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Bradley Palmer (bpalmer@palmventures.com) is Managing Partner of Palm Ventures which he founded in 1992. Previously, Mr. Palmer was a Senior Associate with James D. Wolfensohn, Inc., a strategic advisory and investment banking firm with an extensive client base of multinational corporations. While at Wolfensohn, Mr. Palmer worked for James Wolfensohn, Paul Volcker and other firm partners on numerous acquisitions for major clients. Before Wolfensohn, Mr. Palmer was a Vice President in the Acquisition Finance division of Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company where he financed numerous management-led buyouts. Mr. Palmer began his career as an entrepreneur, starting a multi-location restaurant concept in the Midwest which he sold successfully. Mr. Palmer holds a B.A. from Indiana University and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Palmer serves on the boards of a number of private companies and as well as charitable organizations including Education Development Center (www.edc.org), Save the Children (www.savechildren.org), the Maritime Aquarium (www.maritimeaquarium.org) and Computers for Youth (www.cfy.org).
Russell Palmer (rpalmer@palmer-group.com) The Palmer Group, an investment company founded by Russell Palmer (Brad’s father), co-invests in most transactions with Palm Ventures. Prior to founding The Palmer Group, he was Managing Partner and CEO of Touche Ross & Co. for ten years and Dean of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania for seven years. Additionally, he serves or has served on the Board of Directors of Verizon, Honeywell, The May Department Stores Company, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Goodyear Tire, IMASCO, Bankers Trust Company, Alco Standard and Safeguard Scientifics, and the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, the National Constitution Center and as Chairman of the Board of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital System.
Doug Mellinger (dmellinger@palmventures.com) is a Managing Director at Palm Ventures and focuses on investments in the renewable energy, education and health care sectors. Mr. Mellinger is Chairman of Sequest Technologies and Palm Renewable Energy, two of Palm Ventures’ portfolio companies. Mr. Mellinger is also Vice-Chairman of Foundation Source, the nation’s leading provider of outsourced services for private foundations (a company which he founded). Today, Foundation Source has 900 private foundation clients. Previously, he was a Partner at Interactive Capital Partners where he founded six companies, including Foundation Source. Before, Interactive Capital Partners, he was CEO of Enherent (formerly PRT Group), a global software development and services company. He was named Entrepreneur of the Year for New England. Mr. Mellinger is a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in Entrepreneurial Science.
Mary McCormack (mmccormack@palmventures.com) is a Managing Director at Palm Ventures and focuses on investments in a broad range of industries, including underperforming businesses. Prior to joining Palm Ventures, she completed numerous acquisitions, partnerships and joint ventures as head of Corporate Development for 1-800-Flowers.com, McCann-Erickson, and The Hertz Corporation. Previously, she was President and CEO of Edison Control Corporation, where she changed the company’s strategic focus through acquisition; Managing Director at Beechtree Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm she co-founded; and, Vice President in the investment banking group of Advest, Inc. (now part of Merrill Lynch). She has served on the boards of Star Manufacturing and Edison Control Corporation. Ms. McCormack holds a B.A. from Wellesley College and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.
Jeremy Friedman (jfriedman@palmventures.com) is a Managing Director at Palm Ventures where he focuses on investments across various industries, with an emphasis on the health and wellness sector as well as underperforming businesses. Previously, Mr. Friedman worked for Red Clay Capital, where he executed the firm’s first acquisition, a transportation business. Before Red Clay, he worked for Maxim Partners, sourcing and evaluating investments in the health and wellness sector. Previously, Mr. Friedman was a Vice President at Bear Stearns where he advised on mergers and acquisitions for six years. After Bear Stearns, he worked at Integrated Finance Ltd for founders Roberto Mendoza and Robert Merton, the Noble Laureate. Mr. Friedman is fluent in Spanish and holds a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Jason Woody (jwoody@palmventures.com) is a Managing Director at Palm Ventures and focuses on investments in the education, business services and renewable energy sectors. Prior to joining Palm Ventures, Mr. Woody was an associate with Dubilier & Company, a private investment firm focused on the middle-market, and an analyst in the acquisition finance group at Chase Securities Inc. Mr. Woody holds a B.S. from Cornell University and an MBA, summa cum laude, from Babson College. Mr. Woody serves on the boards of several private companies.
Jim Jewitt (jjewitt@palmventures.com) is CEO of PRE Biodiesel, LLC, a subsidiary of Palm Renewable Energy, started to acquire, develop and manage biodiesel and biomass facilities in the U.S. Mr. Jewitt has over 25 years of experience in development and structuring of energy transactions and projects. Previously, he was a Managing Director and founder of El Paso Corporation’s EPPower Finance private equity arm, and before that, he was CEO of ESBI Energy Company where he turned around three companies and started a successful transmission management company. Mr. Jewitt has an MBA and Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Calgary.
Thomas Toepke (ttoepke@palmventures.com) is a Director at Palm Ventures, focused on real estate investments and related direct investments. Previously, Mr. Toepke worked for AIG Global Real Estate in the direct investment group, and most recently with Hines Interests in the Denver project office. While with Hines, Mr. Toepke was responsible for the development of a 330,000sf LEED Silver commercial office building. In addition, he worked with senior executives to execute direct investment opportunities throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Thomas holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Lehigh University and a Masters in Real Estate from Cornell University.
Gertrude Allen (gallen@palmventures.com) is an Advisor at Palm Ventures advising on consumer oriented start-up companies. Ms. Allen has more than 15 years of experience as a marketing strategist working with consumer companies manufacturing and marketing food and beverage products (with a focus on functionality) as well as nutraceutical and cosmeceutical goods. She played a formative role in growing Tasti D-Lite, the leading "good-for-you" frozen dessert in the U.S. market, from a local to a regional brand and positioning the company for national growth. She has held the positions of Senior Managing Director at Hill & Knowlton, Vice President Marketing & Development at GCI Europe (a division of Grey Group), Manager North America at Dentsu/H.F.&P and associate at Nike Communications. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a B.A. in Journalism.
Tania Wieck (twieck@palmventures.com) is a Director at Palm Ventures where she manages administration and finance. In addition, she assists in coordinating operations of Palm Ventures’ start-ups and some acquisitions. Prior to joining Palm Ventures Ms. Wieck worked at Market Data Services, Ltd, where she helped launch the industry’s first comprehensive training program and was Director of Communications for the World Affairs Councils of America, where she advised local councils on international affairs education programming. She has held several leadership positions in education-related non-profit organizations and has a B.A. in History from the University of Montana.
Karen Johnson Orphanos (kjohnson@palmventures.com) is a Director at Palm Ventures where she manages administration, finance and provides transaction support. Prior to joining Palm Ventures Ms. Johnson was Director of Operations for Reach Financial, LLC. She managed the financial operations for a specialty finance company that provided working capital to small businesses. She also coordinated all operations for a venture fund with fifty limited partners. Previously, she held several media-related positions in the advertising industry, including ad sales for Family Circle Magazine, and Vice President, Group Supervisor of Print Services at Young & Rubicam. She holds board positions with several community non-profit organizations. Ms. Johnson has a B. A. in English and Economics from Bucknell University.
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