Stories

As Father’s Day approaches, who better to feature in our Visionaries series than the owners of a successful family business? Ken and Jim Giddon are the brothers behind Rothmans, the independent menswear boutique that operates in NYC, Scarsdale, and Bronxville. In addition to being proud dads (Ken is father to 26-year-old twins Kyle and Amanda, plus 21-year-old Will; Jim has 18-year-old Alexandra and 17-year-old Brooke), the brothers successfully reinvented their grandfather’s discount store, which first opened in 1926 on Union Square from a pushcart on the Lower East Side.

With the launch of HELMM, Zach Groffsky and Taylor Lane have transformed how men buy and wear deodorant. From the stylish applicator and subscription refills that use less plastic, to deodorants scented with fragrances crafted by a world-renowned French perfumer. We met them to talk about the path to launching their brand.

The co-founders of Open Air Homes, a high-end rental company based in Southern California, are all about attention to detail, whether it’s the design of their properties, the locally created artwork on the walls, or the eco-friendly touches. Here, the brothers tell us what led to their passion for design and hospitality.

Steve Spangler’s approach to science has a wow factor that mesmerizes kids and adults alike. With a regular slot on the Ellen Show and a syndicated series, the STEM educator is also a best-selling author, and an inductee to the National Speaker Hall of Fame. He talked to us about making science fun and why he avoids wearing a lab coat on TV.

Ronny Sage is the founder and CEO of ShoppingGives, which arrived in the nonprofit sector in 2016 as a new way to donate, paralleling an increasing shift to online shopping. Ronny saw an opportunity to rethink donating in a more meaningful way, with customers picking a charity to support, and the brand they purchase from donating a percentage from the sale. We met him to discuss the concept of a giving economy.

Nicole Loher is a digital strategist who has worked for Microsoft, Warby Parker, NARS Cosmetics, and Christian Louboutin. She also teaches social media strategy and digital marketing at New York University. That would seem like more than enough, yet she’s also a wellness influencer, writes a regular advice column, Part-Time Athlete, for The/Thirty, and finds time to train as a triathlete. Nicole’s next goal is her first half Ironman in June.

If your Instagram stories get you a load of compliments, chances are you’re using a template from the Unfold app. When CEO and co-founder of Unfold, Alfonso Cobo, joined forces with Andy McCune, founder of the social media travel platform Earth, they took Unfold to the next level. Current users number 15 million since they launched in January 2018, while average daily downloads hit 70,000. Unfold is now also an official Instagram and Facebook partner.

Vic and Bobby Rallo grew up with the constant aroma of simmering garlic in the air from their father’s fresh San Marzano tomato sauce. They still have memories of the floating clouds of flour as their father and Uncle Sal made pizzas for Rallo’s Pizzeria e Forno in Newark. Little wonder the brothers were drawn to the restaurant business, it’s practically in their DNA.

Frederick Joseph is a big fan of the late Stan Lee, the creator of many of Marvel’s most enduring superheroes. Some might consider Frederick a bit of a superhero in his own right. Just ask one of the kids who saw the Black Panther movie on the big screen thanks to the Black Panther Challenge, which Frederick created, and which raised $1 million to send 73,000 children worldwide to see the movie. Notably, it’s the largest GoFundMe campaign to date.

Igee Okafor lives and breathes fashion. As a child in Nigeria, he’d always note what the adults around him were wearing at social gatherings, and started to develop his own personal style as a creative outlet. Today, he’s made a career out of his precocious eye for fashion, as a New York-based style aficionado he writes a popular lifestyle blog with a focus on menswear and culture, and has collaborated with the likes of Mr. Porter, GQ, and Timex.

Thomas Le, the founder of Oliverlane bourbon whiskey, isn’t afraid to mess with tradition. And considering Kentucky’s first commercial distillery dates back to 1783, few things get more traditional. In 2014, Thomas used his savings to buy barrels of bourbon, which served as the foundation of Oliverlane, a light, modern take on whiskey without the burn.

Alex Lieberman was all set for a career on Wall Street, but a chance discovery inspired him to choose a different path. The Morning Brew, his daily newsletter that provides a fix of business news in an upbeat, five-minute read, has garnered a loyal following since it was launched in 2015.

Walk along Mulberry Street in NYC and you might spot a calm, green space in the Nolita bustle—a cozy coffee shop festooned with plants. Aptly named Urban Backyard, it’s the brainchild of Martin Abcede and his wife Cindy Lin-Abcede, who serve sustainability alongside their Colombe Coffee.