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David Trone

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David Trone
Born1955 or 1956 (age 68–69)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater
Political partyDemocratic

David Trone (born 1955/56) is an American businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded and co-owns Total Wine & More, along with his brother, and served as the company's president until December 2016.

In 2016, Trone spent more than $13 million on his unsuccessful Democratic primary campaign to succeed Chris Van Hollen in Maryland's 8th congressional district, setting a record for the most expensive self-funded House campaign.

Trone and his wife, June, have been contributors to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In honor of their longtime support, the ACLU established the Trone Center for Justice and Equality at the organization's national headquarters, where Trone serves as chair of the Trone Private Sector and Education Advisory Council.[2] The couple also funded the Trone Family Public Policy Initiative Fund at their alma mater, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The couple lives in Potomac, Maryland.

Early life and education

Trone was born in Maryland and raised on a 200-acre (81 ha) farm in East Berlin, Pennsylvania,[3][4][5] where his father, Thomas, ran a chicken and hog operation.[4][6] Thomas also owned a soda and beer store. When Trone's parents separated, his father kept the farm and his mother took over the store.[4] Thomas and his farm went into bankruptcy,[7][8] but Trone kept working for his mother's store.[4]

Trone graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Furman University in 1977,[9][10] and earned his Master of Business Administration degree in 1985 from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania,[11][12][13] where he learned about beverage retailing and state laws.[4]

Career

Total Wine & More

Main article: Total Wine & More

Having seen the potential of the beer sales at his mother's store,[4] Trone began his career by founding the beer-only retailer Beer World in Pennsylvania in 1984, during his second semester of graduate school.[14] Months before graduating from Wharton, in 1985, Trone expanded into the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Over time, he opened additional stores, called Beer and Pop Warehouse and, later, Beer World, which were owned by friends and family members because Pennsylvania state law prohibited individuals from owning more than one beer retail outlet.[15]

Trone, with the assistance of his brother Robert, then opened two stores in Delaware in 1991, adding wine and spirits to the company's offerings.[5][16] Using knowledge acquired at Wharton, the brothers chose to replicate the family store's model across Pennsylvania. The beverage company had slim margins, but was immediately profitable and allowed the brothers to focus on operations.[4] The brothers familiarized themselves with regulators and industry leaders, and began changing laws that restrict wholesalers from offering retailers discounts in exchange for large volume purchases, among others in their attempt to promote beverage consumption.[4]

The business has since expanded into what is known today as Total Wine & More, the largest privately owned beer, wine, and spirits retailer in the United States.[17][18]

In November 2016, both David and Robert Trone were honored by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania at the 46th Annual Joseph Wharton Award Dinner.[19] In December 2016, Trone gave up his title of president to chief executive Kevin Peters.[3]

Beginning in 1989 and for the following three years, Pennsylvania authorities arrested Trone three times following complaints from an association of smaller, individually owned stores.[15][20][21] One arrest was for negotiating volume discounts on behalf of multiple stores and illegally advertising beer prices,[15] and another was for circumventing state transportation regulations. These charges were later dismissed.[15]

In 1992, Trone, his wife, June, and brother were indicted by a grand jury in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, for owning multiple stores through Trone's consulting company, among other charges, all of which were later dropped and expunged.[22] In 1994, a state judge dismissed 19 of the 23 counts based on "prosecutorial overreaching", and the remaining counts were withdrawn after Trone paid a $40,000 fee to cover investigation costs.[15][22]

During these legal proceedings, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) broke the law by providing records of his consulting firm to government officials, prompting Trone to sue the agency in federal court. Trone won and was awarded $400,000. The lawyer who had represented Trone also served as a national board member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which would begin the start of a longterm relationship between Trone and the nonpartisan, non-profit organization.[15] The Trones' difficulties in Pennsylvania prompted them to leave the state; Total Wine & More grew from the remaining two stores in Delaware and an additional retail outlet in New Jersey, which had been opened by Trone during the early 1990s.[15]

In 2016, Total Wine was served with a license suspension by the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission for selling liquor below its costs.[23]

