BRIDGEGATE ANNOUNCES FIFTH ANNUAL 'BRIDGEGATE 20 INITIATIVE, NAMES BOARD OF ADVISORS TO STEER CAMPAIGN AIMED AT LINKING PEOPLE AND COMPANY SUCCESS

Fifth Annual Effort to Culminate in October Gala Benefiting The Joyful Child Foundation

IRVINE, Calif. (PRWEB) September 7, 2003 -- BridgeGate LLC, one of the nation's top 50 executive recruitment firms, announced today the fifth annual "BridgeGate 20," the first awards program to recognize the importance of people to company performance.

At the same time, BridgeGate unveiled a high-level board of advisors dedicated to guiding the Southern California-focused initiative and announced that The Joyful Child Foundation -- a new, innovative private sector neighborhood and child safety initiative -- will be the beneficiary of a gala October event honoring the BridgeGate 20.

The BridgeGate 20 is a core program to recognize leaders in the regions information technology, medical device, life science, new media and semiconductor communities who demonstrate the clear correlation between talent and company success. The initiative will showcase difference-makers" whose success is the direct outgrowth of their treatment of talent as a strategic asset.

The BridgeGate 20 seeks to find difference-makers in Southern California's business community," said Kevin Rosenberg, managing director and partner, BridgeGate LLC, Irvine. "We aim to raise the bar for evaluations of individual and company performance by identifying peak performers, establishing a new benchmark for individual and collective success, and influencing the public debate. The BridgeGate 20 will shine light on local success stories, demonstrating the maturation of Southern California as a center for high technology." The program's geographic reach extends from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

The thirteen-member advisory board will review candidates for the BridgeGate 20 that were nominated by select panel of over five hundred regional CEOs and service providers. Board members will balance such factors as the individuals ability to drive sales performance and growth rates against his or her commitment to investing in people, track record in attracting and retaining top talent and their contribution to building and sustaining a sense of community amongst the regions geographically distributed high technology industry infrastructure. The 2003 BridgeGate 20 advisory board members include:

·   Bruce Allen, Managing Partner, Deloitte & Touche
·   Raymond Baird, President, RiechesBaird
·   Dan Bassett, Venture Partner, Innocal Venture Capital
·   Kristina Bauer, MARSH, Inc.
·   Eric Boden, Chief Executive Officer, HireRight
·   Michael Flynn, Partner, Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Roth
·   Bruce Hallett, Partner, Miramar Venture Partners
·   Laura Hunter, Attorney
·   Bonnie Kehe, Senior Vice President, Comerica Bank
·   Bill McMahon, President, The Joyful Child Foundation
·   Scott Santagata, Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
·   Richard Shuttleworth, Senior Vice President, Silicon Valley Bank
·   John Wong, Partner, KPMG

         On August 15, BridgeGate opened its Web site to accept submissions for candidates for the BridgeGate 20.
To bring the concept of community involvement to life, BridgeGate will devote the proceeds of its October awards banquet to The Joyful Child Foundation, created in memory of Samantha Runnion. The Joyful Child Foundation aspires to empower communities to develop sustainable and effective child watch programs. By supporting The Joyful Child Foundation, the BridgeGate 20 embraces the social entrepreneurship that drives its vision.

" The Joyful Child Foundation embodies the spirit of the BridgeGate 20 and applies it at the grass roots level, in one of the nation's best models of how the private sector can make a profound difference for children," Rosenberg said. "At BridgeGate our job is to build companies. This initiative gives us a chance to help build the community."

About The Joyful Child Foundation
The Joyful Child Foundation -- In Memory of Samantha Runnion, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, for public benefit organization dedicated to uniting and uplifting our nations communities in the protection and wonderment of all children. The Joyful Child Foundation was inspired by the life of Samantha Runnion, a beautiful, bright, joyful little girl with a passion for art. Samanthas life was cut short as the youngest victim of the summer of abductions in 2002. The Joyful Child Foundation is dedicated to preserving Samanthas memory by transforming their grief into compassionate action that focuses on proactive measures to deal with the difficult issue of violence against children.

The Joyful Child Foundation is currently developing guidelines that will empower communities to develop sustainable and effective child watch programs called Samanthas PRIDE. In order to address the diversity of our neighborhoods, The Joyful Child Foundation will offer formal and informal guidance depending on the needs and wants of the community. "Child Watch in Effect" signs, "PRIDE Protector" vests for parents to walk children to and from school and respite programs will be among the options available. The Joyful Child Foundation is dedicated to the belief that the nation's communities must take collective responsibility for children's well-being and development. For more information, please visit www.thejoyfulchild.org.

About BridgeGate LLC
   BridgeGate has defined the discipline of management search" as a strategic business activity, not simply a means of filling current job openings. Its hybrid model of search -- serving the mid- to senior executive levels -- is designed to address the core needs of established and emerging companies alike, at all management levels. Unique among recruitment firms, BridgeGates mandate is to build teams, addressing a full range of disciplines, from operations to sales/marketing to consulting. By supporting multiple specialties within a single engagement, the firm has embraced a complete recruitment solution" philosophy for clients.
   Specializing in high technology and other knowledge-intensive sectors, BridgeGates ability to target and attract superior performers -- individually and in teams -- has made the firm an active partner in developing and growing successful organizations for more than 30 years. With offices in Irvine and Los Angeles, BridgeGate ranks among the nations top 50 executive recruitment firms. For more information, please visit www.bridgegate20.com.