GIL-BAR - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 28 Years at Gil - Bar
Alan's greatest strength is the depth of experience that he's built across two and a half decades as an application engineer. From his first big project, the Amsterdam Theater, to today, he's lived for the challenge of the toughest jobs. One of his first major challenges was a unit replacement at Stony Brook University Hospital, where he helped design a large-capacity air handling unit that had to fit through a small opening, with all work completed over a single four-day weekend. Since then, he has completed many similar projects.
He's stayed at Gil-Bar for so long because "from the first day I walked in to today, it's always been a fun, family atmosphere. Everyone works hard at what they do but we also have fun doing it." Alan completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Manhattan College.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 3 Years at Gil - Bar
Allan is a dedicated account professional with a deep understanding of HVAC products. For over three years, he has built and managed relationships in the construction, contractor, and engineering space.
He started his career with Johnson Controls, Inc. where he went through a 6-month extensive training program, and later forged trusted relationships with smaller engineering firms across the greater New York City area. Allan then transitioned to Gil-Bar Industries, where he worked with top manufacturers like Climate Master, IEC, and Aaon to gain a deeper understanding of the products available at Gil-Bar. Prior to his career in HVAC, he was a licensed real estate broker, where he began his sales-focused career, and found his passion for connecting his clients with the right solutions.
Allan earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Binghamton University in 2020.
Job Titles:
- Head of Parts and Warranty, 15 Years at Gil - Bar
In this role, Angelo supports the ongoing maintenance of every building Gil-Bar has supplied over more than three decades. He ensures that the right part will always be available at the critical moment when it's needed. But the march of technology means his job isn't just about swapping in replacements. Angelo's special expertise lies in being able to turn a replacement into an upgrade: integrating newer technology that improves sustainability and operational efficiency.
This work has given Angelo the opportunity to develop enduring relationships with many of Gil-Bar's most important clients. Working relationships are also the reason he's stayed at Gil-Bar so long: "Everyone here shares the same purpose and works well together to complete the job at hand." Angelo completed his Bachelor's degree at St. John's University.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 1 Year at Gil - Bar
Brittney Meredith Garcia, attended Manhattan College and graduated with a Bachelors in Science for Chemical Engineering and dual minor in Chemistry and Mathematics. After graduation Brittney began her career as a Sales Engineer at Johnson Controls. Throughout her 6-year tenure she developed her skills for turning around underperforming accounts and maximizing sales to build long term client engagement through trust and rapport. Fun Fact about Brittney is she is one of five children; this is where she quickly learned to the value of negotiating and closing. She also once competed in a Chemical Engineering Car competition in which she developed chemical reactions to both start and stop a toy car for a CHEM-E car competition.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 31 Years at Gil - Bar
Chris loves helping engineers solve the toughest challenges. His own toughest challenge? Figuring out how to heat an underground train platform, below a 50-foot building, without easy access to electrical power or a flue stack. His solution, a direct fire gas installation, was initially a tough sell, especially for a public-funded job. But his engineering background gave him the ability to demonstrate the safety of a solution that's run successfully ever since.
This opportunity to think outside the box, with the complete freedom to propose the best solution for the client, is a big part of what's kept him at Gil-Bar for nearly three decades. Chris completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Polytechnic University in Brooklyn.
Job Titles:
- Product Manager, 1 Year at Gil - Bar
Christopher Plummer has spent almost a decade in the NYC HVAC Market. He graduated from Clarkson University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and Management. He later graduated from NYU Stern with a Masters in Business Administration. He started with Johnson Controls Inc where he finished Top of his Class in the Building Efficiency Sales Training (BEST). For 5 years Chris called on both Design Engineers and Mechanical Contractors selling equipment and control solutions.
In 2019, his role expanded to include a team of sellers specifically focused on driving business with consulting engineers. He ran and grew that team for 3 years before helping Gil-Bar become an agent of Johnson Controls. He currently sits as the York Sales Manager for the organization managing relationships with customers, sales reps and partners at JCI. "I am very excited to be part of the Gil-Bar Organization, where I am confident we grow our relationship with JCI and build something special throughout the northeast."
Chris grew up in the suburbs of Rochester, NY where he became a huge sports fan, cheering for the New York Yankees and the Buffalo Bills. He currently enjoys getting out to the golf course whenever he can and spending time with his wife, Katherine, and 3-year-old English bulldog, Cecilia.
