Ken Termini Basketball

After a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical industry and achieving great success as a high school basketball coach, Ken Termini has focused on helping college student leaders leverage their experience during entry-level job interviews.

Starting in Pharmaceuticals and Early Success

Ken graduated from Penn State University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. His career in the professional world began with Revlon, where he worked for two years. He then joined Forest Pharmaceuticals, where he spent the next 27 years of his career. Throughout his time at Forest, Ken held a variety of sales and sales management positions, steadily advancing within the company and learning the ins and outs of the pharmaceutical industry.

During this time, Ken’s performance was consistently recognized. He won all three of the company’s significant sales awards: Rookie of the Year, Representative of the Year, and Sales Manager of the Year. These accomplishments reflected his strong sales ability and leadership skills, which were evident early on in his tenure at Forest Pharmaceuticals.

A Successful Basketball Career as a Coach

In addition to his pharmaceutical work, Ken Termini found great success as a high school basketball coach. His dedication to the sport and his ability to mentor and lead young athletes became one of the defining aspects of his career. Under his guidance, his teams achieved numerous victories, and he earned a reputation for being a coach who emphasized the values of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. His coaching philosophy helped his players improve their basketball skills and prepared them for success in other areas of their lives. Many of his former players have gone on to excel in their careers, often crediting Ken with instilling in them the work ethic and mindset needed for success.

Advancing into Leadership and Government Affairs

In 2002, Ken transitioned into a leadership role within Forest Pharmaceuticals, moving to the corporate office to lead the State Government Affairs Department. This role marked a shift from sales to policy and advocacy, where he worked to establish strong relationships with lawmakers and navigate the pharmaceutical industry's complex regulatory environment.

In 2005, Ken’s expertise in government affairs led to another promotion, this time to manage Forest Laboratories’ Federal Public Policy & Government Affairs department. His work during this time was particularly significant as it coincided with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, a major shift in the healthcare landscape. Ken played an essential role in helping the company adapt to these changes, ensuring that the business remained compliant while positioning itself for continued success in the evolving policy environment.

Final Role in Sales and Transition to Retirement

Ken concluded his career in the pharmaceutical industry by returning to a local field sales position with Forest Laboratories, which later became Allergan. As an Anti-Infective Hospital Specialist, Ken focused on infectious diseases and hospital-based IV antibiotics. This final role allowed him to leverage his extensive knowledge and experience in a hands-on capacity before transitioning into retirement.

Having reached his goal of retiring by age 50, Ken Termini attributes much of his success to his long-term planning. A key piece of advice he received at age 19 was dividing his life into thirds: the first spent learning, the second working hard, and the final enjoying the fruits of his labor and pursuing personal passions. Thanks to careful financial planning and working with the right team of advisors, Ken could retire on his terms and focus on new opportunities, such as helping students navigate their career paths.