I’m Robert Russ, a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, entrepreneur, and lifelong problem-solver. I spent more than 20 years in aircraft maintenance and maintenance management, leading people and complex operations in an environment where accountability, standards, and getting the job done mattered every day.

I’m Robert Russ, a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, entrepreneur, and lifelong problem-solver. I spent more than 20 years in aircraft maintenance and maintenance management, leading people and complex operations in an environment where accountability, standards, and getting the job done mattered every day.

After leaving the military, I took those lessons into the civilian world and eventually entrepreneurship. Today, I’m involved in multiple businesses, including the plumbing and trades industry, and I’m the founder of Above Ground Gear, an apparel and lifestyle brand built around resilience, discipline, patriotism, humor, and a simple philosophy: Stay Above Ground.

My entrepreneurial journey hasn't been a highlight reel. I've made good decisions and expensive mistakes. I've spent money on marketing that didn't produce results, pursued opportunities that didn't work out, dealt with the realities of hiring and leading people, and learned that being willing to work hard doesn't automatically mean you know how to build a successful business.

But that's also what makes my story worth sharing.

Aircraft maintenance taught me to troubleshoot: identify the problem, stop guessing, find the root cause, fix it, test it, and learn from it. I've tried to bring that same mentality into business and life.

I'm particularly interested in how blue-collar entrepreneurs can combine old-school values—hard work, craftsmanship, accountability, and keeping your word—with modern tools like automation and AI to compete against much larger companies.

Above Ground Gear grew out of that same philosophy. Stay Above Ground isn't just a slogan to me. It means you're going to get knocked down. Businesses fail. Plans change. Money gets wasted. Careers end. Life happens. You don't have to win every round—you have to keep getting back up.

I'm still building, still learning, still making mistakes, and still moving forward. That's the perspective I'd bring to the audience