INTRODUCTION

When you first meet Gil Gerretsen, you are instantly aware that he is distinctly different.

He has often been called a business oracle ... and his energy and confident style attest to his wisdom and his growing popularity as a business speaker.

Gil is President of BizTrek Marketing Mentors, a Greenville, SC based company which he started in 1994.

CREDENTIALS

Gil discovered the allure of marketing and sales at an early age. In 1971, at the age of 16, he led his Canadian Junior Achievement company in personal sales and to recognition as Canada's top student-run business. His reward? A six-week trip to anywhere in the world he wanted to go (he chose Europe).

Gil is the author of hundreds of articles in the field of marketing and small business growth. His works have been published in numerous magazines and newspapers. In 1999, he published his first book -- The Giraffe Principles. His second book is now in development.

With over three decades of experience in the field of marketing and sales, Gil has been recognized since 1997 in the Who's Who directories. An award for his 1997 selection as an "International Man Of The Year" is also proudly displayed in his office.

EDUCATION

Gil graduated in 1976 from the University of Calgary (Canada), where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a specialty in Organizational Management and minors in Marketing and Finance. Gil proved early that he is a go-getter because he earned this internationally recognized and intensive four-year degree in just 33 months ... while also working a 20-hour per week job! Upon graduation, his first action was to take a well-deserved two-month vacation camping up and down the American west coast.

CAREER

Gil spent his early career working for various national and international organizations as a marketing and fund raising professional. He says he especially valued his time in the non-profit sector because he always had to learn ... how to accomplish a lot ... with next to no resources. That is why he became so effective at turning around small businesses.

With a career that took him and his family to 10 locations within 12 years (he has now visited 48 of the 50 states), he decided to finally settle in Greenville, South Carolina in 1992, having enjoyed the community during an earlier visit.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Gil is very active in his community. He was instrumental in the development of an SBA Business Information Center for Upstate South Carolina.

He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce and also chairs the Small Business Cabinet. He is also a graduate of the Opportunity Greenville program.

Gil is a current Board member for the Clemson University Small Business Development Center.

He is a past Chairman of the Greenville Work Training Center, a former Board member for Greenville's Junior Achievement program, a former Board member for the Greenville Humane Society, and former Board member for Exercise Democracy (Tucson).

He is a member of Greenville's Christian Businessmen's Committee, and has been a volunteer with Meals On Wheels.

PERSONAL

Born in Rotterdam, Holland in 1955, and raised in Calgary, Canada Gil now resides with his wife Vicki in Tigerville, SC, a small community about 30 minutes drive north of Greenville. He has two step-children and three grandchildren.

Gil enjoys spending his spare time on his "hobby farm" just off the scenic Cherokee Highway in the northern foothills of Greenville County.

As time permits, Gil also enjoys Biblical studies, model railroading, gardening and oil painting.