We are pleased to announce the election of Gregory M. Avis, a Founding Managing Director of Summit Partners in Palo Alto, as the new Chair of our Board of Directors. Greg joined the Irvine board in 2003 and has served as Vice Chair for the past two years. Avis succeeds Peter J. Taylor, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the University of California, who retired from the board after serving a full board term of 12 years, including three as board chair.

In 1984, Greg helped found Summit, one of the nation's leading private equity and venture capital firms, which has raised nearly $15 billion in capital since its inception. Greg has served on the boards of more than 40 companies primarily in the technology and life sciences industries, including Clontech Laboratories, Ditech Communications, Powerwave Technologies and RightNow Technologies.

Greg’s community activities include current service on the boards of Williams College (Chair), Antioch College, New Profit and ARTSTOR and past service on the boards of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (Chair), San Jose Repertory Theatre (Chair) and the National Outdoor Leadership School. Additionally, he is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, Silicon Valley.