Authors
Kenneth H. Marks , CM&AA (Raleigh, NC) is the Principal and Managing Partner of High Rock Partners, Inc. and was most recently the President of JPS Communications, Inc., a fast growth technology subsidiary of the Raytheon Company. He has been involved as management, advisor or board member with over a dozen emerging growth and middle market companies ranging from a venture backed software startup to a middle-market insurance services provider.
Mr. Marks was a Director of a North Carolina based regional investment bank focused on raising capital for emerging growth companies. Prior to that position, he was the President of a small publicly traded company and President and CEO of an electronics manufacturer he founded and grew to $20 million in revenue.
He was a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO); the founding YPO Sponsor of the Young Entrepreneurs Organization (YEO) in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina Chapter; a member of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, a member of the Association for Corporate Growth, and a member of the board of directors of the North Carolina Technology Association.
Mr. Marks created and teaches a graduate level course at Boston College in connection with the Hult International Business School in Boston (formerly the Arthur D. Little School of Management) titled "Managing Emerging Growth Companies". In addition, he teaches a graduate level elective titled "Financing Early Stage & Middle-Market Companies" at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. He published the book "Strategic Planning for Emerging Growth Companies: A Guide for Management" in 1999.Mr. Marks obtained his MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill,; his undergraduate studies were in electrical engineering at North Carolina State University. He obtained his certification in mergers and acquisitions from the Alliance of M&A Advisors.
Larry E. Robbins (Raleigh, NC) is a founding partner of Wyrick Robbins Yates Ponton LLP, a premier law firm located in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina. Mr. Robbins is a frequent lecturer on the topics of venture capital and corporate finance. Mr. Robbins serves on the boards of directors of entrepreneurial support organizations, technology trade associations, charitable and arts organizations. Mr. Robbins received his BA, MBA, and JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was also a Morehead Scholar at UNC.
Gonzalo Fernández (Raleigh, NC) is a retired Vice President and Controller of ITT's telecom business in Raleigh, NC. Subsequently he spent 15 years working as a finance executive for emerging growth companies and as an accounting and business consultant to other companies. He is a Past President of the Raleigh Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants. He received his BA in Accounting from Havana University, Cuba. He wrote the book, "Estados Financieros" (Financial Statements,) UTEHA, México, Third Edition, 1977.
John P. Funkhouser (Raleigh, NC) has been a partner with two venture
capital funds, operated as chief executive officer of four companies in
a variety of industries from retail to high technology. In his venture
capital capacity, he was a corporate director of over twelve companies
and headed two venture backed companies. The most recent company he led
from a start up concept to a public company in the medical diagnostics
and devices business. John worked in commercial banking with Chemical
Bank of New York, in investment banking with Wheat First Securities, and
in venture capital with Hillcrest Group. John has an undergraduate degree
from Princeton University and a MBA from the University of Virginia, Darden
Graduate School of Business Administration.
