Our People

30 years of experience in financial services, including senior level positions in commercial finance, corporate development, financial and investment management, and public accounting. He has extensive experience working with business owners and assisting companies with strategic growth planning and capital structuring.

Prior to Windward, Steve worked with a small investment banking firm and previously was a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch specializing in addressing needs of privately- held businesses and their owners. Prior to his positions with Merrill Lynch Mr. Howell served as a Vice- President at Fleet Capital Corporation and GE Capital where he originated and structured leveraged growth and acquisition financings. Mr. Howell was part of the senior management team that led Capital One Financial Corporation through an initial public offering and its spin-off from Signet Bank and arranged for the first credit card securitizations. He began his career in public accounting with KPMG and later as Audit Manager and Loan Officer with Chesapeake Financial Corporation.

Mr. Howell is a member and past President of the Richmond Chapter of the ACG and has been a guest speaker for the Financial Planning Association of Virginia, the Virginia Society of CPA’s, and for other professional groups. Mr. Howell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Richmond, E. Claiborne Robins School of Business majoring in accounting with a concentration in finance, and has also completed post graduate work at the Darden Graduate School of Business.

35 years of experience in finance, mergers, acquisitions and corporate growth advisory services. Mr. Johnson co-founded Windward Advisors, LLC in 2006. From 1998 to 2005 he was a Managing Director of Legg Mason Merchant Banking, Inc. (“LMMB”) and General Partner of Legg Mason Capital Partners I & II, L.P’s. which acquired, built and sold operating businesses in the U.S. and Canada. Concurrently, Mr. Johnson also served as a Managing Director and General Partner of Legg Mason Mezzanine Fund, L.P. that provided subordinated debt alongside other private equity firms in their acquisitions.

Prior to joining Legg Mason he spent 18 years as a corporate lender focused on providing senior debt and structured financing for acquisitions, mergers, recapitalizations and growth situations for mid-sized companies throughout the U.S, Canada and in Europe. During his lending career he held senior lending positions with NCNB, Barclays Business Credit, Shawmut Capital and Fleet Capital Corporation.

Achievements include serving on Fleet Capital’s National Re-Engineering Committee; co-founding and serving as President and Board Member of the Richmond Chapter for the Association for Corporate Growth (“ACG”); convening the annual ACG sponsored Virginia Capital Event; starting an ACG sponsored scholarship program for promising business students; and co-founding a peer group for corporate development officers.

Mr. Johnson has been a guest speaker for Virginia Continuing Legal Education, Financial Planning Association of Virginia, Virginia Society of CPA’s, Family Firm Institute and at other associations and group events. Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, receiving Chancellor Commendations, and completed post graduate work including Mergers & Acquisitions: Strategies & Implementation at the Darden School of Business.