The Holder Capital Partners team has received the support of numerous luminaries in the healthcare industry as well as from its network of executives, investors and venture capital peers. Below is a collection of these abstracts.
“I have known David since 1990, as a co-founder of three companies that Galen invested in --- Pyxis, TheraTx and EDiX. Our collective return on these investments surpasses our average fund returns, one of them, Pyxis, is among the top 3 investments Galen has made over the last dozen years.
… David Holder’s “Golden Rolodex” of contacts in the healthcare arena especially impresses me. I am thankful for his ability to reach the appropriate resource with one or, at most, two phone calls.
David Holder has an extraordinary ability to see healthcare trends…[and] has been right more often than not. His devotion to healthcare and the industry is to be lauded, particularly in the boardroom where he actively engages and challenges management…[He} has superior ability to make the “right” customer introductions and to provide guidance and feedback to the management teams of portfolio companies outside the boardroom.
I seriously consider his recommendations when he brings opportunities to my attention.”
John Wilkerson
General Partner, Galen Ventures
Venture
Capitalist, Co-Investor and Board Member
“I first met David Holder when he joined Caremark (originally Home Health Care of America) in its very early formative days…[As] Vice-President of Sales…David… delivered the results,…brought great wisdom and experience…and offered key leadership that helped build a very successful company.
After…Caremark, David and I… [teamed] up informally to become angel investors in new health care companies. The first such venture we backed was a concept that became Pyxis Corporation... [which] had been rejected by every venture firm to which it had been shown. David and I were believers…and we invested our time and money. Serving as an initial board member, David brought great vision to Pyxis. His understanding of the hospital market…[was] a tremendous resource.
David has accomplished much in his long health care career. He has been successful in operating roles, investing roles, and board advisory roles. Along the way he has earned the respect of his peers. David will continue to be successful. His tenacity is unmatched, his ability to evaluate people is impressive, and his insights into the market make it seem like he can “see around corners’. David combines all this with a strong work ethic and a personal integrity that will give prospective limited partners great confidence and comfort.”
Dick Allen
Dima Ventures
Former Colleague,
Co-Investor and Board Member
“I have known David Holder for 25 years…[during which] he has been my boss, a board member and an advisory board member. In every case, David has been an invaluable [asset] in helping me and my teams’ succeed. David has an uncanny ability to sniff out great business opportunities…and put together winning combinations of managers. This is particularly evident with the enormous success of Caremark, Pyxis and TheraTx, [in each] of which David was a key founder…
David is a great team player and was an outstanding board member,…instrumental in my role at TheraTx and now as an Advisory Board member at MedAssets. David is blessed with remarkable instincts around people and markets. In 1995, Pyxis and TheraTx, the top two companies on the Inc. Magazine 500 List, boasted David…as their founding investor.
I consider David to be a good friend and outstanding businessman…”
John A. Bardis
Chairman, President and CEO,
MedAssets, Inc.
Former CEO, TheraTx Inc
“… Over the past 15 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Laura in various [capacities], first as opposing counsel and later with Laura as counsel and trusted advisor to my firm, Liberty Partners…Having made the transition from securities/corporate lawyer to the private equity world some six years ago, I ,,, think that I’m uniquely qualified to assess those in the legal profession that are possessed of the right skills and personality to smoothly transition to the venture capital/private equity world.
…Laura has that rare combination of intelligence combined with practical knowledge and judgment that makes her an unusually valuable asset. More importantly, I’ve seen her grow into a bona fide business advisor and confidant to my firm as well as to CEOs of certain of our portfolio companies. That has been of immeasurable importance to us and to those CEOs … Her experience as a lawyer, her ability to relate to people, her business acumen and instincts, her knowledge of the markets and her day-to-day experience with the every day problems associated with companies makes Laura an invaluable resource …to your future portfolio management teams.
…Finding someone capable of dealing with [the issues that confront portfolio companies on a day-to-day basis]…and making a positive difference in outcomes is extremely difficult … Laura has this unique combination of talents.
…While you [David] are known for your ability to recognize potential deal opportunities…[Laura should not be underestimated in her ability] … in the transactional and business world [to] identify and evaluate business opportunities…Laura has always been known for that quality, particularly in the healthcare space [despite this being the most difficult skill for a lawyer to develop].
