Thomas D. Patrick

is the founder and chairman of The Communicators, Inc. He has spent two decades working for and with hundreds of national associations to increase the effectiveness and look of their marketing and communications programs.

Tom has started and grown several businesses, including The Communicators. When he turned 50 in 1992, he took on the biggest challenge yet and launched a new organization called the WindStar Wildlife Institute. It was an ideal way to connect associations, corporations and millions of people in a common vision and enjoyable, everyday actions. The mission of the Institute is to assist individuals and families in establishing or enhancing the wildlife habitat on their properties. Tom provides leadership by example for association clients today. The association he founded and manages today is a learning organization and innovator. To see what is cutting edge in online learning, membership benefits, certification and partnership alliances for associations, one needs to start their search at www.windstar.org.

Tom served as Director of Communications and Education for the American Iron and Steel Institute. In 1979 he founded The Communicators and developed it into one of the nation's most respected marketing and communications agencies that specializes in national trade, professional and service organizations. The foundation for the company's dominance in the certification industry today was established in the 1970's and 1980's with innovative, award-winning programs in education programs and professional development, which involved industry partnerships.

Tom was raised on farms in west central Iowa. He received a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Drake University. He was a writer, photographer and editor for the Des Moines Register and Fort Dodge Messenger photographer for the Carroll Daily Times Herald, Associated Press and United Press International and editor of several national magazines.