GARY BROWN

Gary N. Brown is a native of Amsterdam, NY.  He is a graduate of the Amsterdam schools and the New York University system.

Upon obtaining his degree, Mr. Brown accepted an executive position with Amsterdam Printing and Litho.  During his seven-year tenure with this firm, he also became involved in a number of civic activities.  He held officer positions including President of the Amsterdam, NY Jaycees.

Mr. Brown’s career led him to the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area where he initially held the position of Vice President of Marketing and eventually became President of Kole Industries (a Miami, FL based business to business direct marketing firm).   During his seven years with Kole, he spearheaded an average 40% compounded growth with profits exceeding that level.

The entrepreneurial bug bit Mr. Brown and in 1979 he founded his first business, BrownCor International.  During the first seven years in his ownership, the business grew to employ a staff of 120 and accumulated 200,000+ active customers throughout the U.S.  Mr. Brown sold BrownCor to a multi-national public company in 1986.

In 1988, Mr. Brown founded G. Neil Companies, a business to business direct marketing, e-commerce firm that provides an extensive line of supplies to make personnel and human resource managers’ job easier.  G. Neil also experienced dynamic growth.  Eventually the firm accumulated 1.2 million active customers with facilities in the U.S. and U.K.  G. Neil was ranked amongst the largest direct marketing, e-commerce firms in the U.S. while owned by Mr. Brown.

In 1998, Mr. Brown sold majority interest in G. Neil which was merged into Centis, Inc.  Mr. Brown was appointed Chairman of the Board of the combined business that, in total, employed a staff of 2,700 people in offices, distribution centers and manufacturing plants located in the U.S., Ireland, Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom.

In 2000, Mr. Brown became the co-founder and principal investor in Motorcar Portfolio and Classic Motorcar Auctions.  Motorcar Portfolio is a classic car dealership uniquely located in the Grand McKinley Hotel in Canton, OH.  His partner, Bob Lichty, is a well-known and respected classic car authority.  Motorcar represents over 100 classic cars at any given time.  In addition to selling and trading card, Classic Motorcar Auction conducts multi-day classic car and accessory auctions most notably at the Glenmore Concourse D’Elegance in Canton, OH.  Glenmore is considered by many to be one of the top five automobile concourses in the U.S.  In 2011, Mr. Brown sold the business to Mr. Lichty and not functions as an advisor.

Since selling his business, Mr. Brown has acted as a venture capitalist, providing capital to private firms.  He is an active Board member in several US based businesses, most notably:

Bioheart, Inc. – Mr. Brown is a former board member and advisor to its Chairman, Howard Leonhardt.  Bioheart is a biotech company that has developed a patented stem cell procedure to repair heart muscle and is at an advanced stage awaiting FDA approval.

Canovation – Mr. Brown is the current Chairman of the Board of this advanced-stage engineering firm based in Pompano Beach, FL.  Canovation has developed a very unique and multi-patented food and beverage packaging technology that is on the brink of significant breakthrough and implementation by several international brands.  Mr. Brown is actively involved in the company’s strategic direction and investment matters.

Mr. Brown has spoken at several National Direct Marketing Forums and is the former chairman of the Business Direct Group, a national organization of business to business Direct Marketers.

Mr. Brown is a long time motorcycle enthusiast and has led several group trips on four continents.  He is an avid collector of classic and exotic cars. His hobbies include boating and traveling with his family.  Gary and his wife Elizabeth spend their time between their residences in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Philadelphia, PA, Paradise Island, Bahamas and Broadalbin, NY on the Great Sacandaga Lake near Saratoga Springs.  Mr. and Mrs. Brown have three children who reside in Florida and Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown actively support many worthy causes including Cleveland Clinic, The Paradise Children’s Foundation, South Florida PAWS, and The International School of Dance in Weston, FL.  They also focus on the Amsterdam, NY community.  Through qualified charitable organizations and local business ventures, they look to make a positive influence in honor of Gary’s parents, Morris Brown and Edith Fabozzi Brown, who were life-long Amsterdam residents.