Our Team
Bringing Reliable Experts to Remarkable Leather
Let us serve as an extension of your team while we work together in achieving your perfect leather look.
Account Executives
Gina Wilkins
Southern California and Las VegasGina, an experienced interior designer, began her career designing 5-star hotels in Washington DC. With 20 years of expertise as a consultative account representative, she excels in providing innovative solutions to designers, architects, and end users in key US markets. Her passion lies in working with the wonderful clientele in Southern California and Las Vegas.
Grace Rek
Illinois, Wisconsin, and IndianaGrace spent years at corporate headquarters and learned every aspect of the business. She moved to Chicago and currently enjoys meeting customers face-to-face to promote her family’s business.
Elissa Baker
Southern Texas and LouisianaOver the last six years, Elissa has built strong relationships and exceeded client expectations serving the A&D community. Inspired by collaboration, she navigates the dynamic world of design with enthusiasm and a commitment to your vision.
Lauren Potak
Northern Texas and OklahomaLauren earned her degree in interior design and began her career in New York City within the A&D community. She moved to Dallas to work as a sales executive in the hospitality and multi-family markets prior to joining our team. She currently sits on the NEWH Board of Directors.
Rich Ruggeri
Director of Business AviationBased in Dallas, Rich works closely with our VIP aviation clients throughout the United States to further strengthen and expand our relationships within the aviation community.
Lucia Portali Waters
ManhattanLucia is enthusiastic about leather and has comprehensive knowledge of the leather industry. She ran her own art and design business and has experience collaborating with designers, architects and purchasing agents throughout the A&D community.
Julia Cotsarelis
Outer Boroughs, New Jersey, Fairfield ConnecticutAs a trained interior designer and design industry professional, Julia is uniquely positioned to understand the needs of the A&D Community. Educated at the NY School of Interior Design, she launched her career as a designer at high-end residential firms in Manhattan before moving into commercial design. Julia progressed into sales and enjoys fostering relationships within the A&D community.
Oscar Burgos
New York Showroom ManagerOscar has experience in both outside sales and showroom management. As a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Oscar is thrilled to be back at the Decoration & Design Building to assist designers in finding the perfect products.
Paula Cavallin
Ontario and QuebecPaula has worked in the A&D community for over 25 years and has been involved with exciting projects. She has a passion for interior design and loves collaborating with her clients to help them creatively solve the challenges they face.
Kimberly Patriarca
New EnglandKim earned her degree in Interior Design. She has been in the contract furniture industry for 20 years, collaborating with end-users and the A&D community throughout the New England region. She prides herself in providing the best customer experience and product solutions for her clients. She has a passion for design and loves seeing projects come to fruition.
Ailene Werner
Mid-AtlanticAilene is a seasoned professional in the architecture and design industry. She is an accomplished hospitality designer. Ailene brings a strong work ethic and great industry connections to Garrett Leather.
Heather Leopold
Alabama, Georgia, and TennesseeHeather is an experienced professional spending years in the textiles industry with well-known brands. Her enthusiasm and passion for design enable her to assist clients with an incredible amount of energy and personal service.
Laura McMillan
North and South CarolinaLaura brings energy, passion for design, and a unique blend of residential and commercial sales experience to Garrett Leather. She is dedicated to being a trusted resource for her clients by providing product education and innovative design solutions. Laura enjoys being an active member of IIDA.
Angela Kelman
Northern FloridaDuring the last two decades, Angela has worked with the A&D community on projects throughout the world. She enjoys collaborating with clients to help them bring their visions to reality.
Patricia Civil
Southern FloridaPatricia has strong A&D relationships from her years in sales with a fabric company. Just prior to joining Garrett Leather, she specified artwork and mirrors within the hospitality industry. Patricia enjoys promoting our products to all industries within her territory.
Corporate Headquarters
Max Brown
PresidentMax represents the second generation of the company. After a decade of managing various departments throughout the organization, he was ready to take the helm. He continues to lead the company with the founding ideals firmly in place.
Bridget Forth
Vice President of FinanceBridget earned her master’s degree in accounting from St. Bonaventure University and passed the CPA exam. For decades, she has managed the finances for the company and has kept us in the black.
John Sansano
Vice President of OperationsJohn has 20 years of experience in logistics and operations management. He oversees all shipping, receiving and quality control procedures. He is Six Sigma Black Belt certified and excels at improving productivity and inventory accuracy.
Roberta Sand
Vice President of MarketingRoberta has managed strategies to build and promote our brand for almost three decades. She oversees all marketing initiatives, including new product development, sales collateral, digital platforms, website development, public relations, and special events.
Jennifer Coleman
Vice President of Aviation SalesFor over 30 years, Jennifer has nurtured and grown our aviation business to record levels. Her dedication and commitment to exceeding customers’ expectations are simply unparalleled.
