Biography

As President & CEO, Howard is currently responsible for the ongoing management and strategic vision of all the Litchfield Family of Companies. The groundwork for these diverse companies, and their initial leadership started late in the 1930’s with J.D. Thomas (1930-1950’s), and was followed by  Thomas Litchfield Herron (1950-2000’s) and Sr. Contractor & Business Partner Frank M. Thomas (1950-1980’s)

Howard started at the bottom, literally. Even before becoming a teenager, he was in vacant apartment units with his father and mother painting walls, cleaning toilets, and preparing vacant units for rent. Graduating to landscaper and handy man in his early teens, he and his younger brother spent years mowing lawns, sweeping out vacant warehouses, fixing minor damage, and washing down staircases
Frank T. and a lead carpenter named “Red” taught Howard how to turn a stack of lumber into a plethora of interior walls, how to safely use a skill saw, framing hammer and climb a ladder carrying lumber on your shoulder. 40+ years later, Howard’s nail bags still hang in the corner of the garage – just in case.
Mowing lawns and framing houses in the hot sun taught work ethic; Interviewing prospective residents, leasing apartments and collecting rents teaches one about people; and managing development projects & sub-contractors taught Howard about controlling expenses, time and work force management; and working with family; well, that teaches us all about patience.

A trip to college followed by ten plus years with the Los Angeles Police Department taught a lot more about people. As a training officer Howard had the privilege to train younger officers, those just out of the academy. Not all that graduated from the academy made it off probation; and making the initial recommendation that a young officer be terminated is a difficult decision.