With an entrepreneurial spirit kindled by the jet ski rental business he started just after graduating from Roger Williams, Gerard kicked off his real estate career buying, renovating, and selling multi-family houses in Providence in the 1980s. He eventually owned and operated over 200 rental units in Providence, Newport and Kingston (and one laundromat in Newport!), before relocating to Washington, DC where his wife, Trish, had taken a new job.

Gerard quickly got licensed and up to speed on the sprawling, competitive DC metro area real estate market, and a few years later launched his own brokerage – UrbanLand Company -- in 2003. Focused primarily on serving new condominium developers, a huge market in DC, Gerard expanded the brokerage to a full-service firm with 25 agents serving DC, MD and VA, selling over 1,525 units as well as numerous land parcels ($525MM in sales).

Seeking a new lifestyle after the success of running UrbanLand, Gerard and Trish returned to the beauty and character of Rhode Island. After diving into the gut renovation of the Fifth Ward Cape house they bought on the spot, Gerard joined Coldwell Banker Realty to bring his deep experience and business-oriented approach to new clients in Rhode Island. His extensive knowledge of construction, renovation, and financing, as well as his curiosity and genuine enthusiasm for the real estate industry set him apart.