Job Titles:
- Partner, 27 Years at Gil - Bar
Shortly after completing his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at Purdue, a friend suggested that Christopher Bisaccia talk to Gil-Bar. He went over to the house in Brooklyn to meet Joe Sbarra, John Gill, and the rest of the team. "I got a really good feeling; these were good guys." The year was 1996, and Christopher never looked back. In 2008, he became a Partner in the firm.
His initial training consisted of joining Joe at client meetings, learning by watching, and pitching in on everything. Over time, he developed his own areas of expertise, including certification in LEED AP, with a specialty in Operations and Maintenance. To further understand his clients' needs, he went to school at night, completing an Associate's Degree in Real Estate Development at NYU.
His expertise in sustainability soon established Gil-Bar as New York and New Jersey's innovator in green HVAC technology. But from the start, Christopher understood that more sustainable installations also needed to be financially advantageous. So, he dug into the economics of design, installation, and long-term operational costs, proving out the opportunity for win-win solutions. As Christopher says, "It's about following the data. It's about making it work: environmentally, operationally, and financially."
Christopher also spearheaded Gil-Bar's expansion to become the region's only fully integrated offering, from design and sales to service for the full lifecycle of any installation. This growth has included launching a Field Services operation, creating MIH Systems Group, acquiring Metro Air Products, and developing Gil-Bar Health & Life Sciences.
Today, Christopher works to attract and develop the firm's next generation of leaders, based on a simple strategy: attract the best people, empower them to get the job done, and reward them accordingly. As Christopher puts it: "the joy is in seeing your people solve problems and do well. Because we're all in this together." And this philosophy extends to every client the firm has: "You pick us to do a job and we'll work with you to get it done to the highest possible standard. We'll be right there with you, every step of the way."
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer
- Sales Engineer, Gil - Bar Solutions, 9 Years at Gil - Bar
Dan is a Sales Engineer known for his perseverance. When the going gets tough, whether it's on a project, or in the final stages of the NY Marathon, Dan finds a way to push through and get to the finish line. He believes there is always a solution and is committed to finding it, no matter what it takes. For example, on the Parker Imperial Condominium tower, where it took a helicopter to rig the units. Dan's dedication to his craft is reflected in his certification through AAON Masters of HVAC. When it comes to GBS, he says "the best thing is the office atmosphere; we all treat each other like family." Dan completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 14 Years at Gil - Bar
Danielle has a reputation as one of the most organized and detail-oriented Sales Engineers in the business. Her expertise came in especially handy on a job where the riser holes had been cut in the concrete slab prior to coordination of the unit orientation. She managed and oversaw all efforts between the contractor and the factory to develop a custom solution that accounted for the jobsite limitations without compromising space or capacity.
Lately, Danielle has been working with contractors, owners, and engineers in New York City and the surrounding markets. Her favorite part of working at Gil-Bar is the family atmosphere and sense of comradery at the office, as well as the friendships that have formed with her customers over the years. Danielle completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering, with a minor in Business, at Tulane University.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 1 Year at Gil - Bar
David graduated from the Holy Cross College in 1975 and entered the HVAC industry in February 1982 where he worked for a subsidiary of Brooklyn Union Gas, GEI, that had a relationship/partnership with Hitachi Absorption Air conditioning. York bought the Hitachi rights in 1991, asking David to join the team. With over a 31 year run, David is proud to be keeping the tradition together at Gil-bar. David even piloted destroyers in the U.S. Navy for six years, trading in his destroyer for a sailboat after leaving the navy, a hobby he still keeps up today.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 12 Years at Gil - Bar
Derek knows fan coils better than just about anyone in the business. This specialized knowledge has served his clients well over the years. For example, on his favorite effort to date, the AWBH Fan Coil Project, he worked to replace 9000 IEC units over the course of five years.
Derek's philosophy: "Always keep the lines of communication open. Be honest and transparent at all times." He chose to work at Gil-Bar because he believes in the foundation the partners laid out 34 years ago, built on going "above and beyond to serve the customer." Derek completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology at Castleton University.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 12 Years at Gil - Bar
Dimitri has always preferred action to words. His deep expertise in design and construction is reflected in numerous industry certifications and memberships including being a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.), a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), and part of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Dimitri completed his Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at Columbia University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer, Gil - Bar Solutions, 25 Years at Gil - Bar
- Managing Principal at GBS Limited
Eric Mueller has been the Managing Principal at GBS Limited, Gil-Bar's most recent acquisition, since 2004. Prior to that, he spent 6 years at… Gil-Bar. That makes his new role integrating GBS into an expanded Gil-Bar Sales, New Jersey something of a homecoming.
