Event connects students, business leaders

Cal Lutheran alumnus will share his story

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Keynote speaker Russell S. Young of Washington will speak on the personal support he received as an economics major at Cal Lutheran, how that experience propelled his successful career and how, as a manager, he created environments for individual employees to thrive. 

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Sept. 27, 2016) Business leaders are invited to connect with California Lutheran University students during the Mathews Leadership Forum on Thursday, Oct. 13.

Students and business leaders will share dinner and dialogue from 5:45 to 9 p.m. in Lundring Events Center on the Thousand Oaks campus. The format helps build relationships between students and employers and provides mentoring opportunities. 

This year, the annual event is focused on how to foster a culture of encouragement within organizations.

Keynote speaker Russell S. Young of Washington will speak on the personal support he received as an economics major at Cal Lutheran, how that experience propelled his successful career and how, as a manager, he created environments for individual employees to thrive. The 1971 alumnus went on to earn an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and to serve as controller of ARCO Products Company and then senior vice president and chief financial officer of Lyondell Chemical Co. During his tenure as its CFO, Lyondell was named one of the World’s 100 Best Managed Companies by Industry Week and was featured in the 1993 book “The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America.” Fortune magazine rated the $5 billion company at either first or second among industrial companies in terms of sales per employee during most of his years as a senior executive.

Students will be matched with business and community leaders and university faculty and staff for roundtable discussions on the theme. Facilitators will include Young, Conejo Valley Unified School District Superintendent Ann Bonitatibus, Ventura County Health Agency Director Barry Fisher, TOLD Corporation President Rod Gilbert, UBS Wealth Management Executive Director Michael Goldfader and United Way of Ventura County CEO Eric Harrison.

Former Cal Lutheran President Mark Mathews started the forum as a classroom seminar in 1970. Keynote speakers have included Kinkos founder Paul J. Orfalea, The Body Shop International founder Anita Roddick and the late UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.

The Cal Lutheran Community Leaders Association and UCLA Health are presenting the event. 

Tickets for business and community leaders are $55. Sponsorships are also available. Reservations can be made at CalLutheran.edu/cla. For more information, contact the University Relations office at 805-493-3151.

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