Corporate Governance

1. Board Composition and Selection

1.1 Size and Classes of the Board

The number of directors shall be established by the Board in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company. The Board currently consists of seven directors. The Board periodically reviews the appropriate size of the Board, which may vary to accommodate the availability of suitable candidates and the needs of the Company. The Board is divided into three classes that serve staggered three-year terms and are as nearly as equal as possible.

1.2 Independence of Directors

It is the policy of the Company that the Board be composed of not less than a majority of independent directors, subject to any exceptions permitted by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. ("Nasdaq") listing standards. In determining independence, the Board will consider the definition of independence set forth in the Nasdaq listing standards, as well as other factors that will contribute to effective oversight and decision-making by the Board.

1.3 Management Directors

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer currently serves as a Director on the Board and the Board anticipates that he will continue to be nominated to serve on the Board. The Board may also appoint or nominate other members of the Company's management whose experience and role at the Company are expected to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities.

1.4 Selection of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

The Board will select the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board ("Chairman") in the manner that it determines to be in the best interests of the Company's stockholders. It is the policy of the Company that the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman may be held by the same person, as the Board believes that that this practice has been effective for a number of years. The Board recognizes, however, that there may be circumstances that arise that would lead it to separate these offices.

1.5 Selection of Lead Director

The Board may designate and select a lead director of the Board ("Lead Director") in the manner that it determines to be in the best interests of the Company's stockholders. The Lead Director shall be independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing standards. The name of the Lead Director will be disclosed on the Company's website and in its proxy statement. The authority of the Lead Director shall be as set forth in the bylaws of the Company and as designated by the Board, including the following:

• Presiding at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors; provided that the Lead Director may delegate such duties to the Chief Executive Officer for telephonic meetings and telephonic executive sessions;
• Serving as a liaison between the Chief Executive Officer and/or Chairman, and the independent directors;
• To the extent requested by the Board, approving information sent to the Board by the Company, prior to its dissemination;
• Approving proposed meeting agendas for the Board;
• Approving proposed meeting schedules for the Board to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;
• Calling meetings of the Board if and when deemed necessary in the Lead Director's discretion;
• Calling meetings of the independent directors if and when deemed necessary in the Lead Director's discretion;
• Advising the Chief Executive Officer and/or Chairman regarding the impression of the independent directors as to the quality, quantity and timeliness of the flow of information from the Company that is necessary for the Board to effectively perform its duties;
• If not a member of a committee of the Board, attending meetings of such committee as he or she deems appropriate; and
• Accepting additional responsibilities as may be recommended from time to time by the Board or the independent directors of the Board.

1.6 Selection of Directors

The Board will be responsible for nominating members for election to the Board by the Company's stockholders at the annual meeting of stockholders. The Board is also responsible for filling vacancies on the Board that may occur between annual meetings of stockholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for identifying, reviewing and evaluating and recommending to the Board candidates to serve as directors of the Company, in accordance with its charter and consistent with the criteria set by the Board in Section 1.7 below. The invitation to join the Board should be extended by the Chairman or Lead Director.

1.7 Board Membership Criteria

The Board will determine the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience for the Board as a whole and for its individual members. The Board considers recommendations for nominees from the Nominating and Governance Committee. In selecting candidates and existing directors for service on the Board, the minimum general criteria set forth below will be considered; specific additional criteria may be added with respect to specific searches. An acceptable candidate may not fully satisfy all of the criteria, but is expected to satisfy nearly all of them. The Board believes that candidates for director should have certain minimum qualifications, including being able to read and understand basic financial statements and having the highest personal integrity and ethics. In considering candidates recommended by the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Board intends to consider such factors as possessing relevant expertise upon which to be able to offer advice and guidance to management, having sufficient time to devote to the affairs of the Company, having the ability to exercise sound business judgment and having the commitment to rigorously represent the long-term interests of the Company's stockholders. Candidates for director nominees are reviewed in the context of the current composition of the Board, the operating requirements of the Company and the long-term interests of stockholders. In conducting this assessment, the Board considers diversity, age, skills, and such other factors as it deems appropriate given the current needs of the Board and the Company, to maintain a balance of knowledge, experience and capability. In the case of incumbent directors whose terms of office are set to expire, the Board reviews such directors' overall service to the Company during their term, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation, quality of performance, and any other relationships and transactions that might impair such directors' independence. In the case of new director candidates, the Board also determines whether the nominee must be independent for Nasdaq purposes.

1.8 Changes in Board Member Criteria

The Board and the Company wish to maintain a Board composed of members who can productively contribute to the success of the Company. From time to time, the Board may change the criteria for Board membership to maximize the opportunity to achieve this success. When this occurs, existing members will be evaluated according to the new criteria. A director who no longer meets the complete criteria for board membership may be asked to adjust his or her committee assignments or resign from the Board.

