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Thank you for your interest in Onyx Associates.
Please contact one of our principals for additional information on our services or to discuss how we can help you with your strategic growth and exit objectives.
Onyx Principals
John Simpson
Managing Director
Mobile: (925) 708-6978
Fax: (888) 247-2194
johnsimpson@onyxassociates.com
Before co-founding Onyx in 2002, John's corporate career spanned 28 years in the technology arena, including C-level executive management roles in several software corporations such as BMC Software Inc. and Ingres Corporation (now part of CA Inc), Digital Equipment (DEC) and, in the UK, ICL. With BMC, John ran operating units located across the USA and Europe. While at Ingres, he drove the company's strategic alliances and OEM technology units. Prior to these assignments, John participated in many entrepreneurial startups in Silicon Valley during the 1980's including his founding of Analytica Corporation, one of the industry's first software firms to be venture-funded.
John's M&A experience has included driving dozens of corporate sales and acquisitions, strategic alliances; divestitures of corporate assets; structuring creative management buyouts; raising equity financing, and re-structuring operating entities as spin-offs. Also included are acquisitions of competitive companies, sale, purchase and licensing of many technologies in Enterprise software segments, and integrations of disparate worldwide operating units into the new corporate body. Recent M&A transactions have included software, IT services, construction, distribution, business services, and manufacturing organizations.
John has been a presenter and panelist at many technology and business conferences in the USA and Europe, including Uniforum, Comdex and Executive Forum conventions. He is a past member of Microsoft's Advisory Board for Application Development. He has written numerous articles for business publications on the subjects of exit planning and M&A.
A native of England, he has long lived in the San Francisco area.
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Francine Miltenberger
Managing Director
Office: (650) 209-5775
Mobile: (412) 779-7537
Fax: (650) 941-1507
fmiltenberger@onyxassociates.com
Francine Miltenberger brings more than twenty years of executive leadership with technology intensive businesses in the financial industry. Her C-level experience cuts across start-ups, mid-sized companies and large corporations . She has expertise in managing software as a service (SaaS) businesses and has worked extensively with small and mid-sized business owners.
Formerly, she was President & COO of Kaspick & Company, a privately held asset management firm, where she revitalized operations and managed a sale to TIAA-CREF three years earlier than planned. Previously at PNC bank she was CEO & Division Executive of Treasury Management Services where she created joint ventures and operating partnerships to develop innovative payment technologies. At Chase Manhattan Bank, she held positions in its Cash Management division, Merger Office and Private Bank. In the start-up arena, she was a partner in a software start-up in the medical insurance industry which was successfully sold to a private equity group.
Francine is a seasoned deal maker who has negotiated joint ventures, operating partnerships, acquisition and divestures. Since 1986, she has been involved in 15 M&A transactions with processing businesses, software businesses, asset management companies and regional banking franchises. She has specialized expertise in structuring due diligence and post sale integration efforts.
In addition to her professional experience, Francine has a long history of community involvement, where she has used her deal making experience to help organizations with their fundraising and development challenges. Her board experience includes regional health care systems, small businesses and non-profit organizations supporting at-risk youths and their families.
Ms. Miltenberger has an MBA from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in Economics and Psychology from Wellesley College.
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Onyx Senior Advisors
Arun Tolani
Senior Advisor
Phone: (650) 863-5025
Fax: (650) 234-9598
aruntolani@onyxassociates.com
Mr. Tolani, a pioneer in the IT industry in India, has over thirty years of management experience in publicly held and venture capital backed global IT and BPO industries. His experience includes the creation of IT system and software and services solutions in the banking, insurance, telecommunications and healthcare Industries. Over the last 16 years in the USA he has established and grown two start-up businesses.
Arun's executive experience includes pivotal roles in two corporate turnarounds, three acquisitions and two mergers. He is also a charter member of TIE, a global entrepreneur network in Silicon Valley, as well as a strategic advisor and mentor for several young companies in the areas of sustainable technologies, personal health management and SAAS based business solutions.
In 2000, Mr. Tolani started iCelerate Inc., a venture-backed company focused on providing technology based business solutions to Fortune 1000 firms. In 2005 the company was successfully merged with e4e, a silicon valley based business services outsourcing company.
From 1991 to 1999, Arun was the founder and CEO of ICIM International Inc., a Fujitsu joint venture and now publicly traded as Zensar Technologies. During this period he grew the business globally to provide offshore services to customers such as Cisco Systems, Sprint, British Gas, Fujitsu and Bank of America in a global engagement and delivery model.
