40 August 15 • 2019
jn

J

osh Gershonowicz looks out at the 
world through sky blue eyes and sees 
the vast opportunities in Detroit, the 
city he is proud to call home. At 34, he 
sits at the helm of a nimble young com-
pany he founded seven years ago now 
poised to envision, create, launch and 
rebuild business in the digital age.
“We’
re well prepared for rapid 
growth,
” he says. “
And I look for col-
leagues and employees who are ready, 
willing and able to grow with us. Work 
hard, have fun. That’
s our motto. At 
Rebuild Group, we aim to foster a com-
pany culture that’
s inclusive, creative, 
entrepreneurial, encouraging … and yes, 
dog-friendly. As a result, I know we’
ve 
surrounded ourselves with some really 
great people.
”
The Rebuild culture and strategy 
focuses on “right-brain thinking.
” It 
taps into emotional experiences to build 
brands and motivate shoppers to buy. 

NEW DIGS FOR REBUILD
“Rebuild was born in the suburbs, but 
our soul is pure Detroit,
” Gershonowicz 
explains. Having relocated his company 
from Royal Oak to the city’
s New Center 
neighborhood in 2014, Rebuild now has 
new 10,000-square-foot headquarters in 
the nearby Milwaukee Junction District, 
what Josh calls the Idea Studio. 
Rebuild renovated the two-story 

building, which will include a retail 
tenant on the first floor. 
 Paying homage to the building’
s his-
tory, he reclaimed original equipment 
from the building to incorporate in the 
new space. Vintage elevator doors sepa-
rate the lobby from the work space and 
serve as a central gathering table. Metal 
cages from the elevator shaft are being 
converted into art installations.
The new space will take a hybrid, 
floating work model, allowing team 
members to work in any space, which he 
believes will aid the creative process.
“We don’
t want to be just another 
local agency. Our vision is larger than 
growing our agency. We are rooted and 
invested in the city with the goal to 
become an anchor, rebuilding a neigh-
borhood and creating jobs.,
” he said.
Josh is equally committed to com-
munity building. A participant in 
Federation’
s Cuba Mission (2015) and 
Young Leaders and Philanthropists 
Mission (2016), he serves on Federation’
s 
National Young Leadership Cabinet and 
on the boards of Hebrew Free Loan, 
Midtown Detroit and Dodge for Detroit.
A resident of the city since moving 
home from New York in 2011, Josh 
was among the first wave of NEXTGen 
Detroiters to take up residency in 
Moishe House Downtown. He and his 
wife, Michele, now enjoy city life as new 

homeowners on Winder Street. Keeping 
busy on the home front, they are the 
proud parents of Sonny, age 1.

HOME-GROWN BEGINNINGS
Gershonowicz grew up in Jewish 
Detroit and then went to Western 
Michigan University, where he grad-
uated with a B.B.A. in marketing and 
economics. 
 After graduation, he spent about a year 
and a half in Tampa, Fla., working as a 
commodities trader and then went on to 
New York to do the “same kind of work, 
unfortunately, at the worst possible time, 
in 2008, just as Lehman Brothers was 
about to collapse,
” he said 
 His job offer was rescinded, so he 
started moonlighting at anything he 
could find.
At 24, he was ready to come home. “I 
started moonlighting again, helping my 
dad with his dental practice. In 2012, I 
decided to start growing and investing in 
my own business and set out as Rebuild 
Nation with one employee. In 2014, I 

convinced Steve DeAngelis to quit his 
job at McCann Detroit and become my 
partner. He took the leap, and we’
ve 
been on the fast track together ever 
since.
”
He was able to hire Steve thanks to 
Hebrew Free Loan’
s Marvin A. Danto 
Small Business Program. 
“The connections I made through 
HFL have proven to be invaluable,
” he 
said. 
Gershonowicz said he loves the cre-
ative aspect of marketing. 
“There’
s the creativity of solving prob-
lems for our clients, and there’
s also the 
creativity involved in teamwork, putting 
people together. Our business is collab-
orative, and we believe it reflects what’
s 
happening all around our city. Our ener-
gies are focused on Detroit, and we’
re 
very motivated by all signs of rebuilding 
in the city in general. In brainstorming 
ideas for our clients, you’
ll find our 
teams working all over town — riding 
the QLine, sitting in Kresge Court at the 
DIA, walking along the Riverfront. The 
whole city is our canvas and we celebrate 
that.
”

CITY LIFE
“I love the energy of living in the city,
” 
he said. 
“What’
s happening Downtown is 
amazing. It feels like the wheels are 
turning and we’
re starting to get some 
traction.
”
He said he and Michele are happy to 
be part of a growing core of Jewish fam-
ilies living Downtown, expanding what 
it means to be a part of a vibrant and 
diverse Jewish community. ■

This story first appeared on myjewishdetroit.org.

business SPOTlight

VIVIAN HENOCH SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

brought to you in partnership with 

hot topics

 
(JTA) The Manischewitz Co. will 
sell all its kosher food business 
to Kenover Marketing Corp., the 
companies announced.
The companies “have reached 
an understanding for a transac-
tion whereby Kenover Marketing 
Corp. will acquire all of the ko-
sher food business of Manische-
witz,” according to reports.
Kenover is part of Kayco, 
located in Bayonne, N.J., which 
formed after a merger between 

Kedem Foods, Kenover Marketing 
and B&W Foods. Manischewitz is 
based in Newark, N.J.
The sale reportedly will not in-
clude Manischewitz’
s Season brand.
The companies said in a state-
ment that they will conclude the 
transaction “in the near future” and 
will then announce the details and 
that meanwhile the two companies 
will operate business as usual.

NEW BOSS AT STOCKX

Josh Luber is stepping aside as CEO 
of StockX, the online marketplace for 
collectible sneakers, handbags and 
streetwear he founded with Dan Gilbert, 
reports Crain’
s. He will remain on as 
the company’
s “front man,” explaining 
the company’
s business model as “a 
stock market of things.” Scott Cutler, an 
e-commerce veteran, will take over day-
to-day operations of StockX. Luber and 
Cutler announced $110 million in new 
venture capital last month in New York.

B I R M I N G H A M

Bank of Ann Arbor Helps. 
How can we help you?

Captain Vision

Meet Josh Gershonowicz, CEO of Rebuild Group.

JOHN HARDWICK

MANISCHEWITZ SELLS KOSHER FOOD BUSINESS

Josh Luber and Dan Gilbert, co-founders 
of StockX

COURTESY OF STOCKX

