Since 1984, Fulham & Co. has developed a strategy of relying upon Operating Partners to assist in the evaluation and management of its investments. Tim Fulham and Bill Vitello will highlight the central role that Operating Partners play in the Fulham & Co. investment strategy. In particular, Tim and Bill will address how Operating Partners contribute to investment selection, due diligence, portfolio company monitoring, sharing of best practices and fundraising. Tim and Bill will also discuss the process the firm uses to develop new Operating Partners.

Timothy W. Fulham is a principal of Fulham & Co. and co-manages the firm with his brother John. Tim joined Fulham & Co. in 1984 and played a leading role in its investment and merchant banking activities until 1989, when he took a two-year leave of absence to serve as Chief Financial Officer of Fresh Fields Markets of Rockville, Maryland. Fulham & Co. helped establish this company while advising its founder, who had been an original backer of Staples. Tim returned to Fulham & Co. in 1991, before Fresh Fields' sale to a public company, and has since played a key role in all of Fulham & Co.'s activities. From 1982 to 1984, Tim worked as a staff accountant at Deloitte Haskins & Sells in New York City, where he became licensed as a CPA. He received an AB in English from Boston College in 1980 and an MBA from Columbia University School of Business in 1982.

Bill Vitello has worked with Fulham & Co. since December 2006 overseeing portfolio companies Trombetta, Joyce/Dayton, and Emseal. Bill began his carrer at TRW, where he worked for seven years in the Automotive's Fasteners Division, serving in positions of increasing responsibility, including Manager of General Accounting and Senior Financial Analyst. In 1992 he became Controller of American Engineered Components and was promoted to General Manager in 1997. From 2000 through 2004 he was the CFO and one-third equity owner of a specialty metal forming shop; he then moved on to become Controller of the ITW TACC Division, a $70 million manufacturer of adhesives, until 2006. During his stay at ITW, he increased Manufactured Housing segment profitability 500% and acquired two additional adhesive operations. Bill received a B.A. from Clark University in 1976 and an MBA from Northeastern University in 1982.