"It felt like a natural move," he says, "after all, GBS was originally founded by Joe Sbarra and John Gill. Our values are their values, and vice versa. It's about bringing expertise to the table. It's about an integrated service offering and a commitment to mutual success. You could say we have the same DNA. So, it makes perfect sense that we'd be stronger together, making Gil-Bar into an even greater resource for our clients on this side of the Hudson River."
Eric earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, then spent a few years learning the HVAC business at a smaller firm before joining Gil-Bar.
He believes Gil-Bar's commitment to growing its local presence in New Jersey is critical. "It's a different market. It needs, and deserves, to be served locally by people who really understand it. Compared to a market like, say, New York City, the challenges are different; the economics are different."
Eric's long-standing success in the New Jersey market can be traced back to his underlying business philosophy: "You have to be smart and know your products, applications, and systems. No question. But you also have to connect with people. Not to sell them something, but to really understand what solutions will serve them best. I always ask myself ‘what does the client want from me? What does the client need from me?' Because we're partners, and it's that partnership that makes it work."
Looking ahead, he says "I'm excited to be a part of Gil-Bar again, because I know that, with GBS and Gil-Bar together, we're going to take our business here in New Jersey to the next level."
Job Titles:
- Senior Sales Engineer, 3 Years at Gil - Bar
Some people can be described as born engineers. In school, Greg found that math just made sense. Shakespeare? Not so much. He was constantly taking things apart, figuring out what made them work, and building them back better. He learned welding and how to get things done in a machine shop. To this day, in his spare time, he builds Street Stock race cars.
Over the course of his 26-year career as a sales engineer, Greg has leveraged his rare ability to bridge the gap between engineering and manufacturing. In 2002, working with AAON and a design-build contractor, he designed and sold the first Turbocor compressor in an RTU. Some thought it couldn't be done. But by suspending the shaft in a magnetic field, he created an efficient, low-maintenance machine. One that runs at 30-35K RPM so quietly you can stand by its side and carry on a normal conversation. Greg's personal philosophy is to "make someone smile every day." Because he understands that the work gets hard, and when it does, the team needs to pull together.
Now Greg is bringing this depth of experience and track-record of innovative leadership to GBS. He's also bringing his applications engineer partner, Tara Scheaffer. For over 15 years they've worked as a team to provide their customers with unparalleled engineering design, project coordination, and customer care from project start to finish. A native of south-central Pennsylvania, Greg completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University.
Job Titles:
- NJ Executive State House
- Sales Manager, 15 Years at Gil - Bar Solutions
Greg Peifer comes to Gil-Bar as part of the newly acquired GBS Limited. His new mission at Gil-Bar: to bring the firm's unique level of engineering expertise, integration, and family culture to Pennsylvania. And there's no one better suited to the job.
For starters, Greg has the greater Philadelphia area in his blood. He was born and raised just outside the city. When it came time for college, he chose Drexel University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He even kept his home in Pennsylvania while commuting for more than a decade to his GBS job in New Jersey.
Greg also brings a unique perspective to every project he tackles. Following graduation, he began his career with more than a decade working as a Project Manager for a construction management firm. And, in his last twelve years as a Sales Engineer, he's leveraged his ability to actively listen to his clients, and skillfully balance performance requirements with cost considerations.
This range of experience means that he not only knows the building process from the ground up, he has a deep understanding of his clients' needs from multiple perspectives. So, it's probably no surprise that he excels as part of design-build projects, where success is achieved through a pragmatic outlook coupled with creative solutions, developed in coordination with multiple stakeholders.
