Anaheim, Calif.-based Leonard's Services will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a special picnic on Oct. 23. The event will gather employees from all eight Leonard's design centers around Southern California, as well as "special customers who have a personal relationship with [founder and CEO] Leonard [Nagel]," according to Annette Callari, Leonard's sales and marketing specialist.

Callari said that Leonard's has survived in this current economy partly by becoming "a chameleon business--adapting to changes in the marketplace, adding product divisions at strategic times, and expanding our customer base beyond new home construction."

"We have reached out to the commercial market in providing flooring and countertops, as well as the residential remodel market. We continue to service new home builders on all their installation and home center needs for their buyers. Lastly, we expanded our product offerings last year to include quality cabinetry and XGrass artificial turf products in addition to flooring, counters, and window coverings," she explained.

Nagel began Leonard's Services in 1960 as a small, single-truck installation company in Anaheim. Since then, the company has grown to eight locations from Bakersfield to San Diego, with divisions including Commercial Projects, Multi-Family Projects, Interior Renovation, REO Services, Restoration & Maintenance, and Design Services for new home builders and homebuyers.

The company's accomplishments include: opening a 31,000 sq. ft. countertop fabrication plant in Perris, Calif., in 2002, so the company can manufacture countertops in-house; maintaining National Housing Quality Certification; and growing to eight design center locations in Anaheim, Bakersfield, Irvine, Palm Desert, Riverside, San Diego, Temecula and Victorville.

"Any way you look at this, it's a wonderful success story," Callari added. "Hats off to Leonard Nagel."

For more information on Leonard's Services, visitleonardscarpetservice.com.