Congressional campaigns and political activity

Trone has been active in Democratic politics and hosted fundraisers for the party.[1][12] In 2014, he hosted a fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate Anthony G. Brown, which was attended by former President Bill Clinton, and in November 2015, he held a fundraiser for President Obama at his home.[1][7][24] Trone had also contributed to Republican politicians; according to a database operated by the National Institute on Money in State Politics, he donated more than $150,000 to Republicans in multiple U.S. states between 2000 and 2015.[25] The Washington Post reported that Trone contributed more than $90,000 to Democratic state officials during the same period, and said the donations made to Republicans were to support "legislation or regulatory changes favorable to his company".[25] Trone said the donations "represented the cost of doing business, especially in states with Republican-controlled state houses and governor's mansions".[7][25]

2016 campaign

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland, 2016 § District 8
Trone campaigning in 2016

In January 2016, Trone entered the Democratic primary campaign to succeed Chris Van Hollen in Maryland's 8th congressional district. He ran on reducing unemployment and gun violence, criminal justice reform, environmental protection, and education and foreign policy.[8] Trone pledged to support early education, work with the National Institutes of Health to reduce health care costs, improve infrastructure, and forgive more student loans for government employees.[8]

Trone spent more than $13 million on his unsuccessful campaign,[26] which became the most expensive self-funded House campaign ever.[27][28][29][30] The first-time candidate said a large personal investment was necessary in order to stand out in a crowded race which included recognizable competitors, including news anchor and Marriott International executive Kathleen Matthews and election winner State Senator Jamie Raskin.[12][27][31] Following the election, Trone told NPR, "We knew it would be very expensive. We're not surprised by what it cost at all. We anticipated that, and it was a thoughtful choice my wife and I made... It was the right decision to take no money from anybody."[27]

Maryland's 8th congressional district primary election, 2016[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jamie Raskin 43,776 33.6
Democratic David Trone 35,400 27.1
Democratic Kathleen Matthews 31,186 23.9
Democratic Ana Sol Gutierrez 7,185 5.5
Democratic William Jawando 6,058 4.6

2018 campaign

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland, 2018

On August 2, 2017, Trone announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Maryland's 6th district, an open seat being vacated by John Delaney, who chose not to seek reelection and retire from Congress to focus on his 2020 presidential campaign.[33] Trone had endorsed Delaney for President several days prior.[34]

Philanthropy

In addition to political contributions, Trone and his wife have supported a number of philanthropic efforts. They have been major contributors to the ACLU since 1994.[15][35] Their $15 million donation in 2015 supported the organization's efforts to promote criminal justice reform and improve employment opportunities for former prisoners,[1][7][35] and established the Trone Center for Justice and Equality at the organization's national headquarters.[36][37] In 2016, the couple pledged $5 million to establish the Trone Family Public Policy Initiative Fund at their alma mater, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.[11][13] The fund supports research "promoting clear, fact-driven, accessible knowledge to stimulate policies that benefit the American public".[11]

In mid 2017, the Trones donated $2.5 million to Bethesda, Maryland's Suburban Hospital to support mental and behavioral health services and make improvements to the Old Georgetown Road campus. The couple's donation was inspired by their nephew's death from an opioid overdose in late 2016.[38][39][40] The David and June Trone Family Foundation contributed $100,000 to the Catholic Legal Immigration Network in mid 2017 to support locals affected by Trump's travel ban, which the couple called "outrageously egregious". The Trones also donated to the ACLU's Montgomery County affiliate, the Latino immigrant organization CASA, and Interfaith Works.[40][41][42]

Trone's contributions to Furman University include a $5 million grant for a student center and to create men's and women's lacrosse teams, and the lead $500,000 gift for the Riley Foundation's endowment to support disadvantaged South Carolina students.[43][44] The Trone Student Center was dedicated in 2013 and named for Trone and his wife, in honor of their $3.5 million contribution.[10]

Personal life

Trone serves as chair of the Trone Private Sector and Education Advisory Council at the ACLU Trone Center.[35][45] He has served on the Bullis School's board of trustees since 2006.[46] Trone serves on the industry advisory board of Wharton's Baker Retailing Center, which includes "global retail executives who contribute to our mission to be a worldwide leader in retail knowledge".[47] He is also a trustee of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Furman University.[48][49]

In 2012, Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) Greater DC gave Trone the "Distinguished Service Award" for his many contributions to the organization, which provides recreational programs for children with developmental and physical disabilities.[50] He was honored at the 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Greater Washington, in the "large company" category.[51] In 2015, Trone was invited by the American University's Kennedy Political Union and the Kogod School of Business to speak to students and faculty about entrepreneurship and business leadership.[5] He was awarded the Anti-Defamation League's annual achievement award in 2016.[52] In 2016, Trone joined the boards of American University and the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.[53][54]

