Early Life
Dennis Washington was born in Spokane, Washington, in 1934. He grew up in the Pacific Northwest, including Spokane, Bremerton, and Missoula, Montana. He experienced his parents' divorce at a young age. This motivated him to provide a stable family environment for his own family.
Rise to Success
After high school, he worked in construction in Alaska and Montana. Washington began his business career at age 30 in 1964, with a $30,000 loan and a single bulldozer. He created Washington Construction, which worked primarily on highway contracts, and by 1969 was the largest contractor in Montana. In the 1970s he moved into mining and dam construction. In 1986 he acquired a copper and molybdenum mine at Butte, Montana. He reopened the mine and it became a profitable operation. This success helped him diversify into railroads, marine services, coastal shipping, aviation and real estate.
Key Business Strategies
Washington's business strategy involved identifying opportunities where others didn't, taking calculated risks, and a focus on profitable ventures. He diversified his investments, including acquiring the copper and molybdenum mine in Butte, Montana. In 1996 Washington Construction merged with Morrison-Knudsen Corporation.
Philanthropy
Dennis and his wife, Phyllis, established the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation in 1988. It focuses on education, health and human services, community service, and arts and culture. The couple's core values are defined as “integrity, compassion, courage, vision, and perseverance.”
