Jeffrey C. Barbakow began his professional career as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch. During his 20-year tenure with the firm, working on Wall Street, in San Francisco, and managing their Los Angeles Investment Banking office, he focused on entertainment, media, and healthcare clients. While at Merrill Lynch, Mr. Barbakow served as Chairman of ML Film Partners, and President of both ML Media and ML Opportunity Partners.

From 1988 to 1991, Mr. Barbakow served as Chairman, CEO, and President of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists Communications Co. (MGM/UA). Under his leadership, the company reasserted itself as a major force in the worldwide entertainment industry. The company was sold in 1991 when he then returned to investment banking as a Managing Director of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation. In 1993, Mr. Barbakow was asked to join National Medical Enterprises, which became Tenet Healthcare Corporation, as Chairman and CEO. Under his leadership, Tenet became the nation's second largest healthcare delivery system with 114 hospitals in 16 states. He remained with Tenet until 2003.

Mr. Barbakow holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial design from San Jose State University, and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He completed course work for a doctorate in economics form the University of Pennsylvania. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Pepperdine University.

Mr. Barbakow is a member of the CEO Board of Advisors at the USC Marshall School of Business, the Chancellor's Council at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and The Conference Board, Inc. He has served for six years as Trustee of Crane Country Day School in Santa Barbara, and for nine years as Trustee of The Thacher School in Ojai. He is currently serving his third term as President of the Board of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.