The Gator Squad

AKA: Starkman, Starkman5000, Starky
HOMETOWN: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Golfing, traveling (especially with his wife Kirsten, son Palmer, and daughter Lily), spending time with family and friends, downhill skiing, and hanging out at the cabin
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Packers and all Badger teams
FAVORITE MOVIE: Tin Cup
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HIM: He enjoys playing music (guitar, piano, and drums) in his free time.

Most people who meet Cole quickly learn of his obsession with golf. "Golf is my favorite thing to watch on TV. The Masters is the best event in all of sports and I even installed a TV in my office for Masters Week!"

Cole joined the family business in 2008 after graduating from UW-Eau Claire. Since then, he has taken over ownership of the company. His favorite part of his job is working with clients and the rest of the Gator Squad, which has become a second family to him. "It’s really wonderful to have a job where we can be creative as a team and have fun, all while helping our clients grow their businesses!"

AKA: Freddie, Frederico, Auggie
HOMETOWN: Bangor, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Golfing, boating, traveling, and spending time at his cottage with family
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers
FAVORITE MOVIE: Christmas Vacation
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HIM: He used to be a physical education teacher.

Fred founded Gator Garb in 1997 and has had the honor to evolve the company into what it is today. Since his son took over the company, he transitioned to being a salesman and developer of new business. "Selling is what I LOVE to do!" He is grateful to continue to connect with all of you and be a part of the incredible team at Gator Garb!

"Gator Garb is a goal-driven company with an exciting future! A group of energetic salespeople, along with an outstanding internal support staff, puts the company in a position to support it's customer base. I would like to thank all of the great customers we have served over my years of doing business. Your support has helped us grow into one of the premier promotional companies in the Midwest. Thank you!"

AKA: D, Di
HOMETOWN: Stanley, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Listening to live music, spending time with friends and family, drawing, fishing, and enjoying coffee with her Saturday morning coffee girls
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Not a big sports fan, but she does enjoy the Green Bay Badgers! ;)
FAVORITE MOVIE: Tommy Boy and What About Bob?
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: She and her husband met Paul McCartney and were honored to sit in on his sound check before one of his shows. Amazing!

Diane loves to create and draw and send those creations off into the world to see what it becomes. Sometimes it is successful, sometimes not, but as her dad used to say, “Every day fish day, but not every day catch day”!

AKA: Radar
HOMETOWN: Minneapolis, Minnesota
HOBBIES: Motorcycle riding and gardening
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Packers!!
FAVORITE MOVIE: Pretty Woman
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: She started in this business in 1990 as a manual screen printer and quality control inspector at the end of a dryer.

"Gator Garb has, and always will be, my home and family! I have had amazing opportunities to grow both professionally and personally with this fabulous team. Working with the sales team by assisting them to find unique opportunities and products for their customers is very rewarding. Supporting and working with the office staff is always fun and fulfilling. We are always learning ways to be better at what we do so we can go above and beyond our competition. Love this family!!"

AKA: Johnny, OB
HOMETOWN: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Golfing, spending time outside, boating, water skiing, grilling, campfires, and morning walks through the woods with his golden retriever
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Wild, and Wisconsin Badgers Football
FAVORITE MOVIE: Miracle
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HIM: He is a former professional Water Ski Show skier and boat driver.

John has been part of the Gator Garb team since 2007. He is typically found outside of the office meeting with both current and prospective new clients.

AKA: Big D, Dees Knees
HOMETOWN: Newark, Delaware
HOBBIES: Golfing, hunting, and spending time with family
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Eagles and Packers (grew up a Reggie White fan)
FAVORITE MOVIE: Anything Marvels
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HIM: He was in the Marines.

Dave loves his job and makes it his goal to find new ways to make his clients look like superstars! His favorite part of his job is making new friends.

AKA: Rors
HOMETOWN: Eau Claire, Wisconsin (born in Shell Lake)
HOBBIES: Begging, sleeping, greeting people, cleaning the floor, long walks, and swimming
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Packers
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Greatest Game Ever Played
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HIM: He is a miniature golden retriever. His dad is only 40 lbs and his mom is 45 lbs...somehow he weighs in at 70 lbs. He blames it on getting lots of treats! ;)

Rory joined the Gator Garb team in 2016 when he realized he couldn’t jump on people walking through the door. The best part about his job is making the Gator Squad feel loved and appreciated. His favorite thing to do when not working is travel to Colorado and explore new hiking trails. His summers are spent at the lake relaxing on the pontoon and swimming as much as possible.  

