At Great Lakes we care about our employees, the people we do business with, and our community. We’ve been named one of Western New York’s Best Places to Work by the Buffalo News, and were awarded the Buffalo Niagara Business Ethics Award. We’re a diverse group who works hard but understands the importance of work-life balance. We strive to do the right thing for our employees, for our customers, and for our community.
In 1965, Peter R. Breads opened a small orthodontic laboratory in Buffalo, New York, which produced appliances and study models for two local orthodontists. One of these orthodontists was Dr. Carl F. Gugino, whose involvement and support were instrumental in helping to launch the business. In 1967, the company changed its name to Great Lakes Orthodontic Laboratory, Inc., and expanded laboratory services to accommodate orders from all over the country.
Less than four years later, a products division was founded. Great Lakes Orthodontic Products, Inc., quickly established itself as a leading supplier of high quality materials and supplies, and at the same time, broadened the service area to include the international market. In 1985, the two companies merged into Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd., but continue to operate as two distinct divisions.
The year 1990 marked another significant event in the company’s history, when Great Lakes became an employee-owned company as a member of the Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP).
The company’s progressive expansion, the development of innovative products and services, as well as a shared vision among dedicated employee-owners, all contribute to Great Lakes’s solid reputation as a leader in the dental profession.
