View our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on our internet website, www.cuiglobal.com and

Instruct us to send our future proxy materials to you electronically by email.

The election of five directors to hold office until the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified;

Ratification of the appointment of Perkins & Company, P.C. of the BDO Seidman Alliance as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018;

Advisory approval of the company’s executive compensation (Say-on-Pay).

Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card.

Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly to a name shown in the registration on the proxy card.

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

A: Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may direct how your shares are voted without attending the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote by proxy. You can vote by proxy over the internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, you can also vote by mail or telephone pursuant to instructions provided on the proxy card. If you hold shares beneficially in street name, you may also vote by proxy over the internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, you can also vote by telephone or mail by following the voting instruction card provided to you by your broker, bank, trustee or nominee.

Q: May I change my vote?

A: You may change your vote at any time prior to the taking of the vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are the stockholder of record, you may change your vote by: (1) granting a new proxy bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy) using any of the methods described above (and until the applicable deadline for each method), (2) providing a written notice of revocation to CUI Global’sOrbital Energy Group’s Corporate Secretary at CUI Global,Orbital Energy Group, Inc., 20050 SW 112^th Avenue, Tualatin, Oregon 970621924 Aldine Western, Houston, Texas 77038 prior to your shares being voted or (3) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request. For shares you hold beneficially in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank, trustee or nominee following the instructions they provided or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker, bank, trustee or nominee giving you the right to vote your shares, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

Q: Is my vote confidential?

A: Proxy instructions, ballots and voting tabulations that identify individual stockholders are handled in a manner that protects your voting privacy. Your vote will not be disclosed either within CUI GlobalOrbital Energy Group or to third parties, except: (1) as necessary to meet applicable legal requirements, (2) to allow for the tabulation of votes and certification of the votes and (3) to facilitate a successful proxy solicitation. Occasionally, stockholders provide on their proxy card written comments, which are then forwarded to CUI GlobalOrbital Energy Group management.

Q: How many shares must be present or represented to conduct business at the Annual Meeting?

A: The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of one third of the aggregate voting power of the common stock outstanding on the record dateRecord Date will constitute a quorum. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. As of the Record Date for this Annual Meeting, approximately 28,529,60665,264,305 shares of common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Both abstentions and broker non-votes (described below) are counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum. Unless otherwise indicated, all references herein to percentages of outstanding shares of stock are based on such numbers of shares outstanding. Shares entitled to vote are referred to hereafter as “Voting Shares.”

Q: What shares can I vote?

A: Each share of CUI GlobalOrbital Energy Group common stock issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the Record Date for the Annual Meeting is entitled to be voted on all items being voted on at the Annual Meeting. You may vote all shares owned by you as of the Record Date, including: (1) shares held directly in your name as the stockholder of record and (2) shares held for you as the beneficial owner in street name through a broker, bank, trustee or other nominee.

Q: How many votes am I entitled to per share?

A: Each holder of shares of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held as of the Record Date.

Q: What is the Record Date?

A: Record Date, in the context of voting at the Annual Meeting, is the date on which our stock ledger is closed for the purpose of determining which shareholdersstockholders officially own voting shares in order to be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The Record Date for the 20182021 Annual Meeting of ShareholdersStockholders is October 9, 2018.August 18, 2021.

Q: How may I vote?

A: Regarding the election of directors, you may vote “FOR” all or some of the nominees or your vote may be “WITHHELD” with respect to one or more of the nominees.

Regarding:

Youfollowing proposals, you may vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN”:

Q: If I check the box for “ABSTAIN” or “WITHHOLD,” what happens to my vote?

A: If you check the box for “ABSTAIN” or “WITHHOLD,” your vote will not be counted in favor of the matter on these proposals.which you voted; however, it will be counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.

Q: What vote is required to approve each item?

A: Election of directors

The affirmative vote “FOR” of a simple majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required for the election of each director,director. A properly executed proxy marked "WITHHOLD" with respect to the election of one or more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated or the other items to be voted on; although,however, it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. Voting Shares represented by properly executed proxies for which no instruction is given will be voted “FOR” election of the nominee for director.

A: Ratification of Perkins & Company, P.C. of the BDO Seidman AllianceGrant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.

The affirmative vote “FOR” of a simple majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required for the ratification of the appointment of Perkins & Company, P.C. of the BDO Seidman AllianceGrant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.firm for the year ending December 31, 2021. A properly executed proxy marked “ABSTAIN” regarding this issue will not be voted with respect to the item to be voted on; although, it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. Voting Shares represented by properly executed proxies for which no instruction is given will be voted “FOR” these issues.

