Michael J. Howard is an experienced private investor, senior executive, and board member. He is Chief Operating Officer of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System, one of the largest public pension funds in the U.S. with approximately $73 billion in assets under management. Mr. Howard previously served as a Board of Trustee for the System. During his tenure as a Trustee, he held several key positions, including Investment Committee Chair and Audit Committee Vice Chair. He also represented the System on the Council of Institutional Investors’ Board of Directors. Mr. Howard is also the Founder of the MJH Group, LLC, a private investment and management consulting firm. Prior to founding the firm, he worked in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance. Before joining the SEC, he had an extensive public accounting career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and other regional firms. He was a Strategic Advisor to the White House Business Council during the Obama Administration. He is a distinguished member of the Economic Club of New York and a Life Member with the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Howard is an active Certified Public Accountant.