Beginning his education in horticulture in Dortmund, Germany in 1955 to later become a professional landscaper which brought him to the United States in the 1960?s was a great beginning to a lifelong successful career. Before his journey to the states he was drafted into the German Army and served 1.5 years. When he arrived in the states he was then drafted into the National Guard in Boise, ID and served 6 years. Gerhard began his landscaping trade in Boise, ID in 1970 and served on the original board of Landscape Architects from 1972-1974 and was appointed by Cecil Andrus.