Barbara Kraus-Blackney Visionary Service Award 2014-15 RECIPIENT
Robert E. (Bob) Shields
The Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools celebrates the fact that our individual schools, and independent schools in general, are stronger and more viable for the gifts of talent, time, energy and resources of those who recognize the lasting positive effects our schools have on society. In this spirit, in 2001, ADVIS initiated its annual Award for Visionary Service, which recognizes an individual or organization for their commitment to independent education.
The 2014 Visionary Service Award recipient is Robert E. (Bob) Shields, Former Board Chair, Archmere Academy. He has served for the last eight years as a member of the Board of Trustees of Archmere Academy, with four of those years as Chairman of the Board. This most recent term was Mr. Shields’ second tour on the Board, having served an earlier term in the 1990s. In 2001, when the Academy reorganized its management structure, Mr. Shields was instrumental in establishing the new governance structure, with by-laws and board structure. This most important work assured the effective growth of the Academy in the 21st century. Most recently, Mr. Shields led the process to create the Archmere Trust for the benefit of the operations of the Academy.
In addition to his service at Archmere Academy, Mr. Shields served on the Board of Trustees, and is currently Board Chair, of Rosemont School of the Holy Child, an independent nursery through grade 8 school in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, for seven years. He is also a member of the Board of Financial Advisors of Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pennsylvania. In all of these organizations, he has led processes to secure the financial well-being of the institutions, and has offered significant insight into innovative management practices in response to the quickly changing non-profit environment. Considered a quintessential trustee, Bob is well respected by his board colleagues for his ideas and opinions, particularly around critical decision-making and independent school leadership. He attends virtually every school governance professional development event that ADVIS offers, and has twice served on the panel for our Board Chair Workshop.
His professional career spans years of exemplary service in law, international business, financial advisement, and information management. Mr. Shields graduated from Archmere Academy and received his A.B. degree from the College of the Holy Cross and his Ll.B. from New York University School of Law, where he was a Root-Tilden-Kern scholar. He is a member of the Turnaround Management Association, a former member of the American Bar Association’s Committee on Corporate Laws (the group responsible for the Model Business Corporation Act) and a life member of the American Law Institute.
Mr. Shields is President and CEO of Lakeview Capital, Inc and Vice Chairman of Questor Partners Holdings, Inc. Prior to the founding of Questor in late 1994, Mr. Shields was a senior partner in the 650 lawyer Philadelphia-based firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath L.L.P. He served variously as the head of that firm’s business and finance group, as its chief financial officer and as a managing partner of the firm.