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GPOX Team

Meet Our Team

GPOX has organized and recruited an amazing team. Each leader has a unique story but we have the common goals of creating best-in-class services with members’ best interest in mind while never losing focus on the bottom line to create significant long term shareholder value.

WE ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS, INNOVATORS, AND VISIONARIES.

Board Members

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Brett H. Pojunis

Chairman of the Board of Directors + CEO

Key Strengths:  Brett has a strong background in capital markets, finance, and public company matters, with expertise in Investor Relations and extensive entrepreneurial experience as well as board and committee level experience. He also served in the U.S. ARMY.

Industries:  Capital Markets, Technology, Politics, Non-Profits, CBD, Cannabis, and Investor Relations.

Full Bio:  Brett has served as Chairman of the Board + CEO of GPOP Plus, Inc. since May 5, 2020.

Prior to this position, Brett served on the Board of Directors of multiple private as well as public companies and organizations. Brett has been involved in finance and the public markets since 1999. He has been a consultant to many start-up companies as well as publicly traded companies, including high tech Internet to traditional brick and mortar companies. Since 2014, Brett served on the Board of Directors of a publicly traded agriculture company whose holdings included a Las Vegas, NV based licensed Cultivation and Production facility and a 33,600-acre cultivation farm in Jujuy, Argentina. 

Brett took his technology background and decided to broaden and strengthen his social media skills when, from 2002 through October 2009, he developed bridging technology and social media with events with high level entertainment ventures, much involving nightlife events in Las Vegas, where he hosted over 700 events in Las Vegas and other markets throughout the United States.

Prior to founding GPOX, Brett was one of the leaders of the Libertarian Party, serving three terms on the Libertarian National Committee (LNC), two terms as the Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Nevada, and was part of the senior staff for the 2016 Johnson/Weld Presidential campaign. He was very involved with state-level legislation and advocacy, which included Question 2 (in 2016), as well as an advisor to other statewide initiatives. Brett hosted and produced over 150 political events, including the 2016 Libertarian Presidential Debate hosted by Penn Jillette (Penn & Teller), which included video questions from well-known celebrities that aired on TheBlaze Network. He was the creator of multiple politically focused events and conferences, including LPEX – the Libertarian Political Expo, a political conference for Libertarian political training, and The Political Party, a non-partisan organization with the goal of getting more Nevadans involved in the political process with the well-known “Meet the Candidates” events series.

Brett has military training ranging from Civil Affairs Specialist (38A) to Combat Engineer (12B). While in the US ARMY he was awarded the Outstanding American award twice. He is a fellow at The Leadership Institute, which provides political activism training. Brett studied Environmental Liberal Arts at Green Mountain College and Entrepreneurship classes at the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester. Brett attended elective International Business and Finance classes at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and entrepreneurship classes at Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester.

Leadership

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Dorsey Sparks

VP of DISTRO+

Key Strengths: Dorsey Sparks offers a distinctive perspective steeped in over 20 years of experience in secondary education, where she held numerous mentoring and leadership positions. His notable contributions were recognized with a feature in a PBS documentary on team teaching. Dorsey’s career trajectory then transitioned into financial services, with a focus on wealth building for the education sector. He also serves as a subject matter expert in health and wellness. This diverse background equips him with a fresh outlook on providing top-tier service to retail partners, optimizing logistics, product assortment, and promotions. Dorsey excels in creating value for GPO’s supplier partners by strategically addressing location, assortment, merchandising, and pricing.

Industries: Education, Financial Services, Health and Wellness, Retail, Distribution, Logistics, Merchandising

Full Bio: Dorsey Sparks holds the esteemed position of Vice President, Distribution Division, at GPO Plus. With a career spanning over two decades, Dorsey’s journey is marked by a unique blend of experiences that contribute to his dynamic perspective on entrepreneurship and business leadership.

Dorsey’s professional foundation was built in the field of secondary education, where he dedicated more than 20 years to teaching and educational leadership. During this time, he assumed multiple mentoring and leadership roles, making a significant impact on the education landscape. His contributions were so noteworthy that he was featured in a PBS documentary on team teaching, a testament to his commitment to educational excellence.

However, Dorsey’s career took a transformative turn as he transitioned into the realm of financial services. Here, his focus centered on wealth building, particularly within the education market. This transition allowed him to leverage his educational background to create meaningful financial opportunities for educators and educational institutions.