In 2017, Trone received Furman University's Carl F. Kohrt Distinguished Alumni Award, which is presented "to an alumnus in recognition of significant professional or personal accomplishments and in gratitude for continued loyalty".[43] He served on Furman University's board of trustees from 2010 to 2016.[43] Trone wrote an op-ed for The Baltimore Sun in mid 2017, in which he recounted his nephew's death, and expressed opposition to the Donald Trump administration's proposed elimination of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's drug treatment requirement.[39]

As of 2016, the Trones live in Potomac, Maryland.[1][55][56]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Turque, Bill (January 25, 2016). "David Trone, owner of Total Wine & More, mulling run for Congress". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Nash Holdings LLC. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 2269358. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  2. ^ "Business Notes: Total Wine & More's formerly incarcerated employees have lower turnover rates". Bethesda Magazine. June 22, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Teague, Lettie (December 14, 2016). "The Man Behind 'America's Wine Superstore'". New York City: Dow Jones & Company. ISSN 0099-9660. OCLC 781541372. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Heath, Thomas (December 18, 2011). "Value Added: Potomac's Total Wine". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Rozen, Courtney (November 24, 2015). "David Trone encourages students to embrace failure and experiment with innovative business ventures at KPU event". The Eagle. American University. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  6. ^ Turque, Bill (April 3, 2016). "For Wine Mogul David Trone, Congressional Race Is Unfinished Business (Posted 2016-04-03 23:45:35); First in a Series of Profiles of Democratic Primary Candidates in Maryland's 8th Congressional District". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 30, 2017 – via HighBeam Research. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c d Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (March 5, 2016). "Maryland House Race a 'Caldron of Power Couples and Washington, D.C., Politics'". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Gaines, Danielle E. (March 8, 2016). "U.S. House race: First-time candidate Trone looks to bring business acumen to Congress". Frederick News-Post. Frederick, Maryland: Randall Family, LLC. OCLC 31371730. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  9. ^ Pulcini, Max (January 21, 2016). "Wine Retailer CEO Speaks at Kogod Leadership Speaker Series". MetroMBA. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Furman Dedicates Trone Student Center". Furman University. September 20, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c "The Penn Wharton Public Policy Initiative Announces $5 Million Gift from David Trone and June Malament Trone". Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. March 8, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c Marcos, Cristina (April 26, 2016). "Candidate who spent $12M loses Md. House race". The Hill. Washington, D.C.: News Communications, Inc. ISSN 1521-1568. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  13. ^ a b DiStefano, Joseph N. (March 8, 2016). "Wine stores owner gives Wharton $5M to probe laws, runs for Congress". The Philadelphia Inquirer. ISSN 0885-6613. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  14. ^ Doss, Laine (October 16, 2015). "Total Wine President David Trone: "8000 wines, 3000 spirits, and 3000 beers"". Miami New Times. Voice Media Group. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Peck, Louis (February 22, 2016). "David Trone's Path to Business Success Included Three Arrests Involving Disputes with State Authorities". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  16. ^ Tuttle, Brad (March 27, 2014). "Your Local Dinky Mom and Pop Liquor Shop Is in Major Trouble". Time. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  17. ^ Halkias, Maria (May 2012). "Big-box wine retailers enter Dallas in a huge way". The Dallas Morning News. A. H. Belo. ISSN 1553-846X. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  18. ^ Morris, Asia (June 4, 2015). "Family-Owned Retail Giant Total Wine & More Opens First Long Beach Location". Long Beach Post. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  19. ^ "46th Annual Joseph Wharton Award Dinner, Register Now!!". Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  20. ^ Dan Adams, Globe staff (May 20, 2017). "For Total Wine, it's total war against alcohol regulations". Boston Globe. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  21. ^ "Daily News Update: From Boston Globe" (PDF). NABCA. National Alcohol Beverage Control Association. May 23, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  22. ^ a b Gazette (June 18, 1997). "Legal disputes not likely to hurt wine-beer superstore application". The Gazette. Gaithersburg, Maryland. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  23. ^ Benson, Brian (February 1, 2016). "Total Wine in Natick, Everett suing state". MetroWest Daily News. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  24. ^ Kraut, Aaron (November 4, 2015). "Total Wine & More Co-Owner Hosting Wednesday Fundraiser in Potomac With President Obama". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  25. ^ a b c Turque, Bill. "David Trone has donated more than $150,000 to Republicans, database shows". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  26. ^ Peck, Louis (February 17, 2017). "Ex-Kensington Mayor Becomes First Candidate to Jump Into District 1 Council Race". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  27. ^ a b c Taylor, Jessica (April 23, 2016). "This Candidate Is Self-Funding More Than Anyone Ever for a Seat in Congress". NPR. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  28. ^ Blumenthal, Paul (April 26, 2016). "This Guy Spent a Record $12.7 Million Running for Congress — And Lost". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  29. ^ Schouten, Fredreka (April 27, 2016). "Meet the man who spent $12 million on a congressional race — and lost". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Company. ISSN 0734-7456. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  30. ^ Peterson, Kristina (April 27, 2016). "House Candidate David Trone Spent $12 Million to Finish Second in Maryland Primary". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  31. ^ Phillips, Amber (April 27, 2016). "This man just spent a record $12 million of his own money on a House seat — and lost". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  32. ^ "Official 2016 Presidential Primary Election results for Representative in Congress: Congressional District 8". Maryland State Board of Elections. May 31, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  33. ^ Portnoy, Jenna (August 2, 2017). "David Trone jumps into race to succeed John Delaney in the U.S. House". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  34. ^ Trone, David (July 28, 2017). ".@JohnKDelaney has done a great job bringing people together to solve problems. He would be a fantastic President, and I'm behind him 100%!". Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  35. ^ a b c Hsu, Spencer S. (December 21, 2015). "Total Wine co-founder funding $15 million push to aid ex-convicts". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  36. ^ Judge, Monique (June 9, 2017). "ACLU Makes the Case for Giving Formerly Incarcerated a Fair Chance at Employment". The Root. Gizmodo Media Group. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  37. ^ "ACLU Announces New Trone Center for Criminal Justice Reform and Advisory Board of Private Sector and Education Leaders to Promote Reintegration". American Civil Liberties Union. December 21, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  38. ^ Zimmermann, Joe (May 1, 2017). "David Trone's Foundation Donates $2.5 Million to Suburban Hospital". Bethesda. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  39. ^ a b Turque, Bill (June 15, 2017). "David Trone stays high profile as he considers political future". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  40. ^ a b Metcalf, Andrew (June 1, 2017). "Trone Donates to Legal Fund to Assist Local Families Potentially Impacted by Trump's Proposed Travel Ban". Bethesda. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  41. ^ Turque, Bill (June 1, 2017). "Trone to fund legal aid for families who could be impacted by travel ban". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  42. ^ Kazour, Mona (June 2, 2017). "Legal Assistance for Montgomery County Families Affected by Trump Travel Ban". Bethesda Patch. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  43. ^ a b c Felicien, Tesalon. "Total Wine and More's David Trone to receive distinguished Furman award". The Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina: Gannett Company. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  44. ^ Dabbs, Kate Hofler; Hildreth, Evan (December 1, 2012). "Raising Up Riley: An Endowment for the Riley Institute". Furman University. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  45. ^ "Business Notes: Leadership Montgomery Announces 2018 Participants". Bethesda. August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  46. ^ "Trustees". Bullis School. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  47. ^ "Industry Advisory Board". Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  48. ^ Fritze, John (March 4, 2016). "David Trone would be among wealthiest members of Congress". The Baltimore Sun. tronc. ISSN 1930-8965. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  49. ^ "Board of Directors". Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  50. ^ "Annual Report 2012" (PDF). KEEN Greater DC. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  51. ^ Koeppen, Brynn (June 20, 2014). "Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Greater Washington Revealed: ECS Federal, Matchbox Among Winners". WashingtonExec. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  52. ^ Schere, Daniel (April 20, 2016). "Did ADL endorse David Trone?". Washington Jewish Week. ISSN 0746-9373. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  53. ^ American University: * "Current Trustees". American University. Retrieved February 23, 2017. * "Board of Trustees Late Fall 2016 Meeting Summary". American University. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  54. ^ "Board of Directors". Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  55. ^ Turque, Bill (April 12, 2016). "David Trone spends $9.1 million of his own money on Md. congressional race". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  56. ^ "Total Wine co-owner will fund his run for Congress". Washington Business Journal. American City Business Journals. January 28, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.

Further reading

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