Greg embodies Gil-Bar's no excuses philosophy. He likes to quote College Football Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz: "Don't tell me how rocky the sea is, just bring the darn ship in." Greg has earned a reputation among his clients for doing just that. As he puts it: "My clients know I'm going to take care of them, especially if things go sideways." Even more than his experience, it's this attitude that keeps his clients coming back.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 13 Years at Gil - Bar
Hass knows there are times when you need to move fast, but do so without sacrificing the highest possible standards of precision and reliability. Like the design-build job that gave him just a few days to develop a space-saving and high efficiency solution that eliminated the need for multiple units per floor. It took ingenuity and thinking "outside the box," but Hass got it done. Perhaps his favorite project to date? "Dare to Dream" at the Empire State Building. Hass was honored to be part of the team that reimagined the entire visitor experience for one of New York's, and the world's, most iconic buildings. He's spent over a decade at GBS because nowhere else offers their clients the same "level of expertise and customer service, delivering superior engineering design and sales." Hass completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 1 Year at Gil - Bar
James recently joined Gil-Bar after 18 years representing the York HVAC equipment product line for Johnson Controls. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from The College of New Jersey. He looks forward to continuing to support the engineering and contracting communities with innovative chiller plant designs including heat recovery, heat pump and low/high temp solutions, helping facilities reduce their carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable world.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive With over Eight Years of New York City HVAC
- Sales Engineer, Gil - Bar Industries
Jeff is an experienced account executive with over eight years of New York City HVAC sales experience and a passion for delivering innovative and quality solutions for his clients.
In his previous time with Johnson Controls, Jeff worked on many high-profile projects, including the Empire State Building, the Terminal 8 Expansion at JFK Airport, and numerous USPS facilities and hospitals throughout the five boroughs. Prior to his career in HVAC, Jeff was a member of the Maryland Army National Guard, where he was a UH-60 Blackhawk Crewmember. During his time in the military, he deployed to Iraq in 2011 and again to Kuwait in 2014 through 2015. Currently Jeff handles business for Gil-Bar's Long Island region.
Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Norwich University in 2007 and completed his Master of Science from Clarkson University in 2021.
When he's out of the office, Jeff can be found spending much needed time with his wife and two kids exploring Long Island.
Job Titles:
- Senior Sales Engineer, 36 Years at Gil - Bar
Jim brings unusually deep industry experience to Gil-Bar. Prior to his long Gil-Bar career, he worked in various positions outside of sales in plant and manufacturing engineering at General Foods, IBM, and NBC Studios. His career in sales engineering started when he joined the Trane Company in 1994. Jim draws from his wide experience to bring exceptional knowledge and an understanding of project needs to his clients.
He's designed custom equipment and run projects at many iconic NYC installations including One World Trade, NASDAQ, The Essex House, and many others. One of Jim's favorite and most challenging projects was at Brookhaven National Labs. There, he solved a space issue in a way that enhanced the installation, unit performance, and reliability, while achieving the demanding tolerances required by a nuclear facility.
Jim's single biggest motivation for spending more than three decades at one firm? He cites the strength and continuity of longtime customer relationships that can only be found at Gil-Bar. Jim completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of New York.
Job Titles:
- Senior Sales Engineer, 19 Years at Gil - Bar
Joe Cinque joins Gil-Bar as part of the recent acquisition of GBS Limited, the company that now forms the heart of Gil-Bar's expanded New Jersey operations. During his expansive career at GBS, Joe has established himself as a highly trustworthy and knowledgeable professional in the New Jersey commercial HVAC market. In his role at the new Gil-Bar NJ, Joe brings his deep understanding of the market, his unique breadth of experience, and his dependable nature to drive Gil-Bar's accelerating growth outside of New York.
A native born New Jerseyan, Joe earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Rutgers University. Prior to finding his professional home at Gil-Bar/ GBS, his diverse career included quality control work for a manufacturing company, service as a township construction inspector, and an engineering role at a prominent elevator company. Joe was in fact designing elevators when he met Eric Mueller, who recognized his talent and brought him to GBS as a Sales Engineer.
Joe is most driven by the satisfaction of his customers. His authentic personality combined with his diverse experience enables him to put himself in his clients' shoes. This is important because, like many of his Gil-Bar colleagues, he doesn't fit the stereotype of the slick, fast-talking salesman. He believes in truly understanding a client's needs, and then finding the solution that best answers those needs. Just as important, he believes in "doing a good job, always being honest and honorable." Or, as he also puts it, "I will never be the guy who sells you something and runs away. I always try to do the right thing."
