Corporate Finance and Strategy Expert Carol Howarth Joins Anchorage Office of Scott Balice Strategies

New Hire Expands Firm's Alaska Operations CHICAGO, July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Scott Balice Strategies (SBS), awoman-owned, full-service financial advisory firm with one of the largestpublic finance operations in Illinois, today announced that Carol Howarthhas joined the company's Anchorage office effective July 30, 2007. SBS officially opened its downtown Anchorage office on Aug. 1, 2006, toservice Alaska-based clients that include the Alaska Railroad Corporationand the Anchorage Airports International System. Ms. Howarth, who has morethan 15 years of experience in the manufacturing and service sectors, willhelp drive continued growth of the office. "We are thrilled to bring Carol on board," SBS President Lois Scottsaid. "Her extensive knowledge of corporate finance and strategy will be atremendous asset to our team and our clients. Not only does Carol share ourteam's commitment to smart and responsive service, she has the uniqueability to create solutions that combine financial and strategic objectiveswith the day-to-day activities of our clients." Ms. Howarth has vast business experience developing product strategies,business plans and funding proposals for start-ups in the United States.She also has consulted with European units of multinational firms in thehealth sciences, financial services and consumer goods sectors on issuesranging from manufacturing efficiencies to market expansion. "I am delighted to join Scott Balice," Ms. Howarth said. "Much oftoday's financial advice is focused on a specific deal. But, the SBS teamtakes a more holistic approach, the result being that clients get the beststrategic and transactional advisory services available. One could not finda higher caliber team so focused on finding the best finance solutions forits clients. SBS provides a level of service critically needed now that thecomplexity of corporate and public finance has grown exponentially." Ms. Howarth began her career at Mead Corporation as a financialanalyst, rising through the company to manage international strategy at thecorporate level. Most recently, Ms. Howarth served as a term assistantprofessor at the University of Alaska Anchorage. About Scott Balice Strategies Scott Balice Strategies, founded in 2003, is a Chicago-based,woman-owned firm, formed to provide the best in class financial advisoryand strategy services to its clients. Comprised of some of the mostexperienced finance experts in the industry, the firm offers corporate andpublic finance expertise, derivative and swap market expertise,transportation finance and privatization experience, long-range capitalplanning, and quantitative analysis. SBS ranks among the top financialadvisory firms in its home state of Illinois, the Midwest, and nationwide.