Henry Noble  WEBSITE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS - PARTIALLY COMPLETE

Who am I?

On the surface transparent ... but in truth it seems ... a multi layered enigma

As life has progressed I have come to discover more and more aspects of the answer to this simple question.  

I increasingly view my odd array of characteristics with a measure of bemusement as I seem to have been dealt an extraordinarily unusual genetic hand.  I exist at around three standard deviations from the mean on a myriad of characteristics of which many pairings rarely peacefully coexist in one homo sapiens. As such I am forever confounding folks expectations that are based upon stereotypical extrapolations of various aspects of my being.

Frankly it is hard not to look at myself and laugh at where on earth this odd kaleidoscope of qualities originated from.

I am driven by three principles:
 

• To strive to help everyone to learn to celebrate their magnificence and rejoice in their uniqueness. 

• Given my unusual gifts to try to leave this place a little better for having passed this time on earth.

• Have fun doing it.. I plan to die very, very, very, very young........... but take forever to get there !

I am not driven by power, fame or money.

Every aspect of life, our universe, the human condition fascinates me.  Why, What, Who, When, How and Where and how can the answers be harnessed to impact positively jointly and severally on peoples and our planet.  

I have totally reinvented myself more times than Madonna and have a litany of unrelated careers and experiences as a result.

I have been told so many times that I am a master of highly unusual change both in individuals and in organizations, live in the future, see the glass as overflowing, and am a highly independent, courageous, tough minded, creative, lateral thinker that I have reluctantly come to accept it may be true.

I am told I’m very wise, fair minded, easy to know, fun and inspiring to work for and totally unique.  I am repeatedly described as brilliant both in a pursuit of knowledge and rigorous intellect sense as well as in emotional intelligence and human intuition. Considering some of the dumb things I have done there may be grounds for doubt!

I am known for passion and as a pragmatic can do visionary together with an unusual degree of intuitive understanding of humans..  

 I figure I’m three quarters of the way through my creative life with my greatest accomplishments ahead..

The Plaudits I value most:

“Henry is the sort of person that if you were alone with him at night in the jungles of Africa and it was pitch black and you were surrounded by wild animals and poisonous snakes you’d reach out and he’d be there.”  Rick Dunn , a fellow faculty member as reported by his wife.

“You needn’t worry about not having a signed lease, Henry’s word is worth more than any lease.” John Corbett, Q.C.  Managing Partner of a law firm advising his client who had to move her business  into my building before the paper work was completed.

What mischief have I got up to (and will admit to) ?

It might be shorter to list what I haven’t done but...

Educationally a Nuclear Physicist and Schulich MBA.

Invited to be a member (50 members only) thinktank/Academy initiated by the UN on political, sociological and technological trends worldwide with a view to predicting the impact on local governments in the 5 to 20 year time horizon.

Awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Decoration for volunteer work in the Health Care sector.

Fastest rising RCAF officer (telecommunications & Radar).

Increasingly responsible management/executive roles in Marketing, Manufacturing, Engineering and Finance at Westinghouse.  Told I was one of two people identified as future Presidents of Westinghouse and on special career path so left.

Cut my salary to one third to teach.  Senior College Master on three faculties Business, Technology and Marketing. Designed and developed multi media mastery based learning well before it became vogue.  Remarkable student results both academically and in student self esteem and values growth.  Taught in a wide array of subject matter and achieved unheard of student results in Statistics through self paced multimedia methodologies while having by far the highest student contact hour faculty load..

"Your energy, leadership and organizing ability is awesome”,  "provided us with a fine example of personal dedication and integrity",   "was a tremendous tour de force",    "His approach has become the benchmark for the rest of the Business Faculty"   "has .. uniformly high and consistent standards"    "playing the leading role in curriculum development".  Extracted from Faculty Evaluations

Founded two (mini) computer companies.. One software and one hardware distribution.  Chief designer and developer and  programmed and trained with my staff software systems for over 200 Ontario Municipalities, most of the School Boards, a chemical plant (flow process control linked into sales and finance for product optimization, perhaps the earliest MLS random order input property selection for major real estate company, and job shop manufacturing.  At the time thought it trivial but 25 years later many are still in use and became the basis for other companies.

"I want to meet you as I have never met a person who is a legend in his own time"  Dave Wharry, Executive Vice President of Bull Computers

"Henry has forgotten more about Municipal Operations than most municipal experts will ever know"  Chief Administrative Officer, Kenora

My unique solution to the dilemma of subsidiary ledgers and fund, activity and vehicle accounting caught the eye of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing who adopted its structure as the required format for all Ontario local governments to use to for their mandated reporting to the ministry.

"As a Chartered Accountant it annoys me that an engineer can know more about the complex world of Municipal Fund Accounting than most Municipal Treasurers."  John Ford : Treasurer of North Bay

Asked to join Richter & Associates, at the time,  Canada’s 8'th largest Management Consulting firm and shortly after asked to manage the Toronto Office.  Brought in to save them from being sued into bankruptcy by a major powerful vindictive client. Succeeded.

Also did women’s fashion consulting in NYC. (A nuclear physicist ?? Egads!!!)

Asked to join MAI Canada initially to restrategize and reorganize the Software operations which was losing 50 cents on the dollar.  Shortly after replaced the Vice President Operations and asked to save the company from imminent bankruptcy.  Fired two thirds of management and one third of productive force and created a turned on focused highly motivated fun team (using techniques not taught in any Business School).

"If it wasn't for Henry's efforts we would not be here today" ....  "Henry cannot only analyse the market, our strengths and weaknesses and create a plan, he also has the rare ability to execute it effectively." ...“In all my career I have never encountered anyone with the remarkable lateral thinking ability of Henry.”  Paul Campbell, President : MAI Canada

Simultaneously my consulting firm (me) engaged by the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario to bring them into the computer age.

“Engaging your services has turned out to be among the best decisions we have made during my years with the Association”.. “job superbly and professionally executed”  A. C. Cagney :  Executive Director, Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario

... and lots more.................

Dedicated  years to finding a partner so am probably one of the leading experts on internet dating.

Elected in 2006 to Brockville City Council and they didn’t know what to make of me.  Like all mid size cities it is dying although on the surface it appears otherwise.  Average income is dropping while Provincially it is rising and educated, achieving, energetic, risk taking youth leave town.  They have their children elsewhere doubling the blow and resulting in the kids being born to an ever decreasing socioeconomic/intellectual/educational standard..

“You should listen to Henry; Henry’s got more ideas and brains than you and all of Council put together” Ben Tekamp Mayor of Brockville for many years to the newly elected Mayor (not very helpful given the ego involved)

Like that ...and much more....