Paul Ann Sommerstad

Värde Partners, Inc. provides investment advisory services. It serves foundations and endowments, pension plans, insurance companies, other institutional investors and private clients. The company was founded by George G. Hicks, Gregory Scott McMillian and Marcia Lynn Page in 1993 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

Sit Investment Associates, Inc. (Sit Investment) is a privately-owned, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded by Eugene Sit in 1981. Sit Investment manages client assets on a discretionary basis for several types of clients, which includes public and private institutional investors, pension funds, Taft-Hartley plans, charitable institutions, foundations, endowments, corporations, insurance companies, municipalities, registered investment companies, private investment companies, collective investment trusts and high-net-worth individuals.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans operates as a not-for-profit membership organization of Christians, which engages in the provision of investment advisory services. It offers life insurance, annuities and mutual funds, student and educational resources, charitable planning, and trust services. The company was founded in June 2001 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc. (DGI) is a SEC-registered, employee-owned investment advisor headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1997 by Frederick Martin. DGI provides investment management services to pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations and other business and government entities, charitable organizations including foundations and other non-profit entities, and select high net-worth individuals. In addition, the firm provides portfolio management services for wrap fee programs.

Peregrine Capital Management LLC (Peregrine) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded by Robert Mersky in 1984 and is a subsidiary of Peregrine Capital Management Holdings LLC. Peregrine provides investment advisory services to corporate and public pension plans, profit-sharing plans, savings-investment and 401(k) plans, Taft-Hartley plans, private and public foundations and endowments, corporate accounts, large trust accounts, registered investment companies, collective investment trusts, UMA programs, RIAs and high net-worth individuals.

Piper Sandler & Co. (Broker) (PSC-Broker) is the full-service brokerage division of Piper Sandler & Co., a financial service firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are a subsidiary of Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR). The firm was founded in 1969 and previously known as Piper Jaffray & Co. They became Piper Sandler & Co. when Piper Jaffray Companies and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. merged to become Piper Sandler Companies in 2020. PSC-Broker provides brokerage and investment banking services to financial institutions, corporations and other financial investors. Their core focus sectors are Agriculture, renewables & cannabis, Business services, Chemicals & Materials, Consumer, Diversified industrials & services, Energy, Financial services, financial sponsors, Healthcare, and Technology.

US Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. (USBAM) is a registered investment advisor headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded in March 2001 and formerly known as FAF Advisors, Inc. They are a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of US Bank National Association, which is owned by US Bancorp (NYSE: USB), a diversified financial holding company. USBAM provides investment advisory services through managed accounts to institutional clients, money market mutual funds, and privately offered investment fund.

Convergent Capital LLC (Convergent Capital) is a private equity firm founded in 1998 by John Mason and Keith Bares. The firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Technology Venture Partners LLC (Technology Venture Partners) is a venture capital firm founded in 2000 by Bryson Hollimon. The firm is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (GS&Co.) is a securities brokerage firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1927, the firm is a subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS). GS&Co. provides services to help hedge funds manage risk, monitor portfolios, maintain liquidity and build their businesses. They offer clients access to global equity and derivatives markets, as well as foreign exchange, commodities, European Lefts, rates and credit across the Americas, Europe and Asia. The firm proactively monitors capital markets, searching for pockets of liquidity and news that may require changes to those strategies. Integration with the Goldman Sachs network gives clients access to the firm's sectored block trades and their insights into price discovery. Their electronic trading program provides clients with tools to manage their trades from pre-trade analytics to post-trade analysis.

Galliard Capital Management LLC (Galliard) is a SEC-registered investment advisor and holding firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1995 by Richard Merriman, John Caswell and Karl Tourville. They are a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC, ultimately owned by Allspring Group Holdings LLC. Galliard designs fixed income and stable value solutions for institutional investors.

Feltl & Co. is a securities brokerage and investment banking firm located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They focus on emerging growth companies, primarily located in the Upper Midwest. They are comprised of two major business lines: the private client group serves individual investors, providing advice on stocks, the equity capital markets group encompasses corporate finance, equity research, institutional equity sales, and equity trading. They are a member of the NASD.

Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (Craig-Hallum) is an employee-owned, idea-driven research, trading and investment banking firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded by Bradley Baker and Kevin Harris in 1997. Craig-Hallum provides research, institutional sales and trading and investment banking services to institutional investors and growth companies.

Northland Securities, Inc. (NSI) is a dually registered, full-service broker dealer and investment advisor headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 2002 and is owned by Northland Capital Holdings, Inc., which was acquired by First National of Nebraska, Inc. (OTCMKTS: FINN) in 2023. NSI is actively engaged in buying and selling securities for its own account as well as for clients.

