Gene Owens - Owner & President
Gene Owens, President of Owens Business Machines began his career with IBM as a marketing representative in 1975. In 1979 he achieved the coveted Salesman of the Year Award.
In 1982 Gene formed Owens Business Machines, Inc., the first IBM and Canon authorized dealer in Hattiesburg. Today Owens sells and services other nationally known brands including Canon, Lexmark, and Kyocera.
Over the past 30 years, Gene has served on the Lamar County Economic Development Board and the Hattiesburg Area Development Partnership Board. He has been a member of the USM Foundation Board and the Hattiesburg High School Career Development Committee. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Directors at Cadence Bank here in Hattiesburg and Pearl River Community College Development Foundation Board in Poplarville.
William Carey College and the Area Development Partnership presented Gene with the 2003 Small Business Leadership Award during an awards luncheon on the Carey campus.
Gene attends Westminster Presbyterian Church of Hattiesburg. He has served on various committees including the Nominating Committee, Property and Grounds, Personnel Committee and Pastor Search Committee.
Gene has been married to Brenda Tucker Owens for forty-seven years. Gene’s hobbies include fishing and hunting, and he is also a private pilot.