Vernon Essi, Jr.
Senior Analyst, Analog and Mixed Signal Semiconductors

Telephone: (617) 457-0948
Email: vessi@needhamco.com

Vern Essi joined Needham & Company in 2007. Prior to joining Needham, Vern was a senior analyst at MS Howells and Janney Montgomery Scott, in both cases covering the consumer and power verticals of the semiconductor industry. He was also a principal in technology equity research at Adams, Harkness & Hill from 1994 to 2003, where he covered companies in the semiconductor capital equipment, electronics manufacturing services, electronic components, and communication equipment industries. In all he has 15 years of experience writing equity research across multiple segments of the electronics and hardware supply chain, and was ranked second in The Wall Street Journal's 2005 “Best on the Street” survey. He earned his BS in Finance and Investments at Babson College.

Sean Hannan
Senior Analyst, Smart Grid

Telephone: (617) 457-0906
Email: shannan@needhamco.com

Sean Hannan joined Needham & Company in 2005. He focuses on a variety of technology sectors including Electronic Manufacturing Services, Electronic Components, PCs, Disk Drives, Broadline Distribution and IT Software. Prior to Needham, he held various management roles at Manulife Financial, which followed several years as a strategic consultant with KPMG Consulting. He received a BS in Finance from Fairfield University and an MBA from Boston College.

Theodor Kundtz
Senior Analyst, Energy Creation, Energy Efficiency & Environmental Services

Telephone: (212) 705-0380
Email: tkundtz@needhamco.com

Ted Kundtz joined Needham & Company in 1999. Ted served as Needham’s Director of Research from 2000 to October 2006 and was a senior analyst covering electrical components and diversified technology companies. Previously, he was senior vice president at Lehman Brothers from 1993 to 1999, focusing on electronic components and imaging companies within the technology sector. Prior to joining Lehman Brothers, he was a managing director at Bear Stearns, where he focused on selected technology and growth stocks. He received his BS in Business Administration from Georgetown University and his MBA from New York University.

Edwin Mok
Senior Analyst, Senior Analyst – Solar/Photovoltaics

Telephone: (415) 262-4896
Email: emok@needhamco.com

Edwin Mok joined Needham & Company in 2005. He currently serves as Needham’s Senior Analyst in clean technology and Semiconductors/semiconductor Equipment focusing on solar & photovoltaics and semiconductor equipment & specialty memory. Prior to that, Edwin spent ten years at Applied Materials in various roles, including marketing, business development and engineering. He holds three degrees from the University of California, Berkeley: a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Finance.

James Ricchiuti
Senior Analyst, Energy Creation & Energy Efficiency

Telephone: (212) 705-0381
Email: jricchiuti@needhamco.com

Jim Ricchiuti joined Needham & Company in 1999. Prior to that Jim was with Lehman Brothers for more than five years, where he focused on covering technology companies in the imaging, software and components businesses. He was ranked second in The Wall Street Journal's "Best on the Street" poll for 2004. His background includes providing research coverage on small and mid-cap companies for Bear Stearns from 1986 to 1993, as well as Argus Research through the early part of the 1980s. He is a graduate of St. John’s University.