March 7, 2005

The Rady School To Host National Corporate Governance Conference

By Keri Minehart

The Rady School of Management will host the National Corporate Governance Conference on March 10 and 11 at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, near the UCSD campus.

The event, which is primarily for directors and officers of public and leading private companies, will bring together a wide range of participants— from business leaders to academics— interested in best practices in corporate governance.

The conference will begin with an opening dinner on March 10. The following day, the conference agenda will feature leading experts discussing best practices and emerging trends in corporate governance and the issuance of equity. The luncheon, which will be held on March 11, will serve as the National Venture Capital Association's Networking Luncheon.

“The Rady School is excited about the opportunity to host this event,” said Rady School Associate Dean Clark Jordan. “Many directors and officers from our local firms have spoken highly of the need for such a conference, so it is wonderful to have it in San Diego.”

“In the rapidly changing post-Sarbanes-Oxley environment, continuing education is ever more important, even vital to directors, boards and their firms,” said Duke K. Bristow, Ph.D., chairman of the conference. “This event is an efficient way for directors and officers to stay up to date on all aspects of their increasingly complex duties. Attendees will have access to experts on all aspects of directorship and best practices in corporate governance, for public and private firms,” said Bristow. He added, “We expect a national draw for this event and having it in beautiful San Diego just adds to the attraction.”

Conference topics will include recruiting and retaining corporate directors, building and managing a productive board, improving transparency for investors, overseeing successful initial and seasoned public offerings, expanding investor interest and liquidity in a company's stock and compensation trends.

The Rady School at UC San Diego offers a revolutionary MBA program that grows innovators into successful business leaders. Situated in San Diego’s globally recognized hotbed of innovation, the school is uniquely poised to offer access to both cutting-edge research and a fully engaged business community. The Rady School presents an integrated approach to business and technology and emphasizes cross-boundary collaborations and joint degree programs with UC San Diego centers of excellence in science, engineering, medicine, economics and international relations. The Rady School draws upon UC San Diego’s tradition of risk-taking and breakthrough innovation to recruit the top educators and students in the world.

For registration and additional information, please visit www.directors.org.

Media Contacts: Keri Minehart, (858) 534-0855