2015 Illinois ESOP Conference Speaker Bios

Transcription

1 Kim Abello Senior Vice President ESOP Advisory Group Chase Illinois ESOP Conference Speaker Bios PETER ABRAHAMSON Technical Director Verit Advisors Peter has more than 15 years of valuation and investment banking experience, specializing in the valuation of business enterprises and individual securities, structuring ESOP transactions, and executing public and private market capital raises. Peter leads the technical aspects of ESOP financial modeling, valuation, tax, accounting and human capital topics at Verit. He has analyzed and structured multiple large, complex multi-investor transactions across numerous industries including business services, direct consumer selling, distribution, gaming and manufacturing. He serves on the ESOP Association s valuation advisory committee and has spoken at numerous conferences regarding advanced ESOP valuation and transaction structuring topics. PETER ALIFERIS Managing Director Pendo Advisors [email protected] Peter is a finance professional with experience in fairness and solvency opinions, ESOP advisory services, mergers and acquisitions, valuations for estate planning and financial reporting purposes, leveraged buyouts, management buyout transactions and private placements. Prior to Pendo, Peter was with Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc. and was involved in the business development and execution of various financial analyses and other studies in support of a wide variety of valuation and transaction projects involving closely held corporations. Peter was involved in numerous engagements including fairness and solvency opinions, ESOP advisory, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and management buyout transactions. Prior to Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc., Peter held positions of Securities/Private Equity Analyst with Advanced Equities Inc. and Research Analyst with Zacks Investment Research. In this capacity, he provided research on companies in the technology and wireless infrastructure Peter holds an M.B.A with concentrations in Finance, Economics and Accounting from DePaul University s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. Peter also holds a B.Sc. in Finance from DePaul University. Victor Aspengren Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc. [email protected] Victor Aspengren is a Vice President at Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc. A company focused on business succession and the strategies needed to help create a successful transition. He lived the ESOP experience as an employee owner, HR Manger and CEO in ESOP companies. Victor is a member of the National ESOP Association and has served as a former board of director s member, former chair of the Ownership Culture Committee and is a current member of the

2 committee. Victor is also a member of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and is the current chair of the board of directors. Victor is a regular presenter at national and regional conferences on employee ownership, open book management, governance issues, and building a high performance culture. Steve Avrick Vice President Forsythe Technology, Inc. Steve is a Vice President at Forsythe Technology, Inc., one of the largest, independent IT integrators in North America. Forsythe is an employee-owned company based in Skokie, Illinois. He is responsible for the company s retirement plan administration, ERISA issues, and international tax and corporate structuring issues. Steve sits on Forsythe s fiduciary ESOP Committee. Ted Becker Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP [email protected] Ted Becker is a partner in the Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP law firm. He has a national practice with more than 25 years of experience in litigation and dispute resolution. He has represented companies that sponsor ESOPs and other benefit plans, their directors and officers, plan fiduciaries, administrators, investment advisors, and service providers in highprofile lawsuits and investigations by regulatory agencies. He represents clients along the entire dispute continuum, from litigation avoidance and pre-litigation planning through pre-trial motions, discovery, trial, and appeal. He practices before the U.S. Supreme Court, federal and state trial and appeals courts, and bankruptcy courts, as well as before administrative and regulatory agencies, and in arbitration, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. He has successfully represented clients ranging from individuals and small companies to the largest financial institutions and multinationals. He earned his law degree with highest honors at Northwestern University, and was a fellow at Yale Law School, where he taught. Gregory Brown Partner Holland and Knight LLP [email protected]

