Principals

Ken Alston, Co-founder and Managing Director

Prior to NDV, Ken was co-founder and executive chairman of Eventide Risk Management and its subsidiaries, Southern California Risk Management and Medical Audit and Management, a recognized leader within the workers’ compensation and insurance industry. Under his leadership, the company achieved rapid organic growth where revenues and employees doubled and EBITDA almost tripled in less than two years. In July 2006, the company was acquired for over ten times invested equity capital - an annual return of over 250%.  Today, the combined company generates revenue in excess of $175 million.

Previously, Ken was co-founder and managing director of Eventide Management where he focused on the origination, analysis, and structuring of investment opportunities resulting in the acquisition of Southern California Risk Management. Before NDV and Eventide, Ken founded an early-market company, which was part of the University of Southern California business incubator, EC2.  The company was ultimately acquired by a JP Morgan venture-backed fund.

Ken holds an MA from Columbia University and an MBA from Thunderbird where he was an endowed scholar in entrepreneurship. He has been a periodic lecturer on the subject of entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California and is a former member of Vistage International (TEC), a chief executive leadership organization.

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Tad Danz, Co-founder and Managing Director

Tad is President of Newport Diversified, Inc.  In 1976, Tad became the Regional Manager for Sterling Recreation Organization’s theatres, bowling centers, outdoor marketplaces, and radio stations in California, Arizona, and Colorado. In 1980, Tad was promoted to Vice President in charge of Administration for SRO. In 1982, Tad was promoted to President of SRO. At that time, SRO had about 1,600 employees and operated 135 movie theatres, eight outdoor marketplaces, 13 radio stations, nine bowling centers, and other leisure time activities throughout five Western states. In 1984, Tad formed Newport Diversified, Inc., which bought three businesses in Southern California from SRO.

During his career with SRO, Tad was a member of the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the President of the California Motion Picture Theatre Owners’ Association.  For two years, Tad was the General Chairman for the Sho-West Convention, the largest convention in the world of motion picture operators, concessionaires, and theatre equipment suppliers. Tad is active in non-profit organizations, currently serving as Treasurer of Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana.  He is a past Director of the Pacific Club and past Vice Chairman of T.H.I.N.K. Together, an after school tutoring agency.

Tad holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA from Columbia University.

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