My Business Partner of 3-Decades, Pat D’Angelo

As a young auditor, at the end of a long day, the controller for the large truck dealership I was auditing explained that business partnerships are a lot like marriages: high days, low days, quiet days, and even angry days. After 23 plus years of being Pat D’Angelo’s business partner, I can personally attest to the vast understatement by that friendly advice-providing controller oh those many years ago.
 

Every business partnership is like a marriage. It takes two to survive. I tip my hat to Pat as he sets the ultimate example of what a long-term business partner should be: friend, mentor, counselor, listener, and coach.

Patrick J. D’Angelo, Pat to his friends, has been my business partner, friend, conciliatory, advisor, coach, and mentor. I was a young 30 when we met, back in the summer of 1991. I was a new manager in a large local firm and Pat was hired as that firm’s first “consultant”. He was fifteen years my senior. He must have seen something in me because I clearly connect with him. On his first day of working at our old firm, I went to lunch with Pat. By the end of lunch, I knew we would be partners together in a firm: either the one we were at or one that we would create together.
 

 
A few years go by, Pat leaves our old firm, both of our father’s pass away within months of each other and our years of planning to create a firm of our collective vision required action. The time was right. The setting was right. The vision was right. This was going to be a great venture.
 
And for 23 plus years, we have managed to remain friends and business partners while helping thousands of people navigate some of the most complex and life-changing matters they will ever face.
 
We have had some fun times. We have had our low moments as well. However, day in and day out there is no one I would rather have as a business partner. Only a business partner like Pat would have supported my meandering adventures.

 

I was 34 years old when Pat and I formally joined forces. I was young, energetic, full of ideas, and naïve. My number one task was to open doors and find new customers. Pat’s role was to close them. And close them he did. He taught me how to close. He taught me how craft creative options to challenges that seemed to have no solutions. We have been called by senior bankers after several other CPA firms failed to resolve the banker’s issues because they know that we provide solutions where others simply do not. We are different. We see the world differently. Thanks to Pat, I continue to see the world through my unique perspective.
 
Over our fun and adventurous tenure, we have had the privilege to help many achieve their dreams. I have had the fun and honor of frequently being the face of our firm. For every public mention of the Morris+D’Angelo Financial and Accounting Firm, Pat has been the “foundation” of the office leading the firm, reviewing the work papers; serving the customers, while I represented the Face-Forward of the Firm.
 
Every business partnership is like a marriage. It takes two to survive. I tip my hat to Pat as he sets the ultimate example of what a long-term business partner should be: friend, mentor, counselor, listener, and coach.
 
I am the lucky one. I never let a day go by without thinking about just how lucky I am to have Pat as a business partner. I work my best to return the favors and I never forget the privilege of being Pat’s business partner.
 
Next time you are in the office, stop by Pat’s office and give him extra thanks for me.

---

 

For More Insights About Your Financial Health:
Contact Us at Morris+D’Angelo


707 SW Washington St., Suite 1100
Portland, Oregon, 97205

503.749.6300 – Portland Office
408.292.2892 – San Jose Office
 
At Morris+D’Angelo, we often have the insight of our Customers’ entire financial history, that provides for opportunities for us to add value to you as an integral part of your Financial TEAM (Together Each Achieves More).
 

 

---