Introduction

In 2000, he expanded the firm into the World Leadership Institute, broadening its work to include organizational development and executive-level personal development.

Today, he offers group onsite work, individual coaching, and online programs. He is continuing to organize and update the material and programs he developed so they can serve both individuals and organizations.

Dr. Larry G. Patten’s professional career spans more than four decades across technology, education, government, and commercial and public broadcasting. He has launched multiple companies and delivered organizational development services to both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

Career Highlights

• Founded and expanded organizations focused on quality systems and leadership development
• Helped pioneer individualized instruction and early distance learning programs
• Led a major capital campaign as CEO of Iowa Public Television
• Developed early long-line fiber optic telecommunications systems
• Served in senior college and university leadership roles through retirement in 2009

Early Career

Dr. Patten’s career began in high school when, at the age of sixteen, he started a custom audio recording company. At that time, this was a “cutting-edge business” based on a new, emerging technology: audio recorders and condenser microphones. By the time he graduated from high school, he had built the company into the largest custom phonograph record company in Iowa, and shortly after, he obtained a Century Records franchise.

Distant Learning

In 1968, Mr. Patten joined Kirkwood Community College as an instructor teaching electronics, English, and business practices. Five years after beginning his teaching assignment, he accepted his first administrative position at Kirkwood, where he led the development of some of the world’s first individualized instruction and distance-learning programs.  He was instrumental in placing KCCK-FM on the air as the college’s public radio station.  These two projects were funded by over four million dollars in grants.

Iowa Public Television

In 1981, Larry became CEO of Iowa Public Television.  In this position, he reported to a board of trustees charged with governing the network.  During this time, he established and led a seven-million-dollar capital campaign that resulted in a new facility for Iowa Public Television.  He was also instrumental in strengthening the relationship between Friends of IPTV and the network.

Politics

In 1982, he was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Cabinet.  At the Governor’s request, he provided leadership to several State Government Committees.  Later, he served as a consultant to the Iowa General Assembly on educational technology issues and to Congress’s Office of Technical Assessment on Educational Delivery Systems.

Digital Network Development

After serving at Iowa Public Television, he moved to Teleconnect Company as Vice President of Digital Network Services.  In his position, he helped develop some of the country’s first long-haul fiber-optic telecommunications systems.  His responsibility extended not only to the technical development and deployment of the network but also to the marketing and sales of the division’s communications products.

 Radio Broadcasting

Larry later served as president of a commercial broadcasting group. During this time, he improved performance as the organization moved from financial loss to significant profit. At the owner’s request, he developed the plan and led the sale of the stations. The stations were sold for over twenty times cash flow, a record high for the commercial radio industry at the time.

World Leadership Institute

Building on his earlier work in quality systems and organizational development, Dr. Patten developed the World Leadership Institute to offer programs that make a positive, sustainable difference in an organization’s operations and an individual’s life. Much of the program content included written materials, videos, and software tools designed to help people learn and apply what they were learning.

Dr. Patten later moved from Iowa to Atlanta, where he continues his work through publishing and program development.

Quad Cities Radio

Larry and his son, James, produced a weekly 30-minute radio show on WOC-AM in Davenport.   Quad Cities Business Radio was a great success.  It remained on the air until Larry decided to move to Atlanta.  When word got out that the show was not going to continue on WOC in the next quarter, the team was approached by two other stations to have it broadcast on their stations.  However,  Mr. Patten was committed to making the move to Atlanta.  The Quad-Cities Times wrote an article about the show’s achievement. Click on the link to see the article. Quad Cities Times Article.

Other Achievements

Higher Education Leadership

Dr. Patten has held various administrative positions in colleges and universities.  Among his many positions, he served as Vice-Chancellor of  Distance Learning, President of a for-profit college, and in his last position before retiring in 2009, as Chancellor of a University.

ISO 9000 and Quality Systems

Dr. Patten was also an auditor for ISO 9000 as well as working with organizations on their development of Malcolm Baldridge standards.  He has written about Quality Systems and their importance to organizational performance.

Politics

Larry served on the cabinet of two Iowa governors and as a consultant to the General Assembly.  He was a major contributor to Linking for Learning: A New Course for Education, a project for the Congressional Office of Technical Assessment. At the request of the Soviet Union Government, he prepared a paper on the use of technology in education and its effect on the social order.  The paper was presented to the Soviet officials in Moscow in 1989.

Consultant

He has been a consultant to agencies of both state and federal governments as well as many for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. 

Along with helping organizations with their performance improvement and development around the concepts contained in his book Building Champion Organizations through Strategic Organizational Development, Dr. Patten also provides numerous seminars.

Books and Programs

Dr. Patten has written business and personal development books as well as three novels. He also provides seminars and programs based on his work, including material connected to Building Champion Organizations through Strategic Organizational Development. Click here to browse those books and programs.

Helping Others

In addition to organizational work, Larry has helped many individuals through Living as a Champion and his Spiritual Champion series.

Education

Larry received both his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and his Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Iowa. He was privileged to be asked to attend the Summer Writers Workshop held at the University of Iowa. Dr. Patten earned a Doctorate of  Theology in 2015.

Family

Dr. Patten and his wife have been married for over 50 years and have four children and eight grandchildren.