ROTH hosts its 3rd Annual Building Your Brand in 2016 Panel on Monday, March 14th, from 3:30-4:30 PM at The Pacific Promenade. For additional conference information, click here.
Michael Buckley, CEO – Differential Brands Group (NASDAQ: DFBG)
Mr. Michael Buckley is an apparel and accessories executive with over 30 years of successful industry experience in growing brands. From January
2016 he has served as Chief Executive Officer of Differential Brands Group. From 2011 to present he has been the Chief Executive Officer of Robert Graham, which he acquired along with Tengram Capital Partners in 2011 and merged into Differential Brands Group in January of 2016. During Mr. Buckley’s tenure at Robert  Graham, sales have doubled and the retail platform expanded from one store to 30 stores. He previously  served as the President of True Religion  Apparel  from 2006  to 2010.  Prior to that,  Mr. Buckley  was  the  President and  Chief  Executive of North  American Operations for the Ben Sherman Group and served as Vice President of Diesel USA. (Source: Company March 1, 2016)
Tony Hawk, Former Professional Skateboarder and Founder of the Tony Hawk Foundation
Tony Hawk  is a former  world  champion professional skateboarder and  the  founder of the  Tony Hawk  Foundation. The foundation supports recreational programs focusing on the creation of public skateboard parks in low-income communities and has given away over $5.3 million to 560 skatepark projects serving  over three  million youth annually across the United States. Tony became a professional skateboarder at the age of 14 and by 16 was widely considered the best skateboarder in the world. He has since become one of the most recognized action-sports athletes in the world and  was  a world champion for twelve years  running  in skateboarding. Today,  the Tony Hawk brand encompasses numerous businesses including the famous Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game, Birdhouse Skateboards, Hawk Clothing, and the Tony Hawk Signature Series of sporting goods and toys. (Source: Company March 1, 2016)
Steele Platt, Founder – Yard House Restaurants
Steele Platt is the founder of Yard House Restaurants, an American  sports bar and  restaurant chain  that features a vast  selection of draft beers, classic rock music and an eclectic menu of fusion fare foods inspired by Steele’s early life in Hawaii.  Steele launched his first restaurant in Denver in
1985 called Kailua’s at the Tivoli, a tropical themed restaurant named after his hometown. Within five years, his portfolio grew to include a half-dozen restaurants and clubs, including The Boiler Room and EFEX, downtown Denver’s largest nightclub at that time. Â He launched the first Yard House in
1996  in Long Beach, CA. From 1996,  Steele grew the Yard House chain  to 46 stores across 14 states. In 2012,  Yard House was  sold  to Darden Restaurants for $585 million, making it one of the largest prices ever paid for a private restaurant chain.  Steele is currently  working to open a new restaurant concept called Grafton’s in late 2016. (Source: Company March 1, 2016)
Amir Rosenthal, President, PSG Brands – Performance Sports Group (NYSE: PSG)
Amir Rosenthal was named President, PSG Brands in 2015. In this role, Mr. Rosenthal oversees each brand within the Performance Sports Group portfolio  and  is responsible for all aspects of the  brands’ business. Mr. Rosenthal joined  the  Company in 2008  and  most  recently was  Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration, and Treasurer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Rosenthal was the Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel and Secretary of Katy Industries, Inc. From 1989-2001, Mr. Rosenthal held various positions at Timex Group Limited, including Treasurer, Senior Counsel, and Counsel. Mr. Rosenthal was also Chairman of Timex Watches Limited (New Delhi, India). Mr. Rosenthal began his career with LeBoeuf,  Lamb,  Leiby and  MacRae as an associate attor ney in 1986.  Mr. Rosenthal is a Director of Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc., a NYSE-listed company that manufactures high-quality firearms for the commercial sporting market. Mr. Rosenthal has a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College, a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from New York University School of Law, and  a Master of Science in Finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. (Source: Company March 1, 2016)
Henry Stupp, CEO – Cherokee Global Bands (NASDAQ: CHKE)
Henry Stupp is the CEO of Cherokee Global Brands, a global brand marketing and licensing platform focused on fashion and lifestyle brands in the apparel, footwear, accessories  and  home  goods industries worldwide. Henry  is responsible for guiding  the  company’s direct-to-retail and wholesale strategy along with the global expansion of its diverse portfolio of lifestyle brands including Cherokee, Liz Lange, Tony Hawk, Everyday California, Flip Flop Shops, Carole Little, Sideout and Point Cove. Prior to joining Cherokee in 2010, Henry co-founded the Montreal-based NTD Apparel,  a leading  licensee of entertainment, character, sport  and  branded apparel distributed to major  retailers throughout North  America. Throughout his career, Henry has successfully identified, negotiated and launched leading licenses and brands to retailers around the world. Henry currently serves as a Director of the International Licensing Industry Merchandiser’s Association (LIMA) and as Director for Tia’s Hope, a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 that provides memory moments for hospitalized children. Henry attended Concordia University where he majored in Economics. (Source: Company March 1, 2016)
