Event Description

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND

As the cost and challenge of recruitment increases, companies recognize the need to develop their existing employees and managers. Professionalism, skill and behavior development through either internal 'coaches' or outside experts in trained in coaching skills has proven very effective for many companies and people. To meet the growing need for coaches by and within companies but also from individual employees, consultants, business owners and entrepreneurs, the number and types of coaching has grown quickly.

If you are considering hiring a coach for yourself or your employees or if you are interested in developing your own coaching skills, this program will provide you with insight into the types of coaching available, key coaching techniques and results that can be expected from coaching.

Moderator:

• EJ Dieterle, YES Partners, President & CEO

Panelists:

• Dr. Angelika Blendstrup, Blendstrup & Associates, Principal
• Dr. Arlyne Diamond, Diamond Associates, Founder & President
• Claudio Vespucci, SAP Labs LLC, Sen. Director HR
• Lori Kendall, Transera Communications, SVP & Co-Founder

Event Description

Learn the ins and outs of Google Adsense in this 'how-to' workshop so you can increase your ad revenue potential for your website or blog.

We will have three different presentations on Google products--AdSense, AdWords, and Analytics, and there will be a question and answer session for ten to fifteen minutes at the end.

Understand:

• How AdSense for Content and AdSense for search work and how to optimize your content to earn maximum dollars through relevant ads
• Optimization essentials
• Designing successful ads
• Savvy Ad placement
• Ad Strategies for specific sites

7:30-7:55:
Andrea Bouch-Dimondstein and Austin Lau, Account Associates, Google AdWords

Attract customers and drive traffic to your site with Google AdWords.
By advertising with Google AdWords, you will reach millions of users after they’ve indicated interest in a specific topic, whether it’s by searching for it on Google.com, on one of our search partners, or as they read content online. This session will explain how AdWords works and how it can help you achieve your advertising and marketing goals.

7:55-8:20:
Meridith Blascovich, Account Associate, Google AdSense

Earn Revenue for relevant ads on your website.
Google AdSense for Content allows you to choose various sizes of ad formats and places targeted text, image, flash, and video ads on your website. AdSense for Mobile Content matches ads to the content of your mobile site, and AdSense for Search monetizes your search results pages. You'll earn money whenever your visitors click on your ads.

8:20-8:45:
Alex Ortiz-Rosado, Senior Technical Specialist, Google Analytics

Maximizing your online results using Google Analytics.
The next generation web analytics tool from Google, Analytics shows you how people find your site, how they navigate your site, and how they become customers, making it possible for you as an advertiser, publisher, and/or website owner to improve your online results. In this session, you'll learn how Google Analytics works, and how Google Analytics will help you make business decisions that will maximize your return on investment.

8:45-9:00:
Question and Answer Session

Sponsors: Silicon French, Hispanic-Net, Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP) and the Silicon Valley Indian Professionals Association (SIPA)

Event Description

Don't miss our last social mixer of the year!

SiliconFrench, Hispanic-Net, CSPA, GABA and SIPA are coming together to celebrate the holidays and provide Christmas toys for needy children through the Toys for Tots program!
Event attendees are asked to please bring an unwrapped, new toy that we will give to the Toys for Tots Program.

About Toys for Tots:

This year marks the 60th anniversary for the Toys for Tots tradition of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. In 2006, Toys for Tots delivered more than 19.2 million toys to over 7.6 million children. Unfortunately, with over 13 million children living in poverty, Toys for Tots needs your help more than ever to achieve our goal of delivering a toy to every child in need.

Event Description

Are you using your skills and talents to change the world?
Do you have a plan and know how to put it into action?
If you are still wondering and would like to meet with friends who are looking for solutions too and have some of their own, come to our event on Nov. 8th, 6pm at Menlo College.

Our panel will offer hands on steps each of us can take to mitigate climate change. We will share experiences, answer your questions, provide success stories, build awareness on this critical issue and opportunity, find out how we, as individuals, can contribute to changing the world and instill a new, and sustainable, approach to development.

