PRESS KIT: Bio of Glen McLaughlin

Glen McLaughlin of Saratoga, California, makes his living by helping start-up companies and is passionate about raising funds for worthy causes. The exact title for his work has ranged from ethicist, venture capitalist, author and teacher. The editor of his local newspaper in California described him as a "venture philanthropist."


McLaughlin attributes much of his success to principles he learned growing up in a small town in Oklahoma and serving as a Boy Scout: "Be trustworthy, loyal, helpful and friendly."

Applying these tenets to work, McLaughlin has founded 15 companies and served on 32 corporate boards (five currently). He also is a mentor to numerous students and start-up entrepreneurs.

To promote honesty and ethics in business, he made significant contributions to his alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, funding two annual $10,000 prizes in ethics, one for students and another for faculty. In addition, the Glen McLaughlin Chair in Business Ethics helped propel the school to a top five ranking in the nation.

As a board member of the Boy Scouts of America, he was responsible for raising a record $1 billion for the western region of BSA, and as a member of the Knights of St. John, he spearheaded the fundraising to build the Knight's Inn Infirmary for children with cancer. The infirmary is part of Camp Okizu in Chico, California.

McLaughlin also personally funded the hiring of a program manager to teach kids at the Mexican Heritage Center in San Jose, California how to use donated computers.

The $2.3 million contribution to Gould Academy for the science center is his family's largest personal gift to date. His son, Glen W., was valedictorian of Gould's class of 1988.

The elder McLaughlin rose from humble beginnings to graduate from the University of Oklahoma, serve as a troop carrier pilot in the Air Force and receive an MBA from Harvard in 1964.

McLaughlin then set out to make a mark in the business world, serving in management capacities at a number of leading firms and starting a number of other companies. He presently serves as president and CEO of Venture Leasing Associates in Saratoga, California.

McLaughlin and his wife, Ellen, have two grown children: Helen, a securities attorney, and Glen W., a PhD electrical engineer and inventor of medical devices.

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