McCook, Ill – GPA announces that Gerard Vail has joined their team, serving as Business Development Director – Strategic Services. Vail’s addition strengthens GPA’s Strategic Services team, reinforces the company’s status as innovation facilitators, and delivers on their brand promise of providing global industry and product intelligence that supports business growth.

A well-known industry veteran, Vail earned a reputation for leveraging his natural curiosity and desire to learn for his customers’ benefit. Vail is a natural fit for GPA, embodying the company’s core values of passion, care, innovation, reliability, and expertise. Throughout his career, he has earned both awards and praise for demonstrating high levels of these values. In his new role, he will help position GPA ahead of evolving market demands and innovations by providing education and technical support to GPA’s internal team, and by collaborating with customers, manufacturers, and partners.

Vail comes to GPA with a wealth of knowledge and experience within the printing, paper, and synthetics marketplace. He grew up around his family’s Chicago printing business, and at age 12 he began running one of their presses. He went on to establish a 30-year track record of success in sales and marketing leadership roles throughout North America at a variety of papermakers, distributors, and printing companies.

“We are ecstatic to welcome such a dynamic industry veteran to our team,” said Mary Ann Geers, GPA’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Strategy. “Gerard’s technical knowledge is only amplified by his passion for sharing it, and we look forward to our customers and partners experiencing the benefits of what he has to offer.”

Vail graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and a minor in marketing. Outside of GPA, he maintains an active industry presence through his membership in the National Paper Trade Association (NPTA).