Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Gary's professional life gave him a wide variety of experiences. His 22 years of training in Aikido, a martial art, gave him great insight into conflict management and the control of energy.

He began his 22-year engineering career managing the design and installation of complex communications systems and facilities throughout the Pacific Rim Countries including Antarctica. During his engineering career, he was also the reliability and vulnerability engineer for the Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident warhead systems. After moving to Arizona, Gary managed the testing and evaluation of sophisticated communications equipment and systems.

Gary then founded a trade book publishing company where he was publisher and CEO for over 5 years. He eventually sold the company to devote full time to his most recent endeavor, the Self-Navigation Institute. As the Institute's founder and President, Gary’s presentations enable individuals and corporations to increase performance, enhance personal and professional development, and restore their passion for work and life. Gary was also a former faculty member of the University of Arizona where he taught management classes on how to improve performance/productivity and unleash creativity.

In his speeches, Gary draws upon his vast experiences – from managing high-tech projects to working with foreign governments including Japan, Korea, China, Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. Speaking from his heart, Gary shares personal stories and appropriate examples to help people and organizations. He has spoken to a wide and diverse clientele on the topics of change, balance, management, and professional and personal development. Gary also offers a unique program with total audience involvement through his dynamic and fun presentation on dreams.