SwampFox

Initial Anchors and Sponsors Support the Swamp Fox Community

Initial Anchors and Sponsors Support the Swamp Fox Community

Asheville, NC—At Carolina Connect-2007, the Swamp Fox Community announces its initial 2008 Anchors and Sponsors.

“The Swamp Fox Anchors and Sponsors have people who are among the best in the world at what they do,” said John Warner, Swamp Fox President. “They are a terrific source for people with great ideas to find the expertise, resources and relationships they need.”

Chris Desoiza, Vice-President of the Milliken Research Corporation, said, “Swamp Fox lowers the energy needed for Anchors and Sponsors to find great ideas that are solutions to problems we have or customers with problems we can solve.”

The priorities of Swamp Fox Anchors are featured year around on the Swamp Fox website. Both Anchors and Sponsors will be prominently featured at the fifth annual InnoVenture 2008 conference, March 25, and 26 2008, at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC.
The initial 2008 Swamp Fox Anchors and Sponsors include those listed below. Swamp Fox will be announcing additional Anchors and Sponsors in the near future.

SWAMP FOX 2008 DIAMOND ANCHORS
Michelin North America, Greenville, SC
Milliken & Company, Spartanburg, SC
GE Energy, Greenville, SC
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
SC Launch!, Columbia, SC

SWAMP FOX 2008 EMERALD ANCHORS
Zeus Industrial, Orangeburg, SC
South Carolina Department of Commerce, Columbia, SC

SWAMP FOX 2008 JADE ANCHORS
Clemson University, Clemson, SC
University of North Carolina, Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Noro-Moseley Partners, Atlanta, GA
Nexsen Pruet, Columbia, SC
Elliott Davis, Greenville, SC
Charter Business, Greenville, SC
Business Vitals, Columbia, SC
Sequence Investment Partners, LLC, Charleston, SC
TiBA Solutions, Greenville, SC

Below are details of Swamp Fox and Anchors and Sponsors.

Swamp Fox (SwampFox.ws), Southeastern Innovation Corridor
The Swamp Fox Community connects people with great ideas to those with access to resources, expertise and customers. The power of the Swamp Fox to connect people is created through the strong synergy between access to online personalized information and personal relationships created at InnoVenture and other events. The Swamp Fox website receives 55,000 monthly visitors. Since 2004, approximately 1,500 have attended the annual InnoVenture conference produced by Swamp Fox. Of 50 emerging companies that have presented to investors at InnoVenture conferences, at least 15 have had an investment round with public announcements of over $85 million raised.

SWAMP FOX 2008 DIAMOND ANCHORS
Michelin North America (www.michelin-us.com), Greenville, SC—Ralph Hulseman, Manager of Science and Expertise for Emerging Business Ventures
Michelin manufactures and sells tires for all kinds of vehicles, publishes maps and guides and operates a number of digital services in more than 170 countries. With sales of $7.25 billion in 2005, Michelin North America operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations and employs 22,300 people. It manufactures and sells tires for airplanes, automobiles, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and the space shuttle.

Milliken & Company (www.milliken.com), Spartanburg, SC—Chris DeSoiza, Vice-President of Milliken Research Corporation
Milliken’s rich history of technological innovation has resulted in more than 2,100 patents and the development of the largest textile research center in the world. They have approximately 10,000 associates located at more than 55 facilities worldwide working with more than 19,000 different textile and chemical products. Milliken makes a variety of fabric, yarn, and chemical products that protect our soldiers, keep consumers and professional athletes comfortable, and adorn homes and businesses around the globe. Their newly developed composite materials, fire retardant non-wovens, and antimicrobial fabrics are changing the landscape of conventional textile manufacturing.

GE Energy (www.gepower.com), Greenville, SC—Bert Stuck
More people around the world turn to GE Energy for advanced power systems and around-the-clock energy services than any other company. Since GE installed their first steam turbine in 1901, their installed base of steam and heavy-duty gas turbines has grown to over 10,000 units, representing over a million Megawatts (MW) of installed capacity in more than 120 countries. With over 5,500 wind and 3,600 hydro turbines, the installed capacity of renewable energy exceeds 160,000 MW. Greenville is the headquarters for headquarters of the GE Energy Engineering Division and in 2004 the site was designated as GE Energy’s Global Center of Excellence for Gas Turbine engineering designs.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina (www.southcarolinablues.com), Columbia, SC—Steve Wiggins, Executive Vice President and CIO
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and its family of companies include more than 20 subsidiaries involved in health insurance services, U.S. DOD health plan and Medicare contracts, and other insurance and employee benefits services.

