California Venture Capital Executive Recruited to RCGA Team

August 2, 2006

For more information, contact
Gary Broome at (314) 444-1171

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) today announced the results of a several-month-long national recruitment effort.  James “Jay” DeLong, former President of Active Capital in Irvine, CA, has joined the RCGA as Vice President for New Ventures and Capital Formation.

In his position in the RCGA Economic Development team, DeLong will direct the RCGA’s efforts to facilitate equity and venture capital, and emerging companies to the St. Louis region.  His nearly 20 years of economic development experience includes his most recent role as President of Active Capital, an internet-based securities matching company; he also previously was founder and Executive Director of Venture Point, the nation’s only Small Business Development Center (SBDC) specializing in technology companies and entrepreneurs facing issues of capital formation, critical time-to-market, and management of fast growth.

Prior to starting Venture Point, DeLong was Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Orange County Business Council, running technical assistance ventures supporting technology transfer, defense conversion, equity investing and high growth.  Previously, he directed the American Consortium of Information Systems Technology (ACIST) in Moscow, Russia for three years.  DeLong has directed numerous projects designed to promote international trade, technology development and foreign investment for private corporations and federal agencies.

“We are delighted to be adding an economic development professional of Jay’s experience to our team,” noted RCGA President and Chief Executive Officer Richard C.D. Fleming.  “Jay will play a key role, working in collaboration with area venture capital firms, in identifying and recruiting promising start-up technology companies from other markets, as well as working to recruit additional venture capital funding to the St. Louis region.  His background in technology-based strategies and in the venture capital and technology transfer areas makes Jay a unique resource for improving our region’s entrepreneurial climate.”

As part of the RCGA Economic Development team, DeLong will report to RCGA Senior Vice President for Economic Development Steve Johnson.

“With the tremendous amount of life science R&D accomplished and held locally, St. Louis is well-poised to attract equity capital.  My hope is that St. Louis will garner large returns on that amount of promising technology and talent.”  

DeLong has served on a number of professional association boards, a sampling of which includes the Pacific Incubation Network, the Tech Coast Venture Network and the California Venture Forum.  He has also founded and/or directed several conferences in life sciences and information technology, and has twice chaired the national Corporate Investment and Strategic Alliance Conference.

He is a native of Jefferson City, MO, having relocated to California in 1989.  His educational background includes being awarded an International Business Certificate from the American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, AZ, and bachelors of science degrees in Political Science and Philosophy from Westminster College in Fulton, MO.

About the St. Louis Regional Chamber
The St. Louis Regional Chamber is the chamber of commerce and economic development organization for the 16-county, bi-state region. The mission of the RCGA is to unite the region’s business community, and to engage dynamic business and civic leadership to develop and sustain a world-class economy and community.