 Anaheim University Studios
CEO Video Interview Series   You may need Quicktime Player installed on your computer to view some of the video webcasts. Quicktime can be downloaded here.  | Carlos Ghosn is President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., a global automotive company with more than 200,000 employees and $89 billion in revenue. He joined as Chief Operating Officer in 1999, became President in June 2000 and Chief Executive Officer in June 2001. In May 2005, Mr. Ghosn was named president and chief executive officer of Renault S.A. in addition to his current responsibilities at Nissan. As head of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Mr. Ghosn is responsible for two separate companies with combined annual global sales of 5.9 million vehicles. Prior to joining Nissan, he served as Executive Vice President of Renault Motor Group, was Chairman and CEO of Michelin where he worked for 18 years, and had worked as the chief operating officer of Michelin South American activities based in Brazil; as head of research and development for industrial tires in Ladoux, France; and as plant manager in Le Puy, France. He graduated with engineering degrees from École Polytechnique in 1974 and from École des Mines de Paris in 1978. Mr. Ghosn was born in Brazil on March 9, 1954. |  | Dr. Philip Kotler, the S.C. Johnson & Son Professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, is the world's most renowned marketing expert. He received his Master's Degree at the University of Chicago and his PhD Degree at MIT, both in economics. He did post-doctoral work in mathematics at Harvard University and in behavioral science at the University of Chicago. Dr. Kotler is hailed by Management Centre Europe as "the world's foremost expert on the strategic practice of marketing." He has authored what is widely recognized as the most authoritative textbook on marketing: Marketing Management, now in it's 12th edition. He has also authored, or co-authored a number of other leading books, including Kotler on Marketing; Lateral Marketing; Strategic Marketing for Non-Profits; Marketing for Healthcare Organizations; Marketing Professional Services; Marketing From A to Z; The 10 Deadly Marketing Sins; Marketing Moves; Marketing places; the Marketing of Nations; and Social Marketing. In addition, Dr. Kotler has published more than one hundred articles in leading journals, including the Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review, Business Horizons, California Management Review, and the Journal of Marketing. He holds many major awards, including the Distinguished Marketing Educator of the Year Award of the American Marketing Association and Marketer of the Year by the Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI). Dr. Kotler has been a consultant to many major U.S. and foreign companies - including IBM, Michelin, Bank of America, Merck, General Electric, Honeywell, and Motorola - in the areas of marketing strategy and planning, marketing organization, and international marketing. |  | Founded in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has evolved from one man's belief in the power of self-improvement to a performance-based training company with offices worldwide. Dale Carnegie's original body of knowledge has been constantly updated, expanded and refined through nearly a century's worth of real-life business experiences; the training emphasizes practical principles and processes by designing programs that offer people the knowledge, skills and practices they need to add value to the business. Connecting proven solutions with real-world challenges, Dale Carnegie Training is recognized internationally as the leader in bringing out the best in people. |  | Peter Shea is the CEO of Entrepreneur magazine, one of the most successful business magazines for business owners. Before purchasing the magazine out of bankruptcy in 1986, he created, built and sold a number of businesses. Shea describes himself as a product of the streets and never continued his education past high school. Because of this, he realized that he was unemployable and that he had to take control of his life. In his career, he has been a police officer, photocopy machine salesman, land developer and owner of Stained Glass Overlay which had a patented method of creating the look of cut glass out of a solid piece. Shea built this into a company with 400 franchises in 29 countries. Mr Shea overseas Entrepreneur Media Inc., as sole owner, chairman and CEO of Entrepreneur, which has a readership of 2.1 million a month; Entrepreneur's Be Your Own Boss magazine, targeted to startups; Entrepreneur Press, which publishes 50-plus books a year, and Entrepreneur.com, which averages 30 million page views a month. |  | The eldest child of film producer and puppeteer Jim ("the Muppets") Henson, Lisa Henson is co-CEO of the Jim Henson Company alongside her brother Brian, where she oversees all television and feature film production from early development through post-production. For The Jim Henson Company, Henson has produced the feature films "Five Children and It," "MirrorMask" and "Good Boy." Features in current development include Edward Gorey's "Doubtful Guest," Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere," "Power of the Dark Crystal" and "Fraggle Rock." Television credits include "Muppets' Wizard of Oz" for ABC, the animated series “Frances” and the direct-to-DVD animated series "Unstable Fables," a collection of feature-length irreverent retellings of popular fairy tales to be released by The Weinstein Company. Ms. Henson is currently Executive Producing 40 episodes of the preschool animated series “Sid the Science Kid” on PBS and brought to life using the Company's digital puppeteering system. She is also producing "The Skrumps," the Company's new animated production featured exclusively at Yahoo! Kids. As an independent producer, Ms. Henson produced feature films including "High Crimes" and "Zero Effect." Prior to producing, Ms. Henson was President of Columbia Pictures, in charge of all creative business affairs, administrative and production-related matters for the company. Prior to joining Columbia Pictures, Ms. Henson served 10 years as an executive at Warner Bros., working on such blockbusters as "Lethal Weapon" and "Batman." Ms. Henson graduated in 1983 with a degree in folklore and mythology from Harvard University, where she was the first female President of "The Harvard Lampoon." She has previously served on the Board of Overseers for Harvard University, Tibet House and The Jim Henson Foundation for Puppetry. |  | Back in 1981, when Chet Pipkin dropped out of college to start a business on his parents' kitchen table, the cable industry was tiny and fragmented, with hundreds of small players and no clear leader. Today, Belkin is one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States, with 1,000-plus employees, $464 million in revenue, and an impressive 285% five-year growth rate. Amongst numerous awards, the company has made the Inc. magazine list of the 500 fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. twice; has earned entrance into Inc. magazine’s 2003 Hall of Fame after placing in the Inner City Top 100 List for five consecutive years; and has ranked in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s annual Fastest Growing Private Companies List since 1999. Belkin owns a staggering 80% of the home- and small-office market for cables, is the leader in surge protectors, and has muscled its way into LAN products and accessories for mobile devices. |  | Public Agenda