SC Launch! (www.sclaunch.org), Columbia, SC—James E. Clark, President
SC Launch! was created to facilitate applied research, product development and commercialization programs, strengthen South Carolina’s Knowledge Economy and create high wage-earning jobs by executing the mandates of the South Carolina Innovation Centers Act of 2005. SC Launch! is building equity in the future by generating technology-based jobs which enhance the state’s quality of life and provide strong prospects for all South Carolinians in the Knowledge Economy.

SWAMP FOX 2008 EMERALD ANCHORS
Zeus Inc. (www.zeusinc.com), Orangeburg, SC—Bob Ballard, Vice President, Research & Strategic Business Development
For over 40 years, Zeus has been driven by a culture of innovation, problem solving, and customer support to become an internationally recognized leader in the design and production of high-performance polymer extrusions used in the medical, automotive, electrical, fluid handling, and mechanical markets. More than an “off the shelf” commodity supplier, Zeus places a premium on close collaboration with customers. Experienced polymer scientists, design and chemical engineers, and technical account representatives work together on customer-focused account teams to create tubing that delivers the temperature resistance, lubricity, high tensile strength, and exceptionally tight tolerances demanded by today’s challenging applications.

South Carolina Department of Commerce (www.sccommerce.com), Columbia, SC—Tony Smith, Senior Manager, Private Finance
As the leading economic development organization in South Carolina, in 2006 the Department of Commerce set new records with $2.99 billion in capital investment and 14,420 new jobs. Substantive tort reform, workers’ comp reform and income tax relief enables the state’s business-friendly climate to continue to produce opportunity.

SWAMP FOX 2008 JADE ANCHORS
Clemson University (www.clemson.edu), Clemson, SC—Chris Przirembel, Vice President, Research and Economic Development
Today, Clemson is redefining the term “top-tier research university” by combining the best of two models: the scientific and technological horsepower of a major research university and the highly engaged academic and social environment of a small college. Clemson’s Academic Plan focuses on eight broad “emphasis areas:” Leadership and Entrepreneurship; Automotive and Transportation Technology; Information and Communication Technology; General Education; Family and Community Living; Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences; Advanced Materials; and Sustainable Environment. Clemson has set its sights on being one of the nation’s top-20 public universities by 2011.

University of North Carolina, Charlotte (www.uncc.edu), Charlotte, NC—Bob Wilhelm, Executive Director, Charlotte Research Institute (www.charlotteresearchinstitute.org)
A public research university, UNC Charlotte is the fourth largest campus among the 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina system and the largest institution of higher education in the Charlotte region. The university offers 18 doctoral programs, 61 master's degree programs and 89 programs leading to bachelor's degrees. Fall 2007 enrollment exceeds 22,300 students with almost 4,800 graduate students. The Charlotte Research Institute is the portal for business-university technology partnerships at UNC Charlotte; initiating new partnerships and offering a variety of ways to engage talented faculty and make use of specialized facilities that are available only at UNC Charlotte.

Noro-Moseley Partners (www.noro-moseley.com), Atlanta, GA—Kathy Harris, Partner
Founded in 1983, Atlanta-based Noro-Moseley Partners ("NMP") is one of the largest and most experienced venture capital firms in the southeastern United States. Since its inception, NMP has created six limited partnership funds totaling approximately $690 million in capital and has invested in over 150 companies. NMP invests primarily in Southeastern-based, early and growth stage companies. Their industries of interest include technology, healthcare and business services.

Nexsen Pruet (www.nexsenpruet.com), Columbia, SC—Mark Knight, Partner
Nexsen Pruet attorneys recognize the unique needs of innovators, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, private equity funds, angels, and other investors and have organized specialized legal services into an Innovation Team for entrepreneurial endeavors. The Innovation Team primarily blends the capabilities of four key practices: corporate/securities, labor and employment, intellectual property, and economic development. The team includes some of the most experienced attorneys in the region, many of whom have been recognized as among America’s leading lawyers in their respective areas. When needed, they collaborate with the more than 170 Nexsen Pruet attorneys working in offices throughout the Carolinas in a wide variety of other practice areas - including everything from tax to business litigation - to bring the client a cost-effective, timely and comprehensive legal service solution that is customized to the client's business context.

Elliott Davis (www.elliottdavis.com), Greenville, SC—Buster Kennedy, Marketing Manager
Since 1925, Elliott Davis has been the accounting and business advisory firm that improves the financial management of emerging and middle market clients by offering a comprehensive array of accounting and business advisory services. Today, Elliott Davis is one of the largest accounting and business advisory firms in the Southeast.

