STEPHANIE OLEXA, PH.D., M.B.A. '72
“Stephanie exemplifies the excellence of character and achievement every liberal arts institution hopes for its alumnae and alumni.” So wrote Dr. Sandy Weinberg, Director of Muhlenberg College’s Institute of Entrepreneurship in his letter of support of the nomination of Stephanie Ann Olexa for Chestnut Hill College’s Distinguished Achievement Award.
This award recognizes Stephanie’s superlative educational and entrepreneurial accomplishments since her graduation from Chestnut Hill in 1972 with a B.S. in Biology. Stephanie pursued postgraduate degrees at Temple University where she earned an M.A. in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology in 1974, summa cum laude, and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1976, summa cum laude. Stephanie then taught in Temple’s Department of Biochemistry and at the Thrombosis Research Center at the School of Medicine. She was responsible for independent research in the molecular mechanisms of thrombosis and the development of thrombolytic drugs, as well as teaching medical and graduate students. While Stephanie’s career has changed direction since then, her involvement with both research and teaching at Temple University Medical School continues to the present day.
In 1980, Stephanie began her corporate career at Rohm and Haas Company in Philadelphia, where she held several management positions and launched research projects in the area of agricultural biochemistry. Soon Stephanie became a key consultant regarding the evaluation of acquisition projects for the company. Such involvement awakened in Stephanie an interest in new venture development, so she joined Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. in Allentown, where she devoted her energies to the development of joint venture opportunities for her employer.
By 1989, Stephanie was eager to start her own company in a business venture that would combine her technical, scientific skills with her deepening love of the entrepreneurial arena. But she felt her business savvy needed a bit more depth, so she earned a M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing in 1989 from Lehigh University. That same year, she launched her own company, Benchmark Analytics/Zolex, Inc. in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. As President of Benchmark, Stephanie is responsible for the technical and business management of the analytical testing laboratory specializing in environmental testing and custom quality control programs.
In addition to her responbilities at Benchmark, Stephanie participates in the boards of several associations and companies in the Lehigh Valley. She holds three patents and has 36 scientific publications to her credit. Stephanie also makes the time to lecture college students about starting a business, offering how-to-advice and the benefits of her considerable experience.
Edith Ritter, executive director of the Manufacturers Resource Center, said of our honoree, “Stephanie is respected in our community for her accomplishments, business success, and personal integrity. …she is a model and an inspiration for everyone who knows her, in particular, entrepreneurs and other professional women.”
Chestnut Hill College is proud of Stephanie Olexa: superior student, inspiring teacher, effective researcher, successful corporate manager, outstanding business builder, executive, and employer. She brings credit to herself and her alma mater and is the unanimous choice for the Chestnut Hill College Alumnae/i Association 2003 Distinguished Achievement Award.