Daniel Yankelovich, Founder and Chairman Daniel Yankelovich is Founder and Chairman of three organizations: Viewpoint Learning Inc. (a firm that advances dialogue-based learning as a core skill in newer forms of leadership), DYG, Inc. (a market research firm tracking social trends), and Public Agenda (a public education not-for-profit) co-founded with Cyrus Vance in 1975. He is a director of Loral Space & Communications Inc. and director emeritus of CBS, US West (now Qwest Communications), the Meredith Corporation, Diversified Energies, and ARKLA. He is a trustee of the Kettering Foundation, the Japan Society, and the Fund for the City of New York, and Special Advisor to the Aspen Institute and Trinity Church. He is trustee emeritus and former Chairman of the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and trustee emeritus of Brown University. He is the author of ten books, including Coming to Public Judgment, New Rules, and The Magic of Dialogue. In 1958, he founded the research firm of Yankelovich, Skelly and White and in the 1970s initiated the New York Times/Yankelovich poll. He was a founding President of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His academic affiliations include Harvard, NYU, the New School for Social Research, UC Irvine and UCSD's Civic Collaborative. He was educated at Harvard College, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard and the Sorbonne. He is the recipient of The Parlin Award for his pioneering work in marketing research, the Dinerman Award of the World Association of Public Opinion Research and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the New York Chapter of the American Association of Public Opinion Research. |
 | Reebok Japan
Dieter Haberl, Brand President Dieter Haberl is the brand president for Reebok, a subsidiary of German company adidas which had a presence in the Japanese market for about 20 years. Born in Austria, Haberl studied in finance and economics in the U.S., and earned a Master’s in International Management at Thunderbird. After working for Coca-Cola in Europe for seven years, he worked in Japan with Coke from 1997-2004, followed by a stint at Gap, before joining the adidas group three years ago. Haberl assumed his current position in May of 2008. |  | Audi Korea
Trevor Hill, Managing Director and Anaheim University MBA Graduate Mr. Hill currently serves as the Managing Director of Audi Korea, having graduated from the Online Global MBA program at Anaheim University. Originally from South Africa, Mr. Hill previously served as the General Manager of Audi Japan and as the Managing Director of Volkswagen Investment. |  | Tim Mead began as an intern with the Angel's organization in 1980, and has since served in a few different roles before becoming Vice-President of Communications. A native of Athens, Greece, Mead graduated in 1980 from Cal Poly in Pomona, CA with a Bachelors Degree in Communications. His longevity with the Angels can be attributed to his love of the team and passion for the game. | |  | Sole Technology
Pierre Senizergues, Founder and CEO Pierre Senizergues is the founder and CEO of Sole Technology, the parent company of etnies, etnies Girl, etnies Plus, éS, Emerica, Altamont Apparel and ThirtyTwo. After attending the Universitaire de Technology of Paris XI in the early 1980s, Senizergues became an engineer for IBM France before moving to the U.S. in 1985 to pursue his dream of skating in California. As one of the premier professional freestyle skateboarders of the 1980’s, Senizergues won 12 French Championships, nine European Cup Titles, five European Championships, two World Cup Events and one World Championship during his career. As the first professional skateboarder to own and operate a footwear brand, Mr. Senizergues has guided the Sole Technology brands to unprecedented levels of success for more than a decade; his brands are a global leader in footwear and apparel while providing the most quality, function and style for skateboarders. In addition to giving back to youth and action sports, Mr. Senizergues has demonstrated an undeniable passion for the environment by staying true to its skateboarding roots as a leader of sustainability in the industry. He has continued to devote resources to implement an aggressive company-wide sustainability strategy with a full commitment to corporate responsibility. Mr. Senizergues' commitment to the environment extends into his personal endeavors with his role as executive producer of Leonardo DiCaprio's highly acclaimed documentary, The 11th Hour. Senizergues has received numerous accolades; including the Orange County Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Immigrant of the Year Award, OC Metro’s Hot 25 and Most Influential CEO’s in Orange County, Footwear News’ Power 100, and most recently, Orange County's Excellence in Entrepreneurship. Senizergues was also recognized as one of the Top OC Innovators by the Orange County Register and by Global Green USA with a Corporate Environmental Leadership Award for his environmental practices and corporate responsibility by revolutionizing the way Sole Technology does business. | |  | Stephen Buchsbaum became CEO of The Post Group after more than 25 years of postproduction experience in the film and television industry. He joined Unitel Video in 1984 and helped develop the TLC, or Time Logic Controller, which is now the standard tool for film to tape projects. His experience landed him at the Post Group where he was involved in the design and construction of the "Digital Center," a fully digital facility that was the first of its kind. In 1990, he became President of Video Research Company (VRC), where he restructured the company and increased its profitability. While working for Cinema Research, the parent company of VRC, he was behind the first installation of Quantel's Domino, a digital opticals system for feature films. Buchsbaum was also involved in creating DRS, with Mathematical Technologies, Inc., a successful dust and scratch removal ssytem that now is available in over 50 post facilities around the world. He then launched Creative Edge, a successful web and software development company that is now part of the Post Group family. Mr. Buchsbaum's broad experience with postproduction led him to the opportunity at the New Post Group as CEO. | |  | Earth Tech
