SCVN 2009 Emerging Growth Awards Committees

Selection Committee Bios

Barbara D’Amato - Founder/CEO Trilogy Capital Corp. Highly accomplished banker, deal maker, and operator with 17 years of experience in finance. Access to a vast network of prominent institutions and investors across the US, Europe & the Middle East. Very broad experience in locating, structuring, negotiating, and financing transactions that generate extraordinary returns on equity. Worked on hundreds corporate transactions representing approximately $30 Billion in value and ranging in size from $1 Million - $5 Billion. Transactions typically include debt and equity combinations for leveraged buyouts, acquisition financing, emerging growth financing and corporate restructuring worldwide. Founder and CEO of Trilogy Capital Corp, a West Coast-based boutique investment banking firm providing mid-sized and large companies with solutions to meet the financial, growth and cash flow needs of a wide range of clientele. Trilogy’s unique business model is built around a wide network of capital sources nationwide -banks, non banks, finance companies, mezzanine, growth capital, venture capital, hedge funds, and private equity groups. Trilogy was an JV alliance partner of a $40 Billion hedge fund (Fortress Investment Group) in 2007 and 2008, and is currently an alliance partner with a $4 Billion family-owned private equity group (Blackhawk Partners) in 2009 who funds emerging and early stage capital to companies mainly in the energy, oil & gas and technology sectors. Graduated from Harvard Business School’s post graduate program. Chapter Co-Founder and Member Vitae of Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society. Former Chairman of the Board for the Children’s Museum of OC and numerous charitable organizations in our community; and currently serves on the Board of Canyon Acres Children & Family Services.

Chris Moulding - Senior Licensing Associate, Health Science Campus, USC Stevens Institute for Innovation. Chris Moulding is a senior licensing associate for USC Stevens, where he oversees a wide variety of innovations arising from the life sciences. Chris also has experience in the biotechnology industry, having held business development positions at Chiron and Systemix, was a co-founder of Recombinant Capital, a financial advisory services company in the biotech industry. Prior to joining USC, he was the Science Administrator for Intellectual Property at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for four years. Chris has significant experience in university technology transfer in the Los Angeles area, having been employed in licensing positions at both UCLA and Caltech. Chris began working at USC in August of 2004. Chris received his B.A. degree in Biology from Colorado College and an MBA from Stanford University. Contact: moulding@usc.edu ; Stevens.usc.edu/

Thomas “Tommy” Papa - Principal & CEO, CRESO Capital Partners. Mr. Papa has over twenty years in operations and finance consulting, high level management, and marketing and sales with Fortune 500, management consulting, and investment banking firms operating in the USA, Europe and Asia. As a principal of CRESO Capital Partners, a boutique investment banking firm focused on strategic corporate finance and growth capital serving the needs of small to middle-market companies, Mr. Papa’s main roles are collaborating with C-level executives in developing and executing organic and acquisition strategies, fostering strategic alliances across borders, providing investment banking services including M&A financing, recapitalizations, positioning and managing Joint Venture relationships, Management Buyouts, advising on new market penetration, and consulting on Shadow Management™. Thomas is also the CEO of CRESO Capital Management Corporation, the principal management company for mezzanine investment funds for smaller private middle market companies and which has a JV with a $250 million U.S. based private investment fund. Prior to starting CRESO Thomas worked with a boutique international investment banking and advisory firm and was a member of the MBA Enterprise Corps in Eastern Europe. Mr. Papa’s experience also include working with a Emerson Electric in business and corporate development efforts for ten years where he consulted at the C-level while leading project execution teams. Thomas received his MBA from University of Southern California Marshall School of Business with an emphasis on International Business and Entrepreneurship. He studied European Business at University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, completed his BS in Business Management from University of Phoenix incorporating his electrical engineering studies from Manhattan College and completed certificate programs at both Harvard Business School and California State University Fullerton. Mr. Papa’s leadership skills are fully reflected in his community activities. Thomas is President Emeritus of USC’s Marshall Alumni Board – Orange County Chapter, is an executive member of the International USC Marshall Alumni Board, serves on the USC Orange County President’s Council, is on the Board of Directors and is Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Trojan Club of Orange County, and is on the Executive Board for the World Affairs Council Orange County. He has served on the Advisory Board for the Women Executives & Entrepreneurs for Southern California, has served six years on the Board of Directors for Young Professionals Against Cancer, and has chaired events for the American Cancer Society. CRESOcapital.com

