When you have a leaky faucet or a broken porch rail, what do you do? Send for the fix-it man.

    That's exactly what the International Forum for Corporate Directors did when it experienced some growing pains two years ago. That also is how corporate "fix-it man" W. Gerald Newmin became the group's chairman of the board.

    "Jerry's been able to increase membership and attendance at programs," says Larry Stambaugh, chairman, president and CEO of Maxim Pharmaceuticals, who also serves on the IFCD board "It’s a different organization under his leadership. His dedication, his vision and his abilities as an organizer have really improved the group."

    Seated in his undecorated office in Kearny Mesa, the soft-spoken Newmin attributes his success as chairman and businessman to "common sense." Spending time with him helps one see why he is the kind of person who has saved countless companies, including putting IFCD back on track.

    IFCD began six years ago when a group of local CEOs became dissatisfied with the San Diego chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors. "It was basically a Washington lobbying group," sums up Newmin, who was among those who hated seeing a large percentage of his dues "siphoned off to Washington."

    When IFCD started, many of NACD's members jumped over to the new organization. The group is made up of CEOs or directors from various companies, from small to large, including those as well-known as Foodmaker and Callaway. Most members sit on an average of two to three boards. But despite IFCD's promise, there were problems - and the group slipped into the red.

    "I found IFCD couldn’t put on a quality program," recalled Newmin. And there were visibility issues. "We’re a well-kept secret, but we have a nice service to offer the community."

    After the group voted in Newmin as chairman, things began to turn around. By delegating and putting the right personnel in critical positions, IFCD began creating programs that boosted attendance. Today membership is at 130 and growing by three to five a month. And the $45,000-a-year budget is nicely in the black because Newmin has made these programs pay for themselves.

    Perhaps the most popular program is Meet the Chairman. Once a month, members visit a business and the chairman addresses the group. "The whole idea is to present a discussion from the corporate director's perspective," explained Newmin. "I would never get to meet or hear about companies and get a one-on-one insight in any other way."

    Programs like these speak to the group's core mission. "IFCD provides education, training and resources to boards of directors and company directors to enhance their effectiveness," reads the group's mission statement. "We believe that better boards improve the quality and performance of business, thus improving shareholder value."

    In fact, Newmin compares being a director to being a father. "Anyone can do it, but there's no training," he says. "It’s a serious responsibility, not to be taken lightly. Being a director isn’t easy. It’s all on-the-job training."

    In the old days, directors were appointed by the good old boy system. "But the world is changing," says Newmin. "A CEO used to rule with an iron hand and handpicked the board. Today the CEO works for the shareholders. Our goal is to help a director become more acceptable to the shareholder."

    Having CEOs talk about their experiences allows other chief executives to learn from each other’s mistakes, successes and overall experiences. But Newmin doesn’t want to stop the learning process there. An outreach program at UCSD Extension proved to be under-attended, but he now dreams of a certificate program through a local college. Think of it as sort of a Corporate Government 101.

    "There're a lot of wanna-be directors and no way for them to get on boards," explains Newmin. "If they can at least come forearmed with knowledge, that will create better boards." That fits in perfectly with the group's slogan, "Better boards for better business."

    The group has two other projects. One is the Directors' Registry, which provides a match for businesses searching for qualified board members. And a year-end black-tie event honoring the best in corporate directorship. Newmin also envisions a "directors' handbook" on the Internet. "So if an issue comes up, a director can access information that’s helpful, rather than scurrying around," he says. "There's lot of complicated stuff to being a director."

    It’s no wonder that after a year of Newmin's leadership, the IFCD membership voted him chairman for a second year. "Jerry is doing a great job," says Bob Watkins, president and CEO of R.J. Watkins and Co., Ltd. and an IFCD board member. "The group is much more organized and focused on issues that are more toward our mission. He's not bound by ego. He's the kind of man who can put plans into action."

    That's where Newmin has plenty of practice. A finance and accounting major from Michigan State University who fell in love with California during a trip to see the Rose Bowl, Newmin began working for the Ford Motor Co. right out of college.

    "My division was the most profitable division they had," he recalls. "So I became the company’s fix-it guy for the next 11 years."

    Since then he has bought and run companies all over the country in many different fields, often creating major turn-arounds. "I guess I just have a natural ability to see things differently, to be able to cut through the bull," he says. "I can see if you do this and this, the problem will go away, and it usually does."

    He currently heads Exten Industries Inc., a publicly-held company he is restructuring. He also serves on the boards of three companies, AccuMed in Denver, Green International in Oceanside and Caldwell Industries in San Diego.

    Although he claims not to be a workaholic, Newmin begins his day at 7 a.m. and goes until 9 p.m., and for 11 years he didn’t take a vacation. "I do IFCD in my spare time," he said.

    That may be an excellent indication of just how good a fix-it man Newmin is. If something is on the blink, he might make a world of difference. He did with IFCD.