The campaign to fill Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat will be battle royale in 2010 and Gen Next is pleased to bring to our Members one of the main contenders, Congressman Mark Kirk. The seat is now held by controversial Blagojevich appointee, Roland Burris. Because the results of this race will be viewed as a referendum on Barack Obama and given the controversy surrounding the appointment, few races in the 2010 election cycle will be watched as closely as this one.

The first Member of Congress in over 60 years to have served in an imminent danger zone, Congressman Mark Kirk has first-hand knowledge of the situation in Afghanistan and the complex situation there. Kirk served as a Commander in the Navy who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, and Bosnia and was also named “Intelligence Officer of the Year” for his service in Kosovo. He is currently a Naval Reserve intelligence officer.

As Co-Founder and Chairman of the bipartisan US-China Working Group, Kirk and over 20 other Members of Congress meet monthly to discuss everything from trade and economic policy to space exploration as it relates to China.

This program is welcome to Members and guests of Members only.  RSVP is required and space is limited.

When: December 7th - 8:00 a.m.
Where: Michael McClellan's Office
Newmeyer & Dillion LLP
895 Dove Street  2nd flr - Newport Beach 92660
RSVP: Natalie@gen-next.org

Kirk attended Blackburn College and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and earned his B.A. from Cornell. He also holds a Masters degree from the London School of Economics and a law degree from Georgetown.  Kirk has worked for Congressman John Porter, served in the World Bank, the State Department, the law firm Baker & McKenzie, and the U.S. House International Relations Committee.

The United States is facing a serious energy crisis, as we still depend on hostile countries of OPEC to supply the a large portion of resources that power our economy, placing us at the forefront of danger.

Facing an international security threat, Dr. Gal Luft, Executive Director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, is joining Gen Next to discuss the importance of America’s independence of foreign oil.  Dr. Luft will inform us of potentially breakthrough legislation called the Open Fuel Standard Act, which is an effort to get more flex fuel vehicles on the road for more competition in the transportation fuels sector. 

This program is welcome to Members only, and the RSVP list will be capped to ensure intimacy and exclusivity. 

When: October 19th at 6:00 p.m. (GNOC)
Where: Antonello - 3800 S. Plaza Dr., Costa Mesa 92704
RSVP: Natalie@gen-next.org

Dr. Gal Luft is Executive Director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS) a Washington based think tank focused on energy security and co-founder of the Set America Free Coalition, an alliance of national security, environmental, labor and religious groups promoting ways to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. He specializes in strategy, geopolitics, terrorism, Middle East and energy security. Newsweek Magazine called him a “tireless and independent advocate of energy security,” and the business magazine Poder called him "one of the most recognizable figures in modern energy and security issues."

Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota recently visited with Gen Next Members for an intimate gathering and robust discussion.  He started the talk by stressing the need for remarkable talent in both public and private sectors.  According to Pawlenty, talent flourishes with the support of involved parents, teachers and business leaders who instruct, mentor and encourage responsibility.  Topics covered were wide ranged, dealing with the situation in Afghanistan, public debt levels, healthcare reform, a competitive tax code, and education reform.  On education he shared his experience in Minnesota in creating more accountability among students and teachers, such as passing Algebra before graduating high school or teachers being evaluated on their performance.

Trade, regulations, and currency between the US and EU are always changing. On October 7, 2009 the new West Hollywood hot-spot, Italian eatery Cecconis', hosted Gen Next Members and special guests for an intimate roundtable discussion with Former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Rockwell Schnabel.

The Ambassador began his remarks by giving a candid personal history of how he came to be Ambassador to the EU, “I initially really wanted the Ambassadorship to Italy, but the President had other plans.” Ambassador Schnabel explained, “For the first time in our American history Western Civilization as a whole has had to face the true economic threat from other parts of the world. Even though the United States and Europe have very different approaches to political conditions and markets we need to work together and continue to have a strong relationship”. There are millions of U.S. jobs directly relating to Europe, and both Europe and the US rely heavily on one another’s exports and imports. The Ambassador also spent some time talking about public debt levels and dollar weakness. Schnabel reminds us that we cannot inflate our way out of recession. The current state of the dollar is in danger, “In five years, there is a 75% chance there will be an upheaval of the dollar!”

We elaborated on solutions and how best to restore and ensure country's competitive advantage. Gen Next was honored to host such an insightful and experienced global finance expert.

