His 31-year career with Hillsborough County government has evolved from public information/communications to economic development. He has previously served as Director of the Information Services and Administrative Services departments and has been the Administrator of the Tourist Development Council for over 20 years.

In 1990, he was appointed as special assistant to the County Administrator, taking on extensive community outreach responsibilities, including initiating a liaison with the County's significant agriculture industry. He created the County's agriculture development and promotion program, and lead efforts to form the Agriculture Economic Development Council in 1998.

Gene was appointed as the director of Economic Development in July 2000.

The Economic Development Department is responsible for leading efforts to improve employment opportunities for County residents by encouraging the creation and retention of quality jobs throughout the entire range of economic activities in the County. Specific areas of focus are: corporate development and recruitment; tourism promotion; agriculture development; small and minority business development and encouragement programs; business retention efforts; and coordination and liaison with the Regional Workforce Development Board.

Gene currently serves on the boards of several community and economic development organizations and is currently Chairman of the Florida Economic Development Council Board of Directors, and sits on the Board of Directors of Enterprise Florida, the state's lead economic development organization.

He received his bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida in 1976.