``Free Agent Nation'' Author Daniel Pink to Keynote Third Annual BridgeGate 20 Awards Gala; Advisors Named, Nominations Open for Innovative Recognition Program.

Business Editors

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 2001

October Event at Newport Beach's Pacific Club

to Benefit Orange County Works

Dan Pink, the former Washington speechwriter turned chronicler of a sea change in the American workforce -- the "free agent" phenomenon, where workers untether themselves from Corporate America -- will keynote the third annual BridgeGate 20 awards gala in Newport Beach this October.

BridgeGate LLC, one of the nation's top 25 executive recruiters and Southern California's largest technology search firm, has also named a 16-member Board of Advisors for the BridgeGate 20, a core program to showcase the link between investment in human capital and company performance. The 2001 BridgeGate 20 Board of Advisors includes a cross-section of leaders in the investment, legal, technology, media and consulting communities in Orange County and Los Angeles. Individuals may be nominated for The BridgeGate 20 at www.bridgegate.com.

As part of the annual tradition, Orange County Works -- an innovative private sector effort to bring disadvantaged youth into the employment mainstream -- will again be the beneficiary of a gala October event honoring this year's BridgeGate 20.

The BridgeGate 20 program recognizes leaders in the region's information technology, Internet and new media communities who demonstrate the clear correlation between a corporate emphasis on talent and the organization's prosperity. The program showcases "difference-makers" whose success is a direct result of their investment in talent as a strategic asset.

Pink is the author of the new bestseller, "Free Agent Nation: How America's New Independent Workers are Transforming the Way We Live" (Time Warner Books). According to The New York Times, Free Agent Nation is "a book with interesting facts...appealing interviews, friendly prose and a provocative point of view." Library Journal calls the book "excellent...Pink astutely summarizes what this major shift in employment means to millions of Americans -- highly recommended."

"Given trends in the economy -- both new and old -- we feel especially fortunate to host Dan Pink at this year's BridgeGate 20 event," said Dudley Brown, Managing Director, BridgeGate LLC. "More than ever, it's vital for corporate leaders to understand what the free agent economy means for their business, and what behaviors are driving that economy. Dan's presence is an ideal segue to the BridgeGate 20 message, which reinforces those companies that go the extra mile to nurture employee loyalty and build enduring organizations."

A contributing editor at Fast Company, Pink has spent the last two years interviewing hundreds of soloists, temps, and "micropreneurs" about their work and lives. Once the chief speechwriter to former Vice President Al Gore, Pink is a frequent commentator for Public Radio International's "Marketplace" program.

The 16-member advisory board will identify and review candidates submitted via the Web. Board members will balance such factors as the individual's ability to drive corporate performance and growth rates against his or her commitment to investing in people and track record in attracting and retaining top talent. In addition to Brown, Advisory Board members for the 2001 BridgeGate 20 include:

-- Dan Bassett, Venture Partner, Innocal

-- Tom Clancy, Partner, Enterprise Partners and 1999 BridgeGate 20 honoree

-- Eric Harrison, Partner, Crosspoint Venture Partners

-- Laura Hunter, Partner, Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison

-- Brad Jones, Founding Partner, Redpoint Ventures

-- Ben Kuo, Founder, SoCalTech.com

-- Fred Poska, Partner, Deloitte & Touche and 2000 BridgeGate 20 honoree

-- Mike Puntoriero, Partner, Arthur Andersen & Co.

-- Michael Quain, Senior Vice President, Imperial Bank

-- Debra Richardson, Associate Professor & Chair, Information & Computer
Science, University of California, Irvine

-- Kevin Rosenberg, Managing Director, BridgeGate LLC

-- Scott Southron, Principal, Corporate Finance, Cruttenden Roth

-- Leo Spiegel, General Partner, Mission Ventures

-- Louise Wannier, President/CEO, Enfish and 2000 BridgeGate 20 honoree

-- Don Mac Allister, Founder, OC Works

To bring the concept of community involvement to life, BridgeGate will devote the proceeds of its October event to Orange County Works, as it did in 1999 and 2000. Orange County Works serves as a vehicle to link the high technology community with at-risk youth who receive job-readiness training and placement from the organizations -- essential to pursuing high-skill jobs in technology and other sectors. The second annual BridgeGate 20 gala, held last October, raised more than $50,000 for the organization.

"Awareness building is just as important as the financial support we've received by being the beneficiary of the BridgeGate 20," said Donald Mac Allister, founder of OC Works and a BridgeGate 20 Advisory Board member. "The BridgeGate 20 provides us with the opportunity to share our story and stimulate people within Orange County and throughout Southern California to get involved and help change the lives of foster children leaving the system. We're very excited and grateful that BridgeGate has extended an invitation once again."

The program's geographic reach extends from Santa Barbara to San Clemente. The BridgeGate 20 is open to founders, CEOs, board chairs and presidents, primarily from pre-IPO and recent post-IPO companies. Past honorees include top management from Digital Island, Emulex, Enfrastructure, Exult, FieldCentrix, Irvine Ventures, Nomadix and Stamps.com, among others.

About BridgeGate LLC

BridgeGate LLC, Southern California's largest technology search firm, drives strategically-managed executive placements according to three critical elements: research, relationships and results. These are BridgeGate's core competencies; collectively, they serve as a benchmark for excellence in delivering advanced, relevant research on business opportunities, for clients and candidates alike; in forging and nurturing long-term client relationships; and in achieving superior results, for individuals and for organizations.

BridgeGate serves venture-backed, pre-IPO firms and recently public companies, primarily in the information technology, Internet and new media sectors. Specializing in quick, effective searches for top talent, the company has a 30-year track record of developing and growing world-class startups and high-growth organizations. BridgeGate maintains offices in Irvine and Los Angeles and is a key infrastructure player along Southern California's burgeoning Digital Coast, the nation's largest collection of emerging companies, with a workforce now approaching 300,000. The firm works extensively with the venture capital community to build management teams at their portfolio companies.