May 1, 2007, New York, NY – The Global Partnership for Afghanistan appointed two new board members to its Board of Directors; Fred Kittler, a managing director and co-founder of Firelake Capital Management LLC, and Polly McTaggart, founder of Crème de la Terre.
"Fred Kittler and Polly McTaggart bring significant added capacity and perspective to our board," said Dana Freyer, GPFA Co-Chair. "Mr. Kittler and Mrs. McTaggart have significant experience not only with nonprofits, but also in international business and developing markets. The talents and skills of these new board members are valuable additions to our board as GPFA helps farmers build sustainable farm-based enterprises."
Fred Kittler is a managing director and co-founder of Firelake Capital Management LLC. Previously, Mr. Kittler was the Co-President of Velocity Capital Management LLC, the investment adviser of the Velocity Technology and Communications Fund. Mr. Kittler also spent 11 years at J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc., in technology, first as a software analyst, then as the portfolio manager responsible for small capitalization technology and health science investments. Mr. Kittler spent five years as a sell-side research analyst at First Albany Corporation and also as a systems analyst, programmer and production manager for Graphic Management Systems in New York. He has served on the Visiting Committee for Advanced Technology at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and on the Independent Review Panel of the Public Interest R&D program of the California Energy Commission. He holds an M.A. in Economics from Columbia University and a B.A. in Architecture from Princeton University.
Polly D. McTaggart was most recently the founder of Crème de la Terre, an herbal skin care manufacturer. Previously, she was the owner of Dickinson Manufacturing Company, a uniform and hospital garment manufacturer, and served as Director of Finance and Planning for the women's wear division of Levi Straus & Co. Ms. McTaggart served on the Tennessee Commission on the Status of Women and was the Chair of this organization from 1974-75. In Greenwich, CT, she has served on various committees at Greenwich Academy and was an active member of the Arch Street Board of Directors and Teen Board. She has served on various committees of the Greenwich Hospital Benefit and holds national titles in competitive horse show jumping. She received a MBA from Pepperdine University and a B.A. from Vanderbilt University.