Our Team
Two Decades of Friendship. A Company Built on It.
Gardner Controls isn’t a large firm with layers of account managers between you and the people doing the work.
Our leadership team is hands-on, accessible, and directly accountable for every project we take on.
That starts with a partnership between two people who’ve known each other for over twenty years — and a
shared belief that how you deliver matters as much as what you deliver.
President & Founder
Brad Gardner
Brad founded Gardner Controls after spending over 15 years inside automotive and Tier 1 facilities — programming PLCs, leading commissioning efforts, and building the kind of client relationships that don’t end
when the punch list is signed off.
He built the company’s reputation the only way it can be built in this industry: by showing up, doing the work right, and being available when something needs attention. That direct, hands-on approach is still how Gardner Controls operates today.
VP of Process Solutions
Chris Slagle
%20(1).jpg)
Chris joined Gardner Controls after a decade leading process engineering and automation expansion programs for Tier 1 automotive suppliers.
His background in facility-level planning and capacity development brought a new
dimension to the company — the ability to see beyond a single work cell and plan for full-system growth.
Accounts Manager
Katie Gardner
Katie keeps the operational side of Gardner Controls running smoothly — managing scheduling, documentation,
invoicing, and the day-to-day communication that ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
Clients often point to Katie as the reason projects feel well-coordinated. She’s the consistent point of contact who
makes sure questions get answered, timelines stay updated, and teams on both sides stay aligned.
Why We Work Well Together
Brad and Chris have been close friends for over twenty years — long before becoming business partners. That
long-standing relationship is built on mutual respect, honest communication, and shared values that now shape
every aspect of how Gardner Controls operates.
Because the partnership is grounded in real trust — not just a business agreement — decisions are aligned,
responsibilities are clearly owned, and there’s no internal politics slowing things down. That stability shows up in
how we work with customers: consistent, transparent, and accountable.
We approach every project the same way we approach the partnership — with the kind of respect and
follow-through that doesn’t change based on project size.