In addition to his educational and financial expertise, Dorsey is a recognized subject matter expert in health and wellness. This facet of his knowledge adds a unique dimension to his role at GPO Plus, where he contributes to providing best-in-class service to retail partners. His multifaceted skill set enables him to excel in areas such as logistics, product assortment, and promotion, ensuring that GPO Plus remains at the forefront of the industry.

Furthermore, Dorsey’s strategic thinking extends to creating value for GPO’s supplier partners. He accomplishes this by optimizing factors such as location, assortment, merchandising, and pricing. His ability to align the interests of all stakeholders underscores his capacity to drive mutual success and growth within the distribution division.

In summary, Dorsey Sparks is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in education, financial services, and health and wellness. Her wealth of experience and unique perspective make her a valuable asset to GPO Plus, where she plays a pivotal role in enhancing service delivery to retail partners and optimizing relationships with supplier partners. Dorsey’s commitment to excellence and her ability to foster collaboration position her as a key contributor to the organization’s continued success.

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Kiernan Nevitt

Product Development & Sourcing

Key Strengths: Kiernan Nevitt is an accomplished executive-level merchandiser known for her expertise in product development, international omni-channel merchandising, strategic growth analysis, and analytics. Her skills encompass business analysis, long-range planning, pricing strategy, and promotion optimization.

Industries: Merchandising, Analytics, Retail, Product Development, Strategic Growth

Full Bio: Kiernan Nevitt is a highly accomplished executive in the field of merchandising, renowned for her analytical prowess and deep expertise in various facets of the industry. With a career spanning over a decade at Orvis, Kiernan’s journey has been marked by continuous growth and a relentless commitment to excellence.

During her tenure at Orvis, Kiernan evolved through various roles, progressively expanding her influence and contributing significantly to the company’s success. Her journey encompassed product development, international omni-channel merchandising, and a pivotal role as a strategic growth analyst. Kiernan’s distinctive approach to her responsibilities, which included conducting in-depth business analyses, formulating long-range plans, optimizing pricing architecture, and fine-tuning promotional strategies, played a pivotal role in driving Orvis’s growth and market presence.

Drawing upon her extensive experience in merchandising, Kiernan’s most recent position was as the Senior Merchandise Manager for Duluth Trading Company. In this role, she assumed responsibility for identifying and capitalizing on new business growth opportunities, rationalizing SKUs (Stock Keeping Units), and providing visionary leadership for specific product categories. Her contributions at Duluth Trading Company showcased her ability to drive strategic growth and optimize merchandising operations.

Kiernan’s rich skill set and multifaceted experiences have been instrumental in contributing to the remarkable growth trajectory of GPO Plus. Her strategic insights and analytical acumen have laid a solid foundation for the company’s future growth and expansion.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kiernan is known for her diverse interests and hobbies. An avid skier and fly fisher, she finds solace and inspiration in the great outdoors. Additionally, Kiernan has a passion for cultivating cut flowers, showcasing her creativity and appreciation for the finer aspects of life.

In summary, Kiernan Nevitt is a seasoned executive-level merchandiser with a distinctive talent for analytics and a proven track record of success. Her multifaceted skill set, honed through years of experience in product development, omni-channel merchandising, and strategic growth analysis, has made her an invaluable asset to GPO Plus. Her visionary approach and commitment to excellence position her as a key contributor to the company’s continued growth and success.

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Bryan Garabrandt

Lead Technologist

Key Strengths: Bryan is a highly accomplished marketing and technology professional with years of experience in development, systems administration, online marketing, e-commerce, and proven leadership. He excels at enhancing efficiency and productivity through a methodical and data-driven approach to system development; lowering costs, increasing revenues, increasing profits, and improving corporate culture with Technology.

As a trained statistician, Bryan puts his trust in the data and believes having quality analytics in order to make calculated decisions is the best approach to a great technology and the pathway to a strong ROI.

Industries: Marketing, Technology, Development, Systems Administration, Data Science.

Full Bio: Bryan Garabrandt is the Lead Technologist for GPO Plus, a role that places him at the forefront of marketing and technology innovation. His career is a testament to his prowess in driving brand success through strategic marketing and technological expertise.