Prior to 1991, Mr. Tolani was based in India and was responsible for product operations at ICIM, an ICL, UK joint venture, where he led the complete reorganization of the company's product line. The creation of strategic partnerships and alliances to strengthen ICIM's position in the financial services and manufacturing markets resulted in the company being the leading provider of solutions in these sectors.
Mr. Tolani started his career with DCM in the mid 70's. During his tenure, DCM established itself as a leader in the industry with the largest customer base and focus in the financial services, manufacturing and consumer business sectors.
Mr. Tolani graduated with a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (1974) and was sponsored for executive education at the Harvard Business School, London Business School and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad.
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Chris Meneze
Senior Advisor
Phone: (650) 200-8483
chris@onyxassociates.com
Chris brings over 25 years of experience in outsourcing business, manufacturing, and technology across the US, Europe, ANZ, Asia Pacific, China and Japan. He advises Fortune 100 and mid size companies on global footprint business operations and innovative partnership models for 'in-sourcing', 'outsourcing' and 'collaborative co-sourcing'. Deriving maximum business value, ensuring clear understanding of risks and challenges, and creating roadmaps and blueprints for success are hallmarks of his practice. He has held senior roles at public and venture backed organizations and is a private investor in a number of technology startups. He spent several years with KPMG as a Partner and Managing Director, and was Regional Director for Asia Pacific responsible for Supply Chain Management, and Business Process Re-engineering. He was a principal founding member of the Supply Chain Management Practice within KPMG and was a contributor to the Supply Chain Methodology. His executive roles include President and CEO of Motif where he steered a successful turnaround and global expansion gaining international recognition for his 'you customer' and 'cost to revenue' models. Previously, he was Chairman, CEO and Chief Architect of NSight and held several Vice President roles at Infosys (Nasdaq INFY), including Western Region Head where he was responsible for 30% of Infosys' revenues. Chris has studied science, purchasing, logistics and finance and was a logistics coordinator for the Somalia Air Lift. He has a Master of Business from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Australia and has Post Graduate qualifications in Purchasing and Materials Management. For two years, he was a judge for the distinguished Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Achievement Award in Malaysia. He has been widely published in journals and periodicals such as: Forbes, Oracle World, CIO Chat and The Economist Asia Business Forum. He has also been a keynote speaker at global events and is past Chair Person of the TiE Silicon Valley Services Industry Group.
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Gwen Edwards
Senior Advisor
Phone: (415) 370-9954
gwence@pacbell.net
Gwen C. Edwards brings over 25 years of experience building products, services, and profitable business units in high technology and telecommunications. From Stanford Research Institute to Fortune 50 executive (SBC, Nortel Networks, Bell Canada, to Venture Capital backed technology start up CEO and advisor, she unites the knowledge of successful brands, experience with scale, and the skills of managing innovation.
Prior to joining Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial ranks in 2000, Gwen was President of Pacific Bell Network Integration and Business Internet Services, a $400M high growth business unit of SBC Communications (now AT&T), which she grew from a $50 Million business to $400M in less than 24 months, delivering enterprise wide customer networks, with a focus on Internet and electronic commerce based solutions. She also established and grew to a $200M dollar business, a vertical market group for Pacific Bell focused on the health care and biotech markets, building on the success of new programs she previously launched for Pacific Bell's National Accounts organization.
Gwen's early career affinity for innovation at SRI, caused her to quickly pursue a complementary background in business, recognizing her passion for commercializing innovation and going beyond applied research. She joined Bell Canada, in Montreal, for international experience, and soon was responsible for the development and launch of a major content infrastructure project nationally and internationally (iNet). She returned to the United States with Nortel Networks, and soon became Vice President of Sales for their largest unit. She has led business development and sales efforts for major firms and has experience that includes marketing, sales, general management, and entrepreneurial leadership, basic research and product development.
She holds an MBA from Pepperdine University's Presidential and Key Executive Program, an MA degree in Communications from California State University, and a BA from the University of California.
A consultant, advisor and active public speaker, Gwen currently serves as an advisor to Astia, a business accelerator for women led high growth companies, holds interim executive advisory roles with several technology companies, and is the Corporate Secretary of the Board of Directors for the National Health Foundation.
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David Fried
Senior Advisor
Phone: (408) 464-4036
dfried1205@yahoo.com
David Fried brings over 20 years of senior management experience from large cap technology companies to startups and family owned enterprises focused on hardware, semiconductor capital equipment, software, and equipment parts and services. Mr. Fried has led global organizations focusing on operational performance improvements, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction, and has an experienced track record acquiring companies as well as negotiating and implementation complex joint ventures.
Mr. Fried is currently CEO of privately held Acteron Corporation, an advanced cleaning, anodizing, and electroplating company serving the semiconductor, flat panel display, thin film solar, medical devices, and optoelectronic equipment market segments.
