Men To Watch 2025 honoree Gary Dunbar

Gary Dunbar is a distinguished transformation executive with over two decades of driving operational excellence and digital innovation across Fortune 500 companies. Born in Louisiana and raised on a farm, his early curiosity for not only how things work but how they can work better has shaped his approach to transforming complex business environments throughout his career.

Currently serving as Head of Business Transformation at Signal Energy, Dunbar has architected enterprise-wide change initiatives that have delivered more than $30 million in cost savings and achieved 40% efficiency gains across global operations. His strategic leadership spans multiple industries, including energy, manufacturing, and technology, where he has consistently transformed organizations through AI-driven automation, Lean Six Sigma methodologies, and innovative change management approaches. His tenure includes pivotal roles at ENGIE North America, Amazon, Koch Industries, Huntsman, Dow Chemical, and General Motors, where he managed P&L responsibilities exceeding $60 million.

A lifelong advocate for mentoring and giving back, Dunbar's commitment to developing future leaders began during college when he participated in Fathers Standing Tall, supporting single Black fathers in their communities. This passion has continued throughout his entire career and extends through his current role as Executive Board Member of the NBMBAA Houston Chapter and his volunteer work with NSBE of Houston, where he mentors local college students and participates in semi-annual STEM career days.

A recognized thought leader in the transformation space, Dunbar regularly speaks at premier industry conferences including the Connected Worker Summit, Reuters Energy Live Event, and LNS Industrial Transformation Event, where he hosts C-suite roundtables on advancing operational excellence. His expertise in AI innovation and digital transformation has positioned him as a sought-after advisor, currently serving on the board of IAB Advisors Software.

Dunbar believes that true transformation begins with people and culture—not just technology. This philosophy drives his work in making AI and advanced analytics accessible to frontline workers, ensuring that innovation creates opportunities rather than displacement. A proud graduate of Southern University with a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering and Kettering University with an MBA, he is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Design Sprint Facilitator.

Married to his wife, Dawn, a fellow Southern University alumna and pharmacist who is a 2x HBCU graduate, Dunbar encourages his three children from his previous marriage to follow their passion and continue to pursue education as lifelong learners. Based in Houston, Texas, he continues to shape the future of operational excellence and the integration of artificial intelligence within traditional industrial frameworks.

His vision: "Every organization has untapped potential. My mission is to unlock that potential through people-centered transformation that creates lasting value for businesses, communities, and the future workforce."