Shelly Brown
Shelly joined the board of trustees with a term that began in November 2023. He is a high performing senior executive with vast experience and proven results in corporate development, enterprise leadership, operations, and philanthropy, through his career at Fortune 500 companies, privately held firms and across the public sector.
A former board director of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), Shelly is a bridge-builder and creator of partnerships that catalyze fresh thinking, new approaches, advancing innovation and ingenuity. He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the 2023 Leadership Award from Women’s Enterprise and Minority Business News, for a commitment to the success of entrepreneurs, job creation and corporate development.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Shelly was decorated for service during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. A two-time graduate of WWU, he received both his Bachelor’s (Management) and Masters (Business Administration) degrees from William Woods. He has also completed executive coursework at Dartmouth College and through McKinsey Academy’s Black Executive Leadership Program.
Possessing an extensive history of commitment to the non-profit and civic community through both board service and volunteerism, Shelly currently serves on the board for Habitat for Humanity of Lake County, Illinois, where he is Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee; Boy Scouts of America – Northeast Illinois Council; and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He lives with his wife and son on the North shore of Chicago, Illinois.