Thomas J. Linko

Sealy Corp. manufactures and sells mattresses. It offers innerspring, memory foam, and hybrid mattresses. The company was founded by Daniel Haynes in 1881 and is headquartered in Trinity, NC.

The North Face, Inc. retails climbing and backpacking equipment. It designs and distributes outerwear, skiwear, functional sportswear, tents, backpacks, and climbing and backpacking equipment. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Denver, CO.

Founded in 1976, Apax Partners, Inc. is a venture capital/private equity firm located in New York City. The firm is a subsidiary of London-based Apax Partners LLP

Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. designs a range of fashion footwear, handbags, and apparel in the United States and internationally. The firm, through license agreements, also designs and markets apparel and accessories under its Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Unlisted, and Le Tigre brand names; and footwear under the proprietary Gentle Souls trademark. It also designs, develops, and sources private label footwear and handbags for selected retailers. The company was founded in 1982 by Kenneth D. Cole and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Converse, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets footwear for men, women and children. It offers sneakers, high top, low top, slip, wedge and customized footwear. The firm also offers clothing products that include tees, shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, pants, socks and accessories. The company was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Boston, MA.

Southern Methodist University is a private university near the center of Dallas, SMU offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs through seven schools in the humanities and sciences, business, the performing, visual, and communication arts, engineering, education and human development, law, and theology.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (GS&Co.) is a securities brokerage firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1927, the firm is a subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS). GS&Co. provides services to help hedge funds manage risk, monitor portfolios, maintain liquidity and build their businesses. They offer clients access to global equity and derivatives markets, as well as foreign exchange, commodities, European Lefts, rates and credit across the Americas, Europe and Asia. The firm proactively monitors capital markets, searching for pockets of liquidity and news that may require changes to those strategies. Integration with the Goldman Sachs network gives clients access to the firm's sectored block trades and their insights into price discovery. Their electronic trading program provides clients with tools to manage their trades from pre-trade analytics to post-trade analysis.

Infinity Associates LLC (Infinity Associates) is a private equity firm founded in 1993. The firm is headquartered in Mill Valley, California.

Lion Capital LLP (Lion Capital) is a private equity firm founded in 2004 by Lyndon Lea, Robert Darwent and Neil A. Richardson. The firm is headquartered in London.

Voyager HospiceCare, Inc. provides healthcare services. The firm offers nursing, hospice, home health aid, physical therapy, nutrition therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, and speech therapy services. It also provides palliative care, emotional and spiritual support, and bereavement services for patients and their families. Voyager HospiceCare serves physicians, continuing care facilities, hospitals, and individuals and families. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Louisville, KY.

Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., LLC (BRS) is a private equity firm founded in 1995 by Bruce Bruckmann, Harold Rosser and Stephen Sherrill. The firm is headquartered in New York.

MagnaCare Holdings, Inc. provides health plan management services. The firm's solutions include claims adjudication, eligibility management, health plan packages, and customer service consulting and support. Its focus areas also encompass provider network access, predictive modeling analysis, and member outreach programs. It also offers solutions to funding firms, self-insured companies, commercial insurers, and government entities. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

rue21, Inc. engages in the operations of retail apparel and accessory stores. It offers apparel and accessories for girls and guys, including graphic t-shirts, denim, dresses, shirts, hoodies, belts, jewelry, handbags, footwear, intimate apparel, and other accessories. The company was founded in October 1976 and is headquartered in Warrendale, PA.

National Retail Federation operates membership organizations. Its channels of distribution include department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet and independent stores. The company is headquartered in Washington, DC.

Cole Haan LLC manufactures and distributes footwear, handbags, apparel, and accessories. Its products include sandals, pumps, ballet flats, wedges, drivers, loafers, backpacks and clutches. The company was founded by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan in 1928 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Sephora USA, Inc. operates beauty stores. It offers fragrances, cosmetics, skincare, bath, and beauty products. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Part of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., West Elm, Inc. is a design company that was founded in 2002. The company is based in Paramus, NJ. The company is dedicated to transforming people's lives and spaces through creativity, style, and purpose. The company offers original, modern, and affordable home decor, as well as a selection of local, ethically sourced, and fair trade certified™ products. West Elm has over 100 stores worldwide and is a part of the world's largest digital-first, design-led, and sustainable home retailer. The company also participates in the Key Rewards, a free-to-join loyalty program that offers members exclusive benefits across the fleet of brands.

Spectrum Laboratory Products, Inc. manufactures and distributes chemicals and laboratory products. The company was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Gardena, CA.

USHG LLC owns and operates a chain of restaurants and cafes. The firm is a restaurant development group with a controlling interest in the Shake Shack quick-service restaurant franchise, eight fine dining restaurants, concessions in stadiums and other public spaces, a catering company, and a hospitality consultancy. The company was founded by Daniel Harris Meyer in 1998 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Blum & Co. Inc. provides strategic advisory and investment banking consulting services. The company was founded by Edward Blum in 1988 and is headquartered in Vienna, VA.

Fred Segal LLC operates online retail designer store. The firm offers women, kids and men?s clothing, bags, shoes, accessories, jewelry and eyewear. The company was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.

Part of George Weston Ltd., Loblaw Brands Ltd. is a Canadian company that operates supermarkets. The company is based in Brampton, Canada.

Part of RNF BV, Liz Claiborne, Inc. /Mexx Ops/ designs and wholesales fashion apparel and accessories for men and women. The company is based in New York, NY. The company was founded by Jerome A. Chazen.

Founded in 1958, Merrill Lynch Piece Fenner & Smith, Inc. is an SEC registered broker/dealer located in New York City. The firm is a subsidiary of BAC North America Holding Co. and their ultimate parent is Bank of America Corp. (NYSE BAC).