3 BARBARA M. CLOUGH, QPA, QKA Managing Director Blue Ridge ESOP Associates Charlottesville, VA (434) Barbara Clough is a Managing Director at Blue Ridge ESOP Associates, a nationally recognized third-party administration firm, which provides employee benefit plan administration and related services exclusively to ESOP Companies. During Ms. Clough s tenure in the Qualified Plan Administration field, she has been the ESOP Manager for a mid-sized consultant firm and responsible for the training and oversight of a staff of twelve administrators. Administration experience includes private and publicly-held plans ranging in size from 20 to 20,000 employees as well as extensive experience with ERISA law, Department of Labor Regulations, IRS code compliance, IRS/DOL audits. Ms. Clough has worked closely with Plan Sponsors, accountants and legal counsel to provide guidance on plan design, resolution of legal and compliance matters as well as audit discrepancies. Ms. Clough holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts. She is the current Chair of The ESOP Association s Administrative Advisory Committee, past Administration Representative of The ESOP Association Interdisciplinary Committee, past Vice President of Programming for The New England Chapter of The ESOP Association, frequent author and speaker at NCEO and ESOP Association conferences. Ms. Clough is a member of ASPPA, the ESOP Association and NCEO. Kjersti Cory Vice President BTC ESOP Services [email protected] Kjersti Cory is a Vice President with BTC ESOP Services. She has been working with employee-owned companies for over 16 years in both an ongoing trustee capacity as well as a discretionary or transactional trustee capacity. She has been involved with several transactions including the implementation of new ESOP s, second-stage ESOP transactions, redemption and sale transactions, mergers and acquisitions as well as various refinancing, restructuring, bankruptcy and liquidation transactions. She is a member of the ESOP Association and the National Center for Employee Ownership. Tina Daniel Chief Financial Officer Tina Daniel joined Human Kinetics Inc. in As CFO, Ms. Daniel oversees financial and technology including network information systems, technical support, application development and design, as well as serving as the 401(k) and ESOP plan administrators for the company. Ms. Daniel s historical work experience includes health care, and an emphasis in manufacturing prior to joining Human Kinetics.

4 Patrick De Craene, CFP GreatBanc Trust Company Patrick joined GreatBanc Trust Company in He has extensive experience in the design and administration of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans. Prior to joining GreatBanc Trust, he held positions with major national banking and consulting firms, where he gained his expertise in the design and operation of large, complex retirement plans. At GreatBanc, he serves plan sponsors and their companies in the design and structure of their retirement plan needs. David Diehl Prairie Capital Advisors David Diehl is Managing Director at Prairie. Dave advises clients on ownership transition issues with particular emphasis on ESOP valuation, financing and structuring. He is a frequent speaker in forums around the country on topics covering ownership transition planning. Prairie Capital is an Employee Owned Company. Anthony J. Dolan Vice President Prairie Capital Advisors Anthony J. Dolan is a Vice President with Prairie Capital Advisors. During his career in investment banking, Mr. Dolan has assisted numerous middle market companies and their shareholders with mergers, acquisitions, ESOP advisory, and other investment banking transactions. Mr. Dolan has worked with clients in a variety of industries and has extensive experience with manufacturing, distribution, and service businesses. To date, Mr. Dolan has completed over 20 investment banking transactions with aggregate enterprise value totaling over $600 million. In addition, Mr. Dolan has completed valuation analyses for over 100 privately-held companies. Before rejoining Prairie Capital Advisors in 2010, Mr. Dolan spent several years with the middle market private equity firm Alpha Capital Partners. At Alpha Capital, Mr. Dolan was responsible for identifying and evaluating potential investments with particular emphasis on the industrial manufacturing and distribution space. During his tenure at Alpha Capital, Mr. Dolan worked closely with the management team of NM Group Global LLC, a multi-national industrial holding company, providing support and advice on a variety of corporate finance and strategic initiatives. Mr. Dolan was also a past board observer to portfolio companies National Machinery LLC, Cleaning Technologies Group, Wessels Company, and Banner Services Corp.

5 Mr. Dolan is registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) as a Series 79 Investment Banking Representative. EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS M.B.A., Benedictine University B.A., Benedictine University Rocky Fiore Managing Director Prairie Capital Advisors [email protected] Mr. Fiore has extensive experience in leveraged ESOP and M&A transactions as well as other forms of leveraged buyouts. He also has a diverse background working with companies in many different types of industries, including: healthcare, IT Services, process management, architecture, engineering and construction services (AEC), defense contracting, insurance, HVAC and other distribution, capital equipment parts manufacturing, cosmetics and others. Mr. Fiore is a nationally recognized speaker on topics related to ESOPs, valuation, M&A and more. Rachel Gibson Director, Finance Burwood Group, Inc. And President, The Illinois Chapter of The ESOP Association [email protected] Julie Govreau Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP [email protected] Julie A. Govreau is counsel in Drinker, Biddle and Reath s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group. Julie focuses her practice on all aspects of employee benefits law, including ERISA litigation, deferred compensation plans, defined benefit plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, executive compensation arrangements, employee stock ownership plans, multiemployer plans (withdrawal liability), and welfare benefit plans. She also has experience practicing general labor and employment law. Julie is admitted to practice before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and represents a number of veterans seeking VA benefits pro bono. In General. Julie earned her LL.M., with honors, in employee benefits from The John Marshall Law School in 2006 and her J.D., magna cum laude, from The John Marshall Law School in While in law school, Julie was an investigator with the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, where she assisted in multiemployer pension plan investigations and was in charge of the Chicago Regional Office's EDS Targeting Program. Prior to attending law school, she was a human resources manager at several Chicago law firms. Julie earned her M.S. in public services management from DePaul University in 2000 and her B.S. in political science from the University of Wisconsin in 1993.

