Gerardo Guerra was 33 when he started his world-renowned boot company, Black Jack, and embarked on his entrepreneurial journey—the 7th of 14 brothers and sisters from Cd. Juarez, Mexico, emigrated to the US at ten years old. At that young age, he already had ambitions of creating something significant and dreamt of being someone when he was older. His father, a recognized boot worker, was offered a job in El Paso, Texas, relocating the whole family to that city where Black Jack’s factory is today and has become synonymous with high-quality boots.
While pursuing his studies in administration in Tennessee, Gerardo remained connected and worked in the boot business. His background as part of a third-generation boot worker family instilled in him a passion and deep appreciation for craftsmanship and quality materials. When Jerry, as everybody calls him, graduated, he began working in Lucchese, a renowned boot company and one of the industry’s leaders. He was employed on the plant floor and rose until he became the plant manager. This position allowed him to immerse fully in boot making, honing his skills, and gaining invaluable experience. But when Lucchese merged with another company, he decided to end this formative period, which shaped his career trajectory.
Although he had many job offers, Jerry wanted to do something different: start a small independent company. In 1996, he established Black Jack and never imagined it could develop into its current business. Guerra invited family members to his entrepreneurial adventure. Four of his brothers joined his team, each taking on a specific role, from administration and sales to supervising and production. They partnered with an American alligator farm called White Gator in Louisiana and soon later, leveraging their individual talents, became Black Jack together.
Rapidly and unexpectedly for Jerry, Black Jack established itself as a leading producer of alligator boots in the United States. The sudden boom in demand for alligator materials presented a golden opportunity for his business, propelling the company to new heights of success. With two large corporations in California purchasing all the alligator boots that Black Jack produced, Gerardo’s innovative vision as president led his brand to become the undisputed "Kings of Alligator" in the industry.
Black Jack solidified its reputation and appeal as a first-class, exquisitely designed boot in the following decades. Gerardo and his team demonstrated their commitment to his mission of never compromising his superior quality standards and innovation. “My mentality is always to improve,” said Jerry. In a business where each boot is crafted manually and relies on the expertise of artisans, Gerardo instills in them a sense of pride and responsibility as he fosters a culture of excellence and consistency. Attention to detail is a daily vigilance; his persistent dedication to sourcing the finest materials and ensuring meticulous traditional techniques in every aspect of his company’s operations is an ongoing process.
With his hands-on approach, personally selecting all the exotic materials and overseeing every aspect of production, Guerra ensures that Black Jack remains at the forefront of innovation and craftsmanship, setting the standard for quality boots worldwide. Jerry also directly oversees the custom-made process of the Black Jack boots, ensuring that each client receives tailored attention and the finest product. He goes above and beyond to give the customer an experience that prioritizes comfort and individual needs.
The artisanal approach to constructing each pair of boots contributes to their uniqueness and character. While mistakes occur occasionally, the brand acknowledges the human element in the creation process of Black Jack boots and offers a product guarantee demonstrating accountability, transparency, and a commitment to excellence and customer support.
Gerardo mentions that among Black Jack’s partnerships, the one with Pinto Ranch is a source of pride for him. “I have always greatly admired Pinto Ranch; it seemed to me to be a very high-quality Western company.” In 2016, a mutually beneficial collaboration began by offering exclusive styles tailored to Pinto Ranch. It launched with four customized boots, and now there are about 25 boots with distinctive design elements reserved for the Western apparel brand customers. Black Jack boots' essence and core quality remain consistent across all outlets. Still, by continuously evolving and adapting to the needs of their customers, Pinto Ranch and Black Jack have created a symbiotic relationship that allows their customers to enjoy the quality and craftsmanship they offer with specific elements that distinguish them.
Among the many innovations the brand has participated in, Black Jack was responsible for creating the square toe, which became widely popular and has certainly made an impact on the boot industry. For the first three years of its invention, Jerry shares that his brand sold a lot of boots with this original design until other companies began to imitate and adopt the square toe style, replicating their success.
Today, Black Jack is known for crafting boots with precision, dedication to quality, and passion. Its boots are exported to many countries worldwide, such as Belgium, Germany, Holland, France, England, etc. Although Jerry Guerra has made a name for himself in the industry, he still feels the urge to keep fighting and the hunger for success. He approaches each day on the job with the same level of enthusiasm and commitment as when he started the company almost thirty years ago.
Two of his brothers, who started the company with him, are retired now, and two of his three daughters work at Black Jack. His relationship with his wife has been pivotal, as they have been together through thick and thin. Jerry mentioned that his father believed that he was a natural leader. Since he was a little kid, he encouraged him to do his best and set an example for his friends. His dad knew that his son was onto something big. Although he didn’t live to see him build Black Jack, he inspired Jerry’s determination and hard work to transform his dreams into reality.
As head of the company, Guerra remains focused on maintaining the label’s essence and reputation for quality, fit, and durability within the Western market. He ensures that the artistry behind every handmade boot receives the same attention and care regardless of the quantity. Presidents, basketball players, soccer players, hockey players, baseball players, artists, and legislators wear Black Jack boots, which gives Gerardo great satisfaction. He takes great pride in the company’s achievements, recognizing the collective efforts of every individual within the organization.