Robert D. Blackwell, Sr., Class of 2012
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Blackwell Consulting Services
Robert (Bob) D. Blackwell, Sr. is chairman and chief executive officer of Blackwell Consulting Services. A well-known leader in management and information technology, his computer industry expertise spans more than 35 years. He is known in the industry for being a visionary and dynamic leader.
In 1992, after working for more than 25 years with International Business Machines (IBM), Mr. Blackwell founded Blackwell Consulting Services. Today the company is a national full service, full life-cycle management and information technology consulting firm, serving the Global 1000 and middle market enterprises. With nearly 500 consultants and estimated revenue of $100 million in 2008, Blackwell Consulting has grown to become one of the largest minority-owned management and IT firms in the U.S.
Mr. Blackwell’s career began as a systems engineer at IBM in 1966, where he designed applications for hospitals and universities. In 1973, he switched professional gears by embarking on an extensive management and marketing-oriented career path for IBM. When he retired from IBM as director of the Greater Chicago Consulting Services Business, he managed more than 200 people and generated $300 million in revenue. Under his leadership, IBM's consulting business – consisting of outsourcing, systems integration, application development, design, and installation of complex calling systems, value-added networks and fee-based education – grew in size every year.
Mr. Blackwell is a member of the Mayor's Council of Technology Advisors, the Executives' Club of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago and the Metropolitan Club of Chicago. He also sits on the board of the Illinois Institute of Technology and the boards of trustees of both the Museum of Science and Industry and Lakeside Bank. His passion for and dedication to the arts has fueled his support of the Arts and Business Council (ABC), the Joel Hall Dance Company (past president), the Neighborhood Writing Alliance (chairman of the board) and the ETA Creative Arts Foundation (chairman of the board). He was elected to the Board of Directors of Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in 2009.
B.A. – Wichita State University
Back