Gerry Udell, Inc.

Gary Udell

Principal

Gary is the President to the firm and is very well known throughout the industry. He had the honor of being elected as the first representative from a sales agency to serve on the PBA’s (Professional Beauty Association) Manufacturer’s Leadership Council. Prior to that, he was of the only rep principal to serve four years at the Beauty and Barber Institute with major manufacturers and beauty distributors. He is the author of industry articles and has frequently participated in various industry panels and interviews. Gary oversees the management of Gerry Udell, Inc. and works with the sales reps on key accounts. Gary and his brother Glenn have been responsible for pioneering many leading brands in the Professional Beauty Industry.

What is your favorite Sports Team? NY Yankees.

What is your favorite city in the Northeast? Boston (I am still a Yankee fan!).

Where do you reside? New York City!

What is your favorite food? Simple Italian.

Why do you love the beauty industry? Still one of the most exciting and innovative industries with unique and wonderful people. The beauty industry has been very good to my family.

Best experience in the industry? Working with entrepreneurial people to build successful companies.

Changes in the industry? Our company has been successful for six decades. You have to embrace change as well as trying to be creative in instituting change.

Who is your hero? My father. Thanks to our father who laid the foundation of our company, we were able to live the American dream. He was a true entrepreneur who took risks.

College? Rutgers University. I was lucky that it provided me with a great education both academically and socially.

You can’t start the day without Coffee and reading three actual newspapers! And yes, I wake up early!

What is the one thing in life you cannot live without? Swimming.

What do you do to relax? Swimming or reading.

What was the last good movie you saw? None!

Favorite TV/Netflix program or series The American.

What is your favorite sport? Tennis.

Favorite vacation spots in the Northeast? The Cape (Cape Cod) Hamptons, Jersey Shore.

Favorite places outside US? Anywhere in the Caribbean and anywhere in Italy.

What do you eat for breakfast? Too healthy to describe.

What would surprise people about you? I had a lot of hair at one time.

Do you have a fitness ritual? How often? I start the day by swimming forty minutes in the early morning at least five times a week.

What is your favorite song? I’m Yours – Jason Mraz