The Gist Family
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Ron Gist grew up in Louisville, KY, attending Seneca HS and the University of Louisville. His first job in the piano industry out of college, was working as a piano mover for the AA Tiller Piano Company located in Louisville since 1901. He soon took an interest in piano repair, inspired by his shop boss, Ray Welch, and was encouraged by Mr. Tiller to learn the piano business. After the passing of Mr. Tiller, Ron opened a piano service business - Gist Piano Center - in 1971. |
Ron Gist |
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John Gist grew up in the sprawling metropolis of Bardstown, Kentucky. In 1995, he began working at his family's business as a piano mover. After graduating from Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, John moved to Danville, Kentucky, for college. John graduated from Centre College with a BA in economics and joined the Gist staff full-time. Today, John manages the sales division of Gist Piano Center and oversees the company's day-to-day operations. |
John Gist |
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Amanda grew up in Ashland, Kentucky and graduated from UK with a degree in English. She has been married to Ron for 35 years and has seen Gist Piano Center survive the Spring Tornado of 1974, a devastating fire in 1991, and the Watterson Expressway expansion (which forced the business to move 15 feet north, to it’s current location). …and she has “stood by her man”, through the years. Her daughter is an attorney in North Carolina and recently gave birth to Amanda’s first grandson. |
Amanda Gist |
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Lisa joined the Gist family in August of 1992 and spends most of her time directing the schedules of our very busy technical staff. Lisa is most often known as “the voice of Gist Piano Center” as she is the first-contact point for most of our clients (both on the telephone and in the front office). In her spare time, Lisa travels with her five Bernese mountain dogs (Logan, Linus, Lilly, Lenox and Autry) to shows across the country. Two of her dogs are champions. |
Lisa Rainey
Service Dept. Manager |
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Fred began working on Ron Gist’s sheep farm back in 1986. He received his certificate in carpentry while in high school and came to work for GPC officially in 1989. Working in the refinishing room and helping out with deliveries until 1997, Fred went through player piano installation certification, managing the shop and even selling a piano or two. In his spare time, Fred runs a home building company and a grading company. He lives with his wife (Nicole), three children, three fish and a yorky poo. |
Fred Greenwell
Technician |
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A 21-year veteran of the piano industry, Jeff handles Gist’s accounting duties. Since joining Gist in 1989, Jeff has traveled the country, working with other Steinway dealers as a financing specialist. Though not a pianist, Jeff's vast experience in the piano business makes him a piano expert. In his spare time, Jeff helps coach a girls basketball team, collects sports cards and spends time with his wife of 20 years, his 13yr old daughter, his two cats and the family greyhound. |
Jeff Cooper
Comptroller |
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Probably one of the busiest technicians in the shop, Akiko spends her days appraising pianos, coordinating shop workflow, and installing player systems. A graduate of the Steinway Technical Academy and a PianoDisc Certified Installer, Akiko is a jack of all trades (…except cooking. She can’t cook to save her life.). She’s a master finish repair technician and a decent “by ear” piano player (though she has never taken lessons). Akiko joined the Gist family in 2001. |
Akiko Carter
Shop Coordinator |
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From the farmlands of Iowa, James joined the Gist staff in May of 2009. He began studying classical, jazz and piano improv from 4yrs old until he graduated from Le’Ecole De La Musica at age 18. In 2004, he received his Steinway Certification from Henry Z. Steinway. Today, James coordinates Gist's community outreach events, maintains the company website and blog, oversees the popular Partners In Education program and appears in a number of videos on the Gist YouTube channel. |
James Harding
Director of Marketing |
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Originally from Moline, IL, Heather, fiancé Mike and their dog Wolfgang (or "Wolfy") recently moved to Lexington to join the Gist family. Heather’s first exposure to music came from watching her mother teach piano lessons. A talented clarinetist, Heather earned her B.A. in clarinet from Western Illinois University and she is currently finishing her Masters in Music Education degree. Heather has managed music lesson studios in Illinois and Wisconsin, and has managed a retail print music department in Illinois for nearly six years. |
Heather McGriff |
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Cary came to Gist in October, 2007 from an antique furniture dealership. Apprenticing with Mary Parker, a local piano refinisher, Cary learned the importance of choosing the right finish colors and how to produce a final product that exceeds anything a client could do in their own home. An avid guitar player and singer, Cary writes his own songs in his spare time and performs in coffee houses around the Lexington area. |
Cary Straub
Finish Specialist |
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Matthew graduated from the University of Louisville with a BS in CIS. A rare, dual-brained type, Matthew is an avid supporter of the arts – appearing at “open mic” nights around the Louisville area on a very regular basis. Matthew did take piano lessons as a child (and again as a young adult), but he prefers writing as his favored method of creative expression. In 1997, Matthew joined the Gist staff as the Gist Website and Database Administrator and Overall “How-do-you-work-this-thing?” Guy. |
Matthew Presley
Administrative Assistant |
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Leslie first joined the Gist staff in 1976. In 1978, she took a break from the piano business to spend more time with her son. When her son left for college in 1997, Leslie returned to Gist – working in the office with Lisa. Leslie’s not a pianist herself, but she’s an avid music lover. Wife, mother and grandmother, Leslie spends her free time with her family and her two Siamese cats, Henry and Amos. |
Leslie Brake
Administrative Assistant |
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Donald started with Gist in November of 1998 and spent his first two and a half years in the finish shop. From time to time, he started helping the delivery crew move pianos until, eventually, he joined the delivery staff full-time. Today, Donald supervises the delivery crew, does minor finish work, and still prides himself in his incredible pedal polishing skills. Donald spends his spare time with his wife, two kids and the two family dogs. |
Donald Riddle
Delivery Coordinator |
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Steve began tuning pianos in the Louisville area since 1972. In 1980, he began working at Gist and in 1983, he became the primary tuner for The Kentucky Center. His work has brought him into contact with a myriad of famous names, including: Jerry Lee Lewis, Alice Cooper, The Who, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Roger Williams, Reba McEntire, Sylvia Kersenbaum, Victor Borge, Jim Brickman, Lee Luvisi, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespe, Ella Fitsgerald, Diana Krall, Lang Lang, Harry Connick Jr. and many more. |
Steve Presley
Piano Technician |
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Jody started in 1997 as an apprentice with Gist. After two years of training in tuning and regulation, Jody became a full-time piano technician. Since then, he’s attended several training sessions with Gist and the Piano Technician’s Guild. An avid bicyclist, Jody spends his free time outdoors or playing music at home for his personal enjoyment. |
Jody Craven
Piano Technician |
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Alan is a graduate of The American School of Piano Tuning with 30 years experience, Steinway certification and an Associate Membership of the Piano Technicians Guild. He is a graduate of Mercer University with a BA in vocal performance. A graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Alan also serves as an itinerate Bible teacher/preacher. When not at work, he loves to spend time with his wife, daughter, 2 horses, 1 dog, 1 cat, and other critters thatcross their 17 acre farm. |
Alan Thomas
Piano Technician |
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