Paddy Meskell is a member of the NIHE/UL founding class of 1972, receiving a degree in European Studies. A native of Castleconnell, he is very proud of the transformative economic, social and cultural impact that NIHE/UL has had on the mid-west region.
Paddy has over 40 years’ experience creating and leading organisations in a variety of professional fields. During a career leading small, mid-size and large organisations in Ireland and the US, Paddy gained extensive expertise in designing and implementing strategies and systems that create award-winning, vibrant, high-performance cultures.
Here in Ireland, he led recruitment, training and development functions in the ESB, and was in on the ground floor of two software companies that continue to create and distribute innovative software products to the global financial markets. As Director of Organisational Development for the Student Loan Marketing Association, a US Fortune 500 company, Paddy led corporate-wide efforts to develop a high-performance culture, improve the financial bottom line and enhance customer experience.
As Executive Vice President of Operations and member of the Board of Silver Diner, Inc., a regional restaurant company in the Washington, DC, area, Paddy was responsible for all elements of company operations, including strategy design and execution, planning, budgeting, goal setting, leadership development, brand delivery, customer experience and workplace culture development. Silver Diner has received several awards, regional and national, as being one of the best places to work in the US, with an exceptionally low staff turnover and a powerful, positive culture.
From 2012 – 2021, Paddy served as Treasurer and Chair of the Board of Solas Nua, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit whose mission is to introduce contemporary Irish arts and artists to American audiences. He led Solas Nua's transformation into one of the leading Irish arts organizations in America, crafting a powerful strategic plan and overseeing its implementation.
Paddy divides his time between Washington, DC, and Castleconnell and continues to serve as coach/mentor/adviser to artists, writers and young professionals in Ireland and the US.