Let’s work on the future, right now!

• Join us and the French and Francophile community leading the path to a sustainable change!
• Share the experience of people like you and I on the benefits of sustainability!
• Find out how to contribute to this global challenge, locally, at work, in your community, at home
• Calculate your carbon footprint and define your personal ecology
• Realize the opportunities created by this sustainable revolution
• Network with other Francophiles sharing your interest in sustainability!
• Enjoy great company, home cooked food and wine

Panelists (more to be announced later)

• Tim Quigley, Executive Director, Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, representing The Green Challenge 07-09
  http://www.greenchallenge0709.org

  Tim Quigley works to achieve the overall success of the Volunteer Center. Coordinating with the Board of Directors, Tim is responsible for its overall leadership and management. Tim is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and former Course President of the NATO Defense College (1991-92). His professional thirty-five year career has encompassed a variety of senior executive positions including Executive Director/CEO, Silicon Valley Global Trading Center, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Moffett Field and Director of Strategic Planning and Policy, U.S. Department of Navy.

• Nancy Goebner. Nancy is currently in the process of a “green” home remodel. She assists homeowners with creation of environmentally friendly lawn replacements and she demonstrates the benefits of solar cooking. While an advocate for a strong public education system, she considers lessons she has learned outside of the traditional classroom environment equally important. Her mentors include a North Dakota homesteader, as well as Shoshone, Cherokee, and Muskogee elders who have taught her to appreciate the gifts and balance of nature, and to live lightly on the land.

• Marguerite Manteau-Rao. Currently, Marguerite is a marketing consultant, a mother, a wife, and an aspiring green do gooder. In the past, she has been active as an artist, a social worker, an engineer, and an advertising woman. She spent the first half of her life in France and is now an American citizen, residing in Palo Alto, California. You can met her online in one of her blogs (http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com).

• Dr. Bob MacDonald, high tech entrepreneur and solar energy advocate. Bob most recently led product marketing at SolFocus, a venture backed company developing high concentration photovoltaic products. Prior to SolFocus, he consulted for venture firms and private companies in both telecommunications and renewable energy markets. He co-founded and led Onetta, the leading optical amplifier company funded by Sequoia Capital and Matrix Partners. Bob also started the telecom components division of New Focus, Inc. leading to a successful IPO and secondary offerings with proceeds totaling $539 million. Bob is leveraging solar energy at home and will share tips on his way of living sustainably.

Moderators

• Jean Pommier, VP Methodology, ILOG
  A Vice President with ILOG, Jean has joined the software company a couple of months after its creation, 20 years ago, and has led all its customer services (consulting, training, customer support). Living in California since 1998, he aims at implementing a “personal ecology”, by balancing his professional, family and community involvements with a career in ultra trail running. Jean is member of the Program Committee of SiliconFrench.