HOMETOWN: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Reading, spending time at their cabin, and quality time with family. If she has any free time, she enjoys connecting with her close friends and attending concerts!
FAVORTIE SPORTS TEAM: Whatever teams her three kids (and their friends) are on. They are currently huge high school basketball, volleyball, and track supporters, along with middle school flag football.
FAVORTIE MOVIE: Overboard (1987). She refuses to see the new one because the original is a classic.
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: Being mindful of herself and those around her is very important. She truly enjoys being around kind, happy, and thoughtful people. Sometimes she gets too serious, but embraces and loves the moments when people can break through and make her relax and laugh. ❤️ 

Sara is not only the leader of the Finance team, but also the VP of Operations which is a big job. She is responsible for managing the inside team while making sure processes and operations are up-to-date and gives Gator Garb the place to grow and move through the days at the right pace!

AKA: TooSharp, C-Money
HOMETOWN: Savage, Minnesota
HOBBIES: Music, reading, bustin' a move, and always trying to improve
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: All Minnesota teams
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Shawshank Redemption and Walk the Line
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HIM: He was a Security Policeman in the US Air Force.

Carter is always on the lookout for the newest and coolest promo items to offer his clients. His life mantra is to "enjoy life and love to laugh...Eye of the Tiger!!!".

AKA: Morgs, Mogs, Bargain
HOMETOWN: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Collecting vintage Tupperware and tins, eating at new restaurants, drinking Mountain Dew, driving fast, and listening to Jim Croce
FAVORITE MOVIE: What About Bob? and The Other Guys
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: She hates Mariah Carey and 1970-1981 Camaros.

Morgan started in November of 2017 and has made her presence known in our Customer Service department. She is very knowledgeable and can take any order from start to finish, as well as tackle any hiccups along the way. She has been a great addition to the team. “The best part about working at Gator Garb is meeting and networking with people in our hometown. It’s exciting to see the products we make out and about in the community and at different events!”

AKA: Bamber, Ambs, Ahmber
HOMETOWN: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Hiking, jigsaw puzzles, escape rooms, kickboxing, painting her nails, and laying in her hammock
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: How about favorite Broadway production? That would be Evita. ;)
FAVORITE MOVIE: A League of Their Own
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: A few of her bucket list items are to own a field of horses, summit a fourteener, go for a ride in a hot air balloon, and be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune.

Amber has had an eye for art and design since she was a child. She used to paint creations on wood scraps her father would sand down for her, and she was constantly rearranging the furniture in her bedroom or designing floorplans for her Barbies. To this day, her closet is color-coordinated, the walls of her house are filled with her artwork, and she dabbles in making her own jewelry. She is thankful to work for a company who encourages her to let her creativity shine (especially when she asked if she could dye her hair like a mermaid)!

AKA: GiGi (Grandma Gorgeous) :)
HOMETOWN: Minnesota born and raised and currently living nearby Medicine Lake in Plymouth, Minnesota
HOBBIES: Sailing, yoga, gardening, traveling, cooking, communications, pottery, drumming, and trying out any new art or well-being class. She also enjoys spending time with her family and finds joy in being a big part of her grandson Edan's life.
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: She is loyal to the Minnesota Vikings, Twins, Gophers, and Timber Wolves. Love basketball!
FAVORITE MOVIE: Love Actually 
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: She loves being on the water and participates as crew on a team racing sailboats on Lake Minnetonka. Pam is also a Rummikub strategist, is a re-upped Girl Scout Leader, loves playing games, and she stops watches.

Pam brings over 27 years of experience with promotions to our team and has a deep background in hospitality, incentives, meetings, and events. She is a master at whole marketing concepts and bringing her clients' visions and goals together to achieve their mission(s). She loves creative strategy, logistics, themes, and branding. She truly leads her clients with quality and integrity and her goal is to always keep her clients on the mainstage. Philanthropy and contribution is very important to Pam and she practices living every day to the max.

AKA: B-Rad
HOMETOWN: Kaukauna, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Traveling, hiking, golfing, video games, and fishing
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Green Bay Packers
FAVORITE MOVIE: Days of Thunder
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HIM: He is the owner and founder of the Midwest’s Largest Self-Pour Taproom, located here in downtown Eau Claire, WI called The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen.

"Your career isn't just another job—it's a passion and a hobby that fuels your soul 24/7/365. When you love what you do, every challenge becomes an opportunity, every sale a victory, and every day a chance to turn your dreams into reality."

AKA: B
HOMETOWN: Mondovi, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Playing guitar and piano, watching her favorite shows (The Office and King of Queens), going on walks, and spending time with family
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Is Rummikub considered a sport? Is there an official Rummikub team?
FAVORITE MOVIE: Step Brothers
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: She has an identical twin sister, Rachel!

