Gene E. Blanton

Gene Blanton is the founder and Chief Warfighting Officer™ of the Semper Fidelis Leadership™ Institute. Gene has also served as the Chief Entrepreneurial Officer™ for a financial services firm which has helped obtain financing for over 4000 small businesses.

Gene is not just a “speaker.” Gene is a leader who speaks. You will be able to tell the difference. At the age of 19, when most people are just discovering the meaning of responsibility, Gene was a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, having received four meritorious promotions for his leadership abilities.

In September/October 2005 and then again in May/June 2007, Gene traveled to western Al Anbar Province in Iraq, where he was embedded with the magnificent Marines of the 2nd Marine Division. He had the privilege to accompany today’s heroes as they patrolled, convoyed and even bled fighting terrorism. His book, Semper Fidelis Leadership™: From The Corps to the Corporation, documents how Marine Corps leadership applied to the business world can produce extraordinary bottom-line results.

At the age of 25, Gene was U.S. Systems Manager for LeBlanc & Royale Communications, responsible for the oversight for the installation of the cellular systems in such cities as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Los Angeles.

In 1986, at the age of 28, Gene founded Summit Communications, Inc. Gene and his team built microwave, broadcast, cellular and fiber-optic systems for such clientele as AT&T, MCI, Sprint, and affiliates of ABC, NBC & CBS. After building Summit Communications, Inc. into a multi-million dollar firm, Gene sold his company and started his next entrepreneurial venture.

In 1990, Gene founded Small Business Wall Street®. a firm which provides consulting in the areas of sales & marketing, operations and finance.

Gene is the former host of the Entrepreneurial Spirit Radio Program and a much sought after speaker. Gene delights audiences world-wide with his message of principle-based entrepreneurship and ethical leadership.

Gene serves as the leader of the Semper Fidelis Leadership™ Class at the 25,000 member Prestonwood Baptist Church. Gene and the love of his life, Shelia are on their third decade of marriage, reside in Dallas, Texas and have two married children, seven grandchildren!