Costco CEO Jim Sinegal To Be Guest Speaker at SDSU Business College Luncheon on August 17 at Sheraton Mission Valley

Sinegal Kicks-Off 50th Anniversary of College of Business Administration

Contact: Randy Carmical, Director of Communications
(619) 594-0206 Randy.Carmical@sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Monday, August 01, 2005 – San Diego State University (SDSU) College of Business Administration is hosting an alumni luncheon featuring Costco CEO and SDSU alumnus Jim Sinegal on Wednesday, August 17 from 11:30-1:30 at the Sheraton Mission Valley, 1433 Camino Del Rio South. Tickets are $35 for the general public; $30 for SDSU Alumni Association members. Corporate tables with seating for 10 are being sold for $500. Reservations can be made at www.sdsu.edu/bizalum50. The College is using this opportunity to kick-off a year-long celebration of its 50th Anniversary.

Sinegal attended SDSU’s College of Business Administration in 1959 and came back to receive an honorary doctorate in 1999. During his days at SDSU, Sinegal worked as a warehouseman and shipping clerk for Sol-Price’s Fed-Mart. In 1976, after a corporate buyout, Sol Price founded Price Club. In 1978, Sinegal rose to the position of executive vice president of Price Club but chose later to move from San Diego to Seattle. In 1983, he co-founded Costco with Jeffrey Brotman. Ten years later, Costco merged with Sinegal’s former employer to become Price/Costco, but later changed the name back to Costco. Costco is currently the nation’s fifth largest retailer and Sinegal is currently ranked #9 on Forbes’ magazine annual CEO list.

“We are extremely honored to have one of our most distinguished and successful alumni return to help us celebrate our 50th Anniversary,” said College of Business Administration Dean Gail Naughton. “Jim is a great example of the entrepreneur spirit in America and we have been very proud of his accomplishments since leaving SDSU.”

Nearly 400 attendees are expected at the College of Business Alumni Luncheon on August 17. Corporations who will be present include The Corky McMillin Companies, SAIC, Jack in the Box, Union Bank of California, KPMG, Grubb & Ellis/BRE Commercial, PWC, SYS Technologies, among others. Sinegal will be addressing the challenges and successes of running one of the nation’s top retail chains. A recent article about “How Costco became the Anti-Wal-Mart” (NY Times, 07/17/05) is one of many touting Sinegal’s unique business strategy.

With over 5,500 students, the SDSU College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the U.S.  Its programs in undergraduate international business and graduate entrepreneurship are ranked among the top programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report. The College is celebrating “50 Years of Educating San Diego’s Business Leaders” in the 2005-06 academic year. University data shows that nearly 60% of the College’s 40,000 alumni have remained in the San Diego area and contribute to the local economy as entrepreneurs, business leaders and workforce.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region.  Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor’s degrees

in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 72 areas and doctorates in 16 areas.  SDSU’s more than 33,000 students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future.  For information, visit www.sdsu.edu.