Peter Heary, president of Paul Davis GTA West Group, is honoring the retirement of Paul Gresham, one of the Canadian company’s longest and continuously running office owners and employee for 35 years. Heary’s office includes franchise service territories in Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton, Halton and Hamilton, where Gresham most recently served as an enduring senior project manager. 

Paul Suddes, a co-owner of Paul Davis Muskoka also thanks Gresham for the insights and leadership that helped shape Suddes’ career in the insurance restoration industry. Suddes worked as a project manager for Gresham in his early stages of his career. “Paul Gresham’s influence and honest approach to doing restoration work with accuracy and integrity was a main building block for the development of a hub and spoke model that Pete Heary and I developed in southern Ontario, which is currently known as the Paul Davis GTA West Group,” said Suddes.

According to Heary, throughout the years, Gresham’s capacity to respond to customers quickly and competently with accuracy and empathy in residential and commercial property, and catastrophic disasters speaks volumes for the man who is now retiring from the rigorous industry. “Paul’s unique ability to connect with our customers and understand their trauma from water, fire, mold damage is exceptional. There are few left in the industry with his heartfelt, empathetic nature to serve in the ‘old school’ style of spending time with those in need from devastation in their lives with proper estimating, and best practices,” said Heary. “Today’s technology has changed our industry and the practices of those who genuinely love working directly with customers. Paul is a special man, and we will miss him in our business.”

Suddes and Gresham are the few remaining individuals in the Paul Davis network who were trained by Paul Davis himself. “Mr. Paul Davis in Jacksonville, Fla., was a pioneer in the insurance restoration industry and helped shape the industry to where it is now. He was an innovator who founded the concept of what is now more than 300 franchise offices in Canada and the U.S.,” said Suddes.

Gresham experienced a lifetime career that delivered on a full range of projects expertly and cost effectively. His teams of restoration industry professionals have grown and expanded the locally owned and operated companies with valued support from customers, vendors, and suppliers.

“I feel that I’m content now after serving as a restoration professional, a mentor and thoughtfully natured man who is retiring. After 35 years of work, I will now enjoy activities with my wife of 40 years, three children and two grandchildren. We will continue enjoying motorcycle touring, and RV traveling throughout areas of Canada where we’ve never been, plus hunting and fishing in this magnificent area,” said Gresham. “My credo is to be accountable 100 percent of the time and ‘face the music’ if you need to improve your work and service with customers. Pay attention to details and be proud of what you are doing, ask if you don’t know something. I will enjoy the next phase of retired life.”

Gresham’s colleagues tip their hats to him as he hands over the keys to the next generation of professionals. 

Gresham purchased the Halton Hamilton office with his father and brother in 1989 and expanded by acquiring the Brampton region a few years after. In 1997, the Halton Hamilton Wentworth office was sold to Suddes who later partnered with Heary. 

During this time, Gresham continued to work for Paul Davis GTA West for more than 10 years as senior project manager, estimator, while troubleshooting jobs, and helping customers. Gresham resides with his family in Burlington, Ontario, and his career includes many years as a local swimming pool builder. He holds a Bachelor of Physical Education degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. 

“Paul will be missed by our team. He is a great man who exemplifies exceptional business ethics, morals, and doing the right thing on every project, all the time,” said Heary. “Paul Davis Canada wishes Paul and his family a wonderful and happy chapter together, and we thank him for a job well done.”

For more than 55 years, Paul Davis Restoration Inc. has restored residential and commercial properties damaged by fire, water, mold, storms, biohazards like COVID-19 and other disasters. Paul Davis Restoration has more than 300 independently owned franchises in the United States and Canada. The professionals at Paul Davis are certified in emergency restoration, reconstruction, and remodeling.