Heidelberg appoints alumni to Board of Trustees

Heidelberg University has announced Leon Garoufalis, a 1981 alumnus, as the newest member of the University's Board of Trustees. Garoufalis is the president and CEO of Composites One, the leading supplier of composites and advanced composite materials throughout North America. He will serve a four-year term beginning in February of 2024. With more than 37 years of experience the composites industry, Garoufalis brings a variety of skills to the table, according to the university. He joined GLS Composites Distribution Corporation, which would later become Composites One, in 1988 as a resin product manager. He has worked in a variety of sales, marketing and operations positions throughout his career. At Composites One, he was named chief operating officer in 1999, promoted to president in 2002 and finally, appointed CEO in 2022. In 2011, he was the recipient of the Chairman's Award from the Composites Manufacturer's Association, and he also has served the association in several capacities since 2006. As a student at Heidelberg, Garoufalis was a member of the Excelsior Men's Society, the wrestling team and the College Council. After graduating from Heidelberg with his bachelor's degree in Economics and following his older brother, Dr. Matthew Garoufalis '78, by three years, he went on to earn his MBA from Loyola University in Chicago in 1991, according to information provided by the university. "When Leon spent a day on our campus meeting with students in business and other majors in September 2022, I saw how he connected in large gatherings, small groups and one-on-one," said Heidelberg University's President Rob Huntington, in a release. "He asks excellent questions, listens intently, offers practical advice, and exudes lots of positive energy. His formal talk on sales strategies was outstanding. I believe that Leon will bring all of his professional expertise and enthusiasm for our students to the Board of Trustees."