Prior to Acteron, he was CEO of Luminescent Technologies where he raised $23M in venture financing for a lithography enhancement software company then built a team from 8 engineers into a 40 person organization focused on developing a R & D prototype to a first release product.
Positions have included over 15 years experience at Applied Materials where his most recent position was GM, Corporate Vice President, Fabwide Services. In this positions, Mr. Fried developed a strategy and received Board of Directors approval to build this business to a +$1B segment via acquisitions, partnerships, internal development, and technology licensing. Under Mr. Fried's leadership, Applied Materials acquired Metron Technology, a $250M NASDAQ company.
Mr. Fried has also held a number of other divisional and financial management positions at Applied Materials and Unisys Corporation.
He received an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BA in Chemistry from Pomona College in Claremont, California.
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Chuck Wallace
Senior Advisor
Phone: (415) 699-0045
wallace.chuck@gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckwallace
Chuck Wallace is an operating executive and an advisor and consultant to companies in the Internet services and software industries. Most recently, Chuck served as the CEO of Ustream.TV, a digital media company. Ustream is the leader in live interactive video broadcast, enabling anyone with a camera and Internet connection to broadcast easily to a global audience. As Ustream's CEO, Chuck led the company through 30% monthly growth and angel, venture debt and private equity financings by top funding partners. Prior to Ustream, Chuck was a co-founder and senior executive for eight years at Esurance. Chuck built Esurance into the fastest growing auto insurance company in the US with revenues approaching $1 billion.
Chuck's started his career as an Air Force instructor pilot. His education includes a BS in Engineering Mechanics from the US Air Force Academy, an MBA from the Wharton School, and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.
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Kevin Gorey
Senior Advisor
Phone: (650) 245-2352
kevin@goreys.com
Kevin Gorey is a seasoned operations and business development executive with extensive experience in organizational restructuring, new market development and general management. Mr. Gorey most recently held the position of Vice President of Corporate Development at Immersion Inc. where he sold two company groups and assisted the company's focus on haptics in mobile devices. Prior to that, Mr. Gorey held senior positions at ATI where he was the business development lead on the Xbox-360 graphics deal, assisted in the integration of a $460 million Macrovision subsidiary and was Managing Director of UniSoft, GmbH, a value added software firm based in Munich, Germany.
Mr. Gorey holds degrees in Physics from the University of Illinois, Juris Doctor from Boalt Hall and an MBA from the University California at Berkeley.
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Core Capital Principals
Core Capital Group and Onyx Associates, two leading US investment banking firms with world-wide reach, have formed a strategic alliance to deliver the OnCore Solutions. Core Capital Group based in Colorado Springs, CO, is a 19-year old investment banking firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions for middle market technology companies. They are a partner in the International Network of M&A Partners (IMAP), whose members collectively completed over $13 billion in deals in 2008. www.corecapital.net. The Core Capital team members include:
John Graaff
Founder/Senior Partner
John L. Graaff, Senior Partner, has over 25 years of experience in the entrepreneurial startup, growth, and divestiture of technology companies. Additionally, as founder of Core Capital Group, he has over 19 years of experience working in investment banking and consulting to clients. He has participated in numerous merger and acquisition and corporate finance transactions of technology companies representing both buyers and sellers.
His entrepreneurial experience comes from being a founder, President and CEO of several successful technology companies. As a past business owner, he has direct hands-on experience in running businesses and participating in several ownership transfers including two IPO's and numerous acquisitions and divestitures in his own corporations. John's current technology specialty practice is international in scope providing financial and M&A representation for business-to-business buyers and sellers.
John is a designated member of the International Network of M&A Partners (IMAP), a global partnership of 60 leading merger & acquisition advisory firms located in over 40 countries worldwide.
John has a BSEE degree from the University of Minnesota and has completed graduate work in Business Finance at the University of Colorado.
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Terry Piddington
Senior Partner
Terry J. Piddington, Senior Partner, brings over 26 years of executive level operating, marketing and sales, and strategic development experience in both the public and private sectors of the technology marketplace. Terry brings extensive experience within the investment banking community both nationally and internationally.
Most recently, he was Executive Vice President and Director of Strategic Development for Computer Technology Associates, Inc. (CTA). While with CTA, he was instrumental in guiding the company's growth from $15 million to over $250 million in annual sales. During his tenure, he led the company's efforts to successfully acquire five technology companies and complete the divestiture of several others in transactions ranging from $3 million to $40 million.
While Senior Partner at Core Capital Group, Terry has led many successful M&A transactions with a principal focus in the government contracting market sector.
Terry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Colorado State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh where he was selected for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, the national honor society for collegiate business schools.
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