W. Denman Van Ness has been a director since October of 1981 and was appointed Lead Independent Director in January of 2008 and Chairman of the Board in August of 2011. He is Chairman of Hidden Hill Advisors, a venture capital consulting firm. From April of 1996 through October of 1999, he was a Managing Director of CIBC Capital Partners, an international merchant banking organization. From 1986 to 1996, Mr. Van Ness was a General Partner of Olympic Venture Partners II and Rainier Venture Partners, venture capital funds, and from 1977 until 1985, he was a General Partner of the venture capital group at Hambrecht & Quist, the manager of several venture capital funds. Mr. Van Ness earned his B.A. in American History and Literature from Williams College and holds an MBA degree from Harvard University. Mr. Van Ness brings to the Board an extensive understanding of corporate development and a background in assessing a wide range of corporate funding sources and partnering opportunities. His leadership skills, including past service on the boards of other companies, contribute to his role as Chairman of the Board.

 American History and Literature