Capitalism is alive and well in Israel, and according to George Gilder, Israel is not a doomed democracy or an alliance based on charity.  In fact, Israel has become a model for Capitalism and in the last 20 years and has evolved into perhaps the USA's most valuable partner.

In a quant quite restaurant in Seattle, which opened its doors exclusively for Gen Next Members and guests, George Gilder a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute and author of the new book "The Israel Test," explained how stability in the Middle East is dependent on Israel's continued growth and survival.

Mr. Gilder contends that hostility towards Israel, much like hostility towards the United States, stems primarily from bitterness toward capitalist creativity.  He pointed to the fact that Israel stands only behind the United States in its high tech contributions to the global economy and stated the divide in the Middle East is not between Arabs and Jews.  Instead, Gilder points out, the great divide in the region is between admiration of achievement and envy and resentment of it.

The U.S. economy seems to be in shambles, and the fundamentals of our system of capitalism have come under fire. On Thursday October 1st Gen Next San Diego hosted Dr. Yaron Brook, President of the Ayn Rand Institute. Dr. Brook was present to discuss the ideas and philosophies of the late Ayn Rand such as individual rights and laissez-faire capitalism.

The conversation began with some pretty bold philosophies and arguments to combat critics of capitalism. Dr. Brook made the case that it wasn’t our markets that failed, but in fact our government and it’s significant intervention that continues to chip away at economic freedom.

As he dug deeper, he explained that in order for capitalism to be truly successful we must convince the masses that it is “the right thing to do” from an ethical perspective. Bill Gates was used as a perfect example. Many believe that Bill Gates has contributed to the goodness of the people by his massive philanthropy work; however, Brook contends that an individual's pursuit of their own interests and realization of their own skills is good for all in the long run, just as Gates did. It is imperative for the U.S. to make a moral argument for the case of capitalism in order to preserve it. Guilt was another topic that he kept returning to. He contended that if people feel guilt, they can be easily manipulated; which ultimately keeps pushing our system further and further to the left.

As students all across the U.S. begin a new school year, Gen Next paradoxically hosted the Founder of Education Reform, Kevin Chavous.   On September, 17th, at the lovely West Hollywood London Hotel, Gen Next Members and special guests were treated to an intimate roundtable discussion on U.S. education reform.

Kevin Chavous is an author, attorney, and national school reform leader.  As a leading national advocate for school choice, Kevin helped to shepherd the charter school movement into the nation's capital. Under his education committee chairmanship, the DC charter school movement became the most prolific charter school jurisdiction in the country.  More recently, Mr. Chavous led the team working with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal that advocated for the recently passed scholarship program in New Orleans. As a result of that legislation, nearly 1,000 students are now attending private schools of their choice in the New Orleans parish. An early supporter of Barack Obama, Mr. Chavous served as a member on the Education Policy Committee of the Obama Presidential Campaign.

Incredibly, for a century and a half, there has been little substantive change in public education.  Chavous explained how our system got to where it currently stands.  “The problems are these: 1.) America's public classrooms, the classic approach remains essentially the same as it was years ago: one-size-fits-all with a core curriculum of subjects presented to all students in largely the same manner.  2.) Our education system has created a “Dumbing Down Effect”.  Overall expectations of our children have been lowered.  3.) Teacher’s Union contracts enable schools to let go of teachers who are not producing positive results and hindering the teachers that want to go above and beyond school hours.  Chavous went on to proclaim how we can begin to establish solutions: 1.) Requiring teacher to have yearly reviews and rewarding great teachers for their teaching and not their tenure.  2.) Allowing innovation and creativity to flourish, rewarding young energized teachers who are produces results.  3.) Giving parents a choice is a critical factor in the future success of public education. Parental school choice allows each parent to find the right educational fit for their child.  4.) Creating choice is also important because it forces the traditional public education to keep pace and compete with school programs that work.” 

“Our kids have fallen to the “disease of affluence.  We need serious change, not just in lower income communities,” said Gen Next LA Member, Lisa Korbatov who is currently campaigning for a seat on the Beverly Hills School Board.

The economic welfare of California is at stake. Al Checchi recently joined Gen Next at Five Crowns restaurant for a stimulating discussion on reform in California. Mr. Checchi argued that no sustainable solutions can be achieved through reliance on either or both of the two major political parties. Rather, potential solutions include judicial restructuring, redrafting the California constitution, holding new elections for state officers and legislature, redrafting of state contracts, and more.

