Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star Names New Chief Executive Officer
The Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star appoints long-time board member Robert R. Roby as chief executive officer, replacing former CEO Tammy Richards.
Online, May 13, 2013 (Newswire.com) - The Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star executive board of directors today announced the appointment of long-time board member Robert R. Roby as chief executive officer, effective May 20, 2013.
Roby comes to the world's largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency after a highly successful legal career focused on civil litigation. Most recently, he served as a counsel member of the Curran Tomko LLP law firm in Dallas, which he joined in 2007. Roby replaces former CEO Tammy Richards, who recently departed to pursue her passion for service in the areas of education and technology.
Roby has been a long-time leader in the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, first joining the Big Brothers Big Sisters Dallas board of directors 15 years ago. In 2002, he became board chairman and helped oversee the agency's historic 2003 merger with its Fort Worth and Arlington/Mansfield counterparts to form Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas. He became chairman of the executive board for the newly merged entity in 2004 and continued to serve on the executive board after the expiration of his three-year term, before reassuming the chairmanship last year. For the last 11 years, he has also volunteered as a Big Brother in the program.
"We are pleased to select a new leader for Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star from within our organization's own family," said Don Carty, immediate past chair of the agency's executive board. "Rob's leadership was essential to this agency's evolution from having a Dallas focus and an annual budget of less than $1 million, to becoming a dynamic, 100-county entity today with a budget of nearly $14 million. That experience, coupled with his life-long passion for community service and his demonstrated strategic ability to guide non-profits, makes us confident that Rob will contribute immeasurably to this agency's continued success."
In recent years, the organization grew dramatically to become the world's largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency, taking on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star name after merging with community agencies in Northeast Texas (Paris), West Central Texas (Abilene, Brownwood and San Angelo) and Greater Houston. The agency also expanded to previously unserved areas such as Waco, Waxahachie, Wichita Falls, Stephenville and Jack County.
"The opportunity to continue serving this organization, about which I am so passionate, in a full-time professional capacity is an honor and a privilege," stated Roby. "Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star is widely viewed as a leading non-profit, not only regionally, but also nationally and internationally. I am happy to accept the challenge of working to positively impact children's lives across much of Texas through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring. We are deeply committed to building on our past successes in order to provide thousands more children with positive role models, drawing on the support of our many generous donors and volunteers."
Roby has performed extensive service as a leader in community and professional organizations in addition to his work with Big Brothers Big Sisters, including positions with the Dallas Bar Foundation and Texas Association of Defense Counsel. Rob has been an attorney in private practice for 36 years and was the named, founding and managing partner of Gwinn & Roby from 1986 to 2007.
Roby earned his B.A. from Southern Methodist University in 1974 and completed his J.D. at the Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1977. He has been repeatedly honored by Texas Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers for his outstanding litigation practice, and he is a long-time member of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association.
"I have personally witnessed Rob's immense contributions to Big Brothers Big Sisters and his abiding commitment to bettering the lives of children through mentoring," said Charles Pierson, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and a former CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star. "His leadership was essential as the Lone Star entity greatly expanded the reach of its service and earned numerous honors from the national organization, including the National Agency of the Year award, the National Board of the Year award twice and the Pinnacle award three times for affiliates performing at the top of their class. These accomplishments, and the agency's ability to serve thousands of young men and women annually, wouldn't have been possible without Rob's tireless efforts and support."
About Big Brothers Big Sisters and Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring organization, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children ("Littles") with screened volunteer mentors ("Bigs") and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization's 85-year history. Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star serves more than 30,000 children, volunteers and families through 20 offices and more than 100 counties in Texas. Learn how you can positively impact a child's life - donate or volunteer at bbbstx.org.