Dick Patten

For over thirty years, Dick Patten continues as an influential voice for business communities in America. His work can be seen in The Wall Street Journal, The National Review, USA Today, the New York Times, and newspapers throughout the nation.  Dick’s testimonies have been presented to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and many state legislatures.  He has spoken throughout the United States and Europe. 
 
Dick founded and led the American Family Business Foundation which generated ground-breaking intellectual work that defined the debates regarding family businesses and farms in Washington DC. He also built and commanded the American Family Business Institute.  Most recently Dick founded and leads the Family Business Defense Council representing the needs and interests of family businesses and farms in Washington DC. Dick maintains a web of strong relationships with members and staff members throughout the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.

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Dick has directed and guides the movement in Congress to dismantle death taxes. He built and championed the Death Tax Repeal Working Group, the coalition which fights against Federal and State Inheritance & Estate Taxes. Under Dick’s leadership, over 500 House and Senate candidates signed the Death Tax Repeal Pledge. Of those, 131 were elected as Senators and House Members. His efforts accomplished the successful repeal of death taxes in the states of Washington, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
 
Before turning his attention to a patriotic calling, Dick established and ran two hugely successful businesses. He employed 18,232 Seattle-area workers and Inc. Magazine listed him as CEO of the 353rd fastest-growing privately owned business in the nation. As his firms grew, he conducted six buy-out mergers, exponentially growing the success of the companies and their employees. Troubled by the political scene, he headed to Washington DC to project his voice as a leader in public policy where he continues on behalf of America’s family businesses.
 
Dick lives in downtown Washington, D.C. near the White House.

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