Brian Niksa

Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. (MFIM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was established in 1986 and their sole shareholder is Mesirow Financial Services, Inc., which is wholly-owned by Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc., a Chicago-based financial services firm that was founded in 1937. MFIM provides advisory services to individuals, corporations or other businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, non-qualified plans, state or municipal government entities, and charitable organizations.

Rothschild Investment Corp. (Rothschild) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm, originally known as Rothschild & Company, was founded in 1908 by Monroe Rothschild and his brother-in-law Samuel Karger. Rothschild provides highly personalized asset management services to their clients such as individuals, families, trusts and estates; high-net worth individuals; pension and profit-sharing plans, IRAs; charitable organizations and foundations; and corporations or other businesses.

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.

State Farm Insurance Cos. provides personal property and casualty insurance services. It also offers auto insurance quotes, auto, home, life and health policies. The firm also provides commercial auto insurance coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles. The company was founded by George Jacob Mecherle in 1922 and is headquartered in Bloomington, IL.

JMG Financial Group Ltd. (JMG) is an independent, fee-only wealth management firm headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois. Founded in 1984, JMG provides comprehensive and customized wealth management services for high net worth individuals and families.

Citadel Enterprise Americas LLC (Citadel Enterprise) is an independent hedge fund management firm headquartered in Miami, Florida. The firm was founded by Kenneth C. Griffin and Reade Griffith in 1990 and formerly known as Citadel LLC. Citadel Enterprise provides investment banking, institutional trading and fund administration services to many types of US and non-US domiciled clients.

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.

KPMG LLP engages in the provision of audit, tax, and advisory services. It serves the banking and capital markets, building, construction and real estate, consumer and retail, energy, natural resources and chemicals, financial services, government and public sector, healthcare and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, insurance, media and entertainment, private equity, technology, telecommunications, and venture capital industries. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Ensenia Wealth LLC is an independent registered investment advisor headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. The firm was founded in 1995 as Inland Investment Advisors LLC. They offer investment management services to high net worth individuals, family offices, multi-family offices, endowment funds and not-for-profit organizations.

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.

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.

Chapman & Cutler LLP provides legal services. Its services include, asset securitization, banking and financial services, bankruptcy, restructuring and workouts, chapman practice innovations, commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution and corporate counseling. The company was founded in 1913 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

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.

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

American Bar Association provides legal services. It provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, legal information and other services to assist legal professionals. The firm has members which include judges, court administrators, law professors, and non-practicing attorneys. The company was founded on August 21, 1878 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

BMO Asset Management Corp. (BMO AM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded in 2012 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMO Financial Corp. (BMO), which is in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal (TSX: BMO), a Canadian diversified financial services company. BMO AM provides discretionary investment advisory services for, or provides non-discretionary investment advice to, institutions, individuals, and third-party sponsors of and clients participating in wrap-fee programs, as well as common and collective portfolios for which BMO Harris Bank, an affiliate of BMO AM, acts as trustee. In addition, BMO AM provides investment advisory services to private pooled vehicles and to affiliates for the benefit of their clients.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

University of Houston System offers higher education degrees and job training or vocational study programs. It offers about 280 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in fields such as business, education, humanities and law. It was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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.

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.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides legal advisory services. The company was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.