Barney J. Guarino is a founder of the Company. He has been a director since the Company’s inception in 1991, served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer until January 2000, as President since February 1994 and as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board since November 1998. From May 1991 to January 1993, Mr. Guarino also served as Vice President of The Financial Investment Group Inc. From 1986 to 1991, he was employed with Merrill Lynch working with the divisions of Investment Banking, Business Brokerage and Valuation, Venture Capital, Insurance, Retail, Institutional Sales, Asset Management and Financial Planning. Prior to 1986, he served as a Financial Consultant at Shearson-Lehman Bros. and was responsible for retail and institutional sales including managed commodities futures and securities accounts. Mr. Guarino holds a Bachelors Degree from St. John’s University.