GEE (JOB) DEF 14ADefinitive proxy

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

GEE GROUP INC.

7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 150

Jacksonville, Florida 32256

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

Dear Shareholders of GEE Group Inc.:

Notice is hereby given that the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of GEE Group Inc. (the “Company”), will be held in a virtual meeting format at 11:00 a.m. on September 19, 2023 at https://www.cstproxy.com/geegroup/2023. Shareholders will NOT be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. The accompanying proxy statement includes instructions on how to access the virtual Annual Meeting and how to listen, vote and submit questions from home or any remote location with Internet connectivity. At the Annual Meeting, the Company will ask you to:

Shareholders may also transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Only shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 8, 2023 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Additional details regarding the Annual Meeting, the business to be conducted, and information about the Company that you should consider when you vote your shares are described in the proxy statement.

All shareholders as of the Record Date are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting virtually. Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting (virtually or by proxy), regardless of the number of shares you may hold. Even though you may plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please promptly vote using one of the following methods: on the Internet, by telephone, by accessing the website address printed on your proxy card; or by completing, signing and returning the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid return envelope. Voting by any of these methods will not prevent you from attending the Annual Meeting and voting your shares virtually. You may change or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted. Your vote is extremely important, and we appreciate you taking the time to vote promptly.

If your brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other similar organization is the holder of record of your shares (i.e., your shares are held in “street name”), you will receive a voting instruction form from the holder of record. You must provide voting instructions by filling out the voting instruction form in order for your shares to be voted. We recommend that you instruct your brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other nominee to vote your shares on the enclosed proxy card.

The Board strongly recommends that you vote on the enclosed proxy card “FOR” the election of William Isaac, Jyrl James and David Sandberg as directors of the Company, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of FORVIS as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, “FOR” the approval of the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers on an advisory, non-binding basis and “FOR” the approval of a vote of every “three years” for the frequency of the non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND VIRTUALLY. ACCORDINGLY, AFTER READING THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT, PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND PROMPTLY SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY INTERNET, TELEPHONE OR MAIL AS DESCRIBED ON THE PROXY CARD. PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING VIRTUALLY, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE USING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING TO ENSURE THAT YOUR SHARES WILL BE REPRESENTED. EVEN IF YOU VOTE YOUR SHARES PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING, IF YOU ARE A RECORD HOLDER OF SHARES, OR A BENEFICIAL HOLDER WHO OBTAINS A “LEGAL” PROXY FROM YOUR BROKERAGE FIRM, BANK, TRUSTEE, OR NOMINEE, YOU STILL MAY ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTE YOUR SHARES VIRTUALLY.

Regardless of the number of shares of common stock of the Company that you own, your vote will be important. Thank you for your continued support, interest and investment in the Company.

Jacksonville, Florida

August 15, 2023

GEE GROUP INC.

7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 150

Jacksonville, Florida 32256

PROXY STATEMENT

This proxy statement sets forth information relating to the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of GEE Group Inc. (the “Company”, “JOB” or “GEE Group”) in connection with the Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of shareholders and any adjournment or postponement (the “Annual Meeting”), which will be held virtually. Shareholders will NOT be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. The Annual Meeting will take place on September 19, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, virtually at https://www.cstproxy.com/geegroup/2023.

This proxy statement and form of proxy will be first mailed or made available on or about August 21, 2023, to our shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 8, 2023 (the “Record Date”).

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR ANNUAL MEETING

What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?

The Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

Shareholders may also consider such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting.

How does the Board recommend I vote?

The Board recommends the following votes:

The Board recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of the director candidates recommended by the Board and named in this proxy statement and on the enclosed proxy card.

To vote “FOR” all of the Board’s candidates, please complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card or follow the instructions provided in the proxy card for submitting a proxy over the Internet, by telephone or vote at the Annual Meeting.

Beneficial owners who own their shares in “street name” should follow the voting instructions provided by their brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other nominee to ensure that their shares are represented and voted at the Annual Meeting, or to revoke prior voting instructions.

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?

You can vote at the Annual Meeting if, as of the close of business on the Record Date, you were a holder of record of the Company’s common stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”). As of the Record Date, there were 113,145,730 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, each of which is entitled to one vote on each matter to come before the Annual Meeting.

How many shares must be present to conduct business at the Annual Meeting?

A quorum is necessary to hold a valid meeting of shareholders. A quorum will be present if shareholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on a matter are present virtually or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Thus, for each of the proposals to be presented at the Annual Meeting, the holders of shares of our Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date representing 56,572,865 votes must be present at the Annual Meeting, virtually or by proxy. Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other nominee) or if you are present at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will be counted for the purposes of determining a quorum. If there is no quorum, the Chairman of the Annual Meeting, or if so requested by the Chairman of the Annual Meeting, the shareholders present virtually or represented by proxy may adjourn the Annual Meeting to another date.

What if another matter is properly brought before the Annual Meeting?

We do not expect that any other items of business will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting other than those described in this proxy statement. However, by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card or submitting your proxy or voting instructions over the Internet or by telephone, you will give to the persons named as proxies on the proxy card discretionary voting authority with respect to any matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting, and such persons named as proxies intend to vote on any such other matter in accordance with the instructions of the Board to the extent permitted by Rule 14a-4(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated therein (the “Exchange Act”).

How do I vote?

Registered Shareholders. If you are a registered shareholder (i.e., you hold your shares in your own name through our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Co., referred to herein as “Continental”) as of the Record Date, then you may vote by proxy via telephone or the Internet, or by mail by following the instructions provided on the proxy card. Shareholders of record who attend the Annual Meeting virtually may vote during the virtual Annual Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/geegroup/2023 and following the on-screen instructions (have your proxy card available when you access the webpage).

Beneficial Owners. If you are a beneficial owner of shares (i.e., your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank or a trustee) as of the Record Date, then you may vote by proxy by following the instructions provided in the voting instruction form or other materials provided to you by the brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other nominee that holds your shares. To vote virtually at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from the brokerage firm, bank or other nominee that holds your shares. If you do not provide voting instructions to your broker, then your shares will not be voted at the Annual Meeting on any proposal with respect to which the broker does not have discretionary authority (i.e., non-routine proposals such as Proposals 1, 3 and 4). If you do not provide voting instructions to your broker with respect to routine proposals, such as Proposal 2, your broker may exercise discretion to vote your shares on Proposal 2, even in the absence of your instruction. If your shares are voted on Proposal 2, as directed by your broker, your shares will constitute “broker non-votes” on each of the non-routine proposals (i.e., Proposals 1, 3 or 4). The “broker non-votes” will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists at the meeting.

If you are beneficial owner, we encourage you to instruct your broker how to vote your shares using the voting instruction form provided by your broker so that your vote can be counted on all proposals. The voting instruction form provided by the broker holding your shares may also include information about how to submit your voting instructions over the Internet or telephone, if such options are available. The proxy card accompanying this proxy statement will provide information regarding Internet voting.

If voting via the Internet, shareholders can vote as instructed on the website identified on the proxy card. The Internet procedures are designed to authenticate a shareholder’s identity to allow the shareholder to vote their shares and confirm that their instructions have been properly recorded. Internet voting for shareholders of record is available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on September 18, 2023.

If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your proxy, please contact Advantage Proxy at the following numbers or email address: Advantage Proxy, Inc. PO Box 13581, Des Moines, WA 98198, Telephone: Toll Free: 1-877-870-8565 and Collect: 1-206-870-8565, Email: ksmith@advantageproxy.com.

Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting virtually, the Board urges shareholders to submit a proxy to vote your shares in advance of the meeting by (a) visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/geegroup/2023 and following the on screen instructions (have your proxy card available when you access the webpage), or (b) submitting your proxy card by mail by using the previously provided self-addressed, stamped envelope. Submitting a proxy will not prevent you from revoking a previously submitted proxy or changing your vote as described above, but it will help to secure a quorum and avoid added solicitation costs.

If you vote via the Internet, telephone or by mailing a proxy card, we will vote your shares as you direct. For the election of directors (Proposal 1), you may specify whether your shares should be voted for all, some or none of the nominees for director listed. With respect to the ratification of the appointment of FORVIS as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 2) and the approval of the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers on a non-binding advisory basis (Proposal 3), , you may vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the ratification or approval, or you may abstain from voting on the ratification or approval. With respect to the approval of a non-binding advisory resolution to determine the frequency of the non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal 4), you may vote for “one year,” “two years,” or “three years,” or you may abstain from voting on Proposal 4.

Your vote is very important. Please submit a proxy by following the instructions on your proxy card even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting virtually.

How can I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting?

To vote your shares without attending the Annual Meeting, please follow the instructions for Internet or telephone voting in the proxy materials. You may also vote by signing and submitting your proxy card and returning it by mail, if you are the shareholder of record, or by signing the voter instruction form provided by your brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other nominee and returning it by mail, if you are the beneficial owner but not the shareholder of record. This way your shares will be represented whether or not you are able to attend the Annual Meeting.

How will the persons named as proxies vote?

If you are a record shareholder and you submit a signed proxy card or submit your proxy by telephone or the Internet but do not indicate how you want your shares voted, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will vote your shares of Common Stock:

With respect to any other matter that properly comes before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will vote your shares of Common Stock in their discretion in accordance with their best judgment and in the manner they believe to be in the best interests of the Company to the extent permitted by Rule 14a-4(c) of the Exchange Act.

Will my shares be voted if I do not provide voting instructions? What are broker non-votes? What is discretionary voting?

If you are a shareholder of record and you properly sign, date and return a proxy card, but do not indicate how you wish to vote with respect to a particular nominee or proposal, then your shares will be voted “FOR” the election of the Board’s three candidates for director named in Proposal 1: Election of Directors, “FOR” Proposal 2: Ratification of the Appointment of FORVIS as the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2023, “FOR” Proposal 3: Say-On-Pay Resolution and “THREE YEARS” on Proposal 4: Say-on-Pay Frequency Resolution.

If you are a shareholder whose shares are not registered in your name and instead are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other nominee, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name.” Broker non-votes occur when a beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” does not give instructions to the broker or nominee holding the shares as to how to vote on matters deemed “non-routine.” Under the Broker Rules, brokerage firms have the authority to vote shares held for a beneficial owner on “routine” matters.

Brokers or nominees will be entitled to vote shares held for a beneficial owner on routine matters, such as Proposal 2, without instructions from the beneficial owner of those shares.  Brokers or nominees are not entitled to vote the shares on non-routine items. Accordingly, if you do not submit any voting instructions to your broker or nominee, your broker or nominee may exercise discretion to vote your shares on Proposal 2, even in the absence of your instruction. If your shares are voted on Proposal 2, as directed by your broker, your shares will constitute broker non-votes on each of the non-routine proposals (i.e., Proposals 1, 3 and 4). The broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists at the meeting.

Can I change my vote after I have voted or revoke my proxy?

Subject to any rules and deadlines your brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other nominee may have, you may change your proxy instructions at any time before your proxy is voted at the Annual Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record, you may change your vote by (1) delivering to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, prior to your shares being voted at the Annual Meeting, a written notice of revocation dated later than the prior proxy card relating to the same shares, (2) delivering a valid, later-dated proxy in a timely manner, (3) attending and voting at the Annual Meeting virtually (although virtual attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy) or (4) voting again via Internet or telephone at a later date.

If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you may change your vote (1) by submitting new voting instructions to your brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other nominee, or (2) if you have obtained a legal proxy from the brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares and provided a copy to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Co. together with your email address by attending the Annual Meeting virtually and voting electronically.

Any written notice of revocation or subsequent proxy card must be received by the Company’s Corporate Secretary prior to the taking of the vote at the Annual Meeting. Unless properly revoked, properly executed and delivered proxies that are received before the polls are closed at the Annual Meeting will be voted in accordance with the directions provided. Only the latest dated and validly executed proxy that you submit will count.