6 Robert J. Gross PRAIRIE CAPITAL ADVISORS SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR Robert Gross is one of the co-founders of Prairie Capital Advisors, an employee owned company that provides investment banking, ESOP advisory and valuations services to support the growth and ownership transition strategies of middle-market companies. These include private sales, management buyouts, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and others. Mr. Gross is a frequent speaker on valuation, ESOPs, ownership transition planning and other topics. He is also a frequent author in industry trade publications, business publications and technical journals. He is also very active in a variety of professional groups, most notably including The ESOP Association, where he is a current member and the past Chair of the Advisory Committee on Valuation and a past member of the Interdisciplinary Advisory Committee on Fiduciary Issues. Brian Hector Partner Morgan Lewis and Bockius LLP Phone: [email protected] Brian D. Hector is a partner in Morgan Lewis s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice and co-chair of the ESOP Task Force. Mr. Hector focuses his practice on ERISA and employee benefits law including the areas of ESOPs, qualified plans, all types of executive compensation, fiduciary liability, and related securities law issues. Mr. Hector is a nationally recognized ESOP attorney, who has advised several public and private ESOP companies with regard to corporate governance, succession planning strategies, ownership transition, and liquidity transactions. Mr. Hector has served as counsel to companies and shareholders regarding the use of ESOPs in numerous transactions, including equity repurchases, ownership succession transactions, leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, and corporate reorganizations. He has also represented lenders and trustees in ESOP transactions. Mr. Hector has an impressive history working with all types of benefit plans and executive compensation arrangements. He has also represented several clients before the IRS and the Department of Labor in connection with ESOP and employee benefits matters. David S. Horvath, CPA Crowe Horwath LLP [email protected] Dave leads Crowe s Benefit Plan Services group in Chicago and Oak Brook and is responsible for consulting, administrative and technical issues associated with the establishment and maintenance of retirement, compensation and welfare benefit programs. Experience Recent assignments include: Coordinating compensation and benefits study for an international hotel company involving implementation of wage and salary system redesign of pension plan and incentive compensation program.

7 Redesigning employee benefit programs for financial institutions converting to stock ownership including implementation of Employee Stock Ownership Plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Designing, communicating and implementing a cross-tested 401(k) profit sharing plan. Coordinating Internal Revenue Service voluntary compliance filings to correct operational defects in a qualified retirement plan. Coordinating a due diligence review of a pension, profit sharing and medical benefits program to assist a private equity firm in the acquisition of a portfolio company. Licenses and Certifications Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Illinois Publications and Speaking Engagements Dave is a frequent speaker at employee benefit programs and has authored several articles on retirement programs for industry publications, including a chapter in Administrative Issues for ESOP Companies, published by the National Center for Employee Ownership. He is the author of 401(k) Plans: Managing Compliance Requirements, a text used for nationwide continuing education programs through Professional Development Institute a Division of the AICPA. Fred Jahns Founder and President Brookwood Vance, LLC Phone: [email protected] Brookwood Vance, LLC is a firm dedicated to valuing privately held equity interests and evaluating ownership succession alternatives for business owners. Fred is an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) with the American Society of Appraisers and holds the Accredited in Business Valuation designation (ABV) awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has more than 20 years of experience performing business valuations across a wide range of industries for clients engaged in ESOP transactions, trust and estate administration, litigated matters, and transactions involving the transfer of full or partial ownership interests in privately held companies. A frequent speaker, Fred has addressed such diverse organizations as the ESOP Association, Illinois CPA Society, DuPage Estate Planning Council, the National Gas Association of Houston, Canadian Energy Research Institute, Wisconsin Association of Manufacturers and Commerce, Texas Society of CPAs, Midwest Cogeneration Association, National Center for Employee Ownership, Institute for International Research, and the South Suburban Estate Planning Council. In addition, Fred has served as a guest lecturer at DePaul University and John Marshall Law School in Chicago and as an adjunct professor at Concordia University-Chicago. Fred began his career as a certified public accountant for Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. and earned an MBA in Finance with distinction from DePaul University in Chicago. He has served in various capacities with numerous professional associations including three-term president of the Business Valuation Association of Chicago, six-term Vice President of the Illinois Chapter of the ESOP Association and chair of the Illinois CPA Society s Estate and Gift Tax Committee. Fred currently serves as a member of the Illinois CPA Society s Estate and Gift Tax Committee and as a member of the ESOP Association s Valuation Advisory Committee.

