120 W. Ash, P.O. Box 586 • Salina, KS 67402-0586 • 785-827-9301 • fax 785-827-9758 • www.salinakansas.org NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release RE: Chamber Annual Banquet Frank Abagnale, one the world’s most respected authorities on the subject of forgery, embezzlement, and secure documents, will be the featured speaker at the Chamber’s Annual Banquet and Membership Meeting, Thursday, February 9, 2012. (Biography’s attached) The banquet will be held in the arena of the Bicentennial Center beginning at 6:30pm. A membership networking reception will be held from 5-6pm in Heritage Hall of the Bicentennial Center. In addition, Mr. Abagnale will also conduct an identity theft seminar on February 9th from 2-4pm at Sam’s Chapel on the campus of Kansas Wesleyan University. “We are very pleased that Frank Abagnale has accepted our invitation to come to Salina as the keynote speaker for the Chamber’s annual meeting,” said Todd Davidson, Chairman of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. “Identify theft, forgery and embezzlement are major issues faced by businesses and individuals in our society. Mr. Abagnale has a unique set of personal experiences on these issues, from both sides of the fence. His specialized knowledge of these subjects will be enormously valuable to our audience, and his story-telling will captivate them. It should be an entertaining evening for this year’s annual banquet.” For over 30 years Mr. Abagnale has lectured to, and consulted with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations and government agencies around the world. His life story was the subject of a major motion picture entitled “Catch Me If You Can,” directed by Steven Spielberg starring Leonardo DeCaprio and Tom Hanks. The banquet will be held on the floor of the arena (tables of eight which includes dinner). Tickets for Chamber members are $50 per person for the banquet; $55 per person for the banquet and seminar; and $10 per person for the seminar only. Tickets for non-members are $75 per person for the banquet; $85 per person for the banquet and seminar; and $20 for the seminar only. Reservations can be made by Chamber members now through December 15 by calling the Chamber office, 1-785-827-9310, ext. 123, or email [email protected]. After December 15, tickets will go on sale to the general public. Tickets will be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis. A limited number of sponsorships are available. For details about the cost and amenities of the sponsorships, persons can contact the Chamber office. The evening will consist of remarks by outgoing Chairman Todd Davidson and incoming Chairman Dan Mendicina, a review of the Chamber’s accomplishments in 2011, and the address by Mr. Abagnale. For more information on the banquet and Frank Abagnale, people can go to the Chamber’s website at www.salinakansas.org. ################################# For more information contact Dennis Lauver, President/CEO, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, 827-9301, email: [email protected] Frank W. Abagnale Frank W. Abagnale is one of the world's most respected authorities on the subjects of forgery, embezzlement and secure documents. For over 30 years he has lectured to, and consulted with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations and government agencies around the world. His rare blend of knowledge and expertise began as a teenager. More than 40 years ago he was known as one of the world's most famous confidence men as depicted in his best-selling book, "Catch Me If You Can." He cashed $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in every state and 26 foreign countries over a five-year period. Between the ages of 16 and 21, he successfully posed as an airline pilot, an attorney, a college professor and a pediatrician. Apprehended by the French police when he was 21 years old, he served time in the French, Swedish and U. S. prison systems. After five years he was released on the condition that he would help the federal government, without remuneration, by teaching and assisting federal law enforcement agencies. Mr. Abagnale has been associated with the FBI for over 30 years. He lectures extensively at the FBI Academy and the field offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. More than 14,000 financial institutions, corporations and law enforcement agencies use his fraud prevention programs. In 1998, he was selected as a distinguished member of "Pinnacle 400" by CNN Financial News. In 2006 Mr. Abagnale was selected as one of the 15 Differentiators in Retail by the editorial board of RIS News. Mr. Abagnale's most recent book, "Stealing Your Life", will be released in April 2007 by Random House. He has also written "The Art of the Steal", "The Real U Guide to Identity Theft" and "The Bankers' Document Verification and Currency Transaction Manual". In 2004 Mr. Abagnale was selected as the national spokesperson for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). Mr. Abagnale was the subject of a major motion picture entitled "Catch Me If You Can", directed by Steven Spielberg with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. \ .