Montana industrialist Dennis R. Washington founded The Washington Companies, a dynamic group of privately held individual companies in the United States, Canada and China. Dennis, a self-made industry leader, built a worldwide heavy construction business that he sold in 2007. Today, he owns companies in mining, railroads, marine transportation, shipbuilding, heavy equipment sales and environmental remediation. These operations include the largest privately held railroad in the U.S., heavy equipment dealerships in the U.S., and one of Canada’s largest marine service companies. In addition, Dennis owns major interests in aviation services and one of the world’s leading containership owner/managers. His inspiring journey has been described as having achieved the American Dream.
In 1988, Dennis and his wife Phyllis created the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, a private family foundation dedicated to making an investment in people to improve the quality of their lives.
Dennis has been recognized and honored by both peers and business and service organizations for his success and philanthropy, including the Horatio Alger Association’s highest honor, the Norman Vincent Peale Award.