ROLE

Bachelors Degree, Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University; Marketing/Accounting

Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Veteran

Gerald AKA “Jerry”, a native New Yorker from humble beginnings, whose parents were entrepreneurs that owned and operated a dress manufacturing business in the garment district.  He enlisted in the US Navy at 17, where he served on a destroyer in the pacific during the Vietnam War.  During his 10 years of active service, he attended and graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a business degree in Marketing.

After serving 10 years and being discharged as a Chief Petty Officer, Gerry discovered that his skills as a signalman were not exactly in NYC demand and found himself in search of a job.

In 1979, Gerry began his career selling light bulbs for a company called Capital Lighting. Soon after, he teamed up with his sales manager and together they started a company called Metropolitan Lighting. They sold light bulbs & lamps directly to end users and initiated the retrofit business by converting old lighting to more energy-efficient systems. They also undertook electrical contracting projects, installing sub-metering systems that allowed landlords to master meter buildings and then sub-meter individual tenants—a profitable venture for the landlords.

Unfortunately, this business venture didn’t last. They weren’t making enough money, and with a mortgage and two young children, ages 1 and 2, Gerry quickly realized he needed to find a better way to support his family.

Using his life savings of $500, Gerry went out on his own and began knocking on doors in the garment district. As Gerry recalls, “I’d ride the elevator to the top floor and visit every office on each floor. To keep track, I marked the left corner of the elevator cab with a magic marker, signaling to myself that I’d been there and wouldn’t return until the following year. Each week, I went from being a hero on Friday to a bum on Monday, having to start the process all over again. Though I was making decent money, the grind was taking its toll.”

After three years, Gerry realized he needed to pivot again. He started GFC and soon became one of the major GE lamp distributors in the Tri-State area. He expanded to selling fixtures and spec’ing out lighting projects but he struggled to get competitive prices and often lost out on quoted projects. Gerry then had a lightbulb moment (haha)…he began working with manufacturers directly, creating lighting schedules that matched specs but were 30% cheaper. By developing these value engineering packages, his business began to thrive. This innovative approach upset many in the New York market who did not appreciate his substitution approach and the competition that it created for them

Within about 10 years time, the New York market adapted, realizing they needed to embrace value engineering or face obsolescence. developers had caught onto the concept of not needing to spend $1 million for lighting, if they could spend $600k for identical products!

However, as Gerry recounts, “What really set GFC apart from other distributors in the long run was their comprehensive service. We stored all materials in our insured, bonded warehouse and project-managed the entire process. We shipped materials as needed, ensuring efficient delivery and installation. Our commitment to service led to lasting relationships with construction managers and developers, appreciated this unique and flexible business model, and therefore continued to use us even when they switched companies.”

We have since expanded our business into lighting controls, switchgear, inverters, and generators, positioning ourselves as a major and comprehensive player in the industry.

Our guiding principle is simple: we are the supply ship, dedicated to delivering without excuses. We answer every call and operate as partners in construction management, much like an owner’s representative.

After 35 years in the business, GFC Lighting has built a solid reputation as the premiere provider of lighting solutions. We serve our clients nationwide and pride ourselves on our continuous dedication of service to our customers. We are the best at what we do, and our story is a testament to the resilience and innovation that will stand the test of time.

Garment District in 1955 - Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Unparalleled Customer Service

…All rolled into one AMAZING client experience!

Our commitment is to exceed industry standards and continually push the boundaries and expectations for lighting wholesalers. By merging detailed product knowledge, lighting design, installation and maintenance with budget constraints, we establish a foundation for delivering unparalleled customer service for every project.