What is the deadline to vote?

If you hold shares as the shareholder of record, your vote by proxy must be received before the polls close at the Annual Meeting. If you are the beneficial owner of shares as of the Record Date, please follow the voting instructions provided by your brokerage firm, bank, trustee or other nominee.

What vote is required to elect directors or take other action at the Annual Meeting?

Proposal 1: Election of three Class I Directors. The election of the three Class I director nominees named in this proxy statement requires the affirmative vote of shares of Common Stock representing a plurality of the votes cast on the proposal at the Annual Meeting. You may not cumulate your votes for the election of directors. Votes that are withheld from a director nominee will be excluded entirely from the vote for such nominee and will have no effect on the result. Brokers may not use discretionary authority to vote shares on the election of directors if they have not received specific instructions from their clients. For your vote to be counted in the election of directors, you will need to communicate your voting decisions to your bank, broker or other nominee before the date of the Annual Meeting in accordance with their specific instructions. Broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on this proposal.

Proposal 2: Ratification of the Appointment of FORVIS as the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2023. Ratification of the appointment of FORVIS as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending September 30, 2023, requires the affirmative vote of shares of Common Stock representing the majority of shares represented and entitled to vote on this proposal at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will have the same legal effect as a vote “AGAINST” this proposal. Broker non-votes will have the same legal effect as a vote “AGAINST” on this proposal.

Proposal 3: Say-On-Pay Resolution. The Say-On-Pay Resolution requires the affirmative vote of shares of Common Stock representing the majority of shares represented and entitled to vote on this proposal at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will have the same legal effect as a vote “AGAINST” this proposal and broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

Proposal 4: Say-On-Pay Frequency Resolution. The Say-On-Pay Frequency Resolution requires the affirmative vote of shares of Common Stock representing the majority of shares represented and entitled to vote on this proposal at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will have the same legal effect as a vote “AGAINST” this proposal and broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

In general, other business properly brought before the Annual Meeting requires the affirmative vote of shares of Common Stock representing the majority of shares represented and entitled to vote on such matter at the Annual Meeting.

Where can I find the results of the voting?

We intend to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and will publish final results through a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC’) within four business days after the Annual Meeting. If our final voting results are not available within four business days after the Annual Meeting, we will file a Current Report on Form 8-K reporting the preliminary voting results and subsequently file the final voting results in an amendment to the Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days after the final voting results are known to us. The Current Report on Form 8-K will be available on the Internet at our website, www.geegroup.com.

How can I attend the virtual Annual Meeting?

In order to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, you will need to pre-register by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on September 11, 2023. To pre-register for the Annual Meeting, please follow these instructions:

After registering, shareholders will receive a confirmation email with a link and instructions for accessing the virtual Annual Meeting. We recommend that shareholders carefully review in advance the procedures needed to gain admission virtually to the Annual Meeting. If you do not comply with the procedures outlined above, you will not be admitted to the virtual Annual Meeting.

Who will pay for the cost of soliciting proxies?

Proxies will be solicited on behalf of the Board by the Company’s directors, director candidates, and certain executive officers and other employees of the Company. The costs and expenses of the Board’s soliciting of proxies, including the preparation, assembly and mailing of this proxy statement, the proxy card, the Notice of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and any additional information furnished to shareholders will be borne by the Company. Solicitation of proxies may be in person, by telephone, facsimile, electronic mail or personal solicitation by our directors, officers or employees. Other than the persons described in this proxy statement, no general class of employee of the Company will be employed to solicit shareholders in connection with this proxy solicitation. However, in the course of their regular duties, our employees, officers and directors may be asked to perform clerical or ministerial tasks in furtherance of this solicitation. None of these individuals will receive any additional or special compensation for doing this, but they may be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to banks, brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodian holding shares of the Common Stock in their names that are beneficially owned by others to forward to those beneficial owners. We will reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation material to the beneficial owners of Common Stock.

You may also vote by proxy via telephone by calling Advantage Proxy, Inc. Toll Free: 1-877-870-8565 and Collect: 1-206-870-8565. We have engaged Advantage Proxy, Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting, for a service fee and the reimbursement of customary disbursements, which are not expected to exceed $[·] in total.

If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your proxy, please contact Advantage Proxy at the following numbers or email address: Advantage Proxy, Inc. PO Box 13581, Des Moines, WA 98198, Telephone: Toll Free: 1-877-870-8565 and Collect: 1-206-870-8565, Email: ksmith@advantageproxy.com.

Do I have appraisal or dissenters’ rights?

None of the applicable Illinois law, our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, nor our Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”), provide for appraisal or other similar rights for dissenting shareholders in connection with any of the proposals set forth in this proxy statement. Accordingly, you will have no right to dissent and obtain payment for your shares in connection with such proposals.

Who should I call if I have questions or need assistance voting my shares?

If you have questions about the Annual Meeting, would like additional copies of this proxy statement or need assistance voting your shares, requests should be directed as described below:

Advantage Proxy, Inc.

PO Box 13581, Des Moines, WA 98198

Telephone: Toll Free: 1-877-870-8565 and Collect: 1-206-870-8565

Email: ksmith@advantageproxy.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

General

Our By-Laws provide for a classified Board consisting of three classes of directors with staggered three-year terms. The Board currently consists of nine directors, having terms expiring at the respective annual meetings of shareholders noted below:

Election of Three Directors to Hold Office for Three Years until the 2026 Annual Meeting

Upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee of the Board, the Board has nominated for election at the Annual Meeting the following slate of three nominees, each to hold office for three years until the 2026 Annual Meeting or until their respective successor is duly elected and qualified:

_________

Each of the Company’s nominees is currently serving as a member of our Board.

Information About Directors

The following table sets forth the names, ages, committee assignments, and positions of our directors as of August 11, 2023. Our Board consists of an experienced group of business leaders, with experience in corporate governance, corporate finance, capital markets, insurance, employee benefits and real estate.

(1) Member of the Audit Committee.

(2) Member of the Compensation Committee.

(3) Member of the Nominating Committee.

(4) Member of the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee.

(5) Member of the Corporate Governance Committee.

(6) Lead Independent Director.

Class I Directors Up for Re-Election at the Annual Meeting

William “Bill” Isaac – Director

Mr. Isaac joined the Company as a director in June 2015 and is currently Chairman of Secura/Isaac Group and its three branches Secura/Isaac Advisory, Secura/Isaac Technologies and Secura/Isaac Talent. He is a member of the boards of directors of Emigrant Bank and New York Private Bank & Trust and serves as Chairman of Sarasota Private Trust and Cleveland Private Trust, all of which are owned by Howard Milstein and his family.

William “Bill” Isaac served as Chairman of the FDIC during one of the most important and tumultuous periods in US banking history. Some 3,000 banks and thrifts failed during the 1980s, including Continental Illinois and nine of the ten largest banks in Texas. In addition to the failures of many of the largest regional banks throughout the US, most of the money center banks in the US were on the watch list due in large part to the enormous amount of loans on their books to less developed countries.

President Carter appointed Bill Isaac to the board of the FDIC in 1978. He was confirmed by the Senate at the age of 34. President Reagan named him Chairman of the FDIC two years later, making him the youngest FDIC board member and Chairman in history. Bill Isaac also served as Chairman of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (1983-85), as a member of the Depository Institutions Deregulation Committee (1981–85), and on the Vice President’s Task Group on Regulation of Financial Services (1984).

After completing his service as Chairman of the FDIC at the end of 1985, Bill Isaac founded The Secura Group, a leading consulting firm, which he sold in 2008. He served as Chairman of the Board of Fifth Third Bancorp, one of the nation’s leading banks, and worked as Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting from 2011 to 2019. He then joined Howard Milstein in the financial services business. Bill Isaac is a former board member at TSYS, a leading payment processing company that today is part of Global Payments. He has served on the boards of Amex Bank, The Associates (a finance company formerly owned by Ford Motor Company), credit reporting company TransUnion, and staffing firm MPS Group (now owned by Adecco).

Bill Isaac is involved extensively in thought leadership relating to the financial industry. He is the author of ‘Senseless Panic: How Washington Failed America’ with a foreword by legendary former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker. ‘Senseless Panic’ provides an inside account of the banking and savings and loans crises of the 1980s and compares that period to the financial crisis of 2008/2009. Bill Isaac’s articles appear in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the New York Times, The Hill, American Banker, Forbes, the Financial Times, the Washington Times, and other leading publications. He appears regularly on television and radio, testifies before Congress, and is a speaker before audiences throughout the world.

Bill Isaac is a former senior partner at Arnold & Porter, which was a founding partner of The Secura Group. He left the law firm in 1993 when Secura purchased Arnold & Porter’s interest in Secura. Before his appointment to the FDIC, Bill Isaac served as vice president, general counsel and secretary of First Kentucky National Corporation and its subsidiaries, including First National Bank of Louisville and First Kentucky Trust Company. He began his career with Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee where he practiced general corporate law specializing in banking law.

Bill Isaac received a Distinguished Achievement Medal in 1995 from Miami University and a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2013 from The Ohio State University. He is a Life member of both the Board of Directors of the Miami University Foundation and the Board of Directors of The Ohio State University Foundation. Bill co-founded in 2016, with his former classmate, the William Isaac & Michael Oxley Center for Business Leadership at Miami University.

Mr. Isaac began his career as an attorney with Foley & Lardner and was a senior partner with Arnold & Porter. Before his appointment to the FDIC, Bill Isaac served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of First Kentucky National Corporation and its subsidiaries, including First National Bank of Louisville and First Kentucky Trust Company. He received a “Distinguished Achievement Medal” in 1995 from Miami University and a “Distinguished Alumnus Award” in 2013 from the Ohio State University (“OSU”).  He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Miami University Foundation and is a Life Member of the Board of Directors of the OSU Foundation. Mr. Isaac is involved with several charitable and not for profit organizations and in 2016, co-founded with his former classmate, the William Isaac & Michael Oxley Center for Business Leadership at Miami University. Mr. Isaac earned a B.B.A. from Miami University and a J.D. from OSU. Mr. Isaac’s extensive business experience spans over 40 years and includes expertise in financial services, consulting, contingent labor and mergers and acquisition. He has served in the roles of lawyer, consultant, regulator and director to numerous organizations. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the board and is an invaluable resource to GEE Group.

Jyrl James – Director

Jyrl James has served as a director of the Company since August 11, 2023. Ms. James has significant business and legal experience. She has been the general counsel and consultant to minority owned small businesses, such as Rae’s Playze Adult Daycare Center, Rightvarsity Technologies LLC, and Learning Right Technology LLC, since September 2012, where she has been overseeing and advising the businesses on matters of corporate governance, contracts, real estate, employment matters, internal policy development, participating in the ongoing strategic planning process as an integral member of the senior management team, advising on interactive computer technology and workforce development. Also, she has advised an education services company regarding intellectual property, employment and labor relations, contract issues and intellectual property. In addition, she has been a member of the board of directors of Rae’s Playze Adult Daycare Center. Mrs. James has been the President of Joslyse, LLC, a real estate investment company since June 2010, responsible for purchase, ownership, rental and sale of residential and commercial real estate and overseeing finance, operations, maintenance, administration, and improvement of commercial and residential properties. From September 2009 to December 2013, Ms. James served as general counsel and corporate secretary to an investment group at Queen City Venture Partners, LLC.

During her 30-year legal career Ms. James served as strategic leader in legal and business roles.  She has been a key participant in company acquisitions and development of infrastructures for both legal and human resources functions. Ms. James has been instrumental in successfully guiding companies through business expansions and business crisis, including a chemical explosion with multiple fatalities, an SEC investigation and labor strife. During the course of her career, she led and developed professional staff and executives in North American countries and England. Her governance experience includes presenting to boards on various legal and structural matters and ensuring that the preparation of committee and board documents were thorough and complete.

