By ANGELA ASSAF

cnlife@crescent-news.com

When assisting the public and her employees, Defiance County operations manager/administrator, Laura Howell, says she likes to momentarily slip into other people's shoes (figuratively speaking), to gain a better understanding of how best to solve a problem or at least get them pointed in the right direction.

"Working in public service the past 19 years has given me the opportunity to help many people along with instilling in me a great sense of pride in the community," says the Defiance native.

Howell stepped into her current role last month after having most recently served as deputy director for Defiance County Board of Elections.

Previous to that time (1988-2004), she worked for the City of Defiance in various capacities: water treatment, the mayor's office and the civil service commission.

She says of her duty as county administrator her objective is to oversee the general operations of Defiance County to include implementing the policies of the board of county commissioners; her particular focus is operations and human resources. She also serves as a liaison between the county commissioners and elected officials, department heads, employees and the public.

Even though she has been a "working mom" throughout her career, Howell remarks that she has been fortunate to have the support of family and of employers who have made the balance between work and family achievable.

"My parents set the course for me in many areas of my adult life. They both encouraged me to graduate from college, as they did not have the opportunity to do so. They instilled in me both a strong work ethic and a tremendous sense of family."

Her father, George, worked for Dinner Bell Foods the majority of his career. He also worked for Defiance City Schools, ConAgra and Northwest State Community College, Archbold. Her mother, Carol, worked for Defiance City Schools. Both retired earlier this year.

Howell has a married brother, Kevin, who is owner/broker of First Meridian Mortgage in Lorton, Va.

She married fellow Bulldog and Navy veteran, Bill Howell Jr., in 1984.

Reflecting, she says, back when jobs for teens were few and far between, she worked for Dad's Donuts a couple hours a week.

"Bill came in with a friend and ordered a burger and fries. I have been cooking for him ever since."

Bill previously was a communications/navigations systems rate serving aboard the USS Brumby FF-1044, then stationed in the Great Lakes, Ill., area.

Shortly after the couple married, they moved to South Carolina where they lived for four years. During that time Howell worked as executive secretary for the CEO at Braswell Shipyards in Charleston. She also became a mother.

"Bill and I were both offered employment positions at Braswell, but we decided to move back to Defiance where we both were close to family to raise our children.

"While we enjoyed living in the South, I do not regret moving back to Defiance to raise my family, live and work."

For many years Howell was able to work part-time (for the City of Defiance) while her children were young.

"Working part-time allowed me to be able to volunteer, take the boys to and pick them up from school, attend their different school events, and have the energy to attend college."

In 1997, Howell along with her husband decided to go back to school. They attended Defiance College together in the nontraditional weekend program, graduating in May 2000.

Bill holds an associate's degree in electrical engineering and a bachelor's degree in business management. Today he works as maintenance general supervisor at GM Powertrain. He is also a journeyman electrician.

He has served the Defiance Baseball Association as manager of baseball teams in Bunny League, Little League and currently Babe Ruth.

Their son, Christopher, is a mechanical engineering major at Ohio State University, Columbus.

"He is a proud member of 'Block O'" notes Howell. "The past two summers he has interned at GM Powertrain. His first summer he was in quality control and the second he was in Plant 2 manufacturing."

Ethan is a freshman at Defiance. He is on the high school bowling team with a league average of 170 and will play baseball in the spring and summer.

Howell took piano training for five years, but says she never had a piano as an adult until her husband bought her a baby grand in 2001.

"I play a variety of music, but by favorite is classical. As an adult I have found playing the piano to be an excellent stress reliever. I certainly wish that I would have practiced more when I was young."

She also enjoys making flower arrangements to bring into the home or office from her own flower garden.

The Howells as a family are fond of taking day trips to various lakes for a picnic lunch or to visit friends. Come summer they can be found cruising on the river where their two sons can show off their skills at kneeboarding and skiing.