“The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”
  ~Margaret Thatcher

On Tuesday, August 18th, Gen Next Los Angeles hosted Rep. John Shadegg at the famous Beverly Hilton for a roundtable discussion on health care.  Gen Next Members and special guests nibbled on Trader Vic’s famous short ribs and cool cocktails.  The intimate discussion revealed the shortcomings of the currently proposed  health care reforms.  Health care is a very complex issue.  It touches every single American and drives our economy.  Rep. John Shadegg is a leader in market-based solutions for health care reform.  Shadegg has recently introduced the bill, Improving Health Care for All Americans, which outlines free market solutions aimed at reducing the rising costs of care and reinforces the right of individuals to choose their individual plan.  An article  written by Whole Foods CEO, John Mackey,  was provided by Shadegg, and outlines eight things we can do to improve health care without adding to the deficit:

1.) Remove the legal obstacles that slow the creation of high-deductible health insurance plans and health savings accounts (HSAs)

2.) Equalize the tax laws so that employers-provided health insurance and individually owned insurance have the same tax benefits

3.) Repeal all state laws which prevents insurance companies from competing across state lines.

4.) Repeal government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover.

5.) Enact tort reform to end ruinous lawsuits that force doctors to pay insurance costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

6.) Make costs transparent so that consumers understand what health-care treatments cost.

7.) Enact Medicare reform.

8.) Revise tax forms to make it easier for individuals to make a voluntary, tax-deductible donation to help millions of people who have no insurance and are not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

From the Seattle Waterfront overlooking Puget Sound, Gen Next Members and guests spent an evening with Scott Oki discussing the current crisis in our public education system.  With refreshing openness, Mr. Oki, a well-known philanthropist, entrepreneur and new author, thanks to the recent release of his first book entitled: Outrageous Learning: An Educational Manifesto, highlighted the troubles facing our nation’s schools and gave his unique thoughts on how to solve them.

Having a room full of highly regarded community and business leaders in attendance, Mr. Oki and Gen Next had the rare opportunity to engage in an extremely candid and high level dialogue. He presented what he refers to as the “eleven planks,” foundational ideas which offer a straight forward vision on how we can positively change public education.  Some of these “planks” include longer school years, increased volunteer participation, local budgetary control, the elimination of standardized curriculum, early intervention and specialized instruction. 

Prior to founding Oki Developments, Inc., Mr. Oki retired after 10 years with Microsoft Corporation where he served as Sr. Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Service.  His personal mission statement is “to marry my passion for things entrepreneurial with things philanthropic in a way that encourages others to do the same.”

Even in a relatively safe county such as the County of Orange, crime and its prevention are one of the larger priorities to constituents and local government. Newly appointed Sherriff Sandra Hutchens spoke with Members at Makar Properties on August 6th to discuss her strategy to keep criminal activity to a minimum and keep the sheriff’s department running efficiently.

Sheriff Hutchens earned her title with 30 years in the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department and was among the first group of women allowed to work on the field wearing pants.  

Sheriff Hutchens also reminded us that money, its distribution and politics are in fact major aspects of her job.  With the $20 million dollars she faces in cuts, Hutchens chose to focus on the well being of the average citizen rather than the hierarchy of the Sheriff Department. Instead of cutting recourses from the bottom, she chose to reduce funds at the top of the department, in order to give the smallest amount of change to the public, keeping the amount of field officers the same. Her honest, upfront, and good willed approach to the position is an asset to the force. Much of the conversation also focused on diverging opinion on private gun ownerships and its role in public safety.

Governor Perry and the First Lady of Texas joined Members of Gen Next to examine and discuss the remarkable economic success Texas has achieved in the last several years.  The Economist Magazine recently did a cover story contrasting downward trends in California with upward trends in Texas.  Governor Perry elaborated on how their state tackled critical challenges and made the state more attractive to business while staying fiscally responsible.

Gen Next Members were thrilled to be in such an intimate setting with the Governor, who was direct and straight forward in answering their questions.   “This was an amazing experience. It was an honor to talk openly with the Governor and hear his perspective on these pressing issues,” said one Member.

Wiretapping and other security measures were the hot topics for Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice John Yoo who recently joined GN SD and OC for a candid discussion.

His discourse was centered on policies that derived from the 9/11 attacks, and his opinion on why it is important to uphold such tactics in times of war. The idea of “warrantless wiretapping” was a recurring theme. He explained how it became immediately apparent that tracking the communication between possible Al Qaeda operatives was not only necessary but also essential. His argument is rooted in the interest of the people.

