Christopher M. Crooks

CHRISTOPHER M. CROOKS’ research at Commerce Capital Markets is focused
primarily on the chemical industry, with particular emphasis on
specialty chemical and materials companies and related special
situations. Commerce Capital is part of Commerce Bank. Mr. Crooks was a
Senior Equity Research Analyst for seven years with Janney Montgomery
Scott LLC. Prior to that, he was with the investment banking firm of
Foley, Mofson, Howe and Co. He was selected to The Wall Street Journal’s
annual All-Star Analyst Survey in 1997, fifth in stock picking; 1998,
second in stock picking; 1999, second in stock picking and fourth in
estimate accuracy; and 2000, fifth in estimate accuracy. Mr. Crooks has
been recognized by Reuters in its Survey of US Mid to Smaller
Corporation Fund Managers for his chemical research. He has been named a
Five-Star Analyst for his chemical industry research by Zack’s
Investment Research, Inc. Mr. Crooks holds a BS degree in Chemical
Engineering from Drexel University and received an MBA from Villanova
University with a dual concentration in Finance and Economics. He is a
Chartered Financial Analyst, and his professional memberships include
the Association for Investment Management and Research, The Financial
Analysts of Philadelphia and the American Chemical Society.