ANN ARBOR ? Mary Campbell, founder and general partner of EDF Ventures, was appointed president of the Michigan Venture Capital Association, while Tom Kinnear, executive director of the Zell Lurie Institute at The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, was named vice president at the private equity finance group’s annual meeting.
EDF Ventures is a leading venture capital firm investing in early-stage healthcare and information technologies.
“I can say with a perspective of twenty years of investing in Michigan, that the venture industry here today is truly hitting its stride,? Campbell said. ?These are exciting times, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to play a leadership role in the MVCA.”
Other new officers are Jan Garfinkle of Arboretum Ventures as vice president and past president; and Mike Bernard of Dykema Gossett as secretary.
Four members of the board of directors were re-elected for a three-year term: Campbell, Garfinkle, Mina Sooch, general partner of Apjohn Ventures and Michael Finney of Ann Arbor SPARK. Committee Chairs for 2007 also were announced: Sooch as talent chair; Ron Reed of Endurance Ventures as legislation chair; Kinnear as membership chair; and John McIlwraith of Blue Chip Venture Company as research chair.
On behalf of the MVCA, Sooch presented an award for “Deal of the Year” to TGap Ventures for their sale of Minute Clinic and to Beringea Capital for their sale of Merger Markets. Minute Clinic was sold in 2006 to CVS Pharmacy for $170 million. Merger Markets was sold to London-based Pearson plc also in 2006 for about $200 million.
Raj Kothari, general partner of Seneca Ventures, represented the MVCA in presenting “Above and Beyond” awards to Kinnear; Charlie Rothstein of Beringea; Dennis Bernard, president of Bernard Financial Group; and David Parsigian of Miller Canfield. These individuals were instrumental in the creation of the Venture Michigan Fund.
For more information, click on MichiganVCA.Org
