David Howitt (entrepreneur)

David Marc Howitt (born August 8, 1968) is an American business consultant. He is the founder and CEO of Meriwether Group[1] and co-founder of Oregon Chai. He has provided business advice to various companies.[2][3] Howitt was recognized by the Portland Business Journal as one of the 40 most influential business leaders under the age of 40[4]

David Howitt
Born (1968-08-08) August 8, 1968
East Grand Rapids, Michigan
NationalityAmerican
Alma materDenison University
OccupationBusinessman, business consultant, founder and ceo of meriwether group
Spouse(s)Heather Howitt
Websitehttps://meriwethergroup.com

Early life

Howitt was born in East Grand Rapids, Michigan and is the eldest child of Dennis W. Howitt and Leslie C. Vandenhoot. Howitt received his education at Lakeside Elementary School and East Grand Rapids Middle School. He then attended East Grand Rapids High School, where he was an all state football player. He graduated with academic and athletic honors in 1986. Following high school, David attended Denison University in Granville, Ohio where he received a bachelor of arts, a major in Political Science and minor in Philosophy.[5]

He completed a one-year Law Clerk internship at Winston & Strawn in Chicago following Denison before moving to Portland, Oregon to attend Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law. He was listed there on the Moot Court Honor Board. He passed the Bar and received his J.D & Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resource Law in 1994.[6]

Career

Following Law School, Howitt took a position as an Associate Attorney for Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt in downtown Portland and later as Corporate Counsel for adidas America.[6] Later he served as Vice President of Licensing and Business Development, overseeing a licensing portfolio and arranging acquisitions for several companies, including TaylorMade and Salomon.[7][8]

In 1994, Howitt co-founded Oregon Chai, a company which sold tea, with his wife, Heather Howitt.[9] In 2004, the Howitts sold the company,[10] and founded Meriwether Group (MWG),[11] an advisory and business acceleration firm.[12] Meriwether consists of entrepreneurs, corporate executives and lawyers, (Perkins Coie, Schwabe Wiliamson and Wyatt).[13] The Meriwether Group members advise companies about licensing, distribution, brand development, as well as mergers and acquisitions.[14][15][16][17][18][19]

Howitt is author of the book, Heed Your Call[20] published by Simon & Schuster in 2014[21] and founder of the Heed Your Call – Fulfill Your Journey Entrepreneurship Program.[22] In 2014 he was invited to speak about his book on Good Morning America.[23] He spoke at TEDxHollywood in August 2014.[24]

Community

Howitt served as Chair of the Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center from 2009 – 2013.[25] He also served on the board of The Freshwater Trust, beginning in 2004, the Portland Parks Foundation, 2005 – 2007, and Waterwatch of Oregon, 2004 – 2006.

Recognitions
  • 2007– Forty Under 40 by Portland Business Journal[26]
  • 2008– 20 People To Watch in 2008 by Portland Business Journal[27]
  • 2015– Denison University Alumni Citation[28]
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References
  1. "Bike Gallery chain transitions to new owners." By Matthew Kish, KATU. November 30, 2012.
  2. Kish, Matthew. "Deal makers The Meriwether Group preserve the 'secret sauce'". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  3. Onstad, Chris. "How to Make Your Million". The Portland Mercury. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  4. "Forty Under 40". American Registry. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  5. "DAVID M. HOWITT '90". Denison University Alumni. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  6. PITKIN, JAMES. "Oregon's ailing economy needs a boost. How about hemp?". Willamette Week. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  7. "Adidas to expand Valley Apparel ties". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  8. "Jobs Watch: Hemp for the masses". Oregon Business. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  9. MELTZER, ERIC. "CEO David Howitt and the Journey for Purpose and Meaning". CreativeLive Blog. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  10. "Irish company buys Oregon Chai". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  11. "Voodoo Doughnut hopes to woo Asia with hipster pastries like the 'Old Dirty Bastard'". Quartz. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  12. Kish, Matthew. "Changes loom as Pendleton Woolen Mills teams up with Meriwether Group". The Business Journals. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  13. Kish, Matthew. "High-powered private equity executive joins Meriwether". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  14. Kish, Matthew. "Changes loom as Pendleton Woolen Mills teams up with Meriwether Group". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  15. McGrain, Maureen. "Bishops expanding its colorful roots". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  16. Siemers, Erik. "Behind the Dave's Killer Bread Deal". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  17. Kish, Matthew. "Quirky Laughing Planet sold". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  18. "Heeding your call". Denison University. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  19. "Manduka Llc acquires yogitoes Inc, Meriwether Group advises". Venture Capital Post. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  20. "Review: Heed Your Call". Public Intelligence Blog. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  21. "The spirit of entrepreneurship and personal journey". Lewis & Clark Law School. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  22. Mortenson, Eric. "Small business: growing fast, but staying true". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  23. 'Heed Your Call': Advice to Find Your Purpose Go.com
  24. "Repair the World and Abundance Will Follow". TEDxTalks. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  25. "Advisory Council". Lewis & Clark Law School. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  26. "Forty Under 40". The American Registry. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  27. "20 People To Watch in 2008". The American Registry. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  28. "ALUMNI CITATIONS 2015 Honorees". Denison University. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
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