Month: April 2026
From Attorney to Toy Executive The Career Path of Judd Zebersky
Career pivots are common enough in business. What Judd Zebersky did was something more specific: he left a law practice, flew to rural China, and spent months personally learning how toys were manufactured before building what would become one of the more recognized toy companies in the world. That sequence of choices defines how he…
Read MoreSquishmallows and the Vision of Judd Zebersky at Jazwares
Squishmallows are ultrasoft plush toys with names, birthdays, personal bios, and backstories. They exploded on TikTok, attracted celebrity fans, and moved more than 100 million units in a single year. Behind that phenomenon is Judd Zebersky, the attorney-turned-toy executive who built Jazwares and oversaw the acquisition that brought Squishmallows into the company’s portfolio. The Kellytoy…
Read MoreSustainable Immigration and Ecology Colcom Foundation’s Distinctive Stance
Most environmental foundations stay entirely clear of immigration debates, treating the issue as politically charged terrain best left to advocacy organizations and think tanks. Colcom Foundation takes a different view. The Pittsburgh-based organization, founded in 1996 by Cordelia Scaife May, has long held that immigration levels are directly relevant to environmental sustainability because of their…
Read MoreGallery Furniture Showroom Becomes Houston Trade School in Unusual Partnership
Gallery Furniture Showroom Becomes Houston Trade School in Unusual Partnership Where customers once browsed bedroom sets, students now practice welding. Former furniture display space houses electrical installations and carpentry workshops. A renovated showroom floor serves as construction training headquarters. Gallery Furniture’s transformation into WorkTexas facilities reflects an unusual partnership between Houston business icon Jim McIngvale—known…
Read MoreKarl Studer on Innovation and Adaptation in the Utility Industry
Karl Studer on Innovation and Adaptation in the Utility Industry The utility sector has historically been one of the more conservative corners of American industry — and for good reason. Reliability is the primary product. Customers expect the lights to stay on, and experiments that introduce new failure modes are not something the market rewards…
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