Eric Parthemore was elected as a Director of the Company in 2009, following the merger with FCStone. He had previously served as a Director of FCStone since 1996, as Vice Chairman of FCStone since January 2007, and as a member of its Board's Executive Committee. He served as the Secretary and Treasurer of FCStone until January 2007. Mr. Parthemore retired in 2017 as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Cooperative, Inc. in West Mansfield, Ohio. He held that position since September 2009 and had served in the same capacity with its predecessor company since 1996. Mr. Parthemore was appointed in January 2004 to serve on the Ohio Agricultural Commodity Advisory Commission by the Secretary of Agriculture in the State of Ohio and served on this Commission until 2015. From 2009 to September 2017 Mr. Parthemore served on the National Grain Car Council of the Surface Transportation Board, an agency of the US Department of Transportation. Mr. Parthemore brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, significant management experience and knowledge in the areas of risk management similar to a significant portion of the Company's existing client base, and services sought by that client base. In addition, as the former CEO of a large grain and supply cooperative involved in multiple mergers with similar organizations, Mr. Parthemore is able to provide knowledge, guidance and insight into successfully integrating the operations of multiple organizations at a time when the Company is also in the process of integrating multiple organizations.