Alan Krusi, President and CEO Mr. Krusi is President of Earth Tech, Inc., which offers consulting, engineering and construction services to the water/wastewater, transportation, environmental and facilities markets. From 2002 to 2003, Mr. Krusi served as CEO of RealEnergy, Inc., a company providing on-site cogeneration to commercial and industrial customers. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Krusi served as President of the Construction Services division of URS Corporation, where he oversaw an international construction services business specializing in construction management and program management of large public infrastructure projects. Prior to his employment with URS, and over a period of 22 years, Mr. Krusi held a number of technical and management positions within the engineering and construction industries. Mr. Krusi is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara and is a Registered Geologist, Certified Engineering Geologist and Licensed General Contractor in the state of California. |  | In the special event business since 1973, Andrea Michaels — president of Sherman Oaks, Calif.-based Extraordinary Events — has seen the business grow from a little-known specialty to a full-blown profession. Often referred to by those in the know as the 'Queen of the Event Planning Industry," Andrea Michaels, four years ago joined by her son Jon Michaels, has produced logistically complex and visually memorable events all over the world--in Barcelona, Dublin, Cannes, Mexico, Germany, Japan and many U.S. cities. They dig deep into local cultures to create authentic, exciting and unique events, immersing attendees in experiences that teach them about the city they're visiting, while ultimately giving them a fresh perspective on themselves, and their businesses. Working side by side, Andrea and Jon have since opened new offices in Germany and Indianapolis. The firm now employs 75 people around the world, and brings in between $13 and $16 million annually. Andrea’s conceptualization skills, logistical savvy, and ability to produce the mega-event for thousands of guests is legendary. Each event presented to her is analyzed for its specific needs. Her ever-growing clientele is loyal, and many clients have been with her for more than 20 years. These sought-after relationships are based on proven performance, and enriched with trust and ethics. | |  | Mr. Naghi is Founder and CEO of Nyko Technologies, which develops, manufactures and markets innovative peripherals to enhance the digital lifestyle. The company’s mission is to deliver products that solve problems and improve user experience for work and play. Nyko specializes in interactive entertainment, computing, consumer electronics, portable audio, as well as online and wireless technologies. The company has distribution through major U.S. and Canadian retailers, along with distributors worldwide. Founded in 1995, Nyko is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. |  | Osamu Murata spent many years importing and exporting for a trading company in Tokyo and San Diego, CA before becoming CFO of Maeda-en, which produces fine Japanese Green Tea directly imported from Japan Maeda-en also has a variety of exotic and gourmet Ice Cream selections which can be purchased at many Restaurants and Grocery Stores throughout the USA. |  | Cheril Hendry is CEO and owner of HLF Brandtailers, a marketing and advertising agency located in Irvine, California. HLF Brandtailers is known for its specialized expertise in the automotive industry, helping retail dealers, auto groups and associations combine today’s consumer demand for a strong product brand with the constantly changing retail environment. Prior to establishing the agency in 1990, Cheril spent 9 years in account services with two other Southern California-based advertising agencies, both of which specialized in the automotive industry. Her combined 25 years of experience includes work at factory, regional and local levels for both foreign and domestic makes, including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and General Motors, to name a few. Hendry and her agency are considered experts in consumer behavior within the automotive buying cycle. Cheril was named to OC Business Magazine's "Hot 25" list of 2007 for her leadership and influence in the Orange County business community. She is a popular guest speaker at dealer group and ad association meetings, offering cutting edge branding advice to automotive industry retailers. Ms. Hendry earned a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters in Business from California State University, Long Beach. |  | Mr. Radice has over 30 years of experience in various financial, technology and services-based businesses. Radice joined NWP Services Corporation in 2002 as senior vice president, sales and marketing before becoming President in 2005 and CEO in 2006. Headquartered in Irvine, California, NWP serves the multifamily housing industry as its leading financial transaction processing provider. NWP is known for its industry expertise delivering proven results and exceptional quality in resident billing, resident payment processing and utility management. Prior to joining NWP, Mr. Radice served as vice president for corporate marketing at Infonet Services Corporation, a global data communications services and networking company in El Segundo, California. During Mr. Radice's tenure at Infonet the company's revenue increased by over $400 miliion from sales operations in 57 countries around the world. Mr. Radice has also served as a group executive and on the board of directors of Computer Language Research Inc. and as vice president for product marketing at Comshare, Inc. Radice is a member of NWP Services Corporation's Board of Directors and is also a member of the National Multi-Housing Council's (NMHC) Board of Directors. |  | Virtium Technology
Phu Hoang, Founder, President and CEO Phu Hoang is chief executive officer and founder of Virtium Technology. Mr. Hoang came to North America in 1983 as an immigrant from Vietnam. After obtaining a B.S.E.E. from the University of Waterloo, Canada, he started his career as a design engineer designing computer telecommunication products. Mr. Hoang received recognition for his innovations from various major design publications. As an inventor, he has two US patents to his credit. Mr. Hoang founded Virtium Technology in 1997 after spending a decade in corporate management positions and obtaining an M.B.A. from Northern Illinois University. Within six years, Mr. Hoang grew Virtium to become one of Inc. Magazine’s 500 fastest-growing companies in the U.S., while maintaining a balanced family life. Mr. Hoang’s beliefs and character are reflected in the values of his organization encouraging family-work balance. Recently, Mr. Hoang started a non-profit charity organization, http://www.savice.org/ to contribute to the future of Vietnamese children through education. Phu is a member of Vistage International, a CEO training organization, in which he continues to hone his business and life skills. His passions include coaching and helping entrepreneurs become successful in their business and careers. |  | Robert Laemmle is CEO of Laemmle Theatres, a chain of art house theaters specializing in the exhibition of independent and foreign films in the Los Angeles area. Started in 1938 by his father Max and uncle Karl, this family-run business has grown from the then-single-screen Los Feliz Theatre in the late 1950s to nine theaters and 39 screens, including West Hollywood's Sunset Five, one of the nation's most successful alternative theater complexes. Robert Laemmle earned a B.A. in Business Administration and Master's Degree in Finance from UCLA. |  | Julia Huang is the CEO of interTREND, one of