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Letters
from third parties
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To Whom It May
Concern,
My association with Michael Sauvante
began in 2001. I was working for a company that does
sustainability consulting. To prospect for new clients, I used
a list of attendees to conferences that the CEO had attended.
Michael had attended both CERES and another one of the
conferences.
In 2002 I invested in the company Michael
headed. Since then I have had numerous conversations with him.
What has been consistent and unwavering is Michael’s commitment
to Triple Bottom Line business practices (where the success of
a business is not measured solely by profits but also by how it
treats people and the planet). He has a bedrock conviction that
his purpose in life is to be an agent of change for the
betterment of society.
For reasons that remain inexplicable, a
small number of dissident investors took actions that led to
the demise of the companies in which Michael was involved. The
company which had enveloped the previous companies was on the
verge of going public when this occurred.
Harsh personal attacks were made against
Michael and all sorts of outrageous allegations were repeatedly
leveled (yet not once have they offered any evidence whatsoever
to support their claims). The consequences have been a personal
financial nightmare for Michael and the ongoing dilemma of
people being scared away, based upon postings on the Internet,
from wanting to get involved with Michael.
Of course, I am not very pleased about
having lost my investment. If I thought there was any truth to
the charges that had been made against Michael, I certainly
would not be writing in support of him. Michael is a very
decent, caring man, who, given the unhindered opportunity, will
be a difference maker.
Gene Tresenfeld
January 2009
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To Anyone Who Cares to Know
the Truth About Michael,
I have known Michael for almost 40 years, becoming friends even
before he met and married his wonderful wife Pati. He and
Pati are my dearest friends. I, more than most, know them both,
their values and motivations, and most importantly, their
integrity. They are deeply spiritual people who are absolutely
and wholeheartedly dedicated to serving humanity and our
planet.
I know this well, because
when Michael and I met in our early 20's, while other friends
were interested in partying and drinking, we were seriously
involved in discussions of spirituality and
service. Michael introduced me to a philosophy of service
to humanity which became my source of spiritual inspiration, as
it was his. When he met and married Pati, who has become
like a sister, we were all bound in friendship and inspiration
in our spiritual and service commitment.
When Michael showed me the potential in the new technology, and
their attempt to hold a higher ground in corporate relations, I
wanted to support this effort, and became a shareholder in the
company. I did so knowing I was supporting the potential
for something very special, and Michael and the whole team had
my enthusiastic support. I recognized what he was trying to do
with the company, and I wanted to help in its potential
contribution nationally and internationally.
It was with great sadness that
I watched individuals take actions that demonstrated the worst
of human traits, and with the worst corporate backstabbing that
one could ever imagine. What unfolded was a deliberate
negative campaign of blatant false accusations and assumptions
directed specifically against Michael and his fellow teammates.
The hate of his detractors, who attempted a takeover -- and
were willing to do anything to effect it -- was
palpable. Sanity and reason was useless against the smears
of outright lies and twisted facts.
Investment in new ideas is always a risk, and I was willing to
take a risk for such a great idea. The company with it's new
technology had clear and growing opportunities for success and
expansion, and had everything not been brought to a halt with
the legal wrangles that resulted from those unwarranted
attacks, it is likely that no one would have lost money. I
have no regrets.
To this day, I continue to
support Michael and Pati, and the ideals for which they strive,
and would support them again with any idea that helps economic
and environmental sustainability, and promotes a better more
high-minded corporate approach.
Michael worked so very hard to turn around the ill effects of
the groundless attacks, but still the corporation
collapsed. Michael and Pati put everything they had into
the endeavor, and they lost absolutely everything, and
more. Even so, though there is no legal obligation, they
both have a moral compass that impels them to strive to create
positive means to make whole the investors'
losses. Michael has shared some projects which he hopes
will not only help with sustainability issues, but will
ultimately repay those who supported him... not only his
vision, but the vision so many of us had.
This world needs more people like Michael Sauvante working hard
to make a real difference for the good of everyone.
Sincerely,
Barbara Rulf
January 2009
Recommendation
I first met Frank Bachinsky in 1998 when Frank was the Managing
Partner of Viridian Capital, an early stage technology venture investment firm.
At that time, I was the Chief Executive Officer of Reliacast, Inc., a Herndon,
VA based software company focused on developing software tools and services for
audience management and measurement on the internet.
I was immediately impressed with Frank's ability to understand
complex technologies and how to best apply them in real world applications. Frank
personally led the first two financing rounds for Reliacast through the
Viridian Ventures investment funds and served on the Reliacast board of
directors for four years.
During the past 12 years, I have enjoyed knowing Frank both as a
technology investment professional and as a personal friend. Frank continues to
demonstrate the highest levels of dedication and professionalism in the way he
conducts business and both his integrity and ethical behavior are beyond
reproach.
I would be happy to speak with any person that would like to learn
more about my professional experiences working with Frank Bachinsky.
Tom Klaff
Chief Executive Officer
Surety, LLC
November 12, 2010
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Re: Frank Bachinsky
To Whom It May Concern:
I have had the pleasure of knowing and doing business with Frank Bachinsky for approximately 15 years and am happy to provide a reference for him.
I met Frank in the mid-nineties in Charlotte, North Carolina, through my brother, who was then Senior Counsel at Bank of America. At the time, I was an investment banker, working for the Americas division of Yamaichi Securities, one of Japan’s Big Four securities firms. When Yamaichi rather tragically shut down, I began exploring my options, including migrating to the buy side. By coincidence, Mr. Bachinsky began forming the basis for a private equity firm, called Viridian Capital. As he and I had similar interests, we regularly discussed his vision and we started to work together, on an informal basis. In fact, for a time, I considered coming on board, but I ultimately founded my own firm, a London-based venture capital firm, called Bracken Partners. By this time, Frank and I had established a strong friendship and business association, founded on similar principles and ethics, that persists to this day. As such, I feel I am exceptionally well-qualified to speak to his character and business acumen.
In short, Frank is one of the most driven individuals I have ever known, who balances an entrepreneurial spirit, with a strong sense of social responsibility. I find his character to be beyond reproach and his business instincts almost uncanny. He immerses himself fully in every project; thereby greatly mitigating execution risk. Furthermore, as a former general partner of a successful private equity fund, he understands the level of dedication that it takes as a manager to ensure success and optimize returns. While I could happily provide further superlatives to describe him here, I am equally happy to discuss the many qualities that have contributed to my long-term friendship and business association with Mr. Bachinsky. As such, please do not hesitate to contact me, as appropriate.
Sincerely,
Kevin DeLeon
November 13, 2010
Contact details available upon request
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