Ms. James was the first in-house attorney for Adecco Group North America (“Adecco”), the largest subsidiary of the Zurich based global human resources solutions and staffing services company, Adecco SA, from 1998 to 2005. As Senior Vice President and General Counsel for North America, Ms. James was a member of key management of the then 4.5-billion-dollar billion enterprise of Adecco SA, then the world’s largest staffing services solutions and talent development provider. As part of the Adecco executive management team, Ms. James was a critical participant in setting the direction of the company, providing legal advice, and managing a wide range of legal activities through a team of 30 in-house attorneys in 3 countries and numerous outside counsels. She served as corporate secretary and held a government security clearance.

Ms. James served as vice president of human resources and general counsel at the Akron Beacon-Journal from 1994 to 1998. Previous to that, she was an attorney specializing in employment/labor/benefits law at the Atlantic Richfield Company and at private law firms. She also served as chairperson of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board.

Ms. James has completed the University of Santa Clara Black Corporate Board Readiness program, a program that accelerates diversity in corporate governance by accompanying highly experienced, qualified Black leaders through a structured executive education program. She holds a degree in business and labor relations from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a law degree from DePaul University Law School.

There is no arrangement or understanding between any director or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which Ms. James was or is to be selected as a director.

David Sandberg – Director

David Sandberg has served as a director of the Company since August 11, 2023. Mr. Sandberg serves as the Managing Member, Founder, and Portfolio Manager of Red Oak Partners, LLC (“Red Oak Partners”), an investment advisory firm with a focus on value investing, since 2003. Prior to founding Red Oak Partners, he co-managed J.H. Whitney & Co’s Green River fund, a private equity firm, from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Sandberg currently serves as Chairman of the Board of CBA Florida, Inc. (formerly OTC: CBAI), a healthcare service company, since April 2015. Mr. Sandberg also currently serves on the board of directors of W.O. Partners, LLC, a privately-held parent company that owns and operates construction and poultry staffing companies, since February 2020 and WTI Holdings, LLC, a privately-held holding company involving technology businesses, since 2017. He previously served on the board of directors of Asure Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASUR), a software services company, including as Chairman of the Board, from June 2009 to August 2020, SMTC Corporation (formerly NASDAQ: SMTX), a global manufacturing company, from April 2009 to April 2021, Issuer Direct Corporation (NASDAQ: ISDR), a communications company, from August 2013 to August 2016, Kensington Vanguard, a private title insurance company, including as its Chairman, from August 2012 to August 2016, Planar Systems Inc. (formerly NASDAQ: PLNR), an electronics manufacturing company from March 2012 to February 2015, RF Industries, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RFIL), an interconnect and cable products manufacturing company, from September 2011 to March 2013, and EDCI Inc. (formerly NASDAQ: EDCI), a holding company, from June 2009 to December 2012. Mr. Sandberg has experience serving as a member of and as Chairman of each of the audit, compensation, nominating and governance, and strategic committees for public companies. Mr. Sandberg graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. in Industrial Management and a B.A. in Economics.

Except for the Cooperation Agreement (as defined and described in “Agreements with Respect to Director Nominations and Voting - Agreement with Red Oak”), there is no arrangement or understanding between any director or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Sandberg was or is to be selected as a director.

Continuing Directors

Class II Directors

Matthew E. Gormly III – Director

Matthew E. Gormly, III, joined the Company in March 2020, as an independent director, bringing with him a wealth of experience and expertise. Mr. Gormly is a Founder and the Managing Partner of Reynolds Gormly & Co., LLC ("Reynolds Gormly"), where he leads his organization on origination and capital market opportunities while overseeing the firm's overall management. His vast experiences have helped him hone his ability to navigate complex financial landscapes during which he has led or played a significant role in the origination of over $1.5 billion in financings for acquisitions, leveraged recapitalizations, and re-financings throughout his esteemed career. He has served on the boards of directors for over 25 companies, spanning an impressive 30-year period. His board leadership has provided invaluable guidance and strategic insights to these companies, including GEE Group, contributing to their growth and success.

Mr. Gormly is an experienced, thoughtful executive leader and decision maker.  He vast business and finance experience includes commercial banking, investment banking, management of small and medium size business, and private equity partnerships.  His particular areas of expertise include business development and strategy, corporate finance, corporate governance, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, capital markets, policy formulation and execution, and strategic planning. 

Prior to his involvement with Reynolds Gormly, Mr. Gormly played a pivotal role in the growth and transformation of Wicks Capital Partners ("Wicks") during his seventeen-year tenure as a Managing Partner, before departing in 2016. The Wicks Funds invested in information, education and media companies broadly defined.  Mr. Gormly was a managing partner and part owner of the management company.  He also was a member of the Firm’s General Partner Management and Investment Committees.  He and his partners managed all aspects of the management company and multiple funds and limited partner relationships and held board positions in all portfolio company investments. 

During his time at Wicks, Mr. Gormly demonstrated exceptional leadership focusing his efforts on a wide range of responsibilities, including originating, acquiring, managing, growing, and divesting the firm's portfolio of control buyout investments. His extensive experience in every facet of the investment process, such as developing investment theses, origination, acquisitions, strategic planning, and divestitures, has been instrumental in his success.  He was at the forefront of originating new investments, facilitating financing for transactions, and effectively managing these investments through the sale processes. And his contributions extend beyond his direct involvement with Reynolds Gormly and Wicks.

Educationally, Mr. Gormly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampden-Sydney College, complemented by a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Babcock School of Management at Wake Forest University. Mr. Gormly’s academic credentials, combined with his extensive professional experience, form a solid foundation for his exceptional performance and continued contributions to GEE Group.

Darla D. Moore – Director

Darla D. Moore joined the Company as an independent director in June 2018, bringing with her a wealth of experience and expertise. Ms. Moore is a highly accomplished businesswoman and philanthropist who has made significant contributions to the business world and society at large throughout her career.

As the Founder and Chair of the Palmetto Institute, a nonprofit think-tank, Ms. Moore is dedicated to fostering economic growth and increasing per capita income in South Carolina. She is also the visionary behind the Charleston Parks Conservancy, a foundation that focuses on enhancing the parks and public spaces of the City of Charleston, creating a better environment for its residents. Ms. Moore is the esteemed Chairwoman of the Darla Moore Foundation, further exemplifying her dedication to philanthropy and making a positive impact on society.  In addition to her involvement with the Darla Moore Foundation, Ms. Moore holds positions on the Board of Directors of The Shed, a renowned cultural institution in New York City, the Lebanese American University of Beirut, the Santa Fe Institute, Oxbow Carbon, in addition to GEE Group.

Prior to her current roles, Ms. Moore served as the Vice President of Rainwater, Inc., a prestigious private investment company. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in the company's success and demonstrated her exceptional leadership skills.

Ms. Moore's accomplishments have gained her significant recognition in the business world. She was featured on the cover of Fortune magazine, becoming the first woman to receive this distinction. Additionally, she has been named among the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business, in recognition of her influence and impact on American business.

Throughout her career, Ms. Moore has served on numerous corporate and philanthropic boards, showcasing her commitment to making a difference. In addition to GEE Group, some notable organizations she has been involved with include Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, The South Financial Group, MPS Group, the National Advisory Board of JP Morgan, the National Teach for America Board of Directors, the Board of Trustees of the New York University Medical School and Hospital, and the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees.

In recognition of her outstanding achievements, the University of South Carolina's business school proudly bears her name, making it the first business school in America named after a woman. Ms. Moore's dedication to the business community has earned her the Business Person of the Year Award from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and induction into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame.

Ms. Moore's passion for golf led her to become one of the first women members of the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club, alongside Condoleezza Rice. This accomplishment demonstrates her commitment to breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of women in sports.

Ms. Moore holds an undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and an M.B.A. from The George Washington University, solidifying her academic foundation and complementing her remarkable professional achievements.

Through her leadership, vision, and philanthropic efforts, Ms. Moore has left an indelible mark on the world, inspiring others to strive for excellence and make a difference.

J. Randall Waterfield – Director

J. Randall Waterfield has served as a director of the Company since August 11, 2023. Mr. Waterfield is Chairman of The Board & Chief Executive Officer of Waterfield Holdings. Waterfield Holdings traces its roots back to 1928, when Richard H. Waterfield founded Waterfield Mortgage Company and Waterfield Insurance Agency in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After selling the largest private mortgage company in the US and largest Indiana based bank in 2006 and 2007 respectively, Waterfield Holdings has diversified into technology, real estate, asset management and merchant banking. Waterfield Holdings today has over $2 billion in managed assets.

Mr. Waterfield was the 2017-2018 Chairman of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) International (www.ypo.org) an organization of over 34,000 CEOs from over 140 countries with combined revenue of over US$ 9 trillion. He is currently a director of 26 Capital Acquisition Corp., (NASDAQ: ADER), US Strategic Metals, Linden Lab, and WTI Holdings, and has served on various boards previously including SMTC Corporation, (formerly NASDAQ: SMTX), a global manufacturing company, Red Oak Partners, RF Industries, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RFIL), an interconnect and cable products manufacturing company and Asure Software. Prior to joining Waterfield, Mr. Waterfield was employed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, where he was responsible for the small cap growth portfolios. Through the Waterfield Foundation and J. Randall Waterfield Foundation, Mr. Waterfield supports a variety of environmental and Midwestern based causes. Mr. Waterfield graduated from Harvard University in 1996; he holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation (CFA) and is a member of MENSA.

Except for the Letter Agreement and Cooperation Agreement (each as defined and described in “Agreements with Respect to Director Nominations and Voting”), there is no arrangement or understanding between any director or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Waterfield was or is to be selected as a director.

Class III Directors

Derek E. Dewan – Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board

Derek E. Dewan was appointed Chairman and CEO of General Employment Enterprises, Inc. (k/k/a GEE Group Inc.) (NYSE American: JOB) in 2015, following its merger with Scribe Solutions, Inc. He is a highly accomplished executive with a proven track record of success and outstanding leadership achievements. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional abilities in driving organic growth, executing strategic acquisitions, and delivering outstanding financial performance. With extensive experience in the staffing services industry, Mr. Dewan has consistently achieved remarkable results and established himself as a respected figure in the industry.  Since 2015, Mr. Dewan has successfully led JOB through 5 strategic acquisitions, significant post-acquisition integration, the COVID-19 pandemic, significant deleveraging of JOB resulting in the elimination of approximately $120 million in debt, and a $57.5 million follow-on public equity offering. The results of these activities have been transformational, including transitioning JOB away from industrial staffing towards professional staffing led by information technology (“IT”), revenue growth of 4 times, significantly higher gross profit and earnings margins, consistent profitability and positive cash flow.

Prior to this, Mr. Dewan served as Chairman and CEO of MPS Group, Inc., a publicly-traded staffing company. His tenure at MPS Group began in January 1994 when he joined AccuStaff Incorporated, MPS Group's predecessor, as President and Chief Executive Officer and led the IPO in August of that year. Notably, under Mr. Dewan's leadership, the company underwent significant organic growth and successfully executed over 100 strategic acquisitions, transforming it into a Fortune 1000 world-class, global multi-billion-dollar staffing services provider.

MPS Group's expansion under Mr. Dewan's guidance extended its reach to include a vast network of offices across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company consistently achieved remarkable success during his tenure, marked by completed secondary stock offerings of $110 million and $370 million, inclusion in the Standard and Poor's (S&P) Mid-Cap 400, and recognition on the Wall Street Journal's "top performing stock list" for three consecutive years.  He led the company’s growth from a microcap to one of the largest U.S. professional staffing firms with human resources solutions verticals in IT, accounting, legal, healthcare and engineering. Under his leadership, the premier software vendor management system (“VMS”), Beeline, and managed services provider (“MSP”) Pontoon, were developed. Mr. Dewan’s final pivotal leadership achievement was the sale of MPS Group to Adecco Group in 2010, the largest staffing company in the world, for an impressive $1.3 billion. To our knowledge, this was the largest and most successful shareholder return story within the staffing industry at the time and still sets a high water mark today. This transaction exemplified Mr. Dewan’s ability to navigate complex negotiations and deliver exceptional value to stakeholders.

