Leif Skartland, Sr.Dr. Sherwood "Woody" Wirt brought Leif Skartland, Sr. onto the SDCWG board in the early 1990's, first as a general board member and then as treasurer. A couple of years after Woody retired Skartland turned the books over to the Gillespie's and resumed his duties as a general board member.

Skartland grew up in San Diego back when a kid could ride his bike from San Carlos to La Mesa without parental concern. He graduated from Christian High and spent a year in the mountains of Northern California before returning to attend Grossmont Community College for two years. A diverse employment history from crop dusting to giving horseback guide, graphic artist to computer tech, slinging pizza to security details, high school music teacher to investment counselor, qualifies him as a "Jack of all Trades." Currently Skartland is Director of Admissions at Horizon College San Diego.

Born and raised in a Christian environment, Skartland did not begin a godly life until the age of thirty. With a seriously troubled marriage and two young kids, he and his wife were invited to Horizon Christian Fellowship where they learned to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ through Bible reading, prayer, and ministry involvement. "Jesus changed a hopeless disaster into flourishing joy," Skartland said. A musician and worship leader, he is still a leader in the worship ministry at Horizon Christian Fellowship.

"I don't consider myself a published author," he said. "Although, I've done a strange assortment of writing from advertising to school materials." However, he continues his quest to write the great American novel.

Skartland feels that the critique group is an integral part of the Guild. "Having been a critique group leader and a member, I realize the need for a sounding board to see if what I am trying to say is what other people are reading. It is an invaluable process." To increase the availability of critique groups to Guild members, he co-moderates the online critique group.