J. Shane Howard, Vice-Chairman

J. Shane Howard

J. Shane Howard has served as Director of Business and Finance for LEAP Engineering, LLC since May 2005. He is also a partner and General Manager of Meridian-Incline Development Company, LLC.

Howard returned to Southeast Texas in 2003 after a 14 year absence. Upon graduating Stephen F. Austin High School in Port Arthur, Shane spent 6-1/2 years with the U.S. Air Force both on active duty and as a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He landed in Missouri upon leaving the Academy and worked with Sentry Insurance for 7 years managing sales teams in Springfield and St. Louis.

In 2003, Howard sought an opportunity to return to Southeast Texas where his heart and history pulled strongly. He moved to Beaumont and joined Community Insurance (a subsidiary of Texas State Bank) as Senior Vice-President where he focused on agency operations/management and provided commercial insurance and risk management solutions for clients throughout the area.

Howard holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Missouri, St. Louis and an MBA from Lamar University. He is also a Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Risk Manager with the National Alliance. Howard serves the community in various capacities and organizations including the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Beaumont Spindletop Rotary Club, the Young Men's Business League, the Texas Association of Business and others. He is married with 2 children.