BIOGRAPHY OF PAUL ECKE III

EDUCATION: Born in San Diego, California in 1955, Paul attended public grammar and high school in Encinitas, California. Graduated from San Dieguito High School in 1974. Studied economics at Denison University in Ohio for two years. Graduated with B.S. in Horticulture from Colorado State University in 1980. Member of Pi Alpha XI, Chi Chapter, Honorary Floriculture Fraternity, and Kappa Sigma Social Fraternity. Received MBA degree from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina in 1984.
FAMILY: Married to Juliane Hampton of Santa Rosa, California in 1989. Julie earned her MBA at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and is a licensed architect. Their son, Hans Maxwell (Max) Ecke was born in 1993. Their daughter, Polly Elisabeth Mei Ecke, born in China, March 4, 2001 was adopted in January, 2002.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: Worked three years, 1984 - 1987, at Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) in Palo Alto as Production Manager for Electronic Components. Came to work for the family business in 1987 as the Data Processing Manager at the Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California. After developing and installing a new, computerized order entry system, was promoted to Operations Manager at the Ranch. Became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company in March 1991. On board of directors of the Carltas Development Company, an Ecke family owned real estate development company.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY: Current President, Board of Directors, Joseph Shinoda Memorial Scholarship Foundation, awarding educational scholarships to students in horticulture and floriculture programs; Board of Directors, San Diego County Farm Bureau; Appointed in 1998 to the Federal Reserve Bank Advisory Council on Small Business and Agriculture. President, Board of Directors, Poinsettia Foundation, funding various horticulture industry research projects. Board of Directors, windowbox.com; Holds current membership in numerous local, state, national and international floral, grower and farm organizations, including: Society of American Florists, San Diego Flower and Plant Association; California Farm Bureau, and the American Horticultural Society. Participating founder and developer of the family-owned San Diego International Floral Trade Center.
AFFILIATIONS AND SPECIALINTERESTS AND AWARDS Participating member, The Executive Committee, San Diego Chapter; and 2000-2001 Chairman of the San Diego Coastal Chapter of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO). Recipient of the 2001 Colorado State University Honor Alumnus Award, College of Agricultural Sciences.Paul and his family enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle, which includes travel, skiing, surfing, hiking, scuba diving, horseback riding, tending their flower and vegetable gardens, and jogging.