of the American Chemical Society, and in particular the CME group, to leadership and scholars programs for STEM students, which are vital pillars for prosperity,” noted Mr. Wolff.

Michael Fisch founded the modern American Securities in 1994. Before founding American Securities, Mr. Fisch was a partner in two private equity funds, a consultant in the Paris office of Bain & Company and a professional in the mergers and acquisitions department of Goldman Sachs.

He has authored a number of articles, lectured at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business since 2006 and appeared as a guest on national television programs, all on private equity and investing. He holds an MBA from Stanford University and a BA degree from Dartmouth College.

Scott Wolff - 2015 Private Equity Leadership Award

American Securities has a proven record of generating superior returns by making investments in great businesses and helping existing management better them.  American Securities invests in market-leading North American companies, and has more than $15 billion under management.

“Partnership. Consistency. Stability. They represent the qualities that Michael Fisch and Scott Wolff bring to their relationships with management teams,” Mr. George Rodriguez, Chairman of CME and Board member of the ACS NY Section noted. “Further, American Securities lives by its core values, including giving back to the community.”

“We are proud of the partnerships we have established with management teams, intermediaries, and others in the chemical industry,” Mr. Fisch said. “We commend the dedication of the American Chemical Society, and in particular the CME group, to leadership and scholars programs for STEM students, which are vital pillars for prosperity,” noted Mr. Wolff.

Scott Wolff joined American Securities in 2002. Scott is currently Chairman of the Board of Emerald Performance Materials, Royal Adhesives, and SeaStar Solutions as well as a director of Arizona Chemical and GT Technologies.

Mr. Wolff was previously a director of Advanced Drainage Systems, General Chemical, Lakeside Energy, and MECS.  Prior to joining American Securities, he worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Merrill Lynch. He holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, and a BS in Finance from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business.

Tracy Day - 2015 Science Involvement Leadership Award

WSF is one of the world's largest annual science festivals with over 1.5 million attendees since 2008 and over 200,000 people in 2015 alone.  From Kindergarten-age children to super-centenarians, attendees enjoy the WSF diverse showcase of the world's leading scientists, artists and influential thinkers, united in bringing science to life in Manhattan.

“The level of creativity and energy generated by this admirable couple is simply irresistible, and represents the pillar for such colossal activity in the city that never sleeps,” Mr. George Rodriguez, Leadership Awards founder and ACS NY Section Board member noted. “In less than one decade, the WSF has become the standard by which other public science engagements are measured.”

“"It is both gratifying and flattering to be recognized by the CME for our efforts to bring science to a general audience with the excitement and passion the profession deserves, a goal World Science Festival shares with this distinguished organization," said Ms. Day.,” Tracy said. “We are delighted to be recognized by a salient group of the largest scientific society in the world and look forward to celebrating CME’s 61 years of service at the prestigious Leadership Awards event,” noted Dr. Greene.

Tracy Day co-founded the World Science Festival in 2008. she serves as CEO and is a four-time National News Emmy award-winning journalist. At ABC News she was producer for This Week with David Brinkley, and Nightline.  She covered the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nelson Mandela and the Gulf War. She has produced documentaries for PBS, The Discovery Channel, CNN and CNBC. She won a Hugo Award, a 2004 Clarion Award and CINE Golden Eagle for investigative journalism. Day is a graduate of Duke University and has been an adjunct professor in the Leadership and Arts program at the Sanford Institute for Public Policy.

Brian Greene - 2015 Science Involvement Leadership Award

WSF is one of the world's largest annual science festivals with over 1.5 million attendees since 2008 and over 200,000 people in 2015 alone.  From Kindergarten-age children to super-centenarians, attendees enjoy the WSF diverse showcase of the world's leading scientists, artists and influential thinkers, united in bringing science to life in Manhattan.

“The level of creativity and energy generated by this admirable couple is simply irresistible, and represents the pillar for such colossal activity in the city that never sleeps,” Mr. George Rodriguez, Leadership Awards founder and ACS NY Section Board member noted. “In less than one decade, the WSF has become the standard by which other public science engagements are measured.”

“"It is both gratifying and flattering to be recognized by the CME for our efforts to bring science to a general audience with the excitement and passion the profession deserves, a goal World Science Festival shares with this distinguished organization," said Ms. Day.,” Tracy said. “We are delighted to be recognized by a salient group of the largest scientific society in the world and look forward to celebrating CME’s 61 years of service at the prestigious Leadership Awards event,” noted Dr. Greene.

Brian Greene  is a professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University, and is recognized for a number of groundbreaking discoveries in his field of superstring theory. His books, The Elegant Universe, The Fabric of the Cosmos, and The Hidden Reality, have collectively spent 65 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and were the basis of two award-winning NOVA mini-series, which he hosted.

Alan Alda - Award Remarks

Only two people in the world have won more than Alan Alda's seven Emmy Awards. Nominated for a mind-boggling 31 Emmys and winner of six Golden Globe Awards and one Academy Award, Alan Alda, actor, director and writer, has had a lifelong interest in science. He hosted PBS’ Scientific American Frontiers from 1993 to 2005, an experience he has called “the best thing I ever did in front of a camera.” Considering his career – from M*A*S*H and The West Wing on television to an array of notable movie and theater roles – that’s quite an endorsement. After interviewing hundreds of scientists, Mr. Alda became convinced that many researchers have wonderful stories to tell, but some need help in telling them. Mr. Alda played an important role in the creation of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, and has led workshops that use improvisational theater games to help scientists communicate more directly and personally. He was co-chair of the 2009 World Science Festival in New York City, hosted the 2010 documentary mini-series The Human Spark, and has written a play about the life of Marie Curie. Alan is presently a visiting professor of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at the SUNY Stony Brook campus.