the most innovative and fastest-growing advertising and marketing agencies focusing on the diverse and expanding Asian communities in the USA. The firm, established in 1991, is a pioneer in educating and guiding Fortune 500 companies in the intricacies and sensitivities of marketing products and services to the Asian American market. Having been raised in Japan, Taiwan and educated in the USA, Julia is fluent in Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese. The multicultural life experience stressed upon the young Julia the importance of her community. This is now evidenced by her involvement in organizations such as Pacific Islander Census 2000 Network, Leadership Education for Asian Pacific, Organization of Chinese Americans, Japanese American Citizens League, Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team and Asia America Symphony Association and National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium. In 2002, Burger King Corporation appointed her to the company’s Diversity Action Council. Julia also has been tapped by Los Angles County Supervisor Don Knabe to serve on his Asian International Business Advisory Group. Her professional affiliations include the Asian American Advertising Federation, for which she is a founding member and Board of Director. For three consecutive years, Avenue Magazine honored Julia Huang as one of the 500 most influential Asian Americans. |  | gkkworks
Praful Kulkarni, President & CEO A founding partner of gkkworks (formerly GKK Corporation), Mr. Kulkarni brings more than twenty-five years of experience in architecture including planning, design and management on a wide range of both private and public sector projects. A strong academic background and a talent lot drawing helped him land a full scholarship at the Indian Institute of Technology, a school that selects only 1 percent of its applicants. Later, he studied in the United States on a Rockefeller Foundation scholarship. Kulkarni started GKK Corporation in 1991, backed by two investors whom he bought out within five years. Besides expanding throughout California, he wanted to establish operations in India--both to secure work in that country as well as tap into less expensive labor for its projects in the U.S. Kulkarni is a registered architect in the state of California and holds a Masters of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University. Mr. Kulkarni provides distinct vision to the firms philosophy, responsibility and dedication to clients needs and goals. His experience includes commercial, institutional, academic and healthcare projects. |  | As Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Technology, Kurt Johnson is responsible for establishing and implementing the company vision, advancing the practice and acceptance of the company's core values and managing the execution of strategic plans created to identify key new market segments and supplier business opportunities. Johnson founded Horizon Technology in 1996 and successfully guided the company to ten years of consistent growth and profitability. He has been instrumental in building Horizon Technology into one of the industry's leading independent distributors of storage and LCD products. With over 16 years in the electronics distribution industry, Johnson transformed Horizon from a narrowly-focused service organization dedicated to refurbishing PCs into a globally-recognized independent distributor representing some of the world's largest OEMs. Under his leadership, Horizon Technology established a new U.S. headquarters, achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification, and opened four new offices in Asia and the U.S. to support key customers and give the company a strong presence in some of the industry's top markets. For the past two years Horizon has been named to the Top 10 Global Independent Distributors list for both Electronics Supply & Manufacturing and Purchasing magazines. Johnson was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2005. |  | Mr. Takahashi is the President of JAE Electronics, Inc., which designs, manufactures and markets electronic connectors and aerospace products. Wholly owned by Japan Aviation Electronics Industries, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan (JAE), JAE Electronics, Inc., was established in the United States in 1977. Mr. Takahashi joined JAE in 2003 as its Executive Manager of Overseas Operations before being named President in 2005. Prior to that, Mr. Takahashi served in a number of executive management positions with NEC Tokyo and NEC America. His passion continues to evolve around providing manufacturing solutions to complex design requirements. |  | Bright Now!
Steven C. Bilt, President & CEO Bright Now! Dental, Inc. was formed to help dentists focus on patient care by assuming responsibility for business functions such as administrative, financial, marketing and information services. Affiliated dental offices benefit from business expertise and economies of scale that help them operate efficiently and control costs. As a result, our affiliated dentists can deliver care to under-served markets and care for thousands of patients who might otherwise not receive treatment. Established in 1998 with the merger of three existing group dental practices on the West Coast, Bright Now! Dental, Inc. has expanded nationwide to provide services to almost 300 affiliated offices. Bright Now! has developed substantial expertise in providing business support services to dentists, who have likewise enjoyed growth and success in their practices. As a member of the Bright Now! founding management team, President and CEO Steven C. Bilt has served as the company's Chief Financial Officer from its inception in May 1998 through March 2000. His career prior to Bright Now! Dental Inc was with Vivra Inc, the second-largest provider of outpatient kidney dialysis services in the United States and early on in his career with Ernst & Young. He received a bachelor of arts degree in business economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a master of business administration degree from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University and in 2006, Steve completed the Harvard Business School Presidents Program. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of California. |  | Christie is a leader in visual solutions for world-class organizations, offering diverse applications for business, entertainment, and industry. A leading innovator in film projection since 1929 and a pioneer in projection systems since 1979, Christie has established a global reputation as a total service provider and the world's single source manufacturer of a variety of display technologies and solutions. Christie offers comprehensive solutions for cinema, large audience venues, control rooms, business presentations, training facilities, 3D and Virtual Reality, simulation and education as well as industrial and government environments. Christie solutions are used in over 75,000 locations worldwide, including more than 10,000 projectors and displays networked with ChristieNET™ networking devices. Christie, a privately held company, has manufacturing and assembly facilities located in California and Canada (a certified ISO9001:2000 facility). Full sales and service offices are located in China (Shanghai and Beijing), France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Christie also has sales offices in Korea, Chile, Hungary, Italy and Spain. |  | Mr. Eversole has over 30 years of experience as a financial officer in some of the leading companies in the U.S. and the world. He served as President and CEO of Toshiba America Business Solutions (TABS) from 1999 to 2005, overseeing the strategic direction and operations of this world-leading company in imaging technology and output devices. Prior to being named President of TABS in 1999, Mr. Eversole served for fifteen years as Toshiba America Information Systems' (TAIS) Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration where he led the strategic development of the finance and administration operations that provided the financial, logistics, information technology, strategic planning and human resources infrastructure for the nine divisions that comprised TAIS. TABS and TAIS are wholly owned by Toshiba Corporation; during his entire tenure at Toshiba, Mr. Eversole managed the successful growth of that subsidiary from a $500 million, 400-employee company to a $3 billion company with 3,000 employees. Before joining Toshiba, Mr. Eversole was Corporate Controller for the Citicorp/Financial Services where he was responsible for finances in one of Citicorp's major divisions. Mr. Eversole earned his Master's in Business Administration from California State University at Northridge. |  | Mr. Takenaka is recognized for his expertise in cross-border M&A and joint venture transactions. On both sides of the Pacific, he serves as a senior advisor to companies in a wide range of industries including information technology, electronics, manufacturing, financial services and real estate. He is the author of the Japanese best seller, Merger and Acquisition Strategy. Prior to forming The Takenaka Partners Group in 1989, he was a senior partner and National Director of KPMG Peat Marwick's Japanese practice. He also served as Chairman of Project Japan for the parent company, KPMG. Mr. Takenaka was born in Japan and is fluent in both Japanese and English. Mr. Takenaka received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Utah. Mr. Takenaka is a Certified Public Accountant. |  | AskMeNow
Darryl Cohen, CEO Founded in 2004 and based in Irvine, CA, AskMeNow is a public company traded on the NASDAQ dedicated to optimizing information access on all mobile platforms. AskMeNow is a pioneer in natural language semantic mobile search. Customers can get accurate answers and information by asking questions in the way they naturally express themselves, instead of having to figure out the right keywords. The service allows users to search every corner of the Web for answers and information. Darryl Cohen has been chairman, chief executive officer and a Director of AskMeNow since June 2005 and of IBP since September 2004. Darryl Cohen served as chairman and chief executive officer of Ramp Corp., a company providing Internet-based communication, data integration, and transaction processing technologies designed to provide access to safer and better healthcare from September 2002 through April 2004. Cohen has invested in public and private companies, frequently working with management in the areas of marketing strategy and financing. He has also owned businesses in the food-services and gift industries, and holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley. |  | PureOlogy
Jim Markham, Founder Founder of PureOlogy Serious Colour Care®, Jim Markham, began his career as a barber. During his professional career, Jim Markham worked with many celebrities, including Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Joanne Woodward, Johnny Carson and Frank Sinatra. It was in 2001 that Jim Markham developed PureOlogy, one of the fastest growing haircare brands in the US. The luxury American hair brand for color-treated hair sold through hairdressers in the professional haircare market is notable for its range of highly concentrated sulfate free shampoos with Anti Fade Complex ˙. In 2003 he was recognized as the Independent Cosmetic Manufactures And Distributors Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2007, L'Oréal, the world's largest beauty company, acquired PureOlogy, through its subsidiary L'Oréal USA. As stated in L'Oréal's press release after its acquisition, PureOlogy's sales from June 2006 - June 2007 were $57 million, achieved after only after six years after its founding. After leaving PureOlogy shortly after its sale to L'Oréal, Jim Markham is now in the initial stages of starting his fifth hair care products company. |  | Zappos
Tony Hsieh, CEO and Alfred Lin, CFO & COO Tony Hsieh Tony joined Zappos.com in 2000, and under his leadership, Zappos has grown gross merchandise sales from $1.6M in 2000 to $597M in 2006. Tony focuses on continuing to grow the business at a rapid pace while maintaining the culture and feel of a small company. Prior to joining Zappos, Tony co-founded Venture Frogs with Alfred Lin. Venture Frogs is an incubator and investment firm that invested in Internet startups. Prior to Venture Frogs, Tony co-founded and grew LinkExchange from a side business from his apartment to a cooperative advertising network that reached over half of Internet enabled households, according to Media Metrix. LinkExchange was successfully sold to Microsoft for $265M in 1998. Tony also served on a small tour of duty at Oracle as a software engineer before delving into his entrepreneurial destiny. Tony graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Computer Science. Alfred Lin Alfred joined Zappos.com in 2005 and is responsible for all financial, administrative and warehouse operations. Alfred focuses on bringing focus, strategy and financial discipline in order to grow the business efficiently and profitably. Prior to joining Zappos, Alfred served as VP of Finance and Business Development at Tellme Networks, helping grow that business from no revenue to over $120M in recurring revenue per year, 30% cash margins and a $0.5B estimated contracted revenue backlog. Prior to joining Tellme Networks, Alfred co-founded Venture Frogs with Tony Hsieh. Venture Frogs is an incubator and investment firm that invested in Internet startups. Prior to Venture Frogs, Alfred served as VP of Finance and Administration at LinkExchange, where he managed the sale of the Company to Microsoft for $265M and his tight financial management allowed the company to raise very little equity and the founders and employees to keep 80% of the value created. |  | Zappos.com
Aaron Magness, Marketing and Business Development Director Mr. Magness has worked in Business Development in retail for over 8 years. His career has taken him through sales, operations and all the grunt work it takes to make his team successful. He joined Zappos.com with a primary focus in business development. However, his role has grown to include oversight of Brand Marketing, PR and Social Media as well as Business Development. Zappos.com has become the #1 seller of shoes on the Internet (ahead of J.C. Penney) by stressing customer service. The e-tailer stocks 3 million pairs of shoes, handbags, and apparel and accessories, specializing in some 1,000 brands that are difficult to find in mainstream shopping malls. With only one Web site (and 7,000 affiliate partners), Zappos.com distributes stylish and moderately-priced footwear, and more, to frustrated and shop-worn customers nationwide. Mr. Magness received his BBA from University of Wisconsin - Madison with a double major of Marketing and Management & Human Resources. |  | Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS)
