IDENTITY VENTURES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Representative
Blake Ryan Svoboda was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. After graduating from the University of Missouri with a degree in Business, Blake decided it was time to head south to Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Blake is proud to say his family has been blessed to call Santa Rosa Beach home since 2005.
Blake has successfully helped launch and grow numerous companies in telecommunications, blockchain technology, association management, concert entertainment, the liquor industry and music publishing to name a few. Blake's passion for sales and business operations is the fuel that drives him to reach new heights each and everyday.
Job Titles:
- Vanture Partner - China & Taiwan
Grant Ogata has over 30 year experience in consumer electronics and retail industry focused on technology, business development and global marketing strategies, product sourcing, product development, and turning technology into successful products at retail
Ogata's expertise include sales, merchandising, and marketing of consumer electronic products to top retailers in North America and Asia, product innovation and development, knowledge and key contacts with top Original Development Manufacturers, Original Equipment Manufacturers, major semiconductor companies, as well as expert knowledge in buying and selling of used electronics goods and recycling, international logistics, contract negotiations, industrial design, packaging, and marketing strategy for consumer electronics
Prior to Identity Ventures, Ogata previously worked at Motorola Mobility, acquired by Google, as Sr. Director of Global Retail & Distribution. He developed direct retail strategy for new converged products and opened new accounts by working with product teams and customers. He also teamed with product groups and marketing department to develop effective point of sale and ecommerce marketing materials and led and managed all e-Commerce merchandising & promotions and increased revenue by 25%.
In addition to experience at Motorola, Ogata consulted for Powermat, Ltd. as VP of New Business Initiatives and as VP of Manufacturing for almost 4 years, helping this Israeli startup company launch product to market at major retailers and developing business with major OEM/ODM players. Powermat has formed a Joint Venture with Proctor Gamble/Duracell marketing wireless power accessories under the Duracell-Powermat brand.
Ogata also served as EVP of Worldwide Operations for Arkados, a semiconductor company focused on designing Sytem-on-Chips that distribute multi-media data over electrical power line in homes and buildings. He was responsible for business development, sales, and marketing. He was also instrumental in successfully negotiating the sale of its semiconductor assets to ST Microelectronics, a top 5 semiconductor company in the world.
Ogata served over 25 years RadioShack Corporation with over 4,500 retail stores in the U.S. as Vice President of Global Sourcing and Product Development. His responsibilities included overseeing staff of over 200, developing sourcing and retailing strategies for over 1,500 private label products that generated over $1.2 billion in revenue and $600 million on gross profit, overseeing all the direct sourcing products from Asia and managing offices in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai, China including a six-year expatriate assignment in Asia based in Tokyo working with major manufacturers and retailers in Japan, Korea, and Greater China
Ogata has also served as a board member of Consumer Electronic Association's (CEA) Accessories Division, a member of the CEA R6.3 Wireless Power Working Group, and a board member of CEA's Home Networking and Information Technology division. He also served as the Chairman of HomePlug's Powerline Alliance for Command and Control Working Group. Ogata also served on the Board of Advisors for Wilife, successful IP surveillance camera company later acquired by Logitech International
Ogata holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from San Diego State University and completed one year intensive study program at Gifu University, Japan. He is bi-lingual with fluent language capability in both English and Japanese with some working knowledge of Mandarin Chinese.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Leader
- President
- Co - CEO & Founder
- Corporate Vice President of the Channels Group
Jim Hamilton is a dynamic operational leader and entrepreneur with an extensive career in "C-level" executive management, international retail, global sourcing, e-commerce, marketing and advertising, public and investor relations, finance, operations, logistics, technology innovation and portfolio management.
Hamilton is president and CEO of the global investment and consulting company, Identity Ventures LLC. Hamilton has assisted many companies with worldwide go-to-market planning and execution, capital raising, product development, and global sourcing initiatives. One of those companies is the dynamic PowerMat Ltd, where Hamilton served as co-CEO and vice chairman of the board of directors. PowerMat is now marketed as Procter and Gamble's - Duracell PowerMat. Hamilton is also Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Dallas Gupta College of Business and Advisor to the University's Entrepreneurship Society.