Thursday, July 12th, 2007
Business Ethics - A Cultural Perspective	From 6:00PM to 09:00PM
Location: Pillsbury Winthrop 2475 Hanover Street Palo Alto, CA 94304
6:00 - 7:00 PM Registration / Networking 7:00 - 8:30 PM Panel Discussion 8:30 - 9:30 PM Networking Reception Complimentary appetizers, beer, wine and soft drinks will be served. Click here to pre-register for this special event.
Moderator
David J. Blumberg, Managing Partner, Blumberg Capital
Panelists
John Vigouroux, former CEO of Valicert, president at Tumbleweed and now CEO at Cranite Software Vigouroux draws on over twenty years of management experience in large and small technology companies to set the strategic agenda and direct all aspects of company management. Over the past several years, Vigouroux has dramatically grown two public software security companies to profitability. Vigouroux was president and COO at Tumbleweed Communications, a public software security company, where he was responsible for sales, marketing, engineering, customer support and professional services. Prior to this, Vigouroux was president and CEO at Valicert, which was acquired by Tumbleweed. At Valicert, he engineered the acquisition by Tumbleweed Communications while leading the company to profitability. Vigouroux has also held leadership positions in both large multi-national enterprises such as Cisco, Adobe Systems, and GE Information Services, as well as several Silicon Valley startups. Tom Chaffin, Partner, Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLP Mr. Chaffin is a partner in the Corporate & Securities group at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman's Palo Alto office. His experience in representing clients in the Silicon Valley spans more than twenty years. He focuses on the representation of technology companies and venture capital firms in financings, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances and commercial transactions. Mr. Chaffin also assists companies in their intellectual property protection and licensing programs, tax planning, and strategic corporate planning. He has represented both mature as well as early stage companies in the areas of semiconductors, software, communications equipment, contract manufacturing, information technology, life sciences, consumer and health products and real estate development and syndication. Mr. Chaffin is a past chairperson of the Tax Section of the Santa Clara County Bar Association and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section. He is a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Golden Gate University where he teaches in the Graduate School of Taxation. Mr. Chaffin is also a prominent member of the firm's India & South Asia practice group. Education LL.M., Taxation, New York University School of Law, 1984 J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law, 1983 with honors Jim Balassone, Executive-in-Residence, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University Jim Balassone directs the business ethics programs of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. He helped to develop and manages the Center's cornerstone offering in this area, the Business and Organizational Ethics Partnership, which brings scholars and businesspeople together to address key ethical challenges and develop best practices for building ethical organizational cultures. He also leads the Center's development efforts and works closely with its Advisory Board members on fundraising. Balassone has worked with boards of directors, executive teams, and non-profit advisory boards on the topics of business ethics, organizational obstacles to effective ethical behavior, and implementing campaigns for improving ethical culture. He is actively engaged with several clients supporting their efforts to implement values-based leadership, codes of conduct, training, management assessment, and risk assessment. Prior to joining the Ethics Center in 2002, Balassone had an extensive background in sales, marketing, and business development. He was a founding member of several start-up companies in Silicon Valley, was executive vice president for marketing and then sales at Hitachi Data Systems, and held a broad range of line and staff positions at IBM. Balassone serves in various volunteer alumni roles for his alma mater, Princeton University. He holds an MBA in finance from New York University. Venky Ganesan, Managing Director, Globespan Capital Partners
Event Description
Globalization has increased demands for business transparency, the rule of law and universal standards and norms. In addition, some advocate expansion of managerial goals beyond shareholder profits to include social responsibility to multiple stakeholders including employees, environment, local economy and neighbors. Moreover, governments and NGOs press for more regulation, including financial securities, privacy and information protection, homeland security and export restrictions, money laundering and corrupt practices, IP protection, quotas and tariffs, environmental and human rights, wage and union rules, and occupational safety. This month's panel will grapple with the following questions: How should a corporation conduct its operations when laws, standards and values of the home country conflict with those abroad? Should corporations work for improvement of civic society in each country, or stick to bottom line concerns? How is Social Responsibility manifesting in the managerial role; what are examples of dealing with “externalities”? Where are laws and norms converging towards universal standards and where are they diverging? Why? How does the increase in governmental regulation affect corporations? How does the increasing role of Non-Governmental Organizations affect corporations? Where can managers find the resources to help work through these complex issues? Co-hosted by Silicon French, Hispanic-Net, CSPA, GABA, and SIPA

