Sheldon Yellen
American businessman and author
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sheldon David Yellen (born January 16, 1958)[1][2] is an American businessman, author and the CEO of BELFOR Property Restoration.
Sheldon Yellen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sheldon David Yellen January 16, 1958 |
| Known for | CEO of BELFOR Property Restoration |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
Yellen was born to a Jewish family, the oldest of four boys.[3] He was raised alone by his mother.[3] He attended Southfield-Lathrup High School[4] but dropped out to support his family (he later received his diploma at the age of 53).[5] 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.[6] In 1989, Yellen booked $17 million in sales in South Carolina which was devastated by Hurricane Hugo, effectively doubling the company's sales.[5] He became CEO in 2001.[5]
In 2011, Yellen appeared on an Emmy-nominated episode of Undercover Boss on CBS.[7][8][9]
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.[5]
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
At the age of 26, he married at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan; he has two sons.[3] Although he had a bar mitzvah, he did not begin to practice Judaism until he was in his mid-40s.[3]