Charter Business (www.charter-business.com), Greenville, SC—Jason Maples, Account Executive
Charter Business provides scalable, tailored and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business organizations, such as business-to-business internet access, data networking, video and music entertainment services, and business telephone.

Business Vitals (www.businessvitals.com), Columbia, SC—Jeff Brewer, President & CEO
Founded in 2001, Business Vitals provides IT risk management and security services that enhance and elevate IT's capability and impact on clients in financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, higher education, software development, professional services, State and local government. Clients include Ashley Furniture, Western Carolina, Security Finance, Olan Mills and NASCAR. The company offers a comprehensive suite of managed IT security services and professional services that include data vaulting, secure networking, network monitoring, secure email, intrusion prevention, IT asset management, datacenter co-location, interim CIO/CSO, network security assessment, IT operations assessment and disaster recovery planning. The privately held company operates a Secure Operations Center in Columbia, SC, a disaster recovery facility in Charlotte, NC and remote consulting and sales offices in various regions of the country.

Sequence Investment Partners, LLC (www.seqinv.com), Charleston, SC—Gene King, Managing Partner
Sequence Investment Partners, LLC is a FINRA broker/dealer, investment banking and advisory services firm headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, which specializes in small and middle market companies throughout the Southeast. Their team has a collective 125 years of business experience and provides investment banking services including private equity transactions, as well as, merger and acquisition opportunities for small and middle market companies.

TiBA Solutions (www.tibasolutions.com), Greenville, SC—Dave Friedline,
TiBA Solutions, headquartered in Greenville, provides customized information technology solutions for mission-critical business needs. TiBA offers a full line of services: strategic planning, business consulting, project management, and customized software application design and development.

INNOVENTURE 2008 SILVER SPONSORS
University of South Carolina (www.sc.edu), Columbia, SC—John Parks, Executive Director, Innovista
The University of South Carolina is home to more than 200 years of history and tradition, rising from a single building in 1805 on what would become the heart of the campus, the Horseshoe. The University is expanding west toward the Congaree River in support of its research initiatives in nanotechnology, health sciences, Future Fuels™, the environment, and information and knowledge technologies. Three separate sites, each specializing in its own research area, will comprise this new innovation district, called Innovista.

College of Charleston (www.cofc.edu/innovation), Charleston, SC—John Clarkin, Director, The Tate Center for Entrepreneurship
The College of Charleston is a nationally preeminent, public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina. With a student population of approximately 11,500 students, the College is known for its small-college feel blended with the advantages and diversity of an urban, mid-sized university. The Tate Center is dedicated to entrepreneurial education and enterprise at the College of Charleston.

East Tennessee State University (www.etsu.edu), Johnson City, TN—Michael Woodruff, Vice Provost for Research
ETSU is a student-centered community of learning that employs more than 2,000 faculty and staff, with nearly 200 undergraduate, graduate, and medical programs of study at ETSU. In 2006 ETSU received more than $43 million in external funding for grants and contracts. ETSU is becoming the best regionally university in the country.

Administaff, Inc. (www.administaff.com), Charlotte, NC—George Hamm, Consultant
Administaff , Inc. is the nation's leading professional employer organization (PEO), serving as a full-service human resources department that provides small and medium-sized businesses with administrative relief, big-company benefits, reduced liabilities and a systematic way to improve productivity. The company operates 47 sales offices in 23 major markets.

BRONZE INNOVENTURE 2008 SPONSORS
FUJIFILM Manufacturing USA (www.fujifilm.com), Greenwood, SC—Richard Maynard, Specialist, New Business Development
FUJIFILM’s North American Manufacturing and Research & Development Headquarters located in Greenwood, SC, manufactures CTP (Computer-to-Plate) printing plates, QuickSnap one-time-use, recyclable cameras; color photographic paper, medical imaging products, and projection screens.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (www.ornl.gov), Oak Ridge, TN—Jack Cook, Representative
ORNL, the U.S. Department of Energy’s largest multi-program laboratory, has been managed since 2000 by UT-Battelle, LLC, a partnership between Battelle Memorial Institute and The University of Tennessee. Scientists and engineers at ORNL conduct basic and applied research and development to create scientific knowledge and technological solutions that strengthen the nation's leadership in key areas of science; increase the availability of clean, abundant energy; restore and protect the environment; and contribute to national security. ORNL is home to the nation’s fastest unclassified (open source) computer, one of the three new DOE BioEnergy Science Centers, and the world’s greatest concentration of neutron capabilities that is anchored by the $1.4 billion Spallation Neutron Source.

