May 13, 2008

Steve Westley, co-founder of eBay and former California state controller, will keynote the second annual Central Valley Venture Forum at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at California State University, Fresno.

The forum, which begins at 8:30 a.m at the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Educational Center in the Student Recreation Center (5010 N. Woodrow Ave.) will feature expert speakers and panelists, local growth companies and networking opportunities.

Westley, now a partner in the Menlo Park venture capital firm of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, will talk about ”Silicon Valley Lessons for the Central Valley.”

The lunch address will be given by Bob Grady, West Coast managing director of the Carlyle Group, a Washington, D.C.-based global investment company.
This forum is sponsored by the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fresno State, the Central Valley Business Incubator, the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce and the Central Valley Fund.

The $50 registration fee will be discounted by $5 for tickets purchased before Oct. 11. Register at www.lylescenter.com or call Nancy Kobata at 559.347.3921.