A: Advisory vote on the approval of the company’sCompany’s executive compensation (Say-on-Pay).

While we intend to carefully consider the voting results of this proposal, in accord with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the final vote is advisory in nature, therefore, not binding on us, our board or the Compensation Committee. Our executive compensation will be approved, on an advisory basis, if the votes cast by shareholdersstockholders in favor of advisory approval exceed those votes cast in opposition of advisory approval.

A: To approve an amendment to paragraph 11.27 of the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan by increasing the Overall Share Limit to 5,000,000.

The affirmative vote “FOR” of a simple majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve an amendment to paragraph 11.27 of the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan by increasing the Overall Share Limit. A properly executed proxy marked “ABSTAIN” regarding"WITHHOLD" with respect to this issueproposal will not be voted with respect to approval of this proposal; however, it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. Voting Shares represented by properly executed proxies for which no instruction is given will be voted “FOR” approval of an amendment to paragraph 11.27 of the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan by increasing the Overall Share Limit.

Q: Why am I asked to approve an amendment to paragraph 11.27 of the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan by increasing the Overall Share Limit to 5,000,000?

A: Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rule 5635(c) requires shareholder approval prior to the issuance of securities when a stock option or purchase plan is to be established or materially amended or other equity compensation arrangement is made or materially amended, pursuant to which stock may be acquired by officers, directors, employees, or consultants.

We had two previous equity incentive plans, 2008 Equity Incentive Plan and the Company’s 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (Executive), which have both expired.

Q: What is the purpose of the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan and what is in it?

A: Orbital Energy Group is requesting its stockholders to approve an amendment to paragraph 11.27 of the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”) by increasing the Overall Share Limit from 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 shares of which 397,597 have been granted. The Overall Share Limit is the total number of shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to the Plan. By the terms of the Plan, the Company shall reserve and keep available a sufficient number of shares as shall be required to satisfy the requirements of all outstanding awards granted under the Plan. This increase will become effective upon stockholder approval.

The purpose of the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan is to enhance our ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to Orbital Energy Group by providing these individuals with equity ownership opportunities. Equity awards are intended to motivate high levels of performance and align the interests of our directors, employees and consultants with those of our stockholders by giving directors, employees and consultants the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in Orbital Energy Group and providing a means of recognizing their contributions to the success of the Company. Our board of directors and management believe that equity awards are necessary to remain competitive in the Company’s industry and are essential to recruiting and retaining the highly qualified employees who help Orbital Energy Group meet its goals.

Q: What is the effect of the proposal to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of Perkins & Company, P.C. of the BDO Seidman AllianceGrant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm?

A: Selection of our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to be submitted to a vote of stockholders. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires the Audit Committee of our board of directors to be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the audit work of the independent registered public accounting firm. However, the board of directors has elected to submit the selection of Perkins & Company, P.C. of the BDO Seidman AllianceGrant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to stockholders for ratification as a matter of corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain Perkins & Company, P.C. of the BDO Seidman Alliance,Grant Thornton LLP and may retain that firm or another firm without resubmitting the matter to our stockholders. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee may, at its discretion, appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year.

Q: Is cumulative voting permitted for the election of directors?

A: No. You may not cumulate your votes for the election of directors.

Q: What is cumulative voting?

A: A system of voting in which each voter is given as many votes as there are positions to be filled and allowed to cast those votes for one candidate or distribute them in any way among the candidates.

Q: What happens if additional matters are presented at the Annual Meeting?

A: Other than:

As described in this proxy statement,Proxy Statement, we are not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. If you submit a signed proxy, the persons named as proxy will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting.

Q: What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?

A: Many CUI GlobalOrbital Energy Group stockholders hold their shares as a beneficial owner through a broker or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held as a stockholder of record and those owned beneficially.

Stockholder of Record

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record, and the Notice was sent directly to you by CUI Global.Orbital Energy Group. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to CUI GlobalOrbital Energy Group or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you requested to receive printed proxy materials, CUI GlobalOrbital Energy Group has enclosed or sent a proxy card for you to use. You may also vote on the internet or by telephone, as described in the Notice and below under the heading “How can I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting?”

Beneficial Owner

If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, trust or other similar organization, like most of our stockholders, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, and the Notice was forwarded to you by that organization. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, trustee or nominee how to vote your shares and you are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting.

Since a beneficial owner is not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy” from the broker, bank, trustee or nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares at the meeting. If you do not wish to vote in person or you will not be attending the Annual Meeting, you may vote by proxy. You may vote by proxy over the internet or by telephone, as described in the Notice and below under the heading “How can I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting?”

