James B. Irwin

James B. Irwin, Sr. (died in 2009)

"Irwin, 73, was chairman of Integrated Control Systems, Inc., a Florida company known as IMPAC. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2004. In 1994, IMPAC built a $6 million, 55,000-square-foot headquarters and training facility on West Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda, overlooking Charlotte Harbor. It later started IMPAC University, a graduate business school.

"Irwin and his firm have over the years received publicity for funding a world's richest literary prize, seeking to block the reappointment of a Superior Court judge and hiring a famed defense attorney after he'd lost his law license. In May 1995, Irwin created the annual International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award to reward works of "high literary merit." At the time, the price was $162,000, or 100,000 Irish pounds." [1]

From 2002: "is the Chairman of Integrated Control Systems, Inc., a Florida Corporation,a worldwide productivity firm, and Chairman of IMPAC University, a state licensed degree granting University in Florida.

"James B. Irwin grew up in the Bronx area of New York City, in a traditional second-generation Irish-American family. His mother's family, the McCooks and O'Roukes, arrived in the United States in the mid-19th century from County Clare, Ireland. James B. Irwin's father, also of Irish decent, was a battalion chief in the New York City Fire Department and headed The New York City Fire College...

"James B. Irwin purchased IMPAC in 1972 when it had only six employees. Today the company and its affiliates are the world's largest management-productivity engineering organization working exclusively in this field and guarantying results...

"James B. Irwin has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He participates in a variety of educational programs, such as the West Point Conference on Business and Ethics.

"In 1994, James B. Irwin endowed the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the globe's richest literary prize for a single work of fiction. Each year a winning author receives 100,000 Euros.

"James B. Irwin is also the founder of the leading literary prize for Mexican Writers, the IMPAC Monterey Literary Award, conducted in partnership with Monterey Institute of Technology. The IMPAC Award for Young Writers, which honors the best work of young authors from throughout the State of Connecticut, was established by James B. Irwin and is co-sponsored by the Connecticut State University.

"The United States National Task Force for Children has honored James B. Irwin, for his work in promoting children's rights throughout the United States. He had been honored and recognized by the Adam Walsh Foundation for Missing and Exploited Children, The Muscular Dystrophy Association, The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association and many other charitable and philanthropic organizations around the world.

"James B. Irwin serves as Treasurer of the International Democratic Union an alliance of more than 70 center right political parties from countries throughout the world. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher founded the organization. Annually James B. Irwin supports the IDU "Young Leaders Forum" bringing together young parliamentarians and other elected leaders for a conference held at IMPAC University twice annually.

"James B. Irwin is a director and a member of the Executive Committee of the Center for Democracy in Washington, the international organization that promotes the rule of law, in open and just societies. Through this organization, he works tirelessly for traditional democratic values and for the cause of fair procedures and public liberty.

"James B. Irwin also serves on the Board of Florida Intergovernmental Relations Foundation, which assists the State of Florida in business cultural and governmental relations with other nations.

"James B. Irwin has dual citizenship, Irish and American, and has been repeatedly named one of "The Top 100 Irish Americans" by the Irish American Magazine."

• Former Director, Center for Democracy
• Chair, IMPAC