BUSINESS BACKGROUND OF KYE HELLMERS

Kye Hellmers has over 35 years of diverse management, senior management, Board of Director and Advisory Board experience in multiple corporate and entrepreneurial disciplines with a strong emphasis in developing start-up companies and designing and implementing business strategy, financial management and operations systems.  Mr. Hellmers has a particular expertise and background in the investment banking and securities business.

Mr. Hellmers is currently the CEO of Hellmers Consulting, a general business consulting firm he started in 1998 as Strategic Business Solutions. In addition, he is a Manager of Coastal Restaurant Group, LLC and he serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of NudgeRx.

Mr. Hellmers has served as Chairman of the Board of H2O Strategies, Inc., Centrum Services, Inc., Architron, Inc. and World Wide Pin Corporation, Inc. Additionally, he has served as a Member of the Board of Comprehensive Care Corporation, The Federation of Financial Services Inc., Boston Partners, LLC and Financial Database Systems, Inc. Mr. Hellmers has also served as a Member of the Advisory Board of Diversified Private Equity Corporation and the PCCR Foundation, (a not-for-profit charitable organization).

Career Highlights

From 2003 through 2008 Mr. Hellmers was the Chairman of the Board, CEO and one of the Founders of H2O Strategies, Incorporated, a company engaged in the development, manufacture and distribution of products used in water conservation.

From October 1994 through September 1998 Mr. Hellmers was the Vice-Chairman and a limited partner of The Boston Group, L.P., a registered broker-dealer engaged in the investment banking and securities business.

From September 1992 to August 1994 Mr. Hellmers was associated with The Federation of Financial Services Inc., a financial services industry holding company, as its President, CEO and member of the Board of Directors.  He concurrently served as Chairman, President and CEO of Centrum Services, Inc., an affiliated company providing back office clearing and related services to registered broker-dealers.

From March 1973 to September 1992 Mr. Hellmers was employed by the NASD (n/k/a FINRA). During this period, he worked in various capacities in the New York and Washington DC offices of the company including Supervisor and Assistant Director. In June 1982 Mr. Hellmers was promoted to District Director of the Los Angeles District Office and in 1991 was again promoted to Vice President. 

Mr. Hellmers has been a frequent public speaker and has addressed meetings sponsored by such organizations as the SEC, NASD, SIA, NASAA, NRS, the Securities Industry Management Association, the Association of Western Securities Managers and the Security Traders Association of Los Angeles.  In February 1994 Mr. Hellmers traveled to Bombay, India where he addressed the "Industry Education Program" sponsored by the OTC Exchange of India.

From January 1993 through December 1996, Mr. Hellmers served on the Direct Participation Programs Committee of the Board of Governors of the NASD.  Mr. Hellmers is also a Member of the NASD Board of Arbitrators and is a past member of the Security Traders Association of Los Angeles, the SIA, the California Association of Independent Broker-Dealers, the University Club of Los Angeles and the Stock Exchange Club of Los Angeles.

Mr. Hellmers has held the following securities licenses: Registered Principal, Registered Representative, Financial and Operations Principal, Municipal Securities Principal and Options Principal.