If you hold your shares in "street name” through a broker or other nominee, your broker or nominee may not be permitted to exercise voting discretion with respect to some of the matters to be acted upon. Thus, if you do not give your broker or nominee specific instructions, your shares may not be voted on those matters and will not be counted in determining the number of shares necessary for approval. Shares represented by such "broker non-votes" will, however, be counted in determining whether there is a quorum.

Q: Who will bear the cost of soliciting votes for the Annual Meeting?

A: CUI GlobalOrbital Energy Group will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and distributing these proxy materials and soliciting votes. If you choose to access the proxy materials and/or vote over the internet, you are responsible for internet access charges you may incur. If you choose to vote by telephone, you are responsible for telephone charges you may incur. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may be made in person, by telephone or by electronic communication by our directors, officers and employees, who will not receive any additional compensation for such solicitation activities.

Q: Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

A: We intend to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and to disclose the vote results on Form 8-K as well as on our website at www.cuiglobal.comwww.OrbitalEnergyGroup.com as soon as possible after the Annual Meeting.

Proposals to be Considered

PROPOSAL I

Election of Directors

Issued and outstanding shares of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share for each Director for a one-year term or until hisa successor has been elected and qualified or histhe Director’s earlier resignation or removal. Cumulative voting is not permitted.

Unless stated to be voted otherwise, each proxy will be voted for the election of the nominees named. The nominees have consented to serve as director if elected. If any nominee becomes unavailable for election before the Annual Meeting of Shareholders,Stockholders, the board of directors may name a substitute nominee and proxies will be voted for such substitute nominee unless an instruction to the contrary is written on the proxy card.

Information about Director Nominees

Board of Directors Independence

The board of directors has determined that each of the director nominees standing for election has no relationship that, in the opinion of the board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Additionally, several of the director nominees standing for election are “independent directors” as defined by Rule 5605(a)(2) of The NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”Nasdaq”). In determining the independence of our directors, the board of directors has adopted independence standards that mirror exactly the criteria specified by applicable laws and regulations of the SEC and the Rules of The NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market. In determining the independence of our directors, the board of directors considered all transactions in which CUI GlobalOrbital Energy Group and any director had any interest, including those discussed below under Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons.

Sean P. Rooney to Retire from the Board

On March 23, 2021, our director, Sean P. Rooney, formally notified the board of directors he will retire from the Orbital Energy Group board of directors when his term expires and will not seek reelection at the Company’s annual meeting in 2021.

Following is a brief description of the business experiences, ages as of December 31, 2017September 30, 2021, and positions and offices with the Company for each of the director nominees.

William J. Clough, Esq.Esq, President/Chief .Executive Officer, General Counsel, Director and Chairman of the Company’s board of directors Chief Executive Officerand General Counsel of the Company includingand its wholly owned subsidiaries, age 66 (Seat 1)

70. Mr. Clough has served on the board of directors since 2006. Mr. Clough2006 and was reelected at the 20172020 Annual Meeting of ShareholdersStockholders to serve a one-year term.

DuringA seasoned executive and entrepreneur, Mr. Clough joined the company’s Board in 2006 and was subsequently appointed chief executive officer in 2008. In his tenure,role as CEO, a position he hasheld until 2019 with the appointment of Jim O’Neil, he led several strategic initiatives, including the Company’s acquisitionestablishment of Orbital Gas Systems Limited and the Company’s natural gas technology line; the opening of Orbital Gas Systems,company’s Energy division, formed its Energy operations in North America, Inc.;and guided the successfulcompany to its largest Energy contract award by Snam Rete Gas ofin its history while concurrently managing the ~€60,000,000 re-metering projectcompany’s Power & Electro-Mechanical division to Orbital-UK;greater than average electronics industry growth rates in addition, Mr. Clough steeredrecent years. As CEO, he directed company’s capital markets strategy, including leading several equity offerings to institutional investors and spearheaded the Company through its 2012, 2013, and 2017 equity raises and its listing oncompany’s uplist to the Nasdaq Capital Market in 2012.

Before joining the Company,Mr. Clough an attorney,previously founded and operated his owna multi-state, multi-office law firm for 14 years, with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu. In that capacity, he successfully represented leading movie studios and media conglomerates.

Mr. Cloughyears. He received hisa Juris Doctorate, cum laude,Cum Laude, from the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law in 1990. He obtained one of the largest ever non-wrongful death jury verdicts in Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2000is a former law enforcement officer and successfully represented parties in multi-million dollar cases throughout the United States.U.S. Federal Air Marshal. Mr. Clough is certified to practice lawserves on the board of directors of privately-held Virtual Power Systems, creator of Software Defined Power®, in state and federal courts in California, Illinois, Hawaii, and before the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Clough worked aswhich Orbital Energy Group holds a police officer for 16 years at the local, state, and federal level including as a Federal Air Marshall flying in Southern Europe and the Middle East.minority equity investment.

