This month’s “Spotlight on Volunteers” features Howard Leonard, C.P.M., A.P.P. the affiliate’s newest Board Director, recently appointed to fill the position vacated by Judith Smith (nee Serner). Howard isn’t exactly new to NAPM-Orange County, as most of us know him as the “Negotiations” instructor. And many of us, including me, have had the privilege of being a student in one of his classes.

Born in Altamont, Illinois his family moved to Southern California a year after Howard was born so he could be considered a native Californian. He attended grammar and high schools in Rosemead; spent two years at Pasadena City College and one year at the University of Southern California; eventually earning a BS in Finance at Cal. State, Los Angeles. His MBA came later via Pepperdine University (PU) in 1970.

Howard’s purchasing career began in 1961 at North American Aviation (aka Rockwell International/Boeing Co.). He also worked for Hughes Aircraft (aka Raytheon Co.), Aerojet Ordinance, and McDonnell Douglas (aka Boeing Co.). He recently retired from the Boeing Co.’s Aerospace/Defense industry in January 2000. The latter years of his Purchasing career were spent as a subcontract negotiator and administrator on all manned space programs except Mercury and Shuttle.

In 1971 he joined NAPM-O.C. and in 1972 he began his teaching career in Negotiations at Fullerton College. On a side note, his master’s thesis was “The Art and Science of Negotiating a Major Subcontract”. Eventually he also began teaching Negotiations at Orange Coast College and Coastline Community College until he retired in January 2001. He also taught an Accounting class at Fullerton College until June 2001. In November 2000, he acquired a substitute teacher certificate for Grades K-12, and currently substitutes in the Garden Grove and Anaheim school districts.

On the personal side, Howard resides in Garden Grove with his wife Patricia who works for the Children’s Home Society of California, and his closest pal and confidant Rocky, a Jack Russell terrier. His hobbies include restoring an old (1955) house and pool; collecting books, articles, pictures and models about old cars, which he used to restore, too. He enjoys reading and collecting old books (favorite authors include E.G. Burroughs, A.C. Doyle, and C.S. Forester); watching old movies (favorite movie stars include Rudolph Valentino, Fay Wray, and Marion Davies), and antique shopping with Patricia. Physical fitness includes walking with his pal Rocky, and swimming. An oddity…he started board surfing in 1960 and continued to do so until 1995. Howard Leonard, “the original beach boy”.

Hey someone tell Howard he’s successful, and he should take a nap. I mean after all he’s done, he deserves one.