STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Through our strategic partnerships, we customize the right team of industry experts, designers, marketers and world-class manufacturers that work seamlessly together to deliver a consistent experience across all consumer touch points.

INVESTMENT BANKING

GVC FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC | MELVIN I. GILBERT - PRESIDENT AND CEO

Melvin Gilbert is the President and CEO of GVC Financial Services, LLC. Mr. Gilbert has been an Investment Banker for over twenty years and has a high degree of success in raising debt and equity for many types of companies, as well as doing an extensive amount of Merger and Acquisition work. He also has served as a crisis advisor assisting troubled companies to restructure and refinance. Prior to establishing GVC Financial Services, LLC, Mr. Gilbert was the Executive Vice President of CFC Investments, LLC. CFC was an Investment Banking firm and buyer of Consumer Paper. Prior to CFC, Mr. Gilbert was the Executive Vice President of TAI Financial Services, an Investment Banking firm focused on Merchant Banking. Mr. Gilbert maintains an extensive network in the debt and equity areas and strong relationships with other Investment Bankers and Equity Funds. 
www.gvcfinancial.com

INTERNATIONAL SALES & DISTRIBUTION

BRANDON RICH

Brandon has over 10 years of experience in brand building, business development, and P&L management from $2 to $130 million in the lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories market. Prior to his career with Reef/VF, Brandon received his undergraduate degree from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in International Business and Minor in Global Logistics. In addition, he furthered his studies at the School of Economics and Business at the University of Seville, Spain. After his undergraduate degree, he spent the next couple of years traveling the world, surfing and working various jobs until he went to the Gold Coast of Australia where he received his Master of International Business at Bond University. From Australia, he made is way to San Diego where he began his career in the Action Sports Industry with Reef as an International Coordinator for Europe. His career was soon expedited after VF’s acquisition where he held various positions in sales management from Director of International to the Head of Global Sales. During this time, he co founded Reef Redemption (Reef’s sustainability program), launched Reef’s e-commerce business, converted 3 distributor markets to direct subsidiaries, and implemented Reef’s global product segmentation strategy. While working at Reef, Brandon was a part of VF’s exclusive leadership programs with VF Leadership Institute and VF Max. Currently, he is the Principal Consultant of B.Rich Consulting, which focuses on guiding emerging brands with global business development and best practices in the lifestyle apparel and footwear market.

LEGAL SERVICES

QUARLES & BRADY, LLC | JAMES J. GATZIOLIS, PARTNER, QUARLES & BRADY, LLP

James J. Gatziolis practices in the areas of business law, mergers and acquisitions, finance and creditors' rights, tax, and business planning. He has extensive experience in the representation of closely held businesses and in business and legal affairs. He also has varied experience in the representation of banks and commercial lenders in the origination, documentation, and enforcement of commercial transactions. 
www.quarles.co

MANUFACTURING, SUPPLY CHAIN, DESIGN, MERCHANDISING

DÉCOR INTERNATIONAL

For over two decades, Décor has been an award-winning global design and manufacturing firm. We’ve built a legacy of excellence in the apparel industry by continually elevating our services.
www.decorapparel.com

CONSUMER INSIGHT

DEE WARMATH, PHD

Dee’s primary strength is her consumer knowledge and ability to see retail opportunities from the outside-in. Over her 28-year career, she has informed the intuition of many retail decision makers, ranging from CEO’s, CMO’s and CFO’s to buyers, store managers, sales teams and brand managers.
Her training and experiences have produced a unique ability to translate customer and competitive realities into simple, relevant, actionable insights. Her career has centered around the seamless integration of these insights into the strategic and tactical plans for retailers and manufactures across a range of industries, building consumer & brand insights functions for several major retailers.

She has expertise in qualitative, quantitative, and database methods, as well as statistical analysis and modeling. In addition to her industry work, she earned a Ph.D. in Consumer Science and currently serves as adjunct faculty in the Retailing and full-time MBA programs at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

CREATIVE THINK TANK

INDUSTRY

Industry is a design consultancy. We help brands identify opportunities and define what's next.
www.industrypdx.com

CARL BYRD & CO.

Carl Byrd & Co. is a creative agency built on the possibilities of brands. All brands. Big ones. Little ones. Loud ones. Quiet ones. Mass ones. Niche ones. We love brands that are a part of our every day lives — the brands ‘next door.’ The ones we shop at because we are consumers too. We ask the real questions to create a world where insight and imagination reign, where practical and tactical help win. A world where every brand has a chance to dream. And the opportunity to make them a reality.
www.carlbyrdco.com