Gary Garner - President and CEO
Gary was first exposed to the printing business in 1969, when he took a printing class as a junior at Columbia Heights High School. Gary picked up on the technology so quickly that he earned instant A’s in the class and went on to become the teacher’s assistant the following year. Then, during his senior year, fate stepped in. “A local building supply company called the school looking for someone to help produce its wholesale, loose leaf lumber catalog,” Gary recalls. “I was recommended, and it wasn’t long before I started working there part-time.” At the ripe old age of 17, Gary’s journey into printing had officially begun.

His first official job at a large, commercial printing company came a few months after graduation, where he went to work as a press “feeder.” Three years later, Gary started working for a small printing company in Minneapolis, where he was brought on as managing operator. Gary first caught the sales bug at this company. “The owner told me if it was slow, I could go out and sell. So, I went out and bought my first sports coat, and my career in printing sales was started.”

Over the years, Gary racked up another 10 years of printing sales experience. Then, in 1984, he and two partners founded General Litho Services. Today, Gary serves as president and CEO of GLS, overseeing all aspects of the business operation. He’s also active in several industry associations, including PIM, PIA and MDMA.

When he’s not in the office, you might find Gary driving one of his classic cars or street rods, or playing a round of golf on one of his favorite Minnesota courses. Gary lives in Ham Lake, Minn., with his wife Marsha.