Five Hamilton alumni have been chosen for awards recognizing "exceptional accomplishments and leadership" by Hamilton Ventures, Inc., a nonprofit corporation organized to bring together individuals with an interest in private investment and entrepreneurship. The alumni will be honored at the Venture Symposium and Conference to be held at the United Nations on Feb. 7, 2009. Award criteria includes vision, leadership, achievement and maintaining the College ideals of honor and integrity.
Blake Darcy is known as one of the pioneers of online commerce. In 1988 he launched one of the first and most successful online brokerage firms, DLJdirect. Under his leadership, it became one of the most profitable consumer online businesses and a leader in innovation and quality of service. Darcy took DLJdirect public on the NYSE in 1999 as the second largest Internet IPO, and he led the launch of the firm internationally through partnerships with the Sumitomo Group in Japan, Hutchison Whampoa in Hong Kong and a stand-alone operation in London. DLJdirect was purchased by CSFB in 2000 and ultimately by E*Trade in 2006.
Most recently, Darcy founded an innovative Internet-based money management firm that is backed by one of the top value investors in the world. This new firm will launch its services in early 2009. He has served on boards and acted as advisor to many firms, has been a contributing author to two books and has appeared as a guest on financial news programs. Darcy served as a Hamilton trustee from 2004 to 2008.
Jack R. Selby is managing director of Clarium Capital, an investment management venture formed in 2003. As of May 31, Clarium had an estimated $6 billion under management and generated returns in the top 2 percent of investment managers. Jack is a member of Clarium's founding management team, which was led by Peter Theil, co-founder and former CEO of PayPal, who holds a significant ownership position in both Facebook and LinkedIn. Selby previously was one of the top five executive officers of PayPal, which he joined in its startup stage in 1999, and where served as senior vice president of corporate and international development. Prior to PayPal, Selby raised capital for alternative investments at Sasco Hill Securities and worked in a variety of roles at Gesellschaft für Trendanalysen, a financial consulting firm.
Skip Conover is chairman of Bhavana Developers Pvt. Ltd.,
a real estate development company that operates in India and Saudi Arabia. He is a founder and former vice chairman of CBay Systems, a medical record services company that operates in India and went public in 2007. In addition, Conover was a founder and director of Tiger Communications International Ltd., a telecom company that operates in India and Pakistan. He received a law degree from SUNY Buffalo in 1974 and an MBA in 1979 from The William E. SimonGraduate School of Business Administrations at the University of Rochester.
Gretchen Morrison Grad is the founder and board member of Hands of Peace, an interfaith non-profit that brings together Israeli, Palestinian and American teens for dialogue and leadership training. Founded in the wake of 9/11, Hands of Peace operates in the Middle East and Chicago. Grad has served as executive director and board chair. From 1985 to 1997, she worked for First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc. as an economist, securities trader and fixed income expert; her last position was managing director. Grad holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Jennifer Morris is the founder of LocalWatt and an experienced entrepreneur and organization leader. Her career has touched on systems design and manufacturing, electronic control systems, software development, digital media production, Web design and communications management. She founded Image Engineering Corporation in 1979 with three partners. The firm operated in an FDA-regulated industry, producing laser devices for visual displays and entertainment. As president and creative director, she participated in high-profile projects such as the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, 1986 Liberty Weekend and the 1988 Olympic Eve Festival in Korea. Her work was featured at IBM's most prestigious sales events and diverse theatrical venues.
Morris received the 1992 Career Achievement Award from the International Laser Display Association. She holds an MBA from the Simmons College Graduate School of Management in Boston, where she pursued research in clean technology and corporate responsibility.
The Hamilton Ventures Symposium will be held on Feb. 7, 2009, at the United Nations in New York. See www.venturesymposium.com. The symposium brings alumni with an interest in new enterprises together and awards alumni who have made significant accomplishments in leadership. The event includes a venture conference with other AVAs that is sponsored by Ivy Ventures, Inc.