Thursday, June 14th, 2007
Driving Change: Alternative Fuels for tomorrows’ Cars.	From 6:00PM to 09:00PM
Location: Russel Center Menlo College 1000 El Camino Atherton, CA 94027 The Russell Center is in El Camino Hall - see map
6:00 PM ­ 7:00 PM   Registration and Car exhibit 7:00 - 7:15 PM   Introduction 7:15 - 8:30 PM   Panel Discussion 8:30 - 9:00 PM   Networking Complimentary appetizers, beer, wine and soft drinks will be served
Moderator
Christian Forthomme, CEO of Realchange Bruno Manh, GM Datamedia USA
Panelists
BioFuel Richard Gillis, President and CEO of Energy Alternative Solutions, Inc Vincent Guerrieri, VP Goldstar Biodiesel Hybrids Ian Wright, CEO of Wrightspeed, Inc - (He will bring his prototype X1) Felix Kramer, CEO of CalCars - (He will bring his Prius plug in) Venture Capital in Cleantech Sanjay Wagle, VantagePoint Venture Partner Andrew Chung, Lightspeed Venture Partner
Event Description
Over more than a century, the automobile has presented itself as a fascinating microcosm of technological evolution at work fuelling our industry and the American way of life. Even as conventional engines have improved, recent years have found a growing interest in fuel alternatives that could potentially power our vehicles either more efficiently or with fewer emission byproducts – or both. Alternative fuels are attractive because they could potentially lessen our dependence on imported oil and, in some cases, because existing vehicles can be converted to run on these fuels with minimal modifications. These new alternative fuels, hybrid, diesel and hydrogen are the emerging technologies in the current automotive marketplace. There is a promising transition already taking place, people are realizing that these new technologies can succeed not because they are forced on us, but simply because they are better. And, given that venture capital in clean tech has grown from $623 million in 2005 to $1.5 billion this past year, it is likely that the number of alternative energy/automotive companies to test the public markets will continue to increase this year. A panel of experts from the area of hybrid, electrical cars and bio diesel fuels as well as VCs will discuss this topic focusing on timing, availability and affordability of these solutions, as well as the market opportunities created.

Thursday, May 10th, 2007
Trends in Digital Media / Digital Entertainment: What`s Next?	From 6:00PM to 09:00PM
Location: Russel Center Menlo College 1000 El Camino Atherton, CA 94027
6:00 PM ­ 7:00 PM   Registration and Networking 7:00 - 8:30 PM   Program 8:30 - 9:30 PM   Networking Reception Complimentary appetizers, beer, wine and soft drinks will be served
Moderator
Raphael Hitzke: Mobile Digital Home Marketing at Intel Corp. (http://www.intel.com) and Marketing Coordinator of the Sacramento French Film Festival (www.sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org)
Panelists
Frederic Descamps: Senior Director of Business Development & Marketing, at Xfire (www.xfire.com), part of MTV Networks. Khai Minh Pham: CEO of Easyplanet (www.easyplanet.com) Stephane Savard: Chief Scientist, at Current TV (www.currentmedia.com) Frédéric Sitterlé: New Media General Manager, at Socpresse/Le Figaro (www.lefigaro.fr) and CEO of Sport24 (http://www.sport24.com)
Event Description
What is the impact of Youtube? What is the impact of gaming culture becoming mainstream? Are newspapers going to disappear? What kind of business models are emerging from the digital revolution in the media and entertainment industries? What is the ripple effect on the other businesses? If you want to find out please join our experts on May 10th, 2007: The new digital technologies are changing how people and companies create entertainment and how people consume their entertainment. It also has a major impact on companies beyond these industries: advertizers are trying to reach these moving audiences. With our panel of experts you will learn more about: The gaming industry and about Xfire The media industry and the new TV channel Current TV The transformation of the press and how newspapers are adapting to the digital age User Generated Content and its impact on all industries The Digital Home The new business models that are emerging How companies can embrace the new opportunities created by these changes