James F. O’Neil III, Vice Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, age 63. Mr. O’Neil was appointed to the Board of Directors in July 2019 and reelected at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to serve a one-year term.

James (Jim) O'Neil joined Orbital Energy Group as vice chairman in July 2019 and was subsequently appointed chief executive officer in October 2019. He is a veteran executive of the power industry and has been instrumental in formulating and is overseeing execution on Orbital Energy Group’s transformation plan that reshapes the company into a diversified energy services platform.

Mr. O’Neil was previously chief operating officer, chief executive officer and president of Quanta Services, Inc. (Quanta) from 2008 to 2016, an infrastructure solutions provider for the electric power, oil and natural gas, telecommunications and renewable industries. During this period, he grew the company into a Fortune 500 enterprise with $7+ billion in annual revenue at its peak through a combination of both organic growth and many strategic acquisitions.

Mr. O’Neil joined Quanta in 1999 and over his tenure was responsible for various initiatives including the company’s growth strategy, internal audit, and merger and acquisition initiatives. He began his career at Halliburton Company in 1980 where he held various positions, lastly as Director, Global Deepwater Development.

Mr. O’Neil holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Tulane University.

C. Stephen Cochennet Director. Age 61 (Seat 2)

, Director, age 64

Mr. Cochennet was appointedelected to the CUI Global Board of Directors at its December 1, 2017 annual meeting to fillserve as a director vacancyat the 2018 Annual Meeting and continues to serve on the board of directors. Mr. Cochennet isdirectors as an independent director within the meaning of Rule 5605(a)(2) of The NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market and,Market. Mr. Cochennet was reelected at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to serve a one-year term.

Mr. Cochennet, as such, will serve as the thirdan independent director, serves on the nominating committee along with Messrs. Rooney, Lambrecht, Addison and Lambrecht.Ms. Tucker. Mr. Cochennet shall hold office as an appointee until the 2018 Annual Meetingis also a member of Stockholders.our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Investment Committee.

C. StephenMr. Cochennet has served as CEO/President, of Kansas Resource Development Company, a private oil and gas exploration company since 2011. From 2011 through 2015 he was also the CEO and president of Guardian 8 Corporation. From 2005 to 2010 Mr. Cochennet was the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of EnerJex Resources, Inc., a publicly traded SEC registered Oil and Gas Company. Prior to joining EnerJex, Mr. Cochennet was President of CSC Group, LLC.LLC in which he supported several Fortune 500 corporations, international companies, and natural gas/electric utilities as well as various startup organizations. The services provided included strategic planning, capital formation, corporate development, executive networking and transaction structuring. From 1985 to 2002, he held several executive positions with UtiliCorp United Inc. (Aquila) in Kansas City, Missouri. His responsibilities included finance, administration, operations, human resources, corporate development, natural gas/energy marketing, and managing several new startup operations. Prior to his experience at Aquila Mr. Cochennet served 6 years with the Federal Reserve System managing problem and failed banking institutions primarily within the oil and gas markets.

Mr. Cochennet graduated from the University of Nebraska with a B.A. in Finance and Economics.

Sean P. RooneyPaul D. White, Employee and Director, age 46 (Seat 4)

Mr. Rooney was elected to serve as a director at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and continues to serve on the board of directors as an independent director within the meaning of Rule 5605(a)(2) of The NASDAQ Stock Market. Mr. Rooney was reelected at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to serve a one-year term.

Mr. Rooney is a veteran of the financial markets and has served on the board of CUI Global since 2008. He brings over 20 years of financial management experience to the board of directors. Mr. Rooney currently is a Financial Advisor at the Pinnacle Financial Group, which is part of LPL Financial, the largest independent broker dealer in the United States. Prior to working with LPL, Mr. Rooney served as Senior Director of Investments at Oppenheimer & Co., a full-service investment banking, securities and wealth management firm. He has also worked in similar capacity at Investec Ernst & Company, an international specialist bank headquartered in South Africa and the U.K. Mr. Rooney currently advises a clientele of high net worth investors, institutions and foundations. He is an active member of various industry and charitable organizations.

Mr. Rooney graduated from C.W. Post University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and holds Series 7 (General Securities Representative), Series 63 (Uniform Securities Law), Series 24 (General Securities Principal) and Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser) licenses.

