Richard A. Giesen has been the Chairman and CEO of Continental Glass and Plastic, Inc. and Continere Corporation since 1988. Prior to 1988, he served as the Chairman and CEO of American Appraisal Associates, Inc., Field Enterprises, Inc., and Science Research Associates, Inc., a subsidiary of IBM.

Mr. Giesen's present and past affiliations include board memberships of Junior Achievement, Chicago United, the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management Advisory Council, Northwestern University's Technological Institute, Chicago Urban League, Chicago Educational Television, and the Chief Executives Organization. He received a B.S. from Northwestern University. Mr. Giesen has been on the Board of Trustees at the Institute of International Education since 1997 and is the Chairman of the Midwest Regional Advisory Board.