Mr. Duckworth has served as the Chairman of our Board since November 2006 and as one of our directors since February 2005. He is a partner of The Yucaipa Companies LLC, a Los Angeles-based private investment firm specializing in acquiring and operating companies in the retail, distribution and logistics areas. From 2000-2003, Mr. Duckworth was head of West Coast Financial Sponsor Coverage for Merrill Lynch & Co. where he managed client relationships with private equity firms throughout the western region. He was responsible for all client activity including idea generation, public and private debt, equity and merger and acquisition origination, and private equity fund raising. From 1988-2000, Mr. Duckworth served as Managing Director at Bankers Trust/Deutsche Bank where he maintained a similar emphasis on working with Financial Sponsors and on Leveraged Finance.
