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Tad M. Ballantyne. Mr. Ballantyne is an officer and director of several private companies including BR Industries, Inc, Hoopeston Foods, Inc., Thomsen Group, LLC, and Pacific Rim Foods Ltd. Mr. Ballantyne also serves as an independent director and financial expert on the audit committee of Empire Energy Corporation International (OTCBB: EEGC) and a director of Jilin Jimei Foods Ltd., a private company in Changchun China. During 2003, Texas Steel Partners Inc., a Texas-based steel foundry, filed for reorganization and was liquidated pursuant to a bankruptcy Chapter 7 conversion. Mr. Ballantyne was an officer and director and 50% shareholder of Texas Steel Partners. During the last 17 years, Mr. Ballantyne has been active in acquiring and operating troubled companies or assets being divested by public and private companies and has focused over the last four years in food processing plants in both the United States and Asia. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from the University of Wisconsin. | 