Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> October 7, 2002
MICHAEL SCHIFFMAN is President and Chief Operating Officer of
Forward Industries, Inc. He has been with Forward since 1983,
holding various positions including salesman, marketing manager,
General Manager of the custom carrying case business, and
Executive Vice President. He was on assignment in Hong Kong from
1995 through June 1998 due to the growing importance of foreign
production. Upon returning, he was appointed President and Chief
Operating Officer. Profile
JEROME E. BALL is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Forward
Industries, Inc. Prior to joining Forward, his career was in
textiles. Through business expansion, merger and consolidation,
he grew a $7 million family business into a $92 million company.
He was operationally involved in all segments, and served as
President for many years. In 1992, Mr. Ball and his partners sold
the business to a Canadian company and stayed on for an
additional four years. He then took a break from the working
world until Forward approached him in early 1998. After six
months of extensive due diligence, he joined Forward, where he
now serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Profile
TWST: We'd like to begin with a brief historical sketch ofForward Industries, Inc., followed by a picture of the company as
it is now.
Mr. Schiffman (President & COO): The company was