About Us: Our Company and Its Founders

Every caregiver knows that pre-school age children are in continuous motion, both in body and in mind.  They are constantly exploring, building, tearing down, and rebuilding.  They are filled with a seemingly infinite supply of joy and energy, and they thrill in the act of discovery. Brains and Brawn, LLC and Obstacle House!™ was born out of our desire to celebrate this vital time in our own young children’s lives. Three founding partners, all sisters, together with their families, have contributed both intellectually and creatively to the Obstacle House!™ game.

Ramona Mazzeo, M.D., together with her two energetic sons, ages six and three, were the inspiration and creators of the Obstacle House!™ concept. Ramona was always on the lookout for ways to engage her boys in active play away from the TV and computer.  When the new wave of obstacle and endurance races began to take off, she and the boys thrilled in designing their own “pre-school” versions.  Before we knew it, that initial idea had evolved into a children’s exercise product that would benefit many active families around the country.

Jennifer MaLossi, M.D., an accomplished specialty surgeon and mother of an active four year old son, is no stranger to the infinite number of toys and learning games on the market.  Her son, Andrew, went through “toddlerhood” and contributed greatly during the “product development” stages of Obstacle House!™ .  His continued enthusiasm for playing the game has shown his mother and his aunts how beneficial the game really is in developing coordination, agility, endurance, and strength. 

Victoria MaLossi-Perry is a sixth grade English teacher. Her knowledge of the skills children need to be successful at school has helped the team to consider ways that Obstacle House!™ may be used to promote both cognitive and social development in pre-school age children.  More than that, she knows that as children gain agility, coordination, and endurance, their self-confidence also improves.  This is THE KEY to success at school for any child.