Digital Drop-In: AlVista Partners
Gerald F. Chew T’89, Managing Partner at AlVista Partners, LLC videoconferenced with students to discuss venture capitalism in the tech sector, his experience investing in tech, and the current market for VC tech investments. He also took questions from the students.
Jerry is an executive with over 25 years in senior management, strategy, business development and operations. He has held executive positions and serves on the boards and advises private and public companies. Previously, he was the Executive Vice President, Critical Information for IHS where he led three organizations focused on information services in the energy, supply chain and EH&S sectors with direct profit and loss responsibility for over $800 million in revenue.
Prior to IHS, he was a Managing Director of Bridgetown Associates, LLC, a specialized corporate finance firm focusing on the cable, telecommunications, wireless and broadband industries. After serving as a member of the Board of Directors of MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc., a Nasdaq-listed global provider of mobile workforce management solutions to the communications, utility and energy industries for seven years, he was requested by other members of the board to take on the role of President and COO.
Formerly, Jerry was an Executive Vice President for Ancora Capital Management where he led the acquisition and integration of three companies in a private equity backed roll-up of the presort mail industry.
He began his formal training in corporate strategy, business strategy and enterprise transformation as a management consultant with Arthur D. Little and was a leader in the corporate strategy organizations of Raychem Corporation, U S WEST and MediaOne. Jerry began his career as an electrical engineer designing defense electronic systems at Avantek, Inc.
Jerry received his Masters of Business Administration from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and his Bachelor of Science in Microwave, Solid State and Quantum Electronics from the University of California at Davis. Jerry and his wife, Laura, reside in Portland, Oregon with their daughter. Jerry enjoys fly-fishing, backpacking and skiing in his free time.
About Digital Drop-Ins (DDIs)
The Digital Strategies’ DDI videoconference series allows our MBA Fellows the chance to have intimate conversations with key technology leaders. Hour-long private sessions focus on a particular topic or range of topics of interest to the fellows, and enable the small group to participate in an engaging discussion about a key element of technology and how it impacts or drives corporate strategy from the perspective of the guest speaker. Fellows come away from each Digital Drop-In with a clearer sense of each guest’s perspective on an issue or topic impacting his or her enterprise in a significant way.
