Orange County Chapter Launch

Date:
Monday, January 28th

Time:     
6:00 - 8:30 PM

Location:    
Montage Laguna Beach
30801 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA  92651

Attire: 
Business or Business Casual
 

This is by invitation only - You must RSVP to be placed on the guest list.

To RSVP please call
(949) 500-4027 or click here.

Presented By:

• Mr. Henry Segerstrom - Managing partner South Coast Plaza & C.J. Segerstrom & Sons
• Mr. Greg Furman - Founder & Chairman, The Luxury Marketing Council, Worldwide
• Mr. Ricky Sitomer - President & CEO, Bluestar Jets
• Mr. Larry Pimentel -President & CEO, Seadream Yacht Club

The term “Luxury” is today an over-used and often unqualified description for an ordinary product.  Consider a recent advertisement for a "Luxury Cobb Salad"; consider a recent press release about Hyundai entering the luxury automobile market.  How can Hyundai and Maybach both sell cars in the same segment? 

What does the future hold for “Luxury”?  Will those who sell true luxury need to begin using terms such as "Ultra-Luxury"?

At our inaugural event in Orange County our panel of experts will provide an assessment of the term, the market, and how to reestablish relevance to an overused idiom.

Our Panel of Experts will present on the following topics:

• Defining Luxury in Orange County
• The State of the Luxury Market
• Redefining the Luxury Client
• How Luxury Has Evolved

Henry Segerstrom is Managing Partner of C. J. Segerstrom & Sons, a diversified real estate development and management firm and the developer, owner and manager of South Coast Plaza, one of the nation;s most prestigious retail centers, South Coast Plaza Village and The Offices of South Coast Plaza.

Mr. Segerstrom is the Founding Chairman of the Orange County Performing Arts Center and has served in various capacities including conducting capital campaigns privately funding the facility as well as its Endowment Fund.  From the outset he has served on the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Trustees from 1981-1986, and was The Center's first Chairman and CEO.

He presently serves as Co-Chairman of the Building Committee that recently opened the 2000-seat Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and made a personal pledge commitment of $40 million early in the capital campaign to fund the new concert hall.

The Segerstrom Family initially provided the land for the Orange County Performing Arts Center including the new concert hall and the Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory Theatre which has been recognized as the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Mr. Segerstrom has served on various boards as either a member, director, trustee, or chairman with the following organizations: SCE Corp, Southern California Edison Company, Bank of America, Safeco Corporation, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Society of Fellows of the Huntington Library, the Orange County Transportation Coalition, the World Affairs Council of Orange County, the California Business Roundtable, the national Business Committee for the Arts, and the Orange County Business Committee for the Arts.

He is also a member of the Swedish Royal Roundtable. In 1988, Mr. Segerstrom was awarded the title Commander, Order of the Polar Star (STAR) by the King of Sweden for his efforts in New Sweden.

Mr. Segerstrom served in the United States Army rising from the rank of Private to Captain in Field Artillery and was awarded the European Theater of Operations Medal with Battle Star, the Purple Heart and the Good Conduct Ribbon.

Mr. Segerstrom earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from Stanford University. In 1986 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law from Western University.

Greg Furman's celebrated career has led him to a number of senior level positions in different industry groups. He served as policy advisor and speech writer to the Ontario Minister of Education; head of public affairs and issues management for Sun Oil's Canadian Subsidiary, Suncor; Managing Director of Advertising and Sales Promotion for the New York Stock Exchange, and head of J. Walter Thompson's corporate image public relations business. During his three-year association with Bergdorf Goodman his responsibilities included marketing strategy, advertising, public relations, interactive initiatives, direct mail and the store's $20 million catalogue business. In November 1994 Greg started his own consulting business and founded The Luxury Marketing Council.

At Furman Communications and Marketing, Greg has consulted for SmithKline Beecham, Deloitte & Touche, Signet Bank, American Express, Publicis, Sotheby's International Realty, Atlantic Mutual, ADP, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Departures Magazine, Fortune, Orient Express and Steinway and Sons, among many others. The Luxury Marketing Council is now comprised of some 1,600 CEOs and top marketing executives of 675 luxury firms in New York, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Dubai, London, Paris and Sao Paolo.

Greg's strategy consulting practice focuses on helping his clients define their missions and corporate positioning, develop strategic plans and grow their businesses by taking a more creative, "out of the box" approach to all facets of the marketing mix: public relations, advertising, direct mail, special events, and, especially, innovative partnerships and collaborations. Highlights of his educational experience include studying with Marshall McLuhan (1970 - 1977) at the University of Toronto, "Strategic Marketing" at Harvard, and "Managing Critical Resources" at University of Virginia's Colgate Darden School of Business.

Richard A. Sitomer is the CEO and Co-founder of Blue Star Jets, the largest broker of private jet and helicopter services in the world. A life-long private jet enthusiast, Mr. Sitomer founded Blue Star Jets eight years ago as a more cost effective and more flexible alternative to fractional ownership models. He is working to further extend Blue Star Jets' leadership position by expanding customer and partner initiatives, and continuing to drive the market shift from ownership to on-demand brokerage.

Prior to founding Blue Star Jets, Mr. Sitomer owned a Wall Street broker dealer specializing in trading and retail accounts.

He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Emory University in 1990. When he is not jet setting he splits his time between New York and the Hamptons. He has two beautiful children.

Larry Pimentel is a high profile senior executive in the international travel and tourism industry, widely known for his acumen in marketing luxury travel products to affluent consumers. His unique body of knowledge on the subject complements exceptional skills as a forceful and compelling educator, speaker, writer and frequent lecturer. Pimentel has a well-earned reputation as one of the foremost experts on the topic of selling and marketing to discriminating affluent consumers.

He is a co-owner of SeaDream Yacht Club, founded in the fall of 2001, and its President and Chief Executive Officer.

Situated on a coastal bluff in the picturesque arts community of Laguna Beach, Montage Laguna Beach offers a unique mix: the amenities and conveniences of an ultra luxury beachfront hotel, coupled with the warmth and appeal of a cozy craftsman-style inn.

Oceanfront opulence abounds at Montage. With lush landscaping and pristine white sand beaches, this is a retreat unlike any other-- offering elegant accommodations, a beachfront spa, three sparkling swimming pools and regional, distinctive dining. This world-class resort offers a masterful mix of nature, art and luxury.
 

LVMH Moet Hennessy
 
Aworld leader in luxury, LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton possesses a unique portfolio of over 60 prestigious brands. The Group is active in five different sectors: Wines & Spirits, Fashion & Leather Goods, Perfumes & Cosmetics, Watches & Jewelry and Selective retailing.  Among those 60 brands, LVMH owns 20 of the most respected brands in wine and spirits, including: Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Krug, Mercier, Ruinart, Chateau d'Yquem, Hennessy, The Glenmoragie Company, Belvedere, Chopin, Domaine Chandon California, Bodegas Chandon, Domaine Chandon Australia, Cloudy Bay, Cape Mentelle, Newton, Terrazas de los Andes, Cheval des Andes and 10 cane.

South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
 
South Coast Plaza is recognized internationally for its collection of nearly 300 boutiques, award-winning restaurants, spas and the adjacent world-renowned Orange County Performing Arts Center.

South Coast Plaza is the highest grossing planned retail center in the United States, with annual sales approaching $1.5 billion. The center, celebrating 40 years of quality in 2007, is located in Orange County, California, in the city of Costa Mesa.

For more information, visit www.southcoastplaza.com or telephone (800) 782-8888.


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