Mark Billeadeau

Kopp Investment Advisors offers two main investment strategies: Emerging Growth and Total Quality Management (TQM). In general, the firm tends to invest in the stocks of US micro-cap and small-cap companies in the electronic technology and health technology and distribution services sectors. Kopp Investment Advisors maintains a low turnover rate. The firm's Emerging Growth strategy focuses on investments in growing small-cap companies primarily in the technology and healthcare sectors. Kopp Investment Advisors' TQM strategy focuses on investments in quality-advantaged large-cap companies. The strategy scores S&P 500 companies relative to their peers based on their successful use of quality as the means to gain competitive advantage. TQM portfolios are invested in the highest scoring companies from a cross section of economic sectors and industry groups within the S&P 500. The firm also offers blended portfolios that provide diversification across market-caps and investment styles. The TQM Blend portfolio invests 30% in companies that are identified through Kopp Investment Advisors' Emerging Growth strategy and 70% in companies identified in their TQM strategy. The Balanced Blend portfolio invests 50% in companies identified through the firm's Emerging Growth strategy and 50% in companies identified in their TQM strategy. The Emerging Blend portfolio invests 70% in companies identified through the firm's Emerging Growth strategy and 30% in companies identified in their TQM strategy. Kopp Investment Advisors' investment process begins with research received from national brokerage firms, as well as smaller regional firms. The firm further qualifies prospective investments with information from corporate contacts, trade shows and company visits. Once they have identified a list of potential companies, they review company financial data and analysts' estimates and conduct quantitative analysis. Kopp Investment Advisors looks for companies that currently generate or have the capacity to generate excess cash. In addition to reviewing financial data, the firm looks closely at companies' business plans and assesses managers based on their experience, expertise and personal integrity. When selecting companies for ongoing evaluation, Kopp Investment Advisors considers the following criteria: (1) superior earnings growth or earnings potential (2) p/e and price-to-sales ratios versus market/group multiples and (3) R&D spending. The decision to buy stocks or hold positions is determined by a variety of factors, with emphasis on appreciation potential. Once in the portfolio, stocks are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Portfolios are constructed from the firm's list that is established by the senior members of the portfolio management group. Stocks are purchased when their price is within an acceptable range. If the price moves above the range, buying stops.

RCM is a large-cap growth manager.