Joseph M. Houser is a member of the firm's Business Law and Estate Planning and Probate Law sections. He concentrates his practice in the areas of general corporate law for small and medium-size companies. He represents manufacturers, service organizations, healthcare providers and other business organizations. Mr. Houser also has extensive experience with a variety of economic development projects and has worked with federal, state and local government loan programs. His practice is also concentrated in estate planning, including the transfer of family business through generations and creating life insurance trusts, generation-skipping trusts and charitable trusts. Mr. Houser has been appointed as Special Counsel for the Ohio Attorney General serving Youngstown State University.

Prior to joining Manchester Bennett Powers & Ullman, Mr. Houser worked as a tax attorney for Ernst & Whinney, now known as Ernst & Young, from 1981 to 1984.  He is admitted to practice law in Ohio and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Mr. Houser received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Youngstown State University magna cum laude in 1978 and earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1981. Mr. Houser participates in a number of local professional and civic activities including various fund-raising drives for local charitable organizations. Mr. Houser is a part-time Mahoning County Court Judge and previously served as an elected Trustee for Boardman Township. He serves as a member of the Boardman Civic Association and various committees of St. Charles Church. He has previously served as a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio from 1987 to 1994.
  email:  JHouser@mbpu.com