Robert F. Kalchthaler Jr. wants to join a Riverside-based organization for technology company leaders and access its network of contacts.

"I will definitely try to join," he said, hailing the "networking opportunities with individuals who know what's happening in Riverside, not just the city, but the county."

Kalchthaler's Beaumont business, Strategic Insights LLC, consults with property owners and developers seeking to build on polluted ground. He interprets environmental and legal data and oversees cleanup experts.

"I've been looking for an entrepreneurial group to work with as part of my business developing contaminated property," he said.

Kalchthaler was among 30 guests who attended the first open house luncheon for the 3-year-old, 14-member Riverside Technology CEO Forum held Sept. 14 at the Mission Inn in Riverside. He took the place of a friend who was invited to the luncheon but could not attend.

The nonpartisan group is spreading its wings and welcoming additional tech companies into its fold.

CEO Forum members must be a chief executive, chief operating officer, general manager or other administrator responsible for a company or corporate division. Attendance is mandatory at the monthly meetings. Members may not send substitutes to meetings.

The forum works with city, county and education leaders to bolster the region's relatively small technology sector. The group has worked on a Riverside home-loan program for technology workers and a tenant improvement program. They participated on a task force that recommended the city patronize local vendors, expand a wireless network and hire a technology director. Members work with Irvine-based Tech Coast Angels to find investors for a new Inland Empire Network.

The forum developed a fee-for-service schedule with the University of California, Riverside so technology companies can use the university's resources. Members sponsor student internships and speak to student groups. They share knowledge and resources and invite speakers to their monthly meetings.

The city of Riverside paid $1,600 for the forum's open house room rental and luncheon buffet.

"We just think it's important to support this group. They set the road map for us for technology. It was through their suggestions that we came up with the tenant improvements and other incentives. It's a lot easier to foster your own companies than bring in a new company," said Gregory Lee, coordinator of Riverside business development.

The forum, originally open to leaders of technology companies in Riverside, is broadening to include companies in Corona, San Bernardino and other areas within driving distance. Forum members meet at the UC Riverside Bourns College of Engineering.

The group's coverage area will be "self-defining" because the forum requires active participation, Chairman Brian Hawley said. He is chairman, chief technology officer and co-founder of Luminex Software Inc. in Riverside, which develops data storage products.

Other CEO Forum members include Acorn Technology Corp., Qmotions Inc., ISCA Technologies Inc., Encore Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ambryx Biotechnology Inc., ATL Innovations Inc., Bourns Inc., Terrafore, Almex USA Inc., Surado Solutions Inc., Nova R&D Inc., Carbon Solutions and Hall Data Solutions Inc.

The CEO forum is emerging from its "formative years" and aiming to expand its membership and activities. HCK Technologies Inc. in Arcadia, owned by UC Riverside graduate Frankie Lam, created a Web site last year free of charge for the group. Lam maintains the site at no charge. He worked with CEO Forum member William Saito on projects for Saito's I/O Software. Saito sold his company in 2005.

Programs the forum is considering include helping faculty members at UC Riverside commercialize their inventions. The concept involves recruiting business students from the university's A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management to write business plan for faculty members, said Helen Chen, a forum member and vice president for business development for Ambryx in Riverside. Ambryx is developing anti-obesity and anti-cancer drugs.

A larger group wields stronger clout when negotiating with the city for lower electricity rates and other programs for technology companies, Chen said.

"The idea is to have a critical mass where we can start making a difference. You need to have a community so you can act in a group, so you can voice your opinion on government incentives that can benefit each member," she said.

Additional members create a greater pool of information and resources for the group to share, she said.

When forum member Encore Pharmaceuticals moved its research center to Oklahoma, the company gave Ambyrx chemistry flasks and other laboratory materials, worth $2,000 to $3,000. The companies met through the CEO Forum. Encore invited Ambryx to attend angel investor events to find potential backers.

"We don't have any formal business collaboration, but they've been very kind in helping us out," Chen said.

In August, intellectual property attorney Michael Trenholm from Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear in Riverside, spoke to the group about how changes in intellectual property law might impact companies' patent strategies. He delivered the talk for free, Chen said. "It's a good way for them to advertise their law firm." Her father hired the firm to work on intellectual property issues for an invention he created, Chen said.

"We just think it's important to support this group. They set the road map for us for technology. It was through their suggestions that we came up with the tenant improvements and other incentives. It's a lot easier to foster your own companies than bring in a new company," said Gregory Lee, Riverside's coordinator of business development.

John Tillquist, dean of economic development at Riverside Community College District, is one of six UC Riverside and business development collaborators working with the forum.

The forum creates a communication mechanism that enables entrepreneurs who might have felt isolated, he said during the event.