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The ThriftSmart Story - Company Founders
Richard W. Gygi, Chairman.
Mr. Gygi has 37 years of leadership experience in consumer companies including Hallmark Cards; Lenox Candles; Artfaire, Division of Fox Valley Corporation; CPS Corporation, and American Greetings. At Artfaire, Dick founded the Paper Factory Stores, a successful startup in the factory outlet market, opening the first six stores. The chain was built to more than 200 stores through several changes in control, before Dick rejoined the board of Party Concepts, Inc.
After leading CPS Corporation as President for 13 years, Dick led the sale of the company to American Greetings before becoming President of PlusMark Corporation, a $240 million subsidiary and worldwide leader of seasonal gift wrap. Since 2003, Dick has led the startup of three companies, including ThriftSmart, with Tres Scheibe, all for the purpose of generating profits for charities. Dick has a BA in Management from Taylor University and an MBA in Marketing from Indiana University.
Tres Scheibe, CEO.
Mr.Scheibe has 20 years of leadership in diverse industries and roles. Tres has proven capable of delivering results in dynamic and demanding environments through his teams. Tres joined Nortel Networks in 1991 serving as Controller of $200 million Norstar Division. After a move to marketing, Tres led a series of initiatives that drove dramatic growth, taking Norstar to number one in global market share with more than $600 million in revenue.
After twelve successful years at Nortel with roles in Finance, Marketing, Sales, and Market Development, Tres left to found his own company in the IT industry providing small businesses with IT solutions. After two years, in the IT industry, Tres decided to change directions and co-founded ThriftSmart with Dick Gygi. Tres has a BA from University of Mississippi and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
Larry Holmes, VP Finance.
Mr. Holmes has more than 30 years of experience as a financial executive with startup and public companies. From 1994-2001, Larry was CFO and VP Administration for CPS Corporation, a $130 million manufacturer of gift wrap products. Prior to CPS, Larry was CFO of DeVlieg-Bullard, a $94 million diversified multi-location industrial concern, where he directed the full range of financial services when the company more than doubled in size and went public.
Larry has more than twenty years of diversified multi-national experience with General Electric Company in financial management and cost accounting. Larry has an accounting degree from the University of Washington.