Costco Wholesale Corp.

Founder of Swift River Investments, Inc., Hamilton Ranches, Inc. and DLJ Merchant Banking, Inc., Hamilton Evans James is an entrepreneur and businessperson who has been at the head of 8 different companies and presently occupies the position of Non-Executive Chairman at Costco Wholesale Corp., Chairman of Jefferson River Capital LLC, President & Chief Operating Officer at Blackstone Advisory Services LP Director at Swift River Investments, Inc. which he founded. He is also Co-Chairman for The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Vice Chairman-Coldwater Conservations Fund at Trout Unlimited, Inc. and on the board of 9 other companies.

In his past career he was Executive Vice Chairman at Blackstone, Inc. and President at Blackstone Distressed Securities Advisors LP (a subsidiary of Blackstone, Inc.), Commissioner of The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (New York), Member of Technology & Competitiveness at President's Export Council, Owner at Hamilton Ranches, Inc., Chairman for Credit Suisse First Boston USA, Inc., Director & Chairman of Investment Banking at Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (Broker), Director & Chairman-Banking Group at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp., Director & Chairman-Global Investment Banking at Credit Suisse First Boston Corp. and Chairman-Banking Group at DLJ Merchant Banking, Inc.

Mr. James received an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Harvard College.