Some Members forcibly engaged him on legal, privacy and security issues and others agreed. All in all the discussion was stimulating and informative. John Yoo proved to be a true patriot, and a strong voice willing to stand on principle. Yoo has been under constant fire, and it would be easy for him to make apologies to ease critics. We thank him for taking the time to visit Gen Next!

With the recent closure of the Seattle Post Intelligencer the city of Seattle is now left with only one major newspaper publication, the Seattle Times.  Gen Next was proud to host Executive Editor of the Seattle Times David Boardman for a discussion on the viability of the entire newspaper industry.

At the recently opened El Gaucho Steakhouse in Bellevue, Boardman talked about the many papers around the country that are on the verge of bankruptcy including the NY Times and San Francisco Chronicle.  San Francisco might become one of the the first major US city’s not to have a major newspaper publication.

While the Seattle Times is not in danger of shutting its doors Members and guests were left with the impression that the newspaper business is in a state of flux. Newspaper subscriptions are down across the country and the once very profitable classified section has been replaced by the free service of Craigslist. Those in attendance expressed their growing interest in getting news online and as of right now very few newspapers have figured out a way to make online readership profitable.

Summer time vibes were in full force at Café Coyote in Old Town on Wednesday, July 8th as Gen Next Members attended a private reception and discussion with San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne.

In his presentation, Chief Lansdowne explained the fundamental roles of law enforcement officials and the challenges they face when it comes to unions, contract negotiations, pensions, local government and escalating violence in Mexico.

Chief Lansdowne’s analysis of past and present government policy led to an open discussion with Members, where he delved into these critical issues. Gen Next members asked pointed questions on issues ranging from how the overflow of immigrants from Mexico will effect downtown businesses and crime levels to how we can reevaluate the homeless situation. One Member expressed, “He was very candid and open in answering questions; a true straighter shooter on how important it is to be actively involved in working towards positive results”. Thanks to the leadership of Police Chief William Lansdowne, San Diego’s crime rates have dropped, which is the reverse of national trends.

Chief Lansdowne is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has served on a variety of state and national boards, including the Major Cities Chiefs and the Police Executive Research Forum.

With the technology boom of internet, blogs, television, and other sources of news media, many wonder whether or not newspapers are obsolete. Editor and Senior Vice President of the Orange County Register Ken Brusic spoke to Gen Next Members on trends of declined sales and interest for published papers and as well as ways he is circumventing these issues that have arisen as a result of the digital age.

"While the trends of decline have “been present since the 1940’s the Orange County Register’s profits and readers continue to grow," said Brusic.  He attributes this success to remaining local with sports teams and news stories, efforts made to transition into digital media and news, and a strong foundation of trust and reliability, as the news source consistently lands as one of the 10 best newspapers in the country (Society for Newspaper Design). Even though he, too, predicts that the newspaper in print age will come to an end, news corporations, such as the Orange County Register will survive and thrive, given their ability to evolve with the times.

Energy and electric power are at our finger tips with the flip of a switch, but we tend to overlook a remarkable set of economic, business and political implications surrounding the issue.  To shed some light on the issue, Gen Next San Diego recently hosted Michael Morris, CEO, Chairman and President of American Electric Power.  Mike Morris visited with Gen Next San Diego on Monday, June 22 for a private reception and discussion at The Palm Restaurant.

In his presentation, Morris described fundamental components of power grids, the future of energy markets, and the government policy that shapes the energy discussion. Morris’s analysis of past and present government policy led to an open discussion with Members.

Gen Next members asked pointed questions on issues ranging from energy and power sources available to us, such as nuclear, renewable energy sources, and electricity storage systems; dependency on foreign sources; and much more. One member expressed, “Mike was extremely gracious in his interactions with Members and his wealth of knowledge on the topic of energy was enlightening”.

Over the years Mr. Morris has served as past chairman of the Edison Electric Institute. He also serves on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Board, the National Governors Association’s Task Force on Electricity Infrastructure, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, Business Roundtable (chairing the Business Roundtable's Sustainable Growth Initiative), and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation. Morris serves as a director of the boards of Alcoa, Battelle, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, and The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. He is past chairman of the board of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association and the Ohio Business Roundtable.

