The Investment Committee

The Investment Committee is comprised of Donald M. Spero, Mark A. Grovic, Robb Doub, Jack Biddle, Peter Black, Larry Parks, and Jonathan Silver. Professional information on Messrs Spero, Grovic and Doub is found under the Management Team page; details on Messrs Biddle, Black, Parks and Silver follows.

Jack Biddle is the Founder and a Managing Director of Novak Biddle Venture Partners (NBVP). NBVP has over $350 million under management. NBVP was established in 1997 to provide equity financing and assistance to the management of young, information technology companies. Prior to co-founding NBVP, Jack Biddle was CEO of Annapolis-based InterCAP Graphics Systems, a venture capital backed computer software company, from 1990 to 1995 when IGS was successfully acquired. InterCAP was number 18 on the "Fast 50" list of the Region's fastest growing companies. Prior to that, he was a principal at the software-focused merchant bank Vanguard Atlantic, Ltd., where he put together numerous venture deals. He also served as CEO or COO of several Vanguard portfolio companies. Earlier in his career he was an IT industry analyst and Executive Assistant to the CEO at the Gartner Group and was an Associate at Business Development Partners, an early stage venture capital partnership. Jack currently serves on the boards of Object Video, Giga Information Group, Paratek Inc. and Matrics, as well as that of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, and the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association. He is also in his third year as co-chair of MAVA's Capital Connection Selection Committee. Jack is an alumnus of U VA.

Peter M. Black is the President-Greater Washington Market of Allfirst Bank. Responsible for all commercial and retail activity for the bank in this market including commercial businesses generally up to $100 million in revenue. This includes the Technology Group that deals with early and later stage companies. He is also responsible for coordinating VC Fund investments like NMGF and Grotech. In addition to the technology and general commercial activities, Peter is responsible for the 46 retail outlets we have in the Washington Market. Peter’s background includes 26 years of commercial banking experience. He has been with Allfirst since 1997. Education includes a B.A. in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross, MBA from George Washington University. Peter’s other memberships include the Northern Virginia Tech Council and Maryland High Tech Council, including the CFO Committee of MHTC and the CFO Awards Committee of NVTC’s annual CFO awards dinner.

Lawrence H. Parks is Senior Vice President for External and Legislative Affairs at the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, where he was responsible for opening the first Washington office. He is the lending institution's chief negotiator with Congress, the White House, and industry trade groups. From 1993 to 1997 Mr. Parks served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Director of Strategic Growth and Finance at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Prior to that he served as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and as Director of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Washington, D.C. Mr. Parks is a graduate of Yale Law School and Temple University.

Jonathan Silver is the founder and a Managing Director of Core Capital. Prior to forming Core, Mr. Silver was President of Commonwealth Holdings, Inc., a diversified private investment company with interests in financial and professional services, communications and the health and fitness industries. Earlier, Mr. Silver was a Managing Director and the Chief Operating Officer of Tiger Management, one of the nation’s largest and most successful hedge funds. Mr. Silver was a member of Tiger’s Management Committee, the group responsible for the firm’s overall portfolio. Mr. Silver led firm investments in the media and communications industries, and, as COO, was responsible for the firm’s advanced technology and administrative functions. Prior to joining Tiger, Mr. Silver was Executive Vice President of John Blair Communications, the nation’s second largest television marketing and sales organization, and Chief Operating Officer of Tucker Communications, a publisher of weekly newspapers. Mr. Silver began his business career as an associate at McKinsey and Company, an international management consulting firm. Mr. Silver also served as senior policy advisor to both the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Separately, he served as a special advisor to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.