2008Annual Meeting Chair and Co-Chair

Associate Vice President -Investments, Wachovia Securities, LLC, Spokane, WA

Prior to becoming a Wealth Advisory Specialist, Ralph spent 25 years in the mining industry. Most of that was with Hecla Mining Company. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Michigan Technological University, where he also attended graduate school. He is also a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program and has attended management courses at Wharton School of Business and the University of Michigan Graduate School of Business. The College of Financial Planning has awarded Ralph the CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANS SPECIALIST (SM) designation. He began his mining career as mine geologist in Leadville, Colorado, and eventually became Vice President of Metal Mining with Hecla, managing all its mines and building mines in US and Mexico. In 1996 he started a junior, VSE listed company exploring silver projects in Mexico, and did consulting for Behre Dolbear on US and Latin American projects. With Wachovia Securities, Ralph now works with small businesses and individuals in financial planning and investing.