Messrs. Goldrich and Breslow share the responsibilities of managing G & K Industries. However, the extensive experience of the entire senior executive staff ensures that management succession is well established.
Jona Goldrich, Principal
Jona Goldrich was an immigrant to the United States who began with the simple idea of keeping construction sites clean and presentable. He has built a diversified real estate company that is one of the most important and successful developers and managers of housing in the state of California. He established his firm as Goldrich & Associates with a staff of two in 1956. Now known as Goldrich & Kest Industries, LLC, it has grown to 850 employees with annual revenues in excess of $200 million. Mr. Goldrich's responsibilities at the privately held, Culver City, California-based company focuses on land acquisition, planning, finance and design.
Born in Lvov, Poland in 1927, he and one of his brothers were smuggled out of Europe in 1942 because of their parents' fear of their lives. Sent to refugee camps in pre-Israel Palestine, Mr. Goldrich later worked as an auto mechanic while also studying and receiving a mechanical engineering degree at the Haifa Technion Vocational School. Serving as a mechanical engineer in the Israeli Navy and the Merchant Marines, he participated in military action in 1948-49 that assured creation of the new state of Israel. Immigrating to the United States in 1953 to study, he chose to travel from Boston to California by bus. With $50 left in his pocket, he settled in Los Angeles because "its climate is closest to that of Israel," and began work as a window and screen installer.
In 1954, he conceived a new business for himself. Seeing that it was the practice of builders to leave dirty windows and trash for the owner to clean up, he formed a subcontracting cleaning business that was one of the first of its kind and became the predecessor of G & K Industries, LLC. Two staff members and G & K Industries', first building in North Hollywood-were added in 1956. Then in 1959, Mr. Goldrich fortuitously met a construction laborer named Sol Kest who agreed to join the business for a six month trial. They have been partners ever since.
As a champion of efforts to help produce more affordable housing in America, Mr. Goldrich was named "Man of the Year" by the National Housing Conference in 1983. Mr. Goldrich has been the recipient of numerous community awards including the National Conference of Christians and Jews Humanitarian Award; the American Jewish Congress Civic Achievement Award; the Ben Gurion University Award of the Israel Task Force of Israel Bonds; the Bar-Ilan University Honorary Fellowship; the 1983 Society of Fellows Award from the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith; the President's Club Award of the B'nai B'rith; and the Good Scout Award for the construction industry from the Los Angeles Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Goldrich is a member of the California Housing Council, the Community Redevelopment Agencies Association, Governmental Affairs Council of the Building Industry Association, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Police Crime Prevention Advisory Council.
Mr. Goldrich, an avid skier and tennis player, resides in Beverly Hills with his wife of 43 years, Doretta. They have two grown daughters, two grandsons and one grand-daughter.
Warren Breslow, Principal
Playing a critical role in the initial phases of development and construction, Warren Breslow is also intimately involved in the negotation and financing of all acquisitions. He is responsible for overseeing, the management and construction divisions of G & K Industries as well as securing financing and working capital lines of credit. He organizes the formation of partnerships and corporations and supervises the maintenance of all partnership and corporate records. As Principal and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Breslow also oversees the financial aspects of all construction activity, management operations, and G & K Industries' information systems center.
After graduation from the Bernard Baruch School of Business Administration in New York City in 1965, Mr. Breslow journeyed to California to begin his career in the rapidly expanding economy. He joined G & K Industries in 1972 as controller and assumed his current position as General Partner and Chief Financial Officer in 1974. Prior to his association with Goldrich & Kest Industries, Mr. Breslow was a manager with the International Accounting firm of Laventhol & Horwath.
Born November 30, 1942, Mr. Breslow is a native of New York City. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of California and he is also past president and lifetime member of the board of directors of the Stephen S. Wise Temple, supports numerours charitable and civic organizations and is presently and active member of the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees of Gateway Hospital and the President of the Board of Directors of Beit T'Shuvah Rehabilitation Center.
Mr. Breslow, an avid skier, tennis player and world traveler, resides in Bel Air, California with his wife of 38 years, Elaine. They have a grown son and a grand-daughter. |