8 Dan Kaczmarek Senior Associate Chartwell Dan is an investment banker in Chartwell s Corporate Finance practice. He supports senior members of the firm with business development and transaction execution, including financial analyses, creation of marketing materials, and the organization of due diligence information. Dan has worked on a myriad of successful M&A and capital markets transactions within the industries of consumer products, food products, business services, healthcare, and technology. MEMBERSHIPS AND DESIGNATIONS Dan is a Registered Representative with Chartwell affiliate, CCS Transactions, LLC and holds FINRA Series 63 and 79 licenses. PRIOR EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION Prior to joining Chartwell, Dan was an investment banker with BMO Capital Markets Mergers & Acquisitions group, where he focused on executing sell-side, buy-side, and recapitalization transactions for middle-market clients between $200 million and $2 billion in enterprise value. Prior to joining BMO, Dan was a member of Stout Risius Ross s Valuation and Financial Opinions group, where he focused on ESOP equity valuations. Additionally, Dan advised ESOP trustees in sell-side, buy-side, and recapitalization transactions. Dan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and legal studies from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. Norman Kocol, CPA CFO and Treasurer (retired) Mapes and Sprowl Steel Norm Kocol has over 40 years of in-depth Financial and Human Resource experience, primarily within manufacturing companies, with a strong emphasis in job-shop foundry operations, including materials management and machining operations. He has held leadership positions within Fortune 500 companies, domestic and international private equity groups, and family controlled companies. Norm joined Mapes & Sprowl in In 2003, he arranged financing for moving the company from a partial ESOP to a 100% employee owned company. He was closely involved in the acquisitions of JIT Steel, Cortran, and S&S Porcelain. Norm s additional responsibilities include the oversight and management of purchased Benefits programs, commercial insurance, and bank/lender relationships. He has guided companies thru annual GAAP audits with no non-compliance issues, and ensured compliance on all HR issues on the Federal and State levels. Norm has been the Management Rep for Mapes ISO program and has been a regular speaker at the National Center for Employee Ownership. He holds a Bachelors degree in accounting from DePaul University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS B.S., DePaul University Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Judd Kohn Managing Director The PrivateBank Judd Kohn is a Managing Director with The PrivateBank and Trust Company. Judd has 7+ years of banking experience, with an extensive focus on Leveraged Finance, ESOPs, and Privately Owned Businesses. Judd is responsible for developing new client relationships and working with existing Commercial Banking clients to meet the needs of Middle Market Businesses. As a member of the Middle Market Banking group, Judd manages a diverse client base with over $250 million in loan commitments.

