Daniel Snyder Lauded as Astute Businessman and Committed Philanthropist

Businessman Daniel Snyder represents the quintessential American success story. Born on November 23, 1964 in Maryland, Daniel Marc Snyder is the son of Arlette and Gerald Seymour “Gerry” Snyder. His father was a freelance writer who penned intriguing content for National Geographic and United Press International.

After attending elementary school in Silver Spring, Maryland, Dan Snyder’s schooling continued in Henley-on-Thames, a small town adjacent to London. He attended private school from ages 12 to 14 before traveling to Queens, New York to live with his grandmother. Finally, Snyder moved back to Maryland with his family. He graduated from Charles W. Woodward High School in Rockville, Maryland.

At age 17, fledgling entrepreneur Daniel Snyder and his father launched a business that marketed bus trip packages to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The duo targeted their efforts to Washington Capitols’ fans who wanted to watch their hockey team face off in Philadelphia. The event didn’t unfold as planned, introducing Snyder to the vagaries of the business world.

Multifaceted Career

After a brief foray into the academic arena, Dan Snyder left the University of Maryland, College Park at age 20. Shortly afterward, this resourceful young entrepreneur launched a jet-leasing business. He created an alternative method of transporting college students to Fort Lauderdale and Caribbean destinations during spring break weeks.

Encouraged by his jet-leasing results, Daniel Snyder acquired funding from real estate mogul Mortimer Zuckerman, and launched a college student magazine called Campus USA. Following an auspicious beginning, the magazine closed three years later due to insufficient advertising revenues. By that time, however, Snyder had forged a beneficial relationship with the well-connected Zuckerman.

At age 25, Daniel Snyder’s next business venture took shape. Buoyed by the rise of segmented marketing, he and his sister Michele established Snyder Communications LP, a company that placed prominent companies’ ads on businesses’ interior display boards. Doctors’ offices and college campuses were their first target markets.

This innovative business concept proved extremely successful. Snyder and his sister expanded the operation through organic methods and strategic acquisitions. One prominent target market included major United States’ airports’ private aircraft lounges, popular with well-heeled pilots and their guests.

Next, Snyder Communications became a major player in the outsourced marketing industry. The company added database marketing, direct marketing, and sponsored information displays to its services. Field sales, call centers, and proprietary product sampling rounded out its repertoire.

In September 1996, Snyder Communications debuted its initial public offering. With this action, 32-year-old Daniel Snyder became the youngest-ever CEO of a New York Stock Exchange-listed company.

Snyder Communications continued to expand through a series of aggressive acquisitions. By 1998, the company had over $1 billion in annual revenues and carried over 12,000 employees on its books.

In April 2000, the French advertising and marketing services group Havas purchased Snyder Communications in an all-stock transaction valued at more than US$2 billion. At the time, this was the largest transaction in the advertising/marketing industry’s history.

Business Accomplishments

Football has always been a part of Daniel Snyder’s life. He is a longtime Washington Redskins fan, and attended numerous Sunday afternoon games with his father at RFK Stadium, the team’s former home.

Following the death of former owner Jack Kent Cooke, Dan Snyder jumped at the chance to purchase the Washington Redskins and their then two-year-old stadium. In May 1999, the package’s $800 million price tag made it the most expensive transaction in sporting history.

Afterward, Dan Snyder renamed the stadium FedEx Field, obtaining $207 million in naming rights revenues from the package shipping giant. Snyder also entered into several lucrative sponsorship deals, and increased the number of club seats and suites. Collectively, Daniel Snyder’s revenue enhancement strategies have proven very successful, more than doubling the Redskins’ revenues through 2014.

Dan Snyder also launched a plan for airing the Washington Redskins’ games on Washington, D.C.-market radio stations. In July 2006, his Red Zebra Broadcasting launched three sports radio stations, followed by the purchase of other mid-Atlantic regional radio stations.

In February 2007, Daniel Snyder further expanded his reach with an announcement that his RedZone Capital firm would purchase the nationally recognized Johnny Rockets diner chain. In 2013, his firm sold this 1950s-themed restaurant business to Sun Capital Partners.

Philanthropic Efforts

Daniel Snyder has long embraced the value of philanthropy. He has demonstrated this enduring commitment by giving back to his local, national, and international communities. His $1 million contribution provided assistance to September 11 attack victims.

Snyder has also made significant donations to victims of three natural disasters. In 2004, Dan Snyder stepped up to pay the shipping costs for charitable food donations to people affected by the tsunami in Thailand and Indonesia. In 2005, he donated $600,000 to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

In 2016, Snyder played a key role in the Hurricane Matthew disaster relief efforts. Using his private plane, he sent emergency supplies to The Bahamas. He also provided much-needed medical supplies to Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s Hospital Bernard Mevs.

Daniel Snyder has also demonstrated his commitment to charitable causes in the Washington, D.C. region. For many years, he has supported the well-known Youth For Tomorrow organization. Joe Gibbs, former Redskins head coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame member, established this well-regarded entity. In April 2010, Dan Snyder received Youth For Tomorrow’s Distinguished Leader Award for his many contributions.

Snyder also desired to provide resources and opportunities to area Tribal Communities. In 2014, he established the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation to accomplish those goals.

Dan Snyder has also demonstrated ongoing support for the Washington Children’s Hospital, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and other organizations. In May 2014, the NCMEC presented Snyder and his wife Tanya with the Charles B. Wang International Children’s Award for their untiring efforts to assist endangered children.

Personal Profile

In 1994, Daniel Snyder married former fashion model Tanya Ivey. The couple has two daughters and a son together. In May 2008, Tanya began treatment for breast cancer. Following that life-changing experience, Tanya became a national spokesperson for breast cancer awareness.