Robert (Bob) Newmark has been nominated as Board Chair of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, to succeed current chair, Greg Yawitz. Bob will be formally presented for election at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Board of Directors’ meeting in December and take office on January 1, 2023.
Bob is a partner at the global law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, with a practice that focuses on business counseling, mergers and acquisitions, and estate and succession planning. Bob previously served as the firm’s St. Louis Managing Partner from 2011 to 2021. Bob has been involved with the Jewish Federation of St. Louis since 1995 in a variety of roles. He is also a member of the national Executive Council of American Jewish Committee (AJC), and he has previously served as President of the St. Louis Regional Board. Bob is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Newmark Institute for Human Relations with the Jewish Community Relations Council, an institute established by and chaired by his parents, Barbara and Michael Newmark. Bob sits on the Regional Business Council, he serves on the Board of Concordance, and he is stepping down this June as the Vice Chair of the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation. He is a past President of the National Conference of Community and Justice of Metropolitan St. Louis and a past President of the Princeton Club of St. Louis.
“I can think of no one better to lead the organization at this time than Bob. His leadership, nationally through AJC, locally through the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation, and at Bryan Cave have shown how he can bring people together while also transforming and moving forward communities. Clearly the nominating group and Board felt the same. As we come out of COVID, what we need is someone who can bring us back together and help chart a new way forward. He will be able to build on the work and accomplishments Greg helped make happen, while honoring our communities past and legacy,” said Brian Herstig, President & CEO of Federation.
“Having worked with Bob on numerous projects, committees, and task forces over the last few decades I know Bob will bring the experience, passion and his full dedication to the role of chair of the Federation,” said Greg Yawitz, current Board Chair of Federation. “Bob is a thoughtful, compassionate and strategic thinker and leader I know will make great things happen for our community during his time as chair in partnership with Brian, the staff, our board and the other leaders in our community. I look forward to working with him in this new role,” Yawitz concluded.
The Governance and Board Enrichment (GBE) committee recently made this recommendation to the full Board of Directors and are excited for the opportunities this nomination will have for the Board of Directors and the Jewish Federation of St. Louis in the future. “We are grateful that Bob has accepted our nomination and agreed to take on this important leadership role at the Federation huge responsibilities with the largest leadership role at the Federation,” said Sue Schlichter, member of the GBE committee. “I have worked with Bob in the past as a community volunteer and I know he will bring his tremendous experience and wise counsel to the work we do,” continued Schlichter.
When Newmark accepted this nomination, he told the Board, “I am truly honored to take on this role and I recognize the significant responsibility associated with building our community and caring for our extended Jewish family. I will work hard to ensure the continuation of our thriving and vibrant community.”
Newmark will be following in his father’s path and taking the Chair 20 years after Michael Newmark served as Board Chair of Federation.