As CEO, Chairman and President of American Electric Power, Morris is responsible for a company that ranks among the largest generators of electricity in the nation. AEP has the country’s largest electricity transmission system that serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, an area that covers 38 states and eastern Canada.

Amidst a time when international security is at the forefront of discussion and hostility around the world has heightened, it is of utmost importance to address the current turmoil and evaluate ways to resolve it.  Gen Next Member Juan Zarate spoke to four Gen Next regions on a tour to share pertinent information on American power and influence throughout the world and an overview of current and looming challenges to international security.

As former Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism, Zarate honed in on a critical and central point:  American power is good and inherently important.  Zarate notes that it is critical to understand how this power can impact the world. “We need to be respected, admired and fearted,” Zarate said. 

He noted that America cannot be all things to all people, while simultaneously emphasizing that we cannot ignore conflicts like the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Pakistani-Kashmir conflict. In addition to foreign conflicts, Zarate commented on global and systemic issues, stating that we must be aware of a declining global access to water, and the tension it creates amongst nations, the climate change, and more.   Among the these forces, he notes that there is a constellation of bad actors that align against the United States, against our interest and that of NATO’s.

To address global challenges, he talked about cultivating and empowering what he called “regional enablers,” so the United States need not be the lead on addressing all conflicts.  He examined countries like Australia and their impressive record of dealing with terrorism in the region and the UAE and their presence in Afghanistan, stating that these countries are willing, able and funded.  He cautioned that in protecting our power, we cannot outsource our power, therefore placing the utmost emphasis on caution and communication with our allies.

The night concluded just after Zarate answered questions.

We are pleased to announce the tours success! “I love programs like this, it brings people like Zarate in front of us telling us and informing us of things we don’t always read about,“  said one Gen Next Member. Members thoroughly enjoyed this event.

The relationship between business and unions is at a turning point as the “Employee Free Choice” debate continues on. In light of the controversy, Gen Next hosted Larry Reed, an expert on unionization and economic historian.  Mr. Reed is the former President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and current President of the Foundation for Economic Education. Mr. Reed broke his talk into the historical development of labor unions and then the development and prospective trajectories of public unions and private unions.

“Unions are not going anywhere, at least not anytime soon,” said Reed. Currently 41 percent of the nation’s public sector and 7 percent of the nation’s private sector are unionized.  Reed also elaborated on how unions could better represent workers in a new economy and how public employee unions can stifle public response to rapidly changing needs.  For example, offering schools the choice to hire non-union workers would improve the standards in education, save schools money and ultimately create more jobs.

Members proceeded to engage Larry with questions of their own spawning the discussion of new ideas. Larry welcomed these thoughts openly and was happy to address comments and concerns of Members.

A declining business economy, a deteriorating public education system and an increasing budget deficit are setting the state of California up for failure. To keep California competitive domestically and globally these issues must be addressed. Former CEO of EBay and Gubernatorial candidate, Meg Whitman visited with Gen Next on April 30th at the Wyndham in Costa Mesa to discuss potential solutions to these problems.

The issue of education streamlined the conversation. Currently ranked 48th in the nation's public school system, Meg said, "we can only go up from here." She elaborated on how she would improve math and science programs throughout the state and create a more competitive work force to prepare for the global economy.

Additionally, economic restoration and growth are crucial to keeping California afloat. Meg commented on why she believes her recovery plan will keep jobs and businesses in California.

The luncheon concluded with a question and answer session in which Meg candidly answered questions and requested the opinions and suggestions of Members.

As technology worldwide continues to advance, so does the face of warfare. Recent technological developments have allowed for robots to carry out many of the dangerous tasks that threaten lives of soldiers.

An expert on contemporary warfare; foreign policy; national security; U.S. relations with the Islamic world, Pete Singer joined Gen Next  LA and OC on April 21st to discuss the future of warfare as it pertains to robotics. 

"We are living in the end of humankind's monopoly on traditional warfare," remarked Peter. His comments sparked debate during the roundtable as he discussed how the utilization of technology often removes the human element of war. Drone pilots, for example,  conduct their job from halfway across the world; they carryout their mission and kill their enemies at the push of a button from the comfort of their office. Singer likened this type of warfare to  "playing video games" where those carrying out their missions do not see the actual loss of life. He explained that with every new advancement there evolves a new responsibility and ethnics code.

Gen Next provided Members and Guests a copy of Singer's latest book, "Wired for War".

