CEO and CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE
We are the Chairman and the President & CEO respectively of the Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance – a.k.a. MAC Alliance. Our goal is to be a key player in the growth of the entrepreneurial business community in the region. We need your help, both in terms of financial support and in terms of energy, to make this a reality.
Our region has all the building blocks: a diverse and strong economy, outstanding educational institutions, a talented and well-trained work force, a desirable geographic location within reach of much of the U.S. population, and skilled investors and service providers who are adept at supporting growing companies.
There are a variety of ways that we, at MAC Alliance, pursue our broad goal for the region. Our headline event for many years has been the Mid-Atlantic Capital (MAC) Conference; this year’s was held on October 23 and 24 at the Philadelphia Marriott. It was once again a tremendous success with broad participation from entrepreneurs, service providers, academics, and investors supporting each phase of the entrepreneurial company’s life-cycle. Watch here on our website for details about the next Conference, still in the planning phases.
This year, we will see a blend of familiar and new kinds of events. Besides the Conference, we’ll have educational events (the MAC Institute series), entrepreneur gatherings, networking, investor-only events, and the MAC Alliance Awards luncheon to cap the year. We’ve added the PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree Series of breakfasts, which will discuss the latest data and trends for investment in the mid-Atlantic. We aim to provide further grounding with research to demonstrate the good things going on in the region.
In addition to our own programming throughout the year, we are teaming with other organizations in the market to help support and coordinate activities which help strengthen the region. Our website is becoming a gateway to the entrepreneurial marketplace, and here you can find resources on growing businesses, access other members, and the regional community calendar.
We are working actively at the policy level, too, through our work with others around the state and the region. Our Board recognizes the important voice we have supporting the entrepreneurial and investor community in the region. We seek to educate policymakers about the key contributions that a vital entrepreneurial climate can make to the region's economy. We are your voice with the legislators to ensure decisions handed down have a positive impact on the climate for growing companies in the state and region.
Our name and tagline—“MAC Alliance, the Catalyst for Companies and Capital”—signifies a broader view of the community, all stages of capital, and its collaborative nature. We understand that capital formation is a process – so we need to cultivate new capital sources, reinforce existing ones, and support and encourage entrepreneurs in a variety of ways. As we said at the outset, we need your help, your energy, and your ideas about how best to foster an even stronger community here.
On behalf of the MAC Alliance Board, staff, and membership, we thank you for your interest in and commitment to building the growth of the region!
Sincerely,
Mike Forgash Tom Balderston
2007-2008 Chairman, MAC Alliance President & CEO
General Partner, Zon Capital Partners MAC Alliance
MAC Alliance is a tireless supporter of the Greater Philadelphia private equity community and has contributed significantly to its development and growth. MAC Alliance's many services and events throughout the year are critical to the success of our fund, and we have created many strong relationships and sourced numerous deals as a result of MAC Alliance activities. Osage Ventures is a proud member of MAC Alliance and thankful for the role it plays here in the Greater Philadelphia region.
