Operations Executive Profile: Shawn Fitzpatrick

July 12, 2016
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing sits down with Shawn Fitzpatrick, Associate director of manufacturing-bioreactor operations, Shire Plc

Shawn Fitzpatrick,
Shire

How did you get started in the biopharma industry?

I grew up in South Boston, Massachusetts, which at the time was a close-knit neighborhood. Movies made in recent years such as Good Will Hunting, Gone Baby Gone, The Departed and Black Mass and so on accurately depict the neighborhood I grew up in. Typical career paths included blue collar jobs such as a trade or fire/police or other avenues that could land you in jail.

After high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I tested the waters in several professions in order to find my way. My schooling included culinary arts college for a couple of years when I thought I was going to be a baker, followed by EMT training and even bartending school. One day in 1996 my mom found an ad in the Boston Globe for the JAS (Just-a-Start) Biomedical Careers program.

I always liked science and thought, why not? I applied, interviewed, and was eventually accepted into the program. It was something new and exciting and I learned a lot going through the program. I worked a full-time job in a kitchen nursing home at night while trying to find the time to study, which was typically getting to class an hour or two early every day in order to do my homework. I made it through, graduated from the program around nine months later, and the job search began.

Coming out of school I landed my first job as a manufacturing technician in cell culture at Serono Laboratories and worked there for a little over a year until the plant was shut down and I was laid off. I dipped my toes into research a bit with my second job at Genetic Institute, but the program was eventually terminated and I was laid off again. I began to wonder if I made the right move going into biotech. I eventually landed at Transkaryotic Therapies Inc. (TKT) in June of 1999. I started as a manufacturing technician and worked my way up the chain, eventually becoming a supervisor. In 2005, Shire acquired TKT and my journey continued.

In my nearly 17 years at the company, I’ve worked in numerous roles supporting the startup of our three internal manufacturing sites in Massachusetts. My current role is Associate Director of Manufacturing- Bioreactor Operations. One thing I can say of my time here is that I’ve never been bored! Along the way I realized that I wanted to finish my education — of course, while I was married with one child and another one on the way. I began night courses in business at Becker College, which were held every Wednesday night from 6-10 p.m. This was a bit of a juggling act — working, raising our kids, going to school and studying. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a little stressful during this time. But I’m proud to say that I graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

As part of giving back, I sit on advisory boards for local high schools that offer a biotech program, as well as some local community colleges. I was recently appointed to be on the board of directors at the Just-A-Start Corporation, which was a great honor coming from their Biomedical Careers program that helped launch my career.

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Are there any defining moments you’ve experienced in daily operations you’d like to share?

Back in April of 2005, Shire had just announced the acquisition of TKT; about 2-3 days after the announcement the manufacturing plant (the only one) caught fire. First of all, thankfully no one was hurt. It felt as if it was my own house going up in flames as I was there from the time the facility started up. Plus, it was our only manufacturing plant producing clinical and commercial products.

The team as a whole pulled to together to get the plant back into operations. This required cleaning and repairing equipment along with some level of construction activity. It didn’t matter what level or group you were in — everyone pulled together to get the plant back on line. Technicians and senior directors were working side by side cleaning equipment, discarding materials, etc. I’m proud to say we had the plant back online in roughly two months. The response from everyone working there was something I still reflect back on today. I often share this story with staff today as an example of teamwork and what can be accomplished by sharing a single goal and going after it.

What do you think is one of the biggest challenges — specific to manufacturing — that the industry faces?

There are many challenges specific to manufacturing from changing regulations to competition. I think one of the biggest challenges that the industry is facing is ensuring there are more individuals coming out of school that are job-ready. Working in a cGMP environment is very regulated and will require training for anyone that is hired. Having some basic knowledge/exposure to cGMP manufacturing, compliance, operational excellence, SOPs, and working in a cleanroom are core items that most students coming out of school don’t have, but should. I believe there is more that industry can do by partnering with these schools/universities to ensure that the needs of the industry are reflected in the coursework students have. Industry can accomplish this when people like me volunteer to be part of an advisory board to develop curriculum for students. Companies can also donate up-to-date equipment so that students are familiar with what they will see when they enter the job force, give students the opportunity to tour manufacturing sites and also offer internships.

I mentioned earlier some areas where I offer up my time. I know several other colleagues who do this as well — on their own time. If industry established this more as a part of doing business, the better chance there is of individuals coming into the workforce better prepared and able to get up to speed more quickly.

Can you share your comments/opinions on emerging industry trends?

Emerging industry trends: great question. Not sure if I can just list one, but a growing trend especially this past year is mergers and acquisitions. It seems as if every week I’m reading an article on some company buying another. An article I read the other day mentioned in 2015 alone, for global M &A activity there were 954 transactions with a worth of over $350 billion.

I’m also often asked about aspects of building a solid culture and motivating a team, specifically in the manufacturing world. Shire as a whole does a great job with the patient connection. There are pictures of patients throughout the hallways in all of our buildings. We also dedicated our manufacturing facility in Lexington to our patients and have a viewing window we call the patient wall that displays dozens of names of our patients. Also, we have a strong patient advocacy group that works hard to organize patient visits, giving employees an opportunity to hear a little bit about what they are going through. Being able to put a face to a patient on products that we work on is something that helps drive an organization, and we aren’t just here for a paycheck.

I’m big on quotes for my motivation. I often hang up a motivational quote of the month by my desk. It’s bit of a blend of business leaders and sometimes celebrity personalities. One favorite quote in particular is:

“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” — Bruce Lee

Shawn Fitzpatrick started his Biotechnology career in 1997 at Serono Laboratories as a manufacturing technician, moving to Genetics Institute as a research technician in 1998. He joined his current company, Shire (formerly TKT, Inc.), in 1999 as a manufacturing technician in cell culture. Since joining Shire, Fitzpatrick has held a number of roles of increasing responsibility in the manufacturing organization including supervisor, manager, senior project manager and associate director of manufacturing- bioreactors. He also sits on the board of directors for the non-profit organization Just-A-Start, Inc., which is dedicated to creating opportunity, strengthening community and improving lives.

Fitzpatrick graduated with honors from Becker College, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He grew up in South Boston and currently lives on Lake Quinsigamond, in Worcester, Massachusetts. In his free time, he enjoys boating, swimming and fishing on the lake with his wife and two children.