Before his tenure at MPS Group, Mr. Dewan started his career as a CPA with Price Waterhouse and rapidly ascended to the manager level in less than five (5) years. Subsequently, he moved to Coopers & Lybrand where he was promoted to the positions of Tax Partner in Charge and Managing Partner at that international accounting firm, now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”). He was admitted as a partner at age 29, one of the youngest individuals to achieve this status in the history of the firm. This role provided him with a strong foundation in organizational leadership and excellence, operational and financial management, and expertise in tax and accounting practices, further enhancing his abilities as a strategic and effective business leader.

Mr. Dewan's extensive experience, demonstrated success, and exceptional leadership skills make him a valuable asset to the Company. With a proven ability to drive growth, execute strategic initiatives, and achieve outstanding financial results, he is well-positioned to contribute to the continued success of GEE Group’s future endeavors. He is a recipient of the “Ellis Island Medal of Honor”, the ATFL “Joseph J. Jacobs Distinguished Achievement Award”, the RMF “Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award” and the “USF Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship”. He has served on the “NYSE Listed Company Advisory Committee”, the “SMU Cox School of Business Executive Board”, the “University of South Florida (“USF”) School of Accountancy Advisory Council” and the “ALSAC Board” which is the fund-raising arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Mr. Dewan has a B.A. in Accounting with a concentration in finance from the University of South Florida.

Peter Tanous – Director

Peter J. Tanous is a highly accomplished and esteemed figure in the field of finance and investment. He currently holds the position of Chairman Emeritus at Lynx Investment Advisory, a SEC registered investment advisory firm located in Washington D.C. With an extensive career spanning several prestigious institutions, Mr. Tanous has created a lasting impact on the financial industry.

Before joining Lynx Investment Advisory, Mr. Tanous served as the International Director at Smith Barney and a member of the executive committee at Smith Barney International, Inc. Prior to that, he held the position of executive vice president and director at Bank Audi (USA) in New York for a decade. He also served as the chairman of Petra Capital Corporation in New York.

Education played a significant role in shaping Mr. Tanous’s career. He is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he currently serves on the board of Georgetown University's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies and is a member of the Georgetown University Library Board. Additionally, he dedicated two decades to the university's investment committee. His educational journey also included attending The American School of Paris in France, where he became fluent in French.

Mr. Tanous is a distinguished author, having written several influential books in the financial realm. His book "Investment Gurus," published in 1997 by Prentice Hall, became a bestseller and garnered critical acclaim within financial circles. It was selected as a main choice by The Money Book Club. He followed up with "The Wealth Equation," which also became a main selection of the Money Book Club. Tanous's other publications include "Investment Visionaries" (published by Penguin Putnam in August 2003) and "Kiplinger's Build a Winning Portfolio" (published by Kaplan Press in January 2008). Notably, he co-authored "The End of Prosperity" with Dr. Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore, which was published by Simon & Schuster in October 2008. Mr. Tanous also has authored several well-reviewed published novels.

In addition to his remarkable achievements in the financial sector, Mr. Tanous has been involved in various organizations and served on the boards of several publicly held companies. Notable among these are his current or former positions on the boards Accustaff, Inc., MPS Group, and GEE Group, Inc., all companies in the staffing industry, where he served as the chairman of the Audit Committee. He also served on the board of Worldcare, Ltd., a healthcare services and telemedicine diagnostics company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Another notable role was his service on the board of directors of Kistler Aerospace, a pioneer in Low Earth Orbit satellite development.

Mr. Tanous's commitment to promoting Lebanese American relations led him to found and serve as the founding chairman of The American Task Force on Lebanon in Washington D.C. He actively engaged prominent Lebanese Americans across the United States to further this cause. Notably, an award at the organization is named after Tanous. He also served on the National Committee of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, contributing his expertise to the investment committee of this renowned charity. MR. Tanous also served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Lebanese American University from 2018 to 2020.

Mr. Tanous also has generously supported Georgetown University by endowing the Tanous Lecture Series, which invites esteemed speakers from finance, government, and the arts to share their insights with the university community. The series has featured prominent individuals such as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Pulitzer Prize winner Sara Ganim, Nobel Laureate George Akerlof, and Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. In recognition of his contributions, Tanous was honored with the Georgetown University William Gaston Alumni Award in 2021.

Thomas Vetrano – Director, Lead Independent Director

Mr. Vetrano joined the Company as a director in March 2020. On July 5, 2023, the Nominating Committee elected Mr. Vetrano as the Lead Independent Director of the Board. He is an accomplished executive leader and business consultant who has over 40 years of international business experience in environmental, health, safety, and sustainability issues. With a strong track record of success in various leadership positions, Mr. Vetrano has made significant contributions to renowned organizations.

As President and Managing Director of Ramboll Environment and Health (REH) from 2014 to 2019, Mr. Vetrano led the largest division of Copenhagen-based Ramboll Group. REH is a $450 million environmental and health sciences consultancy, with a global presence of over 2,600 employees in 25 countries. Under his guidance, the REH achieved exceptional financial performance and strategic growth, solidifying its position among the top ten global environmental consultancies. Mr. Vetrano oversaw all REH business operations, including finance and accounting, IT, risk management, human resources, marketing, sustainability, and employee health and safety.  Prior to its acquisition by REH, Mr. Vetrano participated in the management buyout of ENVIRON Holdings, Inc. in 1998, and served as Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of ENVIRON from 2004 until 2014. During his tenure, ENVIRON experienced remarkable expansion, growing from 300 employees in the US and UK to over 1,500 employees across 25 countries. Under Mr. Vetrano's leadership, ENVIRON's revenues tripled to surpass $300 million, achieving consistent top-quartile industry growth and profitability. Following the successful sale of ENVIRON to REH, Mr. Vetrano directed post-merger integration and synergy realization efforts.

Mr. Vetrano's career also includes positions such as Managing Director and Vice President of Environmental Services at Kroll Associates, and Practice Leader and West Coast Regional Manager at Fred C. Hart Associates / McLaren-HART.

Mr. Vetrano currently serves as a member of the Boards of Directors for GEE Group, Inframark LLC, Locus Fermentation Solutions, and Cumming Group. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for The First Tee of the Virginia Blue Ridge, a charitable organization focused on youth development. Mr. Vetrano previously served as a Director for Smarter Sorting, and as an Advisory Board member for Daybreak LLC.

Throughout his career, Mr. Vetrano has demonstrated his commitment to ethical practices and corporate governance. During his time as a Director for ENVIRON and REH and on other international statutory and corporate governance boards, he has served on various Board committees including Ethics, Equity, Executive Compensation, Finance, Governance, Risk, and Valuation Committees.  He currently serves as Chair of the Compensation Committee for GEE Group and Locus Fermentation Solutions, and Chair of the Risk Committee for Inframark LLC.

Mr. Vetrano has provided business consulting services to corporations, private equity firms, financial institutions, and legal counsel. Mr. Vetrano is internationally recognized for his expertise in merger and acquisition (M&A) due diligence, having directed environmental, health, safety, and sustainability due diligence for over 500 global transactions across diverse industries and sectors. He has shared his knowledge as a chairman or speaker at numerous professional conferences and seminars and has authored and contributed to publications on due diligence, environmental auditing, and cost recovery litigation support.

Mr. Vetrano holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University, graduating cum laude in 1982. He pursued further education at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he earned an M.S. in Environmental Engineering/Toxicology and received the prestigious EXXON Graduate Fellowship in 1984.

Executive Officer and Significant Employees

Alex Stuckey – Chief Operating Officer

Alex P. Stuckey joined GEE Group when it merged with Scribe Solutions in 2015, and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer.  At the time of the merger, Mr. Stuckey held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer at Scribe Solutions, Inc., where he played a pivotal role in the company's achievements. His exceptional leadership skills and strategic insights contributed to Scribe Solutions' success, ultimately leading to his association with Derek Dewan, our Chairman and CEO, the merger of Scribe Solutions with General Employment Enterprises in 2015, and the beginnings of today’s GEE Group Inc.

Mr. Stuckey is an accomplished business executive with a proven track record of success in various leadership roles and brings extensive experience and expertise to his position. Prior to his tenure at Scribe, Mr. Stuckey served as the Chief Executive Officer of Fire Fighters Equipment Co., where he successfully transformed a startup into a successful multi-million-dollar enterprise. Through his visionary approach, innovation and hard work, Mr. Stuckey implemented groundbreaking marketing strategies that revolutionized the fire safety industry and resulted in substantial net profits for his former company. His exemplary leadership attracted the attention of industry giant Cintas, which acquired Fire Fighters through a successful stock purchase.

In addition to his accomplishments in the business world, Mr. Stuckey possesses a wealth of experience in banking and finance. As a special assets officer at Barnett Bank, not only did Mr. Stuckey develop his keen understanding of financial management and risk assessment, he honed his skills in dispute resolution, negotiation and litigation management, skills that he brings to his current position as GEE Group’s COO and valued member of the executive management team.

Mr. Stuckey served as Education Chairman and Forum Moderator, as a member of Y.P.O., Government Affairs & Legislative Chairman for eight years for BOMA, Board of Director of Sila Heating & Air Conditioning, Super Home Services and Castleworks Home Services Company, all private equity backed, providers of residential home services. His involvement in these roles showcases his commitment to contributing his expertise and leadership to multiple industries.

Mr. Stuckey earned his bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurship and Business Enterprises from Florida State University, establishing his educational foundation, that has and continues to serve him and his organizations well. This, coupled with his extensive professional experience, equips him with a comprehensive understanding of business operations and the skills necessary to drive growth and success.

Overall, Mr. Stuckey's remarkable career journey, marked by transformative achievements and valuable expertise, positions him as an invaluable asset of GEE Group. His ability to lead teams, implement innovative strategies, and drive sustainable growth makes him a respected and sought-after business executive.

Kim Thorpe – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Kim Thorpe joined the Company on May 1, 2018, as the Vice President of Finance, and was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on June 15, 2018.  He is an accomplished financial executive with a wealth of experience spanning various industries over four decades. As the newest member of GEE Group’s executive team, Mr. Thorpe already has played instrumental roles in the Company’s successful restructuring and integration initiatives following the SNI acquisition, navigation through the COVID-19 pandemic, deleveraging initiatives resulting in the elimination of approximately $120 million in debt, and completion of JOB’s follow-on equity offering, which in combination, have led to the Company’s return to profitable growth and generation of free cash flow.  

Mr. Thorpe also serves as the Managing Principal of FRUS Capital LLC (“FRUS”), which he formed in February 2013, as a platform for providing consulting services to clients.  At FRUS, he has been able to leverage his strong leadership skills and financial acumen, helping clients overcome obstacles toward achieving their goals and success. From November 2013 to May 2017, Mr. Thorpe accepted appointment as the Chief Financial Officer of one of his clients, Delta Company of Insurance Services, Inc., and became an investor, member and director, and was appointed CFO of NeuLife Neurological Services LLC, an affiliate, where he made significant contributions to the financial operations, capital formation, growth, and leadership of both organizations.

Prior to forming FRUS, Mr. Thorpe held senior executive positions in a privately-owned insurance organization and a specialty real estate lender from May 2006 to February 2013. In the case of the private insurance organization, Mr. Thorpe was instrumental in negotiations leading to its successful acquisition by its successor insurance organization.  Leveraging his outstanding industry knowledge and M&A skills, in combination with his good reputation and relationships with decision makers at both buyer and seller, Mr. Thorpe remained a key figure in the transaction through its closing and post-acquisition integration stages.

