Cairn Cross of FreshTracks Capital Receives National Award
Cairn Cross, Managing Director and Co-Founder of FreshTracks Capital, LP, Shelburne, Vermont, has been selected not only as the SBA 2011 Financial Services Champion in the State of Vermont and the New England Region, but the National award as well. He will be honored as the National Financial Services Champion at Small Business Week ceremonies in Washington, DC, May 18-20, 2011.
Nominated by Holly Killary, Administrative Assistant, FreshTracks Capital, Cross was selected for his efforts to encourage the flow of investment capital to small businesses, his active support for legislative changes to assist small businesses, and his volunteer work in both the business community and academia.
FreshTracks Capital provides funding to primarily Vermont businesses by investing in their growth. FreshTracks operates two venture capital funds organized as limited partnerships with a total of $25 Million in venture capital. Co-founded by Cairn Cross and Charles Kireker in 2001, FreshTracks Capital has invested in 21 businesses from a variety of industries. Its list of portfolio companies includes Eating Well Media Group, which, with FreshTracks funding, soared from a start-up pre-revenue venture to a $10 Million+ revenue-profitable company employing more than 35 people. Cross has been the chairman of the EatingWell board since 2005. Additional FreshTracks success stories include Vermont Teddy Bear, NativeEnergy and NEHP, Inc., with Cross serving on the board of directors at each company.
Cross has also distinguished himself as a volunteer, serving as a member of the Vermont Board of Public Accountancy, Director of the Vermont Community Loan fund, and Director and Vice Chairman of Opportunities Credit Union, to name a few. He has served as a guest lecturer to classes at UVM, Middlebury College and Green Mountain College, and has spoken to a diversity of groups such as Vermont Venture Network, Invent Vermont and Leadership Champlain. He has been a judge for various student business plan competitions including St. Michaels College and the Middlebury Solution Group’s annual J-term “boot camp.”
Cross is knowledgeable about and has been closely involved with public policy issues affecting Vermont small businesses. His testimony before the Vermont State Legislature was instrumental in modifying Vermont’s licensed lender law to create a streamlined licensing process for business lenders. In addition to testifying before House and Senate Committees, Cross has served as a key go-between for legislators seeking compromise and those responsible for small business lending oversight.
After receiving the National Award at Small Business Week ceremonies in Washington, D.C., Mr. Cross will be locally recognized at the Vermont Small Business Awards ceremony on June 16th, Shelburne Farms Coach Barn, Shelburne, Vermont.