P. K. Shukla, Ph.D., C.P.I.M - Vice Chancellor for Entrepreneurship, Director, Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics , Chapman University. Dr. Shukla received a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Southern California and his Ph. D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Shukla has a total of six university degrees. He joined Chapman University in 1985 and is an Associate Professor of Management. He has previously worked in faculty and administrative positions at California State University campuses, USC, and at California community colleges. He has edited two published textbooks and has presented/published several papers. His research focuses upon the application of managerial and strategic decision-making tools. He is a Sam Walton SIFE Fellow. In 2009, Dr. Shukla was appointed in the newly created position of Vice Chancellor for Entrepreneurship at Chapman University; the objective of this position is to create entrepreneurial opportunities and values across the entire campus. Since 2006, he has served as Director of the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics within the Argyros School of Business and Economics. He was previously in charge of the Small Business Management programs at CSU Long Beach and CSU Northridge. He is the faculty advisor to Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity, Students in Free Enterprise, Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, and the International Student Association at Chapman University. Contact: shukla@chapman.edu ; Chapman.edu/argyros/innovate

Vance R. Thompson - President, USC Marshall Alumni Association, Orange County Chapter. Vance’s expertise lies with assisting Privately-held Businesses, Business Professionals and their families develop financial strategies using tax-efficient insurance and investment options to help achieve their long-term financial goals. Vance is a Financial Services Professional with FMC Financial Group. Vance’s specialties include Income and Asset Protection Strategies, Retirement and Estate Analysis, Tax Reduction and Diversification Strategies, Exit/Succession and Deferred Compensation Strategies. His first priority is to ensure that all of his clients are served with compassion and professionalism in meeting their financial goals. Vance’s success is based on the principles that this is a relationship-oriented business and a long-term approach is essential. He is licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona & Connecticut for Life, Health and Disability insurance. He is also Long Term Care insurance certified. In addition, Vance is a Registered Representative and Series 7, 6, 63 & 65 licensed for investments. Vance was born and raised in Southern California. He is currently serving as the President of the USC Marshall Alumni Association, Orange County Chapter has been involved since 2002. Vance graduated from the USC Marshall School of Business in 1998 with a BS degree in Finance. He’s active in the community through organizations such as the Newport Beach/Corona del Mar Kiwanis Club, where he is a Past President, as well as the Hoag Hospital 552 Club. He’s also involved with numerous business networking groups. Vance enjoys spending time with his wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Melia. His interests include golfing, boating, traveling, skiing, and USC football. Contact: vrthompson@finsvcs.com ; FMCfg.com/vancethompson.html

Marshall Toplansky - Managing Director, Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Orange County. Marshall is Chairman and CEO of Core Strategies. Marshall founded Core Strategies in 1996, building on his accomplishments and leadership role as in the marketing field. In his 30+ years of business experience, Marshall has led organizations to finding new ways of thinking and operating that have resulted in unprecedented growth and success. His experiences include developing effective, data-driven strategies in the media, personal computer, data communications devices, telecommunications services, pharmaceutical and health care services industries. Marshall began his career at Ogilvy & Mather advertising in New York, and became Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the company’s Washington, DC-area database marketing subsidiary. While building Core Strategies, Marshall has directed a wide variety of successful research engagements for clients such as Sony, Microsoft, Gateway, Vizio, Acer, ImpreMedia and Toshiba. As head of marketing at US Robotics, Marshall developed and delivered an influencer-centric marketing strategy that fueled its hyper-growth in the modem business through the mid-1990's. As Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Insight at Gateway, Marshall developed the deep understanding of the consumer that led to the company’s dominance of the plasma TV business and a successful sale of the company. Marshall lives with his family in Irvine, California. He is serving his second term as Managing Director of the Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Orange County. A past board member of the Computing Technologies Industry Association, Marshall serves on the national strategic advisory board of the Market Research Association. Marshall earned an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School and his B.A. degree in Political Science/Chinese from the State University of New York - Albany. Contact: mtoplansky@corestrategies.com ; http://www.corestrategies.blogspot.com.