Hon. H. Warren Knight, Founder Judge Knight is the founder of Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services (JAMS), the largest private Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider in the world. His distinguished judicial career includes six years of service with the Orange County Superior Court, two years with the Orange County Municipal Court and twelve years in private practice prior to his appointment to the bench. In hearing thousands of settlement conferences over the years, Judge Knight became an expert in the area of ADR which led to the founding of JAMS in 1979. Today JAMS handles about 30,000 cases per year, specializing in mediation of complex, multi-party, business/commercial cases in all areas of law throughout the world. Judge Knight has received many awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Civil Trial Mediators in 1997. |  | Solari Enterprises
Johrita Solari, President and Co-Founder As President and Co-Founder of Solari Enterprises, Inc., Mrs. Solari oversees all major facets relating to the management of the firm's entire portfolio. Mrs. Solari has extensive experience in the oversight of the day-to-day operations to maintain financial, physical and agency compliance on the entire portfolio. Johrita has more than 30 years experience in property management with a portfolio consisting of approximately 3,500 affordable multifamily housing units in 53 locations, a business park and commercial properties throughout the United States. |  | Guy's experience in the business planning and estate planning field is extensive. In 1986 Guy formed BTA Advisory Group, a multi-disciplinary organization serving the needs of wealthy families and owners of closely held businesses. Each of BTA's sister organizations are managed by an experienced professional and partner. The services include an estate and legacy planning consulting firm; a national management consulting firm specializing in the succession and compensation issues and problems facing closely-held businesses; a compensation and benefits consulting firm; and a registered investment advisor. BTA Advisory Group remains primarily an insurance and financial products marketing company. Guy holds a BS/Economics in 1967 from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA/Finance in 1968 from the University of Southern California. Guy earned his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in 1972 and became a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) in 1981. He also holds a Master's degree in Financial Services (MSFS) and Master's in Management (MSM). In addition, Guy is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and a Registered Health Underwriter (RHU). Guy has earned his Certified Family Wealth Counselor designation and is a Registered Investment Advisor. Guy serves on the Board of the Mission Hospital Foundation, and is Chairman of American Family Living. He is a Founding Trustee for Grace Classical Academy, a private school for families seeking a classical education. Guy served as a major gifts fund-raiser for the Orange County Center for Performing Arts and on the fund raising committee for South Coast Repertory; an Advisory Board member for the South Coast YMCA, a Board member of Orange County Teen Challenge. Guy is a past President of the Claremont McKenna Alumni Association and a member of CMC's Board of Trustees. He recently accepted an invitation to serve on the Advisory Board of the Torrey Institute at BIOLA University. |  | Founded in 1990, IW Group, Inc. is a public relations and communications firm that specializes in reaching the growing Asian-American community in the United States. The IW Group was ranked the seventh fastest growing public relations agency in the U.S. by PR Week (2002) and is among the top Asian American advertising firms in this country according to Advertising Age (2005). With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, IW Group is one of the fastest growing agencies in the country. IW Group has been instrumental in positioning clients such as: AT&T; Blue Cross of California; California Department of Health Services - Tobacco Control Section; Comcast; Gilead Sciences; McDonalds; Merrill Lynch; Pacific Gas and Electric; Wal-Mart; Washington Mutual; and, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; in addition to many other leading corporations and government entities. |  | In January 2001, Larry Broughton founded Newport Beach, CA-based Broughton Hospitality Group, Inc., a comprehensive management, representation, and development group, specializing in the hospitality industry. During the worst two and-a-half years the hospitality industry had experienced since before World War II, Larry led Broughton through the acquisition of four hotel properties. The Broughton portfolio currently includes nearly twenty hospitality projects throughout California. Larry is an experienced, upbeat leader skilled in building companies and organizations. |  | Kim Megonigal founded Kimco Staffing Services in 1986 at the age of 33, after a successful 10-year career in the staffing industry. In just twelve years' time, he grew Kimco from a one-man operation to a $75 million corporation with three specialty practices, an affiliate Professional Employer Organization, 231 employees and 25 branch offices. In 1999, the company reached a landmark $100 million in sales. Prior to starting his own company, Mr. Megonigal worked for Thomas Temporaries, learning the staffing business from the ground-up. He performed sales and management functions in branch offices throughout Northern California and Denver, and was instrumental in Thomas' eventual expansion to 40 offices in 15 states. At the age of 28, he was made President of Thomas Temporaries. A graduate of Claremont Men's College, Mr. Megonigal was nominated for Ernst & Young's prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Award for two consecutive years, and was recognized as an Orange County finalist in 1999. |  | Dr. Anido has served on the Board of Directors and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of ISTA Pharmaceuticals since December 2001. From June 2000 to September 2001, Dr. Anido was general partner for Windamere Venture Partners. From 1996 to 1999, Dr. Anido served as President and Chief Executive Officer of CombiChem, Inc., a biotechnology company. From 1993 to 1996, he served as President of the Americas Region of Allergan, a specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on ophthalmology, dermatology and neuromuscular indications. Dr. Anido is also a director of Apria Healthcare, Inc. Dr. Anido received a Ph.D. in Pharmacy Administration from the University of Missouri. |  | Bitfone Corp.
