Consumer Products & Retail Symposium

Marshal Cohen, chief industry advisor, retail, of Circana, is a nationally known expert on consumer behavior and the retail industry. He has followed retail trends for more than 30 years, at Circana (formerly NPD Group) and as the head of leading fashion and apparel manufacturers as well as major retailers. As part of his work at Circana, Marshal leads many top firms in long-range and strategic-planning sessions. He often utilizes motivational presentations to help launch corporate goals and kick-off meetings. Marshal is the author of two books, Why Customers Do What They Do (2006) and Buy Me! How to Get Customers to Choose Your Products and Ignore the Rest (2010).

Nick Antonian is the assurance practice leader and office managing director for CBIZ’s Los Angeles region. He has over 25 years of experience and began his career in 2001. As a co-leader in the Regional Consumer and Industrial Products Group, he provides assurance services to closely held and private equity-backed businesses in the manufacturing, distribution, e-commerce, and retail industries. Nick also provides assurance services to companies in the transportation, logistics, and aircraft sector. Throughout his career, he has developed a close business advisory relationship with his clients and guides them through their growth and success.

Louis Fideler grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and attended the University of Illinois, where he studied Advertising. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles, California, and founded a small screen-printing company in a Woodland Hills garage. He transitioned from producing trendy T-shirt prints to novelty mirror production and, in 1978, incorporated the company under the name Headwest, Inc. What began as a small startup specializing in waterbed mirrors evolved into a national supplier of framed decorative mirrors. By the 1990s, Headwest, Inc. became the leading provider of point-of-purchase bar mirrors for major brands such as Anheuser-Busch, Coors, Miller, and others. In 2000, the furniture industry experienced a major shift as production moved overseas to China.

David co-founded Diamond in 2009. He has over 25 years of investment banking experience. From this and his extensive operational experience, David understands the value drivers that attract buyers. This enables him to present his clients’ businesses in a very compelling manner that results in maximizing value. In addition, owning and selling two of his own businesses provides David with key insight to better advise his clients during one of the most important times in a business owner’s career. Prior to Diamond, David co-founded Chelsea Capital, a boutique investment banking firm, which was sold to Houlihan, Lokey, where David became a Director in the Investment Banking Division.

Robert Krieger is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Krieger Worldwide. Robert continued his father’s vision of providing exceptional client services while maintaining a strong reputation of regulatory compliance and Customs brokerage. He also expanded Krieger Worldwide to include flexible and competitive freight solutions, warehouse and distribution, domestic freight, and technological solutions for our clients. Robert has more than 40 years of experience in the logistics industry. His experience has transformed Krieger Worldwide into a leading customs brokerage firm and international freight forwarder, while keeping the integrity of a family business intact.

Nicci Levy is the Founder of Alchemy 43, a category-defining medical aesthetics brand that helped pioneer a modern, consumer-centric approach to cosmetic injectables. Since founding the company, she has raised approximately $30 million in capital and scaled the business into a multi-state platform spanning California, New York, and Texas. A visionary founder and operator, Nicci led Alchemy 43’s evolution from concept to one of the most recognized brands in the aesthetics space, introducing “micro treatments” to make cosmetic procedures more approachable, accessible, and seamlessly integrated into consumers’ lifestyles. 

Almost three decades ago, Jeff Mann, president and executive editor of Mann Publications, had already built and maintained successful apparel and real estate businesses when he saw a void in the market for coverage of the real people behind the scenes in the Garment District. He created Fashion Mannuscript, which started as a four-page newsletter and has since “evolved” into a monthly magazine distributed throughout the country, with extensive photo coverage of important industry events, informative columns by experts in the community, and profiles of the people and companies at the top of all industry-related fields.

Oscar J. Orozco is a Managing Director and Region Executive with BMO Commercial Bank, where he leads the Diversified Industries Group across Los Angeles County, the Central Coast, and Bakersfield. In this role, Oscar has regional responsibility for multiple commercial banking teams serving middle-market companies across a broad range of industries and complex operating environments. Oscar brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across commercial banking, credit, and market expansion, with a proven ability to scale businesses, develop talent, and deliver consistent results in highly competitive markets.

Anthony is the Managing Director of Crumble Capital and the original co-founder and CEO of Anthony’s Goods, where he spearheaded product development, e-commerce strategy, and operations. Anthony’s Goods, acquired by Associated British Foods (LSE: ABF), is a leading online health and superfood retail brand on Amazon, with products that outsell household names like Cheerios and Keurig Coffee Pods. Under Anthony’s leadership, the company scaled its product line from a single SKU to over 250, while establishing a global supply chain, decentralized fulfillment network, and robust vendor/supplier relationships.