Paul D. White, Director and President of Orbital Gas Systems, Ltd., a wholly owned CUI Global subsidiary, age 56 (Seat 5)

60

Mr. White was appointed in April 2014 as a director to fill a vacancy and continues to serve on the board of directors. Mr. White was reelected at the 20172020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to serve a one-year term. In March 2021, Mr. White was appointed to the position of Chief Diversity Officer, a position unique to the Company.

Mr. White is a graduate of Humboldt State University and brings to the CUI GlobalOrbital Energy Group board of directors over 25 years of upper-level business management skills. Prior to being appointedMr. White served for two years as the President of Orbital Gas Systems, Ltd., Prior to working for the Company, Mr. White served as Vice President of the Healthcare Division for North America of a global security company. His responsibilities included direct responsibility for profit and loss statements with approximately $120 million in revenues, along with management, control, and supervision of approximately 3,000 employees working at 44 Medical Centersmedical centers & Hospitalshospitals and over 600 Medical Office Buildingsmedical office buildings throughout the United States. He previously served in the Office of the General Counsel and Risk Services, as an Environmental Risk Consultant with Sutter Health Support Services - Corporate Services. His key responsibilities included: formulating best practice solutions to minimize/eliminate existing and potential risk and quality concerns, patient, employee health & safety and security exposures as well as consultations of state, federal, and professional standards for Risk Control/Environmental Health, & Safety programs from agencies such as OSHA, TJC, DHS, EPA, NFPA, and DOT.

As a results-oriented business leader, Mr. White has skills in developing, managing and expanding business portfolios. Mr. White has senior management experience in contract management, public relations, program strategy and design and has been consistently recognized for effective financial management, leadership, integrity, team-building,teambuilding, and program management skills.

Corey A. Lambrecht, Director, age 48 (Seat 6)

52

Mr. Lambrecht was elected to serve as a director at the 2007 Annual Meeting of ShareholdersStockholders and continues to serve on the board of directors as an independent director within the meaning of Rule 5605(a)(2) of The NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market. Mr. Lambrecht was reelected at the 20172020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to serve a one-year term.

Mr. Lambrecht, as an independent director, serves on the nominating committee along with Messrs. Cochennet, Rooney, Addison and Ms. Tucker. Mr. Lambrecht is also Chairman of our Compensation Committee and Investment Committee and a member of our Audit Committee.

Mr. Lambrecht is a 20+ year public company executive with broad experience in strategic acquisitions, corporate turnarounds, new business development, pioneering consumer products, corporate licensing, and interactive technology services. In addition, Mr. Lambrecht has held public company executive roles with responsibilities including day-to-day business operations, management, raising capital, board of directors' communication and investor relations. Mr. Lambrecht holds a certificate as a Certified Director from the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management Accredited Directors program.

Mr. Lambrecht, as an independent director, serves as one of four independent directors on the nominating committee along with Messrs. Cochennet, Rooney, and Ms. Tucker. Mr. Lambrecht is also Chairman of our Compensation Committee.

Mr. Lambrecht is a director of ORHub, a SaaS company as well as a strategic consultant for American Rebel Holdings, Inc..Inc. He served as Director of Sales for Leveraged Marketing Associates, the worldwide leader in licensed brand extension strategies. While Executive Vice President for Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, he was responsible for Smith & Wesson Licensing, Advanced Technologies and Interactive Marketing divisions. Previously, Mr. Lambrecht served as an independent director of Guardian 8 Holdings. He was the former President of A For Effort, an interactive database marketing company specializing in online content (advergaming) for clients such as the National Hockey League. Mr. Lambrecht's prior experience also includes Pre-IPO founder for Premium Cigars International and VP Sales/Marketing for ProductExpress.com.

Sarah Tucker, Director, age 76

Sarah Tucker was appointed to the Board of Directors in October 2019, and was elected at the 2020 Annual Meeting to serve a one-year term as an Independent Director within the meaning of Rule 5605(a)(2) of The Nasdaq Stock Market. Ms. Tucker, as an independent director, serves on the nominating committee along with Messrs. Cochennet, Rooney, Lambrecht and Addison.

Sarah Tucker is a veteran executive for the business strategy/development, risk management, planning, engineering, procurement and construction of oil and gas projects globally. She has led projects with budgets from $5 million to over $3 billion in refining, petrochemicals, power, and offshore (both shallow and deep-water) for oil and liquified natural gas in Angola, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

She has served as an operations executive and managing director for major engineering, construction and petrochemical technology companies including Kellogg, KBR, Kellogg-Mitsubishi Development Company, Raytheon Engineers and Constructors, Kvaerner Engineering and Construction of Norway and Silvertech of United Kingdom, a Process Control and High Integrity Safety System Solutions.

