Jonathan T. Howe - Chicago, IL

JONATHAN T. HOWE is President and a Senior and Founding Partner of Howe & Hutton, Ltd. He has written hundreds of articles and papers, and has spoken to organizations all over the world. He is recognized as one of the true leaders of the not-for-profit organization bar as well as the hospitality and meetings, travel, incentive, hotel, and trade show industries, and for trial and appellate advocacy. Jon was named Association Forum of Chicagoland's Associate Member of the year for outstanding service to the association community. Jon is also General Counsel to Meeting Professionals International, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Association Committee of 100, The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (formerly known as the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association) and International Special Events Society, to name just a few. He is the special advisor to the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Meetings and Travel. He was one of the draftsmen of the Illinois Not For Profit Corporation Act, which is deemed to be a model act for other states. He was selected by his peers as a Member Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives and received the "Pacesetters Award" from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International. Jon has been honored by numerous other organizations world-wide and has served as a director, officer and chief elected officer of several associations and charitable organizations. He was named the inaugural recipient of the Hospitality Industry Attorneys of the Year by the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys. For 21 years he served as a public elected official. As an adjunct professor he has taught courses in association management and hospitality industry law at Roosevelt and DePaul Universities. The Chicago Tribune named him "Mr. Association Lawyer of the U.S." Jon received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Northwestern University and his Juris Doctorate from Duke University where he was first in his graduating class. A member of the Order of the Coif, Jon also was the Managing Editor of the Duke Law Journal. He is a life member of the Board of Visitors for Duke University School of Law. He was the founding chairman of the Chicago Bar Association Trade and Professional Association Law Committee; is a past vice chairman of the American Society of Association Executives Legal Committee and a founder and past chair of its Legal Section. He is admitted to practice before numerous federal district and appellate courts and is one of few lawyers to have appeared and argued before the United States Supreme Court.