BOARD OF ADVISORS

Kenneth "Hap" Klopp

For 20 years, Kenneth "Hap" Klopp was the president of The North Face, a firm that created the standard for innovation and quality in the outdoors, mountaineering, backpacking and skiing industries. During his tenure, The North Face grew from a back room, 14 person operation into an enterprise employing more than 1,000 people involved in manufacturing, licensing, retailing and distribution in 45 countries. Fourteen of the people who worked for and were mentored by Hap at The North Face are now running major companies in the Sporting Goods and Apparel Industries. In 1988 Hap sold The North Face and founded HK Consulting in the San Francisco area. He has an affiliated consulting office in Japan and its clients range from start-ups to multi-billion dollar corporations. Hap also serves on a number of Boards of Directors and is Chairman of an investment company: Canterbury Holdings. In addition to his consulting activities, Hap and two partners in 1999 took over the 100 year-old Canterbury of New Zealand company noted for being the world’s leading rugby apparel and equipment company. Canterbury is headquartered in Christchurch, New Zealand with divisions in Australia, UK, South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan and the U.S.A by product of that involvement resulted in the creation of a Hong Kong based apparel sourcing company to service Canterbury and other HK Consulting clients with operations in China, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Viet Nam. Hap is an author of two books on business philosophy and management and is a lecturer at the Business Schools of Stanford, the University of California and the University of Montana.

Sean Dee

Sean has played a key role in building and restoring the iconic image of major American cultural brands, including Coca-Cola Company, eBay, Radio Shack, Club Car, and Levi Strauss & Co. As V.P. Marketing at Levi Strauss & Co. from ’98 to ’02, he led the development of award-winning marketing campaigns that culminated in the first year to year sales increase for the company in six years. He was also the client-side visionary behind the SilverTab "Lost But Not Lost" and "Lost Change" integrated content short film series, the latter in collaboration with Sony and Motorola. As Global Marketing Director for Levi’s in the mid 1990s, Sean pioneered digital commerce and communications strategies for the company worldwide, and initiated long-term media alliances with a number of key entertainment companies such as MTV/Viacom and SFX/Clear Channel. Prior to Levi’s, Sean was V.P./Account Director at Foote, Cone & Belding (SF). Among his chief accomplishments then was the launch of one of the first integrated retail marketing and design divisions housed within a traditional ad agency, as well as the development of category-leading web sites for the Levi’s Red Tab and Dockers brands.

Sheldon "Shelly" Saltman

Sports Management and Promotion Pioneer Shelly, the former President of 20th Century Fox Sports, has had a storied 40-year career in the sports, media, entertainment, and telecommunications industries. Currently, he serves as a consultant to MAD-TV in Los Angeles, and is founder of, and advisor to, Scanz Communications, Inc., a manufacturer of a unique wireless handheld Internet appliance that captures and replays full-motion video for use in a variety of security and sports applications. Shelly was also involved in the founding of the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Jazz as well as other professional teams and leagues; was involved in the management of the careers of several prominent athletes including Wayne Gretzky and Thomas Hearns; and headed teams that promoted several blockbuster events including the three Ali-Frazier heavyweight title bouts, the Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs tennis match, and the Evel Knievel attempted jump of the Snake River Canyon. He also struck the first home video deal for distribution of a major studio’s motion pictures, and in doing so pioneered the home video business. Shelly sits on several boards, is a published author, and has been a guest lecturer on the topics of marketing and telecommunications at several colleges and universities.

Jon Ritt

Jon founded Pool in 1999 to help develop brand vision and give shape to companies, products, and environments. Today, Pool contributes to brands such as Duracell, Nike, SKYY vodka, Levi's, NO FEAR, 24 Hour Fitness, Jockey, and Patagonia. Previously after a stint as Senior Art Director at Gap Kids and Baby Gap, Jon became Creative Director at the San Francisco firm Man Bites Dog, where he contributed to building client brands such as Dockers, Adidas, Pete's Beer, and The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Ritt studied graphic design at Art Center College of Design, where he is now a faculty member, and did his undergraduate work in painting at the University of California Santa Barbara. Recently featured in Graphic Design USA's "People to Watch 2005", Jon is a 25 year recreational surfing veteran and can often be seen paddling around San Francisco's Alcatraz Island or found on a surfing adventure in Costa Rica or the Mentawais.

Martin Lauber

Martin started Swirl , a creative marketing company that blends the best minds, skill sets, strategies, and tactics into a marketing force unique in the advertising community, in 1997. Since that time, Martin has led Swirl through consecutive years of growth and profitability, all of which have been fueled through referrals. Martin’s eclectic career began in 1989 as an in-house copywriter for Disney, creating trailers and movie posters for such memorable hits as "Ernest Goes to Camp." In 1992 Martin joined Foote, Cone and Belding in San Francisco where he worked on such clients as Clorox, Taco Bell and Epson. Martin then returned to LA to help launch the Fox Sports Network as well as several sports-oriented entertainment properties and feature films. Unable to stay away from his native San Francisco for too long, Martin returned to FCB to work on the Levi Strauss & Company account, where he wrote the acclaimed "Dockers Mission" campaign and contributed to various Levi’s 501 and silverTab campaigns. In 1995 Martin was promoted to Creative Director of the newly formed Interactive Division of FCB, where he led creative development for the first branded websites for the Levi's¨ and Dockers¨ brands and developed a range of CD-ROM and kiosk applications for the retail environment. Martin’s Levi.com iterations led to national and international acclaim including the coveted Gold Pencil. He has a BA in American Studies from UCLA, and in his spare time you might find him participating in vintage auto races throughout California, as well as restoring classic European cars.

