Honorary Award Winners
Sal Buccieri & Founders' Awards
The Sal Buccieri Venture Memorial Impact Award
The Sal Buccieri Memorial Venture Impact Award is awarded to
an individual in the venture capital and entrepreneurial community
who exemplifies the passion towards seeing early stage entrepreneurial
opportunities succeed and flourish. This individual is one who has
clearly impacted early stage technology and fast growth venture
opportunities by providing the essential capital, extensive counseling
and necessary vision to allow such companies to win in today’s competitive
environment. The recipient of this Award is one who strives to create
a better environment for all so that entrepreneurs achieve their
dreams and attain success.
The Sal Buccieri Memorial Venture Impact
Award is named in memory for Salvatore Buccieri. Sal passed away
in December 2000 after a hard-fought battle with cancer at the age
of 39. Sal was a partner at Arthur Andersen in the Growth Company
Practice that he joined in 1984 after graduating from Drexel University.
He worked extensively throughout his career assisting early stage
companies with financial and business issues. Sal was closely involved
with Early Stage East and is missed by all.
2005 Recipient – John Martinson
Mr. Martinson is founder and Managing Partner of the Edison Venture Fund. He founded the company in 1986, which has financed more companies in NJ, PA, MD, and VA than any other private equity firm. Edison has raised $420 million and is currently raising their sixth fund. As Managing Partner, Mr. Martinson shapes overall investment strategy and leads the organization. He mentors rising investment professionals and assists the general partners in growing their regional and industry practices. Also, Mr. Martinson actively leads Edison’s investments in information technology companies serving the pharmaceutical industry and education. He made multiple investments in application software serving the drug industry, customer relationship management, education, human resources, manufacturing and enterprise solutions. As a board member, he contributes expertise in strategy, marketing and business planning. Mr. Martinson is a director of 10 Edison investments including three in the Boston area.
Mr. Martinson has guided many venture industry networking organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region. He has served on the Board of Directors of 40 companies. He is past Chairman of both the National Venture Capital Association and the Greater Philadelphia Venture Group. He served as director for eight years at both organizations. He is co-founder and former Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Venture Fair and founded the New Jersey Venture Fair. He is a frequent speaker at an entrepreneurial events, technology conferences and financing seminars.
Mr. Martinson has his BS in Aeronautics from the U.S. Air Force Academy, his MS in Astronautics from Purdue University and his MBA from Southern Illinois University.
2004 Recipient – Frank A. Bonsal, Jr.
Frank Bonsal is a well-known and highly regarded venture capitalist
with significant experience in helping start-up companies become
successful. Mr. Bonsal is a co-founding partner of New Enterprise
Associates (NEA), one of the largest venture capital firms in the
United States. Since founding NEA in 1978, he has focused on the
development of its early stage companies.
2003 Recipient – Howard Ross
Howard Ross is a founder and currently a partner in LLR Equity
Partners, L.P., a $260 million private equity fund. From 1984 to
October 1999, he was a partner at Arthur Andersen LLP, in-charge
of that firm’s Growth Company Practice in the Greater Philadelphia
marketplace.
2002 Recipient – Stephen M. Goodman
Stephen M. Goodman is a partner in the Business and Finance Practice
of the Philadelphia office of Morgan, Lewis LLP and is co-chairman
of the firm's worldwide Technology Practice Initiatives. His legal
practice focuses on representing emerging growth companies. He coordinates
all aspects of the representation of such companies and concentrates
his practice on legal aspects of corporate finance and acquisitions.
2001 Recipient – Frederick J. Beste III
Fred Beste has never had a real job. His career began in 1968 with
Greater Washington Investors, Inc., a publicly-held venture capital
firm, where he was Vice President and Treasurer. He then joined
Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, a private venture, capital
development firm, where he was Vice-President and, ultimately, President
and Chief Executive Officer. He joined Mid-Atlantic Venture Fund
in 1984 as the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of
its first general partner.
The Early Stage East Founders’ Award
The Early Stage East Founders’ Award is awarded to an individual who has shown outstanding commitment, leadership and support of the venture capital community as a whole. This individual is committed to the growth of the overall venture capital community and has shown a belief in and commitment to this region in the development of venture capital and entrepreneurial activity.
2004 Recipient – R. Christopher Klemm, Ph.D.
R. Christopher Klemm, Ph.D. has helped plan and implement Early
Stage East since its inception. He was instrumental in developing
the model for the Conference as well as the Coaching Session. Christopher
has served as the leader of the Coaching Session for Early Stage
East and the Bio-Life-Tech Conferences for the last two years, as
the Coaching Co-Chair. Christopher is the Director of The Center
for Technology Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington,
in Seattle.
2003 Recipient – Senator Thomas Carper
Tom Carper became Delaware’s junior Senator in January, 2001, this
after serving two terms as the state’s Governor, five terms as it
Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives and six years as
State Treasurer. As Senator, he has become a member of the Senate
Democratic Leadership. As a member of the four person “Executive
Committee” Senator Carper has emerged as a leading moderate voice
in his party, advising the Leader and helping to devise, coordinate
and implement strategy for the Democratic caucus. Senator Carper
served in the Navy for five years as a Naval flight officer during
the Vietnam War. He retired from the Naval Reserve after 18 years
as a Captain. Senator Carper has been a part of Early Stage East,
in both his roles as Governor and Senator since it inception.
2002 Recipient – M. Scott Albert
M. Scott Albert has been involved with Early Stage East as the
conference’s North Carolina Ambassador since its inception in 1998.
Mr. Albert, with over ten year experience in the venture capital
industry, is currently responsible for most of the information technology
investments as General Partner of The Aurora Funds Inc. Mr. Albert
is the co-founder of The Aurora Funds, a leading venture capital
fund located in North Carolina investing in early stage life science
and information technology companies, primarily in the Southeastern
United States.
2001 Recipient – Warren V. “Pete” Musser
Warren V. “Pete” Musser is Founder and former Chairman of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (NYSE: SFE). Mr. Musser led Safeguard Scientifics since its inception in 1953 and has helped guide hundreds of companies towards success. He has both financially and with his time and energy supported community activities, education, and the arts. Mr. Musser serves on a variety of civic, educational and charitable boards of directors including Boy Scouts of America, The Eastern Technology Council, and as chairman of the Pennsylvania Partnership on Economic Education.
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