Bio

Jack Gunion has a long history of starting and managing rapid growth companies. His first entrepreneurial venture was Eye Care Centers of America, Inc. (ECCA) where he completed a series of 5 acquisitions, forming the second largest eyewear superstore chain in the US, commonly known as EyeMasters (now VisionWorks). After the sale of ECCA to Sears, he was a founding member and CEO of Discovery Zone, awarding over 150 franchises prior to its sale to Blockbuster, Inc. Mr. Gunion then founded or acquired several businesses, growing them and then selling to larger entities within their industries. ​​​​ Mr. Gunion spent the first 22 years of his career on the corporate side of retailing, assuming increasingly responsible positions with large retail companies such as Sears, where he rose over 10 years ​from a Management Trainee to become a Group Merchandise Manager for their largest administrative unit, Chicago; to Target Stores where he was a Regional Merchandise Manager for their stores in the Southwestern US; to County Seat Stores where he was Regional Director for their Northern Region; to Waldenbooks as Vice President of Stores where he guided their transition from 600 stores to 950 in just over three years; and finally, to Genesco, Inc as President of their Retail Group, managing over 1,100 shoe stores (Johnston & Murphy, Journeys, and other branded stores) in the US and Canada. He has participated in opening nearly 800 retail stores in his career​. Mr. Gunion has raised, or participated as an investor in over $150 million in various forms of investment capital, including IPO’s, Private Placements, Subordinated Debt, and Senior Debt agreements. He has also raised over $40 million in the non-profit sector, primarily for the YMCA.​​​ ​ Mr. Gunion earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Drake University and completed the Financial Management Program at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.