James J. Burke, Jr. has served on our Board of Directors since 1999. He is the founder of JJB Capital Partners LLC, a private investment firm formerly known as J. Burke Capital Partners LLC, and was its managing member from 2007 through 2024. He was also the co-founder, partner, and director of Stonington Partners, Inc. (1994-2007) and co-founder of Merrill Lynch Capital Partners, Inc., a private equity fund for which he was the President and CEO from 1987 to 1999. He received a B.A. from Brown University and an M.B.A. with Distinction from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. Mr. Burke also serves on the board of directors of a number of privately-owned companies and several non-profit organizations. Mr. Burke brings extensive financial and business knowledge to the Board of Directors through his engagement in private equity investing since 1981. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for sourcing and analyzing investment opportunities, where he has developed both expertise and significant knowledge regarding the managerial, operational and financial aspects of a business. His extensive investment and industry experience provides valuable insight to the Board of Directors.