Ed Berowski
Vice President of SalesEd manages our Account Executives, developing lasting relationships with team members and clients. His ongoing support and mentoring ensure we are creating the best possible client experience.
Shawn Martin
Operations ManagerShawn is an accomplished and dedicated professional with over 20 years of management experience. As a key leader within our organization, he is committed to delivering excellence in the areas of Shipping, Receiving, and Sampling.
Cara Haley
Quality Assurance ManagerCara works closely with our tanneries to ensure that all incoming leather articles meet our quality standards. She leads product inspections and oversees our ISO 9001:2015 compliance.
Carlos Montalvo
Receiving ManagerCarlos manages our Receiving team and incoming deliveries. He ensures all leather is processed and added to our inventory promptly for our customers to purchase.
Zoila Rosa
Sampling ManagerZoila is detailed-oriented and has exceptional organizational skills to ensure all samples ship accurately and on-time.
Paul Rose
Special Projects ManagerPaul is responsible for planning, quoting, and handcrafting Wall Panel orders. He also manages the procurement of other special projects such as Welt Cord, Rug Binding, and Leather Tassels.
Josh Hagadorn
Process ManagerJosh keeps all departments running at maximum efficiency by implementing and improving operating procedures. His comprehensive data analysis is pivotal to managing our growth.
Les Kuntar
Sales ManagerLeveraging over two decades of management experience across diverse industries, Les brings a proven track record of building and guiding successful sales teams. Joining forces with Ed Berowski, our Account Executives, and Inside Sales, Les focuses on cultivating and maintaining strong client relationships while driving sales growth.
Ryan DePaolo
Remote Account ExecutiveRyan has extensive sales experience and strong customer focus. He enjoys collaborating with clients to help them see their projects through conception to completion.
Lynne Cook
Remote Account ExecutiveWith over 25 years in sales, Lynne is enthusiastic about building strong relationships and enjoys effectively collaborating with clients. She consistently focuses on clients' needs and thrives to deliver excellence in service.
Jean Rahuba
Client Experience ManagerWith over 25 years of experience in sales, product management, and customer service leadership, Jean brings a unique perspective to her role. She is committed to continuous improvement and encourages the Client Services team to think creatively in the best interest of the customer.
Adam Gilewski
Major Accounts Client ServicesAdam joined our team more than a decade ago and has worked in various departments, including Quality Assurance, Special Projects, and Inside Sales. With his vast experience and leather expertise, he provides exceptional service to our clients.
Nancy Lipinczyk
Transportation Client ServicesNancy has a way of putting a smile on everyone’s face with her cheerful outlook and enthusiasm. Nancy loves working together with customers and helping them in every way that she can. She has a keen eye for design and a strong personal commitment to providing top-notch quality.
Julie Nicometo
TRANSPORTATION CLIENT SERVICESJulie worked in our Sampling and Shipping departments prior to moving into Client Services. She has a thorough understanding of our products and customers. Julie enjoys helping customers make the best selections for their projects. Her high energy level and “can-do” attitude are tremendous assets to the team.
Ersa Shaikh
TRANSPORTATION CLIENT SERVICESErsa transitioned from our A&D Client Service group where she serviced a vast portfolio of clients with unique demands to Transportation where she offers exceptional customer assistance. She has a knack for managing a great deal of detail without sacrificing quick and timely turnaround for customers.
Michelle Choinski
A&D Client ServicesMichelle loves to assist her clients in making the best selections. She has a positive outlook and a sincere willingness to help others.
Michael Wisniewski
A&D Client ServicesMichael worked in our Quality Assurance department prior to moving to Client Services. His friendly demeanor and focus on quality excel during all of his interactions with his customers.
Catherine Jago
A&D Client ServicesCatherine joined our team with extensive experience in customer relations and account management. Catherine loves to learn and has an amazing capacity to manage a large customer base with a high rate of speed, which translates into fantastic service for our customers. Her warmth and professional poise are the perfect fit.
Michelle Zanghi
A&D CLIENT SERVICESWith over two decades of experience in the banking industry, Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the realm of customer service. She has a deep appreciation for working closely with customers, understanding their needs, and delivering solutions with the utmost dedication.
Priscilla Baldwin
A&D Client ServicesPriscilla has more than ten years of experience and an impressive track record of providing outstanding customer service. She is dedicated to giving the best service possible to every single client. Priscilla does not shy away from a challenge and takes personal responsibility to ensure our clients are nothing less than delighted.
Michelle Nasca
Client Services Support SpecialistMichelle has worked in client services for more than two decades. Her tenure has given her several opportunities to work cross-functionally to provide the highest level of customer service. She remains an integral player and resource for the Client Services team and supports our clients in the United Kingdom.