| The Team |
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Alison Wistner has over 15 years of experience in venture capital, finance and investment banking. She is currently a Principal at Prospector Equity Capital, L.P., a venture capital firm based in Park City, Utah. At PEC, Ms. Wistner has participated in 10 early to late stage venture capital transactions, deploying approximately $30 million in capital. Ms. Wistner has served as a director for two of PEC’s portfolio companies and as a Board observer for four portfolio companies. She is also the acting CFO of portfolio company, Zane Benefits, Inc., a healthcare software as a service company. Previously, she was a Vice President at Hunter Capital, focused on middle market investment banking transactions. Prior to joining Hunter Capital, Ms. Wistner worked as a Financial Analyst for NationsBanc Montgomery Securities in mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. Ms. Wistner received a B.S. in Business (Finance) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Jill Dempsey is passionate about supporting women in business. She has started several businesses, one of which was sold in 2004. Jill is a Partner at Dolphin Capital Group, a private equity firm based in Park City, Utah. At Dolphin, she explores and structures new investments while supporting the existing portfolio. She is a board member of Skipstone Staffing and a member of the marketing team at Dynamic Confections, a Dolphin portfolio company. Ms. Dempsey is on the board of Guadalupe Schools, a non-profit school for underprivileged children and adults. She is a proud member of the Women's Philanthropic Network of United Way and a founding member of the Young Entrepreneur Founders Organization. She is an assistant adjunct professor at Brigham Young University where she teaches Financing New Ventures to undergraduate business students. Jill received a B.S. in Business (Entrepreneurial Finance) from Brigham Young University.
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VAST Venture AdvisorsVAST’s team is augmented by a fantastic advisory panel of experienced venture capitalists and private equity investors. Carla Meine (Managing Director) founded O’Currance Teleservices, an inbound telemarketing company formed in 1994. Under her leadership, the company grew to employ 600 people – primarily women. The company has been named one of Utah top 100 fastest growing companies for five years running. Carla brings expertise in outsourcing, complex work flow models and large scale technology management, challenges we anticipate will face VAST’s portfolio companies. She is an member of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Salt Lake Chamber’s WNET and has mentored many women entrepreneurs. Carla was named Utah’s Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Consumer and Business Services category in 2003. In March of 2007 she sold her company to a private equity firm. Greg Warnock, Chairman of VAST Venture Advisors, is the founder and Managing Director of Mercato Partners, a growth equity fund that invests in high growth technology and consumer businesses with a focus on world class sales and marketing execution. Mr. Warnock was also the co-founder and Coordinating Managing Director of vSpring Capital, a venture capital firm and early stage technology investor based in Salt Lake City. He is recognized as one of the most prolific regional angel investors and brings investment experience along with expertise in fund formation and leadership, growth equity investment and investment structuring. www.mercatopartners.com Eric Jacobsen is co-founder of Dolphin Capital Group, a private equity firm focused on investing in mid-market companies positioned for growth with highly scalable business models. Eric brings expertise in private equity and deep engagement with portfolio companies. He is currently Chairman of Winder Farms, a Dolphin Capital portfolio company. Over his career Mr. Jacobsen has successfully started, acquired, and sold several companies; he has held the position of President and COO of Home Financial Network and Financial Fusion, and was previously an investment banker with Smith Barney. www.dolphincapitalgroup.com Blake Modersitzki is a partner with UV Partners, a leading early stage private equity investment group established in 1986 with offices in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. UV Partners helps entrepreneurs develop early-stage concepts into tomorrow’s industry-leading Information Technology and Life Science companies. In addition to his investment expertise, Blake brings over 15 years of high tech operational experience to VAST Venture Advisors. www.uvpartners.com Stephanie Spong is a Principal with EPIC Ventures, a leading venture capital firm in the Southwest, based in New Mexico. Prior to joining EPIC, Stephanie helped startups and corporate R&D groups with technology innovation and commercialization projects through her consulting firm, Greystone Management Consulting. EPIC Ventures was formed in 1994 and invests in early-stage technology companies and manages four funds with over $150 million in capital under management. www.epicvc.com |