References and Recommendations for Robert Shindell
Chris Snead
Associate Vice President, Texas Tech Alumni Association
“Robert is a visionary and has tremendous ideas. He is a problem solver and gets the job done.”
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Alice Virginia White, PhD
Relationship Creator, Texas Tech University, Recruiting & Admissions
I am honored to give my highest-possible recommendation and endorsement on behalf of my admired friend/former supervisor Robert Shindell.
I was privileged to have experienced Robert's visionary leadership 2007-2008 -- while he effectively and strategically transformed my 40 co-workers and me into a high-performance, results-getting, enthusiastic team in the Office of Recruiting and Admissions at Texas Tech University.
I was in awe of Mr. Shindell's mastery of managerial skills, a hands-on management style; the ability to train, develop, motivate and mentor a staff of 40+ and participate collaboratively as a member of TTU's leadership team. He believes in personalized, relationship-building attention to every prospective student and understands and honors deeply each individual (prospective/students, their families and colleagues). He also understands the recruitment, admissions, yield/enrollment and financial, legal and ethical implications for first-year and for transfer students.
At Texas Tech University, Robert created several powerful leverage points to attract and retain high-performing students: immediate/IMPACT scholarships as well as scholarship endowments. He established a new position -- a person in financial aid to cultivate donor relationships and connect recipients with their respective benefactors: great for the students, for the donors and for Texas Tech!
Because he learned from national experts in the Enrollment Management field and conducted his own indefatigable research, Robert served effectively with community and Texas Tech leaders on the Chancellor's African-American Enrollment Taskforce, the Chancellor's Hispanic Enrollment Taskforce and the Chancellor's International Enrollment Taskforce. He is savvy about best practices in student recruitment, direct mail, electronic and Web-enabled recruiting strategies, territory and funnel management, telecounseling, campus visitation programs and strategies, the effective use of enrollment software and effective use of data and information in planning and decision-making. In fact, a strategy he recommended was subsequently approved by the TTU System board of regents and will be implemented university wide.
Despite higher education's inevitable philosophical or political challenges, Robert Shindell always remains the consummate professional: focusing on the highest and best for all concerned (the college/university, colleagues and prospective/students and their families). He rises above pettiness and is an admirable leader, manager, supervisor, co-worker and life-long friend. I would be overjoyed at the opportunity to work with or for him again.
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Chris Chapman
Director of Development, Texas Tech University
“Rob and I worked together at the Rawls College of Business and he did an excellent job at working with our Dallas Regional Office. Rob always worked with our regional office and we were very lucky to have him on our team for sure.
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Harder, Anna
Admissions Coordinator, Texas Tech University
“Robert Shindell created an environment of open communication. Regardless of the position an employee held, he always had time to discuss work concerns with that individual. He encouraged us and provided us with incentives to do work hard and to do our jobs effectively. There were several times that he "went to bat" for us and our department to make sure we had the best resources available to do our jobs.”
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Dr. Richard Gale
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, College of Engineering, Texas Tech University
“Robert showed up on my radar screen with a lot of baggage - several people I spoke with talked about his record in the TTU Rawls College of Business and consequently there were very high expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Robert was a very down-to-earth person with a direct management style. He is a natural leader with an inclusive, non-confrontational manner. I have observed him go out of his way to make team members feel welcome and comfortable and inspire them to contribute. He has always acted with integrity in my experience and has managed several difficult administrative situations. He was very helpful with my team in doing things a little differently than they had been done in the past. I can recommend him without reservation.”
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John Spence
Managing Partner – Flycaster & Co.
Top qualities of Robert: Great Results, Personable, High Integrity
Some individuals take the offering of an endorsement quite lightly and are happy to provide one for any associate that might ask. I, on the other hand, take them very seriously because I understand the pivotal role this document can play in the decision to hire a new employee; one of the most expensive and important investments any organization can make. For this reason, I am extremely selective in who I will recommend and thoughtful about what I convey. Having said all of this, it is indeed my great pleasure to speak on behalf of Mr. Robert Shindell.
I have known Robert for the better part of nine years, most of that time in a role as a consultant to the Rawls College of Business and as volunteer leadership instructors for our fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. I can count on one hand, with a few fingers to spare, the number of professionals that I have worked with in my career that are of the caliber and integrity of Mr. Shindell or share his personal dedication to excellence in both his life and his career.
