Mr. Mariano is the Managing Director of DCM Capital, a private investment firm with holdings in the equity and debt of public and private companies, a position he has held since founding the firm in 2011. From 1998 to 2011, he served as Managing Partner of Wellspring Capital Management, a registered investment advisor specializing in turnaround and restructuring opportunities across various industries. During this time, he also served as Executive Chairman of the Board of Neucel Specialty Cellulose, a manufacturer of dissolving wood pulp products, including high-purity specialty cellulose and viscose pulps, from 2006 to 2011. Earlier in his career, Mr. Mariano was a Managing Director at the Blackstone Group and a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young. Mr. Mariano holds a bachelor s degree in economics from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MBA from Duke University. Mr. Mariano brings over 35 years of experience in investing in, managing, and advising global businesses, with a particular focus over the past 18 years in the dissolving wood pulp industry. He also has significant expertise in capital markets, restructurings, and value-creating transactions. Additionally, as a significant stockholder of the Company, currently holding approximately 1.38% of its Common Stock, Mr. Mariano s perspective aligns closely with the interests of our stockholders.