Investing in entrepreneurship

A veteran entrepreneur, Maurice Gallagher Jr. ’71 believes that business success comes from an organization’s ability to be dynamic, strategic and innovative.

As the chairman and CEO of Allegiant Travel Co., a commercial airline and travel company based in Las Vegas, Gallagher runs the multi-billion-dollar  company as if it was start-up. By centralizing the company’s operations and fleet of planes, Gallagher can invest in selecting routes in strategic markets and quickly gain an advantage over competitors.

This philosophy has also motivated Gallagher to connection to UC Davis. He serves as co-chair of the Campaign Cabinet helping the university garner philanthropic support  through its first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which will allow UC Davis to continue to be dynamic, innovative and pursue its vision for the future.

He and his wife, Marcia, also made the single largest gift by an alumnus during The Campaign for UC Davis to name Maurice J. Gallagher Jr. Hall—the home of the Graduate School of Management—and to establish an endowment for the school. His support has allowed the school to continue preparing innovative leaders for global impact, and to become  the first business school in California to obtain the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest ranking for energy-efficient infrastructure.

“Marcia and I could not be prouder of what the university has created with the Graduate School of Management,” Gallagher said. “They had a terrific vision. The building is built to be productive, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this.”