Sarah headed the Pollution Prevention Task Force Committee with eight Oil Companies' representatives participating and contributing to the Study for "Refinery Crude Unit Pollution Prevention Project" which is now an American Petroleum Institute DC Publication number 31101. 

Over the past several years, she has worked closely with Mexican national oil company PEMEX to establish the country’s first deep water project valued at $14 billion.

According to her personal and professional philosophy, Sarah believes in developing strong relationships and respecting diverse cultures. As part of her philosophy, she led in 1992 a program to author a 51-page report which became the American Petroleum Institute publication, Environmental Design Considerations for Petroleum Refining Crude Processing Units.

Her parallel and subsequent effort with the World Bank was successful in striking a balance between the interests of indigenous people and major oil companies allowing projects to proceed in Africa. The publication became an influential guide for doing business in the developing world.

Paul T. Addison, Director, age 74

Paul T. Addison was appointed to the Board of Directors in June 2021, as an Independent Director within the meaning of Rule 5605(a)(2) of The Nasdaq Stock Market. Mr. Addison, as an independent director, serves on the nominating committee along with Messrs. Cochennet, Rooney, Lambrecht and Ms. Tucker.

Paul T. Addison earned a B. A. in political science and economics from Howard University in 1969 and a M.B.A. from Harvard University in 1972.

He began his career as a loan specialist for The Economic Development Administration of the US Department of Commerce in 1972 providing loan assistance for companies that agreed to expand operations in areas of high unemployment before moving to New York in 1974 to join a Chase Manhattan subsidiary as Vice President and Treasurer that provided financing and startup capital for minority small business enterprises (a MESBIC). In 1978, he joined Citibank/Citicorp as a banker in the firm’s energy and utilities department rising to the level of a senior credit officer and Managing Director.

In this capacity, he managed the bank’s significant exposure to a large segment of the gas and electric utility industry. He also provided financial advice to the firm’s clients and on numerous occasions provided testimony before state and federal regulatory commissions. He also developed financing structures which allowed a number of utilities to rate base large nuclear projects without which a number of utilities would have suffered significant losses. This was a particular issue during the last significant construction cycle for the industry.

He also approved and structured a number of large energy project financings for the firm.

Mr. Addison continued his work in the utility industry when he joined Solomon Smith Barney (Citigroup) in 1997 as a Managing Director in the electric and gas utility space until his retirement from the firm in 2002.

Upon retirement from Citigroup, Mr. Addison became an independent director of First Energy Corporation of Akron, Ohio, serving until his mandatory retirement in 2019. In his capacity as independent director, he served as Chair of the Finance Committee, and member of the Audit Committee as a designated financial expert. He was heavily involved in numerous financings over his term on the board and significantly participated in the company’s $4.7 billion acquisition of Allegheny Energy in 2010.

Mr. Addison is also a Trustee of the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn New York, where he resides. Maimonides is the largest nonprofit hospital in Brooklyn with revenues approaching $1.5 billion and serves an extremely diverse population where over 60 languages are spoken. In his capacity as Trustee, Mr. Addison serves as Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, member of the Legal and Audit Committee, member of the Quality and Safety Committee, and member of the Executive Committee. Mr. Addison also has served as the hospital’s representative on their self-insurance malpractice company, Hospital Insurance Company (HIC). Mr. Addison also served as Chair of the Audit Committee of HIC’s parent, the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies (FOJP), until its dissolution in 2019.

Jerry Sue Thornton, Director, age 74

Dr. Thornton was appointed to the Board of Directors in July 2021, as an Independent Director within the meaning of Rule 5605(a)(2) of The Nasdaq Stock Market.

Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton earned her B.A. and M. A. in Communications from Murray State University (Kentucky) and Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership/Administration from The University of Texas (Austin). She earned a post-doctorate certificate from Harvard University.

Dr. Thornton is President of DreamCatcher Education Consulting providing professional development, coaching and mentoring for newly appointed presidents of colleges. She is President Emeritus of the Cuyahoga Community College District serving from 1992 to 2013 which is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The College serves over 30,000 students on four campuses with a budget over $300 million. She brings over 45 years of experience in leading and managing higher education institutions in Chicago, Minnesota and Ohio with a focus on workforce training and professional education.

She also has extensive corporate board service beginning in 1992 with National City Bank/Corporation, Office Max, American Greetings and Bridgestreet Worldwide, Inc. until those companies had a change of control. She later served on the Boards of American Family Insurance, Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc., Republic Powdered Metals, (RPM, Inc.) and First Energy. She is currently serving on the Boards of Barnes and Noble Education (BNED) and Parkwood LLC (an Ohio financial planning company).

