George Altirs, a self-made entrepreneur and software engineer by training, was born in Mijdlaya, northern Lebanon. He moved to New York in the late 1980s with a vision of starting his own business. In 1990, alongside his brother, he founded GMA Accessories Inc., initially based in their home basement. Today, GMA Accessories Inc. is the parent company of Capelli New York and Shanghai Company Ltd., specializing in apparel, footwear, and accessories for women and children, as well as Capelli Sport, a sports apparel line.

As CEO of GMA Group, the holding company overseeing GMA Accessories and additional non-fashion ventures, Altirs grew a small business into an international corporation with offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. GMA Group’s investments include real estate, retail, logistics, manufacturing, and software, along with a stake in a high-end Manhattan restaurant. Altirs, a passionate soccer fan, established the Capelli Sports Center, an indoor soccer facility, and founded the Cedar Stars Academy, a youth soccer club that has achieved national acclaim, with two of its teams ranked first in their age group in 2013.

That same year, Altirs acquired the Wilmington Hammerheads, a professional soccer team in North Carolina. A dedicated supporter of the Lebanese-American community, Altirs funds education projects for young Lebanese. He and his wife, Elisabeth, reside in New Jersey with their seven children, ensuring they stay connected to their Lebanese heritage.