Andrew J. Shaevel, Williamsville East High School, Class of 1983 (Inducted 2015)

Andy Shaevel is an accomplished entrepreneur and corporate executive. Since graduating from Canisius College with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and an MBA with concentrations in Marketing and Finance, he has founded and led over a dozen companies, two of which were acquired by Fortune 500 companies. These companies had aggregate annual revenues in excess of $120 million and employed more than 1,300 associates. Currently, Mr. Shaevel is the President and CEO of Bobalew Ventures based in Amherst, N.Y., where he provides strategic insights and capital to a number of start-up and growth oriented ventures.

Mr. Shaevel began his career as an Investment Banker and Strategic Planner at Marine Midland Bank (now known as HSBC USA). While with Marine Midland, he was instrumental in developing and implementing the strategy to divest its industry-leading automotive finance unit - Marine Midland Automotive Finance Corporation (MMAFC). It was at Marine Midland that Mr. Shaevel managed its residual automotive leasing portfolio. He and his partners, developed a revolutionary approach to vehicle portfolio management, disposition, logistics and auction arbitrage that today is widely recognized as the foundation for modern-day automotive remarketing. With the support of angel investors, Mr. Shaevel and his partners went on to form Remarketing Services of America, Inc. (RSA) in 1991.

While RSA started as a vehicle management platform, its services evolved over the years in terms of its scope of services, number of clients, associates, revenue, and industry influence. RSA was well positioned as the premium and expert service provider. In 1996, RSA was acquired by debis Financial Services, now known today as Daimler Financial Services, the diversified financial services arm of Daimler Benz. In 2001, after the Daimler merger with Chrysler, Mr. Shaevel facilitated a change in ownership to Fiserv, Inc. and today, RSA is the foundation of what is known as Fiserv Lending Solutions. Andy shepherded RSA through its various stages of development and various shareholder groups from its inception in 1991 until March 2007, when he formed Bobalew Ventures.

Mr. Shaevel is a director and past president of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo; vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo; serves on the advisory boards of the Canisius College Richard J. Wehle School of Business and the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association. He has received numerous professional and community awards including the Ralph Kushner Volunteer Service Award from the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Canisius College. In addition to being a proud Williamsville graduate, Mr. Shaevel is also a proud Williamsville parent. He and his wife, Amy, who is a teacher in the District, have a son, Lewis, a sixth grader at Transit Middle School.