With more than 25 years of experience in retail and consumer electronics, Hamilton has served as Corporate Vice President of the Channels Group (Retail, Distribution, Education, and Enterprise) for Motorola Mobility (a subsidiary of Google. Prior to that, Hamilton was Executive Vice President of the $5.3 Billion, RadioShack Corporation, where he was responsible for all aspects of the company's merchandising, marketing, product development, global sourcing, and industrial design firm. While at RadioShack, Hamilton also held the titles of Director and Vice Chairman of Tandy Electronics Limited (China), President of Tandy Holdings and President of Tandy International Corporation
In 1997, Hamilton co-founded Argoquest which acquired equity interests in over 30 Israeli-based technology companies. In his role, he provided strategic product development, business strategy expertise and used his extensive Rolodex to open doors for the start-up companies. Principal investors in Argoquest included Broadcom Corporation, HSBC Holdings Plc., and Shamrock Holdings of California Inc., (Roy Disney). Argoquest's portfolio yielded two IPOs (BreezeCom and PowerDsine) prior to the IPO market bubble bursting in 2000.
Hamilton has been recognized in the "International Who's Who in Business Professionals" and serves as Area President of the Boy Scouts of American and Immediate Past President of Longhorn Council. Hamilton has served on the Board of Industry Leaders of the Consumer Electronics Association and the Grapevine Colleyville School Board. Hamilton is an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor Member of the Order of the Arrow and is a recipient of the Silver Buffalo, James E. West Fellowship and the NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award.
Mark Bailey brings over 35 years of international and domestic experience building and running businesses in retail, consumer electronics, sales, marketing, manufacturing, real estate and technology sectors.
Mr. Bailey began his career in 1976 at Circuit City where he opened the first Circuit City Superstore in 1981 in Raleigh, NC. When he left in 1992, Mr. Bailey managed two divisions in the Southeast totaling over 1,000 employees and generating revenues of more than $500 Million.
Mr. Bailey served as President of People's Computers from 1992 to 1996 where he was responsible for day-to-day operations and for increasing annual revenues from $3 Million to $75 Million in just 2 years.
In 1996 he joined Computer City as VP / Senior Director of Merchandising. Mr. Bailey supervised a merchandising staff of 80 and played a significant role in the achievement of over $2.4 Billion in annual sales. He supervised staff and offices in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Asia and was responsible for the private label and direct import program.
In 1997 Mr. Bailey served as Executive Vice-President for VCI, Ltd, where he was responsible for launching technology companies in the United States and Latin America. Expertise included sales, marketing, raising funds, recruiting senior personnel, developing strategic plans and negotiating complex contracts.
In 2000 Mr. Bailey served as Managing Director of Argoquest Holdings, LLC, parent company of VCI, Ltd., where he was responsible assisting more than 60 Israeli startup companies in the United States and Internationally.
In 2001 Mr. Bailey founded Identity Ventures, Inc., www.identityventures.com, a management company specializing in assisting its domestic and international customers in profitably developing, marketing and distributing revolutionary products and technologies in the United States and global markets. Through the years, Mr. Bailey has developed and nurtured extensive relationships with senior executives of companies such as Radio Shack, Philips, IBM, Wal-Mart, Belkin, AMD, HP/Compaq, Home Depot, Bellsouth and Mohawk Industries.
In 2003 Mr. Bailey founded Destin Ventures, LLC, a real estate investment and holding company with a portfolio of properties located in the Panhandle of Florida. The company purchased, sold, built, refurbished or retained more than 40 residential or commercial properties and generated revenues of more than $30M in just 2 years. The company also operates a real estate and development company. The company specializes in the developing and building of condos, town-homes, in addition to residential and commercial office space. Mr. Bailey works with real estate investors throughout the US and is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Florida.
Also, in 2003 he co-founded CMO America, LLC with business partner Jeff Rudd, which is an OEM manufacturer of technology products for major US and International companies. He is also a principal shareholder of Emerge Technologies, Inc. based in Dallas, Texas.
In 2004, NASCAR was added to his portfolio, teaming up with business partner and friend, Jay Robinson of NEMCO/Jay Robinson Racing, a veteran NASCAR team owner that is sponsored by Border Patrol, Checkers/Rally's, Advil, Speedzone, Radio Shack, Motorola and AMD. The NASCAR relationship offers a tremendous sales and marketing opportunity for many companies and sponsors.
Mr. Bailey has held various positions and has served on committees such as U.S. Robotics Retail Advisory Board and is currently a member of a number of organizations including an active member of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors and the American-Israeli Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta. He is also a board/advisory member of Identity Ventures, Inc., Carmel Bio, Inc., Carmel Global International, LLC, International Investment Corporation, Inc., Destin Ventures, LLC, Airo Wireless, Inc.