Putnam, Howard
ABOUT
TOPICS
TESTIMONIALS
About Howard Putnam
Howard Putnam was raised on an Iowa farm and learned to fly out of a pasture in his Father’s J-3 Piper Cub. He entered the airline business as a baggage handler at Midway Airport in Chicago for Capital Airlines at age 17. Capital was soon merged into United and Howard held thirteen different positions in sales, services and staff assignments in several cities, before being named Group Vice President of Marketing for United Airlines, the world’s largest airline, in 1976.
In 1978 he was recruited to become President and CEO of fledgling Southwest Airlines in Dallas, TX. While at Southwest Howard and his team tripled the revenues and tripled profitability in three years. They also successfully guided Southwest through airline deregulation and Southwest was the first air carrier to order the Boeing 737-300, which later became the largest selling aircraft ever for Boeing.
Howard led the visioning process at Southwest as well as further developing the “fun” culture and excellent customer service that Southwest is still known for today. Southwest has been profitable every year for over thirty years, a record unsurpassed by any other airline.
In 1981, Howard was recruited by the board of directors of Braniff International to come aboard as CEO and save and/or restructure the financially failing airline. He was the first airline CEO to successfully take a major carrier into, through and out of chapter 11. Braniff flew again in 1984.
He is the author of “The Winds of Turbulence” on leadership and ethics. Harvard University wrote a case study on his experiences at Braniff, “The Ethics of Bankruptcy” as a model as to how to handle stakeholders in crisis.
He has also been an entrepreneur, serving as Chairman of a startup investment company and two small manufacturing and distribution companies.
Howard and Krista have two children, Michael, a commercial airline captain and Sue, in public relations and marketing.
Leadership: Successful Strategies Through Turbulence
Leaders must have a clear and concise vision if they want their organizations to survive and thrive through turbulence. A clear understanding of what business or businesses you are really in is critical. Cultures can then be developed to support the vision and business. Bottom line improvement comes through your people. Howard Putnam has successfully led organizations through the maze following these principles of leadership and will share them with you.
Innovation: Creating a Culture and Process for Ideas to Hatch
Innovation occurs in organizations that embrace a culture for risk taking and idea implementation. Howard Putnam proved this philosophy works when he was CEO of Southwest Airlines. He positioned and organized Southwest for growth and profitability utilizing a very flat management structure with decision-making and idea development imbedded in everyone’s job scope and responsibility. Individuals and teams were rewarded for risk taking and for designing out of the box processes and improvements in productivity, customer service, cost containment, safety and profitability. Brands develop when people thrive in the vision and experience.
Change: Transforming Organizations Successfully & Profitably
Many organizations are out of alignment in the current turbulent environment. Their design is outdated with bureaucracy and a hierarchy that is expensive and inefficient. Howard Putnam will show you how to transform your business into a “flow state” organization that is focused, nimble, flexible, cost effective and able to utilize the “stages of turbulence” which he will identify for you to take advantage of being in a change state
Testimonials
“Howard, you were fabulous at our meeting Saturday. Our staff is raving about you. You have charisma coming out of your ears. It was a pleasure to listen to your presentation.”
– Debby Clark, Sr. Director of Marketingm American Specialty Health California
“Your presentation to our leadership conference about keeping things simple, never losing your values and having a little luck all resonated with our organization. And it was delivered with such self-effacing humor that everyone could relate to the story and successes you’ve experienced in your life and career.”
– Kurt Darrow, CEO, La-Z-Boy Michigan
“Thank you Howard for delivering an invigorating speech at our Health Board Summit . Your insights in changing culture and achieving success was informative and thought provoking.”
– Richard Breon, CEO, Spectrum Health Michigan
“Howard Putnam was the best professional speaker I have ever had the privilege to work with. He took the time up front to gain a solid understanding of our industry and our business goals. His presentation approach hit on the specific goals we were trying to accomplish at this meeting. His style is one that makes you want to listen. His views on people, vision and ethics are sorely needed today. If you want to begin or end your conference with an everlasting bang, Howard Putnam is your man.”
– Tim Carmack, National Distribution Manager, DuPont Performance Coatings Texas