Bob Gnaizda is one of the most incredible men I have ever met. He was (and still is) a mentor that dramatically impacted my professional career and personal conviction about choosing purpose over money or title. We first met back in 2002 when he wrote to the CEO of First American Corporation where I had just recently been promoted to corporate vice president. For those of you who knows Bob's work, you can probably guess what his letter to the CEO was about (smile). Lucky for me, the CEO gave me the job to go see Bob to respond to his letter. My life was forever changed by that first meeting. Bob taught me what it meant to be BOLD yet strategic. He was a master at getting leaders and organization to work together around a common interest when normally they might see each other as competition. Bob pushed me harder and farther than I thought I could go and as a result the work that I led changed the company in more ways than either of us would ever imagine. The CEO later told me that First American was truly a better company because of Bob Gnaizda.
Bob is one of my dearest friends. And although I will miss being able to see or talk to him in the present, I will continue to seek his wise counsel during my quiet times of prayer and strategic thought as I continue to work for a better tomorrow for underserved communities in our country. Bob also has impacted my family. He inducted each of my three children (two boys and a girl) into the Giraffe Club at an early age. The two boys are now men and both stick their neck out for what is right on a regular basis. They both fight for justice in a way that I'm sure that Bob would approve.
Bob's love for Claudia was and is a true inspiration. Michelle and I got the honor to attend their beautiful wedding at Tilden park where the pictures I have posted here were taken.
