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Attorney Lends Leadership and Expertise to Goodwill Business Model

Robert Stern Honored with 2007 Board Leader Award

June 25, 2007

Rockville, MD — Robert G. Stern’s 12-year commitment to the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. (St. Petersburg, FL) is rooted both in his personal values and his acumen as an attorney and businessman. His leadership on a territory merger, land acquisition and financing for three Goodwill superstores, as well as the restructuring of the Goodwill’s business model, has earned him the 2007 Board Leader Award from Goodwill Industries International.

It’s been said that Goodwill leadership is part of Stern’s genetic makeup, as his father, Bob, devoted more than 40 years to Goodwill, including 22 years as President of Goodwill Industries of North Florida. Yet, this key player at Goodwill Industries-Suncoast brings his own style of leadership to the table.

“Robert sets the bar for other board members with his consistent participation on issues important to Goodwill,” says R. Lee Waits, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries-Suncoast.  “Despite the demands of his career, family and community, Robert has given 12 years to our Goodwill, leading almost every board committee, recruiting dozens of board members and serving as an exemplary board chair and ‘cheerleader’ during the restructuring of our organization.”

George W. Kessinger, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International concurs with Waits. “While other nonprofit board members may commit to serving for defined terms, Robert has proven he’s in it for the long haul. His exemplary leadership over time has raised the bar for current and future leaders of Goodwill Industries-Suncoast.”

Stern is an attorney at the Tampa law firm of Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O’Neill and Mullis. He is immediate past president of the University of Florida Alumni Association and has served on its board since 1995, representing 320,000 alumni and 100 Gator Clubs. He was appointed by Florida’s Governor to the State of Florida Post-Secondary Education Planning Commission, and by Tampa Bay’s mayor to the city’s Civil Service Board. Stern has served as an adjunct professor at Stetson College of Law and was named one of Tampa Bay’s “40 Under 40” Outstanding Civic Leaders.


The Board Leader Award is given in recognition of outstanding leadership and service to a member Goodwill organization. The award is given to an officer or member of a local Goodwill board of directors, board committee or advisory group who has served a member Goodwill organization in a voluntary capacity.