A business attorney and senior executive in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Heist has led R. Connor & Associates as its president and principal attorney since 2001. Robert Heist has also been a governance fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors.
The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) has been educating corporate directors and inspiring executive board excellence for nearly a half-century. As part of its commitment to setting positive standards in the corporate boardroom, it launched the Center for Inclusive Governance in September of 2021. True to its name, the NACD Center for Inclusive Governance (the Center) advocates for the inclusion of women and minorities on corporate boards. It also endeavors to amplify the diverse voices of these women and minorities to ensure that they are heard. Central to the overall mission of the Center is the notion that inclusive boardrooms benefit from a broad spectrum of insights and perspectives. Among its other initiatives, the Center links interested parties to the NACD Accelerate program and the DE&I Advisory Council. Accelerate creates pathways to the boardroom for diverse executive talent, and the DE&I Advisory Council aids in the development of corporate environments that value diversity, equality, and inclusion.
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As the principal attorney at R. Connor and Associates, PC, in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Heist represents corporate clients in cases involving various legal matters. Beyond his day-to-day work as an attorney, Robert Heist maintains membership in the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), which supports the work of corporate board members through various programs and activities.
One of NACD's top offerings is Accelerate, a 2-year program that helps business executives prepare for board service. Accelerate participants receive education on critical boardroom issues and have access to the latest business trends, as well as research and analytics on board governance practices. In addition to educational programming, Accelerate connects participants to exclusive networking opportunities with NACD's membership body, which is made up of over 21,000 corporate directors. Participants are also enrolled in NACD's Director Professionalism foundation course in boardroom fundamentals. Accelerate members are also enrolled in the NACD Directorship Certification program, which equips directors with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively lead corporate boards. More information about the NACD Accelerate program and how to apply is available at www.nacdonline.org. An experienced attorney in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Heist provides corporate counsel and represents clients in business litigation. Currently a principal attorney with R. Connor & Associates in Chicago, Robert Heist previously served as chairman of the Board of Managers of Milton Hershey School.
As part of an effort to make high-quality education for young people more accessible throughout Pennsylvania, the Milton Hershey School plans to invest $350 million in the creation of up to six free early childhood education centers. These schools will serve young children from at-risk and low-income backgrounds who previously had few affordable options. The first facility is planned for Derry Township, where a 50,000-square-foot building will accommodate approximately 150 children. Along with a developmentally appropriate curriculum to support academic and social development, the facility will include outdoor space to meet the physical needs of young children. Furthermore, the school plans to offer meals and transportation services. Staff recruiting will begin in 2021, and the early childhood learning center will be completed by 2023. As president of R. Connor & Associates, PC, in Chicago, Illinois, attorney Robert Heist focuses on a variety of business law issues. To support his work as an attorney, Robert Heist is a former Governance Fellow certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).
A membership organization comprised of more than 21,000 corporate board members nationwide, the NACD created a Climate Change Initiative to help board members guide their companies through the evolving climate crisis. Working in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, the NACD has developed a set of principles designed to help boards of directors increase their climate awareness, understand the risks to their organization, and integrate climate considerations into decision-making processes. The NACD Climate Change Initiative also aims to inspire dialogues around corporate responsibility in confronting climate change. Because climate change stands to adversely impact the competitive US economy, corporate directors play an important role in empowering businesses to seek innovative and transformative strategies. To find resources to support climate proficiency for board members, visit www.nacdonline.org. An accomplished Chicago attorney, Robert Heist currently serves as president of R. Connor & Associates, P.C., where he focuses on a variety of business law issues. Additionally, attorney Robert Heist is a former governance fellow certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).
A non-profit membership organization, the NACD provides resources to help corporate board members operate more effectively. Recognizing the need for a pool of qualified professionals to provide future leadership, the organization operates the 2-year NACD Accelerate program. Open to executives without board experience, the program equips participants with the tools and skills required to serve in board positions. Participation in NACD Accelerate includes 2 years of NCAD membership, which provides access to analytics and research on boardroom issues, along with key educational programming. Participants can also take advantage of networking opportunities with NACD's community of more than 21,000 directors. NACD Accelerate invites participants to enroll simultaneously in the Directorship Certification program and the Virtual Director Professionalism foundation course. The principal attorney with R. Connor & Associates in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Heist provides corporate counsel and engages in commercial and business litigation. Along with his work as an attorney, Robert Heist formerly served as chairman of the board of managers at Milton Hershey School.
