Meeting

Rotary Wheel

Report

March 13, 2001
By DAVID R. TATE

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     The dot.corn revolution is over, but the internet revolution is just beginning! These were the words of guest speaker Stacy E. Anderson, founder and managing principal of Piedmont Venture Partners. Piedmont Venture Partners, a Charlotte-based venture capital firm with over $45 million in assets under management, invests in the turbulent high-tech market. Currently, Piedmont's portfolio includes 23 companies, two of which have gone public.

     Stacy's storied background began with a successful Wall Street career in New York prior to moving to Charlotte. She started her career at Dean Witter as a research analyst, covering electric, gas, and telephone utilities. Smith Barney recruited her, where she was named a full vice president at age 25. Then by age 28, she was running two departments over­seeing more than $2 billion of client assets and representing one third of the firm's retail commission business.

     She graduated from Duke University in 1980, where she completed a double major in History and Economics. She was an All-American swimmer and was one of the first women to attend Duke on an athletic scholarship. While at Duke, she was a candidate for the Rhodes, Marshall, and Fulbright Scholarships.

     Two years ago Stacy's partner Bill Neal spoke to our club about the new internet economy. Since then, much has changed. Recently, Stacy attended a private equity meeting in New York, in which the character and demeanor of that meeting best evidences the fundamental difference in internet investing today. One year ago the audience typified revolution: youthful, denim-clad, and exuberant. This year conservative suits and ties, experienced executives, and measured body language exemplified the mood.

     The typical start-up company that seeks funding ordinarily pursues a path beginning with seed money, followed by venture funding, and ending with an underwritten offering. Unfortunately, many dot.com's have learned a harsh lesson only experience can teach. Wall Street and Main Street expect value and are impatient when it is not delivered. Also, nothing can stand in the way of a negative business cycle.

     One last point of significance in Stacy's speech centered on the future of the internet in helping old economy businesses. The tools for measurement for the internet's impact are being created, yet they do not exist currently. This bear market in the tech sector would not be as extreme if a form of evaluation was established. These circumstances place techs in a vulnerable position, and thus any correction can become exaggerated. In a single day, Monday, $554 billion in value was erased, and along with that downfall go the hopes and dreams of battered investors.

     The head table responsibility was the work of Dave Guilford. Those seated beginning on your left and on Don Steger's right were Mike Crum, Martin Welton, and Ed Kale. On your right and Don's left were George MacBain, Leroy Mayne, Mary Rinehart, and our speaker Stacy Anderson.

     Jamie Armstrong introduced guests and visiting Rotarians. Jim Kelley gave a humorous health and happiness story about technological incompetence. Don Sanders led and sang a wonderful song, and Ed Kale gave the invocation. Glenn Clinefelter brought to our attention the international golfing fellowship of Rotary fundraisers to be held Monday, May 7, 2001.

     President Don again achieved another milestone. Don Steger became the first active president to lead the Pledge of Allegiance in the absence of a flag. President Don was quick to notice that Dick Klingman's bow tie bore our patriot colors, and served as a replacement for the stars and stripes.

     As a last order of business Ed Kizer was nominated to serve on our board by Jim Woodward and Worth Williamson, and received a unanimous endorsement from all Rotary members in attendance.

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New Member

JEFFREY T. WISE

JEFFREY T. WISE
2001
Application Service Provider
ConsentSys
1347 Harding Place (28204)
704-347-0100 x 102
FAX 704-347-0508
email: jwise@consentsys.com

     Jeff Wise was born and raised in Charlotte, N.C. Jeff graduated from the University of Richmond in 1986 and graduated from Emory University School of Law in 1989. After law school, Jeff entered private practice with Sullivan, Hall, Booth and Smith in Atlanta, Georgia, where he concentrated in healthcare law. Jeff returned to Charlotte in 1995 and worked with First Commerce Bank during their formation period.
     In 1997 Jeff co-founded and became president of Consentsys, a healthcare information systems company. Consentsys provides solutions to improve the management and delivery of information between physicians, patients and pharmaceutical and medical products companies. Specifically, Consentsys supplies the software and infrastructure to enable medical practices to utilize the internet to collect and manage their clinical data.
     Jeff is a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and volunteers with Friendship Trays and Junior Achievement. Outside of work, Jeff looks for any opportunity to get into the outdoors. He is an avid kayaker, backpacker, runner and anything else that involves the outdoors.
     Jeff and his wife Ashley live in the Cotswold neighborhood with their two-month-old daughter Caroline and their two labrador retrievers Luke and Caleb. Ashley is a University of South Carolina graduate and formerly worked with the Charlotte Hornets and in NASCAR before entering pharmaceutical sales with Wyeth Ayerst.
     Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Jeff.

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POWELL'S
OBSERVATIONS

POWELL MAJORS

POWELL  MAJORS

     Rex Welton, president of Welton Sports Tours, was featured in an article on small business in the "Business Journal."
     Bob Freedman is retiring after 32 years with BellSouth — the last 17 years in Charlotte.
     Jim Woodward's new technology campus will be called Charlotte Institute. Originally it was Charlotte Institute for Technology — but that name was too long and when abbreviated C.I.T.I. sounded like Citibank.
     Jim Alexander and Allen Caldwell were pictured in the Observer discussing a slave named Solomon. Solomon was owned by Jim's great grandfather and was the great great great grandfather of Allen Caldwell.
     Bill Wood in a letter to the editor of the "Observer" expresses confidence in the new leadership of the city.
     Mike Crum thinks that Ovens Auditorium is in good shape and should last 46 more years.
     Tony Marciano would like to see Billy Graham's homesite brought back to Charlotte from the PTL in Fort Mill. Graham's family helped start the Charlotte Rescue Mission now headed by Marciano.
     Rock Miralia was selected as Republican of the year 2000 by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

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Revised: January 24, 2008.