As a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing communications professional, Bryan has honed his skills in the realms of digital media, data analysis, and marketing psychology. He approaches brand enhancement and reputation building with a meticulous and analytical mindset. His commitment to data-driven decision-making is underscored by his background as a trained statistician. Bryan firmly believes that quality analytics are essential for making calculated marketing decisions that yield impressive results and a robust return on investment (ROI).

Bryan did his undergraduate studies at The College of Wooster, where he earned degrees in both Psychology and Cultural Studies. Equipped with a strong understanding of the psychology of marketing, communications, and media, Bryan entered the workforce as a technical writer, specializing in developing Business Plans for small business start-ups and expansions. He continued to advance his career at Live Deal (Now Live Ventures), a NASDAQ-listed company (trading under the stock symbol LIVE) where he contributed as a valuable member of the Search Operations Team.

Driven by a passion for assisting entrepreneurs in achieving their dreams, Bryan co-founded SEM Exposure in 2009. This boutique digital marketing agency focused on web development, social media marketing, and search marketing. In 2012, he successfully sold the agency and continued his career as a digital consultant, collaborating on projects with notable organizations such as Exotics Racing, SureSale (the first used car warranty program offered to auto dealers), and SPEEDVEGAS (a purpose-built Las Vegas racetrack for exotic supercars).

Outside of his professional life, Bryan finds joy in spending time with his family. He is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys swimming, sport shooting, golf, and is an avid fan of all sports.

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Michael R. Fugler

Advisor

Key Strengths:  Global expert and speaker on Entrepreneurship, an Attorney, Investment Banker, Coach and Consultant who has spent a significant part of his career providing extensive consulting and guidance to small institutional investors throughout Europe, the USA and Asia

Industries:  Capital Markets, Legal, Securities, Entrepreneurship,

Full Bio:  Michael Fugler is a Creative Critical Thinker, Rainmaker, Negotiator, Consultant, Attorney, Investment Banker, Motivational Speaker, TV & Radio Personality, Wine Aficionado, Avid Swimmer and Private Pilot.

Michael helps entrepreneurs start, acquire, grow, build and sell companies and is frequently brought into difficult situations to help with outside the box problem solving, successfully negotiating, structuring and executing the delivery of high-quality advice, creative financing solutions, strategic planning and corporate finance. Michael’s hands-on, real-life experience sets him apart from other Investment Bankers, Attorneys and business consultants advising today’s entrepreneurs. His goal is to concisely and constructively solve problems, grow companies and guide entrepreneurs to their next level of success.

For decades, Michael practiced criminal, personal injury, international law, international trade and finance as well as securities law. In each of these areas he rose to prominence, successfully handling some of the highest profile cases in the country.

Michael held FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, 79 and 99 Licenses and has been a partner in or owned multiple FINRA Broker Dealer firms, taking companies such as TASER and Reeds public. Michael established offices and provided extensive consulting and guidance to small institutional investors throughout the USA, Europe and Asia.

Michael has planned, advised, managed, co-managed, underwritten and been a syndicate member or participant in hundreds of offerings, raising hundreds of millions of dollars for hundreds of clients, listing many on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, over the counter and foreign exchanges in Europe and Asia.

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Ron Ponder II

Media Coordinator

Key Strengths: Ron Ponder II possesses a wealth of experience in dynamic multimedia and marketing mastery, complemented by a solid foundation in business development and brand consulting. His expertise extends to a wide range of industries, including Technology, Marketing, and Media Production.

Industries: Dynamic Multimedia, Marketing, Technology, Business Development, and Brand Consulting.

Full Bio: Ron Ponder II has been at the helm of Digital Marketing, Online Video and Social Strategies by founding OnlinePrinting.Vegas and DigiKnow.Me, both dynamic multimedia and marketing companies, since their inception in 2016.

Before founding OnlinePrinting.Vegas, Ron played pivotal roles in a diverse array of industries. His journey began with his passion for multimedia and marketing, which led him to specialize in web and app development, compelling video production, and a spectrum of design disciplines. He has been a consultant to numerous businesses, from high-tech startups to established brick-and-mortar enterprises.

Ron’s entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in his diverse portfolio. He’s been a Founder and Co-founder of ventures like DigiKnow.Me, Qwotem, Mainstage.pro and Slideways Apparel LLC, where at all he was at the lead of coordinating various forms of media creation and managing outsourced teams.

