Michael Booth is a Partner at Calvert Street Capital Partners, a Baltimore-based lower middle market private equity and mezzanine investor, where he assists in managing their three private equity funds. Previously, he spent two years with Ernst & Young in the Mergers and Acquisitions Due Diligence Group, primarily serving private equity clients that targeted lower middle market companies. Michael also worked for three and one-half years in Ernst & Young’s Auditing and Accounting Group. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Towson University.
Mo Frechette founded Zingerman’s Mail Order in 1994, a $10 million specialty-food catalog and website in Ann Arbor, MI. It offers nationwide direct shipping of artisan cheeses, estate olive oils, and other traditional foods, including bread, pastries, cheese and coffee made in Ann Arbor by other members of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. Zingerman’s Mail Order employs 50 full time and 400 seasonal employees. Mo is responsible for strategy, food development and marketing. He has extensive experience in Toyota’s Lean Manufacturing principles, which he used to lead the transformation of his business’ operations.
Bonnie Henry is the President and founder of DKH Enterprises. She works with early stage companies and their management teams to clarify strategy, accelerate growth, and position for exit. Bonnie has 28 years of entrepreneurial and leadership experience across multiple industries, thirteen of which with P&L responsibility. She founded in 1995 Hellas International, a Greek specialty food company, which she sold in 2004. She has worked with both large and early stage companies including: Frito-Lay, Pillsbury, Estée Lauder, Ross Stores, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital. Bonnie earned an MBA at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and holds a BS degree in Business and Communications from SUNY, Plattsburgh.
Aden King is a principal at King Partners and served for over 14 years as the internal operating partner at Phillips Foods, one of the leading American seafood manufacturers and restaurateurs. He was the executive in charge to successfully lead, start, or restructure various company and family divisions – starting and overseeing Phillips’ operations in Latin America; creating and operating a successful franchised restaurant concept; and turning around a restructured club and retail sales division. He serves as a Director for MARBIDCO as well as an advisory board member of Capital Bank and holds a BS from Penn State University.
Tom Ponder is the Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Acosta Sales and Marketing. Acosta provides a range of outsourced sales, marketing, and retail merchandising services to effectively move products off shelves and into shoppers’ baskets, ensuring clients are achieving their true sales potential. Previously, he worked at Coca Cola as Market Unit Vice President, Director of Cold Drink Operations, and Corporate Manager of Strategic Initiatives. He has twenty years of notable accomplishments leading operations and sales teams in multiple industries and is experienced in launching multiple startup operations in large and small corporate environments. Tom has an MBA from Stanford University and a BA from Millsaps College.