George Gellert and the Gellert family to receive third annual Dyson Alumni Leadership Award
The Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, part of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will honor George Gellert ’60, MBA ’62, JD ’63 and the Gellert family, leaders of Gellert Global Group, with the 2026 Dyson Alumni Leadership Award.
The Dyson Alumni Leadership Award recognizes exceptional business leaders who embody the Dyson School ethos that “our business is a better world,” celebrating those whose professional success is matched by a commitment to improving society through responsible leadership.
For generations, George Gellert and the Gellert family have shaped the global food industry through their leadership of Gellert Global Group, one of North America’s leading food import and distribution organizations. The company, with annual revenue exceeding $1.7 billion, sources thousands of food products from more than 60 countries. Gellert Global Group sells these products to North America’s leading retailers, distributors, food service companies, hotels, cruise lines and manufacturers.
Generations of family leadership
At the center of the family’s legacy are George and Robert Gellert ’63, MBA ’65, whose leadership helped transform the family business into a global enterprise. George Gellert, chairman of Gellert Global Group, has played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s international reach and building enduring partnerships across the global food industry. Together with Robert Gellert and other family members, he helped guide the organization’s growth while preserving its entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to quality.
Today, the next generation continues to build on that foundation. Andrew (Andy) Gellert ’89 and Thomas (Tom) Gellert ’94, MBA ’99, JD ’00, serve as co-chief executive officers of Gellert Global Group, leading the organization’s strategic growth and innovation. Josh Gellert ’95 serves as president, while Bill Gellert ’83, MBA ’85, who serves as president of Gellfam, oversees the group’s restaurant operations which encompasses more than 130 Five Guys locations across 14 states. Amy Gellert Lebovitz ’91, chief of culture, leads initiatives focused on organizational culture, employee wellness, philanthropy and sustainability. Together, the family represents multiple generations of leadership committed to the company’s long-standing values of partnership, integrity and global collaboration.
“The Gellert family exemplifies the kind of leadership we strive to cultivate at Dyson,” said Jinhua Zhao, the David J. Nolan Dean of the Dyson School. “Through decades of entrepreneurial vision and global engagement, they have built a remarkable family enterprise while strengthening the global food supply chain and creating lasting partnerships around the world. Their commitment to responsible business leadership reflects the very spirit of the Dyson Alumni Leadership Award.”
In addition to George and Robert, two other Gellert brothers have established successful ventures of their own. Philip (Phil) Gellert ’58 is the owner of Northern Empire Realty, a real estate firm specializing in property management, investment and development in New York’s Hudson Valley. Joseph (Joe) Gellert ’68, MBA ’71, is the CEO and founder of World’s Best Cheeses, a specialty food importer and distributor that sources fine cheeses and other gourmet products from around the globe. His son, Stephen Gellert ’03, MBA ’09, serves as president.
Deep and enduring Cornell connections
The Gellert family’s connection to Cornell and the global food industry spans nearly a century. It began with Imre Thomas Gellert ’27, who sold the family’s luxury garment business to take over a poultry farm in upstate New York. The venture grew into one of the largest poultry operations in the Northeast and marked the beginning of the family’s entrepreneurial legacy in the food sector. After graduation, George took his background in finance and law to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and then to the Pentagon before being invited by his father-in-law, Leon Rubin, who had co-founded Atalanta Trading Corporation in 1945, to join the business. George joined Atalanta in 1965, when the company primarily imported canned hams from Poland, and later purchased the company from Rubin. Building on that foundation, George expanded the business far beyond its original focus on canned hams, broadening its product offerings and international partnerships. Together with other members of the Gellert family, he grew the company into what is now Gellert Global Group.
Today, the Gellert-Cornell legacy spans four generations and 29 Cornellians — 23 alumni, five current students and one rising student — continuing a multigenerational tradition of engagement and leadership at the university. Family members have served in numerous leadership roles across the institution, including on the Board of Trustees, the Cornell University Council and the President’s Council of Cornell Women, as well as on advisory councils, including the SC Johnson College Leadership Council, the Dyson Advisory Council, the Food Science Advisory Council and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Advisory Council. Their philanthropy has also strengthened Cornell’s academic mission through support for endowed faculty positions, including the Gellert Family Professorship in Applied Economics and Management and the Gellert Family Professorship in Food Safety, which advance research and education in agricultural economics, food systems and global food safety.
The full list of Gellert family Cornellians include alumni Imre Thomas Gellert ’27; Philip Gellert ’58, MS ’60; George Gellert ’60, MBA ’62, JD ’63; Bob Gellert ’63, MBA ’65; Joe Gellert ’68, MBA ’71; Bill Gellert ’83, MBA ’85; Susan Gellert ’85, MBA ’87; Andy Gellert ’89; Amy Gellert Lebovitz ’91; Tom Gellert ’94, MBA ’99, JD ’00; Josh Gellert ’95; Melissa Gellert Cooper ’96; Rebecca Gellert Amin ’98; Murtaza Amin ’99; Dan Gellert ’00; Steve Gellert ’03, MBA ’09; Danielle Greenman Gellert ’07; Shanie Jeanet ’16; Matthew Gellert ’17; Jacob Gellert ’21; Ben Gellert ’22; Adam Gellert ’24 and Emily Lebovitz ’25.
Currently studying at Cornell are Jeremy Lebovitz ’26, Lindsay Gellert ’27, Natalie Lebovitz ’28, Samantha Cooper ’29 and Noah Gellert ’29. Joining Cornell this fall is Aaron Gellert ’30.
The Dyson Alumni Leadership Award will be presented to the family at Dyson Leads, a premier gathering of alumni, students and industry leaders, to be held on April 9 in New York City. The event celebrates leadership, innovation and the impact of Dyson School alumni across industries.