Grant A Pierce co-founded Sonics in September 1996 and has served as our chief executive officer and president since March 1997 and as chairman of our board of directors since February 1997. Prior to co-founding Sonics, Mr. Pierce served as chief financial officer and vice president and general manager for MicroUnity Systems Engineering, Inc., a digital media and communications devices company, from 1990 to 1996. From 1988 to 1990, Mr. Pierce was chief financial officer at ParcPlace Systems, a company selling object oriented software development environments. From 1984 to 1988, Mr. Pierce served as corporate controller for MIPS Computer Systems, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company. Mr. Pierce�s extensive experience also includes work at Convergent Technologies, Inc., ITT Qume and Arthur Andersen and Co. Mr. Pierce received a BS in business administration-accounting from California State University, Hayward and is a former certified public accountant.