Our Story
Our company, with a tradition of innovation, quality and service began in 1932, with the formation of Trendler Metal Products, Inc.
Our story began in 1932, when Trendler Metal Products opened its doors on 63rd and Hoyne on Chicago’s South Side. 10 years after immigrating to the US in 1951, Anton Gfesser Sr. began his entrepreneurial success story and acquired the company. In 1988, the company began global sourcing and marketing to meet world demand for U.S. made furniture components. In 1995, our corporate name changed to Trendler Components to reflect the changes in product offerings beyond just metal. In 1997, the company moved to a larger facility near Midway Airport in Chicago and changed our name again to Trendler, Inc. In early 2000, Trendler expanded into finished goods, manufacturing, wood and metal chairs and barstools.
Today, the company is run by Anton Gfesser Sr.’s four sons — where they focus on carrying on the tradition of innovation, quality, and service.
Our Team
Martin Gfesser
President
Martin has been with our company for nearly three decades. When he isn’t ensuring our products continue to meet the high quality and reliability standards that our customers expect, he enjoys fishing, golfing and spending time with his family. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin.
Stefan Gfesser
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Stefan has been with our company for 33 years. He is student of military history, enjoys playing golf, staying up-to-date on politics and practicing martial arts.
Anton Gfesser
Chairman of the Board
Anton has been with Trendler for over 40 years. He enjoys Harley motorcycling, traveling, fishing, hunting, the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Blackhawks and spending time with his grandchildren.
Andreas Gfesser
President of Crossroads, Consulting Division
Andreas has 30 years of industry experience, contributing 20 years to the Trendler team. He holds an MBA in International Commerce from Northern Illinois University. Andreas enjoys spending time with family, serving in his church, and outdoor activities.
Tom Byers
Tom brings over two decades of financial, risk management and forecasting experience to the Trendler leadership team. An accomplished CPA with both industry and public accounting expertise, he is also proficient in HR management and corporate administration in a variety of industries to the benefit of the entire Trendler team and brand as a whole.
Geniene Uram
Geniene quickly rose through the ranks at Trendler serving as a customer service representative, shipping coordinator, and customer service supervisor. Today, she brings her years of experience and passion for her customers to the inside sales team as Trendler’s Sales Manager.
Shawn Ryan
Shawn is an Illinois native, growing up in DuPage and Kane counties. Mr. Ryan supports our Procurement, Supplier Negotiations, and Vendor Management teams. He holds various degrees in Education and Administration from Elmhurst, Ashwood and Aurora Universities. Shawn’s personal interests include playing music as well as Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Clancy stories.
Juan Perez
Juan began his career 38 years ago in Trendler’s manufacturing division. Today, he oversees all operations at Trendler. In his free time, he enjoys soccer, playing piano and volunteering at his Church. Juan received his professional certification from DePaul University.
Bradley Peterson
Bradley supports the Trendler team by managing day-to-day scheduling. He has more than 30 years experience in the manufacturing industry and is from Rockford, Illinois. Bradley enjoys spending time with family, fishing, and boating.
Rosalio "Charlie" Gradilla
Rosalio supports the Trendler team by serving as a customer service representative. He enjoys spending time with family and is an avid soccer player and World Cup fan.
Araceli Ramirez
Born and raised in Cicero, Illinois Araceli holds a bachelor’s in psychology and brings her passion of employee relations to Trendler. As HR Coordinator, Araceli manages payroll and the staffing process including recruiting, interviewing, hiring and onboarding. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling to Mexico, trying new restaurants, and cheering for the Cubs!
Joe Zabransky
Joe contributes his depth of manufacturing expertise to the production, labor management and engineering divisions at Trendler. He is originally from Burbank, Illinois and enjoys boating, skiing, golfing and ATV’ing.
Gabriel Ibarra
Gabriel supports the Trendler shipping and receiving teams, coordinating all inbound and outbound freight. He is a Chicago native and enjoys spending time with his family.
James Kauke
James contributes his nearly 30 years of manufacturing design experience to the Trendler product design, R&D, Fixtures, and Maintenance teams. He plays guitar, sings in a local band and enjoys rebuilding old AMX cars.
Baltazar Rodriguez
Baltazar Rodriguez brings 27 years of industry experience and knowledge to Trendler. As the Production Supervisor, Baltazar effectively manages Trendler’s inventory by identifying which parts are in stock, which can be assembled and what orders can be completed to meet Trendler’s high-quality standards. Baltazar spends his free time with his wife and 3 children and enjoys working in his workshop on carpentry related projects.
