SouthernSun Asset Management - People

Michael W. Cook, Sr., CEO & Chief Investment Officer

Mr. Cook is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer of SouthernSun. In his 25 years of experience as a research analyst and portfolio manager, Mr. Cook has developed a unique investment philosophy and process which serves as the core of the firm's U.S. and Global Equity strategies. Throughout his career, he has been featured and quoted in The Wall Street Journal and Barron's and has been a speaker on CNBC, Fox Business News, and Bloomberg TV. He is also a requested presenter on U.S. and Global Small and Mid Cap opportunities at regional U.S. and European investor conferences. Mr. Cook attended Covenant College and the OCCA Business Programme, Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford, and is a member of the CFA Institute.

Phillip W. Cook, Director of Research

Mr. Cook joined SouthernSun in 2006. He is responsible for coordination of research and communication within the investment team and is responsible for the research and analysis of existing portfolio companies as well as new ideas. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mr. Cook served as the Analyst to the Chairman and CEO of Trivest Partners, a Miami-based private equity firm focused on middle-market LBOs. He received his B.S. in International Business, summa cum laude, from Auburn University and has passed Level II of the CFA exam. Mr. Cook also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Su Casa Family Ministries.

Peter W. Matthews, CFA, CPA, Senior Analyst

Mr. Matthews joined SouthernSun in 2006. He is responsible for company research and analysis of current and potential portfolio holdings. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mr. Matthews worked in operations for Southeastern Asset Management and the Longleaf Partners Funds. Mr. Matthews graduated from Rhodes College with a major in Economics and subsequently received his M.B.A. and M.S. in Accounting from the University of Memphis. He is a licensed CPA and is a CFA charterholder.

Michael S. Cross, Managing Director and Analyst

Mr. Cross joined SouthernSun in 2008. He is responsible for company research and analysis of current and potential portfolio holdings. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mr. Cross was an officer of Cummins, Inc. and responsible for leading one of Cummins business units. He has Global experience in Sales, Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Logistics, Operations and General Management. Mr. Cross received his B.S. from Vanderbilt University and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt's Owen School with concentrations in Finance, Accounting and Management Information Systems. He has also passed the CPA exam. Mr. Cross serves on the Board of the Neighborhood Christian Center.

S. Elliot Cunningham, Analyst

Mr. Cunningham joined SouthernSun in 2008. His responsibilities include the research and analysis of investment opportunities and monitoring of existing portfolio companies. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mr. Cunningham served as an Analyst for RMK Funds at Morgan Asset Management. He received his B.S. in Business Administration, magna cum laude, from Auburn University.

Lydia Martin, Executive Assistant to Michael Cook

Mrs. Martin joined SouthernSun in 2010. Her current responsibilities include facilitating the functions of the firm's Chief Executive Officer/Chief Investment Officer. Prior to joining SouthernSun, she was an Executive Assistant for Looney Ricks Kiss Architects in Memphis, TN. Mrs. Martin received her B.S. in Business Administration from Arkansas State University.

Rebecca J. Smith, CFA, Director of Client Relations and Business Development

Ms. Smith is responsible for the Sales and Client Service effort at SouthernSun. Prior to joining SouthernSun, from 1998-2009, Rebecca was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs within Asset Management (GSAM). Most recently at GSAM, she served on the manager research and due diligence team and was responsible for selecting U.S. Equity managers for the private client and institutional external manager platforms. Rebecca received her B.A. in Computer Science and Economics from Duke University and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.

Cliff C. Sulcer, CFP®, Associate Director, Client Relations and Business Development

Mr. Sulcer's responsibilities include client service, business development, and fund administration for the SouthernSun Funds. In addition, he has duties within the firm's institutional client relations and sales effort. Prior to joining SouthernSun in 2007, Mr. Sulcer was with the Regions Morgan Keegan Private Banking Group. He has earned his Certified Financial Planner designation. He received a B.A. in Government and Economics from Centre College and an M.B.A. in Finance from Christian Brothers University. He is involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis.

