Barb Gilling’s first job out of college was in public accounting in Milwaukee, though she eventually moved to Green Bay and worked with local hospitals and the paper industry before finding a home with PDQ in 1990.
In 1998, Gilling played a critical role in the sale of PDQ Manufacturing to Dover Corp. “After that I stayed with the car washes, in addition to managing the financial side of our real estate companies,” she says. “[There were also] various other opportunities that came along, including a hotel, restaurant and the Automobile Gallery.”
The opening of The Automobile Gallery in downtown Green Bay — a vision of PDQ founder William “Red” Lewis, who died in 2021 — is among her proudest achievements. Gilling spent a significant amount of time planning, designing and structuring the nonprofit organization. “The end result was a beautiful facility in Green Bay that is now one of the top attractions for area visitors to enjoy,” she says.
Gilling is active in community organizations, with most of her volunteer time spent with Bellin Gundersen Health System, including service to its board of directors.
