Michael Patrick Scherer

Northwestern University is a private institution founded in 1851 to serve the Northwest Territory, an area that now includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota. Northwestern has three campuses

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.

Calamos Advisors LLC is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Naperville, Illinois. The firm was founded by John Calamos, Sr. in 1977 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Calamos Investments LLC, ultimately held by Calamos Family Partners, Inc. Calamos Advisors provides investment management services to institutional clients such as corporations and financial institutions, registered investment companies or mutual funds, closed-end funds, charitable institutions, foundations and endowments, corporate pensions, profit sharing and other retirement plans, municipalities, individuals, Taft-Hartley plans, and pooled investment vehicles.

Dearborn Partners LLC (Dearborn) is an independent, privately held boutique investment management firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded in 1997 by Jerome Hickey. The firm provides investment management services to investment advisors, high net-worth families, and institutional investor.

Fitch Ratings, Inc. is a global rating agency and investment research firm headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded by John Knowles in 1913 as Fitch Publishing Co. They are a subsidiary of Fitch Group, Inc., ultimately owned by The Hearst Family Trust. Fitch Ratings seeks to provide independent and prospective credit opinions, research and data to the world's credit markets. Their approach is based on a foundation of local market experience that covers capital markets in over 150 countries. The firm's ratings analysis and rating decisions are based on established criteria, methodologies and ratings definitions which they apply in a consistent manner. Fitch Ratings provides coverage of the following markets: Economics, Banks, Insurance, Sovereigns, Corporates, Structured Finance, Public Finance – International, Public Finance – US, Infrastructure & Project, and Finance.

Jenner & Block LLC provides legal services. It focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities, finance, private equity, real estate, tax, environmental, insurance, commercial law, technology, intellectual property, bankruptcy and reorganization, labor and employment, executive compensation, government contracts, health care and associations. The company was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

1 of a Kind Capital LLC (1 of a Kind Capital) is a venture capital firm founded in 2021 by George Bousis. The firm is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Attucks Asset Management LLC (Attucks) is an independent, entrepreneurial, minority-owned and operated, SEC-registered investment advisor and fund-of-funds manager headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2001, Attucks provides portfolio management services to institutional clients which includes pension plans (but not the plan participants), state or municipal government entities, corporations, foundations/endowments, and insurance companies.

Protagonist Management LLC (Protagonist) is a venture capital firm founded in 2022 by George D Bousis, George Ruan and Harry Hurst. The firm is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Raise Marketplace LLC operates an online marketplace to buy and sell gift cards. Its platform allows users to turn their unused gift cards into cash by listing their cards for sale and enables them to shop for discounted gift cards. The company was founded by George D. Bousis and Bradley Wasz on February 2, 2013 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (VGI) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. The firm was founded in 1975 by John Bogle. In 1976, they introduced the first indexed mutual fund, the First Index Investment Trust (now known as the Vanguard 500 Index Fund), to individual investors. VGI provides investment advisory services to Vanguard family of funds and Vanguard's non-US clients, which are comprised of funds established as trusts under the laws of the Province of Ontario in Canada and separate account clients of Vanguard's international subsidiaries.

HighTower Advisors LLC (HighTower) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and has offices throughout the US. The firm was founded in 2008 by Elliot Weissbluth, Peter (Todd) Lyon, and Eugene Lerner. They are a wholly owned subsidiary of Hightower Holding LLC. HighTower provides investment advisory services to institutions (which include ERISA), and ultra-high and high net worth individuals.

