Bill Gutek is a 1982 graduate of Stetson University in Deland, Florida with a BBA in Finance. Having worked his way through school in lumber yards, he always had a keen interest in the construction industry. Upon graduation, he decided that a desk job was not in his nature and embarked on a career in the lumber and building materials industry working his way from delivery truck driver to senior management with a large nationwide supplier.
It was during this period that he got involved with several large projects; one in Key West, Florida, over 250 miles from his home base, and a private island development in the Bahamas. He became frustrated with the systems-based approach of the large companies that focused on internal procedures rather than the external focus of customer satisfaction. He and Roy Doolittle teamed up to form Tropical Logistix, a supplier of lumber and building materials to the Caribbean builder with the idea that, “we can do better.” Fond of saying, “if I can sell you this project right now, I can make some money, but if I figure out how we can still be doing business decades from now, together we all can build a career,” they set out on building relationships rather than buildings. That commitment to excellence in customer service has led Tropical Logistix to become one of the leading suppliers in the Caribbean market.
Bill thoroughly enjoys working with his team and his clients and considers them all family. When not focused on team Tropical, which decidedly is not often, Bill enjoys his life in and around the water. His hobbies include boating, fishing, diving, reading, and writing. His favorite break is taking his granddaughter to the beach and out for ice cream!