Frank Grimaldi Commits for the Long Haul
When Frank Grimaldi is in, he is ALL in. Family: he and his wife have been married for nearly 35 years. Career: he’s worked at Gordon Brothers for more than 15 years now. Philanthropy: he’s been involved with National Jewish Health for more than 25 years. And it’s this commitment—to relationships, to leading by example, and to serving others—that will be recognized when Frank is honored with the National Jewish Health Humanitarian Award this month.
For Frank, receiving this honor from an organization he has supported for decades represents a full-circle moment. He’ll be the newest addition to a hall of fame that includes his earliest mentors and others for whom he holds deep respect, all while supporting a cause that has become dear to him. In many ways, this milestone moment is a natural continuation of a philosophy that he has lived for decades: Show up for the people in your life and bring your best self to everything you do.
The Family Man
Thirty-five years ago, Frank married his high school sweetheart, Renee. “My wife is my reason for everything,” he said, smiling as he reminisced. “I figured I was the best salesman in America when I convinced her to marry me.” Together, they raised three children—now 30, 29 and 27 years old—and are expecting their first grandchild this May.
From an early age, Frank and Renee taught their children to think about how they could make a difference in the world. Every day they demonstrated how loyalty, stability and giving back make families and communities stronger. Today, their children have chosen careers in service of others. Their youngest child pursued pediatric oncology after witnessing a friend’s health struggles during childhood.
In Service of Others
The same commitment to community that defines his family life led Frank to National Jewish Health (NJH). He first got involved 25 years ago, inspired by the organization’s dedication to changing lives. When Frank visited the Denver hospital for the first time, the institution’s focus on research, patient care and innovation struck a chord. “It was absolutely amazing. National Jewish Health works the way medicine is supposed to,” said Frank. The hospital serves patients with some of the most difficult-to-treat cases, working to diagnose patients without delay, significantly expediting the time from initial consultation to tailored treatment plan.
Its physicians and scientists regularly publish groundbreaking findings in top medical journals, which have included research into proteins that slow cancer growth and the cause of chronic fatigue in long-COVID.
Throughout the years, Frank has championed the organization. Several years ago, he served as treasurer for the Financial Industries Dinner, helping to fundraise and share the institution’s mission with others. Now, to have the organization recognize Frank and bestow this recognition on him means the world. “I never thought I’d be honored this way. It’s a dream come true,” said Frank.
A Career Man
National Jewish Health also has deep links to Frank’s professional life. Several of Frank’s mentors have been honored with the NJH Humanitarian Award in years past. Frank credits them with the success he has found in his career and remains dedicated to continuing their legacy.
Frank’s leadership style is grounded in lessons learned early on that demonstrated the importance of valuing relationships and supporting others. He also credits the influence of his current boss at Gordon Brothers, Chris Carmosino. Frank had known Chris through the industry for years, but working closely with him gave Frank insight into Chris’ approach. “Chris gave me enough runway to challenge myself, trusting me to figure out how to sink or swim. But he also made time for me whenever I needed it — whether it was 30 minutes or three hours,” said Frank.
Frank incorporates these lessons into his management style today. Key to his leadership is challenging others to try out-of-the-box ideas. He sets parameters but otherwise encourages his team to explore opportunities and grow into their own. Acting as a sounding board for dealmakers, he encourages them to find interdisciplinary partners and execute creative, real-world solutions. His open-minded approach to problem-solving brings teams together, and his encouragement helps to foster the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Gordon Brothers’ culture.
Frank’s commitment to leading through action has helped him find success at Gordon Brothers. When Frank joined 15 years ago, the entire company had around 125 employees. Today, the North American appraisals team alone has 125 employees—with another 75 working in diligence and exam services—and oversees 1,500 appraisals and over 1,000 field exams annually.
Frank regularly emphasizes that every employee is a representative of the company. To him, trust is foundational. “Everyone needs to be a team player,” he said. That internal trust helps set their external interactions up for success. “We’re not a deal shop. We’re a relationship shop.” To Frank and his team, that distinction matters.
Partnership in Action
The commitment to showing up, which Frank learned from his early-career mentors and is imbued throughout all Gordon Brothers teams, is clearly demonstrated by the work on the Big Lots restructuring in late 2024.
Gordon Brothers and Big Lots had worked together in early 2024, and when Big Lots needed support a year later, it turned back to its trusted partner. Armed with deep knowledge of Big Lots’ operations and financial profile, Gordon Brothers mobilized an interdisciplinary team and partnered with Variety Wholesalers and other advisors.
What followed was a remarkable demonstration of execution under pressure. The Gordon Brothers team structured and funded an expedited purchase agreement, negotiated complex forward contracts, secured court approvals, completed due diligence, and fully repaid nearly $500 million in unpaid loans and claims—all within a few weeks. Together, they helped preserve an iconic American retail brand and thousands of jobs across the country.
Commitment to strong partnerships is the whole ethos of Gordon Brothers. It is not built on quick wins or headline deals, but on enduring relationships and integrity. In the rapidly growing asset-based lending space, Frank’s advice holds true: “your word is your bond.”
Continuing to Give Back
Frank’s wife is certainly his perfect match. But Frank and Gordon Brothers are a formidable team as well, fueled by their passion for philanthropy.
When Michael Frieze, Gordon Brothers’ Chairman Emeritus and long-time CEO, established the Gordon Brothers Foundation in 2022, Frank was one of the first employees to volunteer his time. The Foundation promotes active participation in the communities where Gordon Brothers operates by pledging to donate $5 million to organizations selected by Gordon Brothers’ employees. That pledge encourages all employees to embrace a philanthropic spirit, as Frank has done, and commit to helping those in their communities In 2025, Gordon Brothers donated almost a million dollars to 34 total organizations, including to groups focused on cancer care, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, pediatric care and mental health.
Legacy is often misunderstood as something static—a reputation built in the past. Instead, for Frank, legacy is dynamic. As he has learned from a lifetime of service, building a legacy requires putting others first, establishing and strengthening trust and prioritizing relationships over anything else. He embodies these principles every day and has built a career with a company that does the same.
This month, National Jewish Health’s honor for Frank is well-deserved. It is recognition of a consistent pattern in his steady commitment to family and community, philanthropy and professional integrity. And he will continue to inspire the next generation, breathing new life into National Jewish Health’s mission to serve those most in need.
And for Frank Grimaldi, that may be the most meaningful honor of all.
