Tom Gegax
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Tom Gegax (born in 1946 in Connersville, Indiana) is an American entrepreneur, author, speaker, and angel investor.
Overview
In 1976, Gegax co-founded Tires Plus, a retail tire business, with Don Gullett.[1] Gegax served as Chairman and CEO (Head Coach) of the company and grew the business to 150 stores and $200 million in sales.[2] In 2000, as the company’s majority shareholder, Gegax facilitated the sale of Tires Plus to Bridgestone/Firestone and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus.[3]
Gegax is a best-selling author with books published by HarperCollins and Random House; his management methods have been featured in multiple national newspapers and magazines. In 2001, Gegax founded Gegax Advisors to provide consulting and coaching to business owners and high-level executives; he maintains offices in Minneapolis and San Diego.
Gegax serves as Chairman of The Gramercy Fund, LLP, an angel investment portfolio of early stage companies, as well as his philanthropic venture, Gegax Family Foundation.[4]
Gegax is also the producer of a short documentary named Spark. A Systemic Racism Story that explores the Roots and Remedies of Systemic Racism. www.spark-doc.com
Biography
Early years
Tom Gegax was born in 1946 in Connersville, Indiana to Elizabeth (Alexander) Gegax and Bill Gegax. Tom’s mother, Elizabeth, graduated from the
Education
Gegax attended Indiana’s North Vernon High School where he lettered in golf, tennis, and baseball, and was an All State basketball player. After graduating high school in 1964, he received a Congressional appointment to
Family
In 1966, at the age of nineteen, Tom Gegax married Jan Pierson. Together they had two sons: Trent and Chris. Trent Gegax was a long-time correspondent for Newsweek magazine and currently serves as CEO of The Gramercy Fund.[5] Chris Gegax is a video producer. Tom and Jan Gegax divorced in 1991; in 1993, Gegax entered into a relationship with Mary Wescott, a top radio sales representative who now runs Gegax Family Foundation and is on site producer for Tom’s speaking events. They share homes in Minneapolis and San Diego.
Employment and accomplishments
Gegax was hired directly out of college by Shell Oil Company in Chicago, IL and worked from 1968 to 1973 in Employee Relations (later called Human Resources) and as a Territory Manager servicing service station dealers with territories in the inner city of Chicago’s southside. He transferred with Shell Oil to Minneapolis, MN in 1973 where he worked as a Sales Manager until 1976.
In 1976, Gegax co-founded Tires Plus, a retail tire business, with Don Gullett. Tires Plus began as a small startup, emerging from an idea Tom sketched onto a restaurant napkin, and mushroomed under Tom’s leadership into a market leader with 150 upscale stores in ten states and $200 million in revenue. Gegax served as Chairman and CEO (Head Coach) and was able to bypass outside investors over the years by tightly managing his company.
In 2000, as the company’s majority shareholder, Gegax sold Tires Plus to Bridgestone/Firestone and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus.
Following the sale of Tires Plus, Gegax founded three companies: Gegax Advisors, The Gramercy Fund, and Gegax Family Foundation. Through Gegax Advisors, Tom provides consulting and coaching to business owners and high-level executives. As Chairman of The Gramercy Fund, LLP, an
As an author, Tom’s Big Book of Small Business: You Don’t Have to Run Your Business by The Seat of Your Pants (HarperCollins, 2007), has gained endorsements by America’s leading business minds, including
Wellness & Healthy Living
Tom first developed an interest in healthy food in 1977, at age 31, after experiencing low energy, high anxiety, and a fifty-pound weight gain; he changed to eating a somewhat more healthful diet. In 1989, at the age of 43, a bout with cancer caused him to refine his diet even further to focus on organic, natural, whole, plant-based food and occasional fish.
Gegax’s long-time interest in healthy living motivated his implementation of wellness programs at Tires Plus and inspired his interest and involvement in environmental advocacy.
Board of Directors’ Service, Keynote Speeches, & Consulting Clients
Tom’s extensive Board of Directors’ service includes several health and environmental organizations such as the
In addition to his service on the boards of health and environmental organizations, Tom has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards.
Tom has been an advisor and coach to a number of high-level executives such as former Vice President Al Gore, whom he helped transition from politics to the business world following Gore’s loss in the 2000 presidential race. Additionally, Gegax has been a featured speaker and/or advisor for a wide variety of companies, including those of which he serves as a board member. Following is a partial list of Tom’s other speaking and consulting clients: 3M, ADPA (Automotive Dealers Parts Managers Association), Al Gore Enterprises, American Association of Micro Business Owners Small Business Expo,
Bibliography
- The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have To Run Your Business By The Seat Of Your Pants, HarperCollins (Feb 2007) ISBN 978-0-06-120669-6Foreword by Richard Schulze, Founder and Chairman, Best Buy
- Winning in the Game of Life: Self-Coaching Secrets for Success (1999) ISBN 0-9740675-0-4Introduction by Deepak Chopra