Paul Danner
About Paul K. Danner
Paul K. Danner (age 67) has served on GIFT’s Board since February 13, 2019 (tenure: 4 years). He is currently Chief Executive Officer of Pepex Biomedical, Inc. and previously held CEO/Chairman roles at multiple public companies. Danner is a U.S. Navy veteran (Naval Aviator; retired as Captain in 2009) and holds a BS in Business Finance from Colorado State University and an MBA in Marketing from Old Dominion University’s Strome College of Business .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance MMA, Inc. (Nasdaq) | Chairman & CEO | 2016–2018 | Led a Nasdaq-listed sports promotion/media firm |
| Destiny Partners Worldwide | Managing Director | Since 2006 | Global organizational management and operations consultancy |
| China Crescent Enterprises (OTCBB) | CEO | 2008–2010 | Asia-focused IT company; fully-reporting OTCBB issuer |
| Paragon Financial Corporation (Nasdaq) | Chairman & CEO | 2002–2006 | Nasdaq-listed financial services firm |
| MyTurn.com, Inc. (Nasdaq) | CEO; various roles | 1998–2001 | Nasdaq-listed IT company; operating leadership |
| NEC Technologies; Control Data Corporation | Executive-level; Sales & Marketing roles | 1985–1996 | Fortune-100 technology firms; commercial leadership |
| U.S. Navy | Naval Aviator; Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer | 8 years active + 22 years reserve; retired 2009 | Retired as Captain; F-14 Tomcat aviator |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepex Biomedical, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer | Current | Active operating role while serving on GIFT Board |
Board Governance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Independence status | Independent under Nasdaq rules; financially literate |
| Committees | Audit Committee (Chair); Compensation Committee (Member); Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (Member) |
| Executive sessions | Independent directors meet regularly without management; committee chairs preside on a rotating basis |
| Years of service | 4 years (as shown in skills/tenure matrix) |
2025 Director Election – Voting Results
| Nominee | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Broker Non-Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul K. Danner | 10,971,547 | 1,665 | 12,772,813 |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Annual retainer (cash) | Not disclosed in DEF 14A; Compensation Committee responsible for reviewing director compensation |
| Committee chair/member fees | Not disclosed in DEF 14A |
| Meeting fees | Not disclosed in DEF 14A |
The proxy provides extensive executive pay details but does not include a non-employee director compensation table or amounts for retainers/fees; only the Compensation Committee’s oversight role is described .
Performance Compensation
| Metric Structure | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Performance-based director equity (RSUs/PSUs) | Not disclosed in DEF 14A for directors; equity program and metrics detailed for executives only |
No director-specific performance metrics (TSR, EBITDA, revenue, ESG) are disclosed; executive programs emphasize options/RSUs with time-based vesting .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Public Listing | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance MMA, Inc. | Chairman & CEO | Nasdaq | 2016–2018 |
| Paragon Financial Corporation | Chairman & CEO | Nasdaq | 2002–2006 |
| MyTurn.com, Inc. | CEO | Nasdaq | 1998–2001 |
| China Crescent Enterprises | CEO | OTCBB (fully reporting) | 2008–2010 |
No related-party transactions involving Danner were reported for the period since December 31, 2023; however, the company states it has no formal related party transactions policy, which is a governance weakness .
Expertise & Qualifications
| Skill/Experience | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Finance/Accounting; Financial literacy | Independent; financially literate; Audit Committee chair |
| Technology/Digital; Marketing/Sales | Skills matrix shows Technology/Digital and Marketing/Sales competencies |
| Government/Policy/Legal | Listed in skills matrix for Danner |
| Public company executive/board experience | Skills matrix and biography confirm public company leadership |
| Education | BS Business Finance (Colorado State University); MBA Marketing (Old Dominion University – Strome) |
| Military leadership | Naval Aviator; retired as Captain (2009) |
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Shares Outstanding | Shares Outstanding Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Danner III (Director) | 360,000 | 1.2% | 30,517,953 shares outstanding as of Aug 15, 2025 |
Pledging/hedging and director ownership guidelines are not disclosed for directors; insider trading policy exists and is filed as Exhibit 19.1 to the 2024 10-K .
Governance Assessment
- Audit Committee chair and financial literacy support board effectiveness in financial reporting oversight; independence confirmed under Nasdaq rules .
- Strong shareholder support in 2025 election (10,971,547 For vs. 1,665 Withheld) indicates positive investor confidence in his directorship .
- No related-party transactions reported for the period; however, absence of a formal related-party transactions policy is a RED FLAG (policy gap), mitigated partially by Audit Committee review responsibility .
- Director compensation specifics (retainer, equity mix, fees) are not disclosed; transparency gap reduces ability to assess pay-for-performance alignment for non-employee directors .
- Regular executive sessions of independent directors are a positive governance practice; rotating presiding director enhances independence .