About Gross Electric

Gross Electric is the leading innovative lighting and electrical distributor in the markets we serve.

Laurie

President

Laurie has over 40 years of experience in the lighting industry and is the only American Lighting Association Certified Lighting Consultant in Northwest Ohio. She has a BA in Marketing and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Laurie has a passion for lighting design and for learning about the latest lighting technology, which she incorporates into her customers’ projects. In her free time, Laurie enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Allen

Showroom Manager

Allen is our Toledo showroom manager. He attended St. John’s Jesuit high school and the University of Toledo, and has over 13 years of restaurant management and sales experience. Allen enjoys getting to know our customers and helping them find solutions to their lighting needs. When not at work, he loves watching movies and going out to eat with his wife, Alison, and daughter, Eleanore. His other hobbies include cooking and playing guitar.

Samantha

Builder Sales Representative

Samantha has over five years of experience in lighting design and is currently working as a Builder Sales Representative in Toledo. Her introduction to the lighting field started with an internship at Gross Electric while studying for her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and minor in Sustainability at Bowling Green State University. While studying, she became a LEED Green Associate in 2012, which provides her with up-to-date understanding of the most current green building principles and practices. With her degree, she learned basic design techniques, space planning, color matching, and how to create an overall stimulating environment. Upon graduation in 2013, she became an American Lighting Association Lighting Specialist with Gross Electric, providing her with extensive knowledge in light sources, lighting fixtures, and residential lighting design.

Mike

Sales Associate

Mike has 50 years of experience in the lighting industry. His career with Gross Electric started in 1965 at the electrical supply counter at our downtown Toledo store. Through the years, Mike has worked in almost every department of the company — electrical supplies, electric heat, commercial lighting, showroom sales, and builder sales — and has helped to open several branch locations. He currently works part time in showroom sales, and enjoys spending as much time as possible out on the golf course!

Natalie

Sales Associate

Natalie has been part of our Toledo showroom sales team since 2016. She has a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design with a minor in Marketing from Bowling Green State University. She is happy to be putting her degree to work as a Sales Associate in our Toledo showroom. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys binge watching Netflix, running, and doing crafts.

Anna

Sales Associate

Anna is the newest member of our Toledo showroom sales team. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Eastern Michigan University. She is also LEED Green Associate Certified. When not at work, Anna volunteers much of her free time at her church. She also enjoys spending time by the water or hiking and walking outdoors with family and friends.

Pete

Decorative Hardware Manager

Pete is the Decorative Hardware Manager at our Toledo showroom. He’s been part of the Gross Electric team since April of 2012, but he’s been selling hardware for over three decades. Pete joined his father in the family’s hardware business, Otto C. Buehler & Son, in 1980. He worked with his father and brother for many years, before partnering with Gross Electric. Pete is a born and raised Toledoan, and earned a BA in Education from the University of Toledo. In his free time, Pete enjoys exercising and running, and volunteers with the Toledo Roadrunners Association and the Glass City Marathon.

Armond

Decorative Hardware Sales Associate

Armond has worked at Gross Electric since 2014 and has worn many hats during his time here. He started working in the warehouse and moved on to sales in the electrical remodeling center and at the electrical supply counter. Armond is now working in Showroom Sales, working with customers in decorative hardware and lighting in our Toledo showroom. He is also a member of the company’s health & wellness committee. Armond has an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts from Owens Community College. In addition to cooking, Armond enjoys working out, reading, music, meditation, and travel. He’s always up for a challenging game of chess, as well!

Rochelle Mueller

Showroom Manager

Rochelle is our Ann Arbor showroom manager. She is a seasoned Hardware Consultant with over 15 years experience in the decorative hardware business. Rochelle’s experience includes selling decorative hardware and lighting to home owners and some of southeast Michigan’s top home builders, architects, and designers. She continues to gain knowledge from a variety of sales and product trainings from some of the best known manufacturers in the industry. Outside of work, Rochelle is very involved with her kids and their sports teams and enjoys spending time at their family cottage in northern Michigan.

Ryan Nyitray

Decorative Hardware Expert - ALA Lighting Specialist

Ryan has been with the Gross Electric team since 2015. He is an ALA Certified Lighting Designer and an expert hardware consultant. He has learned from and loved every experience in the showroom and welcomes all new opportunities! Outside of work, he thoroughly enjoys travelling, eating out, and socializing.