Gaining extensive business experience through her board director services of public and private companies, she has been a member of compensation, nominating and governance and audit committees. From manufacturing through distribution; industrial through commercial; financial through merchandizing and energy, Dr. Thornton has amassed over 29 years of business experience. During that tenure, she has served on Special Committees of the Board of Directors involved in acquisition.

Dr. Thornton brings to the Board of Directors broad leadership and business skills as well as an extensive background in workforce/talent acquisition, development and evaluation/assessment.

La Forrest V. Williams, Director, age 70

Mr. Williams was appointed to the Board of Directors in July 2021, as an Independent Director within the meaning of Rule 5605(a)(2) of The Nasdaq Stock Market.

Mr. Williams is a veteran executive of the communications, computer and information assurance business of the Department of Defense and Intelligence community. He served in the civilian Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service and the United States Air Force senior officer corps as a communication/computer intelligence and information assurance strategist for more than 40 years. His activity in information assurance became a nexus with the vulnerabilities of the energy grid.

His accomplishments include serving as a leader in the original merging of communications and computer systems technology into one management structure for the United States Air Force. His energy focus evolved through his engagement in studying cybersecurity threats to our energy grid during his career at the National Security Agency. Mr. Williams has a history of leadership positions which includes, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the National Security Agency (NSA), Director of Information Assurance for the U.S. European Command and Director of Legislative Affairs for the National Security Agency. Mr. Williams' experience includes leading a military Communications Group of more than 500 technicians and staff, supporting Nellis Air Force Base Nevada networks. He has installed, managed, upgraded and secured communication cable and space networks worldwide; to include the United States, Europe and South Pacific.

Mr. Williams holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from San Jose State University and an M.S. Degree in Technology of Management Information Systems from the American University, Washington D.C. He has served at the forefront in the Information Age and was an early leader at NSA in advocating concern about the vulnerability of our nation's energy grid. His advocacy led to the formation of customer assistance teams that he established to advise on the survivability of energy systems of national security concern. He later joined the National War College faculty in 2010 to teach National Security Strategy as a visiting Professor until 2013.  

He is a proven results-oriented leader with broad experience as an Air Force Colonel and three years of Board of Director experience with The Government Employees Benefit Association for federal employees. In his spare time, he is a volunteer Docent at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. and gives tours through the National Museum of American History.

All fivenine directors are nominated for election to a one-year term on the Board of DirectorsDirectors.

Vote Required

TheIn compliance with our corporate bylaws, the election of each director nominee requires the affirmative vote “FOR” of a simple majority of the shares presentvotes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting.

The Board of Directors recommends that Stockholders vote “FOR”“FOR” election of the nominees for director named above.

PROPOSAL II

Ratification of the Appointment of Grant Thornton LLP

Perkins & Company, P.C. of the BDO Seidman Alliance as the Company’s

Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

for the Year Ending December 31, 20182021

The Audit Committee has selected Perkins & Company, P.C. of the BDO Seidman AllianceGrant Thornton LLP to serve as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.2021. The board is submitting the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm to the shareholdersstockholders for ratification at the Annual Meeting.

Representatives of Perkins & Company, P.C.Grant Thornton LLP are expected to be available by teleconference at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Shareholder ratification of the appointment of Perkins & Company, P.C.Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required by the Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation, bylaws or otherwise; however, the board of directors is submitting the selection of Perkins & Company, P.C.Grant Thornton LLP to the shareholdersstockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholdersstockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will review its future selection of an independent registered public accounting firm considering that vote result. Your ratification of the appointment of Perkins & Company, P.C.Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018,2021, does not preclude us from terminating our engagement of Perkins & Company, P.C.Grant Thornton LLP and retaining a new independent registered public accounting firm, if we determine that such an action would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.stockholders.

Vote Required

Ratification of the appointment of Perkins & Company, P.C.Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20182021, requires the affirmative vote “FOR” of a simple majority of the shares presentvotes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting for the proposal.Meeting.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR”“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Perkins & Company, P.C.Grant Thornton LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.2021.

