Peter C. Jordano

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - California Lutheran University is reviving an annual event that brought big names in the business world to campus and enabled students to discuss issues of common interest with community leaders for 35 years.

The Mathews Leadership Forum will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, in Lundring Events Center. The theme will be “Human Capital: Building Business Through People.” Keynote speaker Peter C. Jordano, CEO and president of Jordano’s Inc., will discuss “A Few Good Ideas to Build On.”

Following an opening reception, students, faculty, staff and business and community leaders will participate in roundtable discussions. The facilitators will include Conejo Valley Unified School District Superintendent Jeff Baarstad, Harbor Freight Tools Chief Financial Officer Jordan Copland, Natural Balance Pet Foods President and CEO Joey Herrick, Thousand Oaks Mayor Jacqui Irwin, Thousand Oaks Police Commander Randy Pentis and Ventura County CEO Michael Powers.

Jordano will speak after dinner. His Santa Barbara-based company, which his father and uncles started in 1915 as a grocery store, is now the largest distributer of food, beverages and restaurant equipment in San Luis Obispo,Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Jordano has supported and served on the boards of many nonprofit and business organizations and received countless honors.

Former CLU President Mark Mathews, who started the forum as a classroom seminar while he was a business professor in 1970, will be honored at the event. He served as CLU’s president from 1972 to 1980, strengthening the university’s financial position and fostering relationships with the community.

Mathews, who now lives in Santa Barbara, started the annual forums to bring students together with business and civic leaders. Keynote speakers have included Kinkos founder Paul J. Orfalea, The Body Shop International founder Anita Roddick and former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. The last forum was held in 2005.

The CLU Community Leaders Association and UCLA Health System are presenting the event. Sponsors include Joanie Young of Sotheby’s International Realty, the Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura, Bernie and Sue Bauer of Integrated Lighting Concepts, John A. Short III of UBS Financial Services Inc., Wells Fargo, Klein Friedlander LLP and dentist William M. Hang.

Tickets are $55. Reservations, which are requested by Friday, Oct. 26, can be made at callutheran.edu/cla. For more information, contact the University Relations office at 805-493-3151.