9 PRIOR EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION Judd graduated from Miami University, in Oxford, OH in 2007 with a major in Finance. Prior to joining The PrivateBank, Judd began his career in the 3rd Party Logistics industry at AFN, LLC in Niles, IL as a Carrier Sales Representative, where he developed relationships with over 100 line-haul trucking companies across the United States. Judd currently serves as Treasurer and Board Member of Free Spirit Media, a Chicago-based not for profit organization which provides education, access, and opportunity in media production to over 500 underserved urban youth every year. MARILYN MARCHETTI First Bankers Trust Services Marilyn Marchetti, J.D., Corporate Advisor, Employee Benefits Counsel, First Bankers Trust Services - Juris Doctor, Chicago - Kent College of Law Clerk of the Illinois Supreme Court. Ms. Marchetti gained national prominence as an employee benefits attorney in Chicago where she practiced for 20 years in employee benefits law, tax, and ERISA, focusing almost exclusively on ESOPs. She is a past member of the Board of Directors and Board of Governors of the ESOP Association and founded the Illinois Chapter of that organization. She is a frequent speaker and author on subjects relating to fiduciary duties and ESOPs. She is presently a member of the Legislative and Regulatory Committee and Interdisciplinary Committee of the ESOP Association. She joined FBTS in 2011 as an ERISA advisor to the Board and is a member of our ESOP practice group. Dan Marcue Chapter Development Officer The ESOP Association [email protected] Dan Marcue, Chapter Development Officer for The ESOP Association, works with the Association s 18 Chapters to grow local educational programming for their members. He has held several volunteer positions within the Association including: Past President of the Iowa-Nebraska Chapter, Executive Committee of the State and Regional Chapter Council Chair, Ownership Culture Committee Chair, and Board of Directors member of The ESOP Association. Before joining the Association, Dan worked for almost a dozen years at Woodward Communications, Inc. (WCI), an ESOP Association member, as the Human Resources Director. He has also worked in the hospitality (casino) and commercial printing industries. Dan holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Organizational Development and two Bachelor of Science Degrees, one in Business Management from Upper Iowa University and the other in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

10 Michael G. McCarthy Senior Vice President Investment Officer McCarthy/Friedman Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors Phone: Since 1983, Mike McCarthy has achieved a rewarding career in financial services by putting his clients interests first and providing exceptional personal service. He combines experience and knowledge to provide appropriate and customized investment strategies. In addition to serving his clients, Mike was a Branch Manager for Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC from 1996 to 2013, when he stepped down from his management position and is now able to focus more time and energy on his private clients and ESOP practice. Mike earned his bachelor s degree in finance from Loyola University of Chicago in 1982 and received his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional certification in His teaching experience includes serving as an instructor for the investments section of DePaul University s CFP courses since He currently serves as the Director of the Financial Planning Education Center for the university. Mike has served in various capacities over the years for the Financial Planning Association (FPA). He is a member of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and a member of the ESOP Association. In addition to his corporate and executive service capabilities, Mike specializes in thorough retirement and investment planning and believes a good investment program enhances personal wealth by helping to increase income consistent with each client s risk tolerance. DANIELLE MONTESANO Vice President First Bankers Trust Services [email protected] Danielle Montesano joined First Bankers Trust Services in She is a Vice President in the Employee Benefit Group. She brings with her extensive experience and valuable knowledge gained from more than 15 years experience working with tax, ERISA, and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). She has concentrated expertise in fiduciary issues related to privately held stock valuations, DOL and IRS audit process and class action settlements involving plans holding employer securities. Ms. Montesano received her juris doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and began her career representing employee owned companies, lenders and trustees, with an emphasis on fiduciary law. Ms. Montesano is a frequent speaker and author on ESOP issues and is nationally recognized for her expertise.

11 John O Brien President ComStock Advisors [email protected] Patrick J. Ormsby President Bimba Manufacturing Company P.O. Box 68 Monee, IL Patrick J. Ormsby is President of Bimba Manufacturing Company. Bimba s corporate headquarters are located in Monee, Illinois, and it has facilities in Rockford, IL, Chicago, IL, Plymouth, MN, and Concord, CA. Bimba Manufacturing Company designs and manufactures a variety of pneumatic, electric, and hydraulic actuators and valves for both the user and OEM markets. Bimba primarily sells its products through independent fluid power distributors predominantly in North America but has representation in major markets on a global basis. Bimba products provide controlled motion and are used extensively in automation. Bimba is an employee-owned company with approximately 500 employees. Mr. Ormsby started at Bimba in 1980 after a career in both public and private accounting. He was elected President in 1986 after the purchase of the company from the Bimba family by the ESOP. Mr. Ormsby has been active in a number of both business and community organizations over the years. Currently he serves on the following Boards: Governors State University Board of Trustees Governors State University Foundation Board of Directors Prairie State College Foundation Board of Directors Illinois Manufacturers Association Board of Directors Franciscan St. James Hospital Foundation Board of Directors Leah Riggs Associate Chase [email protected] As an associate in Chase s ESOP Advisory Group, Leah s role is to assist bankers and credit executives evaluate ESOP transactions. She also helps bankers and their clients understand ESOP-related issues through the lifecycle of an ESOP, including new and mature plans. Prior to joining Chase, Leah was a consultant at The Principal Financial Group in their ESOP administration practice focusing on feasibility, benefit level, and repurchase liability studies. Prior to Principal, Leah worked as a senior associate with Duff & Phelps. Leah received a BS in Finance from the University of Louisville.