Peter Warren Singer is Senior Fellow and Director of the 21st Century Defense Initiative at the Brookings Institution. He is the youngest scholar named Senior Fellow in Brookings's 90-year history. In 2005, CNN named him to their "New Guard" List of the Next Generation of Newsmakers. Singer has also been recognized by the Financial Times as "Guru of the Week" for the thinker that most influenced the world that week and by Slate Magazine for "Quote of the Day." In his personal capacity, Singer served as coordinator of the Obama-08 campaign's defense policy task force.

With business, political and technological expertise in his arsenal, Insurance Commissioner and candidate for Governor Steve Poizner joined Gen Next for a candid discussion on a wide range of issues, including education, title insurance reform, tax code, economic policy and the frightening downward trend of California prosperity.

Steve contended his public service paired with his private sector experience not only sets himself apart from his competition in the race for the governor, but are necessary components to reshaping and revitalizing California’s economy.

Dedicated to improving education and frustrated by bureaucrats denying his ability to teach, Steve co-founded the California Charter Schools Association. Since his involvement began, the number of charter schools in California has doubled. His anecdote served as an inspiration to Member’s concerned about their children’s educational futures.

Steve has founded several technology companies. His last company, SnapTrack, pioneered life-saving technology that put GPS receivers into cell phones. He also founded and served as chief executive officer of Strategic Mapping Inc., a company that assisted police departments, utilities, transportation companies, banks and retailers with selecting new locations and plotting distribution logistics.

Stephen Moore, Senior Economic Writer for The Wall Street Journal, recently visited with Gen Next San Diego to discuss his ingredients for establishing economic policy that will have a positive effect on the economy. He broke his conversation into what he sees as the four pillars of economic growth: free trade, sound currency, low taxes and reduced government spending. Moore’s analysis of past and present government policy led to an open, interactive and lively discussion with Members.

Gen Next Members asked pointed questions on issues ranging from the AIG bailout, GM meltdown, recession proof investments, mounting financial debt, the global warming tax and much more.

Over the years Mr. Moore has served as a Senior Economist on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, as a budget expert for the Heritage Foundation and as a Senior Economics Fellow at the Cato Institute, where he published dozens of studies on federal and state tax and budget policy. He was a Consultant to the National Economic Commission in l987, and Research Director for President Reagan's Commission on Privatization. Mr. Moore is the author of five books, most recently, "The Age of Prosperity is Over."

Gen Next Members hosted Republican Whip (VA) Rep. Eric Cantor for an insightful roundtable at the elegant Beverly Hills Hotel on April 6th.  Members enjoyed the exclusive opportunity to ask the second most powerful Republican in the US House of Representatives direct questions that shape their daily business decisions. Topics discussed included: the current administration’s budget, economic challenges, the state of Israel, Immigration, the Card Check bill, and the new program he is developing called, “Cabinet for a New America”.

The Cabinet for New America will focus on putting forth alternative ideas aimed at addressing today’s economic challenges while engaging the next generation of business owners, entrepreneurs, politicians, and think-tanks to establish a clear message of how citizens can get involved.   In order to express the urgency of these challenges, Cantor explained, “We need to stop asking how and just do it”.  We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to establish a relationship with such a forceful leader who continues to fight each day on behalf of American taxpayers.

Today's young entrepreneurs must be geared up to enter a globalized market. One man leading their preparation is USC Dean Jim Ellis.

On Wednesday, February 25th, Gen Next hosted the energetic Dean of the USC Marshall School of Business.  Guests enjoyed the city lights of West Hollywood in the Terrace Room at the landmark, Sunset Towers Hotel. Members and guests were treated to an open bar, delicious hors d'oeuvres, and a truly memorable discussion lead by Dean Ellis. Jim, an expert on innovation, gave animated advice for today's business owners and entrepreneurs. Remarkably each question, comment and insight to and from Dean Ellis includes an analogy or reference to a piece of business history with an emphasis on a particular innovation or entrepreneur.

In the midst of today's challenging times, Dean Ellis gave a refreshing and optimistic perspective of the need to look forward.

Gen Next Members and guests were pleased to spend an evening with Washington's top law enforcement officer Rob McKenna. Attorney General McKenna has been leading the State of Washington on drug enforcement, identity theft, child safety and just about every other effort to help maintain a safe and orderly society. And at our roundtable with him, we covered just about everything! The event took place in the Blewett Suite at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seattle. AG McKenna spent about an hour socializing with Gen Next Members before we began the roundtable discussion.

