About John
I offer nearly 40 years of diverse executive experience including career experience in executive coaching, venture capital, investment banking, angel investing, corporate financial management.
As a Vistage chair from 2010 to 2018, I have coached CEOs and a number of their direct reports and facilitated their monthly peer advisory board meetings. Members use this unique peer group interaction for trusted and unbiased advice on their most critical decisions involving both issues and opportunities. My goal for each member was to improve their leadership effectiveness and to improve their company’s bottom-line results.
The previous decade from 2001, I was a managing partner with GKM Ventures, a later-stage venture capital firm based on Los Angeles. From 1992 to 2000, I was affiliated with several regional investment banking firms focused on sell-side M&A. From 1988 to 1992, I was a partner with First Interstate Bancorp’s private equity division.
Throughout my career, I have been an active member of the Los Angeles business community. I am particularly proud to have been a co-founder and a past president of Tech Coast Angels in Los Angeles. I also served as the organization’s chair for two years. Today TCA is the largest angel investor organization in the United States covering Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.
I have also been a co-founder and director of several well-known business groups, including the Forum for Corporate Directors, the LA Venture Association, the VC Alliance, the So Cal Tech Network, the Tech CEO Network and Launchpad LA.
For 12 years since 2005, I have been an adjunct faculty member for the UCLA Anderson School of Management. My focus was coaching the fully employed MBA candidates in the Global Access Program (GAP) which served as their graduate thesis project.
After graduating from the Tuck School of Business, I initially enjoyed career experience as a CFO and an investment banker. this led to my position with First Interstate Bancorp. These various roles provided the opportunity to play leading roles in a diverse set of financings, including mergers, acquisitions and venture capital investments.
During my career, I have served on a number of public and private boards, and presently serve as a director for several venture-backed companies.
My wife Teddi and I have enjoyed adventure travel across the South Pacific for scuba diving or in Africa for safari. More recently we have cruised the major rivers of Europe. My two hobbies are golf and digital photography. I am a proud father of two adults, Tyler and Elise. We are blessed with three wonderful grandchildren, Jonah, Oliver and Victoria.
