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[SleuthofSpades]

Martin Sumichrast, Rick Siskey and ... Kathy Ireland

This strange and convoluted corporate entity that is Level Brands exists in a strange parallel to another entity and public company, "Social Reality".

Following all of these strange connections via Google searches is like diving headfirst without a helmet through Alice's Looking Glass.

In 2016, Social Reality hired a new CFO and engaged Kathy Ireland as "Chief Branding Officer". This is virtually identical to her touted title as part of Level Brands, though "Emeritus" status has been attached.

In 2017, Rick Siskey, Martin Sumichrast's partner at Siskey Capital committed suicide after a criminal investigation into an alleged ponzi scheme run by Siskey was revealed. Days later, Sumichrast claimed no knowledge of the scheme and changed the name of Siskey Capital to Stone Street Partners.

Siskey Capital was a lender and investor in Social Reality, and Stone Street Partners is deeply involved in Level Brands. Both engaged Kathy Ireland World Wide for "Brand Development" support, and media distributed by both companies speak of their "disruptive brand strategy".

Besides recycling marketing content, it appears many other elements and relationships are mirrored by Level Brands.

In November of 2016, Kathy Ireland was the honorary chair of an event sponsored by KURE Vaporium, another business Sumichrast was deeply involved in as quoted in this article, as detailed in this quote from Ireland:

"It is a great honor to join Martin and Cindy Sumichrast of KURE Vaporium in their generosity and support of this important film. Our Co-Chairs for this red carpet event include the Sumichrasts, Rick and Diane Siskey as well as Craig and Anne Brewer," said Kathy Ireland Chair and CEO kathy ireland Worldwide.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/charlotte-premiere-of-award-winning-film-a-billion-lives-to-salute-local-firms-leadership-in-the-vaping-revolution-300365500.html

Any legitimate business professional would want to shy away from such bad PR in the wake of Rick Siskey's suicide, and anyone can understand why Ireland would want to do the same. But the rabbit hole just goes deeper as all of these same names keep appearing in related-party transactions among several companies--all with closely associated investors and management--deja vu marketing content and press releases, and the further one goes the more strange connections - and unsavory characters appears.

Unwinding this gordian knot of intertwined business relationships and the parties involved is confusing at the very least, but once it's explained it makes it easier to see the forest for the trees.

More to come.