212-769-2198
2008 ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR – BLAKE DARCY '78
Blake Darcy is known as one of the pioneers of online commerce. In 1988 he launched one of the first and most successful online brokerage firms, DLJdirect. Under his leadership, it became one of the most profitable consumer online businesses and a leader in innovation and quality of service. Darcy took DLJdirect public on the NYSE in 1999 as the second largest Internet IPO, and he led the launch of the firm internationally through partnerships with the Sumitomo Group in Japan, Hutchison Whampoa in Hong Kong and a stand-alone operation in London. DLJdirect was purchased by CSFB in 2000 and ultimately by E*Trade in 2006.
Most recently, Darcy founded an innovative Internet-based money management firm that is backed by one of the top value investors in the world. This new firm will launch its services in early 2009. He has served on boards and acted as advisor to many firms, has been a contributing author to two books and has appeared as a guest on financial news programs. Darcy served as a Hamilton trustee from 2004 to 2008.
2008 EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR – JACK SELBY '96
Jack R. Selby is managing director of Clarium Capital, an investment management venture formed in 2003. As of May 31, Clarium had an estimated $6 billion under management and generated returns in the top 2 percent of investment managers. Jack is a member of Clarium's founding management team, which was led by Peter Theil, co-founder and former CEO of PayPal, who holds a significant ownership position in both Facebook and LinkedIn. Selby previously was one of the top five executive officers of PayPal, which he joined in its startup stage in 1999, and where served as senior vice president of corporate and international development. Prior to PayPal, Selby raised capital for alternative investments at Sasco Hill Securities and worked in a variety of roles at Gesellschaft für Trendanalysen, a financial consulting firm.
2008 INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR – DONALD "SKIP" CONOVER '68
Skip Conover is chairman of Bhavana Developers Pvt. Ltd., a real estate development company that operates in India and Saudi Arabia. He is a founder and former vice chairman of CBay Systems, a medical record services company that operates in India and went public in 2007. In addition, Conover was a founder and director of Tiger Communications International Ltd., a telecom company that operates in India and Pakistan. He received a law degree from SUNY Buffalo in 1974 and an MBA in 1979 from The William E. SimonGraduate School of Business Administrations at the University of Rochester.
2008 SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR – GRETCHEN GRAD '85
Gretchen Morrison Grad is the founder and board member of Hands of Peace, an interfaith non-profit that brings together Israeli, Palestinian and American teens for dialogue and leadership training. Founded in the wake of 9/11, Hands of Peace operates in the Middle East and Chicago. Grad has served as executive director and board chair. From 1985 to 1997, she worked for First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc. as an economist, securities trader and fixed income expert; her last position was managing director. Grad holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.
2008 KIRKLAND-HAMILTON LEADERSHIP AWARD – JENNIFER MORRIS K'72
Jennifer Morris is the founder of LocalWatt and an experienced entrepreneur and organization leader. Her career has touched on systems design and manufacturing, electronic control systems, software development, digital media production, Web design and communications management. She founded Image Engineering Corporation in 1979 with three partners. The firm operated in an FDA-regulated industry, producing laser devices for visual displays and entertainment. As president and creative director, she participated in high-profile projects such as the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, 1986 Liberty Weekend and the 1988 Olympic Eve Festival in Korea. Her work was featured at IBM's most prestigious sales events and diverse theatrical venues.
Morris received the 1992 Career Achievement Award from the International Laser Display Association. She holds an MBA from the Simmons College Graduate School of Management in Boston, where she pursued research in clean technology and corporate responsibility.
About Hamilton Ventures
Hamilton Ventures, Inc. is a non-profit organization established in the summer of 2008 by Christopher Daniels '85, who serves as its first executive director. Hamilton Ventures is independent from the College but coordinates activities with the College. Its purpose is to create "an association of Hamilton College alumni with a common interest in new enterprise development." Most of the members of Hamilton Ventures are involved with new enterprises as founders, officers, directors, employees, investors or advisors.The Hamilton Ventures Symposium will be held on Feb. 7, 2009, at the United Nations in New York. See www.venturesymposium.com. The symposium brings alumni with an interest in new enterprises together and awards alumni who have made significant accomplishments in leadership. The event includes a venture conference with other AVAs that is sponsored by Ivy Ventures, Inc.
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For more Information, please contact Nathana Josephs '80, president, Nathana Josephs Public Relations, pr@hamiltonventures.org212-769-2198