During the presentation AG McKenna mostly focused on his current legislative priorities; however, the Q&A opened the floor to a wide range of questions.  The evening ended with AG McKenna receiving a bottle of Gen Next wine as a gift.

With a beautiful sunset, delicious hors d’oeuvres and wonderful company, Gen Next kicked off its member happy hour with a bang!

Atop the rustic Spanish-style La Casa Del Camino overlooking Laguna Beach, Members were able to take a break from the high stress of their work environments and casually reconnect with friends.

In an intimate meeting with Members, Gen Next had the privilege of hosting U.S. Senator John Thune. Covering topics ranging from the stimulus plan to housing markets to tech policy, Members engaged a dynamic and relatively young U.S. Senator.

In one statement describing our current economic crunch, social security and our future, Thune said, “We are asking the future generations to sacrifice for us so we may have a better life now, unlike the pioneers of our country who went without for their children and their futures. It's a complete reversal of generational ethics.”

When discussing the subject of taxes and entitlements, many Members were concerned about the current and future costs.  Thune mentioned that entitlement reform is one area he would like congress to think about. The conversation also delved into small business issues, entrepreneurship, trade, competitiveness, H-1B visas and more. In addition to issues, we also spoke of themes and principles to guide us.  As one guest stated, “We all want to be capitalists on the way up and socialists on the way down, and it just doesn't work like that.”

Senator Thune not only offered candid answers to questions, but he reached out to them for their opinions and suggestions, making for a fascinating discussion.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Senator Thune for his time and moreover the polite and forthright dialogue with Members.

Senator Thune, the youngest current member of congress, held a seat in the House of Representatives before defeating a sitting Senate party leader in 2004. The committees for which Senator Thune sits are: Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee, the Armed Services Committee, the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, and the Small Business Committee.

Inflection points approaching the 21st Century was a major talking point at Gen Next San Diego's most recent event featuring Michael Barone of U.S News & World Report. Mr. Barone's presentation was an intriguing discussion on historical changes in our economy and what we can expect in the years to come under President Obama's Administration.

“You can sum up much of 20th century history by saying that in the 1930s Americans decided that markets didn't work and government did, and that in the 1970s Americans decided that government didn't work and markets did,” said Barone. This led to the big question of the evening…what can we expect in the 21st Century?

After Barone's presentation he answered questions from members on the challenges we will face with inflation, the Fed, the housing market, American's youth vote and much more. The audience communicated their curiosity, enthusiasm and interest in finding solutions to these challenges.

Currently, Michael Barone is at U.S. News and World Report, a FOX News Channel contributor, principal co-author of The Almanac of American Politics, and the author of Our Country: The Shaping of America from Roosevelt to Reagan. Barone has also written for many major market publications, including The Economist, The New York Times, The Detroit Press and The Daily Telegraph of London.

Recession, TARP, and experimentation were the hot topics of discussion that fired up Gen Next members at San Diego’s and Seattle’s most recent event featuring Craig Engle, a partner at Arent Fox in Washington who has written and spoken extensively on tax, economic, and political issues.  Engle is an expert on how the Treasury, SEC and Fed are trying and will try to tackle our enormous economic challenges.

Engle's presentation was a thoughtful and intriguing discussion of what is surely set to dominate President Obama’s first 100 days and what will undoubtedly have long term effects on the economy.

Craig Engle visited with Gen Next San Diego on Wednesday, January 21sh and Gen Next Seattle the night prior for a private social reception and presentation at the Oceanaire and Woodmark Hotel, respectively. During his presentation Engle explored with Gen Next Members and guests the looming question of whether the current economic strategy will work. He tackled the topic of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and how it will allocate in a manner that will pull us out of our current financial crisis in the shortest period of time. Gen Next members asked pointed questions on issues ranging from market correction, interest rates, mounting financial debt, the role of unions in construction projects, the housing market and much more. One member expressed, “Craig did an exceptional job at illustrating and explaining these complex issues in a manner that is simple to understand, so we can focus on long term solutions”.

Currently, Craig Engle works with Fortune 500 companies on complex regulatory and political issues. He is a popular writer, speaker and panelist on a wide range of federal and legislative issues, and serves as a guest lecturer at the Georgetown University Law Center.  He has acted as counselor to Members of the US Senate, their campaign committees, and candidates on all aspects of election and office-holder laws, including Federal Election Commission (FEC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), lobbying, ethics, incorporation, insurance and other matters.