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1F - The Perfect Pitch – Round 1 – Financing you Startup or Expansion

Moderator:

Jayme Okma Lee, Fund Associate, Small Entreprise Growth Fund

Jayme Okma Lee joined the SEGF in 2005 as a Fund Associate. Prior to joining the SEGF, Ms. Okma Lee worked for General Motors as a marketing and financial analyst, and as a management consultant in the pharmaceutical industry. In 2004, she and her husband came to Maine where they established his veterinary hospital in Rockport. Since moving to Maine, Ms. Okma Lee has provided management consulting services to several Midcoast Maine businesses including Brace Management Group. Ms. Okma Lee received an MBA from the University of Maine where she had the highest cumulative GPA in her class. She graduated Magna Cum Laude, with honors, from Bowdoin College with an A.B. in Economics and Mathematics.

Speakers:

Susan Snowdon, SVP Business Banking, Bangor Savings Bank

Susan Snowden grew up in Mid-Coast Maine, and has been a Commercial Banker in Maine for over 23 years.  She is currently leading the Small Business Financial Services efforts for Bangor Savings Bank, where she is a Senior Vice President.  Susan is also on the Board of the Finance Authority of Maine, and serves as Treasurer; and on the audit committee of The Spurwink Institute. 

John Burns, Fund Manager, Small Business Enterprise Growth Fund

John Burns has served as Fund Manager of the Small Enterprise Growth Fund (SEGF), a State of Maine sponsored venture capital fund, since 2000.  John’s responsibilities include the full range of venture industry activities, from marketing to deal generation to investment analysis, due diligence, company monitoring and support, and the development of exit strategies.  He is also responsible for maintaining a strong relationship with the Small Enterprise Growth Board, the Governor’s office, and the Legislature. With the SEGF, he has played a role in bringing capital to 30 Maine companies to date, and has steered the SEGF through a number of returns of capital to the Fund. John holds an MBA, with high distinction, from Babson College, a MS degree in resource economics from Penn State University, and a BS from the University of Maine.  He served as Second Vice President and Portfolio Manager for UNUM Corporation, where he managed domestic and international portfolios.  He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and has held the Series 7 NASD license.

Mark Kaplan, Managing Director, CEI Ventures

Mark D. Kaplan has extensive financial and investment experience and joined the staff of CEI Ventures in 1999 after serving as founding Chair of its Board of Directors. Prior to joining CEI Ventures, he served as Managing Director of Forum Financial Group, a mutual fund company. Mark was Managing Director and Director of Research for HM Payson & Co, an investment advisory and trust services firm. He was a member of the investment department of Unum Life Insurance Company, now Unum. He earned his BA from the University of Michigan-Flint and MBA from Boston University Graduate School of Management. Mark currently serves on behalf of CEI Ventures as director or observer of Chemogen, Juno Rising, NextMark and Stillwater Scientific.

Michael Gurau, Managing General Partner, Clear Venture Partners

Michael Gurau is the Founder and Managing General Partner of Clear’s investment team. He brings more than fourteen years of successful venture capital experience to Clear Venture Partners coupled with four years of startup operating experience, in marketing and product management. Michael’s venture capital experience includes seven years with private equity firm Advent International (in Boston and London) and most recently, six years with CEI Community Ventures, a fully-invested $10M early-stage venture capital fund for which Michael continues to serve as President.

Chris Speh, Chair, Maine Angels

Chris Speh Chairs the Maine Angels private equity investment network, bringing more than 15 years of private equity investment experience to the position. Prior to relocating to Maine , Chris helped build two clinical research companies to successful exit in North Carolina , the more recent of which as co-founder and majority shareholder. His previous lives include helping to build a successful international consulting practice at Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte & Touche) in Washington. DC, service as a Foreign Service Officer, including experience building out the Department of State's computing capability in Embassies and Consulates overseas, and 6 years service in the US Army, including 4 years service overseas, exiting as a Captain. He also has taught undergraduate courses in Corporate Finance as adjunct faculty at North Carolina-based NC State University , Campbell University , and Wesleyan College. Chris currently serves on the Boards of several non-profit organizations in Maine.