Alabama Entrepreneur Tom Patterson to Speak With UA Students

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Tom Patterson, founder and chairman of DAXKO, will speak with students at The University of Alabama Tuesday, Feb. 19.

Patterson’s presentation continues the College of Engineering’s Dean’s Leadership Series, which brings prominent business leaders and engineering entrepreneurs to speak with students at UA. Patterson’s lecture begins at 3 p.m. in the Tom Bevill Energy, Mineral, and Material Science Research Building, Room 101. The lecture is open to the public.

Patterson founded DAXKO in 1998 as a leading provider of operations and financial management solutions for member-centric, non-profit organizations. DAXKO’s software helps customers develop healthier organizations that operate more efficiently.

Patterson also serves as chairman of YachtRecord, which was formed in November 2007. The YachtRecord service enables boat owners to securely manage risk associated with the data generated by the operation of their yacht. After digitizing manuals, logs and inventory, the YachtRecord system provides onboard access through a simple, searchable and secure interface.

Prior to DAXKO and YachtRecord, Patterson founded TXEN Inc., where he developed an Application Service Provider capability for the managed care industry. In 1979, Patterson founded SEAKO Inc., where he served as president for 10 years and developed the company into a major computer systems supplier to the insurance, healthcare and managed care markets.

Patterson received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in engineering mechanics from The University of Alabama in 1964 and 1966, respectively. In 1988, he was named a Distinguished Engineering Fellow by UA’s College of Engineering. In 2004, Patterson was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has about 1,900 students and nearly 100 faculty. In the last seven years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater scholars, Hollings scholars and Portz scholars.