AUSTIN – Ross Garber, co-founder and former chief executive officer of Vignette Corp., one of the year's most successful Internet software initial public offerings, will address Austin business leaders during St. Edward's University's Executive Briefing at noon Wednesday, Dec. 8, in the Maloney Room of the Main Building on campus.

Under Garber's leadership, Vignette grew into the premier provider of Internet relationship management software solutions and the company raised more than $36 million in private equity. Vignette garnered numerous awards including Red Herring Magazine's "Top Private Company of 1998" and "Top 50 Public Company of 1999." Garber, who was named 1999 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the software category, serves as director and advisor for Motive Communications, Agillion Inc., Personify Inc., and is on the board of several industry development groups.

The Business Development Council (BDC), a group of business leaders who serve as donors and advisors to St. Edward's University, is sponsoring Garber's address to the Austin area business community.

St. Edward's University is an independent Catholic liberal arts university of 3,600 students in Austin.