Vito Bialla

Vito is the CEO, Partner and Founder of Bialla & Associates, Inc., a retained executive search and management consulting company serving domestic and international sports media and entertainment clients. His expertise is in consulting to companies ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to established corporations, and his extensive contact base and long-standing business relationships give him access, credibility and network resources within the global business community. Vito is also an athlete and Chairman of ZootSports & Zoic Clothing Co. He has carried these brands into an impressive array of ultra-distance races, including multiple Ironmans, Ultramans, and marathons. He is also the first person ever to complete a double Ultraman (640-mile swim, bike and run), which he accomplished in a remarkable 63 hours, and he holds the Olympic Club 1000-lap indoor track run record. In July 2002, Vito finished the world's toughest foot competition, the Badwater 134.5 mile race through Death Valley, for which he received the prestigious Buckle Award. He is a member of the Olympic Club and the San Francisco Yacht Club, and is the proud father of three junior athletes.

VISHAL VASISHTH

Most recently, Vishal served as Vice President-Strategy for Revolution Living, a firm started by Steve Case (AOL) with a charter to invest in consumer-facing businesses in the health and wellness/clean-tech space. In this role, he evaluated new investments and assisted with the management of several portfolio companies, including Flexcar (alternative transportation) where he led the senior management team on an interim basis, Miraval (real estate/spa resort), Lime (digital media) and Gaiam (green living and fitness products). Previously, Vishal was Chief Strategy Officer for Patagonia, Inc, where he helped to shape the company’s overall direction while overseeing operations. He also directed the Capilene business, increasing division sales by $15 million annually, and helped launch a number of successful products generating in excess of $40 million for the company. He earned a B. Tech degree in India, a Master’s degree in Sciences from North Carolina State University, and an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

CARL THOMAS

As the CEO of Flashpoint Sports and Entertainment, LLC, Carl is leading a merger and acquisition strategy in the emerging sports and entertainment markets with the backing of J.H. Whitney Capital Partners.  Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Tickets.com, where he led sales and readied the company for its eventual acquisition by Major League Baseball. Previously, Carl was Executive Vice President and General Manager in North America for London-based Sportsworld Media Group PLC, and head of Worldwide Corporate Partnerships for Universal Studios. Carl also served as CMO for the AVP Men’s Pro Beach Volleyball Tour; created and promoted network televised special events (e.g, the NFL Quarterback Challenge for NBC, Summer Skate for ABC, and the Bud Light U.S. Triathlon Series for ESPN); and was Vice President, Marketing at Speedo International. He holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from UCLA.

MICHELLE CHERRICK

Michelle is Managing Director, Consumer Investment Banking at Thomas Weisel Partners in San Francisco, where she specializes in retail, restaurant, direct marketing and e-commerce franchises. She was formerly a Managing Director in the Consumer and Retail Investment Banking Group at Wachovia Securities. Previously, she was the Head of the Consumer Groups at both SG Cowen and Robertson, Stephens, as well as a key member of the Consumer Groups at Thomas Weisel Partners and Montgomery Securities. Michelle graduated from Georgetown University and received an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

PHIL SCHLEIN

Phil has more than forty years of experience in venture capital, retail and technology companies. As a partner in U.S. Venture Partners (USVP), he has advised young companies on strategy, recruiting and finance since 1985. Previous to joining USVP, Phil had a successful 28-year career as an operating executive with R.H. Macy -- he served as President and CEO of Macy's California from 1974 to 1985, during which time it became the dominant department store in California, and served on the R.H. Macy Board of Directors from 1977 to 1985. He also served on the Board of Directors of Apple Computer from 1979 to 1987. Phil is currently on the boards of the California College of Art, the San Francisco Botanical Gardens and the diRosa Preserve. He holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

MATTHEW LE MERLE

Matthew Le Merle is CEO of Gameplay Holdings, a Bay Area-based firm that builds electronic entertainment and commerce companies. He is also Co-President of Keiretsu Forum San Francisco, the world’s largest Angel Investor network. Matthew is an active investor in entertainment, consumer and technology companies; is Chairman of MindFuse; is a Director of Qube Learning; and was formerly Chairman of Telltale. Matthew was a management consultant and venture partner with McKinsey & Company, A.T. Kearney and Monitor Group, and at the Gap was SVP for Strategy and Business Development and SVP Global Marketing. He received his MBA from Stanford and his undergraduate degrees from Christ Church, Oxford. He is an active rower and sculler, with recent medals at the 2006 World and US national championships.