Meet The Team - Gemlux | Marineware Experts | Boating Hardware

MEET THE TEAM

Erle Bridgewater

Chairman

Erle Bridgewater bought GEM products as an investment opportunity back in 1980. He has done everything from performing most of the tasks in small business including product selection, sales, accountant and janitor to that of a more traditional executive. He now enjoys the role of Chairman and coach. He also enjoys travelling - particularly the challenge of meeting local people for whom English is not their first language. He much prefers the challenge of going somewhere, renting a car, and going on his own rather than having a guide.

Matt Bridgewater

CEO

Since his first day on the job back in 1994, Matt has worked tirelessly to improve the boating experience for the end user. With the help of his GEM team members, and many of Gemlux's customers, Matt is very proud to have developed dozens of products that are patented in the U.S, European Union, China, and Taiwan. Matt always has a smile on his face and a positive attitude, and you will never see him happier than when he is on his boat. His love for the industry started when he was just a kid, growing up in Florida. He would ride bikes with his buddies and all their fishing gear to the St. Johns River. They would fill the buckets with them and rush back to his backyard pond to set them free.

Cole Coker

Senior Vice President

Cole has been with GEM over 17 years and grew up in the Jacksonville area. The reason he came to work at GEM from a steel company was to be able to fish more. Ironically, because we are always so busy it hasn't worked out. Over the years he has helped to build and maintain a certain culture at GEM, which has made work enjoyable. He has come to know many of the people in the industry as friends over the years. When he’s not on the road, you can find him surf fishing, or traveling with his wife and two children.

Barry Hall

General Manager

Barry has always had a love for water, so working in the marine industry was a natural fit for him. He attended the University of Florida where he earned both his MBA and undergraduate degree. Barry has 20 years experience working in Finance, Strategy, and Information Technology. In his spare time, Barry enjoys travelling and spending time at the beach or pool with his family.

Monica Bridgewater

HR & Finance

Monica has been working with her family at Gem since 1998. She has had many roles at Gem through the years including inside sales, marketing, HR and finance. Currently she is on the finance side working with Human Resources, benefits and payroll processes. It brings her a lot of joy creating a culture that our family strives on which is “Family First”. “All of GEM”s employees are an extension of our family and coming to work is like leaving one home for another,” she says. She enjoys fishing, swimming and anything outdoors.

Ash Gravely

VP of Engineering

New to GEM in 2018, Ash has a unique background that includes, a B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke University, Master’s in Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business school at UNC-Chapel Hill, a Professional Engineering License, and a Naval Sea Systems Command certification in Propeller Inspection. He grew up fishing in the Outerbanks of NC.

Jason Sarnowski

Director of Innovation & Supply Chain

Jason has been on the GEM team for 13 years, coming onboard with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He has invented numerous patents, most notably, the outrigger mount, pull up cleat, friction hinge, and adjustable drain. He loves to create innovative solutions for everyday boating problems. In his spare time, you can find him playing tabletop games and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Lauren Alleva

Director of Marketing

Lauren has been working in marketing for over 15 years, coming on board with GEM in early 2018. With a personal passion for boating, she enjoys providing relatable content for GEM's customers. Lauren runs all things Marketing, from the website, emails, and social media. 

Originally from New England, she enjoys doing all the outdoor things with her two children year-round.

Rob Blackerby

Director of IT

Helping to develop and implement the applications, systems, infrastructure, and processes that we use at GEM is what Rob enjoys most. The business is constantly evolving which brings new challenges and experiences. However, the people and atmosphere are what makes it really great, no wonder he has been here for over 16 years! Beyond GEM, he likes working on projects around the house, traveling, playing golf, and spending time with family and friends.

Sally & Booty

Team Mascots

The Bridgewater lab sisters love to visit the GEM office, especially the breakroom. When they aren’t sniffing out snacks in our offices, you can find them lounging on the docks at their house, waiting for the next boat ride.