From November 1999 to March 2006, Mr. Thorpe served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FPIC Insurance Group, Inc., a prominent public company formerly listed on Nasdaq Global Select Market (NASDAQ: FPIC).  His exceptional financial stewardship, strategic decision-making and leadership played a pivotal role in the successful turnaround of FPIC, following a period of accelerated growth through acquisitions accompanied by manifestations of significant post-acquisition integration and operational risks.

Mr. Thorpe also served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a very large insurance and financial services business unit of GE Capital with assets of over $30 billion and annual revenues of nearly $2 billion. Although his time at GE Capital was relatively brief (March 1998 to November 1999), he honed his leadership skills and demonstrated his ability to manage very large, complex financial organizations, build and manage outstanding teams, and drive sustainable results.  He also played a very important role, and one for which he specifically was recruited, in helping achieve improvements in the cultural assimilation of his business unit with GE Capital.  For his many accomplishments in a short time, Mr. Thorpe achieved “Green Belt” status as a Six Sigma™ professional, had one of his Six Sigma™ projects nominated for an annual global Six Sigma™ award, one of GE’s most coveted business awards, attended GE’s invitation-only Advance Finance Council, and was invited to attend GE’s prestigious, Global Business Management Course.

Earlier in his career, from October 1993 to February 1998, Mr. Thorpe was a partner at the international accounting firm Coopers & Lybrand, a predecessor firm to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. In this capacity, he honed his expertise in accounting and financial management, as well as organizational leadership, solidifying the foundation for his many successes since.  During his tenure, Mr. Thorpe served as the engagement partner in charge of audits of some of the Firm’s largest insurance clients and was considered one of his former Firm’s subject matter experts in insurance industry accounting, auditing, SEC and other regulatory matters.

Mr. Thorpe earned his BSBA, with honors, in Accounting from the University of Florida, and is a Certified Public Accountant. His educational background, coupled with his extensive professional experience, equips him with a comprehensive understanding of business and financial strategies, and best practices.

Board of Directors Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

Our Board has no policy regarding the separation of the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and we currently bestow the roles and responsibilities of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer with Mr. Dewan. The Board believes that Mr. Dewan’s service as both Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Mr. Dewan possesses detailed and in-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing the Company and its business and is thus best positioned to develop agendas that ensure that the Board’s time and attention are focused on the most critical matters. His combined role enables decisive leadership, ensures clear accountability, and enhances the Company’s ability to communicate its strategy clearly and consistently to the Company’s shareholders, employees, and customers.

Independent directors and management have different perspectives and roles in strategy development. The Company’s independent directors bring experience, oversight, and expertise from outside the company and industry, while the management brings company-specific experience and expertise. The Board believes that a board of directors combined with independent board members and management is in the best interests of shareholders because it promotes strategy development and execution and facilitates information flow between management and the Board, which are essential to effective governance.

Effective July 5, 2023, and upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board elected Thomas Vetrano as Lead Independent Director of the Board. The Lead Independent Director’s responsibilities include but not limited to, serving as a liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, calling for meetings of the independent directors, presiding at all meetings of the independent directors and any Board meeting when the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors, providing feedback from executive session of the independent directors to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and other senior management, responding directly to shareholder and stakeholder questions, as appropriate, leading the Board’s evaluation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and succession planning, and serving a key role in Board’s annual self-assessment. The Board believes the appointment of Mr. Vetrano as Lead Independent Director will further enhance its means to accomplish its oversight responsibilities, and also is in keeping with its desire to follow best practices in governance. The Board provides overall risk oversight for the Company as part of its normal, ongoing responsibilities. It receives reports from Mr. Dewan, Mr. Thorpe, and other members of senior management on a periodic basis on areas of risk facing the Company. In addition, committees of the Board oversee specific elements of risk or potential risk.

Hedging Policy

We impose pre-clearance and “blackout” period restrictions on our directors, officers and employees before our earnings announcements (ending two days after the financial results have been publicly disclosed), in addition to special circumstances within the Company that call for insiders to be precluded from trading in our shares of Common Stock. We do not have a written policy that specifically prohibits our named executive officers from hedging the economic risk of stock ownership. However, federal securities laws generally prohibit our named executive officers from selling “short” our stock. Pursuant to our Code of Ethics our directors, officers and employees are expected to comply with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations in carrying out their responsibilities to the Company.

Director Independence

The Board has determined, with the assistance of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, that each of its current directors, other than Mr. Dewan, is an “independent director” under the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) American Listed Company Manual. The Board has affirmatively determined that William Isaac, Darla Moore, Jyrl James, Matthew Gormly, Thomas Vetrano, Peter Tanous, J. Randall Waterfield and David Sandberg satisfy the independence standards under the NYSE American Listed Company Manual. Thomas Vetrano serves as the Company’s Lead Independent Director.

The Board has determined that each current member of the Audit Committee meets the additional independence criteria required for audit committee membership under the listing standards of the NYSE American and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and possesses the experience and expertise required to be considered a “financial expert” as defined under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In addition to the independence standards provided in the NYSE American Listed Company Manual, our Board has determined that each director who serves on our Audit Committee satisfies standards established by the SEC providing that, in order to qualify as “independent” for the purposes of membership on that committee, members of audit committees may not (i) accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Company other than their director compensation or (ii) be an affiliated person of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Board has also determined that each member of the Compensation Committee satisfies the NYSE American standards for independence of Compensation Committee members.

Director Selection Process

As provided in its charter, the Nominating Committee is responsible for recommending to our Board all nominees for election to the Board, including nominees for re-election to the Board, in each case after consultation with the Chairman of the Board. The Nominating Committee considers, among other things, the level of experience, financial literacy and business acumen of the candidate. In addition, qualified candidates for director are those who, in the judgment of the Nominating Committee, have significant decision-making responsibility, with business, legal or academic experience, and other disciplines relevant to the Company’s businesses, the nominee’s ownership interest in the Company, and willingness and ability to devote adequate time to Board duties, all in the context of the needs of the Board at that point in time and with the objective of ensuring diversity in the background, experience, and viewpoints of Board members.

The Nominating Committee may identify potential nominees for election to our Board from a variety of sources, including recommendations from current directors and officers, recommendations from our shareholders or any other source the committee deems appropriate.

Our shareholders of record can nominate candidates for election as director by following the procedures set forth in our By-Laws.

Our By-Laws provide that any shareholder of record entitled to vote in the election of directors generally may make nominations for the election of directors to be held at an Annual Meeting, provided that such shareholder has given actual written notice of his or her intent to make such nomination or nominations to the Secretary of the Company not less than ninety days nor more than one hundred twenty days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting. Our By-Laws also require any shareholder making a director nomination to provide certain important information about its nominees with its advance notice. Only shareholders who comply with these requirements will be permitted to nominate directors to the Board. You are advised to review the By-Laws, which contain additional requirements about advance notice of director nominations.

Any shareholder who wishes to nominate a potential director candidate must follow the specific requirements set forth in our By-Laws, a copy of which may be obtained by sending a request to: GEE Group Inc., 7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, Attn.: Secretary.

Agreements with Respect to Director Nominations and Voting

Agreement with Red Oak

On August 9, 2023, the Company entered into a Cooperation Agreement (the “Cooperation Agreement”) with Red Oak Partners, LLC (collectively with its affiliates, “Red Oak”).

Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, the Company agreed to increase the size of its Board by two seats and to appoint each of David Sandberg and J. Randall Waterfield to the Board as a Class I director and Class II director, respectively. On August 11, 2023, the Company increased the size of its Board from seven to nine members and appointed David Sandberg and J. Randall Waterfield to the Board as a Class I director and a Class II director, respectively, to fill the vacancies created by an increase in the size of the Board. The Company further agreed to nominate Mr. Sandberg for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting, and to nominate Mr. Waterfield for election to the Board at the Company’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders (the “2024 Annual Meeting”). In addition, the Board appointed Messrs. Sandberg and Waterfield to the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee of the Board, Mr. Sandberg to the Corporate Governance Committee of the Board and Mr. Waterfield to the Audit Committee of the Board.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Cooperation Agreement, Mr. Sandberg has agreed to submit a conditional resignation from the Board promptly following his engagement, directly or through his affiliates, in activities that violate the Company’s Code of Ethics, or the Company’s receipt of notice that Red Oak’s beneficial ownership has failed to equal or exceed two-thirds of the outstanding shares of common stock, beneficially owned as of the date of the Cooperation Agreement, and Mr. Waterfield has agreed to submit a conditional resignation promptly following certain conditions, as provided in the Waterfield Agreement (as defined below).

Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, Red Oak has agreed to irrevocably withdraw its notice of intent to nominate candidates for election to the Board and to present certain business proposals at the Annual Meeting and to cease all solicitations and related activities in connection with the Annual Meeting. In addition, the Nominating Committee of the Board previously elected Thomas Vetrano as the Lead Independent Director of the Board, and the Company has agreed to maintain the Lead Independent Director position during the term of the Cooperation Agreement.  Furthermore, pursuant to the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, the Board has agreed to engage an investment bank or consulting firm to assist in evaluating strategic opportunities to maximize shareholder value.

During the term of the Cooperation Agreement, Red Oak has agreed to vote all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by it at all meetings of the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Board’s recommendations, except that Red Oak may vote in its discretion on Extraordinary Transactions (as defined in the Cooperation Agreement) and, other than with respect to director election, removal or replacement proposals, in accordance with the recommendations of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. or Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC if either of them recommends differently from the Board.

Red Oak has also agreed to certain customary standstill provisions prohibiting it from, among other things, (a) soliciting proxies; (b) advising or knowingly encouraging any person with respect to the disposition of any securities of the Company, subject to limited exceptions; (c) acquiring, in the aggregate, beneficial ownership of more than 19.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; and (d) taking actions to change or influence the Board, management or the direction of certain Company matters. Until the termination of the Cooperation Agreement, the Company and Red Oak have also agreed not to disparage each other.

The Cooperation Agreement will terminate on the date that is 40 days prior to the opening of the window for submission of shareholder nominations for the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders. Each of the Company and Red Oak has the right to terminate the Cooperation Agreement earlier if the other party commits a material breach of the Cooperation Agreement and such breach is not cured within 15 days after notice or, if such breach is not curable within 15 days, the breaching party has not taken any substantive action to cure within such 15-day period. 

Agreement with J. Randall Waterfield

On August 3, 2023, we entered into a letter agreement (the “Waterfield Agreement”) with J. Randall Waterfield.  Pursuant to the Waterfield Agreement, Mr. Waterfield consented to being named by the Company as a nominee for election to the Company’s Board and to serve as a director, if elected, in connection with any annual meeting of shareholders during the term of the Waterfield Agreement. Mr. Waterfield has also agreed to submit a conditional resignation promptly following his engagement in any activities that violate the Company’s Code of Ethics or the Company’s receipt of notice that Red Oak’s beneficial ownership has failed to equal or exceed one-half of the shares of Company’s Common Stock, beneficially owned as of August 9, 2023, the date of the Cooperation Agreement.

Until the date that is 30 days prior to the opening of the window for submission of shareholder nominations for the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders (the “Termination Date”), Mr. Waterfield has agreed to vote all Common Stock beneficially owned by him at all meetings of the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Board’s recommendation.

The Waterfield Agreement also prevents Mr. Waterfield, until the Termination Date, from, among other things, (a) nominating a person for election at any shareholder meeting at which directors are to be elected; (b) soliciting proxies; (c) submitting any shareholder proposals for consideration at any shareholder meeting; (d) publicly proposing any change in the number or term of directors serving on the Board or the filling of any vacancies on the Board; and (e) entering into any discussions or agreements with respect to any of the foregoing actions, or assisting or encouraging anyone to take any such action. Until the Termination Date, the Company and Mr. Waterfield have also agreed not to disparage each other.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among our executive officers, directors and significant employees.

Shareholder Communication with the Board of Directors

Shareholders and parties interested in communicating with our Board, any Board committee, any individual director or any group of directors (such as our independent directors) should send written correspondence to: Board of Directors, GEE Group Inc., 7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, Attn.: Secretary. Please note that we will not forward communications that are spam, junk mail and mass mailings, resumes and other forms of job inquiries, surveys, business solicitations or advertisements, or otherwise, communications of an inappropriate nature.

