Director of Vendor & Grower Relation

Mike Bilger was born and raised in Western Canada. The son of an Executive Chef, Mike grew up in the hospitality industry managing several high-volume restaurants. After graduating from Mount Royal University, Mike managed a sales team of over 10 representatives and later became the General Manager of Gunnar Office Furnishings, a leader in the Office Furniture industry in Canada. In 2009 Mike moved to Colima, Mexico where Mike began to learn about the agricultural industry and the vast number of growers in the region. In 2020, Mike joined Colima Tropical leading their search for growers and distributors in Mexico to meet the growing produce demand in the US. Mike is currently a Partner with Colima Tropical with his key responsibility being vendor relations with the growers and distributors south of the border.

President

Sean Wright was born in Encino, CA and grew up in Charlotte, NC and Plano, TX. The middle of three brothers, Sean graduated from Plano Senior High School in 1990. During high school, Sean worked at Tom Thumb Grocery as a baggage clerk, checker, and stocker. He moved on to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX and graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. After graduating college, Sean was in the process of moving back to Dallas, TX for an accepted sales position when he was approached by Joe Schmidt and Buddy Furgerson at Gage Van Horn & Associates. Sean accepted a sales role in Lubbock, with the focus being the growth of the Amarillo market. At the time Sean started calling on the Amarillo market, Gage Van Horn & Associates sold less than $100,000 annually in Amarillo. Today, Amarillo represents the largest market for the GVH Family of Companies with close to $40 million in business. Over the last 20 years, the GVH Family of Companies has been one of the fastest growing distribution companies in the United States. Coinciding with the company growth, Sean progressed from his original sales position, to General Manager in Amarillo, then to Senior Vice President, and finally to his current role as President and CEO. Sean has spent his entire professional career with the GVH Family of Companies. He lives in Amarillo, TX and is married to wife Kristy and his two children, Kylee and Caden.

US Logistics & Vendor Relations, Partner

G. Scott Waddell was born in Dallas Texas, grew up in Arlington, Texas and graduated from Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth Texas. After graduation G. Scott held sales positions in the office furniture industry as Territory and District Manager. In 1992, G. Scott started his own company continuing to build his contacts and knowledge of the industry. In 1999, G. Scott expanded his activities into the hospitality arena working with hotels and restaurants supplying the FFE to on a project-to-project basis. After working on projects, such as the Dallas Galleria Westin and the L`Auberge Del Mar in California, G. Scott continued to expand his interests offering different products such as granite, art, fabrics, and custom seating. His passion remains building and working with his contacts. The latest interest and venture, Colima Tropical, was created through contacts in the produce and grocery industries. As a partner, G. Scott will focus on logistics in the US, vendor relations as well as providing the best service to our clients while strategically growing the business nationwide.

Customer Service Manager, Colima Tropical

Rosie was born and raised in Northwest Indiana and was introduced to the restaurant industry while working in her mother’s restaurant during high school. After attending Indiana University’s School of Nursing program, she missed the restaurant industry and became a Restaurant Manger for 10 years. Upon the closing of the restaurant Rosie began her career in administrative work and providing excellent customer service for a bakery distribution company. While working with the bakery distribution company she was introduced to GVH Distribution and became an Administrative Assistant for GVH’s Chicago location. Her passion for project management and customer service led her to become the Special Projects Manager for GVH Distribution and Customer Service Manager for Colima Tropical.

Chief Executive Officer

Joe Schmidt started his career in the grocery industry over 40 years ago. As a young teenager, Joe worked at a grocery store behind his house while attending high school and throughout college. During his time at Eastern Washington University, Joe was employed by a local food broker, Mancini and Groesbeck, until he moved to Portland, Oregon to become the sales manager for Oregon Fruit Company and Hood Peanut Company. After several years of selling to local and national retailers, Joe started a produce brokerage company from scratch in Portland where he sold tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, and bagged lettuce among other produce items. Over the last 26 years, Joe has been the President & CEO of GVH Family of Companies, one of the fastest growing grocery packaging and supplies distribution companies in the United States with over 13 branches across the country. Joe is currently the Executive Chairman & Owner of Colima Tropical and all the GVH Family of Companies.