Corporate Governance
​Approved by the Board of Directors

​Purpose and Nature of Principles
​
These principles have been adopted by Board resolution as a definitive statement of the elements of governance by which the Board will manage its affairs. These principles will be reviewed and modified by the Board as needed on recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

1. Responsibilities of the Board. The Directors’ most basic responsibility is to exercise their business judgment to act in a manner that they reasonably believe is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders, and, in discharging this obligation, may rely on members of the Company’s management and on the Company’s outside advisors and auditors. Directors must fulfill their responsibilities consistent with their fiduciary duties to the Company’s shareholders and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Each Director must also comply with all of the Company’s policies, including its Code of Ethics.

2. Functions of the Board. The Board has four scheduled meetings a year at which it reviews and discusses reports by management on the financial, as well as operating, performance of the company, its plans and prospects, as well as immediate issues facing the Company. In addition to its general oversight of management, the Board also performs a number of specific functions including:
a. selecting and evaluating the CEO and overseeing CEO succession planning;
b. ensuring processes are in place for maintaining the integrity of the company, the integrity of the financial statements, the integrity of compliance with law and ethics, the integrity of relationships with customers and suppliers, and the integrity of relationships with other stakeholders.

3. Board Size. It is the policy of the Company that the number of Directors not exceed or be less than a number that can function efficiently as a body.

4. Director Independence. It is the policy of the Company that the Board consists of a majority of independent Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board shall determine director independence utilizing the definition of director independence established by NASDAQ.

5. Committees. It is the general policy of the Company that the Board as a whole considers all major decisions. As a consequence, the committee structure of the Board is limited to those committees considered to be basic to, or required for, the operation of a publicly owned company. Currently these committees are the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommends the members and chairs of these committees to the Board.
The Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are made up of only independent Directors as required by NASDAQ.

6. Board and Committee Self Evaluation. Annually, the Board and the committees of the Board shall discuss the performance of the Board and the committees during the year, focusing on the successes, as well as areas in which improvements would be beneficial to the performance of the Board.
​
7. Director Education. Each director is expected to participate in one or more director education programs regarding directors’ legal duties and responsibilities over each two-year period of service.
 
8. Presiding Director. On an annual basis, the non-employee Directors will select a non-employee member of the Board to serve as Presiding Director. The Presiding Director will chair executive sessions of the Board when the non-employee Directors meet without the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and other inside Directors present. The Presiding Director will perform such other functions as the Board may direct, including, acting as an intermediary between the non-employee Directors and management when special circumstances exist or communication out of the ordinary course is necessary, participating in the performance evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer and reviewing the schedule of Board and Committee meetings and the agendas for Board meetings.

9. Board Meetings. Directors are expected to attend Board meetings and meetings of the Committees on which they serve, to spend the time needed and to meet as frequently as necessary to properly discharge their responsibilities. Meetings should include presentations by management and, when appropriate, outside advisors or consultants, as well as sufficient time for full and open discussion. In addition to regularly scheduled Board meetings, the Audit Committee shall meet at least four times per year, the Compensation Committee shall meet at least one time per year and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall meet at least two times per year.

10. Written Materials. Written materials that are important to the Board’s understanding of the agenda items to be discussed at a Board or Committee meeting should be distributed to the Directors sufficiently in advance of the meeting to allow the Directors the opportunity to prepare. Directors are expected to review these materials thoroughly in advance of the meeting.

11. Agenda for Board Meetings. The Chairman of the Board will set the agenda for Board meetings with the understanding that certain items necessary for appropriate Board oversight will be brought to the Board periodically for review, discussion and decision-making. The Presiding Director will have the opportunity to review the agenda for each Board meeting in advance of the meeting and may request changes, as he or she deems appropriate in order to ensure that the interests and requirements of the non-employee Directors are appropriately addressed. Any Director may request that an item be included on any meeting agenda.

12. Executive Sessions of Non-Employee Directors. The non-employee Directors will meet in regular executive sessions without any members of management present at least two times each year. The Presiding Director will chair these executive sessions.

13. Conflicts of Interest. Every employee and Director has a duty to avoid business, financial or other direct or indirect interests or relationships which conflict with the interests of the Company or which may affect his or her loyalty to the Company. Each Director must deal at arm’s length with the Company and should disclose to the Chairman or Presiding Director any conflict or any appearance of a conflict of interest. Any activity which even appears to present such a conflict must be avoided or terminated, unless after appropriate disclosure and discussion, it is determined that the activity is not harmful to the Company or otherwise improper.

14. Other Company Directorships. The Board recommends that, except in unusual circumstances, if a Director is employed full-time by a public company, such Director limit the number of boards on which he or she sits to the boards of two other public companies (in addition to the Company’s Board and that of his or her employer). If the Director is not employed full-time by a public company, the Board recommends that, except in unusual circumstances, he or she sit on the boards of no more than four other public companies (in addition to the Company’s Board). The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall review on a case-by-case basis situations concerning significant involvement by a Director in non-profit or charitable organizations.

15. Change in Director Occupation. When a Director’s principal occupation or business association changes substantially during his or her tenure as a Director, that Director shall tender his or her resignation for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will recommend to the Board the action, if any, to be taken with respect to the resignation.
 
16. Term Limits. The Board does not endorse arbitrary term limits on Directors’ service, nor does it believe in automatic annual renomination until they reach the mandatory retirement age. The Board self-evaluation process is an important determinant for continuing service.

17. Succession Planning/Management Development Review. The Board shall oversee the senior management development and succession planning process in order to ensure that the process is rigorous and effective. In furtherance of this objective, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will focus upon succession planning for the Chairman/CEO and the Chairman/CEO will annually conduct a review of the Senior Management Team (the “SMT”) with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. This review will be shared with the full Board in connection with its broader oversight responsibilities.

18. Communication with Stakeholders. The Chairman and CEO are responsible for establishing effective communications with the Company’s stakeholder groups, i.e., shareholders, customers, company associates, communities, suppliers, creditors, governments and corporate partners.
​
It is the policy of the Company that management speaks for the Company. This policy does not preclude outside Directors from meeting with shareholders, but it is suggested that in the majority of circumstances, any such meetings be held with management present.