Derek Ciernia

Cargill, Inc. engages in the provision of food, agricultural, financial, and industrial products and services. It specializes in food service, agriculture, meat and poultry, transportation, pharmaceutical ingredients, and beauty products. The company was founded by William Wallace Cargill in 1865 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

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.

RBC Global Asset Management (US), Inc. (RBC GAM-US), is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1983 and formerly known as Voyageur Asset Management Inc. They are a subsidiary of RBC USA Holdco Corp. and their ultimate parent is Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE, TSE: RY). RBC GAM-US provides portfolio management services to registered mutual funds, private investment funds, trust programs, foreign funds such as UCITS funds, individuals (including high net worth individuals), wrap sponsors and other US and international institutions.

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.

Allspring Global Investments LLC (Allspring) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Prior to November 2021, the firm was known as Wells Capital Management, Inc. They are a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC, ultimately held by Allspring Group Holdings LLC. Allspring provides investment management services to mutual funds, private funds, offshore funds, collective investment trusts (CITs), pooled vehicles and client accounts.

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.

Fiduciary Counselling, Inc. (FCI) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1941 and is a subsidiary of Cassiopeia Holdings Co., owned by Ties That Bind Special Purpose Trust. FCI provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment services to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities, a registered investment adviser and a registered investment company. FCI generally performs services exclusively for descendants and family members of a single family and their related entities.

Punch & Associates Investment Management, Inc. (Punch & Associates) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor and wealth management firm headquartered in Edina, Minnesota. The firm was founded by Howard D. Punch, Jr. in 2002. Punch & Associates provides discretionary portfolio management services to private and institutional clients. They also serve as investment advisor and managing member to two private funds – Micro Cap Fund and Nano Cap Fund.

PTI Marketing Technologies, Inc. provides web-based marketing asset management solutions. It offers online marketing collateral management solutions in SaaS and server versions. The firm delivers a real-time, integrated business communication platform that links enterprise clients with their marketing services providers for complete campaign, program, and business communication management. Its products include MarcomCentral, Salesforce Integration, FusionPro VDP Creator, FusionPro VDP Producer, FusionPro Server, FusionPro Expression, FusionPro Links, MarcomCentral Integrations, MarcomCentral JobDirect, PowerPoint Integration, List Purchasing, ExactTarget Integrated Email, and Web Services and Data Feeds. The company was founded by Charles R. Gehman on 2000 and is headquartered in Solana Beach, CA.

Ameriprise Financial Services LLC (AFS) is a registered broker-dealer headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1971 and is a subsidiary of AMPF Holding Corp., which is owned by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP). AFS offers brokerage services that enable clients to invest in many different types of investments including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, exchange traded products, unit investment trusts, annuities and alternative investments.

The Leuthold Group LLC (Investment Management), do-business-as Leuthold Weeden Capital Management (LWCM), is the SEC-registered investment management division of The Leuthold Group LLC headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Leuthold Group was founded in 1981 as an independent investment research firm. In 1987, members of The Leuthold Group founded LWCM to provide investment advisory services. The firm is majority employee-owned. LWCM serves as an investment advisor to separately managed accounts, Leuthold mutual funds, Leuthold ETF and a private fund that offers to a wide range of clients, including individuals, trusts, foundations, charitable organizations, corporations, government entities, unions, limited partnerships, endowments, investment companies, and pension plans.

George K. Baum & Co. is an investment banking firm with an industry-leading municipal bond business. Its clients include both individual and institutions, and it approaches each one with commitment, energy, innovation and confidence. Its focus is on helping its clients achieve their goals. It does that by providing relevant products and services in every segment of its business. It is dedicated to combining quality service with integrity and creativity- a commitment it has maintained since the firm was founded in 1928. By choosing George K. Baum & Co. as an investment partner, clients gain access to a broad array of investment opportunities and expertise. It is a leader in municipal finance and consistently ranks as one of the nation's top underwriters of negotiated municipal bonds. The firm trades government, agency and mortgage-backed securities. The Firm's affiliate, George K. Baum Capital Advisors, Inc. helps clients realize superior value primarily through mergers and acquisitions and private capital raising assignments.

RSM US LLP engages in the provision of accounting services. It offers audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management services. The firm serves the energy, government, life sciences, manufacturing, private equity, and real estate and construction industries. The company was founded by Ira B. McGladrey in 1926 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

Colliers Securities LLC is a registered broker-dealer headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1997 and formerly known as Dougherty & Co. LLC. They are a wholly owned subsidiary of Colliers Mortgage Holdings LLC, ultimately owned by Colliers International Group, Inc. (NASDAQ; TSX: CIGI) in Canada. Colliers Securities generally provides brokerage, custody and execution services through a clearing arrangement with National Financial Services LLC, a nonaffiliated firm, member NYSE, SIPC and a Fidelity Investments® Company.

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.

Piper Sandler & Co. operates as an investment company, which engages in the provision of securities brokerage and investment banking services. The company 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.

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

SFM Mutual Insurance Co. (Investment Portfolio) (SFM-IP) is the investment portfolio division of SFM Mutual Insurance Co., an insurance company headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1983 and offers workers’ compensation insurance for businesses of all types and sizes throughout the Midwest. They also provide third-party administration services for self-insured customers. SFM-IP manages the insurance portfolio.

Best Buy Capital (Best Buy Capital) is a venture capital subsidiary of Best Buy Co. Inc founded in 2008 by Richard M. Schulze. The firm is headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota.

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.