Grant H. Beard brings to the Board significant senior management and public company board experience, together with global expertise in industrial and related markets and in the private equity/merchant banking industry, as well as experience in strategy, operations, and M&A transactions.
Frederick A. Ball brings to the Board significant experience in senior management, operations, finance and auditing, having served as the Chief Financial Officer of a leading provider of cloud-based marketing software, as well as experience in strategy and executive compensation.
Anne T. DelSanto brings to the Board significant experience as a veteran technology executive with more than three decades driving organizations towards exponential growth and provides valuable insight relative to the Company’s growth strategies in Data Center Computing and Telecom Networking markets.
Tina M. Donikowski brings to the Board broad senior management, operations and global experience having served for 38 years in various leadership positions at General Electric Company. Her experience provides the Board with valuable input on strategic, operational, market and product strategies.
Ronald C. Foster brings to the Board significant senior management experience in the semiconductor and high-tech industries as well as significant experience in financial management, accounting and finance issues, having served as Chief Financial Officer for various companies.
Stephen D. Kelley brings more than 30 years of significant senior management experience in the global semiconductor and electronics industry as well as broad management experience in strategic planning, business development, technology, manufacturing and operations.
Lanesha T. Minnix brings to the Board leadership and public company experience and has had broad exposure to advanced industrial markets for a range of applications. Her legal and business skills add significant value to the Board.
David W. Reed brings to the Board significant senior management and operations experience in the semiconductor capital equipment and manufacturing industry, particularly in the areas of global operations and supply chain management.
John A. Roush brings to the Board significant senior management level experience and leadership in the medical and advanced industrial markets and applications, as well as significant public company board experience and experience in private equity.
Brian M. Shirley brings to the Board significant experience as a veteran technology executive with more than three decades of experience in semiconductor product technologies, including as an inventor on 82 U.S. patents, and an extensive track record of advancing innovation and growth.
The Board believes that the qualities and skills listed above for each of the nominees, qualifies each such nominee for service as a director of Advanced Energy.
Independence
The Board of Directors has determined that each of the nominees, other than Stephen D. Kelley (i.e., Grant H. Beard, Frederick A. Ball, Anne T. DelSanto, Tina M. Donikowski, Ronald C. Foster, Lanesha T. Minnix, David W. Reed, John A. Roush and Brian M. Shirley), is an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. Furthermore, Edward C. Grady was “independent” during the time he served on the Board of Directors. Under these rules, to be considered independent, the Board must affirmatively determine, among other things, that neither the director nor any immediate family member of the director has had any direct or indirect material relationship with the Company within the last three years. The Board of Directors has made an affirmative determination that none of the independent directors has had any relationship with Advanced Energy or with another director that would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgement in carrying out his or her responsibilities as a director. The independent directors, if