Shareholder Proposals for Next Year’s Annual Meeting

As more specifically provided in our By-Laws, no business may be brought before an annual meeting of our shareholders unless it is specified in the notice of the annual meeting or is otherwise brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of our Board or by a shareholder entitled to vote who has delivered proper notice to the Secretary of the Company not less than ninety days or more than one hundred twenty days prior to the anniversary date of the preceding annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that if the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within twenty-five days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder must be so delivered and received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was made public. For the 2024 Annual Meeting, notice by the shareholder must be so delivered and received not later than June 21, 2024 and no earlier than May 22, 2024. Detailed information for submitting shareholder proposals or nominations of director candidates will be provided upon written request to GEE Group Inc., 7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, Attn.: Secretary.

In addition to satisfying the requirements under our By-Laws, to comply with the universal proxy rules under the Exchange Act, any shareholder who intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must provide written notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later than July 22, 2024.

The foregoing requirements are separate from the SEC’s requirements that a shareholder must meet in order to have a shareholder proposal included in our proxy statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting. Shareholders interested in submitting a proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2024 Annual Meeting may do so by following the procedures set forth in Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. To be eligible for inclusion in such 2024 proxy materials pursuant to such rule, shareholder proposals must be received by our Secretary at GEE Group Inc., 7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, Attn.: Secretary not later than April 17, 2024.

Board of Directors and Committee Meetings

The Board meets on a regularly scheduled basis to review significant developments affecting the Company and to act on matters requiring Board approval. It also holds special meetings when an important matter requires Board action or attention between scheduled meetings. The Board held six meetings during fiscal 2022. No director of the Company attended less than 75% of the total meetings of the Board and committees on which such Board member served during this period. We attempt to schedule our annual meeting of shareholders at a time and date to accommodate attendance by directors at an in-person meeting or participation in a virtual meeting, taking into account the directors’ schedules. All directors are encouraged to participate in the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders absent an unavoidable and irreconcilable conflict. Any director who is unable to attend the Annual Meeting is expected to notify the Chairman of the Board of Directors in advance of the Annual Meeting. All of the Company’s directors at the time of the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders attended the meeting, either in-person or telephonically except one director who was travelling overseas.

There are five standing committees of the Board: the Nominating Committee, the Audit Committee, the Corporate Governance Committee, the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee and the Compensation Committee.

Nominating Committee

The functions of the Nominating Committee are to assist the Board in identifying, interviewing and recommending to the Board qualified candidates to fill positions on the Board. The Nominating Committee held one meeting during fiscal 2022.

In evaluating candidates to serve on the Board, consideration is given to the level of experience, financial literacy and business acumen of the candidate. In addition, qualified candidates for director are those who, in the judgment of the Nominating Committee, have significant decision-making responsibility, with business, legal, academic experience, or a combination of such experience. The Nominating Committee will consider recommendations for Board candidates that are received from various sources, including directors and officers of the Company, other business associates and shareholders, and all candidates will be considered on an equal basis, regardless of source.

Shareholders may contact the Nominating Committee to make such recommendations by writing in care of the Secretary of the Company, at 7751 Belfort Road, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Florida 32256. Submissions must be in accordance with the By-Laws and include: (a) a statement that the writer is a shareholder and is proposing a candidate for consideration by the Nominating Committee; (b) the name, address and number of shares beneficially owned by the shareholder; (c) the name, address and contact information of the candidate being recommended; (d) a description of the qualifications and business experience of the candidate; (e) a statement detailing any relationships between the candidate and the Company and any relationships or understandings between the candidate and the proposing shareholder; and (f) the written consent of the candidate that the candidate is willing to serve as a director if nominated and elected.

The Nominating Committee is presently composed of five non-employee, independent directors: Darla Moore (Chairwoman), William Isaac, Peter Tanous, Jyrl James and Thomas Vetrano. Ms. James and Mr. Vetrano were appointed to the Nominating Committee on August 11, 2023. 

The Board has adopted a written charter for the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is primarily concerned with the effectiveness of the Company’s accounting policies and practices, its financial reporting, and its internal accounting controls. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews and approves the scope of the annual audit of the Company’s books, reviews the findings and recommendations of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm at the completion of their audit, and approves annual audit fees and the selection of an auditing firm. The Audit Committee met seven times and executed one unanimous consent during fiscal 2022.

The Audit Committee is presently composed of five non-employee, independent directors: Peter Tanous (Chairman), Darla Moore, William Isaac, Matthew Gormly and J. Randall Waterfield.  Mr. Waterfield was appointed to the Audit Committee on August 11, 2023.  The Board has determined that Mr. Tanous, Ms. Moore, Mr. Isaac, and Mr. Gormly each are considered an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by rules of the SEC. The Board has determined that each audit committee financial expert meets the additional independence criteria required under the listing standards of the NYSE American and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.

The Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website.

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ⁽¹⁾

The role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process. As set forth in the Charter, management of the Company is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, accounting and financial reporting policies, principles and practices, and internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent auditors are responsible for auditing the Company’s consolidated financial statements and expressing an opinion as to their conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“generally accepted accounting principles” or “U. S. GAAP”).

In the performance of this oversight function, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 with management, and has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Auditing Standard, AS 1301, Communication with Audit Committee, as currently in effect. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by PCAOB Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, as currently in effect, and has discussed with the independent auditors the independent auditors’ independence; and based on its review, discussions, and related deliberations, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 for filing with the SEC.

The members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting, are not experts in the fields of accounting or auditing, including in respect of auditor independence. Members of the Committee rely without independent verification on the information provided to them and on the representations made by management and the independent auditors. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles, or appropriate internal control and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s consideration and discussions referred to above do not assure that the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements has been carried out in accordance with the auditing standards established by the PCAOB, or that the Company’s auditors are in fact independent, as required under professional auditing standards.

Based upon the reports, review and discussions described in this report, and subject to the limitations on the role and responsibilities of the Committee referred to above and in the Charter, the Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, as filed with the SEC. The Audit Committee and the Board have also recommended, subject to shareholder approval, the selection of FORVIS as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Peter Tanous (Chairman), William Isaac, Darla Moore and Matthew Gormly

⁽¹⁾ The material in the Audit Committee report is not soliciting material, is not deemed filed with the SEC and is not incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date of this proxy statement and irrespective of any general incorporation language in such filing.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee has the sole responsibility for approving and evaluating the director and executive officer compensation plans, policies, and programs. It may not delegate this authority. It meets as often as necessary to carry out its responsibilities. The Compensation Committee met four times and executed two unanimous consents during fiscal 2022.

The Compensation Committee meets at least annually to consider the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, including the establishment of base salaries and performance targets for the succeeding year, and the consideration of equity-based compensation awards. Management provides the Compensation Committee with such information as may be requested by the chairman or its members, which in the past has included historical compensation information of the executive officers, tally sheets, internal pay equity statistics, and market survey data. Under the guidelines of the NYSE American, the Chief Executive Officer may not be present during the Compensation Committee’s deliberations regarding his compensation. If requested by the Committee, the Chief Executive Officer may provide recommendations regarding the compensation of the other officers.

The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain compensation consultants. During fiscal 2022, the Company engaged independent compensation consultants to perform a compensation study and analysis of the annual compensation of its executives. The Compensation Committee assessed the independence of the compensation consultants based on the specific criteria under applicable SEC rules and determined that no conflict of interest is raised by the compensation consultants work for the Compensation Committee. The study included relevant market data, various peer group comparisons, and best practices and comparisons of the amounts and components of the Company’s executive pay to its top three executives with those of several comparable companies. Upon completion of its study, the independent consulting firm presented its findings and recommendations to the Company and its Compensation Committee. With the benefit of the findings, recommendations and other inputs provided by the independent consultants, the Company drafted a formal Annual Incentive Compensation Program, which was reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board.    

The Compensation Committee also has the responsibility to make recommendations to the Board regarding the compensation of directors. The Board has assessed the risks that could arise from our employee compensation policies and does not believe that such policies are reasonably likely to have a materially adverse effect on the Company.

The Compensation Committee is presently composed of five non-employee, independent directors: Thomas Vetrano (Chairman), Peter Tanous, Darla Moore, Matthew Gormly and Jyrl James. Mr. Gormly and Ms. James were appointed to the Compensation Committee on August 11, 2023.

The Board has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website. A copy the Compensation Committee Charter was attached as an appendix to the proxy statement prepared in connection with the annual meeting of shareholders held on March 22, 2010, filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on January 28, 2010. 

Mergers and Acquisitions Committee

The Mergers and Acquisitions Committee has the responsibility for evaluating acquisitions and the necessary financing to complete the acquisitions that are determined by management to meet the minimum criteria for evaluation. The Mergers and Acquisitions Committee has the responsibility to keep the entire board informed of the Company’s proposed acquisitions and, only after the Committee has determined an acquisition qualifies, is the acquisition presented to the entire board for approval. The Mergers and Acquisitions Committee has the authority to retain financial advisors or consultants but has not done so to date. The Mergers and Acquisitions Committee did not meet during fiscal 2022.

The Mergers and Acquisitions Committee is presently composed of five non-employee, independent directors:  William Isaac (Chairman), Darla Moore, Matthew Gormly, J. Randall Waterfield and David Sandberg.  Ms. Moore, Mr. Gormly, Mr. Waterfield and Mr. Sandberg were appointed to the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee on August 11, 2023. Derek E. Dewan has observer rights with respect to the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee.

Corporate Governance Committee

The Corporate Governance Committee has responsibilities and duties ranging from Board and committee structure and organization to assisting the Board in evaluating whether the Board and its committees are functioning effectively and consistently in accordance with and subject to applicable law and rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the NYSE and any other applicable regulatory authority. The Corporate Governance Committee also monitors and recommends the functions of the various committees of the Board. The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for developing director qualifications and an annual evaluation process for the Board, its committees, and individual directors and for overseeing the execution of such annual evaluations, including the Committee’s own evaluation. The Corporate Governance Committee is tasked with the responsibility to review the outside activities of Senior Executives and, if warranted, report and / or make recommendations concerning such activities to the Board. The Corporate Governance Committee also regularly reviews the Company’s and subsidiaries’ Certificates of Incorporation, By-Laws and policies, committee charters and other Company documents and recommend revisions to be acted upon by the Board.

The Corporate Governance Committee also coordinates with Human Resources to review any reports of discrimination or sexual harassment and recommend any actions deemed appropriate, review whistleblower reports and recommend any actions deemed appropriate. The Corporate Governance Committee monitors emerging corporate governance trends and oversees and evaluates corporate governance policies and programs and recommends to the Board such changes as the committee believes appropriate. When applicable, the Corporate Governance Committee will review shareholder proposals and recommend proposed Company responses for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement, or otherwise, to the Board.

The Corporate Governance Committee reviews at least annually, or more frequently if deemed appropriate under the circumstances, the Company’s Standards for Director Independence and enhanced independence requirements issued by the NYSE and by other applicable regulators and advisory services, and recommends to the Board any modifications to the Company’s standards that the committee deems desirable. The committee provides to the Board its assessment of which directors should be deemed independent directors under applicable rules, policies, and regulations. This review also contemplates the requirements of a “financial expert” under applicable rules of the SEC and NYSE, thereby assessing which directors should be deemed financial experts and recommends to the Board the determination that such directors are “financial experts” within the applicable definitions established by the SEC and NYSE. The committee reviews on a periodic basis and makes recommendations, accordingly, regarding continuing education programs for directors and an orientation program for new directors.

