[December 04, 2014]

Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network Colorado Announces Dan Caruso, Zayo Co-Founder and CEO, as Steering Committee Chair

The Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network (BEN) in Colorado announced today that Dan Caruso, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Zayo Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE:ZAYO), a Boulder, Colo. based Bandwidth (News - Alert) Infrastructure services company, will serve as its Steering Committee Chair for 2015. BEN also announced the appointment of its first three Blackstone Entrepreneurs: George Heinrichs (News - Alert), Mark Hopkins, and Tom Moore.

Caruso co-founded Zayo Group in 2007, and has helped shape the company into one of the largest technology companies on Colorado's Front Range, generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue. He recently led the company to the public market, completing one of the biggest technology IPOs in Colorado history. Caruso is dedicated to supporting Colorado's entrepreneurial community, and is actively involved with universities, startups, and community organizations across the Front Range.

"We're honored that Dan Caruso (News - Alert) has agreed to serve as the first chair of the steering committee for the BEN Colorado initiative," said J.B. Holston, Executive Director of BEN Colorado. "Dan's success as a serial entrepreneur, and Zayo's rise from concept to Colorado's 20^th most-highly-valued public company, are the exact models for BEN's focus - promoting, networking, and assisting Colorado's next great Gazelle companies."

The BEN Steering Committee is comprised of leaders in the Colorado business ecosystem who are dedicated to the growth of the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network. These established Colorado business leaders determine BEN's long-term strategy, and provide input and guidance into the network initiatives that promote, and support Colorado's Gazelles: established high-growth companies that are likely to become Colorado's next great 'tentpole' firms.

"The Front Range is home to so many innovative startup companies, and we must continue to foster collaboration and growth to keep them in Colorado," said Dan Caruso, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Zayo Group. "I look forward to contributing to the strategic direction of BEN Colorado, and continuing to establish the Front Range as a leader and destination for entrepreneurship."

The initial three Blackstone Entrepreneurs for BEN Colorado were named today as well.

George Heinrichs is recently retired from Intrado, a global provider of pubic safety communication services, which he co-founded and where he served as President and CEO. Intrado became one of Colorado's largest software companies, employing over 1,100 people and serving over 3 billion 9-1-1 calls since inception. George completed numerous private and public transactions with the firm.

Mark Hopkins founded Peak Industries, one of the leading contract manufacturers of complex medical systems, Mark grew Peak from a start-up in 1996 to sales of $75MM. Peak was acquired by Delphi (News - Alert) in 2005 as it entered the medical device market and currently operates as Delphi Medical Systems. Mark currently is a Managing Partner and co-founder of Crescendo Capital Partners (www.crescendocp.com) a Denver-based, lower middle market private equity firm. Mark is also the author of the book, "Shortcut to Prosperity."

Tom Moore is a Principal at TimesArrow Capital, LLC and a Senior Vice President of ViaSat (News - Alert), Inc. A technologist at heart and by training, Tom has spent much of his career involved in the development of video, voice and data broadband technology for the satellite, wireless and cable television industries. Tom founded WildBlue in the 1990s; raised hundreds of millions of dollars for it; then subsequently sold it to ViaSat in 2009.

Blackstone Entrepreneurs are individuals within the Blackstone Entrepeneurs Network who have been selected by the BEN Steering Committee, based on their experience, expertise, and commitment. These Blackstone Entrepreneurs are a select group of Colorado's best entrepreneurs, who will be on point on behalf of the network to multiple BEN Companies, helping to coordinate Network and other resources to assist those firms as they scale.

Holston said, "George, Mark and Tom have contributed tremendously to the creation of BEN and are the perfect peers on behalf of the full network to Colorado's great rising companies."

Phil Weiser, Dean of the University of Colorado Law School and founder of the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, which hosts BEN Colorado, said "The efforts by leaders in our entrepreneurial community to support BEN Colorado underscore why Colorado is a great community for this initiative-our successful entrepreneurs are committed to giving back and supporting the next generation of great emerging growth companies."

More information on Dan, Tom, George and Mark can be found here: Dan Caruso, Tom Moore, George Heinrichs, Mark Hopkins

More information the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network can be found here: http://www.bencolorado.com

More information on Dan Caruso and Zayo Group can be found here: www.zayo.com

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