… I can think of no better combination of qualities than to combine all of these skills with a winning personality and a network of …contacts across the country … Laura is an invaluable addition to Holder Capital Partners. We [at Liberty Partners] look forward to working with [the Holder Capital Partners team]…”
G. Michael Stakias
Managing
Director, Liberty Partners
I have had the privilege of working with Jon Holder on numerous projects over the past 15 years. We have worked together on corporate due diligence, deal analysis, technical strategy and in operations. In the early 90’s, I worked for Jon implementing the industry changing business plan of EDiX Corporation. I was impressed by his ability to manage a fast growing organization and to analyze the market landscape for competitive advantages using new technologies.
Later, in my capacity as CIO of E*Offering, the Investment Bank of E*Trade and CEO of NetChemistry, I relied on Jon’s talents to review potential strategic alliances and to provide leadership of complex projects in the online banking and fixed income space. He was our go-to guy, with a keen eye for the bottom line, both in corporate deal making and in realizing the efficiencies of technology.
…[I]n regards to Jon’s character, I can think of no higher accolade than to state that he is a man of integrity, honesty and intelligence, who brings the necessary gravitas required to build consensus in fractious negotiations and complex operational situations.
Alfred Lutter
CEO,
Lutter Consulting
“I have known David Holder for over 20 years - primarily in various business relationships… I have also observed his son Jon over the past 10 years in various business settings. First, with respect to their integrity, character and forthrightness…both conduct their personal and business life at the highest level…David is also an excellent and timely communicator. I first met David at Home Health Care of America (Caremark) [and]I believe he had much to do with creating [its] substantial value…Subsequently, I was either involved directly or observed him closely in Pyxis, TheraTx and EDiX and know that he consistently brought forward creative ideas and strategic relationships to each of these companies. I believe his strength is in identifying and assessing opportunities…which makes him ideally suited to locating and assessing business opportunities for his newly proposed venture company…Jon has demonstrated an ability to apply rigorous analytical assessments to any proposed deal…In summary, I believe David and his [team] have the necessary skills and abilities to be successful with HCP.”
Tom Testman
Entrepreneur,
Co-Investor
and Partner Ernst & Young
LLP (ret.)
“ David Holder [and I] have collaborated on numerous business endeavors and initiatives for over twenty years. David has a wealth of knowledge about the healthcare industry…, early stage …investing and the Southern California healthcare environment.
David’s personal network…is unsurpassed…[and he] has been an invaluable resource for me when I have been recruiting individuals to companies, looking for resources for projects, or in need of advice for a specific business or project…
I have worked with David to start a healthcare company, (AccentCare, Inc), build and sell a company (CarePartners, Inc.) and to evaluate numerous healthcare business opportunities…
David’s sense of timing and market opportunity on early stage investments is quite extraordinary…”
Robert A. Prosek
Founding Chairman and Former CEO, Accentcare Entrepreneur
and Former Co-Investor
"David has an exceptional track record of building successful companies. Having worked with David over the past 3 years, I have come to realize why. David has great insights into the healthcare marketplace and has a unique ability to find and develop strong executives to lead these companies."
Terrence J. Mulligan
Group Vice President
(Ret.) Baxter International
Entrepreneur
and Current Board Member
I had the opportunity to work with Laura Hunter for six years as one of her partners at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, where I think her singular success can properly be attributed to her work ethic, intelligence, character and integrity. I have a very high degree of confidence in her skill set not only in identifying and evaluating investment opportunities, but also in adding value as an advisor to entrepreneurial companies at every stage of their development, from startup to exit events. She has the experience and perspective to help build solid companies and accelerate their success, and the expertise and dedication to help them address intractable problems and work them through to positive solutions.
