Howard Putnam

Howard Putnam's keynotes reflect a keen intellect of modern business. As a graduate from the University of Chicago, with his MBA in Marketing and Management, Putnam went on to become the CEO of Southwest Airlines and Braniff International Airways.

After earning his way up the ranks at Capital Airlines, where he started as a sales representative at just 23 years of age, Capital was acquired by United and he became Group Vice President. He retained this role until his appointment as CEO of Southwest Airlines, a post he held for three years. In 1981, Putnam left Southwest Airlines to become the CEO of "ailing" Braniff. In 1982 Braniff Airlines went under.

Howard Putnam's keynotes have become the culmination of an experienced career that has seen the ins and outs of the airline realm. He authored 'The Winds of Turbulence: A CEO's Reflections on Surviving and Thriving in the Cutting Edge of Corporate Crisis.'