Gene Carter

Dr. Gene Carter (born May 1934) was the first director of sales at Apple Computer.

Education
Carter earned his degree in electronic communications technology from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1960.

Career
Carter first encountered future Apple executives Mike Markkula and Michael Scott while working at Fairchild Semiconductor. Carter later worked at National Semiconductor as the director of marketing. However, his proposal to develop small computers there was rejected.

Apple Computer
In the summer of 1977, Carter was recruited by Markkula, an Apple investor, to become employee #14. He developed the concept of an Apple retail store and showed a mockup that was built in a warehouse to new CEO John Sculley, but the proposal was ignored. Carter then decided to resign in May 1984. Early Apple employee Randy Wigginton credited Carter with building Apple's sales organization.

After Apple
Carter invested in real estate and numerous tech startups, including Adobe Systems, where he became a member of the board.