"Sequel is looking for stakeholders who believe that inaction is their most costly alternative; who have the courage to foster intelligent disruption; and who understand that the hardest part is not strategy itself, but making a commitment to change"

Jonathan S. Slater, Founder & Managing Partner

Mr. Slater combines a proven track record of operating success, entrepreneurial leadership, and extensive investment/commercial banking experience. As the founder of Sequel Management, he has served as its Managing Partner since inception. Mr. Slater is also a member of the board of Esselte, the $1+ billion global office products manufacturer acquired by JW Childs & Associates through a transaction sourced by Sequel Management.

Prior to starting Sequel Management, Mr. Slater was the founder and CEO of AmeriCounsel.com, an Internet legal services company teamed with noted Harvard Law School Professor Arthur Miller to consumerize the legal profession. As a pioneer in the legal technology arena, AmeriCounsel spearheaded the application of interactive web technology to create more efficient legal engagements and client relationships, saving lawyers considerable time and money. In the process, AmeriCounsel helped many Americans obtain quality legal representation at affordable prices, and set numerous legal and technological precedents.

Prior thereto, Mr. Slater was the founder and CEO of SmarTel Communications, an innovator and early leader in the U.S. prepaid phone card industry. SmarTel was launched in 1993 and successfully sold to SmarTalk Teleservices (NASDAQ: SMTK) in 1997, at which point Mr. Slater managed the promotional phone card division for SmarTalk. In the process of directing the growth and development of SmarTel, Mr. Slater became a leading figure within the prepaid phone card industry, participating as a founding Board member and Membership Chair of the International Telecard Association and a frequent industry lecturer and spokesperson.

In addition to these professional activities, Mr. Slater has been an active leader within the entrepreneurial community, serving as President of the Boston Chapter of the Young Entrepreneur's Organization (YEO) as well as Education Chair for YEO's 1997 International University for Entrepreneurs, a 4-day entrepreneurial symposium for approximately 400 people.

From 1987-1992, Mr. Slater worked in investment banking as a Managing Director in the Corporate Finance Department at Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. and as an Associate in the LBO/M&A Department of Drexel Burnham Lambert. At Drexel Burnham, Mr. Slater participated in structuring and closing more than $5 billion in leveraged buy-out and corporate finance transactions.

From 1983-85, Mr. Slater was Treasurer and CFO of Omnidentix Systems Corporation, assisting in orchestrating the workout and restructuring of the company by executing a pre-packaged bankruptcy resulting in successful re-emergence from Chapter 11 within approximately 120 days.

From 1981-83, Mr. Slater was an Assistant Treasurer in the Airline Division of the World Corporate Department at Bankers Trust Company, helping structure a $45 million workout for Ladeco Airlines, a financially troubled Chilean airline, in addition to spearheading an innovative $115 million financing for Ethiopian Airlines' purchase of two 767 jets from Boeing.

Mr. Slater has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Stanford University.

Rudy Ventresca, Executive Vice President

Mr. Ventresca brings extensive experience in technology and professional service management to Sequel. Most recently, Mr. Ventresca was Senior Vice President of Consulting and Professional Services for Interliant, Inc. (NASDAQ: INIT) with more than $100 million in P&L responsibility. Mr. Ventresca joined Interliant in 1999 following the acquisition of Net Daemons Associates, a networking consulting company which he co-founded and at which he served as President. At the time of its acquisition by Interliant, Net Daemons was a two time member of the Deloitte and Touche "Fast 50 and Fast 500" and one time member of the Inc. 500.

Prior thereto, Mr. Ventresca was the Director of Finance and Administration at Finnegan, Hickey, Dinsmoor, and Johnson, a general practice law firm in Boston and Controller at Development Concepts, a full-service Real Estate Development firm. He also served as a Senior Financial Analyst at Chas T. Main, Inc., an internationally renowned engineering firm.

In addition, Mr. Ventresca is also a former member of the advisory board of Natural Intelligence, a web application and database consulting company where he played a key role in re-engineering and re-focusing the company, resulting to its return to profitability and sale to circle.com, a full service digital marketing agency which was ultimately sold to Snyder Communications. He has been an active member of the Young Entrepreneurs Organization and served on the executive committee of the Boston Chapter. He is also a member of the school board of Saint Brigids School of South Boston. Mr. Ventresca holds a BS in Accounting from Suffolk University.

Dr. Sandor Blum, Managing Director, Executive Programs

Dr. Blum brings more than 25 years of experience in family business therapy, executive coaching and related organization development, both in private practice, as a consultant with Bain and Company, and a practice leader in executive assessment and development for Pricewaterhouse Coopers. He is also a co-founder of the New England Institute for the Study of the Family, one of the region's original family business planning organizations and training programs for family business consultants.

Dr. Blum is a licensed family therapist and will be available to help Sequel's clients address the emotional issues inherent in family business succession. He will also provide, where appropriate, executive coaching and leadership development for independent and/or family management team members, and assist Sequel's clients in developing and implementing improved performance assessment and measurement systems (an area where Dr. Blum has strong expertise).

Dr. Blum's clients have ranged from global Fortune 500 companies to small, local business. His client list includes major corporations, such as Seagram's, Dell, D&B, AT&T Canada, Delloite & Touche, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Capital One, as well as prominent family businesses, including Walsh Brothers Construction, Pinnacle Financial, Sagamore Plumbing, Futures Health, Mariner Health, Ciclismo Classico, Duffy Brothers, Pride Manufacturing, US Plastics, PulpDent, and ATEC Environmental.

Dr. Blum's article: The Five Common Traps in Turning around a Family Business was published in the June 2003 edition of the Journal of Corporate Renewal. He currently teaches a course on “The Foundations of Management” in the Masters Program at the School of Management at Cambridge College. Dr. Blum performed his doctoral residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, and he has served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Tufts University, and a lecturer at numerous business schools and universities. He has a BA in English Literature from Harvard College and holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work and Organizational Behavior from Smith College. He has also studied at the Harvard School of Social Relations and the Boston University School of Management.