12 David A. Rubenstein Partner in Drinker, Biddle and Reath LLP David A. Rubenstein is a member of Drinker Biddle and Reath s corporate practice and is a member of the firm s ESOP Team. Dave represents private and public companies in negotiating and consummating acquisitions and dispositions, including mergers, asset and stock acquisitions, as well as numerous joint ventures. He is involved in transactions across a broad range of regulated and unregulated industries which typically include a variety of investigatory, tax, accounting and corporate issues. Dave advises closely-held businesses on matters relating to formation, operation, dissolution, recapitalization and financings, resolution of shareholder disputes, governance and succession planning. Dave also has extensive experience assisting in the corporate aspects of Employee Stock Ownership (ESOP) transactions, including representation of selling shareholders, trustees, company purchasers and the sponsoring corporations. Dave graduated from the University of Michigan Law School where he received his J.D. degree, cum laude. He received his bachelor s degree Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He is admitted to practice law in the state of Illinois and sits on the boards of several for-profit and nonprofit organizations. David B. Solomon LEVENFELD PEARLSTEIN, LLC p: c: e: [email protected] David Solomon is a partner in Corporate & Securities Group of Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC in Chicago, Illinois. Upon joining Levenfeld Pearlstein in 2009, David founded and currently serves as the chair of the firm s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) practice which serves clients who are involved in various types of transactions involving ESOPs. In addition to working on ESOP transactions and advising ESOP companies, David currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the Illinois Chapter of the ESOP Association and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO). David has lectured frequently on ESOPs and has published articles in various publications about how ESOPs are an effective business succession strategy. David also participates in governmental lobbying efforts on behalf of ESOP companies.

13 Franco Silva Vice President Prairie Capital Advisors Franco Silva joined Prairie Capital Advisors in As Vice President, Mr. Silva advises middle market companies on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), ESOP Advisory, corporate valuation, and other investment banking advisory services. Mr. Silva has worked in a variety of industries with particular emphasis in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), financial services, health care services, manufacturing, business services, consumer retail and distribution markets. Matt Stankiewicz Forsythe Technology, Inc. [email protected] Matt Stankiewicz has been an employee-owner of Forsythe Technology, Inc, an IT infrastructure integrator and technology consulting firm based in Skokie, IL, for 4 years. He is a graduate of Williams College, and has worked in the technology procurement and consulting industries for 10 years. Matt's current duties include program development, project management and employee enablement for Forsythe consultants and pre-sales resources, and he is currently leading the legislative, educational and communications efforts as acting chairperson of Forsythe s Employee Ownership Team. Jim Swabowski Vice President Commercial Banking MB Financial Bank, N.A. [email protected] Mr. Swabowski is responsible for developing new business opportunities and creating financing solutions for closely-held middle market companies. As a member of MB Financial Bank s national ESOP Finance Group, he develops strategic financing for business owners and ESOP professionals, including leveraged, non-leveraged and second stage transactions. Mr. Swabowski earned a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois and is a member of the ESOP Association and NCEO. Scott Szafasz Bimba Manufacturing Company [email protected] PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Bimba Manufacturing Company Joined the Company in 2004 as the Corporate Controller and was promoted to Director of Finance in April The Company designs and manufactures pneumatic actuators and valves in the fluid power industry that are primarily sold thru independent distributors. Mr. Szafasz manages the accounting and finance department at Corporate, and oversees the accounting policies and procedures of the subsidiaries. Other key responsibilities include managing the year-end financial audit and ESOP audit, coordinating the annual profit plan, federal income tax preparation, cash and debt

