Thursday, March 22, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
What Missourians are Saying About Rick Sullivan
The following citizens today voiced their support for Rick Sullivan, who the governor appointed to serve on the St. Louis Transitional School Board.
"Rick Sullivan has shown great dedication to helping all children succeed in school and in life. He knows that we all have a role to play to make that happen. He also has great experience in building communities, and he knows that good public schools have to be part of good communities. His work with local educational institutions and community organizations like Habitat for Humanity makes him well-suited to address issues both inside and outside the walls of our schools."
John Ammann
Director, Legal Clinic
Professor of Law
Saint Louis University School of Law
"I have known Rick Sullivan for many years. I have seen Rick work tirelessly to make his community and the St. Louis region a better place to
live, work, and raise our children. His appointment to the Transitional Board is a positive step to turning the district around for the kids and for the state."
Carl Bearden
Speaker Pro Tem, Missouri House of Representatives
"I think the governor made an outstanding choice in Rick for this very important task. He has the respect and admiration of the community and will act responsibly and credibly as he has in the past."
Louis G. Berra
President, Development Resource Group
"Most people know Rick Sullivan has been successful in business. However, most don't know of his commitment to education and children. Rick has put time and money behind Mentor St. Louis, a program matching St. Louis Public School students with long-term mentors. In just 10 years, it has served thousands of elementary school students."
Joe Blomker
Founding Chair, St. Louis Social Ventures Partner
President & CEO, Maryville Technologies
"Rick Sullivan is a terrific choice and someone who is committed to improving the future for the students in the St. Louis Public Schools."
Cynthia J. Brinkley,
President - AT&T Missouri
Chair, Civic Progress Education Committee
"I had the opportunity to work with Rick Sullivan and his company when I was the Director of Planning with St. Louis County. He is an excellent businessman with a very good sense of public policy issues, in which he has always been very much involved. His company’s leadership in the redevelopment of the Botanical Heights area of the City is a real pioneering effort in the revitalization of the City. Rick will bring a very thoughtful and objective approach to this important work."
Joe Cavato
Senior Vice President
Community Program Development Corp.
"As Chair of Teach for America, I have reason to know Rick and his commitment to St. Louis and our public education system. Rick is an advocate for children and their right to have a quality public education. He truly believes that children can achieve when we have great teachers and great school leaders who set high expectations for all students and take personal responsibility for leading their students to significant academic achievement. We are lucky to have a great leader like Rick to take on this opportunity. I have confidence he will lead the St. Louis Public School System in the right direction."
Maxine Clark
Founder and Chief Executive Bear
Build-A-Bear Workshop®
Vince Hillyer
President, Boys & Girls Town of Missouri
"Rick is a wise choice for the St. Louis Public Schools. He is a man of integrity with a track record for success. He is dedicated to the future of St. Louis with a keen sense of what it takes to get results. I am confident that Rick's leadership will be characterized with words like common sense, practical, and accountability. He offers a combination of vision, management expertise, and commitment to St. Louis at a critical juncture for the St. Louis Public Schools. He is the right match at the right time."
Jere Hochman
Former Superintendent of the Parkway School District
Current Superintendent in Amherst, MA
Peter Kinder
Missouri Lt. Governor
"Rick Sullivan is a business and community leader known for his vision and innovation. As a founding board member, Rick became a leading proponent and major supporter of our youth initiative: Read, Right & Run Marathon®. Through his current involvement with Teach For America, he mentors young educators to develop their potential. Rick will actively embrace his new responsibility with the same passion, determination and commitment to the future education for the children of our community."
Nancy Lieberman
President, Spirit of St. Louis Marathon
"I have known Rick for all of my 13 years in public life. He is just the kind of quiet, deliberative, thoughtful leader those children need right now. As the head of one of the largest employee-owned companies in the Midwest, Rick has shown his remarkable ability as a leader and man of integrity. St. Louis City students will be well served."
John Loudon
State Senator- 7th District
"Rick Sullivan has been a tremendous asset to the Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis Board of Directors. His approach to our mission of affordable housing and community development is both enthusiastic and visionary. He has proven to be both a good listener and a good problem solver."
Kimberly McKinney
Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis
"The Carpenters' District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity is proud to support Rick Sullivan of McBride and Son as he joins the Transitional Board for the St. Louis City School District. As partners with McBride and Son in the Carpenters' Joint Apprenticeship program, Rick Sullivan realizes the effect K-12 education has on workforce development. As a prominent business leader and resident of the Greater St. Louis region, Rick Sullivan is committed to addressing the challenges that face our community. We believe that he will bring valuable experience and insight to the St. Louis City School District Transitional Board."
Terry Nelson
Carpenters' District Council of Greater St. Louis & Vicinity
"Rick's input was always well thought out, very articulate, concise and to the point on any issue. He strove to see all particulars of any issue before us, was impartial in his decisions and remarks, and most importantly, passionate about the health care of our children-having their best interests at heart. From my knowledge of Rick he is a leader who engages consensus building while holding to principles and values that transcend expediency in reaching decisions. Thus, he provides balance and vision in the challenges ahead."
Douglas Ries
President and CEO, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital
"This is a critical time and we must all come together to support the Transitional Board. Rick Sullivan is an outstanding leader and he will bring his history of strong management, flexibility and compassion to this new civic role. We have a moral responsibility to make sure our children succeed."
David Steward
Founder and Chairman
World Wide Technology, Inc.
"Governor Blunt has made a superb choice in Rick Sullivan. I have known Rick for many years and his life and work are a success story. Most importantly, Rick has a servant's heart. I am confident that this is his calling and he will use his gifts to help make the St. Louis Public Schools work for our students so they have every chance to succeed in life."
Jim Talent
Former U.S. Senator
"Rick Sullivan has the perfect mix of business knowledge and commitment to the community. I have served on several boards with Rick and he has always been willing to spend the time necessary to help the community. He will be very sensitive to the many constituents in the schools and has a track record of bringing people together."
Tony Thompson
Co-Chair of The Regional Business Council
K-12 Education Committee
President & CEO, Kwame Building Group, Inc.
"I have known Rick Sullivan for 15 years through a friendship started by our mutual friend “Buzz” Westfall. Rick is a man of great integrity and compassion who will work hard to give the students of St. Louis a real chance to succeed."
Colonel Patrick Twardowski
St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners
"For Rick Sullivan to take on this challenge shows a great deal of courage, but also display great commitment to improving opportunities for St. Louis public school students. I offer him my support as he works through this challenge."
Bob Wallace
Executive Vice President and General Counsel, St. Louis Rams
"Rick Sullivan has the ideal mix of financial knowledge and community service experience for the transitional board. His 30 years as a successful homebuilder demonstrates Rick's ability to lead teams and deliver results in a tough and challenging environment. Under his leadership, McBride and Son has become a leader in bringing market-driven solutions for affordable housing in St. Louis City. Sullivan's appointment supports a top priority for Civic Progress: education in this region."
Douglas H. Yaeger
President, Laclede Gas Co,
President, Civic Progress