Executive Forum to Host Economic
Outlook Breakfast to Benefit Red Cross
News Release: April 23, 2008
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 508-4378

The Executive Forum of the Lehigh Valley will host an “Economic Outlook” breakfast on Tuesday, May 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem. The event is sponsored by the Executive Forum of the Lehigh Valley; Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated.; and Caruso Benefits Group, Inc. Proceeds from the breakfast benefit the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Joseph V. Battipaglia, chief investment strategist of Washington Crossing Advisors, which is a Stifel Nicolaus investment advisory program, will keynote the breakfast. Battipaglia is the former chairman of investment policy at Ryan, Beck & Co., where he conducted strategic market and economic analysis in support of the firm’s retail network and institutional presence.

He is featured frequently in the national media, including CNBC, Kudlow & Company, and FOX News. He graduated from Boston College and earned his MBA at the Wharton Graduate School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Cost is $50 per person; $350 per table of eight. Seating is limited. Deadline for reservations and payment is May 14.

For reservations and payment, contact Ana Vega at the American Red Cross at 610-865-4400, ext. 261 or VegaA@usa.redcross.org. Make checks payable to American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Credit card information will be accepted by phone.

For more information, call Kenneth MacKenzie at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, 610-997-6413; or Sandy Gaspar, American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 610-865-4400, ext. 258.

About the Sponsors:

The Executive Forum of the Lehigh Valley is a dedicated group of business owners and executives who share a commitment to quality and to an ethical environment in which to promote Lehigh Valley business. Membership is exclusive, based on noncompeting products and services. http://www.lvexecutiveforum.org

Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated is a full-service regional brokerage and investment banking firm, established in 1890 and based in St. Louis, Missouri. The Company provides securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services through its wholly owned subsidiaries, primarily Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. http://www.stifel.com

Caruso Benefits Group, Inc. specializes in benefits management with an emphasis on group medical, life, and disability. Among its three divisions – MJ Caruso & Associates, Independent Business Association, and The Benefits Firm – they service a clientele ranging from the individual entrepreneur to organizations with several thousand employees, primarily in Eastern Pennsylvania. http://www.carusobg.com

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 690,000 residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response service for seniors; and emergency relief to more than 23,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.