Finally, the Corporate Governance Committee obtains annual independence and conflict of interest statements from all directors and senior management members and reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding questions of potential conflicts of interest and with regard to any transactions among the Company and related parties as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

The committee is required to be comprised of three or more directors as determined by the Board, each of whom the Board has determined meets the independence requirements of the Company’s Standards for Director Independence, the NYSE and the SEC. The members of the Committee are appointed by the Board and serve until their respective successor is duly appointed or until their retirement, resignation, death or removal by the Board.

The Corporate Governance Committee is presently composed of five non-employee, independent directors: William Isaac (Chairman), Peter Tanous, Darla Moore, Jyrl James and David Sandberg. Ms. Moore, Ms. James and Mr. Sandberg were appointed to the Corporate Governance Committee on August 11, 2023.  The Corporate Governance Committee met once during fiscal 2022. During its fiscal 2022 meeting, the Corporate Governance Committee discussed and established the objective of identifying and recruiting future qualified members with a view towards further enhancing the Board's composition in terms of gender, race ethnicity and other diversity-related qualities.

Shareholder Communications

The Board has established a procedure by which shareholders of the Company can communicate with the Board. Shareholders interested in communicating with the Board as a group or with individual directors may do so in writing. Correspondence to the directors should be sent by regular mail c/o the Secretary, GEE Group Inc., 7751 Belfort Road, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Florida 32256. Any such correspondence will be reviewed by the Secretary, who will then forward it to the appropriate parties. Communications that are solicitations or deemed to be irrelevant to the Board’s responsibilities may be discarded, at the discretion of the Secretary.

Corporate Code of Ethics

We have a Code of Ethics that applies to all directors and employees, including our senior management team. The Code of Ethics is designed to deter wrongdoing, to promote the honest and ethical conduct of all employees and to promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements under applicable SEC rules relating to amendments to the Code of Ethics or waivers from any provision thereof applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, our Principal Financial and Accounting officer by posting such information on our website pursuant to SEC rules. There were no such amendments of or waivers to any of the Company’s policies and procedures outlined under its Code of Ethics during fiscal 2022.

The Code of Ethics is available on the Company’s website. In addition, you may obtain a printed copy of the Code of Ethics, without charge, by sending a request to: GEE Group Inc., 7751 Belfort Road, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, Attn.: Secretary.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Information

The following table summarizes total compensation to named executive officers including principal executive officer, principal financial and accounting officer, and principal operating officer. Throughout this section, the term “named executive officers” is intended to refer to the individuals listed in “Summary Compensation Table.”

Summary Compensation Table

Employment and Indemnification Agreements

Derek E. Dewan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer: On August 12, 2016, the Company entered an employment agreement with Derek E. Dewan (the “Dewan Employment Agreement”). The Dewan Employment Agreement provided for a five-year term ending on August 15, 2021, unless employment is earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions thereof and after the initial term had a standard one-year automatic extension clause if there is no notice by the Company of termination. Mr. Dewan had received a starting base salary at the rate of $300,000 per year which could be increased, but not decreased, by the Compensation Committee. The Dewan Employment Agreement was amended in fiscal 2021 to increase Mr. Dewan’s base salary to $350,000 per year, and to extend the term of the agreement so that it ended on September 30, 2024. Mr. Dewan was entitled to receive an annual bonus based on criteria to be agreed to by Mr. Dewan and the Compensation Committee. The Dewan Employment Agreement contained standard termination, change of control, non-compete and confidentiality provisions. On June 15, 2021, 600,000 restricted shares of common stock previously granted to Mr. Dewan became fully vested. On August 13, 2021, the Company granted 250,000 restricted shares of common stock to Mr. Dewan. The restricted shares are to be earned over a three-year period and cliff vest at the end of the third year from the date of grant. 

On April 27, 2023, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Dewan for his continued employment (the “New Dewan Employment Agreement”). The New Dewan Employment Agreement provides for a five-year term ending on April 26, 2028, unless employment is earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions thereof and after the initial term has a standard one-year automatic extension clause if there is no notice by the Company or Mr. Dewan of termination. The New Dewan Employment Agreement provides for a base salary at the rate of $518,000 per year, which can be increased, but not decreased, by the Compensation Committee. The New Dewan Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Dewan is entitled to receive an annual cash bonus based on criteria to be agreed to by Mr. Dewan and the Compensation Committee and is eligible to participate in Company equity-based incentive compensation and benefit plans and to receive certain other perquisites. The New Dewan Employment Agreement contains standard termination, severance, change of control, non-compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions.

Alex Stuckey, Chief Operating Officer: On June 1, 2018, the Company and Mr. Stuckey entered into a written employment agreement with respect to Mr. Stuckey’s service as Chief Administrative Officer of the Company (the “Stuckey Employment Agreement”). On August 26, 2022, Mr. Stuckey was re-appointed as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer. The Company and Mr. Stuckey agreed to an initial term of five years and that Mr. Stuckey would receive a base salary of $220,000 per year, subject to increase, but not decrease, at the discretion of the Board. Mr. Stuckey’s annual salary was increased as of August 15, 2021, to a base salary of $250,000 per year. The Company and Mr. Stuckey had agreed that Mr. Stuckey would be eligible to receive annual cash bonus compensation that was to be determined by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board. Mr. Stuckey also was eligible to participate in the Company’s incentive compensation and employee benefit plans as in effect from time to time on the same basis as generally made available to other senior executives of the Company, in addition to other benefits provided to executives of the Company. The Stuckey Employment Agreement contains standard termination, change of control, non-compete and confidentiality provisions. On August 13, 2021, the Company granted 183,333 restricted shares of common stock to Mr. Stuckey. The restricted shares are to be earned over a three-year period and cliff vest at the end of the third year from the date of grant. On August 21, 2022, 100,000 restricted shares of common stock previously granted to Mr. Stuckey became fully vested. 

On April 27, 2023, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Stuckey with respect to Mr. Stuckey’s continuing service (the “New Stuckey Employment Agreement”). The New Stuckey Employment Agreement provides for a five-year term ending on April 26, 2028, unless employment is earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions thereof and after the initial term has a standard one-year automatic extension clause if there is no notice by the Company or Mr. Stuckey of termination. The New Stuckey Employment Agreement provides for a starting base salary at the rate of $331,000 per year which can be increased, but not decreased, by the Compensation Committee. The New Stuckey Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Stuckey is entitled to receive an annual cash bonus based on criteria to be agreed to by Mr. Stuckey and the Compensation Committee and is eligible to participate in Company equity-based incentive compensation and benefit plans and to receive certain other perquisites. The New Stuckey Employment Agreement contains standard termination, severance, change of control, non-compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions.

Kim Thorpe, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer: On June 15, 2018, the Company appointed Kim Thorpe as the Company’s new Chief Financial Officer. On February 13, 2019, the Company and Mr. Thorpe entered into a written employment agreement with respect to Mr. Thorpe’s service as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company (the “Thorpe Employment Agreement”). The Company and Mr. Thorpe agreed to an initial term of four years and that Mr. Thorpe would receive a base salary of $200,000 per year, subject to increase, but not decrease, at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer. The Thorpe Employment Agreement was amended in fiscal 2020 to increase Mr. Thorpe’s base salary to $250,000 per year, and again in fiscal 2021 to increase his base salary to $270,000 per year, and to extend the term of the agreement so that it ended on September 30, 2024. The Company and Mr. Thorpe had agreed that Mr. Thorpe would be eligible to receive annual cash bonus compensation that was to be determined by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board. Mr. Thorpe was also eligible to participate in the Company’s equity-based incentive compensation and employee benefit plans as in effect from time to time on the same basis as generally made available to other senior executives of the Company in addition to other benefits provided to executives of the Company. The Thorpe Employment Agreement contains standard termination, change of control, non-compete and confidentiality provisions. On August 13, 2021, the Company granted 208,333 restricted shares of common stock to Mr. Thorpe. The restricted shares are to be earned over a three-year period and cliff vest at the end of the third year from the date of grant. On August 21, 2022, 100,000 restricted shares of common stock previously granted to Mr. Thorpe became fully vested.

On April 27, 2023, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Thorpe with respect to Mr. Thorpe’s continuing service (the “New Thorpe Employment Agreement”). The New Thorpe Employment Agreement provides for a five-year term ending on April 26, 2028, unless employment is earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions thereof and after the initial term has a standard one-year automatic extension clause if there is no notice by the Company or Mr. Thorpe of termination. The New Thorpe Employment Agreement provides for a base salary at the rate of $331,000 per year which can be increased, but not decreased, by the Compensation Committee. The New Thorpe Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Thorpe is entitled to receive an annual cash bonus based on criteria to be agreed to by Mr. Thorpe and the Compensation Committee and is eligible to participate in Company equity-based incentive compensation and benefit plans and to receive certain other perquisites. The New Thorpe Employment Agreement contains standard termination, severance, change of control, non-compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions.

Annual Incentive Compensation Program Adopted in Fiscal 2022

The Bonus Awards presented in the Summary Compensation Table for Messrs. Dewan, Stuckey and Thorpe for fiscal 2022 were accrued but unpaid as of September 30, 2022; but were subsequently paid on December 2, 2022 following determination of the final amounts and approval by the Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board. 

During fiscal 2022, the Company engaged independent compensation consultants to perform a compensation study and analysis of the annual compensation of its executives. The study included comparisons of the amounts and components of the Company’s executive pay to its top three executives with those of several comparable companies. The Company and its Compensation Committee received a report from the independent compensation consultant outlining its findings and recommendations. With the benefit of the independent consultant’s reported findings and recommendations, the Company drafted a formal Annual Incentive Compensation Program (“AICP”), which was reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board.    

The AICP includes a performance based short term incentive (“STI”), and a partially performance based long term incentive (“LTI”) compensation component. The STI portion is payable in the form of annual cash bonuses and the LTI portion if payable in equity-based compensation in the form of restricted stock. Grants under the LTI component are to be granted under the Company’s 2013 Incentive Stock Plan and are further comprised of two components; one that vests based on time passed alone, and a second that vest over time but also based on future performance.    

The overall structure, design and other key components of the AICP were initially reviewed by the Compensation Committee during several meetings in 2022 and were presented to and approved by the Board at its annual meeting held on August 26, 2022. Additional details regarding the AICP, including the pro forma results expected for fiscal 2022, and projected targets for fiscal 2023, were reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board at a special teleconference meeting on September 22, 2022. The approvals were conditioned upon final determination of the Company’s results for fiscal 2022, including actual AICP performance measures for fiscal 2022, and the approval of final financial plans for fiscal 2023, including performance targets for the fiscal 2023 AICP. 

Option Awards

The option awards column represents the fair value of the stock options as measured on the grant date.

No stock options were awarded to the named executive officers or others during fiscal 2022.  If and when stock options are granted,  the Company’s policy is that option prices must be set that are equal to the market price on the date of grant, that they have vesting dates five years or less after the date of grant, and that they have expiration dates ten years after the date of grant. 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table summarizes equity awards granted to named executive officers and directors that were outstanding as of September 30, 2022:

Retirement Benefits

The Company does not maintain a tax-qualified defined benefit retirement plan for any of its executive officers or employees. The Company has a 401(k)-retirement plan in which all full-time employees may participate after one year of service.

Pay Versus Performance

The following pay versus performance disclosure is new this year, as required by rules recently adopted by the SEC in the fall of 2022. The disclosure required for smaller reporting companies consists of a Pay Versus Performance table and reconciliation of the information reported in the table. The SEC believes this disclosure will help shareholders better evaluate the link between executive pay and performance, both for the Company on a stand-alone basis and as compared to other publicly traded companies.

The pay versus performance table is highly regulated and requires pay disclosure that is significantly different than what we have customarily provided in the Summary Compensation Table and the other executive compensation tables in prior years. The table currently provides SEC mandated compensation data for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 for our Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”), including our principal Executive Officer (“PEO”), along with certain financial performance measures. In reviewing the table, our shareholders should note the following:

Pay Versus Performance Table

To calculate the amounts reported in the “Compensation Actually Paid” columns in the table above, the following amounts were deducted from and added to (as applicable) our NEOs total compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table (“SCT”) for our named executive officers as of September 30, 2022:

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION 

Compensation of Directors

As of July 2020, members of the Board are paid cash compensation each quarter in the amount of $5,000 for their attendance / participation. Also, non-executive Committee Chairpersons receive an additional $1,000 per quarter for their committee meetings. Employees serving as directors of the Company did not receive any additional compensation for service on the Board.