This is why, after roughly two decades in the industry, if you ask Joe about his proudest accomplishment, he won't tell you about a specific project. Instead, he'll describe a first meeting he recently took with a new client. When Joe introduced himself, the man replied "Oh, I know you." They had never met before, but the man went on to explain, "your reputation in this business is top-notch."
For Joe, the work itself is fascinating: the combination of technological and financial considerations, followed by making places that people actually live and work in. But it's the relationships, and the building of trust, that he ultimately finds most satisfying.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 1 Year at Gil - Bar
Joe has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has been in the HVAC industry for over 8 years. Joe's engineering and sales experience has enabled him to provide solutions for a variety of projects ranging from 80k+ CFM custom arena air handlers, to data center magnetic bearing chiller plants, to utilizing thousands of tons of VRF and heat pump energy recovery DOAS units for highrises. One of Joe's focuses is helping electrify existing buildings and new construction to comply with Local Law 97 and take advantage of current rebate programs. Joe has already proven to be a valuable resource in the world of electrification and we're looking forward to his continued growth at Gil-Bar.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner, 37 Years at Gil - Bar
- Sales Engineer for the Trane Company
After beginning his career as a degreed sales engineer for the Trane Company, Joe Sbarra founded Gil-Bar Industries with his partner John Gill in July of 1986. The company had a family feel from the start: working out of the basement of a residential home in Brooklyn, the city where Joe was born and raised. In fact, the company's first employee was Joe's mom, who did everything from answering the phone to cooking meals for clients and factory visitors.
As Gil-Bar grew, Joe built and preserved a company culture that extends the values of family to every individual within the firm, and to every client the firm serves. These values are reflected in the way Gil-Bar cares deeply about every single project and all of the people who come together to make it work. They're reflected in the way Gil-Bar protects everyone associated with the firm by insisting on excellence and taking responsibility for finding solutions where everyone wins.
As Joe says: "In order to maintain a great working relationship with our clients, we have to be friends with them. We have to have their backs."
This philosophy has allowed Joe and John to attract and retain the "cream of the crop" in the HVAC industry, now including 24 degreed sales engineers and 22 inside engineering support staff. Today, Gil-Bar offers the strongest solution-based HVAC engineering team in the tri state area and is widely regarded as the nation's premier engineering rep force.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 17 Years at Gil - Bar
John is a wizard at project management. From the Battery Park City School, through the Egyptian Exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a particular favorite, he combines exceptional organizational skills with determination and self-reliance. He applies all of this in the service of getting the best results for every single one of his clients.
When asked what sets Gil-Bar apart, he has a one-word answer: "Professionalism." And his special pride in working at Gil-Bar? "The way we take care of our customers." John completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of New York.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 35 Years at Gil - Bar
John has played an essential role in building Gil-Bar into what it is today. From his beginning as the anchor of inside sales support, John worked with Founders Joe Sbarra and John Gill for over thirty years, dating back to the firm's early days in Brooklyn.
Since then, John has become a "jack of all trades" known especially for his ability to handle large projects with long lifecycles. He takes particular pride in being part of the creation of important buildings throughout the city. Starting with the Bear Stearns building, other contributions include work on iconic developments such as World Trade Center Towers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 World Trade Center.
He's spent nearly his entire career at Gil-Bar because, as he puts it, "they've given me the freedom to pursue projects without bureaucratic encumbrances." John completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Marketing at Bernard Baruch College.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder, 37 Years at Gil - Bar
John Gill wasn't entirely surprised when Joe Sbarra called him up and said "we should start our own company." After all, John had known Joe, who was younger by a couple of years, since Joe was still in school. The two shared a common work ethic and set of values.
By then, John had completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent the first seven years of his career at Trane. Together, they developed the vision for a new kind of manufacturers' representative firm: one grounded in the kind of technical engineering expertise needed to become true partners with their clients.
Job Titles:
- Sales Engineer, 16 Years at Gil - Bar
John takes special pride in his ability to assess what a customer needs and then craft the optimal solution. He's also known for thinking outside the box. For example, when he closed a deal by embedding a service contract into the sale of a chiller unit for a project at 112 West 34th Street. His innovative approach to finding solutions led him to receive a Prestige Award from Smardt.
More than a decade has gone by since he joined Gil-Bar because he likes the unusual combination of collegial atmosphere and recognition for personal contribution. John completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Lafayette College.
Job Titles:
- Warehouse & Shipping Coordinator, Gil - Bar Supply