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User:Sanfran1276/Joanna Rees

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Joanna Rees
BornNovember 14, 1961
Montclair, New Jersey
OccupationVenture Capitalist
EmployerVSP Capital
SpouseJohn Hamm
WebsiteVSP Capital

Joanna Rees is a managing director at VSP Capital,[1] a San-Francisco based venture capital firm.

Rees founded VSP after working in investment banking at BA Securities and Vrolyk & Co. In 1996, Rees launched Venture Strategy Group, which has since been renamed VSP Capital.[2] Rees raised a fund in 2000 with $185 million under management comprised of institutional investors including Horsley Bridge Partners, Pantheon, FLAG Ventures and The Commonfund. VSP investments have included Affinity Labs, Truveo, QuinStreet, and FON.[3]

In addition, Joanna has filed campaign papers announcing her intention to run for Mayor of San Francisco [4] in the 2011 election,[5] to succeed Gavin Newsom who resigned when he became California's Lieutenant Governor.

Early life

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Rees was born in Montclair, New Jersey, the daughter of Joan (Pernetti) Rees and John Rees. Rees graduated from Montclair High School and attended Duke University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She then earned her MBA in Finance at the Columbia Business School.[6]

Career

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In 1985, Rees joined Groupe Danone until leaving in 1989 to attend business school at Columbia University. She graduated from Columbia and then took over a family-owned hotel business bringing her back to her hometown of Montclair, NJ.[7] After growing and selling that business, she moved to San Francisco, California in 1993 and opened Eric Restaurant in San Francisco with her now former husband, Eric Gallanter.[8][9] She then worked in investment banking at BA Securities and Vrolyk & Co.[10]

In addition to managing VSP Capital, Rees serves as Chairman of the USA Advisory Board for Madrid-based FON.[11][12] Rees is also an Adjunct Professor in the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University where she teaches a course on values based leadership.[13] She also serves on the boards of NewSchools Venture Fund,[14] the Bay Area Board of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, the Annual Fund board at Duke University, and the Global Board of Endeavor.[15] Rees recently completed a 4-year term on the board of the National Venture Capital Association where she continues as a media spokesperson. Rees previously worked with other non-profits including the Junior League of San Francisco and the March of Dimes.[13]


Rees, along with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and fellow Silicon Valley venture capitalists John Doerr and Bill Gurley recently hosted screenings of the new educational documentary "Waiting for Superman".[16]

References

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  1. ^ Joanna Rees’ profile at the VSP Capital Official Site
  2. ^ "Alley Cat - Forbes.com".
  3. ^ "VSP Capital: Current Portfolio Properties".
  4. ^ Joanna Rees Campaign Website
  5. ^ Joanna Rees dives into mayor's race
  6. ^ "Joanna Rees interview with ABC 7 News".
  7. ^ "Joanna Rees in Fast Company article".
  8. ^ Eric Gallanter Private Dining
  9. ^ Entrepreneur eyes San Francisco mayor's race
  10. ^ Joanna Rees-Gallanter Executive Profile
  11. ^ FON: About Us
  12. ^ Joanna Rees’ Crunchbase Profile
  13. ^ a b "Joanna Rees, Lecturer of Management".
  14. ^ Joanna Rees’ profile at NewSchools Venture Fund
  15. ^ Joanna Rees’ Endeavor Profile
  16. ^ "Why Our Schools Suck, The Movie".


Category:Venture capitalists Category:Duke University alumni Category:Columbia Business School alumni Category:Private equity and venture capital investors Category:Living people