Our People
When you choose Gilmore, you’re choosing members of your own community—local people who genuinely care about you and what’s important to you. We’re proud to have stood the test of time and to have employees who have weathered the storms—literally and figuratively—with us, some of whom have been with us for 20+ years. When Hurricane Michael ravaged the Gulf Coast and damaged our Marianna facility in 2018, we worked harder than ever, banding together to help our friends and neighbors with vital document recovery and hurricane relief efforts. If you haven’t worked with us yet, you may have seen us around town, serving the businesses that you patronize or taking part in community events. Get to know our leadership team below.
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Our Team
Lucas Gilmore, VP of Operations and Facilities
For Lucas Gilmore, nothing makes him happier than hearing from happy and impressed customers about the quality of service they received from Gilmore. Since age 11, he’s been a part of the fiber of the Gilmore family business, spending summers on pack crews and running his own moving crews as soon as he could drive. Today, he works closely with the director of operations and other Gilmore managers to ensure things run smoothly between Gilmore’s fleet of equipment and facilities.
There is no job that Lucas would ask his team to do that he wouldn’t do himself—his employees know he’ll be right alongside them whenever duty calls. He still gets excited when he gets to spend a day out on the truck, seeing firsthand how the Gilmore service professionals work together to make customers happy. This attitude extends into the community; Lucas was a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida for five years and served as a NAID board member for two years. His hobbies outside of work include boating, camping, rock crawling his Jeep and spending time with his wife, 15-year-old stepson, and admittedly spoiled goldendoodle, Allie.
Jacob Gilmore, VP of Purchasing and Finance
Jacob Gilmore isn’t much for titles—and that’s part of what makes him a great leader. He’s worked almost every role at the company since starting out in the shredding and moving warehouse as a teen. After working in the records storage warehouse, he transitioned into sales and then his current position.
Jacob brings a certain approachability and care to the job that comes from a deep level of understanding what it takes to do the work, and do it at the highest level of customer service excellence that his father instilled in him many years ago. He has enjoyed seeing the company evolve, grow and flourish through his contributions—but believes he owes much of the success to the people who make up Gilmore and the loyal customers who have trusted the company time and time again.
Outside of Gilmore, Jacob enjoys hunting and fishing and the quiet life on the farm, raising registered angus cattle with his wife and twin daughters. He is the co-owner of Gizmo Angus Farm in Molino, FL, and serves as a board member for the Escambia County 4-H Foundation and Farm Credit of Northwest Florida.
Whitney C. Lucas, General Manager
As General Manager at Gilmore, Whitney is responsible for the management, planning and directing of Gilmore’s daily operations. Born and raised in Pensacola, she graduated from the University of West Florida in 2009 and went on to hold the position of Chief Financial Officer for Escambia County’s Corrections Department. The communication, planning and team building skills honed during her time with Escambia County helped her become a trusted leader at Gilmore, building up her team in order to create an atmosphere of cohesion and clarity that extends to customers.
Whitney is proud to be a part of Gilmore’s growth and expansion while maintaining a people-centered and community-focused outlook. Assisting a company with deep local roots achieve growth through innovation and change management has been rewarding for her. She continues to be involved in the local community, serving as the Vice President of the Escambia County Sheriff Foundation. She was also honored by InWeekly as a 2021 Rising Star and is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Pensacola. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the natural beauty of the local area with her husband and two young daughters.
Steve Surles, Director of Operations
Steve Surles has been part of the team at Gilmore since 2007, working his way up through the company to eventually become Director of Operations. He manages and optimizes the daily operations at Gilmore, providing supervision and assistance to shredding, records and moving personnel, warehousemen and plant operations staff. Steve believes that any job worth doing is worth doing right, and in that spirit, customers and employees often see him pitching in to whatever needs doing.
As a former small business owner, Steve knows firsthand the challenges that many of his customers at Gilmore face, and has trained his team to meet the unique needs of the people behind the businesses. He prides himself on being a fair leader who enjoys seeing his customers and employees happy. His passions outside of work include old hot rods, drag racing and all types of mechanical work, big to small. He also enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, young son and black lab, Suzie.
Steve Clopton, Director of Sales
Steve Clopton is an accomplished professional with a strong commitment to his native Pensacola community. As the Director of Sales for Gilmore, Steve brings over 15 years of sales experience to his role. Born and raised in Pensacola, he possesses an intimate understanding of the local landscape and a deep dedication to its growth.
With a remarkable career spanning two decades, Steve's journey in sales has been marked by excellence. He has spent 6+ years as a Territory Manager at Gilmore, during which he has honed his expertise and gained comprehensive training in NAID / iSigma protocols. He boasts an impressive 8 years of specialization in the security sector, underscoring his commitment to ensuring the safety and trust of his clients.
Steve's impact extends beyond his professional realm, as he is a notable figure within the Pensacola business community. He has been an ambassador for both the Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce and the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, contributing his insights and fostering collaborative growth. Additionally, during his 10 years as an Ambassador for The Greater Pensacola Chamber he has been recognized through his selection as a three-time "Ambassador of the Year" by The Greater Pensacola Chamber, demonstrating his steadfast commitment to promoting local business endeavors. His leadership skills were further cultivated as a graduate of the esteemed "Leadership Pensacola" program in 2018.
Dedicated to community service, Steve was a proud member of the Pensacola North Rotary club, where he has actively served for 6 years and held the position of Past President. His contributions to the Rotary club also earned him the Pensacola North “Rotarian of the Year” for 2021 – 2022.
Steve's passion for community enhancement and support is further evidenced by his involvement in various organizations. He has served on the board of directors for Crimestoppers and currently serves as a board member for the Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce, where he holds the role of Incoming Chair. Through his active participation, Steve remains dedicated to fostering a safer and more prosperous environment for all.
Outside of his professional and civic responsibilities, Steve finds joy in spending quality time with his family and friends. He is an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys the thrill of motorcycling. His spiritual connection is also evident through his active involvement with his church.
With 36 years of marriage to his high school sweetheart, Lisa Clopton, Steve embodies values of commitment and loyalty. He is a staunch advocate for the Sheriff's Foundation and is driven by a genuine desire to contribute to the betterment of his community and the success of small businesses.
Steve Clopton's multifaceted journey is defined by his unwavering dedication to Pensacola, his impressive sales acumen, and his steadfast commitment to community service. As Director of Sales at Gilmore, he will continue to shape the business landscape and inspire positive change in the region he calls home.