Howard Schultz co-founded Maveron in 1998 with Dan Levitan. Now the Chairman of Starbucks Coffee Company, Schultz joined Starbucks as Director of Operations and Marketing in 1982, when the company had only four stores. With the help of local investors, he purchased the company in 1987. In 1992, Starbucks became the first specialty coffee company to become a public company and is now the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world with more than 14,000 stores in 43 countries. Schultz has received numerous awards in recognition of his achievements and his commitment to community service and to Starbucks partners (employees). In September 2000, he was honored by the Columbia University School of Business with the Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics. In January 2002, Schultz was named one of the top 25 Managers of the Year by Business Week magazine. In April 2004, Time magazine named Schultz one of the 100 most influential people in the world today. Most recently Schultz was selected as a 2007 recipient of the Horatio Alger Award, given to those who have overcome adversity to achieve great success through the American free enterprise system. Schultz has served on the boards of several Maveron portfolio companies including eBay (NASDQ:EBAY), drugstore.com (NASDQ:DSCM) and Potbelly Sandwich Works.