In 2020, with Heist as chairman of the board, the Milton Hershey School announced plans to support the creation of up to six cost-free, early childhood education centers across Pennsylvania. Investing more than $350 million in the facilities, the school aims to fill the need for affordable, high-quality education for young children who come from at-risk and low-income backgrounds. The first center will be located in a 50,000-square-foot building that can accommodate roughly 150 students in Derry Township. In addition to implementing a curriculum designed to support academic and social development, the school will include an outdoor learning space to meet the unique learning needs of young children. The school also plans to provide transportation, meals, and support services for families. Slated for completion in 2023, the early childhood learning center will begin recruiting staff in late 2021. Illinois resident Robert Heist serves as the principal attorney of R. Connor and Associates, P.C., a law firm that concentrates in the practice area of corporate counseling. Attorney Robert Heist has been a Governance Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).
NACD is an organization that represents thousands of private and public company board members and is considered the authority in boardroom practices. Earlier this year, NACD released the report on a survey that revealed how 2,000 board members from different parts of the world are navigating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Entitled “Global Network of Director Institutes 2020-2021 Survey Report,” the survey revealed the following. 1. A huge majority of board members believe that their companies have done enough to address the COVID-19 issue. Seventy-two percent of the respondents were satisfied with their management teams’ crisis oversight and response. 2. Seven out of ten respondents believe that their companies need the expertise of professionals in risk planning and decision-making to address the future challenges posed by the COVID-19 threat. 3. Board members believe that communication is one of the greatest challenges to overcome amid the pandemic. As nonverbal communication and virtual meetings are expected to continue, 49 percent of the respondents that believe that virtual means of communication are not as effective as face-to-face communication. Attorney Robert Heist is the president of R. Connor & Associates, P.C, in Chicago, Illinois. The Past-Chairman of the Board of Managers of the Milton Hershey School, attorney Robert Heist is a Governance Fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).
With a membership of over 21,000 directors, NACD is the leading authority in accountable board leadership and is helping to bolster confidence in the boardroom among investors and the public. Realizing the necessity for a diverse, robust, and competent source of professionals to serve as next-generation directors, the association established the program NACD Accelerate. The two-year program creates an avenue for executives with little or no boardroom experience to become proficient in the boardroom. Participants gain access to resources, education, and exposure to the oversight functions of a board that will help them to lead with confidence. Accelerate requires enrollment in the NACD Directorship Certification program and the Virtual Director Professionalism foundation curriculum. Participants have access to exclusive networking opportunities through the association’s top-tier director community of over 21,000 members. An alumnus of the University of Illinois, attorney Robert Heist is the owner and president of the Boston law firm R. Connor & Associates, P.C. The Past-Chairman of the Board of Managers of Milton Hershey School (MHS), attorney Robert Heist is a graduate of MHS.
Founded in 1909 by chocolate magnates Milton and Catherine Hershey, MHS has provided over 10,000 boys and girls from economically challenged backgrounds with a transformative, top-tier education and a stable home life, free of charge. MHS has now embarked on a new undertaking, the cost-free Early Childhood Education Initiative, named the Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS), in honor of MHS co-founder Catherine Hershey. MHS is allocating $350 million to fund the construction of up to six Early Childhood Resource Centers in Pennsylvania. CHS is designed for at-risk children in need from birth to 5 years old. An early learning curriculum is in development that will improve students’ social, emotional, educational, and cognitive development. Research reveals that a quality early childhood education can reduce the divide between students of different economic backgrounds in terms of their readiness for kindergarten. An attorney with a master of business administration from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in Illinois, Robert Heist is the president of R. Connor & Associates, P.C. Robert Heist is the Past-Chairman of the Board of Managers of Milton Hershey School.
Committed to providing underserved students with a cost-free education, the Milton Hershey School is working to build six Early Childhood Resource Centers (ECRCs) throughout the state of Pennsylvania as part of its $350-million Early Children Education Initiative. Among its most recent efforts, it released plans for its first ECRC, which will be located in Derry Township. The two-story Derry Township ECRC is expected to encompass 50,827 square feet and include educational outdoor spaces, and furnish free education for 150 students, from newborns to age 5. Studies have shown early childhood education programs can improve kindergarten-readiness for underserved students, increasing the likelihood that they will perform at a similar level to students from higher-income families. The Derry Township ECRC plans to open its doors in 2023 and employ 80 people. |
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