William Eckles

Medtronic, Inc. operates as a medical technology company. It offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, eternal defibrillators, inferior turbinate surgery products, and continuous glucose monitoring device. The company was founded by Earl E. Bakken and Palmer J. Hermundslie on April 29, 1949 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

JPMorgan Investment Management, Inc. (JPMIM) is a global, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 2000 as the result of Chase Manhattan's purchase of Robert Fleming Holdings and the subsequent merger of Chase and JPMorgan. In January 2010, JPMorgan Investment Advisors merged into JP Morgan Investment Management. JPMIM is a subsidiary of JPMorgan Asset Management Holdings, Inc., ultimately owned by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM). The firm primarily provides investment advisory services to both US and non-US institutional and retail clients.

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.

Vaughan Nelson Investment Management LP (Vaughan Nelson) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Houston, Texas. The firm was founded in 1970 and formerly known as Vaughan, Nelson, Scarborough & McCullough LP. They are wholly-owned by Natixis Investment Managers LLC, which is ultimately owned by BPCE SA, a banking group in France. Vaughan Nelson provides investment management services for equity and fixed income portfolios to taxable and tax-free clients such as foundations, endowments, corporations, pensions, public entities, insurance companies, mutual funds 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.

Stone Arch Capital LLC (Stone Arch Capital) is a private equity firm is founded in 2003 by Peter Grant, Charles Lannin and Clayton Miller. The firm is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Palisade Asset Management LLC LLC (Palisade) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm is a predecessor to Palisade Investment Advisor LLC, which was founded in 2002. Palisade provides investment management and wealth advisory services to high net worth and institutional clients.

Rebiotix, Inc. develops and commercializes medical therapies. It offers human microbiome, clostridium difficile, inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis, hepatic encephalopathy, multi-drug resistant organism, and microbiota restoration therapies. The company was founded by Lee A. Jones, Michael Berman, and Erwin A. Kelen in 2011 and is headquartered in Roseville, MN.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

GREAT NORTH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP (Great North Ventures) is a venture capital firm founded in 2017 by Ryan J. Weber, Robert J. Weber and James DonFrancesco. The firm is headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Accredited Investors, Inc., dba Accredited Investors Wealth Management (AIWM), is an independent. SEC-registered investment advisor and wealth management firm headquartered in Edina, Minnesota. The firm was founded by Ross Levin and Willis T. Heupel in 1987. AIWM provides advisory services to individuals and families, trusts, foundations and endowments, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans (other than plan participants), and corporations or other businesses.

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.

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.

Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants offers services and professional development for CPAs and other accounting professionals. It provides CPE, resources, networking, and advocacy services. The company was founded on June 23, 1904 and is headquartered in Bloomington, MN.

Brightstone Capital LLC (Brightstone Capital) is a venture capital firm is founded in 1985. The firm is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Acqueon Technologies, Inc. provides and customizes software for contact centers. The firm?s solutions include banking, telehealth, patient engagement and acqueon for Amazon. It also offers products like Amazon connect, cisco enterprise, cisco express (U-Nexsys), NICE incontract, twilio flex, desktop, HER connector, identity, callback (iAssist) and survey (iAssist). The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Princeton, NJ.

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.

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.

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.