Vance Patterson is a 15-year resident of Burke County and ran in the U.S. Congress Republican primary in North Carolina’s 10th District in 2010.

Vance brought to the campaign 37 years of business experience, having started 11 companies and currently serving as president of seven: Patterson Fan Company, Patterson Ventilation Company, Solar Shield, Inc., Energy Group, Inc., Iron Brew Coffee Company, Buddy Brands, Inc., and Frenzy, Inc.

Vance is an experienced negotiator, an economist and a financial analyst. In the course of conducting business, he has traveled extensively including international locations such as Russia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, China, Mexico, UK, and many European Union countries.

Vance is a life-long Republican and a social and fiscal conservative. He has served as First Vice-Chair of the Burke GOP and Precinct Chair of Linville 2. He has been a gun owner since age 6.

Born May 15, 1950 in Kansas City, Missouri, Vance has been married to Mary Jo for 35 years. Vance and Mary Jo have four children: Cody, Matt, Megan, and Devin. As a Christian, he is a student of the Bible, a Sunday School teacher, and a Salvation Army bell ringer.