Special CASA Awards and Recognition
John Howell Oklahoma CASA Association 2007 Board Member of the Year Award
It is with great pleasure that Payne County CASA nominates John Howell for OCASAA Board Member of the Year. John joined the team in 2004 and hit the ground running. John was immediately nominated as vice president of the board in 2005 and continues to be our President Elect. In 2006 John took over responsibilities as the Development Committee Chair and has taken an active role in assisting the Treasurer with the Finance Committee. John was awarded the 2006 CASA Leadership Award for his outstanding contributions to our local program. John has been a very active President Elect. John assists our President, Gary Schnacke, in all aspects of board management. John brings to our board his knowledge and experience from other non profit boards that he has been a part of and that his wife, Shawn, is currently involved with. John played an integral role in staffing issues that took place in our program in 2005. John was a true supporter not only of Gary but of the program and staff during this difficult time. John took the time out of many evenings, lunch hours, and afternoons to work through all these issues. John brings a level headed and strong business sense to the board as well. John was a driving force in creating and implementing new bylaws for our program that consist of an investment policy that has allowed us to make wise investments of CASA funds. John has also made our staff and board aware of other investments opportunities through insurance and trusts. John makes sure to spread the word about these options through the business he owns with his father, Custom Financial Group, here in Stillwater. John and his father also write an article for the local newspaper called, “Sound Advice.” John even takes that opportunity to make sure people know charitable giving options and John makes sure to mention CASA in the articles when appropriate. John also worked with the board and staff to implement life insurance policies for full time CASA staff. John got this approved through the board and got the staff a very inexpensive life insurance policy through his business. John took it a step further, in order to ensure that CASA was getting the best deal on health insurance for full time staff John and his father, Elvis, ran a comparison of the staff’s current health insurance with another company. The end result was that CASA is making a wise health benefit choice. Thanks to John and his father our program knows our dollars continue to stretch as far as possible. Because of his level head and huge heart John is the perfect person to lead our Development Committee. John has already started planning for expansion to the Logan County area. The need is definitely there for a program but getting there will be an uphill battle. John has already made contacts with the District Attorney’s office and has 100% support from the District Attorney to help push the expansion home. John has called special meetings to address this issue and will be leading the way in drafting a new set of goals both short and long term for Payne County. A true leader, a business savvy man, a wonderfully enjoyable personality, these all describe John Howell. However, above all his love of his community stands out most to us. How lucky is Payne County CASA that we’re on his list of agencies to support! John made it possible for Payne County CASA to auction off a vintage Corvette Convertible at our 2006 fundraiser. John did not know the owner of the Corvette and simply approached the owner by telling him about CASA. John got the owner excited about the idea of helping the program by providing a car. Within a week a solid commitment of a donation of a Corvette was locked in after John scheduled a meeting between the car owner the CASA program Director and Gary our President. Only John with his friendly smile and his true blue approach could have made that happen! John and his wife also went in with Gary and his wife to donate a Lion King Theatre package for the auction last year. John has also set up a new system for our board meetings where outside speakers come and speak to the board. John invites agencies that are either similar in nature or that have a working relationship with CASA to help educate the board by allowing them to see how CASA fits into the bigger picture. Very outgoing, very creative, very dedicated, and very active- these are things we all hope for in a board member. John deserves recognition for his efforts- he is a role model for other board members across the state.
This nomination was written by and is supported by Carmen Miller, Payne County CASA, Program Director.