Robert possesses a multitude of skills and talents to be sure. He is very thoughtful and shows excellent attention to detail, demonstrates a high EQ with absolutely superb interpersonal communication skills and handles even the most difficult tasks with calm confidence. He is a strong strategic thinker, yet equally adept in turning those ideas into positive action. He is genuinely gifted in his ability to build and lead teams, but is also comfortable and enthusiastic as a follower/collaborator. In the past 15 years I have had the opportunity to work with executives in more than 30 top firms, including GE, IBM, Merrill Lynch and Microsoft and I can say without reservation that Robert Shindell is in every respect one of the most impressive and effective leaders I have known. I believe the best indication of my opinion of Mr. Shindell is that if I had a position available that was a match for Rob’s skills and career path, I would hire him immediately.
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Drew Melendres
Director – Houston Regional Recruiting Center, Texas Tech University
I worked with Rob at Texas Tech University in the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. Rob was a leader and a mentor for his staff. During my time working with him, I observed the following.
- The ability to develop a vision and gain buy in of that vision from his staff members
- Strategically thinking to maintain a competitive edge over industry competition
- The ability to consistently motivate his staff and peers
- The willingness and determination to ensure customer satisfaction at every level of the organization
- An open door policy to all employees in the organizational structure
- The ability to assess and evaluate key metrics to determine strategic plan of action
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Ben Warren
Human Resource Interviewer, Hickory Farms
“As a team member of Rob's during a 2005 volunteer event for Push America I had the opportunity to spend an entire week learning from this great leader. During his second trip across Florida raising awareness for people with disabilities he displayed his ability to motivate and encourage a group even when the times got tough. His compassion for others and sincere desire to help shine through all he does. For these reasons and more I would recommend him for any project that might come his way.”
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Cory Johnson, CPA
Senior Associate, Grant Thornton, LLP
“My experience working with Rob has truly been an honor. He not only knows what he is doing, but he truly takes a personal interest in all of his candidates. His passion is not only seen in his results, but in his team as well. He empowers his team to strive to be the best and in doing so creativity emerges.”
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Tish McGuire
Student, Texas Tech University
“Rob's can-do attitude is infectious. He is a motivating leader with the highest standards of excellence. Rob is a true visionary, and he knows how to get things done. I would definitely work with him again.”
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Chris Miller
Student, Texas Tech University - Rawls College of Business
“I met Robert Shindell while pursuing an MBA at Texas Tech University from 2005 to 2007. Robert had recently taken his position as the Director of the Career Management Center at the Rawls College of Business. In two years time, he easily doubled the number of employers attending career fairs. Not only did he increase the number of employers, the quality of employers increased dramatically. The career fairs he oversaw became so successful many students from other colleges at Texas Tech University attended these events. In addition, he directed many hands on workshops in preparing the Business students for future careers. The employees he chose all became very successful in their own right because of his managerial style and effective task delegation. Throughout this time, he also attended classes for his PhD. Nevertheless, he worked tirelessly in his role and always made time for students. As a result of his efforts and the efforts of the staff he directed, I secured a great job. I am very happy to have met and worked with Robert. If there is a chance to work with him in the future, I would not hesitate in taking the opportunity.”
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Charles Olson, Jr.
Regional Recruiter, Wolseley, North American Division
“I have had the pleasure working with Robert while I recruited college graduates within the business school at Texas Tech University. Tech has been my "benchmark" career service center and all praises are due to Robert's direction. He is a very personable individual who truly cares about the success of placing a student with the best organization possible. I would gladly have worked on Robert's team any day of the week as there is much to be learned from him. It is without question that Robert is one of the finest individuals I have worked with over the course of my career in college recruitment.”
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Courtney Cravens
Student, Texas Tech University
“Rob is the guy that every student on campus knew they had to talk to when it came to networking and making career contacts. Rob has such a wealth of knowledge with life skills and career exploration and was always available to answer every question asked. He is approachable, hardworking, and ambitious. I worked with him the most when applying for a position as a Greek consultant, where he thoroughly advised and assisted me throughout the process. Rob was a fabulous asset to Texas Tech and the Rawls College of Business, and is irreplaceable.”
Doug Wise
Regional Manager, Market Research, Community Analytics
“I turned to Rob as trusted advisor when hiring and training a market research team for a startup company. Rob's professionalism, understanding of marketing and business acumen were invaluable to the successful creation of an extraordinary team.”
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Josh Craig
Student, Texas Tech University
“Robert is a very dedicated person that has always gone the extra mile to take care of any and everyone that has been blessed enough to have meet him.”
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Kumi Wright
Student, Midwestern State University
“Robert seeks to understand each student's needs and interest. He is personable, professional, he stays on top of things, and he is really good at what he does. It was an honor to be able to work with him.”
