Mr. Martin has served as one of our directors and Chairman of the Board since August 21, 2007. Mr. Martin is President and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Southwest Corporation. Mr. Martin, who has been associated with Capital Southwest or its subsidiaries since 1972, has served on its board since 1988 and was named President and CEO in July 2007. Previously, he was CEO of The Whitmore Manufacturing Company of Rockwall, Texas, a producer of industrial lubricants and a key portfolio company of Capital Southwest. Mr. Martin is a director of Capital Southwest Corporation and serves on the board of several of Capital Southwest Corporation's portfolio companies. He earned a Bachelor of Business in finance and accounting from the University of Oklahoma, is a Certified Public Accountant and is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program. Capital Southwest Venture Corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital Southwest Corporation, beneficially owns more than 5% of our outstanding common stock.
Mr. Adams is the inventor of HEELYS-wheeled footwear. Mr. Adams has been one of our directors since he founded our company in 2000, and served as our President and Secretary until May 2006, and as our Director of Research and Development from May 2006 through December 2007. Before inventing HEELYS-wheeled footwear and founding our company, Mr. Adams served as a crisis associate, mental health counselor, mental health supervisor and regional coordinator for the State of Oregon from 1990 to 1995. Mr. Adams has extensive industry experience and has been involved in the skate industry for over 40 years, including operating his family's skate centers and working in his family's skate distribution company and skate-related manufacturing company. Mr. Adams received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and a graduate degree in clinical counseling and independent studies from Pacific Lutheran University. Mr. Adams is the first cousin of Richard E. Middlekauff, one of our directors.
Jerry R. Edwards Director
Mr. Edwards has served as one of our directors since March 12, 2008. Mr. Edwards has over 25 years of experience managing high performing apparel and information technology operations. Mr. Edwards is CEO and Managing Director of Great Circle Ventures Holdings, LLC (GCVH) which is a private investment company formed by Mr. Edwards to acquire and operate Tail Activewear, Inc., which is a leading Women's golf and tennis apparel company that distributes through pro shops and specialty retailers. Since 2005, Mr. Edwards has been Managing Director of Great Circle Ventures, LLC which is a private investment firm and leading investor in GCVH. From 1998 until 2006, Mr. Edwards served as the Chief Executive Officer, President and acting Chairman of the Board of Pearl Izumi, a leading brand of hi-tech, performance apparel and footwear for cycling, running, fitness and other active outdoor sports. From 1996 until 1998, Mr. Edwards served as Chief Operating Officer and President of Rodeer Systems, Inc., a transcription services business. Prior to that Mr. Edwards served as an executive of Lee Apparel Company, a division of VF Corporation, and Sales Technologies, Inc., a provider of field sales automation software and services, and in various capacities at Blue Bell, Inc., an apparel company. Mr. Edwards is a director and member of the compensation committee of ChartLogic, Inc. Mr. Edwards received a Bachelor of Science from East Carolina University, completed the USAF Meteorology Officer Program at Texas A&M University and received a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.
Mr. Hamner has served as one of our directors since May 2000 and was our Chairman of the Board until August 21, 2007. Mr. Hamner became a full-time employee of our company in May 2006 and was one of our Senior Vice President until May 1, 2008. Mr. Hamner continues to provide our company consulting services. Prior to May 2006, Mr. Hamner was a Senior Vice President of Capital Southwest Corporation, a publicly traded venture capital investment company, and its subsidiary Capital Southwest Venture Corporation. Mr. Hamner has over 24 years of venture capital experience and business start-up and development activities. From December 1998 to July 2007, Mr. Hamner served on the board of directors of Blue Magic, Inc., Jet-Lube, Inc., The RectorSeal Corporation and The Whitmore Manufacturing Company, all of which are chemical or lubricant manufacturing companies and are wholly owned by Capital Southwest Corporation. From October 2001 to October 2002, Mr. Hamner served as Chairman of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies. Mr. Hamner received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas.
Samuel B. Ligon Director
Mr. Ligon has served as one of our directors since June 2000. Mr. Ligon has more than 32 years of experience with various consumer product companies. Mr. Ligon served as Chairman of the Board of Jokari/US, Inc., a consumer products company, from 1975 through July 2006, and served as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Smith Abrasives, Inc., a consumer products company from 1993 through July 2007. Mr. Ligon has served since September 2003 as a director and since July 2005 as a member of the audit committee of the board of directors of Capital Southwest Corporation. Mr. Ligon has a Bachelor of Science from Auburn University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Middlekauff has served as one of our directors since our inception in 2000. From June 1977 until January 2008, Mr. Middlekauff owned a Ford car dealership in Plano, Texas. Mr. Middlekauff received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Oregon State University and a Master of Business Administration from Cal-State Long Beach. Mr. Middlekauff is the first cousin of Roger R. Adams, one of our Directors.
Mr. Parks has served as one of our directors since January 30, 2008 and served as our Interim Chief Executive Officer from February 1, 2008 until May 20, 2008. Mr. Parks has been involved in the footwear industry since 1965 in various capacities, including sales, management and consulting. Mr. Parks retired in 1999 after a 34-year career in the retail industry, including eight years as Chief Executive Officer of Footaction USA, an athletic footwear and apparel retailer and was inducted into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame in May 2000. Since 2002, he has served as President of RT Parks, Inc., a retailer of New Balance ® footwear and apparel. Mr. Parks also serves on the board of directors of Hibbett Sports, Inc., an operator of sporting goods stores, and Kirklands, Inc., a retailer of home décor items. Mr. Parks is also on the audit committee of the board of directors of Kirklands, Inc. Mr. Parks attended Southern State College in Arkansas (now Southern Arkansas University).
Jeffrey G. Peterson Director
Mr. Peterson has served as one of our directors since May 31, 2007. Mr. Peterson is Vice President, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of Capital Southwest Corporation. Mr. Peterson joined Capital Southwest Corporation in 2001 and has served as its Vice President since 2005 and as Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer since 2007. In this capacity, he serves on the board of directors of several of Capital Southwest Corporation's portfolio companies. He presently serves on the Board of Governors of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies, as President of the Southern Regional Association of Small Business Investment Companies, on the Education Committee of the Venture Capital Institute and on the Steering Committee of the Dallas-Fort Worth Private Equity Forum. Prior to joining Capital Southwest Corporation, Mr. Peterson was an investment banker advising clients in connection with mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, leveraged buyouts and capital-raising activities with Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. from 1997 through 1999. He also served at Bank One Corporation, from 1995 through 1996, where he helped underwrite commercial banking facilities as a Credit Analyst. Mr. Peterson received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Business Administration with distinction from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Capital Southwest Venture Corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital Southwest Corporation, beneficially owns more than 5% of our outstanding common stock.
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