I’m back from a 2-week European trip, which started in Italy to celebrate my dad’s 80th birthday. 🇮🇹 🥳 Not only was this vacation time important to me to unplug from the grinding work of being a CEO and entrepreneur, but to spend quality time with my dad and extended family. This vacation was particularly special to me because it was a dedicated time to celebrate my biggest inspiration, my dad. For those who don’t know, my dad took over and led my grandfather’s business, Abel Pumps. The business was started after WW2 in Germany as a pump manufacturing company and my dad eventually moved the company to America. Abel Pumps spurred me to study mechanical engineering at MIT and inspired my idea for selling big machines online (like Amazon was doing with books at the time). This led to my founding of the company BigMachines (sold to Oracle) before starting SteelBrick (sold to Salesforce). And of course, my drive for #entrepreneurship was instilled in me from my dad at a young age, and our PEAK entrepreneurial spirit is still burning strong at G2. So here’s to celebrating 80 years of my father Goerdt Abel, the unwavering spirit of entrepreneurs, and to always making time to celebrate special moments in our lives with loved ones. 🥂 More coming soon about the next stop on my Euro trip, London
You both look the same! Now we all know you'll look this good when you're 80 :)
He looks so much like you!
Happy 80th Birthday!!! We celebrated my Dad's 90th Birthday this year back in April. It's wonderful to watch our parents continue to age well and be well! We have a lot to look forward to. They make it look youthful!!
Your father is one amazing entrepreneur, role model and great human! We all have learned so much from him directly or through you! So great to see so many friends smiling on these pictures. Happy Birthday Goerdt !
I remember meeting your Dad, he was doing booth duty for Big Machines, once in London and maybe a World Tour, he is such a gentleman
Oh, Godfard, this is great to hear you’re taking this time with your dad and family. I wonder if your dad knows Fred Wacker l or ll who created Liquid Controls in Lake Bluff, IL. My friend , Fred Wacker lll ran it and sold. Thanks for posting.
Heard recently the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey on what inspired you to start Big Machines and here I hear it from you now. #inspiring. Great pics.
Love it. Such an inspiring story of entrepreneurship. And he looks athletic at 80, double inspiring!
Fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), VP Marketing, Advisor, Consultant and Executive Coach
1moHappy Birthday Goerdt!