Co-Founder and past President
Heritage Communications, Inc.
PERSONAL
Born Des Moines, Iowa, 1944
Dowling High School, 1962
University of Notre Dame, 1966 (B.B.A.)
Married Patty Hines in 1967; five children, ages 28-40
Hobbies: Bird hunting, fishing, golf, handball
BUSINESS
1971-1990: Co-Founder/President, Heritage Communications, Inc.
9th largest cable TV operator serving 1,000,000+ subscribers in 22 states.
Largest systems: San Jose, Wilmington, Dallas, Central Iowa
1,600 employees and $350 million in revenue.
1991-1996: Chairman, New Heritage Associates
1996-Present: self-employed investor
2006-Present: Chairman/Owner, WestWind Logistics LLC/WWL Holding, Inc.
Board Director: Da-Lite Screen Company; MARKETLINK, Inc.; The Macerich Company
INDUSTRY AFFAIRS
National Cable Television Association– Board member and chairman.
C-SPAN–Board member
NFL Football Consortium–Co-Chairman
Customer Service Standards, Ad hoc committee chairman
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS:
Dowling-St. Joseph Foundation, (Chairman, 1990)
Des Moines Diocesan Development Committee; Chairman of $20 million fund raising effort, 2001
Mercy Hospital (1997-present; Vice Chair 2005-2006)
Des Moines Development Corporation, (Chairman, 1991 & 1992)
Greater Des Moines Committee (Chairman, 1993)
Metro YMCA, Chairman, 1993-94
Des Moines Vision Plan, Co-Chairman
Greater Des Moines United Way (Campaign Chairman, 1992)
Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, Chairman (2000-2003)
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Downtown Partnership, Inc.
Youth Homes of Mid-America
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (Advisor)
J.N. “Ding” Darling Foundation
Greater Des Moines Partnership (Chairman, 2007)
HONORS
Challenger Award for Young Leadership, National Cable Television Association, 1985
President’s Award, National Cable Television Association, 1990
Catholic Honoree, National Conference of Christian & Jews, 1991
Distinguishing Alumnus Award-Dowling High School-1991; St. Augustin Grade School, 1994
Entrepreneur of the Year “Sociably Responsible” Award, 1992
Community Involvement Award, Des Moines “Business Record,” 1992
Honorary Chair Variety Club of Iowa Telethon, 1996
National Society of Fund Raising Executives “Outstanding Volunteer Fund Raiser,” 1997
Commencement speaker, Grand View College, 2001
Inducted into Iowa Business Hall of Fame, Greater Des Moines Committee, 2001
Service to Mankind Award, Sertoma Club of Des Moines, 2001
First Civitas Award, Dowling High School, 2004
Iowa Parks & Recreation’s “Ahrens Community Service” Award, 2004
YMCA Service To Youth Award, 2004
Association of Fundraising Professionals’ “Spirit of Philanthropy” Award, 2004
The Des Moines Register’s Iowa Star Award, 2005
Iowa Soccer Association’s Hall of Fame, 2005
United Way Alexis Tocqueville Society Honoree, 2006
Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau Civic Friend of Hospitality, 2006
Greater Des Moines Partnership “Quarterback Extraordinaire” Award, 2007
Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute “A. Arthur Davis Leadership” Award, 2008