1.9 Term Limits

The Board does not believe it should limit the number of terms for which an individual may serve as a director. Directors who have served on the Board for an extended period of time are able to provide continuity and valuable insight into the Company, its operations and prospects based on their experience with, and understanding of, the Company's history, policies and objectives. The Board believes that, as an alternative to term limits, it can ensure that the Board continues to evolve and adopt new ideas and viewpoints through the director nomination process described in these Governance Guidelines.

1.10 Retirement Age

The Board does not believe that a fixed retirement age for directors is appropriate.

1.11 Directors Who Change Their Job Responsibility

A director who retires from his or her present employment or who materially changes his or her position or undergoes any change that materially alters his or her fitness to serve as a Director should promptly notify the Board and the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Board does not believe any director who retires from his or her present employment, or who materially changes his or her position, should necessarily leave the Board; however, there should be an opportunity for the Board, through the Nominating and Governance Committee, to review the continued appropriateness of Board membership under these circumstances.

2. Role of the Board of Directors

The Board is selected by the stockholders to provide oversight of, and strategic guidance to, senior management. The core responsibility of a Board member is to fulfill his or her fiduciary duties of care and loyalty and otherwise to exercise his or her business judgment in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Service on the Board requires significant time and attention on the part of directors. More specifically, the Board has responsibilities to review, approve and monitor fundamental financial and business strategies and major corporate actions, assess major risks facing the Company and consider ways to address those risks, select and oversee management and determine its composition and oversee the establishment and maintenance of processes and conditions to maintain the integrity of the Company. Directors must participate in Board meetings, review relevant materials, serve on committees and prepare for meetings and discussions with management. Directors are expected to maintain an attitude of constructive involvement and oversight; they are expected to ask relevant, incisive and probing questions and require honest and accurate answers. Directors must act with integrity and are expected to demonstrate a commitment to the company, its values and its business and to long-term stockholder value. Directors are encouraged to attend the Company's annual meeting of stockholders, either in person or telephonically.

3. Director Education

4. Director Compensation

5. Board Meetings

5.1 Number of Meetings

The Board expects to have at least four regular meetings each year.

5.2 Attendance

Board members are expected to attend all meetings of the Board and committees on which they serve. Directors must notify the Chairman or Lead Director of circumstances preventing attendance at a meeting.

5.3 Preparation and Commitment

The Company will provide directors with appropriate preparatory materials in advance of a meeting, but in any event not later than three days prior to the meeting, except in unusual circumstances. Directors are expected to rigorously prepare for, attend, and participate in all Board and committee meetings. Each director is expected to ensure that other existing and planned future commitments do not materially interfere with the member's service as director.

5.4 Agenda

The Chairman or Lead Director will approve a schedule of subjects to be discussed during the year (to the extent this can be foreseen) and an agenda for each Board meeting. Each Board member is encouraged to suggest the inclusion of items on the agenda at any time. Each Board member is free to raise at any Board meeting subjects that are not on the agenda for that meeting.

5.5 Executive Session

The independent directors of the Board will meet periodically in executive session but no less than two times per year or such greater number as required by the Nasdaq listing standards. Executive session discussions will be led by the Lead Director and may include such topics as the Lead Director and the other independent directors determine. The directors generally shall not take formal action at these sessions, but may make recommendations for consideration by the full Board.

5.6 Committee Reports

At each regular Board meeting, each committee that held a meeting subsequent to the last Board meeting and prior to the current Board meeting will present a brief summary of its committee meeting to the Board, including the principal subjects discussed and the conclusions and actions of the committee. In general, the Chairman of the appropriate committee will present such report.

5.7 Operating Plan

Every year the Board will review and approve an operating plan for the Company.

6. Board Committees

6.1 Number of Committees; Independence of Members

The committee structure of the Board will consist of at least (a) an Audit Committee, (b) a Compensation Committee, and (c) a Nominating and Governance Committee. The Board may form, merge or dissolve committees as it deems appropriate from time to time. The Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee shall be composed entirely of independent directors, except to the extent allowed under applicable Nasdaq listing standards.

6.2 Committee Functions

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee oversees the Company's corporate accounting and financial reporting process. For this purpose, the Audit Committee performs several functions. The Audit Committee evaluates the performance of and assesses the qualifications of the independent auditors; determines and approves the scope of the engagement and compensation of the independent auditors; determines whether to retain or terminate the existing independent auditors or to appoint and engage new independent auditors; reviews and approves the retention of the independent auditors to perform any proposed permissible non-audit services; monitors the rotation of partners of the independent auditors on the Company's audit engagement team as required by law; confers with management and the independent auditors regarding the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting; establishes procedures, as required under applicable law, for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; reviews the financial statements to be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K; and discusses with management and the independent auditors the results of the annual audit and the results of the Company's quarterly financial statements.