John Gabbert

John Gabbert is the founder of Room & Board, launched in 1980 after he left his family's furniture business at age 26 (some accounts say 33). Raised in his parents' store, Gabbert wanted to build something different—a furniture company focused on timeless modern designs made by American craftsmen at fair prices. That experiment grew into Room & Board, which he expanded to $600 million in sales without ever taking outside investment. The Minneapolis-based company is now owned by its employees through an ESOP, a decision Gabbert made to pass control to the people who built it. His impact on the industry was recognized with induction into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, a recognition of a founder who challenged family expectations and built a company that lasts.