MONTICELLO – George Gattus works for both the Town of Thompson and Town of Delaware and was one of more than 200 people who attended last Thursday’s Schmidt’s Wholesale Trade Show at Resorts World Catskills.

“It’s awesome,” Gattus said. “They offered a lot of classes and it is so great to get an education on new products from all the vendors.

“I also picked up a certification,” he said.

Ryan Vogler, who is director of facilities at Roscoe Central School, said the trade show was “very educational. It’s a great show that offers smaller classes.”

Thirty-six manufacturers were on hand to display their products and answer any questions that the attendees may have had. 

The Monticello-based company has been hosting its trade show for years but 2024 was especially significant as it marked the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the company.

Schmidt’s Wholesale was founded in 1954 by Fred and Dottie Schmidt as a plumbing supply business at 150 Jefferson St. in Monticello. 

“Mom and dad used to bring me to the store when it opened, I was six years old,” Gary Schmidt remembered. “I joined the company full-time in 1970, after I graduated college.”

And just like his dad, Chris started at an early age, going to work with his mom and dad, Gary and Mary May.

One employee even heard that Mary May would bring Chris to work, “even when he wasn’t feeling well,” to rest in the office. 

After college, Chris joined the company full-time, nearly three decades ago.

Today, Gary and Chris are the face of Schmidt’s Wholesale, which has expanded to now employ 49 people at two locations, Monticello and Florida, New York.

“The strength of our company is our employees,” Gary said.

One former employee who was on hand Thursday was Joe Soller, who was hired by Fred and Dottie Schmidt in 1962.

“I was 16 years old when I came aboard,” Joe said. “I worked here 52 years. It was a 5-man operation when I started. Fred and Dot were great!

“He [Fred] treated me more like a son than an employee,” Joe said. “I started out stocking shelves and after about three years they put me in sales. I was in sales the whole rest of the time. I worked outside Sullivan County.”

Joe remembered Fred as “a tough, but very fair boss. Gary was more of a friend. I was 16 when I started and Gary was 14.

“The Schmidts are honest, good people,” Joe said. “My son works here now.”

Joe’s son, Brian Soller, only has 35 years under his belt   at Schmidt’s Wholesale.

“I started when I was 19 and am now the Sales Manager,” Brian said as he gave his dad a pat on the back. 

Another long-time em-ployee who was at the trade show was Ralph Brown, who started in September of 1971 and has been with the company for 53 years.

“I was Gary’s first hire,” he said. 

Timmy Merklin, who has been with the company for 43 years, also remembers working with Fred and Dottie. 

“At one time the average tenure of our employees was more than 20 years,” Chris said.

A testament to the hard-working family who started a plumbing supply store 70 years ago and now, three generations later, continues to meet the needs of the community through excellent service and great products.