Gary Saunders - Born in Brooklyn, New York, moved to Waterford Connecticut in 1961 due to family owned business interests in New York and Connecticut - a private school and summer camp for special needs children. The summer camp became a year-round business which necessitated the move to the "country". Gary attended Waterford High School, Waterford, CT. Earned AA Degree in Aerospace Pilot Technology at Manatee Jr College, Bradenton, FL. And his BA degree in Environmental Science at Nathaniel Hawthorne College in Antrim, NH. While in college, Gary worked in the aviation department at Nathaniel Hawthorne College as a Flight and Ground Instructor. Immediately after college graduation, Gary went to work for New Haven Airways, in New Haven Connecticut as a flight instructor. While at New Haven, Gary established a very successful evening ground school program offering Private, Commercial and Instrument ground schools three nights per week while maintaining a full time flight instructing schedule. Wondering why he had to leave Connecticut to pursue an education in aviation, Gary developed a single Private Pilot ground school into a full-time four-year aviation degree program at the University of New Haven. The program was offered through the engineering department evening division and Gary taught and ran the program for two years. Simultaneously, Gary began working in the New Haven Airways aircraft sales department under the tutelage of his mentor, Dick Giusto. Gary had a passion for sales, and interaction with his clientele - it was a perfect fit. That was in 1974. In 1976, Gary started his own FBO business - Coastal Air Services, Inc. at the Groton-New London airport. Starting out with one location, Coastal grew to become a five-location regional New England charter and aircraft sales organization. After operating the business for 17 years, Coastal was sold in 1993. During his tenure at Coastal, Gary recognized that the backbone of his short-haul "Island-hopping" aircraft was the Piper PA32 Cherokee Six. Due to the seasonality of the island business, Gary would buy five or six of these aircraft in the spring and sell them at the end of the busy charter season. This earned him the nickname "MR SIX". At last count in October 2006, Gary has sold 184 PA-32's. While at Coastal, Gary was the Chief Pilot and was appointed by the FAA to conduct Written Examinations, charter pilot training and FAA flight checks per Far 135.293, 297 & 299 for his pilot staff. Through this experience at Coastal, Gary obtained his Airline Transport License, SEL & MEL, and currently has in excess of 8,500 flight hours. Upon the sale of Coastal Air Services, Inc, knowing his love for aviation, he knew he wanted to stay in the aviation business. Gary was offered the position of New Piper Sales Manager for Columbia Aircraft Sales, Inc. right on the field at Groton. It was a perfect opportunity, and a simple transition from one side of the airfield to the Columbia facility on the other side of the airfield. Gary left his position as New Piper Sales Manager at Columbia Aircraft Sales, Inc. after 13 years to venture out on his own again. Saunders Aircraft Sales, LLC is located in the beautiful Lanmar Aviation FBO facility at Groton, CT (KGON). The facility was selected because of the excellent array of full aircraft services available, ease of access, and the warm and friendly manner of entire staff. It is a jewel of an operation and a pleasure to be based here. Gary intends to put his years of experience to work serving his clientele by implementing his business plan which is to offer high-intensity focused marketing services for late model brokered and owned aircraft. The business places emphasis on late-model high performance piston, turbine and jet aircraft. Gary makes his home in Waterford, Connecticut where he resides with his wife, Lorri and teen-age daughter, Casey. Hobbies include antique automobile restoration, construction of high performance cars, golf, and boating.