14 management, year-end valuation, liaison for key financial institutions and professional service firms and other finance & ESOP related functions. Crowe Horwath Joined Crowe in December 1993 and left in Mr. Szafasz was a Senior Manager and worked in the Merrillville, IN office and the Oak Brook, IL office. He managed audit and review engagements for privately-held companies that generated revenue from $5 million to $100 million annually. Other responsibilities included internal control evaluation, consulting clients on various accounting and financial topics, corporate & individual federal and state tax returns and projections. Client exposure included manufacturing, distribution, transportation and a specialty in the construction industry. EDUCATION Purdue University Master of Accountancy Indiana University Bachelor of Science in Accounting PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Illinois ESOP Association President Co-Chair, Board of Directors & Chair, Finance Committee of the Company s worker s compensation insurance carrier Indiana & Illinois CPA Society ESCA (Employee Owned S Corporations of America) Paul Trost Vice President GreatBanc Trust Company [email protected] Paul is with GreatBanc Trust Company, joining in 2014 from North Star Trust Company, where he was in the ESOP services group since He was previously employed by Duff & Phelps, LLC, a financial advisory services firm. He is an active member of the NCEO and the ESOP Association as a member of the valuation advisory committee. Paul earned a BA in economics from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, and a MBA in finance from the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Timothy Witt, CFA Managing Director Prairie Capital Advisors Timothy Witt offers a decade of knowledge and experience as a specialist in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). As managing director on both the M&A buy and sell sides, he works as a trusted advisor to navigate

15 Prairie Capital Advisors clients through the ownership transition process. Once he understands their unique situations and personal and business goals, Mr. Witt designs strategies that deliver the best possible outcomes for Prairie Capital Advisors clients. Mr. Witt s focus on his clients needs and his dedication to best practices serve as an example of Prairie Capital Advisors high standards for excellence. From managing the preparation process to structuring, negotiating and completing a transaction, Mr. Witt directs the sales process from start to finish. He also works closely with companies nationwide to assist them with valuation, capital raising, and consultation on the entire spectrum of ownership transition alternatives. Prior to joining Prairie Capital Advisors, Mr. Witt founded The Oak Tree Group LLC, a consulting firm focused on business acquisition of lower middle market companies. He managed the entire deal process including buyer preparation, business search and screening, due diligence, negotiation, financing and appraisal. Mr. Witt also performed analysis on acquisition candidates for a variety of purposes including valuation, financing and general planning purposes. Before that, he was a Vice President with Bank One Capital Markets where he worked with corporate and institutional clients to evaluate and implement transactions related to foreign exchange and fixed income hedging and trading strategies. He also implemented various trading strategies for the investment of bank capital in fixed income and foreign exchange spot forward and options instruments. EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS M.B.A., University of Chicago Graduate School of Business B. A., University of Iowa CFA Charterholder Todd Young Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP [email protected] Todd Young is a partner in the Chicago office of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP. He focuses his practice in the areas of financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and contract negotiation. Mr. Young has represented lenders and borrowers in various types of finance and loan transactions, and he has assisted several overseas corporations in the purchase and sale of U.S. entities. His financing work includes a particular focus on representing lenders in ESOP loan transactions. In those transactions he has represented lenders in both stand-alone and syndicated loan transactions with aggregate loan amounts ranging from $20 million to $150 million. He received his A.B. degree from Dartmouth College and his J.D. degree from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Review. ERIC ZALESKI Senior Vice President MB Financial Bank [email protected] Eric Zaleski joined MB Financial Bank in 2011 as Senior Vice President and Division Manager, Commercial Banking. In addition to developing relationships with closely-held middle market companies and providing creative financing solutions, Eric is also a lead member of MB Financial s national ESOP Finance Group. In this capacity, he develops comprehensive ESOP financing structures ranging from initial leveraged transactions to second stage financing for seasoned ESOP companies. Prior to joining MB Financial, Eric spent 12 years as a commercial banker in which Eric facilitated ESOP transactions through financial structuring and debt issuance for companies in a variety of industries. Eric is a member of the ESOP Association, the National Center for Employee Ownership and the Illinois ESOP Association and has spoken at numerous ESOP conferences.