Sheldon David Yellen (born January 16, 1958)[1][2] is an American businessman, author and the CEO of BELFOR Property Restoration. He has appeared on an Emmy-nominated episode of Undercover Boss on CBS.[3][4][5]
Sheldon Yellen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sheldon David Yellen January 16, 1958 |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | CEO of BELFOR Property Restoration |
| Children | 2 |
Biography edit
Yellen was born to a Jewish family, the oldest of four boys.[6] He was raised alone by his mother.[6] He attended Southfield-Lathrup High School[7] but dropped out to support his family (he later received his diploma at the age of 53).[8] In 1985, he went to work as a salesman for his brothers-in-law's company then known as Quality Awning & Construction which also did restoration work.[9] In 1989, Yellen booked $17 million in sales in South Carolina which was devastated by Hurricane Hugo, effectively doubling the company's sales.[8] He became CEO in 2001.[8]
Per Yellen, in 2016 BELFOR is the world's largest disaster restoration company operating in 29 countries with more than 350 offices and employing more than 7,700 full-time employees.[8]
He is a guest writer for Entrepreneur - US edition: 4 Ways to Ensure Your Startup Will Survive Disaster, How to Make People, Not Résumés, Your Hiring Priority, How Growing Up With Nothing Equipped Me to Run a Billion-Dollar Company.[10]
In 2019, Yellen was awarded an honorary doctorate from Oakland University.[11]
Yellen hand-writes over 12,000 cards each year for employees' birthdays and other thanks and congratulations.[12]
Personal life edit
At the age of 26, he married at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan; he has two sons.[6] Although he had a bar mitzvah, he did not begin to practice Judaism until he was in his mid-40s.[6]
References edit
- ^ America's Corporate Leaders (2010). Dun & Bradstreet Reference Book of Corporate Managements: Parsippany, New Jersey
- ^ Feintzeig, Rachel (October 4, 2016). "Rock 'n' Role-Play: A CEO's Burning Love For Elvis". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Larson, Kathryn (November 22, 2013). "'Busted' Undercover Boss Sheldon Yellen, Belfor CEO, Staking Claim In Detroit Real Estate". CBS Detroit.
- ^ "Leadership - Sheldon Yellen CEO". BELFOR Property Restoration website. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- ^ "Undercover Boss: S2 E14: Belfor". IMDb. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d "From welfare kid to "Jewish businessman," "Undercover Boss" shares his recipe for success". Connecticut Jewish Ledger. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
- ^ "Fond Farewell! Former students remember Southfield-Lathrup High". Detroit Jewish News. June 19, 2016.
Other notable Southfield-Lathrup graduates include Quicken Loans and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, Groupon co-founder Eric Lefkofsky and Sheldon Yellen, CEO of Birmingham-based Belfor Holdings Inc.
- ^ a b c d Weiner, Yitzi (October 10, 2017). "The Inspiring Backstory of Sheldon Yellen, CEO of BELFOR Holdings". Thrive Global.
- ^ Alexander, Dan (February 21, 2017). "This CEO Once Worked Alongside Reputed Mafia Figures. Now He Runs A $1.5B Business". Forbes.
- ^ "Sheldon Yellen". Entrepreneur. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- ^ "Distinguished leaders awarded honorary degrees". Oakland University. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ Bhattarai, Abha. "The art of imperfection: People are turning to robots to write their 'handwritten' cards". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
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