Bay Area Council Announces New Chairman.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 1999--

The Bay Area Council today announced the appointment of Jay T. Harris as the organization's new Chairman of the Board.

Harris is the Chairman and Publisher of the San Jose Mercury News, which is owned by Knight-Ridder. Harris succeeds Gary Rogers, who is stepping down from the Bay Area Council chairmanship on October 25, when the Bay Area Council hosts its Annual Dinner.

T. Gary Rogers, Chairman and CEO, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, stated, "Jay Harris is one of the most effective executives and well-respected individuals in the Bay Area. The Bay Area Council is extremely fortunate to have a man of his integrity, vision and leadership skills to take the lead of the organization. I'm going to miss my days as Chairman, but I'll enjoy watching Jay take command and I will actively support him and the Council."

Gilbert Amelio, Chairman of the Bay Area Council Nomination Committee and President of AmTech LLC, remarked, "I'm thrilled to have Jay step into the leadership role at the Bay Area Council. He has firsthand knowledge of Silicon Valley and Bay Area business, he is active in the community, and has contributed significantly to Bay Area quality of life."

Harris stated, "The Bay Area Council has a long history of stalwart and visionary chairmen. I am honored to joint this select group and excited by the opportunity to lead the organization.

"Our region faces enormous challenges in areas including transportation, housing and education - and the need for a more equitable sharing of the benefits of our prosperity. In important ways, these are problems that can most effectively be addressed through regional approaches. Businesses from throughout the Bay Area - from Santa Rosa to San Jose and from San Francisco to Walnut Creek - need to work together to address these challenges."

During his 30 years work in journalism and newspapers Harris has worked as a reporter and editor, as an educator, and as a corporate executive. As publisher of the Mercury News since February 1994, Harris has maintained the paper's continuing commitment to journalism in the public interest. During his tenure the paper has emphasized more complete coverage of community life, increased the quality and quantity of news about Silicon Valley business and high technology, and launched weekly Spanish- and Vietnamese-language newspapers and online sites.

His professional work has been recognized with awards from numerous universities, non-profit and social justice organizations, and national journalism and journalism education organizations. He has received honorary doctorates from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, his alma mater, and Santa Clara University in California.

Mary Bitterman, President and CEO, KQED, and Chairman of the Bay Area Council Program Advisory Committee, remarked, "Jay is an outstanding individual in every respect - forward-looking, reasonable, and wise. Business and community leaders alike seek his involvement and counsel. He is the perfect choice to lead the Bay Area Council into the new century."

Sunne Wright McPeak, President and CEO, Bay Area Council, said, "Jay Harris is firmly committed to making the Bay Area a better place to live and work, and he believes in bringing the region together to face its common challenges. It has been wonderful and rewarding to work with Gary Rogers, and I am very honored to have the opportunity now to work with Jay."

Harris serves on the boards of several local groups including and the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network and American Leadership Forum - Silicon Valley. He also serves on the boards of the American Press Institute and the Pacific Council on International Policy. He is married and has three children.

The Bay Area Council is a CEO-led, business-sponsored public policy organization founded more than 50 years ago to promote regional economic prosperity and quality of life. The Council presents a strong, united voice for more than 230 major employers from throughout the region to help shape public policy affecting transportation, environmental quality, economic development, housing and land use, sustainable development, water policy, education and workforce preparation, and telecommunications infrastructure.