Michael DeDomenico

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Michael E. DeDomenico has been Chief Executive Officer of the Company since September 2000 and a director since June 2000. In October 2001, Mr. DeDomenico was elected Chairman of the Board.  From March 1998 to July 2000, Mr. DeDomenico was president and chief executive officer of Praxair Distribution, Inc., a subsidiary of Praxair Inc. Mr. DeDomenico had been employed by Union Carbide Corp. in various capacities since 1969 and when Praxair was spun-off by Union Carbide in 1992, he was named president of Praxair Canada . The following year he was appointed president of Praxair Europe and in March 1998 was named president and chief executive officer of Praxair Distribution. Mr. DeDomenico has a B.S. degree in economics and finance from Hofstra University and an M.B.A. degree from Georgia State University .