MARK E. GALE

CEO & DIRECTOR OF AVIATION, FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FORT LAUDERDALE

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is one of the busiest airports in the U.S. Gale assumed leadership of the 600-employee Broward County Aviation Department in 2016 and oversees FLL and North Perry Airport. He previously had spent 16 years at Philadelphia International Airport, the last seven years as its CEO. Under his tenure, FLL has undergone more than $1.5 billion in terminal improvements, expansions and refurbishments.

EDUCATION: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (BS)

MENTOR: Mary Rose Loney. As the airport director in Philadelphia in the early 1990s, Mary Rose pulled a young Mark Gale up from the ranks and took him under her wings. She was incredibly intelligent and charismatic, and equally demanding of excellent performance — both of herself and her team.

MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA: There’s an old saying, 'Don’t sweat the small stuff.' However, when it comes to managing a multibillion-dollar transportation facility, I advocate with my team to sweat the small stuff, because if we can’t get that right, why should anyone trust us with the big stuff?

IF I WERE GOVERNOR
“I’d focus on homeowner/property insurance reform.”