Joseph Gantz has extensive experience as a senior operating manager and investor/general partner. For over 12 years, he served as President and CEO of Empire Brushes, Inc. and grew the company from a $27 million manufacturer with two facilities to an $85 million manufacturer and marketer with five facilities and over 900 associates. After redirecting the company to a marketing and new products driven company, he sold empire to Rubbermaid in 1994 and coordinated its integration and transition into Home Products, the flagship division of Rubbermaid, Inc.

Since 1995, Joseph has been actively involved as a principal in the following investments: Papel Giftware (an acquisition from Russ Berrie and Co.), Blue Ridge International Products, Fitz & Floyd, Bauer Investments, Changing Paradigms, and Home Fragrance Holdings. He is currently a managing partner in Gift Holdings Management, LLC and H3 Management, LLC. In several of these investments Joseph played an integral operating role. For example, he participated with Chase Capital in Seymour Housewares, a $100 million sale company, to increase shareholder value by working with a new management team before its successful merger into Home Products international, Inc., a $250 million public company.

Joseph has served on the Boards of Directors including the National Housewares Manufacturers Association (Chairman in 1993-94), American Brush Manufacturers Association (Chairman 1991), East Carolina University Business Council, Pitt Community College, and numerous community and civic endeavors in North Carolina and New York. He was appointed by North Carolina Governor Hunt to a statewide School to Work Initiative Committee.

Since moving to New York, he has served as a Board Member of Seeds of Peace. In addition, he sits on the Mercy College Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the Committee for Economic Development and currently serves as Chairman of its Budget and Audit Committee.

Joseph has an MBA from Columbia University Business School and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. He resides in Harrison, New York with his wife Paula and two children. Their third child lives and works in New York City.