Thomas L. Press

THOMAS L. PRESS is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio
Manager of Next Century Growth Investors, the sub-advisor of the Strong
US Emerging Growth Fund. He assumed this role in December 1998. Prior to
joining the firm, Mr. Press was a Portfolio Manager for Jundt Funds,
Inc. He was previously Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager for
Minneapolis-based Investment Advisers, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Press was
Vice President of institutional sales for Morgan Stanley and Co., and an
institutional salesman and trader for Salomon Brothers. He earned a
Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and an MBA degree
from the University of St. Thomas. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Mr. Press is a former member of the US World, World Cup and Olympic
Wrestling teams.