Rob Ukropina - Partner, Black Diamond Ventures; Founder Overnight Express. Previously, Rob founded Overnite Express with the idea of picking up after FedEx and UPS – 9pm – and delivering California, Arizona and Nevada. Overnite Express is now the premier west coast small package overnight delivery company. In February 2008, Overnite Express was sold to Norco Corporation. Rob sits on several entrepreneurial boards, including Arenda Capital Management, C2 Reprographics, Allyance Communications, United Document Storage, GameDar, e-Recycling and the USC Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. In 2004, Rob was awarded “Excellence in Entrepreneurship” by the Orange County Business Journal. In 2005, Rob was named Father of the Year; Orange County by the Fathers Day Council. In 2007, Rob was selected by the SBA as “Small Business Person of the Year – California”. Rob is a guest lecture at USC, UCLA, Chapman, UCI, The Young Entrepreneurs Organization, The Christian Entrepreneur Organization, The Entrepreneurship Institute and the Orange County Business Forum. In 2008, Rob was the keynote speaker at the Harvard Business School Annual Entrepreneur Conference. In 2009 Rob was the keynote speaker at the USA SBE conference. Rob is a graduate of the USC Marshall Business School. He is currently is active on the USC Marshall Partners Board, USC Athletic Board of Counselors and the USC Alumni Board of Governors. www.bdventures.com

Juan Felipe Vallejo - Director of Innovation Development, USC Stevens Institute for Innovation. Juan Felipe Vallejo is responsible for directing new programs that will help faculty and students get their innovations into society. Juan Felipe plays a key role in the development of strategies to connect innovators from across the campus to each other as well as with the business community to transform ideas into successful ventures and innovations. An MBA graduate of the USC Marshall School of Business and a member of the National Honorary Business Society, Mr. Vallejo is also an electrical engineer who received his Masters Degree with honors from California State University at Northridge, as well as a Professional Certificate in International Trade from UCLA. Prior to joining USC Stevens, Juan Felipe held posts as Project Manager at the USC Marshall School of Business Center for Technology Commercialization and as the Administrative Manager for the Pasadena Angels, a local group of leading private investors that provide long-term human and financial capital to help build successful companies. Juan Felipe also brings extensive experience as an applications engineer in the semiconductor testing industry. Contact: jvallejo@usc.edu ; http://stevens.usc.edu/

SCVN 2009 Emerging Growth Awards Planning Committee Bios

Tim Pine – Chairperson Tim is a sixth generation California and a third generation commercial insurance broker with extensive knowledge of commercial insurance coverage ranging from Directors and Officers insurance, Employment Practices Liability insurance, Product Liability and Errors and Omissions coverages(Professional Liability). Tim’s client base has grown to include companies from various industriesincluding technology, biotechnology, manufacturing and the non-profit sectors based in the United States and beyond. Prior to joining Arroyo Insurance Services, Tim served as V.P. Business Development at Security Weaver Software(SAP Partner). At present, Tim is a member of AAOC, SCAA, Board Member at SCVN and Chairman of the SCVN emerging Growth Awards. Tim attended University of California, Riverside where he studied Neuroscience and earned a Bachelors degree in 1997. Tim's core expertise includes Commercial Real Estate, Tech/Bio Technology Insurance Risks, E&O, D&O, General Liability and .In his personal time, Tim enjoys Snowboarding, Golf, Reading and Exercise. Email Tim

Eric Tanezaki – SCVN President - Multiple Roles Eric is a partner of Stetina Brunda Garred & Bucker, a boutique full service intellectual property law firm. He has represented numerous companies in various industries in relation to patent, trademark and copyright matters, seeking rights as well as related licensing. He received his undergraduate engineering degree from the University of Southern California, and his law degree from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific. Prior to law school Eric worked in the aerospace industry. Eric is the Executive Director of the Southern California Venture Network (SCVN.org). In addition, Eric is the IP Law Mentor to the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation. Email Eric www.stetinalaw.com

Steve Moses - SCVN Founder - Submission Form Development

Stephen serves as Wealth Manager at Merrill Lynch and is located in Newport Beach, CA. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Stephen served as CEO at FineArt.com. He serves on the board and was the founder of both the OCHBC and SCVN and encourages you to visit both sites. Stephen attended USC where he studied Business and earned a Bachelors degree in 1989. Career transitions can be stressful. On one hand you want to focus on the work of finding the best next job on the other hand your loss of income makes planning for retirement more important than ever. I can help. I specialize in 401(K) rollovers and 401(K) rollover consolidation. Your retirement is coming sooner than you think. Let me handle the paperwork while you look for a new job. Ask yourself, are you ready for your eventual retirement? If you are between jobs, email me today to get my list of Orange County Executive Recruiters and Hiring Managers.In his personal time, Stephen teaches surfing (email me for free surfing lessons).

