SEATTLE—Vulcan Inc., the investment and projectmanagement company founded by investor and philanthropistPaul Allen, has hired BarbaraBennett to fill the newly createdposition of president and chief operating officer.Bennett, who brings more than 30 years of experience to Vulcan'sExecutive Committee, has built a career in operational andfinance-related positions in the public and private sectors. In hernew role - which she begins Sept. 22 - she will lead the dailyoperations of Vulcan's business and corporate functions, and createand manage a strategy to ensure that Vulcan has the appropriateoperational infrastructure in place to achieve its vision. Bennettwill be based in Seattle and report to Vulcan founder and chairmanPaul Allen and CEO Jody Allen.
"I am incredibly pleased to have Barb join our team," said PaulAllen. "The unique combination of her environmental protection,media industry and operations background make her the ideal choiceto help Vulcan achieve its vision."
Bennett brings an exceptional mix of experience to this role. Priorto joining Vulcan, Bennett was the executive vice president andchief financial pofficer at Digital First Media, where she guided awealth of value-creating and risk-reducing transactions. She alsospent three years in a presidentially-appointed role as theUS Environmental ProtectionAgency's CFO. While at the EPA, she also launched theagency's first public-private alliance, coordinating a number ofhigh-level, complex stakeholder groups to improve water technology.Prior to her time with the EPA, she spent 17 yearsat Discovery Communications, Inc., parent companyof Discovery Channel, where she helped grow the company, eventuallyserving as CFO.
"Barb has the right combination of leadership, operations andexecutive experience to make a meaningful impact at Vulcan," saidJody Allen. "Throughout her career, she has proven to be asolution-oriented problem solver who is adept at managing andbuilding diversified businesses. Paul and I are delighted towelcome her to Vulcan's leadership team."
The addition of Bennett will allow Ms. Allen to increase herinvolvement in Vulcan's philanthropic initiatives, productions, andother arts and culture programs.
"Since its founding, Vulcan has always been on the forefront ofinnovation in a number of fields," said Bennett. "I'm eager to jointhe company and apply my experiences in the environment, media andbusiness to help Paul, Jody and the entire Vulcan team achievetheir vision of changing and improving the way we live, learn,operate in business and experience the world."
Bennett completed her undergraduate studies at VanderbiltUniversity and completed executive programs atHarvard Business School and YaleUniversity.
Vulcan oversees various business and charitable projects includingreal estate holdings, investments in dozens of companies, includingthe Seattle Seahawks NFL, Seattle Sounders FC Major League Soccer,and Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchises.