BLUMAKA is a new way to engineer, design, and manufacture foam components, primarily for the footwear industry. We do it faster, better, cleaner, greener, and cheaper than anything else on the market. Our process allows brands to dictate foam design, performance, and sustainability characteristics. Through our process, we are able to create the most sustainable foam in the market, allowing brands to develop foam parts that have up to 85% sustainable content, by volume. This is groundbreaking in our industry. Our process serves all members of the Product Development Team. It allows Designers to have design freedom with colors, graphics, materials, and textures. It allows Developers and Product Managers to control the material, combinations of materials, durometer, placement, weight, and skin thickness of their parts. It does all of this without adding extra cost.

MomentsEngraved.com is a leading supplier of personalized metal home decor. All of our products are manufactured to order in the U.S. using 100% American steel. Our monograms and other decor items make thoughtful, personal gifts for friends and family. Perfect for wedding gifts, house warming gifts, or just about any occasion where you need something special.

The original G-RO carry-on bag was launched on Kickstarter in October 2015. The product is a unique blend of innovative form and function. The original bag featured the company’s iconic, over-sized, 8.5” axel-less wheels, which enable the bag to roll smoothly over rough terrain. The large wheels also lowered the bag’s center of gravity, making it feel significantly lighter and easier to pull. The original G-RO carry-on was also a pioneer in the emerging category of “smart luggage.” All G-RO bags came equipped with a removable power supply that drove two external USB charging ports, as well as a Tile™ Bluetooth proximity tracker. The first Kickstarter and subsequent Indiegogo crowd-funding campaigns generated $4.7 million in sales, with over 13,000 bags shipped to 70 countries, making G-RO the most successful crowd-funded luggage ever.Responsible for developing and executing the Company’s strategic plan, consolidating three offices into a new corporate office in CA, reorganizing the Company from an Israeli to a U.S. entity, closing the Company’s $5 million SAFE (convertible debt) financing round, recruiting and hiring a full team including sales, marketing, finance, logistics, customer service, and product development, vetting and selecting third party logistics providers, vetting and selecting a digital marketing agency, reorganizing the Company’s Amazon sales and distribution architecture, and restructuring all R&D (currently in Tel Aviv, Israel) and production (currently in Dongguan, China.) Unfortunately, the company surrendered to the travel realities of the global pandemic in mid-2020.

QiiQ (pronounced “Quick”) Technologies Inc. is a materials science, research and development and product development company working exclusively in the green domain. Currently, being “green” implies a willingness to purchase products which are inferior in performance and higher in price than traditional products in order to help preserve the planet. QiiQ's mission is to shift the green paradigm by creating products that meet or exceed the performance of traditional products at competitive value. QiiQ's technologies and products utilize a combination of recycled materials, non-toxic and/or non-VOC emitting adhesives and additives, and reduced energy input. Effective February 2016, QiiQ Technologies merged with sister company Skysole Corporation. Skysole Corporation was formed in June 2010 and focuses on conceiving, developing and producing innovative new products and manufacturing processes, primarily for the athletic footwear and sporting goods industries. Skysole's mission is to fill the void in product innovation created when brand owners began to unsuccessfully outsource their product development function to their off-shore manufacturers. Nearly all of Skysole's development activities result in new Intellectual Property for Skysole and it's partners. Skysole currently has licensing agreements with several U.S. and international brands.In March 2019 QiiQ licensed its Intellectual Property portfolio to a newly formed entity for the purpose of commercializing and scaling the company's technologies. The first consumer products utilizing these technologies was launched in 2021.Responsible for all strategic planning and management functions, including management of the Company's China Development Center, identification of new business opportunities and potential development partners, negotiation of development and/or licensing agreements, intellectual property prosecution, sourcing and production, and capital raising.

Branded Mortgage was originally formed to develop innovative new distribution strategies for the residential mortgage industry. The company attempted to co-brand retail mortgage brokerage locations inside national retail stores such as Home Depot. Due to the dramatic changes in the mortgage industry, the concept became inviable. The shell was retained as a boutique residential real estate finance company. Responsible for all management functions of this full-service, boutique personal financial advisory and residential real estate finance company. 2003-2007 annual revenues exceeded $100 million/year. Client base is 100% by referral only.

