Business Wire (press release) - IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Harvard Business School Association of Orange County (HBSAOC) and USC Marshall School of Business Alumni Association today announced the keynote speaker line-up—including
Bob McKnight, chairman of the board, CEO and president of Quiksilver, and
Tony Hsieh, CEO and president of Zappos—at the upcoming Business Growth Conference. The annual conference—co-hosted by two powerhouse alumni associations in Southern California—Harvard Business School and the USC Marshall School of Business—unites business and industry influencers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and economic visionaries to match talent and business concepts with money and other resources. The all-day event takes place May 6, 2010 at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel in Anaheim, Calif. and has drawn the support of top sponsors including Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP and e-Harmony, Inc.
“Business Growth Conference attendees will have ample opportunity to connect with the vibrant network, resources and energy of Harvard Business School, USC Marshall and business leaders from throughout southern California,” said Marc Kelly, Business Growth Conference co-chair and HBSAOC member. “We’re bringing in top business icons such as
Bob McKnight and
Tony Hsieh and other visionaries to share their insights and knowledge on how they led their businesses to great growth and success,” added Mark Easterday, Business Growth Conference co-chair and USC MAA member.
Tony Hsieh, a Harvard University graduate, will address the forum as the morning keynote speaker beginning at 8:30 a.m. Hsieh serves as CEO of Zappos, a company which under his leadership has grown merchandise sales from $1.6 million in 2000 to over $1 billion in 2008 by focusing relentlessly on customer service. In November 2009, the company was acquired by Amazon for $1.2 billion. Prior to joining Zappos, Hsieh co-founded Venture Frogs with Alfred Lin. Venture Frogs is an incubator and investment firm that invested in Internet startups, including Ask Jeeves, Tellme Networks and Zappos.com
Bob McKnight will serve as the keynote speaker during the conference’s noon luncheon. As chairman of the board, CEO and president, McKnight has taken Quiksilver from a startup to the world’s leading outdoor sports lifestyle company. Quiksilver operates 18 brands, has 3,000 employees and sells its products in more than 90 countries. McKnight and his team have created more than a brand—they have created a culture that influences many facets of American life. McKnight holds a degree in business administration, marketing and management from the University of Southern California.
