Providing a forum: Brent A. Reinke, Westlake Village mergers and acquisitions attorney and founder of the Gold Coast Venture group, is a guiding force for companies and economic growth along the 101 Tech Corridor.

BRENT A. Reinke, an attorney at the Westlake Village office of the international firm Reed Smith, sees growth opportunity for the area. Interestingly, he also is helping power it.

Reinke's practice is focused on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, advising emerging growth companies, corporate securities and finance and licensing. He represents many technology and "brick and mortar" companies in various stages of development along the 101 Tech Corridor.

Additionally, Reinke founded the Gold Coast Venture Forum, an organization that provides educational and networking events for companies located in the San Fernando Valley and Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

This month, he was appointed to chair of the Technology Planning Committee of Cal State Channel Islands, which became a standalone campus a few years ago after being a satellite of Cal State Northridge. He previously served as vice chair on the committee.

Reinke talked recently about the future of the technology industry in the area as well as the area's overall economic future.

Question: You specialize in mergers and acquisitions and venture capital. How did you get tuned in to tech firms? In other words, when did you discover the impetus for the Gold Coast Venture Forum?

Answer: A lot of that as far as the Gold Coast goes began when I first came out here four years ago. I had a general practice but represented many biotech firms. I came out here and started asking people if there's an organization for executives to network with each other. The answer was 'no, but it sounds like a great idea.' We started to put on events, and that was the start of Gold Coast. We brought in sponsors and got an executive committee. The reputation has built on that. The makeup of the audience is 80 percent executive and business personnel--our attendees and sponsors like that.

Q: How are you doing growing the organization?

A: The obstacle with any organization is to get the word out. We want to let people know that this opportunity exists, to let industry peers know what other businesses are doing. It's not just about technology--it's about business. We want to get the word out that we're a business forum, not just a technology-based group. We draw a lot of "brick and mortar"-type businesses, many family owned business. The greatest publicity we got is word of mouth. Through sponsorship we underwrite all events, so there is no charge.

Q: How is Gold Coast responding to the improved economy in recent months?

A: What you're seeing is just more positive talk about potential for this year. People are talking about increasing their hiring, purchasing more, talking acquisitions. How significant the recovery will be this year, I've been wondering about that. One of the features that helped this region is diversity along the 101 Tech Corridor. It helps this region survive--it's reflective of the business we do out here. There might be some industries that recover better than others.

Q: You came out to Thousand Oaks four years ago. Where did you come from?

A: I came from a firm in downtown Los Angeles, for which I opened an office. I have been coming out here for years, and having grown up in Orange County, I see a lot of similarities between Orange County 20 to 30 years ago and this region. In some ways, Orange County is overdeveloped. This region is really balancing development.

Q: Do you think the Bush administrations announcement of an ambitious space program will make it easier to secure venture capital in the near future for tech firms locally?

A: I think anytime there's increased spending, there's potential for those types of companies to have greater opportunities to raise money. How much of an impact is the question mark. I think homeland security is an area where you heard a lot of companies talking about it. For a while there was some interest, but it has calmed down. Companies may have a great opportunity, but how long will it last'?

Q: What can businesses seeking startup capital do to help their cause--aside getting involved with Gold Coast?

A: Gold Coast Venture Forum is a networking and educational network. I always saw a need for an angel investor group here. I first met Randy Williams of the Keiretsu Forum one year ago, and convinced him to start a Westlake Village chapter. It is now very active, and may be the only statewide venture forum. It gives great exposure to members here in southern California. Although it has been around for a year, it's had a great impact. Keiretsu looks at any company that presents an investment opportunity, from bakeries to health care. About 40 to 50 percent of the companies are tech-related. In the combination of Gold Coast affiliating with Keiretsu you're seeing the community slowly trying to organize and that will have an impact on the region's economy.

Q: You're involved on the Tech Planning Committee of Cal State Channel Islands in Camarillo. What do you do in that role?

A: The reason the committee was brought together was that there was misconception about CSUCI and what it was supposed to be. A group of us got together and the initial goal was to get the mission of CSUCI out to people. The president of the school has a great entrepreneurial spirit in wanting the school to educate students and make them responsive to the economy of the region. They've put together a survey about where they will be hiring in three to five years, which helps the university figure out its curriculum. Business executives and professionals on the committee volunteer their time and effort. They are helping in curriculum building, internship programs and assist in fundraising and the ongoing effort to get the business community involved.

Q: According to your biography, you're involved in local charitable, athletic and educational programs. What are they?

A: I live here and I'm raising my kids here. I coach my daughters' soccer and softball teams. I like it here because it is a very family-oriented place, with a very good public school system, a lot of great places where you can go hiking, biking. It is less congested, and you have a lot of open space--like Orange County when I grew up there. That is drawing corporations here, too, as they think it is a way to attract employees. Housing will be an ongoing issue as homes are getting expensive. It's amazing to see reverse traffic, to see a traffic jam going back to the Valley. That's indicative of the amount of business that's out here now, of how many people work here. I think you'll see more growth in Camarillo, Oxnard. There's still room.

Q: What is on your "wish list" of things to achieve?

A: This year, it is to continue growing the Gold Coast Venture Forum. As far as the office, we're going to be adding attorneys. We're getting more and more companies contacting us. Beyond legal services, the contacts we have with investment bankers, venture capitalists and other professionals are great. In the long term, I hope to look back and say I actually played some role in assisting the growth of this region's economy.

Snapshot

Brent A, Reinke

Title: Attorney

Age: 42

Born: May 7, 1961

Education: B.A. in economics Occidental College, J.D. Loyola Law School 

Career Turning Point: Moving to Thousand Oaks and opening an office there in 2000

Most Admired People: Joyce and Roger Reinke, his parents

Personal: Divorced and lives with two daughters in Thousand Oaks