Nelson Mullins (www.nelsonmullins.com), Columbia, SC—Neil Grayson, Partner
Nelson Mullins offers the strength and resources of a national law firm with diverse attorneys and professional staff experienced in a broad range of issues. With a firm Southeastern base, Nelson Mullins has grown into a national firm with a strong reputation in meeting the complex litigation, corporate, securities, finance, employment, regulatory and other needs for clients ranging from private individuals to large businesses, including both many emerging growth companies and publicly held companies. In South Carolina, Nelson Mullins has approximately 75 lawyers that do corporate and related work. In South Carolina, there are 17 attorneys who have a Master's in Taxation and seven attorneys who are admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Wyche Burgess Freeman and Parham (www.wyche.com), Greenville, SC—Kevin Hendricks, Member
Wyche Burgess combines legal skills developed at the nation's leading law schools with a thorough knowledge of the community and the state to provide the highest level of client service. Wyche’s transactional lawyers provide entrepreneurial services to new and growing clients, as well as advise on mergers and acquisitions and other complex financial transactions. Wyche’s litigators continue to be the lawyers of choice for big-case litigation and matters presenting novel questions of law.

Stipkala LLC (www.stipkalalaw.com), Charleston, SC—Jeremy Stipkala, Principal
Stipkala LLC is a premier law firm assisting clients across the country and the world to navigate United States intellectual property law.

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce (www.scchamber.net), Greenville, SC—Randy Bradley, Vice President Workforce Relations and Administrative Services
The SC Chamber of Commerce is the state’s largest statewide broad-based business and industry trade association representing more than 6,500 member companies and more than 600,000 member employees.

SWAMP FOX AND INNOVENTURE 2008 PRODUCTION PARTNERS
Silver Crescent Foundation (www.scfusa.org)—Butler Mullins, Vice President
Committed to inspiring, supporting and preparing students for success in the workplace while helping to improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians.

OrangeCoat, LLC (orangecoat.com)—Evan Tishuk, Member
Designs web experiences by giving advice, finding solutions, organizing online communities, and managing blogs. At the end of the day, we just want the folks we work with to say "wow."

Heads Up Solutions, Inc.—Mike Adams, Principal
Focused on assisting clients develop and execute effective business development programs.

Clare Morris Agency—Clare Morris, President
A full-service integrated marketing, communications, and government relations firm, with a fresh approach and a can-do attitude to help you enhance your global position.

Carolina First Center (www.carolinafirstcenter.com)—Elizabeth Lyons, Director of Sales
The Carolina First Center is one of the nation's largest convention and meeting facilities with more than 315,000 square feet of exhibit space and 88,000 square feet of meeting and conference space.

Ferncreek Creative—Don Koonce, Principal
Experts at designing conference and presentation facilities that maximize the impact of well-planned communications

in•any•event (www.inanyevent-inc.com)—Pam Hale, President
A seasoned company that has provided full-service planning of business functions and special events for almost 15 years.

Multi Media Services, LLC (www.mmsav.com)—Jerry Maxey, Principal
Provides AV products and services to organizations all over the Southeast.

Palmetto Sound Works, LLC (palmettosoundworks.com)—Alan Hulsey, Member
A full service audio, lighting and video production company based in Spartanburg, SC.

Multicast Media Technologies (www.multicastmedia.com)—Elisabeth Marchant, Executive Director
A global leader in streaming video technology with emphasis in three areas – live Internet broadcasts (over 3500 each month), developing and supporting linear broadcast channels with advertising revenue models, and a leader in delivery of Flash tools for video on demand (www.videgopro.com). A seven (7) year old company, Multicast has developed battle tested technology and serves as a strategic partner with Adobe and Akamai.

Adjunct Video Services (www. adjunctvideo.com)—Steve Godsey, Principal
A full service Video production company serving Greenville, Anderson and Spartanburg South Carolina

Skyline Exhibits & Design—Steve Hoffman, President
A marketing firm that offers one source for all trade show display needs – from concept and creation, to installation and management.

Gimme A Sign—Dianne Blasius, Vice President
Offering a wide variety of custom made signs, with expert craft.

Mighty Mouse—Janice Antley, Principal
Providing clients outstanding graphic design services.

Bickley Creative—Valerie Bickley, Principal
Providing clients outstanding copywriting services.

Contact:

John Warner
JohnWarner@SwampFox.ws
864-561-6609

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