With a strong background in web development, UI/UX design, app development, video editing, SEO, SEM, digital marketing, and brand building, Ron is an expert in all things digital, print, and marketing.

In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Ron is a seasoned brand manager with a deep commitment to crafting formidable brands. He has a remarkable talent for tailoring strategies that drive business growth and success, particularly in the ever-evolving digital and online market.

Ron’s journey extends beyond local horizons, as his influence reaches a national scale, offering cost-effective solutions and compelling multimedia content that resonates with audiences.

With a rich tapestry of experience in business development and marketing, Ron is dedicated to helping businesses magnify their brand presence, sculpt compelling digital identities, and leverage the persuasive power of video content. He is passionate about guiding clients towards pinnacles of achievement, making their aspirations and triumphs the driving force behind his mission.

Ron’s diverse educational background includes a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Multimedia Web Design from The Art Institutes, But his continuous pursuit of knowledge is evident through his endorsements in various skills, including advertising, multimedia, online marketing, and more.

In summary, Ron Ponder II embodies a commitment to excellence in dynamic multimedia and marketing mastery, with a focus on crafting formidable brands and driving business success. His diverse experiences and unwavering dedication make him a valuable asset to any organization or project he undertakes.

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Liam Black

Sales

Liam Bio

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Cynthia Boyce

Sales

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Kevin Malone

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Ron Russo

Operations Advisor

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Emmerson Burson

Sales Support

Our Culture

Who is GPOX?

Traditional organizations don’t like our values. They think our attention to detail, adoption of technology, and our approach to extraordinary service is overkill. We disagree. We think overkill is underrated which is why we will continue disrupting industries and growing our company!

We are committed to our Core Values and they guide our business. They connect us, define us and inspire us. They were adopted not only to set the stage of GPOX but to hold all team members accountable to them. Many of our values are incorporated to help fulfill our idea of Self-Management.

At the core of our business is process. We believe a talented team with great processes leads to achievement. Our goal is to be the best we can be in all we do!

Our Values

DELIVER EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE

Always provide unsurpassed and sometimes unexpected service which exceeds all expectations from our Members. Never forget that our Members and suppliers are the lifeblood of our company. Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight that they want to be treated the way we would want to be treated. Keep that in mind when working with them, they are only human after all.

Consumers have significantly changed their buying habits and are accustomed to Amazon (fast shipping), BestBuy (return anything policy), and Walmart (dirt cheap groceries, now delivered to you) business models. Consumers (our Members) now expect the same level of service and competitive transparent pricing from all companies they interact with.

We are a different kind of company; therefore, we have a different kind of service. We build GPOX standards and in doing so raise the industry standard.

01

CULTIVATE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND BE BRAVE

Relentless execution from vision (ideas) to reality.

Entrepreneurial Spirit is an attitude and mindset that encompasses a unique approach to critical problem solving while identifying opportunities and taking advantage of them.

In business, change is the only constant and entrepreneurs should be able to adapt to the change as change brings new solutions, innovation, and better business processes. Entrepreneurs have the freedom to accomplish things the best way they feel they can and adapt and adjust to different situations. But above all, GPOX entrepreneurs sincerely care. We care about our work, our co-workers, our Members and our suppliers.

Entrepreneurship is written in our DNA. The commitment we make to our work is the source of our pride and the basis of our reputation. Passion, dedication and hard work towards advancing our purpose does not go unnoticed.

Be Brave. Bravery is a necessity for entrepreneurial spirit because bravery helps entrepreneurs work through opposition and failure and provides the courage to keep trying. Being brave enables you to question the status quo without fear. Have the courage and bravery to speak up, because we can’t hear what you are thinking!

02

DELIVER ON COMMITMENTS, BE ACCOUNTABLE AND TAKE PRIDE

Own it! It is crucial to our culture that we are personally accountable and deliver on our commitments to our team and our Members. Co-workers depend on our follow through on commitments and Members trust us to adhere to our word. Accountability is more than just doing your job. Being accountable means taking responsibility for your actions and the actions of your team. We create and sustain a culture of accountability. When accountability is absent, our purpose is not being advanced and wasteful disorganization is prevalent.

