Chris R. Palermo

Founded in 1915, Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett is a full-service brokerage firm headquartered in Chicago. The firm provides sales, trading, research and corporate finance services for community banks and thrifts. Their equity capital markets department specializes in sales, trading, research and investment banking services for community banks and thrifts. Through their private client services department, the firm provides investment advice and products to both individual and institutional customers. Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett is the exclusive provider of capital markets services for the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett offers fixed-income products and services through a strategic initiative with Memphis, Tennessee-based Sparks IBG. A majority of the financial institutions followed by Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett's research analysts on the Nasdaq National Market although some are closely-held and are traded in the pink sheets or on the OTC bulletin board. The firm is a member of FINRA and the SICP. Clearing services are provided through First Clearing LLC.

William Blair & Co. LLC (William Blair) is a SEC-registered broker/dealer firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded by William McCormick Blair in 1935 and is a subsidiary of WBC Holdings LP. Until 1941, they were known as Blair, Bonner & Co. William Blair provides broking services to individual, institutional and issuing clients.