Patrick A. Arrington
Partner,
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
“I would like to offer my highest recommendation for Jon Holder. I have known Jon both personally and professionally for over 10 years…[H]e has the utmost integrity and conducts his business affairs with honesty and forthrightness. His business acumen [is strong and has been honed through his] interactions and communications with people [at all stages of an organization]…Jon’s knowledge of business… has been developed over time and he now has a great command of picking…winners. These characteristics make him ideal for assessing any and all business opportunities for HCP…”
Doug Murray
Director Implementations
Spheris
…I have had the opportunity to work with David in healthcare and other arenas, and have observed him in a variety of capacities. In the late 1980’s David recognized the value of our technology and wrote the first check for Pyxis Corporation. Pyxis was one of the most successful med-tech startups of all time. The company subsequently went public in 1992 and was sold to Cardinal Healthcare in 1996 for just under one billion dollars. Today Pyxis represents approximately $8 billion of Cardinal’s portfolio.
David has unselfishly donated his time and effort to planning and organizing highly successful ventures and venture funds as well as various fundraising events for business and other charitable organizations. His investment savvy as well as his extensive entrepreneurial background has made him an invaluable asset to many organizations over the years … David is also innovative and creative …He willingly takes the time needed to help an investor understand a concept, and is there to reinforce the learning if necessary.
Peter McLaughlin
Founding Technologist
Pyxis Corporation
“I would personally like to acknowledge David Holder and his strong, insightful and consistent influence that he has had on…DispenseSource…and me personally.”
…I would describe David as a keen observer of all major aspects of what it takes to be a successful company in today’s challenging environment…[He} is constantly focused on the “quantitative and compelling value proposition….and is relentless…in fine-tuning this message…He is an “operator” at heart…[and] is always focused on the right [strategic] partnerships [that will] propel the company to greatness faster. David is our most involved and valuable board member…
…I [give] a strong vote of confidence that David will drive his new venture fund to success.”
Doug Antone
President and CEO, DispenseSource
Inc.
Current Portfolio Company
“I met Jon in early 2002 and worked with him on several investment qualification and consulting projects. I also consulted to the HCP partnership as it formulated its initial investment thesis and prepared to raise its inaugural healthcare venture fund.
Jon’s operational experience and technology orientation give him a unique ability to evaluate emerging healthcare companies and identify value. His quantitative skills, investment acumen and penchant for managing large amounts of information are key strengths that complement the talents of the other members of the HCP team.
I am confident that HCP will succeed in meeting the challenge of the “new era” of healthcare venture investing.”
Vice President, Solis Capital Partners
“It is my pleasure to recommend David Holder of Holder Capital Partners…As the new CEO of Medquist…I was…the [number one] competitor of…EDiX, and watched father and son perform and execute brilliantly. I currently sit with David on an advisory board and am fascinated by his quick mind and probing questions. There is no doubt in my mind that this fund is “poised for greatness.”
R. Timothy Stack
Former President and CEO,
MedQuist Inc.
Former Competitor
“It has been my extreme pleasure to know Jon Holder for thirty years. We are close personal friends as well as business associates, and it is without reservation that I commend Jon on both his business acumen and character.
…He has a quick, mature, and agile intellect; this affords him the ability to assess and act in a coordinated and intelligent manner in any type of situation. He plans and executes with a commanding determination…Jon [has]…an interpersonal savvy which [enables] him [to] work… successfully within a team environment.
…Jon is uncommonly dependable and loyal. He is a man of honor who does not shy away from work or commitment. There is simply no one else I would rather have on my team, in any and all events.”
Dan Mickelsen
President, Braintrust Media
"David has an exceptional track record of building successful companies. Having worked with David over the past 3 years, I have come to realize why. David has great insights into the healthcare marketplace and has a unique ability to find and develop strong executives to lead these companies."
Jeremy Glazer
Partner, Cooley Godward LLP
Legal Counsel
David Holder and I have a relationship that started in 1978 at McGaw Laboratories (Division of American Hospital Supply). Two years later, we worked together during the formative days of Home Health Care of America (CAREMARK). Since then, we have been co-investors and have done “due-diligence” together on a number of projects.
Although David has many gifts, he is blessed with a compelling wisdom that is a very unique blend of his education, training and experience. This wisdom allows him to “look over the horizon” well beyond most strategic thinkers into insights that are demonstrated through his “due diligence” process and questions …I appreciate David’s commitment to “dig in” with a vigorous and dynamic work ethic that is …persuasive.
Tom H. Yankoff
CEO, Integrated Behavioral
Health
Former VP Operations, Caremark/co-worker
and co-investor
