One Year Later— Giving Spirit of SteelMaster’s Late CEO and President Lives on at VA Aquarium

Virginia Beach, VA, July 24, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Whether on land or at sea, Donald “Pat” Patterson was a benevolent force to be reckoned with.

As the executive vice president of Landmark Communications and president of Landmark’s broadcasting division until his retirement in 2004, Pat was known throughout Hampton Roads, VA as an astute business man with a heart of gold. Later that same year, he parlayed those virtues into his role as president and CEO of SteelMaster Buildings in Virginia Beach, VA, and remained in that capacity until his death from cancer in July 2008.

Ever the eternal sailor, Pat’s passion for the art of sailing was another big part of his life. He sailed for recreation as well as for sport. In 2006, Pat’s boat “Orion” placed 2nd in the Onion Patch Race from Newport to Bermuda.

His love for his family and his community served as a compass that pointed him toward serving in leadership roles for such organizations as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Norfolk State University, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, the Schooner Project, and the Neptune Festival just to name few.

With that in mind, it is befitting that on the 1st anniversary of his death, the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach, VA is poised to open a new reptile, amphibian, and bird exhibit housed in a SteelMaster building which was donated by Pat and the company that he and fellow founder Rhae Adams managed. “Pat saw a need in the steel building industry for a company that was fully committed to his core values of integrity, ethics, and responsibility to customers,” says Michelle Wickum, SteelMaster’s marketing director. “He recognized those same values in the work being done at the Virginia Aquarium, and he wanted to help them further their mission any way he could.”

Dorcas Browning is the president of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation, the same position Pat held years ago when he was also the foundation’s capital campaign chairman. Browning says that Pat’s legacy is still very much alive among those working with the foundation and throughout the aquarium. “The Foundation benefitted from his discipline, energy, and passion for our conservation through education mission,” says Browning. “Pat’s legacy to the Virginia Aquarium is more than just a building, exhibit, or funding. He embodies the spirit of dedication to a cause and pride in community treasures like the aquarium. He is an inspiration to us all, and we were fortunate to have shared his life.”

For more information on SteelMaster, visit www.steelmasterusa.com or call (800) 341-7007.

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Corporate Summary
SteelMaster’s steel and metal pre-engineered buildings are designed for a broad range of residential and commercial applications including Garages, Workshops, Carports, Agricultural Storage, Metal Barns, Quonsets, Airplane Hangars, RV Storage, Roofing Systems, Storage Buildings, Military Buildings, Commercial Warehousing, and Industrial Storage as well as a wide variety of Custom Building applications including Athletic Facilities, Retail Stores, Churches, Bus Stops, Smoke Shacks, Doggie Dorms, and Correctional Facilities.
SteelMaster Buildings represents over 27 years of premium quality manufacturing, providing the highest quality steel arch buildings in the world. Throughout its years in business, SteelMaster has successfully designed buildings and structures for a variety of applications across the globe ranging from residential customers, the government, and the military, to numerous Fortune 500 companies.