Gene Wang, Founder and CEO Gene Wang leads the marketing and business development organization for the Handheld Business Unit with the Personal Systems Group at HP, where he is responsible for taking mobile innovation across the world – from mobile devices, to software, to services. Wang has successfully led three high-technology companies as chief executive officer, including Bitfone Corp., which HP acquired in 2007. Bitfone Corporation provided software solutions for the wireless market to enable customer care automation and mobile device management. Bitfone's SmartCare, mProve and MVP products improved usability of mobile devices by diagnosing and repairing software problems and delivering software updates and configuration settings over the air. Before Bitfone, Wang was chief executive officer and chairman of Photo Access, where he sold its hardware business unit to Agilent Technologies in 2000. Wang also was the chief executive officer of Computer Motion, which he led through a successful initial public offering in 1997. At Symantec, Wang was executive vice president where he managed four divisions and helped grow the annual sales from $172 million to $412 million. Wang was vice president and general manager at Borland, where he drove sales of the C++ programming language to more than 1 million copies. Wang is the founder and original chairman of the board of directors for the Over-The-Air Flash Forum and remains active in this wireless industry special interest group that defines and promotes over-the-air mobile phone technologies. Wang earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of California at Berkeley. |  | Feature This!
Jay May, Founder & President Jay May, the founder of Feature This!, comes from a diverse background in the entertainment industry. Considered one of the most progressive product placement companies emerging from the 1990's, Feature This! has had the distinctive advantage of Mr. May's unique prospective of the entertainment industry. Studying as an actor at the prestigious Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York (1976) under the guidance and direction of Lee Strasberg (1977), Mr. May (Jay, as he prefers to be called) started his entertainment career as "EJ" the D.J. at Luke's Discotheque on the soap opera "General Hospital" in 1978. He has appeared in numerous movies and television shows over the years, with his last role in "Disappearance of Nora", starring Veronica Hammell (1994). An actor's strike in 1980 caused him to work behind the camera full-time. In 1981 Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley proclaimed "Nu Mooveez Day", honoring Jay for helping young independent artists in the film business. During his time in production, Jay was introduced to his true forte, working as a special effects man and property master for motion pictures. It was in this capacity that Jay labored for fifteen years. As a property master, Jay worked actively in product placement, prominently displaying products in front of the camera. Having the foresight to see beyond his industry and realizing the potential of product placement, Jay realized that it was time to shift gears. Dedicating himself to product placement, "Feature This!" was soon born. Jay is presently working with all the major studios on over 80 television shows and on the biggest blockbusters. Jay's hands have been in over 2,500 films in the last ten years. |  | Zeacom Limited
Miles Valentine, Founder and CEO
Miles Valentine started computer telephony integration software company Zeacom in 1994 and within a year had expanded into 24 countries. In January 2000, he relocated to Southern California to manage the company's growth in the United States before returning to New Zealand in 2007. Valentine was no stranger to the telephone business he launched Zeacom; in 1988 he founded TelephoneTechnology Ltd, an independent telephone reseller. He built this into a $12-million company before selling to Ubix in 1993. Zeacom's aim is to improve the way businesses communicate within the contact centre and throughout the entire enterprise. The mission is to provide cost-effective Unified Communications that make high-end functions, such as Presence, Mobility and Microsoft Outlook integration accessible to small and medium-sized organisations - not just large corporates. |  | Gulliver USA, Inc. is the subsidiary of Gulliver International, a world leader in the preowned car market with over 500 locations in Japan. Gulliver USA was established in January, 2005, and now operates three locations in California and one in New York. Gulliver's Car Connection Center in Torrance, Ca., is a large-scale vehicle consignment emporium where both buyers and sellers benefit from a transparent pricing system and low fees that allow for private party pricing on all vehicles. |  | Adexa, Inc.
K. Cyrus Hadavi, Ph.D., President & CEO
Dr. K. Cyrus Hadavi founded Adexa in 1994 with a dual mission: to enable enterprises to deliver higher earnings per share AND improved customer service. His strategy was to increase operational and financial performance with intelligent business planning solutions. The impact of Adexa solutions can be measured with gauges of increased efficiency and responsiveness, or financial markers such as improved revenues, profitability and returns on invested capital. Prior to founding Adexa, Dr. Hadavi directed implementations at i2 Technologies, Inc., delivering business solutions to Fortune 500 companies. Before that, he helped pioneer next-generation distributed problem-solving applications at Siemens. While at Siemens, Dr. Hadavi served as Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, where he taught courses on the application of computer science and artificial intelligence to manufacturing. Besides publishing numerous articles on supply chain management, manufacturing and e-commerce, Dr. Hadavi is a frequent speaker at business venues worldwide. He holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering and an M.S. degree in industrial management from the University of Birmingham, UK. He also holds an M.S. degree in computer engineering from the University of Southampton, UK, and a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Michigan. |  | The founder of Customer Focus Services, Marc Haberman has been its CEO since inception, starting up a company and taking it through the phases of fundraising, acquisition of talent, and development of new clients to sustain profitability and consistently high quality standards. Previously, Mr. Haberman was an analyst at a private equity firm. In that capacity he visited numerous companies in India and was impressed with the high level of skills and work ethic found there. As a result, he founded Customer Focus Services. Mr. Haberman also was a partner at Greenwood Capital, a private equity firm that invested in distressed companies and real estate with over 150 million in assets. |  | Founded in 1982 by CEO Shinobu Ishizuka in Los Angeles, California, Dyna-Search, Inc. has successfully executed numerous business projects designed to bridge the gap between Japanese and American companies by developing and executing new business projects. A graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) with a Masters degree of Operations Research with professional experience working with NASA through his role at Konigsberg Instruments, Mr. Ishizuka and Dyna-Search identify key events in a company's industry, coordinate participation and provide reporting services. Dyna-Search Reports by industry professionals provide companies with insights into emerging trends and winning business practices through in-depth research and analysis, and their field tour and seminar programs are developed for participants to gain insights into constantly evolving U.S. business environment and industries, including current trends in U.S. industries and consumer lifestyles, and field studies of U.S. leading retailers. |  | Fortune Market Media
