Bruce Gerleman
President in Des Moines, IA, US
Iowa native Bruce Gerleman has led Des Moines-based Gerleman Management as president since its inception in 1980. In addition to developing major commercial real estate projects such as office buildings and shopping centers, Bruce Gerleman has established some well-known local dining establishments.
Jethro's BBQ, which Mr. Gerleman founded, has eight restaurants across Iowa, employing over 800 people and serving a combined 30,000 customers every week. Jethro's is the largest independent pork buyer in the state. He also operates the Splash Seafood Bar and Grill, a four-star, fine dining restaurant in Des Moines that he established in 1998.
Before launching his company, Bruce Gerleman attended Wichita State University, where he pursued a bachelor of science in business. While there, he was on the Wichita State football team and later coached tennis in the Central Iowa Metropolitan League, earning Coach of the Year honors on three occasions.
Mr. Gerleman has earned multiple honors while leading his company, including an appearance on William Shatner's Moving America Forward television series. He has also appeared on the Discovery Channel, among others.