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Jerry York
CEO, Harwinton Capital

Director, Apple Inc.,
Tyco International Ltd.,
MyPublisher

Mr. York has graciously agreed to share the materials from his presentation. Please click below to download the files:

Jerome (Jerry) York is Chief Executive Officer of Harwinton Capital, LLC, a private investment company he founded in 2000. Harwinton Capital’s principal investments are in the technology, biotechnology and entertainment sectors.

From 2000 to 2003 he was Chief Executive Officer of Micro Warehouse, Inc., a multi-national reseller of computer hardware, software and peripheral products.

From 1995 to 1999 he was Vice Chairman of Tracinda Corporation, the private investment company owned by Mr. Kirk Kerkorian, with major investments in the automotive, filmed entertainment and gaming industries. In April, 2005, Mr. York entered into an advisory arrangement with Tracinda regarding potential investments in the automotive industry.

Before joining Tracinda in 1995, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of IBM Corporation, joining IBM in 1993 shortly after Mr. Louis Gerstner became its Chief Executive Officer.

Prior to IBM, he spent fourteen years (1979 to 1993) at Chrysler Corporation, rising through a series of positions, including heading up Chrysler’s Mexican Operations, Manufacturing Engineering Operations, Truck Operations, and the Dodge Division, and becoming Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors in 1990.

Previously, he was Group Vice President of Baker Industries, Inc., with responsibility for the Wells Fargo-branded Alarm, Armored Car and Guard Services Divisions, and prior to that was Vice President—Operations of the Hertz Corporation’s Truck Rental and Leasing Division.

From 1963 to 1967 he was an engineer with General Motors Corporation, initially at the GM Engineering Staff, and subsequently at the Pontiac Motor Division. He then spent three years at the Ford Motor Company, holding a number of positions in the Car Product Planning Office--ultimately having responsibility for the long range planning for all Ford, Mercury and Lincoln passenger cars.

Mr. York holds a B.S. degree from the U.S. Military Academy, an M.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an M.B.A. degree from the University of Michigan. He is also a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Michigan.

He is currently a director of Apple Computer, Inc., Tyco International Ltd. and MyPublisher, a privately held, web-based provider of custom photo albums.

Andrew J. McKenna
Non-Executive Chairman, McDonald’s Corporation

Chairman, Schwarz Paper Company

Andrew J. McKenna is Chairman of McDonald’s Corporation, Oak Brook, IL. McDonald’s is the world’s leading food service retailer with more than 30,000 restaurants in 119 countries serving 50 million customers each day.

Mr. McKenna is also the Chairman of Schwarz Supply Source, Morton Grove, Illinois. Schwarz Supply Source is an international distributor of paper packaging and allied products and also a printer, producer and converter of paper products with facilities throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

He is a director of Aon Corporation, Chicago Bears Football Club, Inc., McDonald’s Corporation and Skyline Corporation. He acted as Chairman of the Chicago White Sox during his group’s ownership of that organization from 1975-1981. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Cubs, upon purchase of that entity by Tribune Company, from August 1981 through December of 1984. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Notre Dame from 1992 - 2000 and was Vice Chairman for six years prior to that and continues to serve as a trustee. McKenna has served over the years on many civic, community and philanthropic boards. He is immediate past chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Science and Industry and continues to serve as a trustee. He is past Chairman of the Economic Club of Chicago and also past chairman of The Executives’ Club of Chicago. He is a director of The American Ireland Fund, Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago, the Big Shoulders Fund of the Archdiocese of Chicago, The Ireland Economic Advisory Board, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Renaissance Schools Fund, and the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago among others. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Civic Committee of The Commercial Club of Chicago, and is a past Chairman of The Commercial Club of Chicago. In addition, he is the Founding Chairman of Chicago Metropolis 2020. His former corporate directorships include: First Chicago NBD (1991-1999), Dean Foods (1982-2000), Tribune Company (1982-2002) and Click Commerce (2000-2006).

He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor of science degree in business administration and marketing. McKenna is also a graduate of DePaul University Law School where he received a Doctor of Jurisprudence. He has been the recipient of many business and civic awards. He and his wife, Joan, have seven children and 23 grandchildren.

Diane Swonk
Chief Economist

Diane is one of the most sought-after economists in the world. She is called upon by policymakers and business leaders from Washington to Tokyo. Diane joined Mesirow Financial in 2004 after 19 years with Bank One Corporation and its predecessors. She started her career with the First Chicago Corporation in 1985 and quickly moved up the ranks, proving herself as a regional economist with her forecast for a renaissance in the Industrial Midwest just one year later. During her tenure with First Chicago, Diane published several nationally acclaimed studies as well as her first book: The Passionate Economist: Finding the Power and Humanity Behind the Numbers.

Diane sits on several advisory committees to the Federal Reserve Board, its regional banks and the Council of Economic Advisers for the White House. Most recently, she was appointed to serve on the Congressional Budget Office’s panel of economic advisers. As one of the most quoted economists in the financial press, Diane is seen regularly on national and international television and her commentary can be read in top financial news publications throughout the world. In addition, she serves as a Clinical Professor for DePaul University 's highly rated evening MBA program.

Diane is a past board member for the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) and the Finance Committee for the Executive Club of Chicago as well as a past member of the Board of Trustees for the Illinois Council on Economic Education. She is a past president of NABE, a title that former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and several other Federal Reserve presidents have also shared. Diane was the youngest to serve as president in the association's history and continues to dedicate much of her time to improving the quality and timeliness of economic data, a critical aspect of policymaking. She was named "Fellow" of NABE for her outstanding contributions to the field of business economics.

Diane earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in economics with top honors from the University of Michigan as well as a master's degree in finance and strategic planning with top honors from the University of Chicago.

Diane’s monthly newsletter, Themes on the Economy, is available online at www.mesirowfinancial.com.