Brandon Lloyd

Brandon Lloyd serves as a partner with Dominion.  His experience in market-based research and data analysis offers a unique skill set in working with faculty and scientists to position the value proposition of ideas and innovation. He specializes in offering solutions for a business model or commercialization vehicle that will mitigate development risk, facilitate adoption and provide a financial return.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Lloyd co-founded Ambre Energy, Ltd.  As vice president of development, he was responsible for corporate and project capital fund raising as well as lobbying efforts, strategic partnerships and a logistics strategy that positioned Ambre as the largest U.S. exporter of bulk commodities to Asia. He negotiated and executed joint venture agreements with industry, technology and financial partners and assisted in evaluating and negotiating the lease of a one-billion-ton coal reserve in Queensland, Australia. Mr. Lloyd helped secure $150 million in funding to date and a market capitalization of over $350 million.

Mr. Lloyd is the founding partner and co-manager of 7Revolutions Energy Fund. He is currently acting chief executive officer of three emerging renewable energy companies for which he has successfully applied for and been awarded numerous federal, state and private grants. He is also co-manager of The Ritchie Group, a private equity fund encompassing real estate, farming, health care and energy-related investments.

Mr. Lloyd co-founded Global Energy Solutions where he was promoted by strategic industry and investment partners to assume the role of president and chief executive officer.  While at Global, he introduced bypass oil purification technology and demonstrated the value proposition for investors and consumers by offering energy and emission-friendly technology coupled with financial and economic benefits.  He initiated successful product demonstrations and facilitated adoption programs by various government agencies including the Department of Energy, Department Of Defense and the United States Postal Service.

Mr. Lloyd began his career as a sector specialist in the equities division of Mizuho Financial Group in New York City where he served as a global analyst and institutional sales representative for the power and energy sector. His work with Mizuho included servicing international investment clients to formulate investment decisions based on current and forecasted macro/micro conditions, growth, and technology adoption rates.

Mr. Lloyd holds an MBA from the University of Utah and a BA from Brigham Young University.

Mike Lee

Mr. Lee co-founded Dominion Ventures in 1985 and serves as a managing partner. His investment focus has been in financial services, information/business services and clean technology. Mr. Lee is also co-founder of Kreos Capital, formerly European Venture Partners, a London-based private equity firm. 

Mr. Lee earned an MBA from Brigham Young University and serves on its National Advisory Council.

Taft Price

During his career Taft has been instrumental in the dramatic growth of several successful companies.  He has extensive experience in mergers & acquisitions, venture capital, investment analysis and corporate finance.  In addition to his financial expertise, Taft brings to Dominion the strategic vision to identify the long-term potential of a business and the leadership skills necessary to build a complete management team that stays focused on the tasks that maximize value.

As a co-founder and president of Oakley Networks, Inc. a software company that has developed Internet security software for the government and corporate markets., Taft provided the leadership to take Oakley from a concept to revenue in less than twelve months.  From inception in 2001 to the sale of the company in 2007 to Raytheon Company, Oakley generated more that $75 million in revenue.  Oakley continues today as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raytheon making a significant contribution to national security.  

Prior to Oakley, Taft was managing partner of Alta Capital Management, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor, managing assets for institutions and high, net-worth investors according to a disciplined value/growth investment strategy.  During his five-year tenure with Alta, Taft revitalized a stagnant firm by recruiting a talented team of professionals and growing revenue by 220%.

Earlier in his career, Taft was vice president of Richter & Co. and Cerberus Partners, LP, an investment banking boutique and hedge fund specializing in distressed securities.  While with Cerberus, Taft served as a member of the Board of Harvest Food, Inc. and oversaw a major restructuring and divestiture plan for the company.  While in  graduate school, Taft worked as a managing consultant for a not-for-profit firm that helped minority-owned small businesses in the New York Metropolitan area.

Taft and his wife Mary Jane have four daughters and are active in numerous civic and charitable causes.  Taft was appointed by the Governor of Utah to serve on the University of Utah's Board of Trustees.  Taft holds an MBA from New York University and a BA from Brigham Young University.

Philip Smith

Mr. Smith has been involved in the venture capital business since 1987. In addition to his advisory service for high net worth individuals, he invested directly and indirectly as a limited partner during his time with the Venture Capital Group in the investment division of New York Life Insurance Company. His direct investments covered all stages of the venture capital cycle and included: Newbridge Networks, Sportsline (now CBSSports.com), Intermedia Communications of Florida, Metro PCS, and Gyration, creator of an enabling technology for the Wii.

In addition to direct transactions, Mr. Smith invested over $200 million in more than twenty partnerships. As a result of these activities, he has developed valuable relationships with several top-tier venture capital firms including: Accel Partners, Advent Venture Partners, Crosspoint Ventures, Highland Capital Partners, Institutional Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, The Mayfield Fund and Venrock Associates.

Prior to his work in the Venture Capital Group, Mr. Smith worked in the Private Placement Group where he initiated New York Life’s lending in the cable and broadcast markets.

Mr. Smith currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife, who is a public school teacher, and their two children. He holds a B.S in Finance from Miami University (1980) and an MBA from Indiana University (1984).

Rick Hawkins

Rick Hawkins is a general partner heading life sciences investments for Dominion Ventures.

Mr. Hawkins is currently the Chief Executive Officer for portfolio companies Lumos Pharma and Virovax.
Previously, Mr. Hawkins founded Pharmaco. As chairman, president and chief executive officer, he managed the growth of the organization to over 700 employees.  Pharmaco offered a full range of clinical drug development services to the pharmaceutical industry, including Phase I-IV clinical trials and analytical chemistry services.  When the company merged with Applied Bioscience International, Mr. Hawkins managed its 2000 employee international research & development operations. Pharmaco merged with PPD of Wilmington, NC to form PPD Pharmaco, one of the largest clinical contract research organizations in the world.

After selling Pharmaco, Mr. Hawkins founded id2, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology research management company.  Through his position as Chairman and CEO at id2, he has served as an advisor and mentor in the start-up of numerous companies, including Sensus Drug Development Corporation.  Sensus, a biotechnology company, developed growth hormone antagonists for use in acromegaly, the complications of diabetes, and regulation of growth hormone in the treatment of specific types of tumors.  Mr. Hawkins co-founded Sensus and served as the Chairman. Sensus was sold to Pfizer.

In addition to Sensus, Mr. Hawkins was co-founder and director of Covance Biotechnology Services, Inc., a full service contract manufacturer of recombinant proteins located in Research Triangle Park, NC. Covance Biotechnology Services was sold to Akzo Nobel, Inc in early 2001.

Mr. Hawkins co-founded and acted as CEO, President and Chairman of LabNow, a diagnostic device company established to improve the quality of patient care and lower overall treatment costs through deployment of rapid, point-of-care, physician office-based diagnostic testing systems.