Radio Executive Bob Kieve Named First Recipient of Silicon Valley Leadership Group "Community Cornerstone Award"

Kieve to be Honored at "Silicon Valley Projections 2008" Summit September 26 at Santa Clara University

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group today announced the establishment of a new "Community Cornerstone Award" for public involvement and named Empire Broadcasting founder and president Robert S. Kieve as the first recipient for his four decades of service to Silicon Valley.

Carl Guardino, CEO of the Leadership Group, and San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed will honor Kieve at the Leadership Group's annual "Silicon Valley Projections 2008" summit on September 26 at Santa Clara University. The Community Cornerstone Award will be presented annually to an individual who has contributed immeasurably to building a vibrant community in Silicon Valley through lifelong professional and personal contributions to the economic vitality and quality of life in our region.

"Bob is an amazing leader who has combined his passion for public service with his commitment to professional excellence through his active engagement in numerous business, cultural, fraternal and charitable organizations in our valley," said Guardino. "There is no one more deserving as our first Community Cornerstone Award honoree."

Kieve, the chief executive of San Jose radio stations KRTY and KLIV since 1967, came to Silicon Valley after an early career as a government information officer that included roles as a staff writer for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and with the American Embassy in Madrid, Spain. He later held both executive and on-air positions for radio stations WBBF and WBBF-FM in Rochester, NY.

He is a board member of the Northern California and California Broadcasters Associations and has been active in the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of San Jose, the San Jose Symphony Foundation and the Regional Medical Center in San Jose, as well as his longtime involvement with the Leadership Group and numerous other nonprofit and community benefit organizations.

"Silicon Valley Projections 2008" is a major public forum on the state of “Clean and Green” issues, innovation and engagement in Silicon Valley, to be held on Wednesday, September 26, in the Mayer Theatre at Santa Clara University, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

It will feature keynote remarks from California Attorney General Jerry Brown, Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols, venture capital leader John Doerr and top valley CEOs. Reservations and more information are available now on the Leadership Group web site at www.svlg.net.