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Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Related Party Transactions  
Related Party Transactions

10.    Related Party Transactions

Payments Under the Principal Shareholder Employment Agreement

Following the passing of Mr. Christian on August 19, 2022, the Company was required to make several payments to his estate as outlined in his employment agreement and disclosed previously. Under the agreement, the Company was responsible to pay the estate’s income tax obligation relating to the transfer of a split dollar life insurance policy and as such, recorded $480,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024 when the transfer of the policy occurred. The payment was made to the estate on July 31, 2025. Additionally, under the agreement, the Company shall continue to pay for the healthcare coverage and life insurance premiums for Mr. Christian’s spouse for ten years which totals approximately $800,000.

Mr. Forgy’s Employment Agreement

On November 16, 2022, we entered into an employment agreement with Christopher S. Forgy, who was appointed as our President and CEO effective December 7, 2022. Mr. Forgy’s employment agreement had an initial term of three years, and in December 2024, pursuant to the agreement, we and Mr. Forgy mutually agreed to extend the term for the

additional two years (the “renewal period”). Under the agreement, Mr. Forgy’s base salary is set at $670,000 for the first year and will increase 4% annually.

Mr. Forgy will have the opportunity to earn an annual performance bonus under the CEO Plan. His bonus in any fiscal year will be in a minimum of 35% and a maximum of 100% of his annual base salary as of January 1 of the fiscal year, and will be based on his performance and the achievement of performance goals established by the Compensation Committee within the first 90 days of the fiscal year. The Board may instead grant Mr. Forgy a discretionary bonus in the case of a financial, national or global occurrence, or a generally difficult year. Mr. Forgy was granted a $215,000 discretionary bonus for the 2025 fiscal year and a $243,950 discretionary bonus for the 2024 fiscal year. Mr. Forgy is also eligible for equity awards under the 2023 Incentive Compensation Plan, or any successor equity incentive plan, in accordance with the provisions of that plan that apply to the CEO.

Mr. Forgy will continue to participate in our employee benefit plans, including the medical reimbursement plan, 401(k) plan, deferred compensation plan, and other health and welfare benefit plans. He will be entitled to five weeks of paid vacation days per calendar year. The Company will furnish him with an automobile, pay the initiation fee and monthly dues for a non-golf country club membership and provide Mr. Forgy with a split dollar life insurance agreement with premiums payable by the Company.

Either the Company or Mr. Forgy may terminate the employment term for any reason generally with 30 days advance notice. If Mr. Forgy’s employment is terminated by us for cause, if he resigns without good reason, or if his employment terminates by reason of death or disability, he will receive any accrued but unpaid base salary and any benefits under the Company’s benefit plans (the “accrued amounts.”)

If Mr. Forgy’s employment is terminated by us without cause or if he resigns for good reason, he will receive the accrued amounts; continuation of his base salary for the longer of 18 months or the remainder of the three year initial term or the two-year renewal period, as applicable; any awarded but unpaid annual bonus with respect to any completed fiscal year preceding the termination date; immediate and full vesting of any unvested shares of restricted stock then held by Mr. Forgy; and payment or reimbursement of COBRA premiums for Mr. Forgy and his spouse for up to 18 months.

Mr. Forgy agreed that, for a period of 12 months after the termination of his employment, he will not (i) solicit business of the type performed by the Company anywhere in the United States; (ii) solicit from any person who has purchased services from the Company during the three years preceding his termination for business of the type performed by the Company in the United States, or in any other location; or (iii) offer employment to any person employed by the Company, or entice any such person to leave employment with the Company. The employment agreement also contains customary confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants.

Change in Control Agreements

In December 2007, Samuel D. Bush, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Catherine Bobinski, Senior Vice President/Finance, Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller, entered into Change in Control Agreements. In September 2018, Christopher S. Forgy, Senior Vice President of Operations entered into a Change in Control Agreement. In July 2020, Eric Christian, Chief Marketing Officer entered into a Change in Control Agreement. Eric Christian is the son of Edward K. Christian, our former President, CEO and Chairman. In September 2025, Wayne Leland, Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, entered into a Change in Control Agreement with the Company. A change in control is defined to mean the occurrence of (a) any person or group becoming the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 30% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities and Mr. Christian ceasing to be Chairman and CEO of the Company; (b) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which results in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent more than 50% of the combined voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity; or (c) the approval of the shareholders of the Company of a plan of

complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of its assets.

If there is a change in control, the Company shall pay a lump sum payment within 45 days of 1.5 times the average of the executive’s last three full calendar years of such executive’s base salary and any annual cash bonus paid. In the event that such payment constitutes a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G subject to an excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company shall pay the executive an additional amount so that the executive will receive the entire amount of the lump sum payment before deduction for federal, state and local income tax and payroll tax. In the event of a change in control (other than the approval of plan of liquidation), the Company or the surviving entity may require as a condition to receipt of payment that the executive continue in employment for a period of up to six months after consummation of the change in control. During such six months, executive will continue to earn his pre-existing salary and benefits. In such case, the executive shall be paid the lump sum payment upon completion of the continued employment. If, however, the executive fails to remain employed during this period of continued employment for any reason other than (a) termination without cause by the Company or the surviving entity, (b) death, (c) disability or (d) breach of the agreement by the Company or the surviving entity, then executive shall not be paid the lump sum payment. In addition, if the executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause within six months prior to the consummation of a change in control, then the executive shall be paid the lump sum payment within 45 days of such change in control.

Other Related Party Transactions

Effective June 19, 2019, we employed Eric Christian, son of Edward K. Christian, our President, CEO and Chairman at the time, as our Director of Solution Architecture. Eric Christian was promoted to Vice President of Digital Solutions in July 2020 and was subsequently promoted to Chief Marketing Officer in February 2023. The Board of Directors approved the employment of Eric Christian and subsequent promotions. As previously disclosed, Edward K. Chrisian passed away in August 2022 which resulted in the conversion of his Class B Shares into Class A Shares that were transferred to an estate planning trust, of which Edward K. Christian’s surviving spouse, and Eric Christian’s mother serves as co-trustee. The estate owns approximately 14.0% of the Common Stock outstanding. We also employed Sera Christian, granddaughter of the trustee of the Edward K. Christian estate. In October 2025, we employed Wendy Wagner, stepdaughter of Christoper S. Forgy, our President and CEO, as our Human Resources Manager. The Board of Directors approved the employment of Wendy Wagner.