Bill Shumard has served as President/CEO of Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) since June 2005, taking over the leadership role of the organization after spending five years as a member of SOSC's Board of Directors. Prior to coming to SOSC, Shumard enjoyed a long and successful career in sports management at both the professional and collegiate levels, enjoying associations with teams and programs that enjoyed both competitive and financial success. After receiving his Bachelor's degree in journalism from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) in 1972, Shumard was named as CSULB's Sports Information Director. One year later, he moved to California State University, Los Angeles to assume the same position for two years. Shumard joined the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 1975 and was part of the organization's unparalleled business success for the next 12 years. During that span, the Dodgers won a World Championship and participated in three World Series; hosted the 1980 All-Star Game and the 1984 Olympic baseball competition. The franchise drew a record-setting three million fans in six different seasons—a mark no other club had achieved up to that point. Since then, Shumard has also served at USC, CSUF, and CSULB. Currently,Shumard also serves on the Executive Committee of the United States Leadership Council for Special Olympics. He also serves as Chair of CSULB's Graduate Program in Sport Management's Advisory Board; Chair of the Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership's Governing Council in the CSULB College of Business; and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Sports Council; The Columbian Foundation; Biola University's MBA Mentor Program; and the International City Racing Association Foundation. Shumard and his wife, Kim, reside in Brea. They have three grown children and four grandchildren.
The Crowell School of Business regularly hosts a selection of accomplished business leaders that share their varied professional and personal insights in the Distinguished Lecture Series. Learn more about the Crowell School of Business at https://www.biola.edu/crowell