Len Brennan is President and Chief Executive Officer of Rainier Investment Management, Inc., and is responsible for the overall business and operational activities of the firm. He has an extensive 24-year career in the financial services industry. Prior to joining RIM, Len was the Managing Director responsible for the Individual Investor Services globally at Russell Investment Group. During his tenure as a senior executive, he was also a member of Russell’s Executive Committee and Managing Director for all of Russell’s non-U.S. business and its U.S. mutual funds.

Len holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute. He received a Bachelor’s degree in commerce from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.

Kristen L. Howell has held the position of General Counsel for Rainier Investment Management since 2007. In 2008 Kristen was appointed as the firm’s Secretary to the Board of Directors. Kristen is an integral part of all of Rainier’s operations, ranging from SEC compliance to the implementation of new product channels. Prior to joining Rainier, she served as corporate counsel for technology firm Quantum Corporation (formerly ADIC) from 2004 to 2007. Kristen began her career in 1998, as an Associate with the Denver, Colorado based law firm Davis Graham & Stubbs, where she specialized in corporate securities, mergers, and litigation. Upon moving to the Seattle area in 2002, Kristen was an Associate with the law firm Riddell Williams PS, were she specialized in employment litigation, compliance, and policy development.

Kristen holds a J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, CO, 1998, where she served as an Associate Editor of the Law Review. She was featured in the December 2007 edition of Inside Counsel for a discussion of the role of general counsel transcending beyond the everyday legal issues a company faces. She was selected by Washington Law & Politics Magazine as a “Rising Star” among Washington lawyers in 2006 and 2003.

Margie is the Director of Marketing Communications for Rainier Investment Management, Inc . She began her career in the financial services industry in 1993. Prior to joining Rainier, Margie was the Product Strategist for Russell/Mellon Analytical Services, Inc., focusing on product release, branding, positioning and client training programs. During her tenure at the various Russell Investment Group organizations, she was also the Senior Manager for the Client Services Group and was a Senior Client Account Manager for the money manager segment for analytical services. For three years previous to joining Russell, Margie worked for Rainier as the coordinator and representative for advisor services for the launch of the Rainier Funds in 1994.

Margie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration at Michigan State University, 1990 and her Master's in Business Administration at Seattle University, 1994.

John O’Halloran serves as the Chairman and CEO of Rainier Funds. He is responsible for mutual fund distribution, client service and operations. John brings a wealth of sales, client service and management experience developed over 20 years with a large institutional investment firm.

John received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Investment Company Institute and the Western Pension Conference.

Ian Sale is the Director of Information Technology for Rainier Investment Management, Inc. Ian has focused his career on the application of information technology in the asset management industry since 1995 and joined Rainier from Gartmore Global Investments, where he was the Vice President of Information Technology. He has brought extensive experience in building and managing teams, systems, and processes related to all aspects of asset management, including client servicing, regulatory compliance, business continuity, trading, and operations.

Prior to his eight-year career at Gartmore, Ian also performed a variety of technology-related duties for Pilgrim Baxter & Associates, Inc. and Fidelity Investments.

Ian has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Arkansas Tech University.

Lisa Thenell is the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) of Rainier Investment Management, Inc. and the Rainier Mutual Funds. Her career began in 1989 as a registered representative at a boutique brokerage firm in Seattle Washington. In 1996 she came to Rainier as the Director of Mutual Fund Services and supervised all legal, regulatory and marketing efforts of the Rainier Funds. More recently she has been a driving force behind the creation of Rainier’s current compliance program and was appointed the CCO in 2008.

Lisa graduated with honors and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance and a minor in economics from Montana State University in 1989.

Melodie is Chief Operating Officer of Rainier Investment Management, Inc., and is responsible for the overall operational activities of the firm. She has an extensive 21-year career in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Rainier, Melodie was the Managing Director for U.S. Operations and Finance, Americas – Private Clients Services and Institutional Services for Russell Investment Group. During her tenure as a senior executive, she was responsible for the operational capabilities, including the strategic management and leadership of daily operations and compliance monitoring, distributor servicing, information management and technology tool support for internal and external customers. For eight years previous to joining Russell, Melodie worked for the independent public accounting firm of Price Waterhouse LLP in Boston, Massachusetts, as a client service audit manager providing business advisory and audit services to investment management firms.

Melodie has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1991 and received a Bachelor's degree from the School of Management, Boston College, in 1988.