Doug Richards – Outreach Doug currently serves as Director of Sales and Marketing at Onward Systems. Onward provides data warehousing, business intelligence consulting, and management reporting services to middle market companies seeking to improve their performance management, business decision making, and data infrastructure. Onward also has expertise in project management, strategy formulation, and enterprise architecture development. Onward is a business partner with SAP/Business Objects, IBM/Cognos and Microsoft. Recent clients include Amgen and California Bank & Trust.Doug's educational background includes an MBA from USC in finance and entrepreneurship, a BS in industrial engineering from Oregon State, and a year at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) for an exchange program. He also is a California-licensed professional engineer (PE) in industrial engineering. He is a board member with the USC Marshall Alumni Association, Southern California Venture Network (SCVN), and the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG).Prior to Onward Systems, Doug was an operations consultant for REZA Investment Group, a commercial real estate brokerage firm in Irvine. He also co-founded and sold two companies: Richards & Associates, an accounting software consulting firm and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, a home improvement franchise company. Doug also spent 11 years with McDonnell Douglas Corporation in a variety of industrial engineering, facilities planning, and business management roles.

Steve Kitts – TBD (PnL, Award Categories) Steve serves as Sr. Tax Manager at McKennon Wilson & Morgan, LLP and is located in Irvine, CA. He is licensed as a California CPA and is a member of the California Bar. Steve attended UCLA where he earned a earned a Bachelors degree majoring in Business-Economics, Golden Gate University School of Law where he earned a Juris Doctorate degree and Golden Gate University where he earned a Masters of Accountancy degree (with Honors). Steve has taught business law as an adjunct lecturer at Golden Gate University and presents courses related to federal income taxation for the Education Foundation of the California Society of CPAs.

Brandon Carl – Banners & Awards, VIP Event Brandon Carl was born and raised in Southern California. He currently resides in Irvine with his wife Lisa. While in high school, Brandon was a member of the championship football team as well as an instrumental part of establishing a CIF sanctioned hockey team. Upon graduation Brandon attended Santiago Canyon College, where as a senator helped raise over $180 million dollars to aide in the expansion of the school. Brandon then went on to the University of California, Irvine. After graduation Mr. Carl began working for Paychex. Once established by helping business owners become more successful, he then improved his effectiveness by going to work for Administaff. With over 3 years of experience, Brandon has developed a niche with helping start-ups and small to medium sized businesses succeed. His focus is on improving the company culture, enriching their benefits, taking liability for employee related issues, controlling the bottom line and cutting costs all while allowing the business owner to focus on revenue generating activities.In his free time, Brandon enjoys spending time with his wife and family, boating, fine dining, scuba diving, hockey and attending various sporting events.

Vanessa Besack – PR/Marketing Vanessa Besack specializes in helping organizations raise their visibility and manage their most precious resource -- their reputation. By providing them with innovative strategies, media exposure and resources, she has assisted many companies increase profits by raising awareness of their company and by keeping the lines of communication open with clients and customers. Prior to forming her own agency, Vanessa worked for several prestigious public relations and marketing firms in Southern California. Before entering into the public relations industry, she started her career as a staff writer and freelancer for publications such as the Los Angeles Times, Whittier Daily News , Pasadena Star News, Arizona Republic, Entrepreneur and Romantic Homes.

Bridget Soden – Marketing Professional On top of her efforts in the work force, she also serves as president of the Orange County chapter of AIGA | the professional association of design and is increasingly involved in Dezumo, an online social network for creative minds. With these volunteer efforts, Bridget finds herself well-entrenched in the community of Orange County. Bridget has experience working with household names, such as, Chicken of the Sea, ConAgra Foods, Fosters Group, PacifiCare and WD40. She has also enjoyed working with small-to-midsize companies such as Arbitech, ExtruMed LLC, F&S Gourmet Foods, SOKA University of America and ExpensAble, as well as, non-profits like Mercy House and Laura's House. With more than ten years of design experience in branding, print and package design, Bridget Soden is making her mark working as the principal + creative director of Creative Vortex. Her proven expertise is evident in the amount of energy and attention that she infuses into her work. Her core expertise includes graphic design, marketing, package design, social media, web design and identity design.