Loving parents fostered his early years of travel in Maryland and later Missouri. Family vacations were full of exploration and by 18, he had visited 46 states. His first international travel experience was a trip to Vietnam, courtesy of the U.S. Army, and it was the beginning of a lifetime passion for travel and cultures. After graduating from the University of Missouri and a brief stint as a Trans World Airlines reservations agent, he joined Maritz Travel Company. As a Travel Director, Gig traveled extensively and gained experience in trip planning and destination development. In 1979, he founded Gwin’s Travel in suburban St. Louis. The company grew quickly and today includes leisure, business, and motivation divisions.