Veber Partners Announces Ted Winnowski As Strategic Partner

Portland, Oregon - October 7, 2004 – Veber Partners announced today that Ted Winnowski would be joining the firm as a Strategic Partner.  Current Strategic Partners at Veber Partners include John Herman , Nick Stanley , and Nanette Walker .

Mr. Winnowski has more than 30 years of financial and banking expertise, having begun his career at KeyCorp's flagship bank in Albany , New York .  In his banking career, Mr. Winnowski has managed trust Investment activities, headed planning, systems, and marketing prior to becoming CEO of several Key Corp regional banks. He directed a Key Corp bank in Long Island , New York , before his assignment to Oregon in 1985. Mr. Winnowski served as Chief Executive Officer of Key Bank of Oregon . In May of 1995, Mr. Winnowski was named Executive Vice President and Group Executive Northwest Region of KeyCorp. As Regional Executive he was responsible for directing and managing regional activities of Key Corp's Northwest Region, which included 295 branches in the states of Oregon , Washington , and Alaska .

More recently Ted served for five years as President and Chief Executive Officer of Centennial Bank until the bank was sold in 2003 and merged with another local bank.

A native of upstate New York , Mr. Winnowski graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from Siena College , Loudonville , New York . Further studies included post-graduate work in business and management at Reasselaer Polytechnic institute and studies at the National Graduate Trust School of Northwestern University Mr. Winnowski has also worked for the U.S. Treasury Department in training as an IRS Revenue Officer and served two years as an officer of the U.S. Army, assigned to an intelligence unit in France .

He is a current board member for Regence B1ueCross BlueShield of Oregon and also serves as chairman of the Board of Regents of the University of Portland . Other activities include being co-chair for Coalition for School Funding, and Board Member of Regional Economic Crime Investigation Center (RECIC) Foundation. Ted serves as an Honorary Board chair for the Portland Chamber of Commerce (currently Portland Business Alliance), former board member of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Oregon and Southwest Washington , and former board member of the Oregon Symphony.
Former affiliations and community activities include: past Chairman and Executive Committee member for the Oregon Bankers Association, former member of the Mayor's Business Round Table of the Association for Portland Progress, of the Advisory Board for the River District Association, of the Advisory Board for the Catholic Education Endowment Fund and a member of the World Affairs Council of Oregon.

"Ted has a strong track record in commercial banking and the general investment field, making him an excellent knowledge source for Veber Partners," said Gayle Veber , Managing Partner at Veber Partners. "We're extremely pleased to welcome him as a member of our strategic team, and look forward to working closely with him.”

About Veber Partners, LLC

Veber Partners, LLC is an investment banking firm focused on advising Northwest-based emerging growth and middle-market companies in the areas of company sales, mergers & acquisitions, management buyouts, debt & equity capital placements, and other corporate finance related assignments.  Veber Partners also actively engages in merchant banking activities, acting as a principal in the buyout of profitable middle-market companies by partnering with qualified management talent and private equity investors.  Visit Veber Partners website at www.veber.com.