Willard Mitt Romney – Republican U.S Presidential Candidate

Background
Born:  March 12, 1947
Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan
Spouse: Ann Lois Davies. Married in 1969
Children: Five boys: Taggart “Tag” (1970), Matthew “Matt” (1971), Joshua “Josh” (1975), Benjamin “Ben” (1987) and Craig (1981)

Education:
Graduated from Brigham Young University. B.A in humanities. (1971)
Earned two degrees from Harvard: A J.D. degree in Law and an M.B.A. - Masters in Business Administration (1975)

Occupation:
Served as a Mormon Missionary in France (1966 – 1969)
Business consultant for Boston Consulting Group (1975 – 1977)
Bain & Company, a management consulting firm in Boston, Massachusetts (1978 – 1984)
Bain Capital, co-founder and a spin-off from Bain & Company, a private venture capital investment firm (1984 – 1990)
Bain & Company, returned as Chief Executive Officer. The company was facing financial collapse and within a year, and he had led the company to profitability. (1991)
Bain Capital (1992 – 1999)
Ran for Massachusetts Senate but was defeated by incumbent Edward Kennedy. (1994)
Salt Lake City Olympic Games Organizing Committee. Served as President and CEO to rescue the Winter Olympics from financial and ethical woes. The games were successful. (2002)
Elected Governor of Massachusetts (2003 – 2007)
Ran for the Republican presidential nomination but lost to John McCain. (2008)
Announced he would seek the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. (2011)

Awards & Recognitions:
Romney has received four honorary doctorates:
• Honorary Doctorate of Business from the University of Utah (1999)
• Honorary Doctorate of Law from Bentley College (2002)
• Honorary Doctorate of Public Administration from Suffolk University Law School (2004)
• Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Hillsdale College (2007)
People magazine included Romney in its 50 Most Beautiful People list (2002)

Romney received the inaugural Truce Ideal Award for his role in the 2002 Winter Olympics (2004)

Received the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2006)

Shared with his wife Ann the Canterbury Medal from The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, for "refusing to compromise their principles and faith" during the presidential campaign. (2008)

Paul Ryan – Republican U.S Vice-Presidential Candidate

Background

Born: January 29, 1970
Place of Birth: Janesville, Wisconsin

Spouse: Janna Little
Married in December 2000
Children: Elizabeth Anne (Liza), Charles Wilson (Charlie), Samuel Lowery (Sam)

Education: 

Graduated from Miami University in Ohio. Earned two in Economics and Political Science (1992)



Occupation:

Marketing Consultant for Ryan Incorporated Central, one of the largest earthmoving firms in the country, building everything from home sites to golf courses to landfills to wetlands. This company was started by his great-grandfather. (1997-1998)
U.S. Congress Member (1998-present)

Member of Chairman of the House Budget Committee where he worked to bring fiscal discipline and accountability to the federal government (2007 - 2011)
Chairman of House Ways and Means Committee (2011 to present).
He was an intern and later an aide to former Wisconsin Sen. Bob Kasten (1992)
Empower America, a staff policy member, wrote speeches for Jack Kemp. (1993-1995)
An aide to Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas.
Announced as Mitt Romney’s running mate to be come Vice-President of the U.S. (2012)

Awards & Recognitions:

He released a budget plan in April 2011 that proposed a major overhaul of spending, with $6.2 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years from the Obama plan. The plan has since been revised, and while it has passed the House, it has had no traction in the Senate.

•Defending the American Dream Award, Americans for Prosperity, Wisconsin chapter (2008)
•Manufacturing Legislative Excellence Award, National Association of Manufacturers (2009)
•Honorary Degree, Miami University (2009)
•Guardian of Small Business Award, National Federation of Independent Business (2010)
•Legislator of the Year Award, International Franchise Association (2010)
•TIME Magazine named Paul Ryan as The Person of the Year Runner-Up (2011)
•Statesmanship Award, Claremont Institute (2011)
•Fiscy Award for responsible financial stewardship and fiscal discipline in government. (2011)
•Leadership Award, Jack Kemp Foundation (2011)
•Freedom and Prosperity Award, Mason Contractors Association of America (2011)
•Chair, Honorary Board of the Archery Trade Association (2012)