With over 8 years of public service Gene was up close and personal as County Commissioner with the citizens in his precincts within his county. Several times each week, Gene had his “Coffee with the Commissioner” sessions at various coffee shops throughout the County, unlike most other elected officials. Not everyone could/would watch the county commission meetings on TV. Not everyone could get their concerns addressed. So Gene went to them in this way. Roads, infrastructure, lifestyle health and welfare were addressed face to face.

Gene wrote the first economic development incentive ordinance of law, providing incentives for business. The focus was on jobs. He traveled to Farnborough, England, Paris, and Berlin to meet world-class businesses to identify their needs and to lobby for their interest in bringing their businesses to the Panhandle of Florida.

Gene is a ‘rags to riches’ story. His life is filled with designing, creating, developing, operating and growing innovative enterprises through life stories of trials and tribulations.

Founding President of CellularOne, pioneering visionary of the online payment industry, serial entrepreneur, local government leader, major motion picture award-winning executive producer, race car driver, recreational pilot, Dive Master, Adjunct Professor at Pensacola State College, has interests in real estate, hospitality industry, life sciences, and remarkably nice guy.