Advisory Board

Nelda J. Connors is the Founder and CEO of Pine Grove Holdings, LLC (PGH), a privately-held investment firm providing advisory services to the private equity and investment banking sectors, and invests in small and lower middle market companies. Since founding PGH in 2011,
Ms. Connors has overseen transactions representing over $300 million in enterprise value.

Her recognized expertise and sought-after strategic counsel currently place her on the public Board of Directors of Boston Scientific, Delphi Technologies, Echo Global Logistics and EnerSys. Ms. Connors recently attained status as a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Board Leadership Fellow.

Ms. Connors was formerly a public independent director for Blount International, Inc., CLARCOR Inc., and Vesuvius plc and had the unique experience of a directorship with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago during the global economic downturn as well as serving as an independent consultant to the Department of Justice’s Takata Corporation airbag investigation.

Ms. Connors has a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering as well as post-graduate studies in International Finance and Economics. She has lived and worked in Japan, Germany and China.

CURRENT CORPORATE BOARDS

Independent Director
Boston Scientific (2009 – Present)
Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices. Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, the organization has a market cap of $45 billion and over 27,000 worldwide employees. Ms. Connors serves on the Compensation & Human Resources and Finance Committees.

Independent Director
Delphi Technologies (2017 – Present)
Delphi Technologies, PLc (NYSE: DLPH) is the powertrain leader of technologies and software to enable next-generation advanced vehicle propulsion systems for global customers, taking advantage of the industry’s move to electrification. Headquartered in London, England, U.K., the organization has a market cap of $4 billion. Ms. Connors serves on the Audit and Finance Committees.

FORMER CORPORATE BOARDS

Independent Director
Blount International, Inc. (2012 – 2016)
Blount (NYSE: BLT) is a global manufacturer and marketer of replacement parts, equipment, and accessories for consumers and professionals operating primarily in two market segments: Forestry, Lawn, and Garden (FLAG) and Farm, Ranch, and Agriculture (FRAG). Headquartered in Portland, OR, the organization has over 4,000 employees and was sold to a strategic buyer in 2017.

Independent Director
CLARCOR Inc. (2016 – 2017)
CLARCOR (NYSE: CLS) is a diversified marketer and manufacturer of mobile, industrial and environmental filtration products sold in domestic and international markets. Headquartered in Franklin, TN, the organization has over 5,000 employees and was sold to a strategic buyer in 2017.

Director
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (2010 – 2017)
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks across the United States that, together with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., serve as the central bank for the United States.

Independent Director
Vesuvius plc (2013 – 2016)
Vesuvius (FTSE: VSVS) is a global leader in metal flow engineering, providing a full range of engineering services and solutions to its customers worldwide, principally serving the steel and foundry industries. Headquartered in London, the organization has a market cap of $1.6 billion and over 10,000 employees.

MAJOR OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Ms. Connors has more than 25 years technical and operating experience. From 2008 through 2011, Ms. Connors was the President and CEO of Atkore International (NYSE: ATKR), formerly a division of Tyco International. Leading one of the world’s largest producers of electrical steel and copper commercial construction products to major distributors, big box retail and direct-to-consumer, revenue peaked at $2.5 billion during her tenure. Prior to Atkore, she was a senior executive at Eaton Corporation, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler in various global business leadership and P&L roles.

EDUCATION
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Ms. Connors holds her B.S. and M.S. from the University of Dayton with post-graduate studies at the University of Tokyo in International Finance and Economics.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Ms. Connors has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being recognized by Women, Inc. in its 2019 Most Influential Corporate Directors issue, Savoy Magazine in its Power 300 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors issue (2018) and Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the Top 75 Powerful Women in Business (2013). In addition, Chicago United acknowledged her as one of its Business Leaders of Color (2009); she was a Harvard Business School Dynamic Women in Business panelist (2007); and awarded a Rotary International Japan Fellowship.

MEMBERSHIPS
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Chicago Urban League
Economic Club of Chicago
National Association of Corporate Directors
Private Directors Association – Chicago Chapter
Women Corporate Directors Foundation

Bob Dixon is experienced in local, national, and international business practices, with contacts spanning the globe, a recognized industry leader and expert in performance contracting, energy services, and building controls, serves on industry-based board of directors, and as a subject-matter-expert and motivational keynote speaker at venues around the world.

He currently practices as an independent consultant in the energy efficiency and sustainability industries and serves as the Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of Encorp, an industry leader in microgrid control engineering, solutions, technologies, commissioning, and service. He recently retired from Siemens and during his 24 years, he served in a variety of positions including the Head of Sustainability – Siemens USA, Vice President of Industry Affairs for Building Performance & Sustainability, Vice President and Senior Advisor to the Management Board for the International Headquarters of the Building Technologies Division of Siemens, Senior Vice President, Global Head, Energy and Environmental Solutions, Senior Director – Energy and Environmental Solutions, North America.

He was the first designated Senior Principle Expert for the 39,000 employee Building Technologies division.

During his 20 years with Johnson Controls, he held a variety of field based general management positions in the Southwest, Southern California, Northern California, and the Greater New York City area.

He served as Industry First-Vice Chair for the Alliance to Save Energy, the president of National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO), the vice president of the Energy Services Coalition (ESC), Board member of the Economic Valuation Organization (EVO) ,and the Industry Member on the Buildings and Appliances Task Force under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, and is a graduate of the Minnesota Executive Program at the University of Minnesota.