John Leaptrott

— Biography from the 2015 Spring Commencement program —

Dr. Leaptrott earned his B.S. degree in Business Administration from Oregon State University (1972), his M.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University (1999), and his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University (2005). At the time of his retirement, he will have provided 10 years of distinguished service to Georgia Southern University. Prior to joining the University, Dr. Leaptrott was a Certifed Public Accountant in public practice for over 20 years. As a practicing CPA, he advised numerous small and medium sized businesses. In addition, he founded or co-founded several businesses in the real estate and forest products industries. During this period, he was actively involved in many community activities, including serving on and chairing the board of directors for a private alternative high school, chairing the parents advisory committee for a local public high school, and serving as a commissioned ofcer in the Air National Guard. During his tenure at Georgia Southern, Dr. Leaptrott taught numerous undergraduate courses involving entrepreneurship, small business management, and the undergraduate capstone strategic management course. Recently, he taught the graduate level College of Business Administration capstone strategic management course in both the Georgia Southern University M.B.A. program and the Georgia WebMBA online consortium program. Dr. Leaptrott published numerous academic journal articles primarily investigating the decision-making practices of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and middle level managers. Many of these articles have received research awards. He is a past recipient of the Brown and Williamson Outstanding New Faculty Member Award for the College of Business Administration and an Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award given by graduate students in the Georgia WebMBA program. Dr. Leaptrott has served on numerous college committees, including the Educational Outcomes Assessment Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee, and numerous faculty search committees. His professional memberships have included the American Institute of Certifed Public Accountants, and the State Certifed Public Accountant organizations in Georgia, Oregon, and Florida. In recognition of his meritorious service to the program, department, college, University, and profession, Dr. John Leaptrott has earned the title of Associate Professor Emeritus of Management.*