Robert Shenk
I first established this personal blog as a way to learn how to use the ever-popular WordPress blogging platform – a learning by doing exercise. Unlike millions of people throughout America and the World I’ve never been too interested in sharing all of my most deep and inner thoughts via a generally available blog. But from time to time the writing spirit does move me and this platform has proved to be a wonderful way to publish those posts.
While a native of Northern California (Menlo Park, CA), I have lived in Northern Virginia for the past 8 years. My wife, two children, and I enjoy living in Great Falls, Virginia – a place that is not too far from Tyson’s Corner and Washington DC, yet feels like its off in the country. We may be the only people left in Fairfax County who rely upon a well for our water.
I have spent the bulk of my 21 year professional career in the information business. After leaving the US Navy in 1993 I joined America Online as it was just starting to gain traction in the nascent online world. Starting as a Producer in the new AOL Personal Finance Channel, I was afforded the opportunity to learn how to assemble winning financial offerings for AOL members. Quickly our new financial channel grew and in just a few years it had become the most visited set of online financial offerings anywhere. In addition to our rapidly expanding traffic, the AOL Personal Finance Channel also grew into one of the most profitable of AOL’s many channels. Later, as the Channel’s manager, we were also able to garner a number of awards for our offerings. We were awarded top marks from names like Barron’s, SmartMoney, Money Magazine, and others.
After leaving AOL in 2000 I ventured back out to the Silicon Valley. From there I joined E*TRADE Financial in their Menlo Park office. E*TRADE, like most internet financial sites, was reeling from the twin challenges of the post-internet bubble and crumbling post 9/11 environment. Shortly after joining E*TRADE I was offered the chance to run E*TRADE’s growing online banking offerings – the place where E*TRADE could make money until the stock market and personal trading returned. During the next few years the E*TRADE Bank team was able to radically improve its online offerings (2005 Webby Award for best online Bank/Bill Pay offering) and greatly strengthen its financial performance. Deposits increased from $8b to $40b and our financial contribution to the overall company surged.
Rob at the Carter House on the Franklin Battlefield
I have had a lifelong interest in history and especially military history. Living in the Northern Virginia area had greatly increased my access to all things American Civil War. Once-distant battlefields were now short rides away and historical markers denoting this or that great Civil War event were all along the roads I was driving. Naturally my interest in the Civil War grew and grew. After being a member of the Civil War Trust I had the chance to discuss with their leadership how their website could be greatly improved in support of their mission. Well one thing led to another and I ended up having the golden opportunity to work directly for the Civil War Trust as their Director of Internet Strategy & Development. At the Civil War Trust our small, but aggressive Web Team has launched a brand new and greatly improved website which has helped us to expand our reach into the digital world. Most gratifying of all, Civilwar.org has not only grown in terms of raw usage, but it has also delivered significant online revenue to the non-profit. Having the chance to use 21st century technology to save 19th century battlefields has been a truly ennobling endeavor to be associated with. Its also nice that this long term web guy, always stuck in dark, air-conditioned offices, now gets to roam a Civil War battlefield or two as part of my job!
When not pursuing my professional passions you will find me hanging with the family, going to museums of all sorts, riding my bike, taking thousands of photographs, and planning our next great vacation.
If you’d like more details about my professional past please check out my LinkedIn page
You can also always reach me via my e-mail address: robshenk@yahoo.com
