PORT ST. LUCIE, FL, March 18, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Chief Gene Saunders has been featured on the Marquis Masters Podcast. The podcast celebrates leaders and innovators who have shaped industries and inspired generations. Each episode features an intimate conversation with a Marquis honoree, uncovering the personal stories behind their professional success. The show reveals what it truly takes to lead with purpose, resilience, and authenticity.

The latest episode of the Marquis Masters Podcast features a powerful conversation between host Ryan Estes and guest Gene Saunders, founder and CEO of Project Lifesaver, a nonprofit organization that has helped save thousands of vulnerable individuals who wander due to cognitive disorders. In this insightful discussion, Ryan speaks with Mr. Saunders about the origins of Project Lifesaver, the life-saving technology behind it, and the mission-driven journey that transformed a law enforcement challenge into a global public safety solution.

Mr. Saunders, a former police captain, special operations commander, and search-and-rescue expert, shares how decades of service in law enforcement exposed a critical gap in traditional search-and-rescue methods. Ryan and Mr. Saunders discuss the moment he realized that existing search protocols were not designed for individuals with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease or autism—conditions where wandering behavior can quickly become life-threatening. Motivated by repeated experiences in which search teams struggled to locate vulnerable individuals quickly enough, Mr. Saunders set out to design a better solution.

During the episode, Ryan explores how Mr. Saunders combined practical field experience with simple, reliable technology to create Project Lifesaver's signature radio-frequency tracking system. The program equips individuals at risk of wandering with a small transmitter bracelet, allowing trained first responders to quickly locate them using radio-direction-finding equipment. Mr. Saunders explains that the decision to rely on radio-frequency technology rather than GPS was intentional, emphasizing reliability in environments where satellite signals can fail.

Ryan and Mr. Saunders also discuss the staggering scale of the wandering issue. Millions of people worldwide live with cognitive disorders, and a large percentage will experience wandering episodes. Mr. Saunders highlights how individuals with autism may face particularly urgent risks, noting that rescue windows can be dramatically shorter and often involve dangers such as water hazards. Through Project Lifesaver's program, first responders have been able to dramatically reduce rescue times, with many recoveries occurring in under twenty minutes.

Throughout the conversation, Ryan encourages Mr. Saunders to share the human stories behind the technology. Mr. Saunders recounts early rescues that validated the program's effectiveness, including a case in which a missing individual who had previously required hours of searching was located in less than two minutes using the system. These stories underscore the organization's impact, which has now surpassed 5,000 successful rescues throughout North America and beyond.

The episode also explores the challenges of building a nonprofit organization from the ground up. Mr. Saunders explains why he chose a nonprofit model rather than a commercial approach, emphasizing that the mission has always been focused on saving lives rather than generating profit. Ryan and Mr. Saunders discuss the growth of Project Lifesaver from a single regional initiative into a global network that now supports more than 1,800 participating agencies, including law enforcement departments, fire departments, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and search-and-rescue organizations.

In addition to operational insights, Ryan asks Mr. Saunders about the personal resilience required to lead such an effort. Mr. Saunders reflects on the lessons he learned from both military and law enforcement service, including the importance of perseverance, leadership, and maintaining emotional support systems while working in high-stakes environments. He credits the philosophy of "never quit"—a principle he adopted during years working alongside elite military units—as a key factor in sustaining the organization through obstacles and skepticism.

The conversation concludes with Ryan's lightning round, where Mr. Saunders shares leadership inspirations, including his admiration for General George S. Patton, and reflects on the persistence required to bring a visionary idea to life. He also encourages listeners to help raise awareness of wandering risks in their own communities and to advocate for programs that protect vulnerable individuals.

Listeners can hear the full interview on the Marquis Masters Podcast, where Ryan continues to spotlight leaders whose work is shaping real-world impact across industries and communities. More information about Project Lifesaver, including how to support the organization or bring the program to a local agency, can be found at projectlifesaver.org.

The Marquis Masters Podcast highlights innovators, public servants, and mission-driven leaders whose work demonstrates the power of determination, compassion, and practical solutions to some of society's most urgent challenges.

To follow Marquis Masters, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and watch full video episodes on the Marquis Who's Who YouTube channel. Stay connected to conversations that explore mastery, meaning, and impact.

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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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