Ryan Tomlinson, Executive V.P./Director of Media Mr. Tomlinson is the executive vice president and director of media at Fortune Market Media, Inc., a diversified media and communications company providing businesses with a variety of financial-, consumer- and investor-related communications services. Tomlinson is one of three co-founders of the media company and has been at the forefront of its development and success since its inception. Tomlinson’s daily focus is media development. He has also played a key role in the over all company structuring and growth. Mr. Tomlinson is the host of Fortune Market Media's weekly radio show "Your Money's Worth" which airs on 97.1 KLSX CBS Free FM Saturdays 8-10 am in Los Angeles. Tomlinson's daily tasks include media development, sales training and management and structuring media campaigns. He is a key liaison between clients. | 
| everse is a technology consulting, software development, and application outsourcing company, creating process-centric solutions that build long-term business relationships. With a diverse group of professionals offering a global perspective and a wide range of skills and talents, everse provides expertise in Technology Assessment & Planning, Customer Relationship Management, Program Management, Enterprise Application Integration, Process Migration, Application Design & Development, Application Maintenance & Support, and Enterprise Portal Services. Headquarted in Los Angeles, California, everse has collaborated with Global 1000 and middle market companies including Allied Domecq PLC, Baskin-Robbins, Conexant Systems, CorVel Corporation, the California Public Utilities Commission, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company, Farmers Insurance Group, Knott's Southern California Resort, Medtronic Minimed, Newhall Land and Farming Company, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, ValleyCrest Companies, and Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation. |  | Founded in 2005, and headquartered in Ladera Ranch, California, Access Smart develops Smart card products and services designed to provide online protection while protecting company information and an individual's identity. Access Smart Founder Dovell Bonnett's professional experience spans 21 years in engineering, product development, sales and marketing, with more than 13 years focused specifically on smartcard technology, systems and applications. He has held positions at National Semiconductor, Siemens (Infineon), Certicom, Motorola and HID. He is the author of smartcard articles, regularly presents at conferences, and helps companies successfully implement smartcard projects. Mr. Bonnett has been an active member of the Smart Card Alliance contributing to the development of physical access security white papers. He holds dual bachelor's degrees in industrial and electrical engineering from San Jose State University. |  | Chien J. Wang launched Toujours Products, Inc. at the age of 22 with $4,000 he had saved in college. The company distributes awards and personalized gifts to hundreds of retail outlets in the U.S. Chien launched his second venture Award Elements, LLC and is again building it from the ground up to properly meet his clients' needs. His goal is to bring more professionalism to the promotional products industry. Chien J. Wang was born in Taipei, Taiwan. Chien immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 11, and did not speak a word of English. He attended University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and graduated with a degree in business administration and entrepreneurship. Chien is the author of "It's Who Knows YOU - Network Your Way To Success", and founded Chien's World Premier Networking Community in 2006. In addition to being an entrepreneur, Chien Wang is a historian, philosopher, world traveler, philanthropist and a photo journalist. |  | New Age Electronics, Inc. is a specialty service provider for consumer technology (CT) manufacturers with a broad offering of logistics, remanufacturing, and distribution services. Extensive experience in the CT industry and a customer-focused approach has made New Age the provider of choice for manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard, Panasonic, Sharp, and resellers such as Nebraska Furniture Mart, Conn's, and Brandsmart. With over 18 years of success stemming from the entrepreneurial drive of founders Lee Perlman and Adam Carroll, New Age has achieved a number of milestones. Open-book philosophies have kept employees focused, dedicated, and ambitious to achieve new challenges. New Age distinguishes itself with extremely efficient operations and relentless focus on customer satisfaction. New Age has perfected supply chain solutions and remanufacturing strategies offering customers cost savings they were unable to achieve on their own. |  | Atlus USA
Shinichi Suzuki, President and CEO Headquartered in Irvine, California, Atlus is a leading publisher of interactive software for major video game systems. Atlus is a privately held company and is a subsidiary of Atlus Co., Ltd. located in Tokyo, Japan. Atlus U.S.A., Inc. was founded in 1991 as Asuka, an American branch of Atlus Co.,Ltd. with the stated mission of publishing high quality role-playing games for a North American audience. The localization of these titles became the most important facet of this mission statement, and the company gained a following within the gaming industry for its excellent translations and ability to "speak" to the audience in the North American market. |  | Interview Two Founded in 1953, Body Glove is a leading, worldwide action sports brand specializing in wetsuits, swimwear, clothing, footwear, accessories and technology accessories. Its contributions to action sports include the Body Glove Surfbout (4 Star WQS event), continued support of the NSSA National Scholastic Surfing Championships and sponsorhip of one of the most respected surf and wakeboard teams in the industry. Through Reef Check, SIMAs environmental fund, and the Surfrider Foundation, Body Glove works to preserve the purity of the waters it loves. Body Glove products are sold in the U.S. by a network of independent retailers and in approximately 50 countries internationally through distributors, sales agents and licensees. |  | Interview One Founded in 1953, Body Glove is a leading, worldwide action sports brand specializing in wetsuits, swimwear, clothing, footwear, accessories and technology accessories. Its contributions to action sports include the Body Glove Surfbout (4 Star WQS event), continued support of the NSSA National Scholastic Surfing Championships and sponsorhip of one of the most respected surf and wakeboard teams in the industry. Through Reef Check, SIMAs environmental fund, and the Surfrider Foundation, Body Glove works to preserve the purity of the waters it loves. Body Glove products are sold in the U.S. by a network of independent retailers and in approximately 50 countries internationally through distributors, sales agents and licensees. | |
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