Dana DeLong-Patterson is the co-founder and president/CFO of DeLong Construction. After graduating with a degree in mathematics from the University of Northern Iowa, she taught secondary mathematics for three years in Denver, Colorado. She then decided to return to Iowa to start a grading business with her brother, Deran, similar to the one their father had successfully owned and operated for 26 years. They started DeLong Construction in 1994.

Dana enjoys attending her children's athletic events in her free time – wrestling meets, cross country and track meets, basketball and baseball games, and tumbling recitals. As a family, they like to participate in 5k races. Dana also tries to find the time to read a good book when she can.