Peter J. Wardle was named Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors in January 2000 and has served as a director of the Company since 1987. Mr. Wardle has been a General Partner of Newtek Ventures, a venture capital company, since 1983. Mr. Wardle also serves as a director of Ophthonix, a vision care company. Mr. Wardle received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Economics from Dartmouth College .