The Randolph-Macon College Board of Associates (BOA) presented its Entrepreneur of the Year award to Paul Gartlan ’81 on Friday, November 12, 2010. The award was announced during the R-MC Macon Connections professional networking event held at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia.
“Paul’s innovative leadership has made a profound impact on his customers, the marketplace, and on the community,” said BOA President Charles Moncure ’82. “We are proud to present this year’s entrepreneur award to such a highly successful businessman and R-MC graduate.”
Gartlan is owner, president and CEO of Professional Aviation Management, a consulting firm that provides staff leasing services, human resource management, executive search and business process outsourcing. He is also owner, president and CEO of SkyBOX, Inc., Skynet Worldwide Express and All Carrier. The companies provide trans-border shopping logistics, distribution and consolidated air freight services. Prior to starting these companies, Gartlan was vice-president and general manager of LanChile Airlines.
While at R-MC, Gartlan was a member of the Yellow Jacket men’s basketball team. He is second on the school's career steals list; third on the career assists list; and the 13th-leading scorer in the college's history. Gartlan, who earned a B.A. in economics/business, was inducted into the R-MC Hall of Fame in 2000.
The entrepreneur award was established in 2009 to recognize highly successful R-MC alumni who transform a vision into a viable and sustainable business enterprise. Award recipients demonstrate the ability to envision a unique or highly improved concept and bring that concept to an extraordinary outcome. This usually involves motivating a team toward the same end. The first recipient of the award was Frank E. “Pepper” Laughon Jr. ’59 who is chairman and CEO of Richmond Cold Storage.
The R-MC Macon Connections professional networking events are held monthly and provide students, alumni and the public the opportunity to network about career opportunities over coffee and a breakfast buffet. R-MC President Robert R. Lindgren gives an update on the latest news and events happening at the college, and this month, Athletic Director Jeff Burns gave an update on
R-MC’s athletic program. Gartlan was the keynote speaker and was introduced by his son Paul, who is a member of R-MC’s class of 2011. Click on
entrepreneurship to read Gartlan’s remarks.