Mitchell Hauser

Mitchell Hauser offers his clients an unusual combination of operational experience and financial expertise to help build and grow companies. Mr. Hauser has established a successful career in launching and growing businesses into prosperous ventures by applying his Wall Street background and practical operating experience. He has designed strategic business plans, raised growth capital, motivated and operated companies, negotiated and closed deals, and, in addition, managed the finances of multi-million dollar corporations.

In 1996, Mr. Hauser became the President and Chief Executive Officer for MariTEL, a small marine telephone operator that had provided antiquated telephone services to the maritime market along the Gulf Coast of the U.S. During his tenure there, he transformed MariTEL into a modern and vital telecommunications company by restructuring the entire company. He was responsible for the purchase of the exclusive license for all marine frequency in the U.S. and the acquisition of fifteen competitive marine telephone operators; raised $80 million of equity capital in six rounds of financing; oversaw the modernization of obsolete technology; and negotiated strategic partnerships with vendors for network construction, tower construction, and telephony services. He was instrumental in helping to create the VHF wireless industry by working with the Federal Communications Commission. In October 2001, Mr. Hauser oversaw the debut of MariTEL's new competitive services.

Prior to MariTEL, Mr. Hauser was a Partner at MCT Investors, a private equity group specializing in health care and telecommunications. While there, he helped bring American Telecasting, the largest wireless cable company in the United States, public and was on its board of directors. He was also on the Board of MCT of Russia, which develops mobile telephone properties in the former Soviet Union, and initiated a new strategy to provide marine mobile telephone services. While at MCT, Mr. Hauser became a Director of WJG MariTEL, before assuming the role of President and CEO.

Mr. Hauser began a successful finance career with Furman Selz Capital Management in 1984. During the course of the next ten years, he held positions at private equity and portfolio management companies. As Director of Research at IMI Securities, he managed a research team and directed the production of a newsletter that discussed U.S. financial markets, interest rates and currency. At National Securities, he was Vice President and Portfolio Manager of an aggressive growth fund. Mr. Hauser joined Granite Capital as Vice President and Portfolio Manager at its inception and was involved in its success as an important hedge fund.

Mr. Hauser serves on the Boards of Directors of the Green Space Dance Company, the Long Island City Dance Group, the Long Island City YMCA, and The Space. The Space is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to maintaining the artistic heritage of Long Island City. The Space provides logistical support for artists and community projects and provides cultural events and educational projects to the local community.

A cum laude graduate from Brandeis University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Economics, Mr. Hauser also received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.