Garrett Gendron is a dynamic logistics and sales development professional known for his adaptability, grit, and team-first leadership. With roots in public safety and food service, he’s carved out a strong path in transportation and logistics, contributing to operations and client success at Mercury GSE.
With an associate degree in Kinesiology and Liberal Arts & Mathematics, Garrett Gendron blends analytical thinking with people skills. A former beach lifeguard and All-American water polo athlete, he brings discipline and strategy to every challenge. Off the clock, he’s a dedicated coach and endurance athlete, always driven by growth, teamwork, and service.
Your career path spans lifeguarding, hospitality, and logistics. How did each of these environments shape your approach to leadership and problem-solving?
Each job taught me something different that I still use every day.
As a lifeguard, I learned how to stay calm and act fast when things go sideways. You can’t panic. You have to trust your training and handle the situation. That’s helped me stay cool and focused when problems pop up at work.
In hospitality, I really learned how to work with people. Dealing with customers and managing a team taught me to be flexible, communicate clearly, and keep a good vibe even when things get chaotic.
Logistics is where I got more into strategy, figuring out how to make things run smoothly behind the scenes. It’s about solving problems before they happen and making sure everyone’s on the same page.
Collectively, these jobs showed me that being a good leader means staying calm, working well with people, and always looking for better ways to get things done.
From water polo championships to managing transportation operations, how has your athletic background influenced your professional mindset?
Playing D1 water polo shaped how I work more than I realized at the time.
The sport is intense. You’re constantly thinking, adjusting, and relying on your team. That’s exactly how things go at work, especially in fast-moving environments like transportation. You have to stay sharp, work through stress, and communicate well.
It also taught me discipline. Early mornings, tough practices, and pushing through when things get hard, those habits stuck with me. They’ve helped me stay consistent and handle pressure in my professional life.
Honestly, the biggest lesson was that you can’t do it alone. Whether it’s a game or a big project, success comes from teamwork. That mindset of trusting others, showing up, and having each other’s backs is something I bring into every job.
Coaching is something you’re passionate about. How has working with younger athletes impacted how you lead and communicate in professional settings?
Coaching young athletes really changed how I think about leadership and communication. You quickly realize that not everyone learns or responds the same way, and you’ve got to adjust how you explain things and take the time to understand what motivates each person.
It taught me to be clearer and more patient, and to focus on encouraging people instead of just pointing out what’s wrong. That’s something I’ve carried into work: being more supportive, setting clear expectations, and listening more.
It also reminded me that if I want people to work hard and stay consistent, I have to model that myself. So now, whether I’m coaching or at work, I try to lead by example and be someone others can rely on.
Looking back on your time as a beach lifeguard, what did that role teach you about teamwork and responsibility that you still carry today?
Being a beach lifeguard really showed me how serious teamwork and responsibility can be. When something went wrong, everyone had to be locked in and trust each other completely. There wasn’t time for second-guessing or showing off. It was all about clear communication and having each other’s backs.
It also taught me that you’ve got to own your role but also care about the bigger picture. That mindset stuck with me. Now, whether I’m leading something or just helping out, I try to stay dependable, stay calm under pressure, and make sure the whole team is set up to win.
What do endurance sports and surfing bring to your life outside of work, and do they ever help reset your mindset for the work week ahead?
Endurance sports and surfing are how I hit reset. They push me physically, but more than that, they clear my head. A long run or a tough workout helps me stay focused, push through stress, and remind myself I can handle hard things, which definitely helps when work gets hectic.
Surfing especially helps me slow down. You can’t control the waves, so you just have to go with it, stay patient, and adjust. That mindset carries into my week. It reminds me to focus on what I can control and not get thrown off by the stuff I can’t. It helps me show up more calm, focused, and ready to handle whatever comes at me.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in a role that blends customer service with operational logistics?
I’d say learn how to balance being helpful with getting stuff done. In this kind of role, you’re the go-between for people and the behind-the-scenes stuff, so you’ve got to understand both sides.
Listen to what customers need, but also stay on top of the process so things don’t fall through the cracks. Keep things organized, ask questions early, and don’t be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t make sense. Knowing the “why” behind things helps a ton.
And don’t go it alone. Build solid relationships with your team and other departments. The better you all work together, the easier everything gets.
And finally, stay calm under pressure. Things won’t always go as planned, but how you respond is what builds trust with customers and with your team.
What originally drew you to study both Kinesiology and Liberal Arts & Mathematics, and how do those disciplines still inform your day-to-day work?
I chose Kinesiology because I’ve always been into how the body works, especially as an athlete. I liked learning how small changes in habits or training can lead to big results. It helped me build discipline and start thinking in terms of systems and routines.
At the same time, I picked up Liberal Arts & Math because I wanted to challenge myself in different ways. Liberal Arts taught me how to understand people better and communicate clearly, and Math helped me break down problems logically instead of just guessing my way through things.
Now, in my day-to-day work, I’m constantly using a mix of both. Whether I’m solving a workflow issue, talking to a team member, or organizing a project, I’m leaning on that combo of people skills and problem-solving. It’s actually been super useful in ways I didn’t expect back then.
