Contact Information: CONTACT: Robb Korinke Orange County Business Council (949) 794-7225 Anne Warde The Paul Merage School of Business (949) 824-7922
OCBC and UCI Host Top Business Leaders to Address Global Economic Challenges
| Source: Orange County Business Council
IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - November 17, 2008) - The Paul Merage School of Business and the
Orange County Business Council today will host Orange County's most
influential leaders to discuss the impact and solutions to today's growing
economic challenges during their conference, Global Business
Strategies...Navigating Today's Economic Challenges. The conference will
be held at the Irvine Marriott Hotel from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
"This conference couldn't come at a more appropriate time," said Dean Andy
Policano of UC Irvine's Paul Merage School of Business. "We are currently
facing one of the most challenging economic crises in our country's
history. The events taking place today are reshaping the banking and
investment world as we know it. By gathering the input of these
experienced leaders, we are providing our business community access to some
of the most brilliant economic minds in the world."
Dr. Max Zedtwitz, vice president, PRTM Management Consultants, will kick
off the morning segment of the conference with a look at the global economy
and the role Orange County plays. A panel discussion, led by Michael
Aghajanian, managing director of PRTM and conference co-chair, will follow.
Panelists will discuss risk assessment and the rewards of global business,
along with the concept of global footprints and the strategic issues of
international business. Panelists participating include: David Pyott,
chairman and CEO of Allergan; John O'Connor, director of Global Supply
Chain for Cisco; Stephen Marlow, executive vice president for Toshiba
America Electronic Components, and board member for the Center for
Unconventional Security Affairs at UC Irvine, and Kate Gutmann, vice
president, worldwide strategic accounts for UPS.
The second panel of the morning focuses on global public/private
partnerships, and accessing capital/funding and resources through
government partnerships and agencies. Panelists include: Bijan Kian,
director of US Export Import Bank; Geoffrey Jackson, US Trade and
Development Agency director of Policy and Program and regional director for
East Asia. Wayne Gross, Partner at Snell and Wilmer law firm, moderates
this panel.
Esteemed economist and managing director of PIMCO, Paul McCulley, will
keynote the luncheon with "The Paradox of De-Leveraging."
"McCulley will share insights on how the ration personal decisions of
individuals irrationally impact the U.S. and global economy," said Lucy
Dunn, President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council. "His
analysis brings Wall Street and Capitol Hill home to Orange County. Local
businesses and entrepreneurs will learn much from his insider's voice in
the economic recovery plan."
Following the lunch and the keynote speech will be a presentation titled
the Seismic Shift in Global Consumerism given by Robert E. Wollan, global
managing partner for Accenture. Dr. Wallace Walrod, Vice President of
Economic Development and Communications for the Orange County Business
Council, will follow with an overview of economic development in Orange
County.
The conference will conclude with a final panel moderated by Dean Andy
Policano, focused on Orange County's global influence and featuring
business leaders Steve Tully, president of Quiksilver Brand (Americas);
Mike Mussallem, Chairman and CEO, Edwards Lifesciences; Aram Bassenian,
chairman and CEO of Bassenian Lagoni Architects, and Ed Grier, president of
Disneyland Resort.
About The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine
The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine offers four dynamic MBA
programs -- plus PhD and undergraduate business degrees -- that deliver its
thematic approach to business education: sustainable growth through
strategic innovation. It graduates leaders with the exceptional ability to
help grow their organizations through analytical decision-making,
innovation and collaborative execution. In-class and on-site experiences
with real-world business problems give students the edge needed to help
companies compete in today's global economy.
Six Centers of Excellence and an Executive Education program provide
numerous and varied opportunities for students and the business community
at large to enhance their education experience and update their
professional expertise. While the Merage School is relatively young, it has
quickly grown to consistently rank among the top 10% of all
AACSB-accredited programs through exceptional student recruitment,
world-class faculty, a strong alumni network and close individual and
corporate relationships.
The Merage School combines the academic strengths and best traditions of
the University of California with the cutting-edge, entrepreneurial spirit
of Orange County in the heart of America's Tech Coast. Visit the website at
www.merage.uci.edu.
About OCBC
In providing a proactive forum for businesses, government and academia to
join together, OCBC helps assure the prosperity of America's fifth largest
county. Orange County is one of the most desirable places in the nation to
live, work, raise families and enjoy an excellent quality of life. The
Orange County Business Council serves pro-business interests so that the
region's vibrant economy will continue to expand, bringing the benefits of
prosperity to every corner of the county.
The Orange County Business Council accomplishes its mission by leading a
high profile, proactive advocacy program for business interests throughout
California and the nation, focusing on three core initiatives:
infrastructure, workforce development and workforce housing.
The Orange County Business Council is Orange County's leading voice of
business. For more information, visit www.ocbc.org.