After returning from a two-year creative sabbatical Mr. Gross was actively involved in the formation of several high-impact start-up companies across a variety of industries. * MOZO Inc. (www.mozoshoes.com) designs, manufactures and distributes high quality footwear specifically designed for the food service industry. The Company re-launched the MOZO brand with new management, updated product and a new business model in 2008. Mr. Gross was retained to act as a strategic and operations management consultant and was responsible for the development of an e-commerce, accounting and logistics infra-structure and was a key member of the re-launch strategy team. As a result of this successful repositioning, MOZO was acquired by Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NASDAQ: DECK) in 2009. * The Living Christmas Tree Company (www.livingchristmas.com) is the first company to rent living Christmas trees as an environmentally conscientious alternative to cut and imitation trees. The company also intends to distribute ecologically conscious complementary products such as LED lights and recycled and Fair Trade ornaments. Mr. Gross acted as strategic consultant and financial advisor to the founder. In 2012 entrepreneur and angel investor Mark Cuban acquired a 50% stake in the company. * Shop-A-Loan (working name) was a new concept designed to help mortgage professionals compare rates and terms across lenders. Development of the concept was discontinued when a well capitalized competitor beat Mr. Gross’ team to market. The principals ultimately founded Branded Mortgage Inc. a successful boutique residential real estate finance company.

Artemis Innovations created a new niche within the athletic footwear industry by introducing a revolutionary new product geared towards Generation Y consumers. The SOAP® brand achieved total sales of over $40 million (over one million pair sold) and the Company was profitable every year beginning in it’s first year. Artemis was sold in January 2001 in a niche footwear brand roll-up.Wrote initial business plan, negotiated $4 million in seed financing with financial partner, and along with the inventor, developed a business strategy and launched this highly successful start-up. The Company created a new niche within the athletic footwear industry by introducing a revolutionary new product and building a new brand geared towards Generation Y consumers. Responsible for all operations including hiring of key personnel, sales and marketing, product development, off-shore production, intellectual property development and protection, finance and accounting, negotiation and relationships with financial institutions, systems development and implementation, and site selection, design, and implementation of 32,000 square foot distribution center. Initiated and negotiated technology license with major multi-national branded sporting goods company. 2000 Los Angeles Entrepreneur of the Year Nominee 1999 Los Angeles Entrepreneur of the Year Nominee

Anvil is the industry leader in custom manufactured cases for the transportation of technical equipment, musical instruments and theatrical lighting. The Company had been declining in revenue and unprofitable for over four years. Mr. Gross’ team restored the Company to profitability and doubled revenue growth within fifteen months. Once the turn around was complete, Anvil was divested by ZERO to it’s largest competitor. Parent company ZERO Corporation was publicly traded on the NYSE prior to its acquisition by Applied Power Inc in 1998.Responsible for all aspects of managing and revitalizing this stand-alone division, including full profit and loss responsibility. Restored the company to profitability within fifteen months, after four consecutive years of losses. Developed a new management team, introduced World Class Manufacturing techniques, redesigned the sales and marketing process, and specified and implemented state of the art information and product design systems. Negotiated the sale of the business to the Company’s largest competitor.

Vans is the manufacturer, retailer and distributor of the Vans® brand of casual footwear. From 1989 through 1993, revenues more than doubled from $40 million to over $100 million while maintaining the highest margins of any publicly-traded footwear company. During this time, the Company also unwound the 1988 leveraged buyout and completed its Initial Public Offering of common stock. (The company’s common stock was traded on the NASD prior to the company’s acquisition by VF Corporation in 2004.) During his tenure, Mr. Gross held positions of increasing responsibility culminating with Vice President of Operations. He was directlly responsible for the development of Vans manufacturing facility in Vista, CA which was widely regarded as the world’s most efficient shoe manufacturing facility.

Responsible for the site selection, construction, conceptual process design and start-up of Vans’ new fully-integrated World Class Manufacturing facility. Completed the $10 million facility on-time and under budget. Chairman of MAST* (“Make And Ship Today”) Steering Committee. The facility reduced manufacturing cycle time from nineteen days to approximately four hours, with a corresponding reduction in Work-In-Process, improved product quality and worker safety, and a reduction in labor cost per pair. Formulated and implemented performance and skill based compensation systems designed to stimulate a Total Employee Involvement and Continuous Improvement environment.

Managed the process leading to the highly successful Initial Public Offering of Vans, Inc. common stock and the simultaneous Private Placement of Senior Debt. Coordinated the selection of underwriters, drafting of prospectus and preparation of road show presentation. Marketed the transaction in the United States and Europe.

Named the youngest Vice President in Vans’ 25 year history. Responsible for the start-up of the marketing and MIS functions, and for the management of purchasing, production planning, security, and other administrative functions. The new marketing department defined Vans’ strategic direction and selected the advertising agency, public relations firm, and other resources required to execute this strategy.

Developed a proprietary product labeling system capable of creating 15,000 unique shoe box labels on an on-demand basis. This system was designed to be the foundation for the production planning and inventory management systems.

Evaluated and proposed merger, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, as well as public and private capital raising transactions for Southern California middle market industrial companies.

Prepared company valuations, industry studies, pro forma financial statements and other financial analyses of merger and acquisition situations. Conducted due diligence sessions and composed descriptive memoranda for controlled sales opportunities.