Richard C. (“Dick”) Alexander is a business leader and entrepreneur with a deep commitment to the quality of life in Oregon. At age 29, and with modest initial capital, Alexander founded Viking Industries, Inc, which grew to be one of the West’s leading manufacturers of windows and doors. Alexander also founded Viking International, Inc., a successful exporter of specialty foods. He has served as chairman of the board of Associated Oregon Industries, and on the boards of the Portland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and as president of the Portland Rose Festival. He currently serves as chairman of the board of Capital Pacific Bank and conducts business as Alexander Investment Co.

Alexander’s long-standing commitment to education is well-known. Concordia University recently awarded its honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LL.D.) to Alexander for his significant contribution to education and to improving the quality of life in Oregon. He presently serves as vice-chairman of the board of Marylhurst University and has served as president of the board of Oregon Episcopal School and on the board of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. He is dedicated to programs that give youth the skills to succeed in life. Alexander served as president of the Cascade Pacific Council and the Metropolitan Group of Councils in the Western Region of the Boy Scouts of America and serves on the board of the Children’s Institute.

Richard has made a commitment to focusing resources where they can make the greatest difference: early childhood. Through leadership positions and personal contributions, Alexander has made a lasting impact on the programs available to Oregon children. He has led campaigns in Oregon where the goal was to increase funding for early childhood education. He was the architect and leader of the Ready for School campaign which leveraged the power of business and civic leaders to secure an additional $39 million in state funding for Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten.This additional funding made possible the enrollment of an additional 3,000 of Oregon’s most vulnerable children in this program. Alexander continues his leadership of the Ready for School campaign in its efforts to further increase funding levels for Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten and for state support of early childhood education and health.

Further demonstrating a concern for solving persistent broad-scale problems, Alexander served on the board of the National Center for Disaster Decision Making and the Citizens Crime Commission. As the chairman of the board of the Citizens Crime Commission, Alexander was part of the team that produced the landmark study, “KIIDS Report.”

All of these activities have not kept Richard from finding time to explore the world with his wife Carilyn and two daughters, Courtney and Whitney.