Thursday, April 12th, 2007
Climate Change: Large Companies and NGOs on a mission!	From 6:00PM to 09:00PM
Location: Russel Center Menlo College 1000 El Camino Atherton, CA 94027
6:00 PM ­ 7:00 PM   Registration and Networking 7:00 - 8:30 PM   Program 8:30 - 9:30 PM   Networking Reception Complimentary appetizers, beer, wine and soft drinks will be served
Panelists
- Judy Glazer is Director for Global Social and Environmental Responsibility (SER) Operations at Hewlett-Packard www.hp.com - Ted Smith is SVTC's founder and former Executive Director. He is currently SVTC's Senior Strategist www.svtc.org - Jonathan Bauer is manager, Real Estate Workplace Solutions at Hewlett-Packard www.hp.com - Bill Barclay is Global Finance Campaigner with Rain Forest Action Network www.ran.org - Jean-Paul Moiroux is R & D Director, Evolutionary Product, Consumer PC at Hewlett-Packard www.hp.com - Christian Forthomme is President of RealChange www.realchange.com
Event Description
Learn, be inspired and discover new opportunities for yourself and for your company from a world-class panel of senior executives from HP, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition and Rain Forest Action Network. Leading global companies and NGO's today have a unique perspective on the implications of climate change and of other serious sustainability challenges on business, society and all of us. Some are consciously working together to come up with concrete solutions to issues of vital importance for customers, citizens and shareholders. In this panel you will learn: What sustainability means to HP How climate change is factored in HP's environmental thinking How sustainability is integrated in HP’s operations The unique role and exemplary work of Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition to promote human health and environmental justice in response to the rapid growth of the high-tech industry. The ground-breaking results obtained on climate change and on protection of natural systems by Rain Forest Action Network, dubbed “the most savvy environmental agitators in the business” by the Wall Street Journal How large companies like HP are partnering with SVTC and RAN today for maximum impact.

Thursday, March 15th, 2007
2007-2012 Silicon Valley Entrepreneurship Outlook	From 6:00PM to 09:00PM
Location: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP 3175 Hanover Street Palo Alto, CA 94304-1130
6:00 PM ­ 7:00 PM   Registration and Networking 7:00 - 8:30 PM   Program 8:30 - 9:30 PM   Networking Reception Complimentary appetizers, beer, wine and soft drinks will be served
Moderator
Daniel Zimmermann - Cooley Godward Kronish
Panelists
Jean-Louis Gassee, Partner, Allegis Capital Charly Kleissner, PhD, Partner Acumen Fund Tony Seba , Author of "Winners Take All - The 9 Fundamental Rules of High Tech Strategy".
Event Description
New Spaces, New Opportunities, New Money, Same M.O.? Silicon French and The German American Business Association of California (GABA), Inc. invite you to this joint event to discuss Silicon Valley Entrepreneurship. Focus: What are the key trends with regard to technology spaces/industries and business models, as well as venture capital funding strategies five years out? Wireless, Cleantech/Renewables, Nanotech, Lifesciences/Healthcare, Venture Philanthropy? Are Silicon Valley style entrepreneurship and VC modus operandi well suited to exploiting them? What lessons have we learned from the dot.com and telecom bubbles that will help us build more sustainable value in these spaces/industries? Will social and environmental sustainability play an increasingly stronger role in value creation in these areas? Can European and American approaches to entrepreneurship and venture funding learn anything from each other in the context of these new spaces/industries? Audience: Accomplished transatlantic business and social entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. High-profile professionals who have successfully led innovation in the past and are helping shape the entrepreneurial direction of tomorrow. American and European entrepreneurs seeking expert advice. Entrepreneurs "in spe" wanting to launch their own venture Academic, financial, legal, product, strategy advisory professionals seeking to exchange best practices and forward-looking thinking on tomorrow's entrepreneurial trends.

Thursday, February 8th, 2007
Are you ready for the Sustainability and Greentech Revolutions?	From 6:00PM to 09:00PM
Location: Russel Center Menlo College 1000 El Camino Atherton, CA 94027 Please print map for directions and PARKING The Russell Center is the building located on the right as you enter Menlo College – parking is available in that lot or in a lot to the left of the entrance – Additional parking is available behind the Russel Center, in the back of the lot to the right of the entrance. There will be a gate open for further parking, you may drive there even though there is a sign which says you can’t enter.
6:00 PM ­ 7:00 PM   Registration and Networking 7:00 PM ­ 7:15 PM   Introduction 7:15 PM ­ 8:30 PM   Panel Discussion 8:30 PM ­ 9:00 PM   Networking
Event Description
The World is Changing rapidly... Are you ready for the Sustainability and Greentech Revolutions? Due to climate change, the melting of the arctic ice cap, the rising cost of energy and an increased awareness of global economic disparities, sustainable development has become an important subject for world business and political leaders as well as for ordinary citizens. Extraordinary new opportunities are emerging for green entrepreneurs, managers and for individuals to do good for the world while making money. A panel of French-speaking executives, as part of the InterFrench community, is committed to sharing with you: the seriousness of the sustainability challenges we face their economical, political and social impact the growing need for sustainable development technologies and innovation a very inspiring series of InterFrench events in 2007 that will help you understand, connect with others and benefit from the opportunities presented to you by Sustainable Development.

