Meet the Gilford•Johnson Leadership Team
Edward Harrison
President
Edward is the President of Gilford·Johnson Flooring. Assuming this role in October 2020, he leads all activities and operations, developing the company’s strategy, optimizing its operations, and ensuring its execution. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Edward worked with Blue Equity, the majority shareholder of Gilford·Johnson Flooring, in the capacity of Director of Business Development and as a Member of the Board. Part of this role involved leading many of the mergers and acquisitions for Gilford·Johnson Flooring as well as many other initiatives in a variety of industry sectors. Edward attended Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated with a B.S. in Economics.
Ron Geil
Chief Operating Officer
With oversight of the Customer Service, Purchasing, Warehousing, and Logistics functions, his responsibilities center around ensuring all orders are accurately and efficiently fulfilled from Lake Michigan to Key West. A highly- experienced operations executive, Ron joined GJ in 2018 and leads a team dedicated to providing industry-leading customer service. Most recently a General Manager for a specialty door manufacturer, he began his career with a manufacturer of personal protective equipment and then spent 15 years in Vice President of Operations roles for manufacturers of building materials. Ron holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from The Ohio State University.
Stephen Guess
Controller
Stephen Guess is Gilford•Johnson’s Controller. Before joining our team in 2021, he was controller for Precision Hose, Inc. and Bibble, Inc., as well as CFO at Inveshare. He also worked as an accountant for Outback Steakhouse and Redwood Systems. Stephen earned his BA in Accounting from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee.
David Dobbs
David is Gilford•Johnson’s Senior Vice President of Product Management & Technical Services. As such, he manages the company’s product sourcing and product training, as well as our key vendor partners in the Hardwood and Laminate categories. David is also responsible for sales to pure Internet accounts and our Technical Services & Quality Assurance department. With GJ since 2008, David previously managed GJ’s Customer Service and Purchasing functions in addition to certain product management and sales duties. Having begun his flooring career in installation, David brings a wealth of knowledge about all aspects of the business.
Chris Nelson
Senior Vice President, Business Operations & Chief Growth Officer
Chris is the Senior Vice President of Business Operations & Chief Growth Officer for Gilford•Johnson. Playing a major role in its revenue and growth, he is responsible for leading its Sales team, creating and delivering the overall Customer Experience, developing the company’s Marketing & Communications, and overseeing the Business Operations, including HR and Legal. Prior to joining GJ in 2011, Chris practiced business law with a law firm in Louisville, Kentucky. He received a B.S. in Television/Radio/Film from Syracuse University and a J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law.