Dave “Lefty” Lefkowith, recently-retired Assistant Superintendent, Louisiana Department of Education, assists Harbor Freight Tools for Schools in researching opportunities to invent or invest in new programs. Based on the program he helped create in Louisiana, Lefty designed skilled trades summer programs in Los Angeles County where students earn high school and college credit, valuable industry-based credentials, and earn a summer wage.
While serving in Louisiana, Lefty was co-leader for Jump Start and Course Choice, two innovative programs to transform career and technical education. Lefty also helped lead a national effort to create a small business / entrepreneurism industry-based credential that all high school students are capable of attaining.
In his previous career as a corporate executive and management consultant, Lefty helped large private and public-sector institutions transition from monopolies to competitive, customer-oriented enterprises. Lefty graduated from Yale University where he studied military history and he earned his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.