Thursday, December 14th, 2006
Help a French entrepreneur to create the next Google life!	From 6:00PM to 09:00PM
Location: Fireside Lounge Student Union Menlo College 1000 El Camino Atherton, CA 94027 Please print map for directions and PARKING The Russell Center is the building located on the right as you enter Menlo College – parking is available in that lot or in a lot to the left of the entrance – Additional parking is available behind the Russel Center, in the back of the lot to the right of the entrance. There will be a gate open for further parking, you may drive there even though there is a sign which says you can’t enter.
6:00 PM ­ 7:00 PM   Registration and Networking 7:00 PM ­ 7:15 PM   Introduction 7:15 PM ­ 8:30 PM   Panel Discussion 8:30 PM ­ 9:00 PM   Networking
Event Description
Fabien Degaugue is brillant young French entrepreneur that has created a new Internet concept and market. Ketady strives to become the world reference for providing Human Answers to any question, as easily and effectively as searching on the Web, just asking the right person. All of us that spend countless time in searching the web for the right answer know that Fabien touched on something big. This connection between questionnees and answerees is made possible through a leading-edge patented innovative search engine - http://www.ketady.fr Fabien just moved his company from Lille to the Silicon Valley and is asking for your HELP! After describing his concept, he will sollicit you to bring your expertise whether it in marketing, sales or engineering. Come learn about Ketady and join the adventure on a full-time or part-time basis and create the next Google!

Thursday, November 9th, 2006
The Bay Area is really unique: let's get outdoors for a balanced life!	From 6:00PM to 09:00PM
Location: Russel Center   Menlo College Address: 1000 El Camino   Atherton, CA 94027   Please print map for directions and PARKING   The Russell Center is the building located on the right as you enter Menlo College – parking is available in that lot or in a lot to the left of the entrance – Additional parking is available behind the Russel Center, in the back of the lot to the right of the entrance. There will be a gate open for further parking, you may drive there even though there is a sign which says you can’t enter.
6:00 PM ­ 7:00 PM   Registration and Networking 7:00 PM ­ 7:15 PM   Introduction 7:15 PM ­ 8:30 PM   Panel Discussion 8:30 PM ­ 9:00 PM   Networking
Moderator Jean Pommier will moderate the discussion. Jean is member of the Program Committee of SiliconFrench. A Vice President with ILOG, he has joined the company a couple of months after its creation, almost 20 years ago. As a hobby, he started running seriously upon moving to the Bay Area 8 years ago and became an avid runner, quickly placing in many races including top 10 Masters at the 2005 internationally renowned Boston Marathon. Jean is leveraging his love for the Peninsula hilly trails in his new achievements in ultra marathons.
Panelist Scott Dunlap Chuck Wilson Scott Dunlap Scott Dunlap - Scott has several lives ! On the business side he is an accomplished executive and entrepreneur in the eBusiness space (E.piphany, Loudcloud, 4charity.com, and recently founded NearbyNow.   Scott also excels in sports. After many years of mountain biking, he switched to trail running and was the 2004 Overall Champion for the Trail Runner Magazine Trophy Series (marathon-and-shorter division), the largest trail running series in the world. Scott also writes music and his blog (runtrails.blogspot.com) is getting a lot of traction in the running community, providing motivation to its many readers. Scott is also writing screen plays and, major milestone, has added parenting in his busy schedule with a new born girl this summer. Chuck Wilson Chuck Wilson - Chuck has worked in software engineering since 1966, exercising his technical talents and experience in many fields including intelligence, space & communication, system integration, chip design, financial engineering, business to business applications and today, natural language search. He moved from Maryland to the California in 1970 and to Silicon Valley in 1979. Since then he has seen the transformation of it but also the preservation of the unique "green belt" around it. Chuck knows how challenging it is to preserve such an open space in a metropolitan area such as the Bay Area: he has traveled to more than 50 countries throughout the world, visited all continents but Antarctica, hiking, running trails, climbing, white water rafting to name a few of his outdoors activities. Chuck is involved in several preservation groups and projects, is an active volunteer at the service of the mid-Peninsula parks and a Director on the Board of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council.
Event Description
For the ones knowing the French or Parisian expression, there is no metro-boulotdodo here. The Silicon Valley is unique by the richness of its history in high tech, in venture capital, and its unmatched gathering and leveraging of so many cultures. But never heard about the fear of its model being replicated in other regions of the world? There is definitely something you would never take away from our Valley though, this is the environment. The climate, the nearby hills, the hundreds of miles of trails, the redwoods, etc. Money will never buy or build that elsewhere! Your Silicon Valley is unique: go outdoors! From walkers to runners, bird watchers to bikers, photographers to horse riders, we are surrounded of opportunities to enjoy this invaluable environment which our visitors either envy or don't even know and appreciate. Come to listen to great stories and information about the area and discover new ideas and tips to enjoy it even more. From busy professionals who find the time to hit the trails as well as volunteering to preserve this unique environment provided by Mother Nature. For one evening let's get "off the trail" of the usual business topics (Internet, computers, software, venture capital, ...) and gather for a cool, friendly and open round table.