R. Bailey Martz, CPA, Product Management Associate

Ms. Martz joined SouthernSun in 2011. Her responsibilities include client service and business development for the institutional and retail client relations and sales effort. Prior to joining SouthernSun, she served in various roles of increasing responsibility in the Corporate Accounting and Analysis group at Pfizer, Inc. Most recently she was a Projects Team Lead, focused primarily on coordinating financial and technological initiatives related to various acquisitions and divestitures. She has also held positions in accounting and reporting at Parkway Properties, Inc. and Horne LLP. Ms. Martz graduated from Mississippi College with a B.B.A. in Accounting. While at Mississippi College, she received the Mississippi Society of CPA's Award for best general promise in the field of accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Gentry L. Martin, Marketing Analyst

Mr. Martin joined SouthernSun in 2011. His key responsibilities are to communicate and provide information and materials necessary for marketing and business development. Prior to joining SouthernSun, he served as a Cash Management Specialist with a Regional Commercial Bank in Savannah, GA. Mr. Martin graduated from The University of Mississippi - School of Business Administration with a B.B.A. in Managerial Finance. He is a Level I CFA candidate.

Susan C. Crouch, Client Relations Associate

Ms. Crouch joined SouthernSun in 2004. Her key responsibilities are to communicate and provide information and materials necessary for client relations and business development. Prior to joining SouthernSun, she was in the banking industry for over twenty years, most recently with Wachovia Bank. Susan received her B.A. in English and Journalism from Radford University in Radford, VA.

David A. Stevens, Director of Portfolio Administration and Trading

Mr. Stevens joined SouthernSun in 2006. His duties include serving as head trader and overseeing investment operations. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a Professional Services Consultant with Advent Software, implementing trading solutions and best practices for investment managers and hedge funds. Previously, Mr. Stevens assisted the Chairman and CEO of Birinyi Associates of Greenwich, CT, in research, portfolio management, and trading. He has held positions at Citigroup and The Bank of New York in the Investment Banking, Global Risk Management and Currency Trading divisions. Mr. Stevens attended the University of Vermont and has a B.S. in Mathematics and Statistics.

Jacob E. Greer, Trader

Mr. Greer joined SouthernSun in 2011. His primary responsibilities include trading, portfolio administration, and assisting with various operational procedures. Prior to joining SouthernSun, he served as an Equity Trader and Vice President of Equity Capital Markets with Morgan Keegan. Previously, Mr. Greer was a member of an International Market Making team at E*Trade Financial in Chicago, focused primarily on American Depositary Receipts. He began his career in the Eurodollar Futures pit of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and later traded Equity Index Futures on the GLOBEX trading platform during European trading hours. Mr. Greer holds a B.S. in Finance, summa cum laude, from Arizona State University and an M.B.A from the University of Memphis. He is also a member of the Market Technicians Association and has successfully completed Level I of the CMT Exam.

Betty J. Harper, Operations Manager

Mrs. Harper has been with SouthernSun since 1999. Her primary responsibilities include the facilitation and oversight of all operational issues including daily account activity and reconciliation, as well as execution and settlement of trades. Mrs. Harper began her financial career in 1977 at Merrill Lynch and worked for various brokerage firms prior to joining SouthernSun.

Tracey M. Rouse, Assistant Operations Manager

Ms. Rouse joined SouthernSun in 2005. Her responsibilities focus primarily on the maintenance, trading and reconciliation of our wrap account relationships. She also assists in all other operational aspects of the firm. Tracey was previously a senior consultant with NYLIM in New York. She holds a B.A. in Music/Education, cum laude, from Virginia Union University.

Letitia C. Vaughan, Operations Associate

Ms.Vaughan joined SouthernSun in 2008. Her key responsibilities focus on the maintenance and reconciliation of wrap account relationships and other operational aspects of the firm. She joins our team with previous experience in the banking and insurance industry. She attended Alcorn State University in Lorman, MS. Ms. Vaughan is very active in her church, Burdette United Methodist Church, where she serves as the Director of Communications, the Vice-Chair of the United Methodist Women, and as a Youth Counselor.

William P. Halliday III, Chief Operating Officer/Compliance Officer

Mr. Halliday rejoined SouthernSun in 2006 having previously been with the firm from 1991 to 1999. His current responsibilities include the management and oversight of all facets of firm operations. In addition, he serves as the firm's Chief Compliance Officer overseeing and managing SouthernSun's Compliance Program. Prior to SouthernSun, Mr. Halliday served as Partner/President of Breakaway Athletics LLC. He received his B.S. in Finance from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1986, and a Graduate Certificate in Theology from Covenant Theological Seminary in 1999. Mr. Halliday serves on the Robert M. Metcalf Symposium Board.

