Judd B. Merrill

Mr. Merrill also serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr. Merrill is currently Chief Financial Officer of Aqua Metals, Inc. since November 2018. Aqua Metals is reinventing lead recycling with its patented and patent-pending AquaRefining™ technology. These systems reduce environmental impact and scale lead acid recycling production capacity to meet the growing demand for lead-driven innovations in batteries, solar, wind, and grid scale energy storage. Mr. Merrill has extensive mining industry experience. Prior to joining Aqua Metals, Mr. Merrill was the Director of Finance/Accounting at Klondex Mines Ltd., a Nevada based international mining company. Before its acquisition by Hecla, Klondex was a $500 million, publicly traded company listed on the New York and the Toronto Stock Exchanges. From 2011 to 2017, Mr. Merrill was employed by Comstock Mining Inc. with financials positions of increasing responsibility, including Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Merrill was instrumental in establishing financial processes and driving efficiencies, and managing and maintaining the Company’s liquidity and efficient access to the capital markets. He worked directly with bankers, lenders, investment funds and major shareholders related to the company’s capital management Mr. Merrill previously worked as a controller at Frontier Gold Inc. and as an assistant controller at Newmont Mining Corp., where he acquired and developed strong financial planning, cost management, treasury and cash management experience. Mr. Merrill began his career at Deloitte & Touche LLP and spent six years working in broad financial accounting, reporting, auditing, internal control, and corporate financial activities. Mr. Merrill holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Central Washington University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Merrill joined the Company’s board of directors on September 11, 2020.