Washington, DC – (12/22/09), The Marathon Club (TMC), a network of affluent, deal-focused professionals of diverse ethnicities assembled a delegation of its members for the Committee of 100 Third Greater China Conference, held in Beijing this month. The Committee of 100 is an organization of Chinese American dedicated to the dual mission of strengthening relations between Americans and Chinese as well as encouraging Chinese Americans to fully participate in America’s progress.

The Marathon Club is an organization that is dedicated to accelerating the creation and building of strategic business relationships. Having united premier organizations that span the private equity, corporate and entrepreneurial business industries including the National Association of Investment Companies, New America Alliance and The Executive Leadership Council, TMC is a catalyst for more substantive deal flow. TMC was invited by the Committee of 100 to send a delegation of senior business leaders from the African American, and Hispanic business communities interested in expanding business into China and breaking the culture barriers that have historically been an impediment to mutual business success.

"Our support of and participation in the Committee of 100 Third Greater China Conference created an opportunity for accelerated relationship development, access to potential bilateral business opportunities for the members of both groups, throughout the U.S. and China. We are thrilled by the success of this trip that has resulted in a broader set of global opportunities for TMC and our host, the Committee of 100," said Carmen Ortiz-McGhee, President of The Marathon Club.

According to Angie Tang, Committee of 100 Executive Director, the Committee facilitated strategic personal introductions for TMC to new business connections and opportunities in the Chinese market. "We are pleased and encouraged by the meetings and conversations that took place between the two groups. A great foundation has been laid for future collaboration," said Tang.

The TMC delegation included Carl Brooks, President and CEO, Executive Leadership Council, James Shepard, General Partner, Genx360 Capital Partners, Chris Simmons, Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Willie Lanier, Jr., President and CEO, DXD Sports Inc., Vernon N. Lee, Jr., Managing Partner, Brightwood Management, Carmen Ortiz-McGhee, President, The Marathon Club, Jennell Lynch, Vice President, The Marathon Club, W. Emery Matthews, Chief Investment Officer, Mayfield Gentry Realty Advisors, Chauncey C. Mayfield, Mayfield Gentry Realty Advisors, and Yi Wang, Director of Financial Analysis, Mayfield Gentry Realty Advisors.

The 7-day trip consisted of conferences, meetings and private events that connected the two organizations and paved the way for strategic discussions on U.S. – China business relations, successfully doing business in China, and ways to collaborate. The TMC delegation met with influential Chinese business leaders such as Dominic Ho, Managing Partner, HoPu Capital, a $2.5 billion private equity firm, Gao Xiqing, Vice Chairman, President & CIO, China Investment Corporation, China’s Sovereign Wealth Fund; and Wei Sun Christianson, CEO, Morgan Stanley China.

"This visit allowed us to learn more about how to do business in China, connect with our Chinese American counterparts and explore ways we could leverage our collective influence to improve the relations between two important global influencers," said Carl Brooks, President & CEO, The Executive Leadership Council.

Both organizations plan to identify areas of collaboration that continue to bridge the cultural gaps and allow for successful deal transactions.

For more information about the Committee of 100, visit www.committee100.org

About The Marathon Club
The Marathon Club is an organization that is dedicated to accelerating the creation and building of strategic business relationships. Known as a Relationship Accelerator it creates environments for its members to most effectively utilize their resources of time, effort and capital in closing transactions. This is accomplished by ensuring that through the appropriate introductions to decision makers throughout myriad segments of global business, our members are able to identify unique opportunities for forging meaningful relationships with key business leaders throughout the world. www.themarathonclub.org