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation paid to each of the non-employee directors during fiscal 2022:

(1) Mr. Camden served as member of the Board from March 30, 2020 until his resignation on August 11, 2023.

Beginning October 1, 2022, non-executive members of the Board are paid cash compensation each quarter in the amount of $12,500 for their attendance / participation. Also, non-executive Committee Chairpersons receive an additional $1,875 per quarter for their services as committee chairs. In addition, non-executive members of the Board are to be granted 50,000 non-qualified stock options each annually, which shall be considered fully vested at the time of grant and have their respective strike prices set at the closing price of the shares of Common Stock as reported by the NYSE American on the date of grant.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information concerning the beneficial ownership of our voting securities as of August 8, 2023 by (i) each person who is known by us, based solely on a review of public filings, to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our outstanding voting securities, (ii) each director, (iii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table and (iv) all executive officers and directors as a group.

Under applicable SEC rules, a person is deemed to be the “beneficial owner” of a voting security if such person has (or shares) either investment power or voting power over such security or has (or shares) the right to acquire such security within 60 days by any of a number of means, including upon the exercise of options or warrants, the vesting and issuance of restricted stock grants, or the conversion of convertible securities. A beneficial owner’s percentage ownership is determined by assuming that restricted stock, options, warrants and convertible securities that are held by the beneficial owner, but not those held by any other person, and which are exercisable, issuable or convertible within 60 days, have been presented in the table as if exercised, issued or converted.

Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all voting securities shown as being owned by them. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner in the table below is care of GEE Group Inc., 7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.

*Represents less than 1%.

Related Party Transactions

Other than as disclosed below, and except for the Dewan Employment and New Employment Agreements, the Stuckey Employment and New Employment Agreements and the Thorpe Employment and New Employment Agreements, each as defined and described in “Executive Compensation”, and the Red Oak Agreement and the Waterfield Agreement, each as defined and described in “Agreements with Respect to Director Nominations and Voting- Agreement with Red Oak” and Agreements with Respect to Director Nominations and Voting- Agreement with Waterfield” there have been no transactions since October 1, 2021 or any currently proposed transaction or series of similar transactions to which the Company was or is to be a party, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any current or former director or officer of the Company, any 5% or greater shareholder of the Company or any member of the immediate family of any such persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Audit Related Matters

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is FORVIS (PCAOB Firm ID No. 686) located in Tampa, Florida. As previously disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 15, 2022, the Audit Committee of the Board dismissed Friedman, LLP (“Friedman”) on April 12, 2022 and engaged FORVIS (formerly known as Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP) to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022. Friedman was the predecessor to FORVIS, having served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since November 29, 2012 through the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, and first fiscal quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.

As previously disclosed, Friedman’s audit reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of an opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

As previously disclosed, during the Company’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, and subsequently up to the date of Friedman’s dismissal, there were: (1) no disagreements with Friedman on any manner of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, that if not resolved to Friedman’s satisfaction, would have caused Friedman to make reference in connection with its opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement; and (2) no “reportable events” (as the term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

As previously disclosed, the Company provided Friedman with a copy of the disclosures made on the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 15, 2022 and requested that Friedman furnish a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with such disclosures. A copy of Friedman’s letter dated April 15, 2022, was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 15, 2022.

As previously disclosed, during the Company’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and through the date of the Company’s appointment of FORVIS, the Company did not consult with FORVIS regarding: (1) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that FORVIS concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to accounting, auditing or financial reporting issues; or (2) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement within the meaning of Items 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions, or (3) any reportable event within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

The following table presents fees billed by FORVIS and Friedman for the following professional services rendered for the Company for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively:

“Audit fees” relate to services for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years and for reviews of the interim consolidated financial statements as well as providing consents for the inclusion of FORVIS’ reports in SEC registration statements and filings.

“Audit-related fees” relate to services that are reasonably related to the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and are not included in “audit fees.” These services include audits of the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan and a special audit of revenue pertaining to one of the Company’s client engagements which include FORVIS’ reports.

“Tax fees” relate to fees for tax services, including tax compliance, and related expenses.

“All other fees” related to fees for products and services other than the services described above.

Policy Regarding Pre-Approval of Services Provided by the Outside Auditors

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, and to not engage them to perform the specific non-audit services proscribed by law or regulation for independence reasons. At or just prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the Audit Committee meets with the independent registered public accounting firm and approves the fees and services to be performed for the ensuing year. On at least an annual basis, the Audit Committee reviews fees billed for all services provided for the year to date, and it pre-approves additional services if necessary. The Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies allow management to engage the independent registered public accounting firm for consultations on tax or accounting matters up to an aggregate of $10,000 annually. All fees listed in the table above were approved in accordance with the Audit Committee’s policies.

The Audit Committee’s charter requires review and pre-approval by the Audit Committee of all audit services provided by our outside auditors and, subject to the de minimis exception under applicable SEC rules, all permissible non-audit services provided by our outside auditors. The Audit Committee reviews the fees billed for all services provided on a quarterly basis, and it pre-approves additional services if necessary. As required by Section 10A of the Exchange Act, the Audit Committee pre-approved all audit and non-audit services provided by our outside auditors during fiscal 2021 and 2022, and the fees paid for such services.

GENERAL

Except as described elsewhere in this proxy statement, management does not know of any matters other than those stated in this proxy statement that are to be presented for action at the meeting. If any other matters should properly come before the meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the accompanying proxy card will vote on any such other matters in their discretion in accordance with their best judgment to the extent permitted by Rule 14a-4(c) of the Exchange Act.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other documents with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The Company’s SEC filings made electronically through the SEC’s EDGAR system are available to the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company’s SEC filings are also available at ir.geegroup.com/sec-filings.

In accordance with notices to two or more shareholders who hold their shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record and share a single address, we will only deliver one proxy statement to multiple security holders sharing an address unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of the security holders. This practice, known as “householding,” is intended to provide extra convenience for shareholders and reduce our printing and postage costs. However, upon written or oral request, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of this proxy statement and any future annual reports and proxy or information statements to any security holder at a shared address to which a single copy of this proxy statement was delivered, or deliver a single copy of this proxy statement and any future annual reports and proxy or information statements to any security holder or holders sharing an address to which multiple copies are now delivered. You should direct any such requests to our Company at following address: GEE Group Inc., 7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, Attn.: Secretary. If you want to receive separate copies of future materials, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you should contact your bank, broker or other holder of record, or you may contact us as indicated above. 

You may also request additional copies from our proxy solicitor, Advantage Proxy, Inc. using the following contact information: PO Box 13581 Des Moines, WA 98198, Telephone: Toll Free: 1-877-870-8565 and Collect: 1-206-870-8565, Email: ksmith@advantageproxy.com.

PROPOSALS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee of the Board, the Board has nominated for election at the Annual Meeting the following slate of three nominees, each to hold office for three years until the 2026 Annual Meeting or until their respective successor is duly elected and qualified:

_________

Each of the Company’s nominees is currently serving as a member of our Board, and has consented to (1) serve as a nominee, (2) be named in a proxy statement, and (3) serve as a director, if elected.

In the event one or more of the Company’s nominees is unable or declines to serve as a director after the Annual Meeting, the proxies voting for their election will be voted for any nominee who shall be designated by the Board, or alternatively, not voted for any nominee. As of the date of this proxy statement, we are not aware that any of the Company’s nominees is unable or will decline to serve as a director if elected. Except as disclosed in this proxy statement, there are no arrangements or understandings between any of our directors and any other person pursuant to which any person was selected as a director.

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of shares of our Common Stock representing a plurality of the votes cast is required to elect each of William Isaac, Jyrl James and David Sandberg as directors of the Company.

Recommendation

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of William Isaac, Jyrl James and David Sandberg to the Board.

PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF FORVIS, LLP

AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2023

The Audit Committee of the Board has appointed FORVIS to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending September 30, 2023. FORVIS has served in this capacity since June 1, 2022.

We are asking our shareholders to ratify the appointment of FORVIS as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by our By-Laws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the appointment of FORVIS to our shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance. If our shareholders fail to ratify the appointment of FORVIS, the Audit Committee will consider whether it is appropriate and advisable to appoint another independent registered public accounting firm. Even if our shareholders ratify the appointment of FORVIS, the Audit Committee in its discretion may appoint a different registered public accounting firm at any time if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.

A representative of FORVIS is expected to be present virtually at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement and to be available to respond to appropriate questions. A representative of the Company’s former independent registered public accounting firm, Friedman, is not expected to be present virtually at the Annual Meeting nor it will have an opportunity to make a statement and be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of shares of Common Stock representing the majority of shares represented and entitled to vote on this proposal at the Annual Meeting is required to approve Proposal 2.

Recommendation

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of FORVIS as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.

PROPOSAL 3: THE SAY-ON-PAY RESOLUTION

The Company is presenting the following resolution, which gives you as a shareholder the opportunity to endorse or not endorse our pay program for named executive officers by voting “FOR” or “AGAINST” the following resolution. This resolution is required pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act. While our Board intends to carefully consider the shareholder vote resulting from the proposal, the final vote will not be binding on us and is advisory in nature.

“RESOLVED, that the shareholders approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the compensation tables and the related disclosure contained in the proxy statement set forth under the caption ‘Executive Compensation.’”

Required Vote

The Say-On-Pay Resolution requires the affirmative vote of shares of Common Stock representing the majority of shares represented and entitled to vote on this proposal at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will have the same legal effect as a vote “AGAINST” this proposal and broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

Recommendation

The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the compensation tables and the related disclosure contained in this proxy statement set forth under the caption “Election of Directors Proposal—Executive Compensation”.

PROPOSAL 4: THE SAY-ON-PAY FREQUENCY RESOLUTION

The Company is presenting the following resolution, which gives you as a shareholders the opportunity to inform the Company as to how often you wish the Company to include a proposal, similar to Proposal 4, in this proxy statement. This resolution is required pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act. While our Board intends to carefully consider the shareholder vote resulting from the resolution, the final vote will not be binding on us and is advisory in nature.

“RESOLVED, that the shareholders wish the Company to include an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 every:

Required Vote

The Say-On-Pay Frequency Resolution requires the affirmative vote of shares of Common Stock representing the majority of shares represented and entitled to vote on this proposal at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will have the same legal effect as a vote “AGAINST” this proposal and broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

Recommendation

 The Board recommends that you vote to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation every “THREE YEARS”.

OTHER MATTERS

Management does not know of any matters other than those stated in this proxy statement that are to be presented for consideration at the meeting. If any other matters should properly come before the meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the accompanying proxy card will vote on any such other matters in their discretion in accordance with their best judgment to the extent permitted by Rule 14a-4(c) of the Exchange Act.

AVAILABILITY OF ANNUAL REPORT AND PROXY STATEMENT

If you would like to receive a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2022, the Quarterly Report for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2022, the Quarterly Report for the Six Months Ended March 31, 2023, and the Quarterly Report for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2023 or this proxy statement, please contact us at: GEE Group Inc., 7751 Belfort Parkway, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, Attn.: Chief Financial Officer or by telephone at (904) 512-7504, and we will send a copy to you without charge.

A Note about Our Website

Although we include references to our website (https://www.geegroup.com/) throughout this proxy statement, information that is included on our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this proxy statement. Our website address is included as an inactive textual reference only.

We use our website as one means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under the SEC’s Regulation FD. Such disclosures typically will be included within the Investors Relations section of our website. Accordingly, investors should monitor such section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls.