Les Leith
Corporate Controller
Joshua Howard
President & Chief Legal Officer
Josh is a seasoned attorney with over two decades of experience providing strategic counsel to businesses and developers across the southeast region. Josh oversees the Contender family of brands, encompassing a diverse portfolio of commercial and residential real estate ventures, as well as development initiatives.
Under his leadership, he has assembled a high-performing team of professionals in management, legal, finance, and real estate. Josh holds a Bachelor's degree from Clemson University and earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Prior to his current role, he served as a Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, LLP and Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA. He also held a law clerk position with the Honorable Henry M. Herlong Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Josh has consistently demonstrated a commitment to community leadership, maintaining an active presence in both the southeast legal community and the South Carolina business sector.
Les joins the Contender team as Construction Division Controller with over 38 years of experience. He has worked for organizations that have focused on property management, real estate development, and construction projects in the upper Midwest.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Les started out as a staff accountant and worked his way up to controller then CFO. Having a strong computer science background, he has helped various organizations upgrade their computer systems.
His organizational skills and administrative capabilities have allowed him to successfully lead those organizations to become more effective and efficient. His relocation to South Carolina allows Les to be near other family members who live in the Greenville area.
