During his 30-year commercial banking career, John’s positions at banks in five states ranged from Chief Lending Officer to Chief Credit Officer to CEO. Upon retiring from banking in 2000 he commenced his angel investing activities, forming USPrivateCompanies, LLC which has invested in more than two dozen start-up ventures. John has been a member of the Ohio Venture Capital Authority since its inception in 2003, currently serving as its Vice Chairman. By making $150 million of professionally managed early stage capital available to the state’s most promising entrepreneurs, the Authority’s Ohio Capital Fund seeks to generate high-tech jobs across the state. In 2004 John co-founded the Ohio TechAngels, a fifty investor fund which is a founding member of the Angel Capital Association. Today OhioTechAngels is one of North America’s largest angel groups, having three funds and over 150 members. John is also an active member of three other private equity groups: The North Coast Angel Fund (Cleveland), ARCHAngels (Akron), and The East Central Ohio TechAngels Fund (Zanesville).

John has taught at Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, and is a frequent lecturer and business plan judge at Ohio’s colleges and universities. In addition to managing the Ohio TechAngels he devotes time to the Ohio Venture Association, the TechColumbus ESP Deal Flow Assessment Committee, and the boards of several ventures funded by USPrivateCompanies. Nationally, John is chairman of the Angel Capital Education Foundation and a director of the Angel Capital Association.

He attended the University of Virginia on a Navy ROTC scholarship, graduating with a BA in economics. While stationed in Georgia as a navy pilot he obtained his MBA from Georgia Southern University. John and his wife, Liz, reside in Columbus, Ohio. Their two children (and one grandchild) live in Cleveland and San Francisco.

Website: www.OhioTechAngels.com