Always take pride in everything you do and be the absolute best at it you can be. For example, if you are going to be an Account Executive, be the best damn Account Executive possible and do it better than everyone else. This value is deep-rooted in our culture. No matter how big or small a task is, approach it with the attitude that you will be the best at it and take pride while doing it!

03

TAKE ACTION, TAKE CHANCES AND FAIL SMART

Leaders take action and act selfless.

When opportunities present themselves, we take action. We’d rather make calculated mistakes than miss opportunities. Work smarter, not harder. Leaders lead by example, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and have the courage to do the right thing.

We celebrate leaders at all levels who take risks and provide solutions, not excuses. Leaders thrive and find meaning in their work. Our team has the highest level of dedication to their mission and they move with a purpose.

Not all failure is created equal! In order to succeed, you need to be open to failure. It’s ok to fail , but only if you learn from your mistakes. To fail smart, learn why you failed, take action on what you learned and share that knowledge with your co-workers. Failure is the byproduct of taking risks and experimentation.

04

BE RESOURCEFUL, DO MORE WITH LESS AND KEEP IT SIMPLE

It’s amazing how far you can get when properly motivated and with a little cleverness. Be resourceful and lean by identifying and eliminating all wasteful activities and work habits, streamline services, and capitalize on technology. The true value of being lean is twofold; maximize value and minimize waste. We achieve this by being resourceful.

Keep it Simple, Simplify Everything.

We never stop finding ways to get things done, better and more efficiently. Everything we do should be simplified, as businesses run best if they are kept simple instead of complicated. Simplicity isn’t easy to achieve. Many people and companies struggle with simplicity. It takes a lot of hard work and revisioning to get ideas, services, and thoughts into a simple form. Simplicity is a key ingredient in everything we do. Take the confusion out and be efficient, this is the basis of our purpose.

05

PRACTICE TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION

No one is as smart as all of us!

We believe that no one will be as successful alone as the team will be together. We work together collaboratively & selflessly. This is a team sport and all teams work closely together to make decisions and take actions based on what is best for our Members.

Collaborate openly, don’t take credit, give credit when credits are earned. Shape relationships built on trust with your teammates. We are all in this together and when we drop office politics and put the wellbeing of the company above our own, we will all succeed together! We take care of each other and treat co-workers like friends and family.

Strong regular collaboration helps unleash the potential in every team, plus, winning and success is contagious.

06

DO BETTER AND INNOVATE, ALWAYS!

We are relentless in the pursuit of perfection and the path to perfection never ends! Good enough is never enough because we can always do better.

We constantly challenge ourselves to provide the best quality service while introducing disruptive products as we seek to solve industry wide problems.

We promote a culture of curiosity that embraces change and helps us drive innovation. Question everything and don’t allow yourself to get comfortable with process and products, always pursue a better way.

07

INTEGRITY, HYPER TRANSPARENCY AND OVER COMPLIANCE

We are honest, open, ethical, and fair.

We always default to honesty and are candid and transparent in all that we do. This authenticity allows us to inspire one another and makes our work more meaningful, interesting and fun.

Encouraging team members to openly share ideas is fundamental in establishing a culture based on Self-Management. We’re open minded and we like to discuss and debate thoughts, ideas and plans to broaden and further our purpose. When we disagree, we respectfully and constructively speak our minds, but trust in, and commit to, informed decisions. We know that ego prevents us from learning. We seek, accept and give feedback fearlessly to continue to grow personally and professionally. We depend on our team members to use their best judgement and do the right things the right way, always.

We believe in over compliance and set our own standards with the highest level of requirements not because we have to, but because we want to. Therefore, we hold ourselves to much higher standards and internal compliance which exceed general compliance for the industries we are in.

08

BE A GOOD STEWARD OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND A GOOD NEIGHBOR

GPOX has a goal of building sustainable GPOs with minimal environmental waste and impact. We encourage our suppliers to participate in recycling programs and our Members to be mindful of waste.

We believe in charity and we contribute any way we can to help our neighbors and our community. This included sponsoring programs aligned with our beliefs, political action to help others and volunteering for causes we believe in.

09

HAVE FUN!

You should work with a company you believe in that has a purpose you’re proud of. We believe the more passionate you are about your job, the less of a job it is. Work isn’t always work and nothing is “business as usual” when it comes to working at GPOX. In fact, the culture and atmosphere at GPOX is so fun and exciting that it’s hard to call it “work.”

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