Stewardship
Gamblin Advisory Board
Sara Fritsch
Sara is a thought leader to her core. She is creative, charismatic, and the embodiment of right-meets-left-brain magic. Personally and professionally, without ever taking herself too seriously, Sara confidently brings big-picture thinking into laser-sharp focus through kind and direct communication. As the longtime President of vertically-integrated lifestyle brand Schoolhouse, Sara built a cult-like brand following. In 2021 she helped lead the sale of Schoolhouse to Food52. Sara has a degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in studio art, 20+ years of business consulting experience, and a passion for thoughtful design. Today she continues to bring quality products and advisory services to the world via her brand, Studio Tigress. Sara loves Portland, OR where she lives with her husband and their two kids.
Robert Gamblin
Robert Gamblin is the Founder of Gamblin Artists Colors and was its President for 23 years. Robert’s association with the company as an owner, an employee, and now as an advisor has been continuous over the whole life of the company.
His current role, in addition to being a board member, is as a leader of the Conservation Colors range and as an advisor to the company’s R&D, quality, and continuous improvement work. As he was before founding Gamblin in 1980, he continues to be an artist, primarily an oil painter.
Laurie Thomas
Laurie Thomas is the VP of Marketing and Customer Experience at LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. – leading marketing efforts for the Danner and LaCrosse footwear brands. With over 20 years of marketing and branding experience on both the agency and client side, Laurie has built a successful career on bringing together teams of diversely talented people to create and share great stories.
She is a proud Oregon State graduate and lifelong Oregonian. Laurie finds her inspiration for all things work and life in the outdoors and spends as much time as possible exploring with her husband, mostly-grown children, and overly-spoiled chocolate lab, Gus.
Chelsea Vandiver
Chelsea has spent two decades building brands and customer experiences, currently as Group Creative Director at Grady Britton, Portland’s first BCorp agency, and previously as Executive Managing Director at Ziba Design where she built the brand experience group and led the consultancy’s creative practice.
She is passionate about building mission-based brands and has had the honor of working with many BCorps, Nonprofits, and mission-based clients including REI, New Seasons, Patagonia, AARP, Stumptown, Children’s Cancer Association, and Danner boots.
Ownership
Gamblin is family-owned. We take the long view and we do the right thing. Gamblin’s President and primary owner is Pete Cole. Pete has served as Gamblin’s President for over 16 years. Under Pete’s leadership, Gamblin has become the leading oil paint brand in the Americas. Pete has kept Gamblin true to its founding values, overseen the development of numerous new colors and products, and consistently improved the company’s culture, team, and operation.
Pete Cole
In addition to being an oil painter, Pete has an extensive background in design, manufacturing, branding, and organization development.
Pete has served as an advisor to the leadership teams of Schoolhouse Electric, Egg Press, Modo, Tanner Goods, and other leading branded manufacturing companies in the Northwest. He has also served on the Board of the International Art Materials Trade Association.
Pete graduated from Harvard with a degree in economics and government. He received his MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business with Honors, graduating in the top 10% of his class
Social and Environmental Impact
Part of the Gamblin Guarantee is to be kind to you, the team of people here at Gamblin, and the planet we share. We put everything we have and everything we know into each batch of paint. We’re thoughtful about the resources we consume to do our work as your colormaker. And we believe in transparency. Below you will find additional background and reports on our Environmental and Social Impact.
Gamblin B-Corp Certification Summary
Sara Fritsch
Sara is a thought leader to her core. She is creative, charismatic, and the embodiment of right-meets-left-brain magic. Personally and professionally, without ever taking herself too seriously, Sara confidently brings big-picture thinking into laser-sharp focus through kind and direct communication. As the longtime President of vertically-integrated lifestyle brand Schoolhouse, Sara built a cult-like brand following. In 2021 she helped lead the sale of Schoolhouse to Food52. Sara has a degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in studio art, 20+ years of business consulting experience, and a passion for thoughtful design. Today she continues to bring quality products and advisory services to the world via her brand, Studio Tigress. Sara loves Portland, OR where she lives with her husband and their two kids.
Robert Gamblin
Robert Gamblin is the Founder of Gamblin Artists Colors and was its President for 23 years. Robert’s association with the company as an owner, an employee, and now as an advisor has been continuous over the whole life of the company.
His current role, in addition to being a board member, is as a leader of the Conservation Colors range and as an advisor to the company’s R&D, quality, and continuous improvement work. As he was before founding Gamblin in 1980, he continues to be an artist, primarily an oil painter.
Laurie Thomas
Laurie Thomas is the VP of Marketing and Customer Experience at LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. – leading marketing efforts for the Danner and LaCrosse footwear brands. With over 20 years of marketing and branding experience on both the agency and client side, Laurie has built a successful career on bringing together teams of diversely talented people to create and share great stories.
She is a proud Oregon State graduate and lifelong Oregonian. Laurie finds her inspiration for all things work and life in the outdoors and spends as much time as possible exploring with her husband, mostly-grown children, and overly-spoiled chocolate lab, Gus.
Chelsea Vandiver
Chelsea has spent two decades building brands and customer experiences, currently as Group Creative Director at Grady Britton, Portland’s first BCorp agency, and previously as Executive Managing Director at Ziba Design where she built the brand experience group and led the consultancy’s creative practice.
She is passionate about building mission-based brands and has had the honor of working with many BCorps, Nonprofits, and mission-based clients including REI, New Seasons, Patagonia, AARP, Stumptown, Children’s Cancer Association, and Danner boots.
Ownership
Gamblin is family-owned. We take the long view and we do the right thing. Gamblin’s President and primary owner is Pete Cole. Pete has served as Gamblin’s President for over 16 years. Under Pete’s leadership, Gamblin has become the leading oil paint brand in the Americas. Pete has kept Gamblin true to its founding values, overseen the development of numerous new colors and products, and consistently improved the company’s culture, team, and operation.
Pete Cole
In addition to being an oil painter, Pete has an extensive background in design, manufacturing, branding, and organization development.
Pete has served as an advisor to the leadership teams of Schoolhouse Electric, Egg Press, Modo, Tanner Goods, and other leading branded manufacturing companies in the Northwest. He has also served on the Board of the International Art Materials Trade Association.
Pete graduated from Harvard with a degree in economics and government. He received his MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business with Honors, graduating in the top 10% of his class.
Social and Environmental Impact
Part of the Gamblin Guarantee is to be kind to you, the team of people here at Gamblin, and the planet we share. We put everything we have and everything we know into each batch of paint. We’re thoughtful about the resources we consume to do our work as your colormaker. And we believe in transparency. Below you will find additional background and reports on our Environmental and Social Impact.
Gamblin B-Corp Certification Summary
