James E. Berk

Currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of a furniture manufacturer and importer. Berk has over 30 years management experience in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail channels, including 20 years as either a chief executive officer or chief operating officer.

Robert Bland

Over 30 years of retail experience in department, specialty and discount stores focusing on growth strategies as well as numerous turnarounds, and initial public offerings. He has served as CEO, COO and Vice Chairman.

Mario Ciampi

25 years of experience in a variety of senior real estate, store development and operations positions with prominent retailers expanding on a national level throughout North America.

George Granoff

George is currently CEO of the Boston based retail chain Tweeter Home Entertainment and brings over 35 years of retail experience; including President/COO of Bradlees and Ames Department Stores, and more than a decade of CEO involvement with entrepreneurial start-ups. He has consulted for Polaroid, London Fog and most recently held the position of COO at Party City.

Bennett Gross, Callydus Group LLC

25 years advising corporate boards, lenders and investors on strategy, profit enhancement, vendor relations, crisis management, acquisitions and divestitures.

Gayle Martz, Sherpa's Pet Trading Company by Gayle Martz Inc.& Crouch & Fitzgerald

Gayle is an award-winning entrepreneur, corporate executive, author and a recognized authority on all things travel. Her years as a flight attendant coupled with her love of animals led her to invent the Original Sherpa Bag, the first soft-sided pet carrier endorsed by major airlines (which she single-handedly persuaded them to approve!). In addition to her leadership role at Sherpa, Gayle is also President and CEO of Crouch & Fitzgerald, purveyor of fine leather goods since 1839.

Glenn Langberg

Glenn is the Chief Strategy Officer and Chairman of the Board of Strauss Auto Discount, a leader in the automotive parts industry with over 88 locations. During his tenure, the company has experienced revenue growth and margin expansion by achieving operational and manufacturing efficiencies. Prior, he worked in real estate development in New York City building build-to-suite and community retail centers. Glenn is a frequent lecturer on business turnarounds, operations, retailing, and manufacturing strategy.

David R. Pearce

David is currently CFO of the Boston-based retail chain Tweeter Home Entertainment and brings over 12 years of industry experience operating multi-channel, direct merchants and retailers selling products throughout the US. He currently serves as the Chairman and Audit Committee Chairman of the Board of Trustees of a mutual fund managing $3 billion of real estate securities.

David Prolman, Prolman Associates

25 years of corporate business experience have focused on commercial finance, operations management, turnarounds, loan workouts, bankruptcy reorganizations and crisis management.

Robert A. Pulciani

Decades of retail experience including his current position on the board of directors of Ross Simons, as well as CFO of leading catalog merchant Brylane (volume in excess of $1.5 billion).

Michael Searles

Michael has over 35 years of retail experience in department and specialty stores. As Chairman, CEO, and President, he can be credited with the successful operational and financial turnaround and repositioning of major retailers including: Kids R Us, Casual Corner, Petite Sophisticate, Wilsons Leather and Montgomery Ward. Recognized as "Merchandiser of the Year" by Apparel Merchandising Magazine, Michael is a respected leader in the retail industry whose marketing and merchandising strategies have been vital to the success of many retail ventures.

Lynn Shanahan

Lynn is the CEO of the C²Group based in New York. She is an industry veteran previously holding leadership positions responsible for global licensing, strategy, new business acquisition, and e-commerce. She has had overall responsibility for U.S. wholesale businesses including; the sales, merchandising, marketing, design, production and strategy functions that support it and has overseen U.S. and international licensed businesses for decades. C²Group provides a stealth, adjunct management team dedicated to revenue generation and growth for its organization affiliations. Principals and their teams are expert in three key areas essential to growth ignition: Brand and Core Business Development, Licensing & Alternative Distribution and International Partnerships & Distribution.

Robert Simone, Ross-Simons

38 years of multi-faceted experience in apparel, home furnishings, costume and fine jewelry, and hard lines, with over 20 years of inventory management responsibility.

Walter Spokowski

30 years in the retail industry with both large superstore and specialty store expertise. He has served as CEO and COO.

Patricia Stensrud

Patricia is the founder and managing partner of Hudson River Partners LLC, a privately held New York firm specializing in acquisitions, business development and real estate. She is an experienced CEO, having successfully transformed businesses with Jones Apparel Group (Victoria + Co division), Tommy Hilfiger USA, Avon, IBM and other market leaders. Her expertise spans the fields of fashion, architecture, technology, and consumer beauty products with expertise in strategic marketing, product development, supply chain management and global distribution (all channels), as well as acquisitions.