ATLANTA, GA, August 08, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Firelli Alonso, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Alonso has built a distinguished career in biotherapeutics and vaccines development and manufacturing within the biotechnology industry, earning widespread recognition for her expertise and leadership. As the Founder and Principal Consultant of ConsultFi Biologics LLC, she has been active since 2024, advising clients, speaking at conferences, and organizing outsourcing workshops. Her consulting practice allows her to pursue projects that align with her interests, offering a fulfilling balance between professional engagement and personal passions—most notably, managing her extensive orchid collection, which she has cultivated since 2014.

Before founding ConsultFi Biologics LLC, Dr. Alonso served as Senior Director of External Supply at Pfizer from 2009 to 2023. Over her 28-year career with the company, she exhibited exceptional resilience and adaptability in a rapidly evolving industry. Her nearly three-decade tenure reflects a deep sense of loyalty and sustained commitment. Dr. Alonso began her journey in 1996 with Wyeth, relocating to New York with her two young sons and successfully balancing the demands of a high-profile career with family responsibilities. Following Pfizer's acquisition of Wyeth in October 2009, she continued to play a vital role at Pfizer until her retirement at the end of 2023.

Before joining Pfizer, Dr. Alonso held several key positions at Wyeth Vaccines Research. From 2004 to 2009, she served as Director II of Development Operations and Outsourcing, where she played a pivotal role in advancing vaccine research initiatives. Between 2001 and 2004, she served as Director I of Viral Vaccine Development, following her tenure as Associate Director from 1998 to 2001 and Manager from 1996 to 1997 in the same department. These roles allowed her to apply her classical virology training while evolving into a contract negotiator and business development professional.

From 1991 to 1996, Dr. Alonso served as Director of Product Development for the Government Services Division at The Salk Institute, where she contributed to significant advancements in product development for public health applications. She previously served as a Research Assistant Professor at Rutgers University from 1990 to 1991, furthering her academic contributions in the fields of microbiology and virology.

Dr. Alonso's early career included Research Associate positions at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from 1985 to 1990 and at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in 1984. These formative experiences provided a strong scientific foundation that would inform her later work in biotherapeutics and biotechnology.

In addition to her scientific career, Dr. Alonso has recently been promoted to be an Accredited Judge with the American Orchid Society in June 2025. She is also President of the Atlanta Orchid Society. She maintains memberships with the American Society for Microbiology, the American Society for Virology, the Parenteral Drug Association, and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.

Dr. Alonso's academic achievements have been instrumental in shaping her professional path. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy in microbiology with a focus on virology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1983. Her undergraduate studies culminated in a Bachelor of Science in Biology, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines in 1977. Driven by academic curiosity and limited opportunities for doctoral study in virology in the Philippines, she pursued advanced education in the United States. Her rigorous training provided a solid foundation for her subsequent work in research and development at Pfizer and other institutions.

She attributes much of her success to strong organizational skills and a proactive approach to work—qualities that have enabled her to meet deadlines efficiently and maintain high standards throughout her career. Dr. Alonso believes that while business skills can be taught to scientists, imparting scientific expertise is more challenging to those without a technical background.

Dr. Alonso's civic involvement includes serving as President of the Atlanta Orchid Society beginning in 2025 and as a member of the Board of Directors for Jawonio from 2003 to 2019. She has been recognized with a fellowship from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Dr. Alonso was born in Cebu City and is the mother of two sons. She enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling, alongside her passion for orchids. Residing on the forty-fifth floor of an Atlanta condominium, she maintains a collection of three hundred orchids across two ten-by-ten terraces—an endeavor that involves daily care and ongoing research into optimal cultivation techniques.

Looking ahead, Dr. Alonso plans to expand her consulting company while maintaining a balanced workload that allows her to enjoy retirement fully. She remains committed to mentoring new student judges within the orchid community, sharing knowledge through conference presentations and continuing her annual outsourcing workshop tradition with former colleagues from Pfizer—a workshop enhanced by an innovative outsourcing game she developed to engage participants. Dr. Alonso intends to continue consulting for select companies whose values align with hers while deepening her involvement as an accredited orchid judge and leader within horticultural organizations.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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