Thursday, October 26th, 2006
How to Maximize Your Chance of Success in the Valley thanks to Joint Ventures.	From 6:00PM to 09:00PM
Location: Russel Center   Menlo College Address: 1000 El Camino   Atherton, CA 94027   Please print map for directions and PARKING   The Russell Center is the building located on the right as you enter Menlo College – parking is available in that lot or in a lot to the left of the entrance – Additional parking is available behind the Russel Center, in the back of the lot to the right of the entrance. There will be a gate open for further parking, you may drive there even though there is a sign which says you can’t enter.
6:00 PM ­ 7:00 PM   Registration and Networking 7:00 PM ­ 7:15 PM   Introduction 7:15 PM ­ 8:30 PM   Panel Discussion 8:30 PM ­ 9:00 PM   Networking Click here to pre-register for this special event.
Moderator Valerie Vauthey Founder MyPrivateCoach
Panelist     Philippe Bouissou Mitchell Levy     Philippe Bouissou   Philippe has been involved in the IT industry for 17 years. He is the co-founder and Managing Director of Astra Venture Partners, a firm dedicated to help driven entrepreneurs realize their goal to build companies that matter.   Philippe has been an early-stage Venture Capitalist since 1998 at Allegis Capital and Ventech. He previously founded and ran the Internet Commerce Group at Apple and built it from zero to a $350 million profitable business.   Prior to Apple, Philippe was with Matra Hachette and was the CEO of a Unix software company.     Mitchell Levy Mitchell Levy, CEO, Happy About® is a strategist, educator & prognosticator helping companies succeed by putting tools in the hands of corporations and individuals to allow them to create their own success. Books are his latest and most powerful toolset. He is a frequent media guest and a popular speaker, lecturing on business and management issues throughout the U.S. and around the world. He has started 11 companies/joint ventures since 1997 and has provided strategic consulting to over 100 companies.     Mr. Levy is also on the Board of Directors of Rainmaker Systems.
Event Description
This presentation will go over the 8 critical factors of success an entrepreneurs should be aware of before jumping (with no parachute) in the joint-venturing world. Joint ventures can be very rewarding whether you have a small or a large company. They allow to reach far-away protected markets, markets with high barriers to entry, and to easily integrate skill sets that would otherwise take years to develop. Together, we will review the potential pitfalls, the traps and problems a joint venturer will have to address to become successful. To your success!