Panel discussion on social entrepreneurism and civic engagement December 3, 2007

What – "Panel Discussion on Social Entrepreneurism and Civic Engagement” with Community Partners President & CEO, Paul Vandeventer, and Coro Southern California President & CEO, Tom Riley. Co-sponsored by PR Newswire.

When – Monday, December 3, 2007; Drinks and networking at 7 p.m.; Program starts at 7:30 p.m.

Where – The Steve Allen Theater at the LA Press Club; 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 90027; Plenty of free parking behind the building (enter off of Berendo Street); Metro: Red line, Sunset/Vermont station

Why – Paul Vandeventer and Tom Riley are two of the premiere social entrepreneurs here in Los Angeles. Both live in Los Angeles, run non-profit organizations that promote civic engagement and are community leaders.

Cost: Free to Press Club members; all others pay $10; you can become a Press Club member that evening at a discounted rate.

FYI: RSVP to rsvp@lapressclub.org or contact the e-mail/phone numbers above; Light refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Bios:

Paul Vandeventer has spent 24 years working in the field of community development. His areas of emphasis include management, planning, training and organizational development. He serves as the President and CEO of Community Partners, an incubator and intermediary organization with more than 175 projects and revenues of about $10 million annually. Community Partners provides sponsorship and capacity building services to emerging groups and community initiatives in Southern California. For eight years, Paul served on the staff of California Community Foundation, a major Southern California regional grant making institution. He left the role of executive vice president in 1990 to join the Newport Beach-based Wilson Consulting Group as a senior consultant chiefly working with management teams of businesses in the home-building and commercial development fields. In 1992, the founding board of Community Partners asked him to lead the start-up effort that resulted in the establishment of Community Partners. Paul served for several years as a graduate program lecturer at the University of Southern California’s School of Policy, Planning and Development, teaching about the intersection of urban planning and the voluntary nonprofit sector.

Tom Riley is a successful business entrepreneur with more than 10 years experience building and leading successful ventures in the hospitality and gaming industries. He has demonstrated ability to combine visionary, strategic, and tactical financial expertise to produce bottom-line results while leading highly successful new business development initiatives, and securing investor financing. A skilled negotiator and communicator, he has extensive ties to California's business, political, religious and non-profit communities. He is currently the President and CEO of Coro Southern California.

Official Website: http://lapressclub.org