GEORGE C. ZOLEY

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, THE GEO GROUP, BOCA RATON

Greece-born Zoley cut an interesting path to “private prison” company leadership. He earned a bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. in public administration and started his career as an associate planner in the Broward County building and planning department. He plays guitar in a band. “I am an ardent music lover.” Zoley founded The GEO Group in 1984. It has 18,000 employees globally at “secure facilities” and other facilities in the incarceration continuum, also working in secure transport, electronic monitoring and correctional health and mental health. He also founded the GEO Group Foundation. It donates from $2 million to $2.5 million annually, emphasizing higher education scholarships and local school programs. He is scheduled to step down as executive chairman June 30, 2026. “Dr. Zoley will continue his unparalleled 40-plus-year industry leadership role as an advisor to the company” and will be non-executive chairman of the board, the company said.