Bio

Gary has thirty years of experience leading closely held consumer product companies and has an extensive background with global markets, brand management, product innovation, manufacturing, out sourcing and retail channel strategies. Under Gary’s CEO leadership, he has built and sold two family enterprises to Fortune 500 companies at significant gains to shareholders. Gary is the co-founder and managing partner of Generation Equity Investors, (GEI), and founder of Generation Equity Capital, (GEC), private equity firms that specializes in the lower middle market space. Prior to founding GEI, Gary was president and CEO of Weston Nurseries, a leading New England nursery grower, retailer, wholesaler, and landscaper designer. Gary was the first outsider to run the fourth generation 80-year-old family business and led a turnaround and revitalization of the company that resulted in significantly improved cash flow and increased revenue. Previously, Gary served as CEO of Kryptonite, the preeminent global producer of portable security products. Gary worked closely with the family, board and other stakeholders to lead the 25-year-old family business through a strategic transformation that resulted in doubled revenues, dramatic increases in profitability, and an improved balance sheet. Under Gary’s watch, Kryptonite was sold to Ingersoll Rand in the summer of 2001 for more than 12 times the value of the business when he joined. Gary began his career at American Brush Company, a leading manufacturer of paint applicator products, where he was the fourth generation owner. As president and CEO, he oversaw significant growth, and ultimately sold the firm to The StanleyWorks Company, where he stayed on for three years as President of their paint applicator division. Gary has served on the board of directors and board of advisors for numerous family consumer product business concerns as well as multiple non-profits. A native of Newton, Massachusetts, Gary attended Washington University in St. Louis, earned his B.A. from Clark University in Worcester Mass, and completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Gary was the winner of The Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for New England for consumer products in 2000. Gary is a frequent lecturer at Babson College in Wellesley Mass, The International Management School at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA and Baruch College in Manhattan. Gary and his wife, Ethel live in Boston and Cape Cod. They have two grown married children and six adorable grandchildren. In his spare time, Gary enjoys cycling, tennis, skiing and gardening.