John M. Betz

Securian Asset Management, Inc. (Securian AM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1984 and formerly known as MIMLIC Asset Management, Inc. and Advantus Capital Management, Inc. They are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Securian Financial Group, Inc., ultimately owned by Minnesota Mutual Cos., Inc. Securian AM offers discretionary and non-discretionary asset management for registered investment companies, insurance companies, including separate accounts of insurance companies, and other institutional investors.

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.

Mairs & Power, Inc. is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1931, the firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to a variety of clients, such as institutional accounts, individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, trust companies and health and welfare plans.

RBC Global Asset Management (US), Inc. (RBC GAM-US), is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1983 and formerly known as Voyageur Asset Management Inc. They are a subsidiary of RBC USA Holdco Corp. and their ultimate parent is Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE, TSE: RY). RBC GAM-US provides portfolio management services to registered mutual funds, private investment funds, trust programs, foreign funds such as UCITS funds, individuals (including high net worth individuals), wrap sponsors and other US and international institutions.

Peregrine Capital Management LLC (Peregrine) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded by Robert Mersky in 1984 and is a subsidiary of Peregrine Capital Management Holdings LLC. Peregrine provides investment advisory services to corporate and public pension plans, profit-sharing plans, savings-investment and 401(k) plans, Taft-Hartley plans, private and public foundations and endowments, corporate accounts, large trust accounts, registered investment companies, collective investment trusts, UMA programs, RIAs and high net-worth individuals.

Bell Bank engages in managing trust portfolios and individual insurance company portfolios. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Fargo, ND.

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.

Punch & Associates Investment Management, Inc. (Punch & Associates) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor and wealth management firm headquartered in Edina, Minnesota. The firm was founded by Howard D. Punch, Jr. in 2002. Punch & Associates provides discretionary portfolio management services to private and institutional clients. They also serve as investment advisor and managing member to two private funds – Micro Cap Fund and Nano Cap Fund.

Ameriprise Financial Services LLC (AFS) is a registered broker-dealer headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1971 and is a subsidiary of AMPF Holding Corp., which is owned by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP). AFS offers brokerage services that enable clients to invest in many different types of investments including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, exchange traded products, unit investment trusts, annuities and alternative investments.

Lazard Middle Market LLC engages in financial advisory business. It specializes in strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), restructuring, and capital raising. The firm’s M&A and Strategic Advisory service focuses on private equity and divestitures, privately-owned companies, corporate acquisitions and divestitures, and sale of public companies. Its Restructuring service consists of situation assessment, alternative assessment, and execution. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

Invenshure LLC (Invenshure) is a venture capital firm founded in 2011 by Troy D Kopischke and Danny J Cunagin. The firm is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

George K. Baum & Co. is an investment banking firm with an industry-leading municipal bond business. Its clients include both individual and institutions, and it approaches each one with commitment, energy, innovation and confidence. Its focus is on helping its clients achieve their goals. It does that by providing relevant products and services in every segment of its business. It is dedicated to combining quality service with integrity and creativity- a commitment it has maintained since the firm was founded in 1928. By choosing George K. Baum & Co. as an investment partner, clients gain access to a broad array of investment opportunities and expertise. It is a leader in municipal finance and consistently ranks as one of the nation's top underwriters of negotiated municipal bonds. The firm trades government, agency and mortgage-backed securities. The Firm's affiliate, George K. Baum Capital Advisors, Inc. helps clients realize superior value primarily through mergers and acquisitions and private capital raising assignments.

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.

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.

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.

Dakota Venture Group, Inc.(DVG) is a venture capital, a subsidiary of University of North Dakota founded in 2006 by Austin Steffen. The firm is headquartered in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

U.S. Bank NA engages in operation of a commercial bank that offers loans and depositary services. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH.

OneOme LLC develops platform for pharmacogenomics that analyzes multiple genes for accurate and comprehensive prescription recommendations. It specializes in pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics, genetics, biotech and life sciences and clinical decision support. The company was founded by John L. Black III and Troy D. Kopischke in 2014 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

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.

Castlelake LP (Castlelake) is a private equity firm founded in 2005 by Rory Joseph O'Neill and Evan Andrew Carruthers. The firm is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Blue Wolf Capital Partners LLC (Blue Wolf Capital Partners) is an independent private equity firm founded in 2005 by Adam Blumenthal and Josh-Wolf-Powers. The firm is headquartered in New York City, New York.

Vireo Health, Inc. engages in the distribution of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis-derived medicines to patients. The company was founded by Kyle Kingsley and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

Mayflower Botanicals, Inc. produces and distributes medical cannabis. The company is headquartered in Monson, MA.

Stearns Bank NA provides commercial banking services. It provides savings, checking, loans, credit cards, cash management, online banking & bill pay, equipment, accounts receivable, small business administration lending and commercial real estate financing services. The company was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Saint Cloud, MN.

Vireo Finco (Canada), Inc. provides financial services. The private company is based in Toronto, Canada.

Columbia Management Investment Advisers LLC (CMIA) is a SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP). The firm was formed in 2010 due to Ameriprise Financial Services' (AFS) acquisition of the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management Group (CMG) from Bank of America. AFS merged CMG's long-term asset management business with their subsidiary, RiverSource Investments LLC, under the name Columbia Management Investment Advisors. CMIA offers equity and fixed-income retail and institutional investment products for various types of clients.

Murphy Pohlad Asset Management LLC (MPAM) is an independent registered investment adviser headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The firm was founded by John Murphy in 2000. MPAM provides investment advice to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and certain other business entities.

Baker Avenue Asset Management LP (dba BakerAvenue) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm was founded by Simon Baker in 2004. BakerAvenue provides investment advisory services to individuals, high net-worth individuals, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable institutions, foundations, trusts, and other US institutions.