<p>In 1980, Sheila Johnson and her former husband, Robert L. Johnson, co-founded BET, the first cable television network aimed at African-American viewers. Serving as executive vice president of corporate affairs, Sheila Johnson was primarily responsible for investigating various community and philanthropic activities and helped build the highly rated cable network into a media powerhouse, which Viacom acquired in 1997 for $3 billion. Johnson was a member of BET Holdings Inc.'s board of directors until January 2001. </p> <p>Johnson currently is focused on various philanthropic activities, as well as the construction of the Salamander Inn and Spa on land she owns in Middleburg, Va. </p> <p>An accomplished violinist, Johnson has a diverse background that includes 19 years as a music educator in the Washington, D.C., area. During that time, she founded Young Strings in Action for children, in 1975. A textbook she wrote about her teaching methods, Young Strings in Action, is still used in many U.S. schools. </p>
<p>Earl Blanks is a former owner of a Party City franchise. Prior to his involvement with Party City, Blanks had started a small consulting business, the Small Business Marketing Planning Center, which provided marketing consulting services to smaller companies that generated $3-5 M per year in sales. Prior to that experience, Blanks worked at Procter & Gamble for over 7 years.</p> <p>Earl Blanks received his undergraduate degree from University of Arkansas and his MBA from Cornell University.</p>
<p>Anita P. Stephens is a General Partner of Opportunity Capital Partners ("OCP"), a private equity firm that provides equity capital to later stage companies for acquisition and expansion as well as early stage companies with leading edge technologies. The fund's investments are primarily in the areas of communications, information technology and healthcare, with a particular focus on businesses that are owned or managed by minority and women entrepreneurs.</p> <p>Ms. Stephens joined OCP in December 1996. Prior to joining OCP, Ms. Stephens served as President of Renaissance Capital Corporation, a Small Business Investment Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Her career has also included management positions at Manufacturers Hanover Trust, Benton & Bowles, and Prudential Insurance Company. </p> <p>Ms. Stephens currently serves on the board of several of the fund's portfolio companies. She is also a member of the board of directors of Pacific Community Ventures, a member of the Cornell University Entrepreneurial Advisory Council and the President's Council of Cornell Women. Ms. Stephens has an undergraduate degree in economics from Cornell University and an Executive MBA at Golden Gate University.</p>