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Cory Powell
Director - Lauro Cavazos & Ophelia Powell-Malone Mentoring Program (Mentor Tech), Texas Tech University
I’ve had the privilege of working with Robert Shindell over the course of several years, as he served as the Director of the Career Management Center in the Rawls College of Business and Vice President of Enrollment Management at Texas Tech University. Additionally, Robert served as a mentor for several years within the Lauro Cavazos & Ophelia Powell-Malone Mentoring Program (Mentor Tech), which I direct.
Dedicated, thorough, and consistent, Robert is committed to diversity and utilized his networking skills to connect our program with several corporate partners. Robert is a team player and is the kind of person you can count on to add motivation, leadership, creativity, and efficiency to your team. His rich appreciation for diversity and warm personality allow him to interact with individuals of all backgrounds with ease. I am certain that he is a viable candidate for your consideration. Given the chance, he will be an asset to your organization.
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Dr. James Wetherbe
Stevenson Chaired Professor of IT, Rawls College of Business - Texas Tech University
Robert Shindell is a creative, driven entrepreneurial type of leader. I had the privilege and benefit of watching him turn an administrative laden and unresponsive career development center at Texas Tech University into a thriving enterprise that attracted employers eager to hire Texas Tech graduates. He cultivated and motivated staff that worked with students to allow them to compete with graduates from much better funded universities.
His enthusiasm is contagious. He is a natural leader that transforms average employees into high performers.
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De’Juan Collins
Student, Rawls College of Business - Texas Tech University
It is with great pleasure that I write this endorsement on behalf of Robert Shindell. I first met Mr. Shindell as a freshman at Texas Tech University. Being a young African American student in a predominately white university was a bit of an adjustment for me, but Mr. Shindell swooped right in to make the transition effortless.
Over my three years at Tech I formed a close relationship with not only Robert Shindell, but also his amazing wife Christy Shindell. They both embraced me as an addition to their family, often giving advice not only in regards to school, but personal issues as well.
Also, during my tenure at Tech, he was a major catalyst in personal aspirations to start my real estate development firm, Collins Capital Investments (CCI). Initially, I was a bit timid about this dream, and the ability to accomplish it, but he always pushed me forward and encouraged me when I needed it. Not only did he give words of encouragement, but he took it a step further and put action behind his words, opening up his extensive list of contacts and personal relationships to help jump start CCI. A great example of this is his introduction to Dr. Randall Pinkett, season 4 winner of Donald Trump’s The Apprentice. Through his introduction to Dr. Pinkett CCI was able to gain some amazing publicity through being profiled in his book “Campus CEO” and also a feature article in the February 2007 edition of Black Enterprise, a nationally syndicated and well respected magazine.
There is no doubt in my mind that my experience as a student at Texas Tech University and my professional career would have been completely different was it not for Robert Shindell. He helped to bring me out of my shell and was a major catalyst in the inception of what is now a full-service real estate development firm headquartered in Dallas, TX.
He consistently demonstrates leadership skills and has an amazing gift of creating a safe and exciting environment for students and staff from multiple backgrounds to learn and grow. Mr. Shindell is gifted at implementing innovative and developmental activities that accomplish his ultimate goal of empowering others. He is straightforward, professional, organized and structured. Robert Shindell leads by example yet maintains a teachable attitude.
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Allen Sutton
Associate Director of Student Life - Texas Tech University
Robert Shindell is truly a great person. He is a hard worker and someone that believes in fairness and equality. As a diversity administrator, I found Robert always open and receptive to my ideas and more times than not, he went out of his way to help with the event. He treated my wife and I with respect and honesty on all occasions and I count him as a friend and as a person of integrity. I would hire or work with Robert without hesitation and I would recommend him with enthusiasm and without reservation. He is truly and man of character and someone that will work to a successful result in all situations.
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Dr. Elizabeth Teagan
Managing Director – The Advising Center at Texas Tech University
Rob Shindell and I worked together while he was in Recruitment and Admissions at Texas Tech. He did an amazing job, and the following examples are what I can speak to as a Primary Source:
- quick study for someone who did not have a background in recruitment and admissions
- excellent decision-maker in an environment that was hostile at times
- 'kept his cool' under pressure
- creative problem-solver
- consummate creator of partnerships throughout campus
- big-picture thinker who could also roll up his sleeves and manage the details when needed
- saw the connections where others could not
- valued others and their input
- honest supervisor who inspired Direct Reports
- visionary manager of people, information, and funding sources
The list could go on….