Oath Gaming, Inc. operates as an esports organization. The company is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

Turnaround Management Association is a organization that provides turnaround management, corporate restructuring and distressed investing services. Its members include turnaround practitioners, attorneys, accountants, investors, lenders, venture capitalists, appraisers, liquidators, executive recruiters, and consultants, as well as academic, government, and judicial employees. The company was founded by Thomas J. Allison, Jay Alix, C. Charles Bahr, Jacques H. Belet, Donald B. Bibeault, Gary Brooks Gerald, P. Buccino, John Butler, Melanie Rovner Cohen, John M. Collard, Marvin A. Davis, Peter Dusenberre, Timothy F. Finley, Kenneth E. Glass, Frank Grisanti, David Hansing, William J. Hass, Thomas D. Hays, William K. Marrinan, F. Richard Matthews, Kevin McConnaghy, Gilbert C. Osnos, Victor Palmieri, Peter Pellitier, Sanford C. Sigoloff, Jack R. Stone, James Sullivan, Rollie Tillman, Peter Tourtellot, John Whitney and Carl M. Youngman in 1991 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

Triton Capital Partners Ltd. provides investment and merchant banking solutions. It raises capital through private placements such as senior, mezzanine, equity, corporate restructurings and reorganizations, advising on the sale or purchase of a company, subsidiary or business unit, and financial and strategic advisory. The company was founded in 1999 by David J. Asmann and Gregory J. Nowlin and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

CCM Partners LP, do-business-as Shelton Capital Management (SCM), is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1985, SCM provides investment management services to mutual funds, institutions, individuals, retirement plans and their sponsors, and other entities.

Jackson National Asset Management LLC (JNAM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. Founded in 1989, the firm is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Jackson Financial, Inc. (NYSE: JXN). JNAM serves as an investment adviser but limits its investment management services to rendering investment advisory services in connection with mutual funds sponsored by affiliated entities.

Minnesota State Board of Investment (SBI) is a state-owned pension fund manager headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1885 to manage assets for the State of Minnesota. SBI is also responsible for the assets of the three Statewide Retirement Systems, various defined contribution plans, non-retirement accounts, and tax-advantaged savings plans.

The Illinois State Bar Association is a state bar association that serves lawyers. The association is based in Springfield, IL. The association provides various resources for lawyers, including legal forms, expert services, and publications. It also offers continuing legal education programs and hosts events for lawyers.

Oasis Investment Strategies LLC is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded in 2010 as RJO Investment Management LLC and is principally owned by JVMC Holdings Corp., which is owned by RTS Investor Corp. Oasis provides portfolio management services to clients consisting mainly of futures commission merchants, managed futures and hedge funds, investment companies, and private and institutional investors.

All Campus LLC operates as a digital marketing and creative agency. It offer design templates, pre-packaged solutions, mechanical, and uniform method. The company was founded by Joseph Diamond in 2012 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

Founded in 1982, Stratford Advisory Group, Inc. is an independent, full-service investment consulting and advisory firm, registered as an investment advisor with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940*. Stratford provides investment consulting to-Endowments, Foundations, Healthcare organizations, Defined benefit and defined contribution plans, Taft-Hartley funds, Public retirement plans, Private wealth, Corporations (operating assets and other taxable funds), Non-qualified plans. They assist clients with strategic investment program management. This includes investment policy development, asset allocation strategy, investment manager structure, manager selection, performance measurement and manager evaluation and oversight. They are distinguished by their proactive consulting approach-timely advice, specific recommendations, and implementation assistance. Their only business is investment consulting and advisory services; 100% of their revenue comes from their investment consulting and advisory relationships. They have no affiliations, financial arrangements or relationships with any investment managers or other organizations that could compromise their independence. Stratford serves its national client base from a single office located in Chicago, Illinois. All of their client consulting, investment research, manager research, and administrative support is conducted at this site.

The James Irvine Foundation operates nonprofit grant making foundation an expanding opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, inclusive and successful society. Its grant making is organized around three program areas: Arts, Youth, and California Perspectives. The Foundation has provided more than $900 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout California. The organization was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Marquette Associates, Inc. (MAI) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1986, MAI provides investment consulting services to institutions, individuals, families, trusts, and charitable organizations or other business entities.

Bay Hills Capital Management LLC (Bay Hills Capital) is a private equity firm founded in 2006 by Lance Mansbridge. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Invesco Capital Markets, Inc. provides financial services. It offers investment brokerage services to individual investors. The company is headquartered in Downers Grove, IL.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP provides legal services. The company's practices include corporate, employee benefits, health law, intellectual property, private clients, regulation and government affairs, tax, and trial. The company was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.