Digi-Key Corp. distributes electronic components. It also distributes semiconductors, discrete, electromechanical parts. Its products include audio products, batteries, cable assemblies, capacitors, computer & video accessories, connectors, crystals & oscillators, discrete semiconductor products and many more. The company was founded by Ronald A. Stordahl in 1972 and is headquartered in Thief River Falls, MN.

RBC Capital Markets LLC is a full-service brokerage and financial services firm headquartered in New York City. They are a direct subsidiary of RBC USA Holdco Corp. and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (TSE, NYSE: RY). Founded in 2010, the firm is comprised of 3 major business lines: the Private Client Group, the Fixed-Income Group and the Clearing and Execution Services Group. The Private Client Group serves individual investors, while the Fixed-Income Group provides services to institutions, municipalities and non-profit organizations. The Clearing and Execution Services Group is a provider of clearing and execution services to independent brokers/dealers throughout the US. RBC Capital Markets focuses on the following sectors: communications, media, consumer/retail, diversified industries, energy, financial institutions, forest products, healthcare, infrastructure finance, mining & metals, real estate, social infrastructure, technology and the US municipal markets.

Jeffrey Slocum & Associates, Inc. operates as a investment research and advisory firm. It focuses on global fixed income, global equities, alternative investments, and direct hedge fund strategies. The firm offers strategic integration of investments with an institution’s overall mission, objectives, and operations, investment policy development, asset allocation modeling, incorporating liabilities, spending, and liquidity considerations, risk budgeting, liability driven investment, investment manager selection, performance measurement and attribution analysis, investment policy compliance monitoring, transition management, fee negotiations and benchmarking, other service provider searches, education of clients staffs, committees, and other constituencies. The company was founded by Jeffrey Charles Slocum in 1986 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

U.S. Bank NA engages in operation of a commercial bank that offers loans and depositary services. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH.

Nuveen Asset Management LLC (NAM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded in 2011 and is a subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC, which is ultimately owned by TIAA Board of Governors. NAM provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to a broad range of individual and institutional clients, such as open-end and closed-end investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles.

Advanced Capital Group, Inc. (ACG) is an independent registered investment advisor headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded by Charles L. Langowski 1998. ACG offers investment consulting services primarily to employer sponsored retirement plans, foundations/endowments and Native American Tribal Councils. They provide investment management services to corporations, banks and insurers.

U.S. Bank NA (Cincinnati Ohio Investment Management) (USB-IM) is the asset management division of U.S. Bank NA, which is ultimately held by the US Bancorp (NYSE: USB). The firm is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. USB-IM provides tailored investment management services to individuals and institutional investors.

SentriForce is a company that provides video surveillance solutions for various properties such as apartments, construction sites, neighborhoods, and retail properties. The company is based in Houston, TX. The company offers a free on-site consultation to potential clients. The company aims to reduce or deter vandalism in apartment communities, which can threaten residents' safety and security and lead to significant financial consequences for property management companies and owners. SentriForce's video surveillance solutions offer benefits such as improved security, increased productivity, enhanced site management, and improved safety.

Creative Learning Systems LLC provides project-based learning environments and experiences with a STEM focus through their smartlab learning suite of solutions. The company is based in Longmont, CO. The company's aim is to keep students engaged in hands-on, minds-on activities. The company was founded in 1987. The CEO is Ashley Mathis.

Summit Drilling Co., Inc. provides environmental, residential and geotechnical drilling services for investigative and remedial processes. The firm's services include environmental and sonic drilling, injection, direct push drilling, equipment roster, and drilling techniques. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ.

Brass Ring Capital Inc (Brass Ring Capital) is a private equity firm founded in 2004 by Dave J Raffel. The firm is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Gradient Analytics LLC (Gradient) is an independent equity research firm headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded by Carr Bettis and Donn Vickrey in 1996 and formerly known as Camelback Research Alliance. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sabrient Systems LLC, which acquired the firm in August 2011. Gradient has particular expertise in financial analysis, forensic accounting and executive behavior. They publishes academically rigorous, unbiased, objective insights into the financial performance and equity valuation of liquid publicly traded companies globally for mutual fund managers, hedge fund managers, and other professional money managers.

Easyvet Holdings, Inc. provides high-quality pet care through their veterinary clinic, Easyvetclinic. The company is based in Knoxville, TN. The company offers services to new pet parents and recommend microchipping pets. The CEO of the company is Tim Schoenfelder.

Cetera Financial Group Inc. engages in the provision of brokerage and advisory services for financial professionals and institutions. Its portfolio of products include mutual funds, life insurance, stocks, bonds, fixed and variable annuity products, estate planning, college education planning, and cash management accounts. The company is headquartered in El Segundo, CA.