Senator Donald (Don) L. Nickles

Overview

Don Nickles, 59, has been a member of our Board of Directors since January 2005. Senator Nickles is the founder and President of The Nickles Group, a consulting and business venture firm in Washington D.C. Senator Nickles was elected to represent Oklahoma in the United States Senate from 1980 to 2005 where he held numerous leadership positions, including Assistant Republican Leader from 1996 to 2003 and Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee from 2003 to 2005. Senator Nickles also served on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Finance Committee. Prior to his service in the U.S. Senate, Senator Nickles served in the Oklahoma State Senate from 1979 to 1980 and worked for Nickles Machine Corporation in Ponca City, Oklahoma becoming Vice President and General Manager. Senator Nickles is also a director of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO), an independent oil refiner headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Fortress International Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIGI), a company based in Columbia, Maryland which provides specialized security services, and Washington Mutual Investors Fund. Senator Nickles served in the National Guard from 1970 to 1976 and graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1971.