Founder Emeritus
Gary R. Gerson, the founder of Gerson Preston, achieved success through talent, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to his clients and to his community. His tremendous dedication continues to drive him today.
Mr. Gerson’s beginnings were at the University of Florida in Gainesville where he graduated with high honors earning his Bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1954 and a Master’s degree in business administration a year later. At age 21, he distinguished himself then as the youngest CPA in the country. Receiving a U.S. Navy Commission in 1955, and after serving on a destroyer escort for two years, LT. Gerson was appointed Officer in Charge of the Navy Area Audit Office in Orlando. It was three years later that he began the practice of public accounting in Miami Beach, laying the foundation of what was to become Gerson, Preston, Robinson & Company.
Before his retirement, Mr. Gerson had more than 60 years experience in public accounting, taxation, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, financial institutions, government and not-for-profit organizations. Additionally, he held a special expertise in the field of litigation support for business damages. Mr. Gerson and Mr. James P. Robinson co-authored a manual for the Florida Department of Transportation called, “A Presentation Regarding A CPA’s View of Varying Interpretations of Business Damages under Florida Law.”
Throughout his long and distinguished career, Mr. Gerson has generously and consistently “given back” to the community by contributing his time and considerable financial resources to many charitable, civic and educational organizations. He is a former President and Chairman of the Board of the Mount Sinai Medical Center and served as Chairman of the Board of Israel Bonds Organization of South Florida for 10 years. Mr. Gerson has been a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Douglas Gardens Jewish Home for the Aged, Temple Beth Sholom, the Concert Association of Florida and the Dade County Industrial Development Authority.
He is also a life member of the University of Florida Foundation and
established the University of Florida Academic and Tutoring Department for the University Athlete’s and was inducted in the Universities’ Athletic Hall of Fame.
Mr. Gerson also built the Student University of Florida Accounting Building which is the only free standing University Accounting building in the country.