Title: Owner and Chairperson
Company: D.G. Associates Inc.
Location: Boynton Beach, Florida, United States
Gerald L. Gitner, Owner and Chairperson at D.G. Associates Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Aviation, Aerospace and Business Finance.
Mr. Gitner’s distinguished career spans several decades and is marked by a series of transformative leadership roles across the aviation and finance sectors. Since 1996, he has served as the owner and chair of D.G. Associates Inc., his personal S corporation. Although now semi-retired, Mr. Gitner has continued to consult and advise on investment opportunities while managing his own portfolio as a private investor.
Before the launch of D.G. Associates Inc., Mr. Gitner’s tenure as the chief executive officer and chair at Trans World Airlines (TWA) from 1996 to 1999 was pivotal. He was brought onto the board during a period of significant upheaval following Carl Icahn’s departure in 1993. Drawing on his extensive airline experience, Mr. Gitner assumed leadership after a tragic accident off Long Island left management in disarray. Under his guidance, TWA underwent a comprehensive transformation, revamping its fleet to enhance compatibility with major carriers and preparing the company for acquisition by American Airlines in early 2001. Mr. Gitner continued as chair of the liquidating company until TWA ceased operations in 2015.
Earlier roles included owner and board chair at Avalon Group Ltd., an investment bank Mr. Gitner founded from 1992 to 1997, where he became a broker-dealer to facilitate public offerings for clients. Between 1986 and 1990, he led ATASCO USA Inc. as its president and chief executive officer, after initially serving as the president of Texas Air Corp in 1986.
A defining milestone came when Mr. Gitner founded People Express Airlines in 1980, serving as the company’s founder, president and chief operating officer until 1982. His vision and perseverance enabled him to raise $35 million through a public offering for a company with no prior operating history, a record at the time, and positioned People Express as an innovative force during airline deregulation.
Mr. Gitner’s earlier executive appointments included chief executive officer of Pan American World Services from 1983 to 1985. Notably, he played a central role in orchestrating the sale of Pan American’s Pacific division to United Airlines in 1985, a transaction that generated $1 billion, and navigated complex negotiations involving unions and international regulations.
Mr. Gitner was also active in chair roles for many years, beginning in 1982 as the vice chair of the board at Pan American World Airways, until 1985. Then, in 1992, he became the co-chair of Global Aircraft Leasing Ltd. for more than five years, where he was involved in the aircraft leasing markets. Mr. Gitner also served as the board chair for Kitty Hawk Aircargo Inc. from 2002 to 2007, overseeing operations that included Boeing 727 and Boeing 737 aircraft throughout the United States and providing services for major clients such as United Parcel Service. Between 2017 and 2025, he chaired Global Aero Holdings Ltd., further cementing his influence in the global aviation industry. Over the past few years, Mr. Gitner has been chairing the advisory board for Matternet.com, a leading drone technology firm based in Mountain View, California, that produces certified delivery drones worldwide.
Among other ventures, Mr. Gitner became involved in investments in 2001 after relocating to Florida and joining Cross Continent Capital LLC as a principal until 2026. He has also participated in several private equity offerings and startups alongside his son and other partners. Additionally, Mr. Gitner has held various board memberships with companies like Party City, ICTS and CIFG Reinsurance.
Mr. Gitner’s academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts in history, cum laude, from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1966, and a Master of Business Administration in business economics from the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, in 1968. His master’s degree was earned with the support of a full scholarship and teaching fellowship that made him financially independent upon graduation.
Having enjoyed an extensive tenure affiliated with professional and civic organizations, Mr. Gitner is a member of the strategic council for the Burton D. Morgan College of Aeronautics at Lynn University and the Fairfield Society, The Claflin Society at Boston University, the George Eastman Circle and, among others, the Wilson Society at the University of Rochester. He has also served on the dean’s advisory boards at the College of Arts and Sciences at Boston University since 1997, the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester since 2016, and the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University since 2017.
Apart from these roles, Mr. Gitner sponsors scholarships and lecture series across numerous institutions, including annual lecture symposia at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, named for Deanne Gebell Gitner, as well as two lecture series and scholarships at Boston University plus similar initiatives at the University of Rochester and Cornell University. Mr. Gitner also mentors students at the University of Rochester while supporting annual teaching excellence awards across Cornell University, Boston University, the University of Missouri in Saint Louis, the University of Rochester and the Boston Latin School.
Mr. Gitner’s contributions have been recognized with multiple honors. Early on, he received a Distinguished Public Service Award from Boston University in 1984 and a Collegium of Distinguished Alumni recognition from the College of Arts and Sciences at Boston University in 1986. He also won a JD Power Award for best customer service during his tenure with TWA in 1998 and 1999 and a Distinguished Alumnus of the Year accolade from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester in 2020. Mr. Gitner attributes his success primarily to hard work, a principle ingrained since childhood that has persisted throughout his career.
For those aspiring toward similar careers in aviation or finance, Mr. Gitner advocates strongly for higher education coupled with unwavering commitment, emphasizing that sustained effort beyond conventional hours is essential for meaningful achievement within these demanding industries. His enduring impact on aviation innovation, corporate strategy, and educational philanthropy stands as a testament to both his expertise and lifelong dedication to advancing excellence across every endeavor he has undertaken.
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