[Meet Our Directors]

Photo of Lee M. BerlinPhoto of Larry Garde, Ed Palmer and Larry Matthews

L>R. Lee Berlin, Lawrence Garde, Edward G. Palmer, Lawrence J. Matthews


Notice: This page reflects the directors up to 2001 but does not reflect the November 2001 board election. Lee Berlin and Larry Garde were replaced on the board by Charles Thorpe, Bob Walker and Tom Venable. See Executive Summary.

LEE M. BERLIN has been a director of the Company since April 1999. Mr. Berlin has served as a director of LecTec Corporation since 1981 and was its Chairman from 1983 until shortly after he left LecTec in 1993. He was Chief Executive Officer of LecTec from 1983 to 1989. LecTec Corporation is a publicly traded company based in Minnesota and is listed on the NASDAQ/NMS as LECT. Prior to LecTec, Mr. Berlin served in a variety of foreign and domestic marketing, product development and general management positions with 3M in Minnesota. Mr. Berlin was the founder of Medical Alley in Minnesota; served as Chairman of Minnesota District Export Council; Director of the Minnesota World Trade Center; Chairman of the Governor's Commission on Medical Technology; and, Chairman of the National Small Business Exporter's Association. He has been a life-long resident of Minnesota and long-time booster of Minnesota business and technology. Mr. Berlin brings extensive entrepreneurial, executive management and international business experience to the Company. Mr. Berlin holds a Chemical Engineering Degree from the University of Minnesota and a Law Degree from the William Mitchell College of Law. Mr. Berlin currently lives in Bonita Springs, Florida where he continues to be involved with new businesses, new technology and international trade.

LAWRENCE GARDE has been a director of the Company since 1989. From November 1989 to the present, he has been self-employed as a consultant and trainer to Minnesota companies and individuals in the area of patent protection. He has a degree in electronic engineering and eight patents in his name. Until November 1989, when he retired, he was a design engineering manager for Control Data Corporation’s Imprimis (Magnetic Peripherals, Inc.).

EDWARD G. PALMER, Chairman of the Board (Director) and President of the Company, is the sole founder of the Company. From June 1985 to the present, he has been the President of the Company. From January through May of 1985, he was the Director of Quality for the Winchester Division of Applied Magnetics Corporation in Santa Barbara, California. From April of 1979 to December of 1984, he served in the positions of Senior Quality Engineer, Quality Control Manager and Quality Assurance Manager at Magnetic Peripherals Inc., Bloomington, Minnesota. Mr. Palmer’s principal responsibilities are those of President, CEO, CFO and the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

LAWRENCE J. MATTHEWS has been a director of the Company since 1988. From 1993 until its sale in 1998, Mr. Matthews was involved in building a manufacturing company called Vendtronics Corporation based in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Mr. Matthews was its principal owner. From 1984 until his retirement in 1993, he was the Vice President of Engineering for Zytec. He also served as a director. Mr. Matthews was a co-founder of Zytec based in Eden Prairie, MN, which recently merged with Computer Products to form Artesyn Technologies. Artesyn is publicly traded on the NASDAQ/NMS as ATSN. Mr. Matthews continues to serve as one of its directors. Before January 1984, he was employed by Control Data Corporation in engineering design, engineering management and operations management. Mr. Matthews has a degree in mechanical engineering and extensive management experience at the executive level.

The Company has four directors. All directors hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The officers of the Company are elected annually and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. None of the Company's officers are employed pursuant to a written employment contract.


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