Human Capital Institute to Host First Annual Southwest Talent Summit in Orange County, California

Human Capital Institute to Host First Annual Southwest Talent Summit in Orange County, California on July 28 and 29, 2008

Will Feature Author and Fast Company Co-Founder, William Taylor, as Keynote Speaker

The Human Capital Institute (HCI), a global professional association and educator that is advancing the science of strategic talent management, announced today that it is hosting its 2008 Southwest Talent Summit on July 28 and 29 in Orange County, California. The event is the first in a series of HCI's seven new annual Regional Talent Summits, to be held throughout 2008-2009 in Irvine, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Seattle and San Jose.

HCI's Southwest Talent Summit, which will take place at the Hilton Irvine Orange County Airport in Irvine, Calif., will bring together 250 executives who are transforming talent management within their organizations for two days of learning and networking. Participants will have numerous opportunities to share ideas, discuss trends and learn how others are adopting next practices in talent management strategy, and implementing ground-breaking programs that deliver results. Designed for talent leaders and their teams, this Regional Talent Summit will also offer participants practical, real-world case studies and access to thought leaders in the areas of human capital and recruiting innovation.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER, WILLIAM TAYLOR
Respected business author and co-founder of Fast Company magazine, William Taylor, will headline the Summit with a keynote address on Day One.

An agenda-setting writer, speaker and entrepreneur, Taylor is shaping the global conversation about the best ways to compete, innovate and succeed in business. His book, Mavericks at Work: Why the Most Original Minds in Business Win, became a New York Times Best Seller, a Wall Street Journal Business Best Seller and a BusinessWeek Best Seller, and has attracted worldwide attention and acclaim. Mavericks has been the subject of high-profile articles, reviews, and columns in many top publications, including U.S. News & World Report, The Boston Globe, and The Economist, which named the book one of its books of the year (2006) and called it a pivotal work in the tradition of In Search of Excellence and Good to Great.

After speaking at HCI's 2007 National Talent Summit, Bill Taylor became one of our most sought-after keynote speakers, said Laura Polas, HCI VP of Marketing. He has devoted his career to challenging conventional wisdom and showcasing the power of business at its best. HCI is proud to, once again, provide a forum for Bill's provocative and inspiring ideas on the future of business.

TALENT STRATEGIES FOR HIGH-PERFORMING LEADERS The Southwest Talent Summit will be the first HCI event to host an HCI Education course in conjunction with other conference learning and networking activities. Talent Strategies for High Performing Leaders, a course that can be taken individually or as part of the Human Capital Strategist (HCS(TM)) professional designation program, will present key human capital management concepts and practices through case studies, assessments, examples from leading companies and active group discussions. It is intended for individuals who lead companies, departments or teams and their HR counterparts.

For the first time, HCI is offering talent management professionals a convenient opportunity to get a jump on their HCS designation while networking and enjoying the other benefits of a Talent Summit, said Polas. ìThe HCS designation is among the best ways to distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable leader committed to furthering talent management in your company and industry.