Harry M. Snyder, Board Member
Consumer Advocate, Private Consultant

Harry Snyder is a Senior Advocate at the West Coast Regional Office of Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine. He is an attorney and has worked as a consumer advocate for Consumers Union in California for more than 22 years.

In 1985, Mr. Snyder began the campaign to require that non-profit health care organizations, HMOs and hospitals turn the full value of their assets over to another non-profit public purpose if they convert to for-profit status. This campaign has turned into a national project that has had major responsibility for the preservation of billions of dollars in charitable assets.

Prior to becoming Senior Advocate, Mr. Snyder was the Director of the West Coast Regional Office for 20 years. He spearheaded efforts to decrease food prices and increase availability and safety, particularly for produce and milk. In addition, Mr. Snyder was instrumental in the passage of precedent-setting legislation establishing important consumer rights including laws prohibiting discrimination against families with children in housing and establishing executives' personal criminal liability for knowingly marketing an unsafe product.

Before working for Consumers Union, Mr. Snyder directed Peace Corps offices in India, Nepal and Western Somoa. Prior to his time overseas, he was a business lawyer in Los Angeles.

Mr. Snyder has a J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles and a B.S. in finance from the University of Southern California.