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Consumer/Specialty Retail: Executive Advisors

James Berk - CEO, Participant Media
Jim is CEO of Los Angeles-based Participant Media, an entertainment company focused on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films, documentaries and television. He formerly served as Chairman and CEO of Gryphon Colleges Corporation. Under his leadership, Gryphon acquired National Career Education, allowing for the establishment of platform services and branding which lead to multiple add-on acquisitions. Jim’s prior experience includes serving as President and CEO and Board Director for Fairfield Communities, Inc., the nation’s largest independent vacation ownership and resort companies and President and CEO of Hard Rock Cafe International.

John Bowlin - Former President & CEO, SAB Miller & Kraft Foods International
John currently serves as a director of various privately held companies and is a member of both the audit committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee for Spectrum Brands where he has served as a director since 2004. In 2007, John was appointed Chairman of the Board of Spectrum. John served as President and CEO of SABMiller PLC and held several senior executive positions at Phillip Morris Companies, Inc., including CEO of Miller Brewing Company; President and CEO of Kraft Foods International; and President and COO of Kraft North American; and President of Oscar Meyer Food Corporation. Additional industry experience includes various positions at General Foods Corporation.

Elizabeth Culligan - Former President & COO, A&P Grocery Stores
Elizabeth led A&P, an $11 billion supermarket chain with operations in 15 states in the United States and Canada. The company’s 700 stores operated under a mix of trade names including A&P, Waldbaum’s, Food Emporium, Super Foodmart, SuperFresh, Farmer Jack, Kohl’s, Sav-a-Center, Food Basics, Dominion and the Barn. At A&P, she oversaw all operating functions, regional and store operations, merchandising, marketing and strategy, supply chain and logistics and real estate development and covered 80,000 full and part time employees.

David Kantor - Former Senior Partner, Booz & Co.
David is principal and founder of dkantorassociates, llc, a firm that provides counseling services to senior management on strategy and organization and acts as advisor to private equity and technology start-ups focused on consumer goods and services. Since founding the firm in 2005, he has worked with the senior management teams of several of the large foods, packaged goods and agribusiness companies; provided strategic direction, portfolio consulting, acquisition support and identification of senior operating management for Gryphon Investors.

Leslie Moeller - Managing Partner, Booz & Co.
Les leads Booz & Co.’s North American Consumer, Media and Retail Market Practice. Previously, he led the firm’s global sales and marketing service offering. His primary area of expertise is helping firms develop new business models to drive growth and reduce cost. A noted authority, Les is the author of “The Better Half: The Artful Science of ROI Marketing,” which appeared in Booz & Co.’s strategy+business magazine and served as the catalyst for his book, The Four Pillars of Profit-Driven Marketing, published in 2009 by McGraw-Hill.

Nick White - President & ECO, White & Associates
Nick is founder of White & Associates, an international retail solutions firm focused on strategy, partnerships, logistics and concepts. Prior to founding his firm, Nick held numerous executive and management level positions with Wal*Mart Stores, Inc., including Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Supercenter division; Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sam’s Wholesale Club. He serves as a director of Gold Toe Corporation, Oneida Ltd. and Playtex Products, Inc. White & Associates has worked with several emerging and industry leading retailers and suppliers providing insight into operations and improved efficiencies.

• Proactive Initiatives & Sectors of Interest:
• Auto After-Market Products
• Household Products
• Multi-Site Retail or Services
• Refreshment Beverages
• Packaged Food
• Personal Care/OTC
• Private Label CPG