Eugene P. Conese, Sr. was the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Greenwich Air Services, Inc. from October 1987 until its sale to General Electric in September 1997. In 1987 Greenwich Air Services was a jet engine overhaul and rebuilding service company, with 450 employees and $25 Millions in sales. It went public in 1993 on NASDAQ. Under Gene's leadership it became the world's largest independent jet engine overhaul and rebuilding service company as well as one of the world's largest business and regional aircraft ground maintenance, parts and engine repair companies. It had offices in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, with plants throughout the U.S. and Europe. Through a combination of internal growth and three major acquisitions, the company grew to sales of approximately $2 Billion and employed over 10,000 people at the time of the sale to General Electric.
Mr. Conese was also the founder, principal stockholder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of The Greenwich Company, Ltd. ("GCL"), a private holding company formed in 1980. GCL initially acquired Haskon Corporation, a manufacturer of specialized seals for aircraft and aircraft engines and founded EPCO Technologies, Inc., a company which produced specialty plastic components for consumer products. Haskon and EPCO were both sold to B.T.R., PLC (a large British conglomerate) in 1988 soon after GCL acquired Greenwich Air Service in October 1987. GCL was eventually merged into Greenwich Air Services.
From 1970 to 1979, Mr. Conese served as President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Irvin Industries, Inc., an AMEX listed company engaged in the manufacture and distribution of a number of products for the aerospace and automotive industries.
Mr. Conese is currently Chairman of Conese Enterprises, Ltd. and was a consultant to General Electric Company's Engine Services Division until his retirement in 2002. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Trans World Airlines, Inc., Space Industries, Inc. and Renex Corporation. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Aero Technologies, Inc. He is also on the Board of Trustees of Iona College and of the Jackson Memorial Hospital Foundation.
In 1977, a speech he gave as a panelist with investment bankers to New York business leaders, was published in Vital Speeches of the Day. In 1992, he was awarded the Brother Arthur A. Loftus Award for Outstanding Achievement as an Entrepreneur by the Iona Alumni Association.
As a tribute to Gene's many contributions to the aviation and aerospace industry, the Greater Miami Association honored him with its prestigious Wright Brothers Memorial award in 1996. In 1997, the Association for Corporate Growth awarded Greenwich Air Services its "Cutting Edge" award.
In 1998, the Coneses received the "Outstanding Couples of Miami" award and the "March of Dimes Philanthropic" award in 2003. The Coneses are respected humanitarians, active civic leaders and great philanthropists.