Bellevue, WA--Harvey Hartman, Founder and Chairman ofThe Hartman Group, passed away on February 24, 2020, after a battle with cancer.

The Hartman Group reflected on Harvey's legacy,sharing, "Harvey was a larger-than-life presence and guiding force. Those of us who have had the good fortune to know and work with him have lost an inspirational leader and mentor, and a dear friend."

Hartman, a native of St. Louis and alumnus of Saint Louis University, was an author, business school lecturer, former Fortune 500 senior executive and nationally recognized expert on American cultural change and the consumer activities that impact daily business products and services. He founded The Hartman Group in 1989, and led the company as it became a leading authority on consumer culture for the food and beverage industry.

Hartman also gave back to the community, including by establishing theEmily's Friendsfoundation as a tribute to his daughter Emily Hartman, who died in 1995 at the age of 19.

"Harvey had that rare ability to see things others couldn’t and was constantly scanning the horizon in search of new ideas," the company shared. "He was a tenacious advocate of challenging the status quo, an ardent believer in knowing that what got you to where you are today was not what would drive future success. And he was never at a loss for ideas about what that could be. Yet as driven as he was for the company to produce quality, innovative work, he had a passionate belief that the workplace should be enjoyable. We will miss his ready smile and gregarious laugh. He genuinely cared for each of us and our well-being and provided for us in ways beyond what small businesses typically do for their employees."