Gary started his business career in Boise in 1972 as a management consultant with Ernst & Ernst.  In 1976 he co-founded Learned-Mahn, a Boise based software company.  In 1985, he purchased Fisher's Office Equipment and substantially grew the company before selling the office supply division in 1995 to Boise Cascade Office Products (now OfficeMax).  He retained ownership in the equipment division which is now known as Fisher's Document Systems.

Throughout his career Gary has served in numerous leadership roles throughout the community.  In 1998 Governor Dirk Kempthorne appointed Gary as Director of the State of Idaho Department of Commerce, where he served until 2002.   Gary currently serves on the Board of Directors of Idaho Independent Bank and of St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

Gary received his Bachelors in Accounting from the University of Idaho and his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.