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28, 2000 To regularly receive Leasing News kitmenkin@leasingnews.org ---also ON LINE at www.leasingnews.org--- (report to be posted today) We announce a new feature to run bi-monthly. If there is someone you are wondering about, meaning "where is he ( or she ) now?", please let us know. We will try and find them. If you are curious about whatever happend to...? Please contact us. We will also post this feature in their own section, accessable through the bottom toolbar: http://www.leasingnews.org/Whateverhappenedto.htm Whatever Happened to...... Hal T. Horowitz Former United Association of Equipment Leasing President with over thirty years experience in the leasing business. ( We scanned a picture of him from the January, 1992 Western Association of Equipment Leasing Magazine and it is "on line."---editor ) "What I always associate with Hal is his very high level of integrity and honesty. I wish there were more like him in the business." Bob Teichman, Teichman Financial Training " Hal served the industry tirelessly and selflessly for years and years and he certainly gave much more than he got." Rick Wilbur, Capital Media Hal was instrumental in establishing the United Association of Equipment Leasing, (then WAEL, Western Association of Equipment Leasing ) Standards of Professional Practice. He was also active in the start of the Standards Committee and presented many workshops and presentations on ethical behavior and proper leasing practices. Ethics in Leasing is again a major subject of discussion in the industry, and it is particularly appropriate that we recognize one of its pioneers, and his contributions to the raising of standards throughout the business. Today Hal is: Account Executive Search West 340 North Westlake Blvd., Suite 200 Westlake Village, CA 91336 Phone: 805-496-6811 ext. 231 Fax: 805-496-9431 Pager: 818-494-6875 hal.horowitz@searchwest.com www.searchwest.com "It is my mission to collaborate with my clients in order to further their success by identifying professionals of uncommon ability to whom my clients might not otherwise have access and who will make a valuable contribution to my clients' goals." "I started in the equipment leasing industry in 1973 with a small medical leasing company following six years in the consumer and commercial finance fields. My introduction to leasing was on a collection desk and eventually moved into credit management. In 1980 I joined BEHR Leasing and worked in building it from a company with eight employees and a portfolio of less than $12 million to a staff of 30+ employees and a portfolio of over $50 million in six years. I left the firm in 1986 when it was sold, but rejoined it two years later as a principal at which time we chose to liquidate its holdings and satisfy its creditors. I bounced around a bit through the 1990s, having been with only one firm whose name I really care to mention, that being DVI. My associations with a couple of other firms I had joined left me somewhat jaded. I took a stab at brokering transactions, and also in providing some consulting services primarily in the area of credit and collections, and back office management. By 1997, though, I realized that this was a changing industry and that by having demonstrated a lack of judgment in creating some of my former affiliations, I was too focused in trying to stop a runaway train by facing it head on, rather than in jumping on board another train that was going in the right direction. I concluded my career in leasing by accepting a temporary consulting assignment with Santa Barbara Bank & Trust Leasing, during which time I assessed some other alternatives in the business world. "I had been active throughout most of my career in UAEL (then WAEL) and in 1992 I was privileged and honored to have served the industry and the WAEL membership as its president. My prior positions had included seats on the CLP and more significantly the Ethics Committees where I tried to raise their respective profiles through a series of articles in Newsline. It was under my term that the decision was made to become a national organization and if for no other accomplishment than that, I hope to have at least left one positive footstep behind me. "At the end of 1997 I became an executive recruiter and I am currently working for Search West, a 34 year-old firm which, with five offices in California, makes it the largest regional contingency firm. In terms of disciplines, my areas of expertise have been in the area of professional accounting and financial placements in pretty much any industry. My placements have included senior level accountants and financial analysts, Controllers, Treasurers, and CFOs, and my clients range from a few local firms, to several large, international firms, both privately and publicly held. My area of service has recently expanded to include the property and casualty side of the insurance industry, and, because of prior associations, I have also undertaken searches related to the Equipment Leasing and collateral industries. Please take a peek, both at my firm's and my Websites. You can find us at www.searchwest.com, and click here for Hal's page: http://216.246.22.28/cgi-bin/aehome.cgi?uid=horowitz I don't know how much of this you'd like to use in your new feature, but please know that although I did feel thoroughly burnt out of leasing, I have certainly enjoyed many of the associations and friendships I was able to cultivate over the years, and to some extent, still maintain. I have only the highest regard for so many of the individuals with whom I was fortunate enough to serve during my years of involvement in WAEL." I asked Hal about the personal side of his life in the leasing business. Barb and I were married in '77. Together we raised Ken and Sheri, now 35 and 32 respectively. Ken married his childhood sweetheart, Robyn (like his mother told him to) and we have a wonderful granddaughter, Shelby. They're both professional. Ken is in HR management for a $billion international company. Robyn is a child psychologist and school principal for special children. Our daughter Sheri is in sales for one of the leading manufacturers of network testing hardware which was recently acquired by a major UK, publicly held high tech firm. She has also been active in Women in Theatre and has written and produced a couple of plays in conjunction with Traveltown Museum at Griffith Park to increase awareness of the role women have played in railroading. (Do I sound like a proud papa?) Barb has recently retired from office management. The things we enjoy together include breeding miniature schnauzers, though we've retired from showing, and square dancing in which we have been very active since 1992 (I guess I knew I would need something to take up the slack after WAEL). In 1998 we were presidents of our square dance club The Trail Dusters, which boasts roughly 500 members and is the largest mainstream and plus level square dance club in the United States, and we believe, the world. I also enjoy deep sea fishing. Writing: aside from a variety of professional articles, I have written a screenplay, a novel and several poems and short stories. Did manage to get one short story published in 1997 through the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the California Writer's Club. (Notice how I keep joining things? No pattern here though, as I am not active in that club other than attending occasional meetings.) Golf? WEAL presented me with a set of clubs as I left office which was effectively a challenge to me to take the game up once more and this time enjoy it. I regret having to admit that I have failed miserably. In defense of that, I did have back surgery in 1994 after the Northridge earthquake and so now I at least have an excuse for my game... "Oooh, my aching back!" Speaking of that quake, except that it was still standing, that was about all that could be said for the condition of our home. Fortunately we had insurance and were able to rebuild." Why did you choose lease recruiting? "Why do I like recruiting? For some of the same reasons I enjoyed leasing. It gives me a window to a diverse world, one I might not otherwise know. I meet people from all over the country, I get to speak to people at all levels of HR and management and learn a little about their companies just enough to sound familiar, but not totally knowledgeable. I meet the best and the worst. The up and coming CPAs and MBAs, the hard working mothers and fathers who still put their families ahead of their careers, and those that don't, and the people who pretend to be something they are not. When I used to structure a lease for a small business, it made me feel good to be able to help someone take a step closer to achieving their dream. When I make a placement, when the company and the job and the career path are right for the candidate, or when I take someone in that 55+ crowd, a group to whom I can well relate, and place them in a rewarding position where they can continue to make a valuable contribution, it just makes me feel good. I like working with people. Oh, and let's not overlook the money. Hal Hal T. Horowitz Account Executive Search West 340 North Westlake Blvd., Suite 200 Westlake Village, CA 91336 Phone: 805-496-6811 ext. 231 Fax: 805-496-9431 Pager: 818-494-6875 hal.horowitz@searchwest.com www.searchwest.com August 28,1965 Shania Twain Birthday If you would like to join our leasing news network, all you need to do is ask. We are also ON LINE: www.leasingnews.org www.leasingnews.org |