These are 5 of the Science Center’s biggest success stories

The difference between a vision and a hallucination is how many people see it.
That’s how University City Science Center president and CEO Steve Tang defined “vision” as he accepted the Visionary of the Year Award on behalf of the Science Center at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Excellence Awards earlier this month. It was a nod to one of his mentors, Dr. Phil Gerbino, former president of USciences.
In his speech, Tang shouted out five of the Science Center’s biggest success stories:

• Hubert J.P. Schoemaker of Centocor
• Al West of SEI Investments
• The Bentley brothers of Bentley Systems
• Dan Skovronsky of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals
• Jeff Marrazzo of Spark Therapeutics

Read Tang’s whole speech and see the video the Chamber made about the Science Center below.

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Thank you, Rob Wonderling and your team at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber! I’d also like to thank Bud Tyler, Chair of the Chamber’s Small Business Board of Directors, and Kevin Boyle of Stradley Ronon, which generously sponsored the Visionary Award. This is quite an honor!
As you all saw in the video, the Science Center has been a vital connection for Greater Philadelphia’s innovation and entrepreneurial community for 52 years. We are connected to three of tonight’s awardees. Like Brownstein, we were founded in 1963. Chris Cera’s first company, Vuzit, was located at the Science Center. And, I first met Brian Lipstein at a Wharton VIP reception in Quorum. Congratulations to each of you and to all of tonight’s award winners!
On behalf of the Science Center, we are honored to accept this Visionary Award. What is vision, anyway? One of my closest mentors is Dr. Phil Gerbino, retired president of USciences. He once told me that the difference between a vision and a hallucination is how many people see it. At the Science Center, we’ve been inspired by many visionaries: Hubert J.P. Schoemaker of Centocor, Al West of SEI Investments, the Bentley brothers of Bentley Systems; and more recently Dan Skovronsky of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals and Jeff Marrazzo of Spark Therapeutics. That’s how I know that this award isn’t a hallucination!
We are grateful to be a part of the growing, passionate innovation and entrepreneurial community in this great city.
In closing let me say the three words you’ve been waiting to hear all night: Dessert is served! Good night, everyone! Thank you.