Bria graduated from UW-Stout in 2020 with her Bachelor’s degree in Digital Marketing Technology. She enjoyed doing data analysis while in college, but realized shortly after graduation she had an interest in graphic design. Most of her design knowledge is self-taught through watching YouTube tutorials and listening to podcasts. She enjoys working with a variety of clients and loves being able to see her designs come to life!

AKA: Eca, Roma
HOMETOWN: Laoac, Pangasinan, Philippines
HOBBIES: Reading books (usually fantasy adventure), playing board or video games, and trying new things
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Since Rome is more interested in books she rarely watches sports. If she does, she tends to cheer for the underdog or any fellow Slytherins.
FAVORITE MOVIE: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: She could spend all day listening to the music of Patrick Doyle and John Williams.

Working at Gator Garb is Rome's first brush with the promo industry and she is incredibly grateful to work with a team of amazing people who are always eager to answer any questions.

AKA: Meg, Meg-a-tron, Murphy
HOMETOWN: Arcadia, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Golfing, hot yoga, going for walks, playing board games or cards (Euchre and Cribbage), and anything sports related
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Green Bay Packers
FAVORITE MOVIE: A League of Their Own and Tin Cup
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: Meghan LOVES the Game Show Network. Chain Reaction is her favorite game and would love to be on the show one day. She loves to watch golf on TV (especially the LPGA) and she will not miss a Packer game...ever.

"I am excited to be part of such a great team. They work hard, but have fun while doing it. I love helping our customers stand out with the latest and greatest apparel and promotional items!"

AKA: Sam
HOMETOWN: Strum, Wisconsin
HOBBIES: Playing games, crafting, being outdoors, and spending time with family
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Green Bay Packers...but also cheering on her kids' sports teams
FAVORITE MOVIE: She doesn't really watch movies, but her favorite TV show is Criminal Minds
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: You will never catch her eating the ends of certain foods (bananas, hot dogs, and beef sticks to name a few)

"I am excited to be a part of this awesome team! It has been a blast learning about all of the new promotional products, while being able to help others along the way. I enjoy coming to work every day and the Gator Garb staff, vendors, and clients make that possible."

AKA: Rose, RL
HOMETOWN: Pampanga, Philippines
HOBBIES: Biking, traveling, playing with her dogs, and watching K-dramas
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Hmm...none. Not really a sports fan. :D
FAVORITE MOVIE: Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: Rose used to be a choir member when she was little but has never tried karaoke until now. She also loves watching legal thriller/drama shows and thinks lawyers are really awesome!

"Working at Gator Garb Promotions is a real joy! The company is full of friendly, hardworking people who are passionate about their work. I enjoy helping our clients and vendors with their accounts and I’m proud to be on a team that is dedicated to delivering the best for our clients and always pushing to improve."

AKA: Kai
HOMETOWN: Ann Arbor, Michigan
HOBBIES: Traveling to new places, hiking, and playing games with family...especially shaking dice
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Benchwarmers
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: She has a phobia of birds.

Kaiya is excited to work with such creative and fun-loving people that have welcomed her like family. "Every day is new and exciting for me, which is hard to find at a job."

HOMETOWN: Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines
HOBBIES: Going to the cinemas and watching horror movies
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: She doesn't have a favorite sports team, but loves pop girl groups for sure!
FAVORITE MOVIE: Anak (2000) dr. Rory Quintos
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER: In an alternate universe, Mikee is a renowned Filipino filmmaker who has won numerous accolades and has had the opportunity to work with her favorite actors, including Vilma Santos, Judy Ann Santos, and Elizabeth Olsen.

Mikee graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Animation from Holy Angel University in 2019. Since then, she has worked with various local and international clients. She is excited to grow in the industry and feels lucky to be part of a team that values its employees' well-being and career growth.

AKA: Jake the Snake, Jake from State Farm
HOMETOWN: Albertville, Minnesota
HOBBIES: Growing up in MN means Jake is all about camping, fishing, canoeing, and all things Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: See Amber's profile answer ;)
FAVORITE MOVIE: Young Frankenstein - "It's pronounced Fronken-steen!"
SOMETHING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT HIM: He was a musical theater actor from 2006-2017. He enjoyed doing regional productions throughout the country and especially enjoyed his time living and working in Chicago.

Jake is absolutely thrilled to have found a new home with Gator Garb Promotions. It's rare to find a team that strives for greatness in all aspects, and even rarer to find a team that succeeds at that very thing.