Jessica Merkel

Lighting Designer - ALA Certified Lighting Specialist

As a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Interior Design, Jessica has applied her education toward her career with Gross Electric. Over the past 11 years, she has moved her way up from showroom sales to showroom manager, and is now working in Builder Sales & Lighting Design at our Ann Arbor store. Jessica has continued her education by completing coursework through the American Lighting Association to become an ALA Certified Lighting Specialist. She enjoys working with builders, designers, electricians, and home owners on their lighting design and fixture selection, and hopes to help Gross Electric grow its residential lighting business in the Ann Arbor area.

Carrie Martin

Showroom Sales - ALA Certified Lighting Specialist

Carrie joined the Ann Arbor showroom team in 2018. Her previous experience includes lighting showroom sales and retail visual merchandising. She is currently preparing for her Lighting Specialist certification with the American Lighting Association. Carrie says that what she enjoys most about working at Gross Electric is making her customers happy by solving their lighting needs and finding fixtures that they really love. In her free time, Carrie likes to listen to mid-90’s alternative music or watch movies while hanging out with her cats. She also enjoys going to concerts.

Pam

Lighting Designer - ALA Certified Lighting Consultant (CLC)

Pam began working at Gross Electric in customer service in 1992. Through the years, she moved into showroom sales, and has worked her way up to assistant showroom manager and showroom manager at our Ann Arbor store. Her continuing desire to learn more led her to become an American Lighting Association Certified Lighting Consultant in 2006. Since 2008, Pam has worked in showroom and builder sales. She works with builders for both remodels and new construction. She also uses her expertise to assist customers with the blueprint layouts for their lighting and fixture selection. Pam says, “The technology within the lighting world is changing rapidly, and I learn something new every day. Sharing my ideas, problem solving, and being creative while designing a lighting space is very exciting for me.”

Paul Balber

Showroom Sales

Paul has been part of the Gross Electric showroom sales team for almost 20 years! He started working in the Toledo showroom, and was the showroom manager there for one year. He has been working in our Ann Arbor showroom since 2002. Paul has a BFA from the University of Toledo and is an ALA Certified Lighting Specialist. He says that the best part of his job is “working new construction jobs that let me be creative.” He also enjoys learning about and using new LED technology. In his free time, Paul enjoys music and the fine arts and volunteers at The Ark, a music venue in Ann Arbor.

Larry H

Showroom Sales - ALA Lighting Specialist

Larry joined our Ann Arbor showroom in 2019 and recently earned his American Lighting Association Specialist designation. Larry brings over 25 years of retail sales and management experience to our team. Larry’s favorite part of working for Gross Electric is the family atmosphere. When Larry is not at work he enjoys spending time with his family and working around the house. Larry’s positive outlook and eagerness to find solutions for our customers makes him an asset to our team!

Kristen

Showroom Sales ALA Certified Lighting Specialist

Kristen is the newest member of our Ann Arbor showroom team. She has a degree in Interior Design and has many fond memories of visiting Gross Electric with her electrician father as a child. She was part of a duo who designed and handcrafted lighting, operating a storefront on Etsy. Previously she worked as a kitchen designer in the Hillsdale area before relocating to Ann Arbor. She’s a mother and an animal-loving nature, photography, and architecture enthusiast who loves music, books, gardens, and puzzles.

Larry

Mr. Fix-It

Larry, who is known as “Mr. Fix-It” around here, has been in the lamp repair business and lampshade sales for 30 years. At almost 80 years old, he’s still at it because, as he says, “It’s just plain fun!” Larry also served in the United States Navy and the Air National Guard. He lives in Chelsea with Susan, his wife of 56 years. Together they have two sons and four grandkids. His hobbies include building boats and fishing.

About Gross Electric

Laurie

President

Allen

Showroom Manager

Samantha

Builder Sales Representative

Mike

Sales Associate

Natalie

Sales Associate

Anna

Sales Associate

Pete

Decorative Hardware Manager

Armond

Decorative Hardware Sales Associate

Rochelle Mueller

Showroom Manager

Ryan Nyitray

Decorative Hardware Expert - ALA Lighting Specialist

Jessica Merkel

Lighting Designer - ALA Certified Lighting Specialist

Carrie Martin

Showroom Sales - ALA Certified Lighting Specialist

Pam

Lighting Designer - ALA Certified Lighting Consultant (CLC)

Paul Balber

Showroom Sales

Larry H

Showroom Sales - ALA Lighting Specialist

Kristen

Showroom Sales ALA Certified Lighting Specialist

Larry

Mr. Fix-It

Toledo Showroom

Ann Arbor Showroom

Northwood Electrical Supply Counter