About

About the Weiss Center

The Weiss Center was formed in 2012 as a partnership between the Newhouse School and Real Chemistry—a global health innovation company. The CSC was made possible by Real Chemistry’s CEO/founder Jim Weiss (’87) and Audra Weiss (’89), and is aimed at ensuring students are immersed and educated in the digital world.  The CSC develops programming on social commerce, social media, technology, analytics and the influence they each play on our society and industry, providing students with cutting-edge skills and insight that will enable them to stand out amongst their peers as they enter the workforce.

Our Team

Jim Weiss ’87

FOUNDER/DONOR, WEISS CENTER
FOUNDER/CEO, REAL CHEMISTRY

Jim Weiss is the chairman and founder of Real Chemistry, a global health innovation company that uses real-world data, proprietary technologies and analytical insights to solve the health care industry’s most significant challenges. He also serves as an executive advisor to New Mountain Capital, Real Chemistry’s investment partner.

Over the past 20 years, Weiss evolved Real Chemistry from a one-person consultancy to a team of more than 1,800+ people who partner with clients at the highest levels of organizational decision-making. A pioneer in the application of analytics, data and precision targeting to the biopharma and health care business, Weiss learned early in his career to follow the data to get to the right outcome. He is also an action-oriented driver to improve diversity, inclusion and health equity to make the world a healthier place for all.

Together with his wife, Audra ’89, Weiss founded the Weiss Center and sponsors the Real Chemistry Emerging Insights Lab.

Weiss is a Board member and investor in Indapta Therapeutics and a business advisor to IMIDomics. He is also a Board member and contributor to several nonprofits, including the LAGRANT Foundation, the Cancer Research Institute, the Commons Project and the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.

Weiss resides with his wife and two children in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Gary Grates G’99

CO-DIRECTOR, WEISS CENTER
PRINCIPAL, REAL CHEMISTRY

Gary Grates serves as co-director of the Weiss Center and is a globally renowned and respected expert in change management communications, crisis/issues protocol, employee engagement and corporate strategy execution. He counsels senior leaders from global organizations in the areas of reputation, leadership transition, M&A integration, crisis/issues management, labor-management relations, organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, function optimization, internal communications improvement, strategy implementation and change management.

Grates has more than 25 years of experience counseling more than one hundred organizations and CEOs including Kraft, Nissan, GM, Carrier/United Technologies, Pfizer, Sanofi, Merck, Exxon/Mobil, P&G, Shell, PepsiCo, Visa, eBay, Chevron, Organon, Viatris, Ipsen, Vale, British Airways, Otsuka, VW, Volvo, Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch/InBev and Harley-Davidson.

A frequent lecturer and author on issues facing corporate management and communications professionals worldwide, Grates has been referred to as the “thought leader” in change management communications and effective employee-management relations. He has published more than 200 articles/white papers on the strategic importance of communications in achieving business excellence.

Grates is an adjunct professor at Newhouse, a teaching professor at ABERJE —the Brazilian Public Relations Association, a former trustee of Utica College of Syracuse University, a member of the Arthur W. Page Society, PRSA, IABC, National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Board of Directors at the Plank Center and the Institute for PR Research (IPR).

Grates was named one of the Newhouse School’s Top 40 most accomplished graduates. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Utica College of Syracuse University and a master’s degree from the Newhouse School.

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Beth Egan ’88

CO-DIRECTOR, WEISS CENTER
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, ADVERTISING

Beth Egan is associate professor of advertising at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication. As a 25-year veteran of the advertising media industry she leads the media planning and data & analytics curricula. By forming partnerships with leading companies in the industry such as The Trade Desk, Amazon and Google, students earn valuable industry certifications to help launch their careers. She is also the author of “Media Planning Essentials,” the first online, digital-first media planning textbook.

Egan’s research interests include applying machine learning techniques to develop predictive models of television audience retention. These models can be used to optimize ad curation and provide television networks with tools to maximize their revenue models. She is also working on employing psychophysiological research techniques to understand how people perceive branded content implicitly. This research can help inform both the creation and placement of branded content.

Having led the strategic media planning for Coca Cola, AT&T Mobility, Kraft/Nabisco, Campbells and L’Oreal Paris, Egan is skilled at providing strategic communications solutions built off of sound business analytics. Her solid understanding of the holistic business situation delivers creative, unique approaches to the marketplace.

Egan is the co-chair of the IAB’s Inclusion Institute Community and Engagement committee and board member for Pencils for Kids, Inc. NYC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Syracuse University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

About Real Chemistry

Founded by Jim Weiss in 2001 and built on an ethos of entrepreneurship, staying fluid and doing the right thing, W2O—now part of Real Chemistry, a global health innovation company—has achieved nearly 20 years of uninterrupted growth while remaining fiercely independent. The firm is an alchemic mix of 1,600 people and hundreds of clients and partners—working from bench to bedside—to make the world a healthier place.

Driven by data, W2O is an analytics-driven, digital-first integrated communications, marketing and public relations brand reaching healthcare and consumer audiences. W2O seeks to become the partner of choice to empower optimal healthcare knowledge, access and outcomes – now and in the future.

Contact

For questions regarding the Weiss Center, please contact our co-directors, Gary Grates or Beth Egan.