PROPOSAL III

Advisory Approval of the Company’s

Company’s Executive Compensation

(Say-on-Pay)

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and related SEC regulations require that, at least once every three years, we provide our stockholders with the opportunity to express their views on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement.Proxy Statement. We first held this vote, which is often referred to as the Say-on-Pay vote, at our annual meeting of stockholders held in 2013.2019. At suchthe meeting, our stockholders voted to hold the frequency of our Say-on-Pay vote on an annual basis. Our board of directors agreed to support the stockholder decision; therefore, the Company will hold future non-binding advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers every year, at least until the next required vote of frequency of stockholder votes on the compensation of our named executive officers. Such Say-on-Frequency vote must occur no later than the annual or other meetingmeetings of shareholdersstockholders held in the sixth calendar year after the immediately preceding Say-on-Frequency vote (2013which was the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders). An issuerStockholders. The 2019 vote affirmed the frequency of our say-on-pay vote to be held on an annual basis. The Company could hold a Say-on-Frequency vote more frequently than every six years if it elects to do so.

The compensation of our named executive officers for the past three fiscal years is set forth in the Elements of Executive Compensation Ssection.ection. The Compensation Discussion and Analysis, or CD&A section, Section, describes our executive compensation policies and practices and analyzes the compensation received by our named executive officers in fiscal year 2017.2020. As described in the CD&A, our executive compensation philosophy is to reward performance and motivate collective achievement of strategic objectives that will contribute to our company’s success. Our board of directors believes the compensation programs for our named executive officers effectively meet the primary objectives of attracting and retaining highly qualified executives, motivating our executives to achieve our business objectives, rewarding our executives appropriately for their individual and collective contributions and aligning our executives’ interests with the long-term interests of our shareholders,stockholders, and our board believes our programs are reasonable when compared to compensation at similar companies.

The vote on this resolution is not intended to address any specific element of executive compensation. Instead, the vote relates to the executive compensation of our named executive officers, as set forth in this proxy statementProxy Statement pursuant to the rules of the SEC. This vote provides stockholders with the opportunity to endorse or not endorse the compensation of our named executive officers, but is advisory and not binding on our company or our board of directors.

Accordingly, the board of directors believes the Company’s executive compensation achieves these objectives, therefore, unanimously recommends that shareholdersstockholders vote “for”“FOR” the proposal.

RESOLVED, thatThe Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the stockholders of CUI Global, Inc. approve,approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’sCompany’s named executive officers as disclosed in the compensation tables and related material in the Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of stockholders.Statement.

This vote will not be binding on the board of directors or the Compensation Committee and may not be construed as overruling a decision by the board or the Compensation Committee or create or imply any additional fiduciary duty on the board. It will also not affect any compensation paid or awarded to any executive. The approval or disapproval of this proposal by shareholdersstockholders will not require the board of directors or the Compensation Committee to take any action regarding the Company’s executive compensation practices. The final decision on the compensation and benefits of the Company’s executive officers and on whether, and if so, how to address shareholder disapproval remains with the board and the Compensation Committee. Although the Say-on-Pay resolution is non-binding, the board of directors will review and consider the voting results when making future executive compensation decisions.

Vote Required

Our executive compensation will be approved,In compliance with our corporate bylaws, the affirmative vote “FOR” of a majority of the votes cast in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required for approval, on an advisory basis, if the votes cast by shareholders in favor of advisory approval exceed those votes cast in opposition of the advisory approval.this Proposal.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR”“FOR” Advisory Approval of the Company’sCompany’s Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay).

PROPOSAL IV

To Approve an Amendment to Paragraph 11.27 of the

Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan

by Increasing the Overall Share Limit to 5,000,000

In this Proposal, Orbital Energy Group is requesting its stockholders to approve an amendment to paragraph 11.27 of the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”) by increasing the Overall Share Limit from 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 shares. The Overall Share Limit is the total number of shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to the Plan, as adopted by the Stockholders. Currently, the Overall Share Limit is two million (2,000,000) shares of which 397,597 have been granted. By the terms of the Plan, the Company shall reserve and keep available a sufficient number of shares as shall be required to satisfy the requirements of all outstanding awards granted under the Plan. This increase will become effective upon stockholder approval.

A Brief Description of the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan

The purpose of the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan is to enhance our ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to Orbital Energy Group by providing these individuals with equity ownership opportunities. We believe that the Orbital Energy Group 2020 Incentive Award Plan is essential to the Company’s success. Equity awards are intended to motivate high levels of performance and align the interests of our directors, employees and consultants with those of our stockholders by giving directors, employees and consultants the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the Company and providing a means of recognizing their contributions to the success of Orbital Energy Group. Our board of directors and management believe that equity awards are necessary to remain competitive in its industry and are essential to recruiting and retaining the highly qualified employees who help Orbital Energy Group meet its goals.

Employee Equity Incentive Plans

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had outstanding the following equity compensation plan information:

President of CUI Inc., and Chief Operating Officer of the Power and Electromechanical Division;

President of Orbital Gas Systems Ltd.Officer.