About Me
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My background
Personally:
Patrick dedicates hands-on time to the causes that he is most passionate about. One of his more rewarding and formative experiences was one-on-one mentoring of high school students at North Lawndale College Prep in Chicago from 2009-2013. NLCP’s mission is to empower students with the tools necessary to earn a college degree, while striving to bridge the opportunity gap that persists in Chicago. Patrick and his family have been active volunteers at organizations such as Cradles to Crayons in Chicago, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oak Lawn, Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) Chicago, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls Friends First Mentoring, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Souper Heroes street-level homeless outreach program.
Patrick and his family have lived in Winnetka since 2019, and have 3 children who are D36 students. Patrick's children attended the Chicago Waldorf School and his family specifically targeted a progressive school district while looking to leave the city. During his term on the school board, his children will attend Crow Island, Skokie, and Washburne schools.
Professionally:
Patrick graduated from The University of Chicago with a degree in Law, Letters, and Society. He began his career as an analyst, and eventually became Portfolio Manager, covering all alternative and opportunistic investments within the multi-strategy, credit, insurance, real estate, and energy funds of a hedge fund. He co-founded and led the team that focused on optimization of portfolio companies within the fund. In this role he was responsible for advising companies on growth and performance improvements, financings, and M&A activities, covering all sectors and all areas of the capital structure. During this time, Mr. Conway led the restructuring, and ultimate buyout, of the firm’s multi-billion dollar multi-strategy fund, while helping to raise several new funds. He has served on numerous professional boards during his career and still continues to be an active hands-on board member of several.
In 2014 Mr. Conway founded a real asset, yield focused company, TerraCarta, where he serves as CEO/President. His company purchased a portfolio from Shell Oil which included 46,000 acres of land, oil and gas royalties, undeveloped mineral rights and water rights. Mr. Conway created a structure that locked in an above market yield for investors, capped downside risk through hedging, and allowed for longer term upside opportunities. In 2019 he successfully exited much of the portfolio at an attractive multiple. Today TerraCarta still owns 300 acres which is leased to produce solar energy, and over 5,500 acres of mineral rights. Mr. Conway is also currently CEO of Dara Management, a yield focused asset manager. Dara matches portfolios of de-risked assets with esoteric financings to provide above market risk-adjusted returns tailored for investors. In this role he uses large datasets in order to identify opportunities for growth.
Education values
Born and raised on a farm in Woodstock, IL, Patrick comes from a large family that is passionate about education and "learning by doing". Patrick’s mother and one sister are early childhood teachers, a brother and sister work in District 211 and his youngest sibling is a family therapist. Both of Patrick’s parents served on the private school board in their community.
Patrick's family stressed the importance of giving back to the community at an early age. During his childhood he led a shoe drive that collected over 5,000 pairs of gently used shoes for Africa, organized an adopt-a-family for Christmas, and started a project focused on collecting clothing for women's shelters.
After experiencing a mix of public and private education, choosing an undergraduate college that shared a devotion to open and rigorous inquiry was important. The University of Chicago provided an education that prided itself on the strength of intellectual traditions, intense critical analysis, and free and lively debate. Attending a school where engaged scholars continually seek creative solutions to complex problems, while playing two collegiate sports, helped to shape Patrick's values of committing to lifelong learning and discipline. When it was time to find the best in education for his own children, Patrick and his family pursued schools that would educate the whole child, and foster a lifelong love of learning.
Around Town
Patrick is often seen around Winnetka, supporting local businesses (especially the coffee shops!), dining out with his family, enjoying local events and doing the morning school drop-off with his children. Patrick and his family understand the importance of community, and believe in being involved in theirs to make it a better place.
Time with his family is spent playing outside, walking the dog, and enjoying family game nights. Time off work is spent traveling, getting together with extended family, and rooting for Chicago sports teams.
Patrick loves being "Coach" to his children's athletic teams and also cheering for his children in various other activities. Not afraid to get his hands dirty, he enjoys a good challenge and is often seen DIY-ing home improvement tasks, to the surprise of some friends and neighbors. He loves cooking and enjoying a good meal with family and friends, and if you stop over on any given Friday night...there is a good chance Patrick will make you popcorn that is perfectly seasoned.