Julia Wilson, Executive Assistant to William Halliday

Mrs. Wilson joined SouthernSun in 2006. Her current responsibilities include serving as the executive assistant to the Chief Operating Officer/Compliance Officer. She also serves as the office manager for the firm. Prior to joining SouthernSun, she was a Senior Production Planning Associate with ACH Food Companies in Memphis, TN. Mrs. Wilson received her B.B.A. from Belhaven College in Jackson, MS.

W. Bradley Clayton, Esq., Compliance Analyst

Mr. Clayton joined SouthernSun in 2010. His key responsibilities include the coordination and administration of the Compliance Program, especially as it relates to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. In addition, Mr. Clayton is tasked with the implementation and evaluation of the firm's training, testing, and risk assessment initiatives. He graduated summa cum laude from The University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Business Administration and a major in Economics. He subsequently received his J.D. and M.B.A., also from The University of Tennessee. Mr. Clayton was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 2011 and is a member of the American, Tennessee, and Memphis Bar Associations.

Minor Cook Pipes, Office Administrator

Mrs. Pipes joined SouthernSun in 2010. Her current responsibilities include overseeing and managing critical daily functions relating to bookkeeping processes as well as financial record keeping, office and facility management, human resources, and efforts relating to firm wide non-profit planning. Prior to joining SouthernSun, she received her B.A. in Communications with a Minor in Business Administration from the University of Arizona. Mrs. Pipes also received a certificate in Christian Apologetics from Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University.

Maria McCollins, Receptionist

Ms. McCollins joined SouthernSun in 2008. Maria serves as our receptionist, and she also assists with other administrative activities. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Maria served as the Administrative Assistant at the Memphis Alcohol and Drug Council. Maria received her B.A. in English from the University of Memphis.

R. Earl Blankenship, President, Real Estate Funds

Mr. Blankenship is primarily responsible for developing and overseeing the SouthernSun real estate fund platform that was started in 2010. He has nearly 30 years of experience in commercial real estate investments. In 1986, he cofounded the Mid-South U.S. office of CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) where he helped build the company into the largest full-service commercial real estate firm in the region. Under his leadership, the company was twice named one of the nation's fastest-growing private companies by Inc. Magazine. Additionally, he is an owner of LEDIC Management Group, a third-party multifamily housing management firm operating in over a dozen U.S. markets. A licensed CPA (inactive), Mr. Blankenship began his business career at Arthur Andersen & Company.

James P. Dorman, CFA, CPA, Senior Analyst

Mr. Dorman joined SouthernSun in 2010 and is responsible for financial underwriting models, asset allocation, capital forecasting, and fund accounting for the SouthernSun real estate funds. . Dorman is a licensed CPA in the state of Tennessee and a CFA charterholder. Before joining SouthernSun, Mr. Dorman was the Managing Director of Finance at Mercury Investment Management and was a financial advisor in the Corporate Reporting department at FedEx Corporation. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, where he focused on financial audits for both public and private real estate investment companies. Mr. Dorman received his bachelor's degree in accounting from Auburn University and his M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee.

M. Stuart Harris, Senior Analyst

Mr. Harris joined SouthernSun in 2010 and is primarily responsible for investment analysis and investor relations for the real estate funds. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Harris was the Director of Operations for Mercury Investment Management and was a Marketing Specialist with CB Richard Ellis, focusing on market research, financial analysis, and marketing strategies related to leasing, investment sales, and landlord representation. He also served as the Director of Communications for SCB Computer Technology, a publicly-traded IT firm acquired by Ciber, Inc. in 2004. There, Mr. Harris oversaw shareholder communications and PR functions in SCB's 32 U.S. markets. Mr. Harris received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Samford University.

M. Garrott McClintock, Jr., Associate

Mr. McClintock joined SouthernSun in 2010 after graduating with a liberal arts degree from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. Mr. McClintock is responsible for assisting the SouthernSun real estate team in its due diligence on specific assets as well as providing real estate fund marketing documents to current and prospective investors.

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