Independent Directors
MMP is fortunate to have a highly experienced group of investment professionals on its board of directors who offer a broad history in the financial industry. These entrepeneurial directors contribute in numerous ways. Below you will find some brief descriptions of their backgrounds and the focuses of their businesses:
James M. Clarke is a co-manager of Tahoe Capital, a fund focused on alternative energy and special distressed situations. Mr. Clarke also does consulting work on risk management and capital management for select clients. In June 2004, Mr. Clarke founded the 2 BigHearts Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to raise awareness among women that heart disease is women’s number one health care risk. The foundation has offered free screenings at various Chicago – area hospitals.
From 1998 to 2003, Mr. Clarke served as the Senior Vice President of Enterprise Risk Management at NiSource, a Merrillville, Indiana-based energy company. This role gave him significant exposure to all facets of the energy industry. Prior to his time at NiSource, Mr. Clarke spent many years in the capital markets in Chicago.
Mr. Clarke has served on the Board of Directors of an Indiana based railroad, a Chicago area marketing company, a New York-based advertising firm as well as a natural gas storage company based in Houston and an energy marketing company. Mr. Clarke remains professionally active in numerous industry-related groups and organizations. Mr. Clarke’s specialization is in strategy development and portfolio/risk management.
William M. Farrow III is is CEO and a founding Partner of FC Partners Group. FC Partners focuses on: 1.) Being a Trusted Advisor, 2.) Enabling New Ventures and 3.) Monetizing Technology.
Before founding FCP, Farrow was technology leader for the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). In 2005, Chicago Board of Trade had the second most successful IPO on the NYSE. The impact was significant and translated to shareholder value. By July of 2007, membership value reached $7.1 million, compared to $280,000 in 2001.
Farrow began his career as a consultant in 1979 with Arthur Andersen & Co. He joined G.D. Searle & Co. in 1983 as manger of acquisitions. Farrow later assumed the role as Director of Strategy and Business Development for Dart & Kraft, Inc., a Fortune 100 consumer products company. In 1986 Farrow joined the First National Bank of Chicago, a money center bank, as Head of Marketing for the trading floor. At the bank, Farrow held several senior positions including: a founding manager of First Chicago Capital Markets, Head of Marketing for Corporate and Institutional Banking, Program Manager, ECIS/DDA Banking Integration Program, Head of Treasury Management Sales and Head of eBusiness.