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The principals at Polestar have collectively logged 52 years of experience in investment and operational management. As a team, this is the third fund jointly managed by the partnership, however each member of the team has been actively involved funding early-stage, minority-led companies for most of their professional career.

Derrick K. Collins, General Partner
Mr. Collins has over 15 years of investment management and operational experience. Prior to joining Polestar in 1996, Mr. Collins served as the President of Shorebank Capital Corporation (SCC), a minority-focused venture capital subsidiary of Shorebank Corporation. Prior to SCC, Mr. Collins served as vice president of commercial lending at Shorebank's largest affiliate, South Shore Bank, where he managed the $20 million loan portfolio as well as work with selected SCC portfolio companies.

Mr. Collins began his career at Ameritech Illinois, where he held various engineering and management positions. Mr. Collins earned his BS in electrical engineering from Prairie View A&M University in 1984 and his MBA in finance and marketing from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 1989. His is currently a member of the board of directors of ViaNovus, BridgeStream, Adamation and the National Association of Investment Companies.

John W. Doerer, General Partner
Mr. Doerer has spent over 18 years managing investments and corporate finances, with the last 15 in private equity. Prior to founding Polestar in 1994, Mr. Doerer was the vice president of Amoco Venture Capital Corporation (AVCC), a subsidiary of Amoco Corporation (now BP Amoco). In 1994, Mr. Doerer and Mr. Lennox purchased AVCC and subsequently formed Polestar.

Prior to AVCC, Mr. Doerer began his career at Amoco in the corporate treasury department. Mr. Doerer earned his BBA in Business Economics from the University of Michigan in 1983 and his MBA in Finance and Accounting from Indiana University in 1985. Mr. Doerer currently serves on the Boards of Directors for ViaNovus, Adamation and Kids123.com.

Wally Lennox, General Partner
Mr. Lennox has over 39 years of investment and operational experience. Prior to founding Polestar in 1994 with Mr. Doerer, Mr. Lennox spent five years as the president of Amoco Venture Capital Corporation where he increased the value of the AVCC portfolio from $2 million to over $25 million. Prior to heading-up AVCC, Mr. Lennox held a variety of domestic and international senior management positions during his 28-year career with Amoco Corporation. Positions included vice president of finance and purchasing (Korea), acting financial manager of Amoco Europe (London), and treasurer of Wyco Pipeline.

Mr. Lennox earned his BS in business administration from The Citadel in 1960 and his MBA from Ohio State University in 1961. Mr. Lennox is a former board member of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC) and a current member of the Kinetic Computer Corporation Board of Directors.

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