Paul Leonard

Paul Leonard grew up in Jonesboro, Georgia. He graduated Cum Laude in history from Davidson College and continued his education with a Bachelor of Divinity from University of Chicago, and a Masters in Business Administration from Emory University.

Leonard's professional career began with an internship at Trinity Presbyterian Church, where he subsequently served as Minister of Christian Education. Catawba Presbytery later called him to lead a non-traditional church, Church in the City, that focused on community action and service. While there, Leonard helped to organize the Charlotte Fair Housing and served as its first president. He left the traditional ministry to work with M.O.T.I.O.N (city housing program), and was later recruited by the John Crosland Company, coming on board as the company's multi-family housing manager. In this capacity, he utilized federal housing programs to build low- and moderate-income housing. He was soon promoted to Vice President of the Multi-family Division. He became the company's president in 1984. After the company was acquired by Centex Real Estate Corporation, Leonard was appointed as its Executive Vice-President, responsible for the company's southeast region.

After retiring from Centex, Leonard was elected to the Board of Habitat for Humanity International; he served as Chairman of the Board from December, 2001 to December, 2003. Leonard was employed as the Interim CEO of Habitat for Humanity from June, 2004 through October, 2005. Currently, he is a member of the US Council for Habitat for Humanity International. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Crosland Interests, LLC, a real estate development company in Charlotte, and as a director for Crowder Construction, a civil, environmental and industrial construction company, also in Charlotte.

Married 55 years to Judy Moore, his childhood sweetheart, Leonard has four children and eight incredible grandchildren.