Team

MANAGEMENT

Michael Torres: Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Michael Torres founded Worldwide Maniac in 2008 based on the concept of conscious capitalism and a “pay it forward” vision. Today, Worldwide Maniac brings together the entertainment, sports and fashion industries to co-create a unique business platform where success is measured not only through maximizing profits, but by fulfilling a greater purpose in support of humanitarian efforts and the environment.

Under Torres’ leadership, Worldwide Maniac collaborates with artists to help expand their brand identity. In addition the company also provides manufacturing, distribution and promotional resources to connect and maximize the artist’s vision, as well as globalize their products for mass markets.

Torres has more than 20 years of experience in sales and marketing, business development, intelligence, finance and operations. Prior to Worldwide Maniac, Torres was the Founder of CSIdentity, a company created in 2005 focused on Consumer Identity Protection & International Data Collection. As Founder and Executive Vice President of Business Development, he led product vision, sales and marketing strategies and sales execution, driving the company to profitable within three years of start-up and generating a market value in excess of $140M utilizing approximately $2.5M in investment.

Torres was previously vice president of strategic marketing and business development at Infoglide Software Corporation where he grew sales by more than 1,893 percent from 2001 to 2004, ranking Infoglide No. 67 on the 2004 INC. 500 list. During his tenure at Infoglide, he designed and sold counter-terrorism and identity fraud software solutions to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Agency, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, U.K. Home Office, U.K. Police and U.K. Intelligence. He also designed and sold fraud detection solutions to major retailers for identifying fraudulent returns.

Prior to Infoglide, Torres was a co-founder of Alertz, a wireless messaging company and Senior Manager of corporate planning at Dell Computer. He also served as Senior Manager with PriceWaterhouseCooper (PWC), where he led several Due Diligence efforts for the Hicks Muse account helping create one of the world’s largest radio companies – AMFM Radio. In this capacity he designed a solution for consolidating operations of 500 radio stations into one location.

Torres has authored several white papers on identity fraud for the Department of Homeland Security and has sat on Department of Homeland Security panels on the topics of identity theft and data privacy. He is a speaker at the Heritage Foundation, the Center for Democracy and Technology, the American Certified Fraud Examiners annual conference and the TechnoSecurity annual conference. He also holds a provisional patent on the Fraud Detection & Investigation Process. He previously served as an advisor to Interpol on two Global Security Initiatives – Cyber Security and International Data Sharing.

In addition to writing about security, Michael also writes about spirituality — helping to redefine thoughts and views around concepts like love, peace, compassion, forgiveness, non-judgment and truth. He is a Reiki Master offering healing to those close to him in need of healing. Finally, Michael is a firm believer in giving to the environment and humanity as a step toward breaking down misperceptions and creating a world where we recognize our similarities more than we do our differences.

Michael founded the Worldwide Maniac Foundation, whose mission is to unify humanity in order to restore our relationship and re-establish balance with our planet, through education and advocacy, and building sustainable homes and gardens. Michael also serves as a Board Member for Tribeza Magazine Austin.

Kenneth Paulk: COO Apparel / Wholesale Retail – Supply Chain Management

With more than 25 years experience in operations management, distribution, sourcing, cost-reduction and quality control, Kenneth Paulk specializes in many aspects of apparel development, production and distribution. As COO of Worldwide Maniac Fashion Division, Ken heads up ventures in manufacturing and distribution.

Prior to joining the Worldwide Maniac team in 2009, Paulk was Executive Vice President of Operations for Jones Apparel of Texas for 10 years, where he spearheaded cost-reduction as well as revenue generation initiatives while developing sustainability guidelines. By focusing on material resource planning, speed to market, cost control and quality assurance, Paulk achieved the lowest company distribution cost per unit for three consecutive years. His strategies cut cycle times by 33 percent for manufacturing work-in-progress, planning and distribution.

Previously, Paulk served as the Corporate Vice President of Hat Brand, INC, where he worked to establish the World-Wide Sourcing of manufacturing networks. This led to the production of over three million units, exceeding by 17 percent the previous gross profit margins. He also worked as the Senior Vice President of Operations for VF Corporation/Marithe’ & Girbaud where his successful management of the fashion-oriented business led to the reduction of costs of goods by 11.6 percent within six months, as well as reducing labor costs by 19 percent.

Paulk also was the Vice President of Manufacturing/Operations for Guess? Incorporated, where he led manufacturing support groups to new levels of achievement and oversaw sales growth of 36 and 31 percent as well as the establishment of over 800 manufacturing operations which grew ten times over two years. His other experience ranges from Executive Vice President of Operations at Catalina/Cole Group to Vice President of Operations and HR at Fritzi of California.

Joan Bell: Director, Manufacturing & Logistics, GreenWorld Restoration

Joan Bell has been working in the sustainable building industry for the past five years, with a focus on green/sustainable homes and renewable energy. As Residential Sales and Corporate Operations Manager with a passion for environmentally sustainable building, a diverse professional background and a keen eye for detail, Joan’s expertise is instrumental to the success of Texas Environmental & Restoration.

Bell has worked in real estate development, with a focus on building green, sustainable communities in a sales and marketing role, as well as sales operations. She has also worked as an independent sales consultant for custom green homes and solar electric/thermal installations.

Bell is a member of the US Green Building Council and has taken a number of LEED AP training courses. She has also taken the NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) entry level exam and will be sitting for the NABCEP professional exam in September of 2010 to be a Certified Professional PV Installer. In addition to solar, she has experience in the biomass industry and has worked as an independent sales consultant for a biochar manufacturing corporation.

She has also co-authored a Green Living Handbook that was distributed to owners of the communities for which she sold. Bell has won a number of awards in previous companies, including Employee of the Year and the Silver Award of Excellence.

Doug Ramsey: Controller

Doug Ramsey has a broad background in finance, accounting, administration and operations. As Controller, Doug oversees all Financial Planning, Reporting, and Accounting functions within the organization.

Working in management positions for corporations such as Image Microsystems, the InterContinental Hotels Group (Holiday Inn Division), and SabeRex Group Ltd, Doug has a vast experience as a Financial Advisor, Auditor and Corporate Controller. With an acute attention to detail and an expertise in financial modeling, Doug adds a wealth of knowledge, understanding, and analytical mindset to the Worldwide Maniac Team.

In addition to his varied background and experience in the Accounting and Finance fields, Ramsey has a strong passion for the outdoors and the environment. He worked for the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America for eight years. Ramsey also spent five years as a canoeing expedition guide in Minnesota and Canada, and successfully backpacked the entire 2176-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in 2008. It is this passion which ultimately led him to the Worldwide Maniac team in 2010, which integrates his interests in environmental stewardship with proper financial management and commitment to the community.

Ramsey earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Rice University.