Posted by: Contributing columnist, CLARION LEDGER FEATURE, BUSINESS, October 27, 2016: As the Mississippi Innovators Hall of Fame only inducts a new class every couple of years, I’d like to continue the discussing around the inductees and the tremendous contributions they have each made to Mississippi and our business climate.
In 1968, Laurel-native Billy Howard was enjoying a successful career with General Electric, moving from sales engineer to national sales manager for distribution transformers to the vice-president’s staff at the division level as national marketing development manager for multiple products. While it was incredibly uncommon to leave a rising career like this with such a well-known company during the 1960s, Howard recognized an opportunity and returned to Laurel to organize his own company, Howard Industries, Inc., to manufacturer distribution transformers. He and his wife, Linda, who now serves as president of Howard Industries, met in 1969 and married shortly after, and together, they grew this entrepreneurial venture into the incredibly successful venture it is today.
Over the years as the company’s market opportunities grew, the Howards continued to expand their services in an effort to meet those demands. This forward thinking and careful planning ultimately led to the creation of Howard Industries’ four subsidiary companies plus its own trucking company, Howard Transportation, Inc., which operates a fleet of more than 100 tractors and trailers.
Today, Howard Industries is a billion-dollar business that features more than 300,000 products, employs 3,500 workers — and its products can be found in all of America’s 50 states and in 114 countries. Howard Technology manufactures servers, desktops, notebooks and other computing platforms. Howard Medical makes Point-of-Care carts and specialized hardware for health-related systems. Howard Lighting designs and manufactures ballasts, fixtures and lamps. Howard Power Solutions is now the nation’s leading manufacturer of distribution transformers, and the Howards also have a couple of specialty municipal and gaming/computing divisions.
In addition, Linda and Billy have collectively and individually made significant contributions to their community and the state. Philanthropic in countless ways, the Howards especially value the power of an education — so much so that they pay tuition and book fees for their employees attending college, as long as a B average is maintained. They also established the Adopt A School program, raising funds for both private and public schools.
At the formal induction ceremony at the Mississippi Innovators Hall of Fame Awards Gala in September, Billy spoke passionately about his and Linda’s entrepreneurial journey over the years. Graciously, he shared the key to their success: their employees.
Few people would have likely left a rising career with one of the most prominent and successful companies of the last century — much less to venture into the complete unknown of starting a brand new company. The lessons garnered from the Howard’s inspiring journey — from that risky first decision to leave a secure career to where Howard Industries is now — is one that every Mississippian should learn about and know. Their ability to diversify and expand to meet market needs and employee 3,500 people in the process has been a tremendous success story, and they are well deserving of their induction into the Mississippi Innovators Hall of Fame.
Visit www.MSInnovatorsHallofFame.com for more information on the Mississippi Innovators Hall of Fame and the inductees.
Tony Jeff is the president and CEO of Innovate Mississippi. He can be reached at tjeff@innovate.ms.