INVESTMENT TEAM

Ryan Crane is the Chief Investment Officer of Stephens Investment Management Group ("SIMG"). He also serves as the Lead Portfolio Manager for SIMG's Small Cap Growth, Mid Cap Growth, Small-Mid Cap Core Growth and Small-Mid Cap Select Growth Strategies as well as two sub-advised mutual funds, the American Beacon Stephens Small Cap Growth Fund and the American Beacon Stephens Mid-Cap Growth Fund. Prior to joining SIMG in 2004, Ryan had been at AIM Capital Management since 1994, where he was a Senior Portfolio Manager for the AIM Small Cap Growth Fund and the team leader for the small/mid-cap growth complex. While at AIM, Ryan also served as a portfolio manager for various other small and mid cap growth funds. Prior to AIM, Ryan was an intern at the City of Houston Controller's Office, providing research on fixed income investment strategies. He held various positions at GulfMark Offshore and at Energy Ventures (now Weatherford) prior to joining AIM Capital Management. Ryan received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in economics from the University of Houston in 1994. He is also an investment counselor for the student managed investment fund at the University of Houston's Bauer School of Business. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is Series 7, 9, 10, and 63 registered. Ryan is also an accomplished track cyclist, having won multiple U.S. National and Pan-American championships.

John Thornton is a Portfolio Manager for Stephens Investment Management Group. Prior to joining SIMG in 2004, John worked for AIM Capital Management, Inc., and was responsible for portfolio management and research and analysis on the AIM Small Cap Growth Fund. Previously, John served as an analyst on AIM's technology funds. Prior to joining AIM in 2000, John worked for El Paso Corporation as project manager in its engineering department responsible for coordinating energy infrastructure design and construction projects. John earned his bachelor's degree in engineering with honors from Vanderbilt University in 1995 and his M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 2000. He holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and his Series 6, 7, and 63. John's primary sector responsibilities include Energy and Information Technology.

Kelly Ranucci is a Portfolio Manager with Stephens Investment Management Group. Prior to joining SIMG in 2004, Kelly worked for AIM Capital Management, Inc., and was responsible for research and analysis of small and mid-capitalization securities on AIM's Small Cap Growth Fund and AIM Mid-Cap Growth Fund. Kelly joined AIM in 1994. Kelly earned a B.B.A from Texas A&M University in 1993 and an M.B.A. with a concentration in finance from the University of Houston where she graduated with honors and served as Senior Portfolio Manager for the student-managed investment portfolio in 2002. Kelly holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and her Series 6, 7, and 63. Kelly's primary sector responsibility is Health Care.

Sam Chase is a Portfolio Manager with Stephens Investment Management Group. Prior to joining SIMG in 2004, Sam worked for AIM Capital Management, Inc., and was responsible for research and analysis of small capitalization securities on AIM's Small Cap Growth Fund. Prior to joining AIM, Sam worked for Wachovia Capital Associates where he focused on middle market growth capital investments. Before joining Wachovia Capital, Sam was employed by Wachovia Securities as an Analyst in the firm's investment banking division. Sam earned his bachelor's degree in history at Washington and Lee University in 1999 and his M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University in 2004. Sam holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and his Series 7, 63, and 65. Sam's primary sector responsibilities include Consumer Discretionary and Financials.

John Keller is an Equity Analyst for Stephens Investment Management Group. Prior to joining SIMG in September 2013, John worked for Stephens Inc. as a Senior Research Analyst responsible for sell-side coverage of the Oilfield Services sector. Prior to joining Stephens Inc. in 2009, John was at Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C. where he spent five years as an Associate covering the Oilfield Services sector. John earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Puget Sound in 2000 and his M.B.A. from Tulane University in 2005. He holds the Series 7, 63, 66, 86, and 87 licenses. John's primary sector responsibility is Industrials.

Mark Merricks is an Equity Trader with Stephens Investment Management Group. Mark joined SIMG in 2006. Prior to joining SIMG, Mark worked for AIM Capital Management, Inc. from 1992 through the beginning of 2006. Mark was a Senior Equity Trader for AIM Capital Management, Inc and involved in equity trading since 1994. Mark earned his bachelor's degree in Finance at Sam Houston State University. Mark holds his Series 6 and 63.

Charles Clavel is a Senior Quantitative Equity Analyst for Stephens Investment Management Group. Prior to joining SIMG in June 2018, Charles worked for Morgan Stanley as a Quantitative Research Analyst, performing factor research and creating stock selection models for non-US equity markets. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2014, Charles worked for six and a half years as an Analyst on the Portfolio Strategy and Quantitative Research team at Sanford C. Bernstein. Before joining Sanford C. Bernstein, Charles held various positions as a statistician and business analyst at Capital One. Charles earned his bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Ecole Polytechnique (France) in 1998, his master’s degree in Statistics from ENSAE (France) in 2000 and his M.B.A. from INSEAD (Singapore) in 2007. Charles holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Financial Risk Manager designations, along with the Series 7, 63, 86, and 87 licenses.