Mr. Melarkey a partner in the law firm of Avansino, Melarkey, Knobel & Mulligan received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, his law degree from the University of San Francisco and his masters in laws in taxation from New York University. He has been in private legal practice in Reno, Nevada, since 1976. Mr. Melarkey is a member of the American Bar Association, the International Association of Gaming Lawyers and the State Bar of Nevada. He is a trustee of the Bretzlaff Foundation, the Robert S. and Dorothy J. Keyser Foundation, the Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation, and the E. L. Wiegand Trust. Mr. Melarkey is a member of the Board of Directors of Southwest Gas Corporation and currently serves as Chairman. He is vice president of Miami Oil Producers, Inc. and serves as a director of the Gabelli Dividend and Income Trust, the Gabelli Global Utility and Income Trust, the Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust, the Natural Resources, Gold & Income Trust and the Gabelli Global Deal Fund, all closed-end mutual funds. Mr. Melarkey resides in Reno with his wife, Karen, and they have five children.