User:WWB Too/Robert A. Mandell

Robert A. "Bobby" Mandell (born 1947) is a former United States Ambassador to Luxembourg, serving from 2011 to 2015. Mandell began his career as a lawyer before joining his father's Florida real estate development business, which he went on to own and operate. He also has held positions on the President's Export Council, Florida Environmental Regulation Commission and Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority.

Education
Robert Mandell received a bachelor's degree in advertising from the University of Florida in 1969. In 1972, Mandell received his Juris Doctor degree from University of Florida's Fredric G. Levin College of Law. He graduated Harvard Business School's Owner/President Management Executive Program in 2000.

Career
Following law school in 1972, Mandell worked as a lawyer in Punta Gorda, Florida. He was partner in the firm Wotitzky, Wotitzky, Mandell, Batsel, Wilkins and Frohlich and left active practice in 1983. He is "AV" rated on Martindale-Hubbell's legal list.

Mandell began work as a laborer at his father's Central Florida real estate development business, Greater Construction Corporation, in 1984. Greater Construction named Mandell president of the company in 1989 after his father, Lester Mandell, became chairman. Robert Mandell and four partners bought the company from Lester Mandell in 1998, and the company was later renamed Greater Homes. Mandell would also serve as the company's chairman and CEO until national homebuilder Meritage Homes Corporation bought it in 2005, after which he served as president of Meritage Homes of Central Florida. Additionally, Mandell was chairman and CEO of Greater Properties Inc., a commercial real estate development firm.

In addition to those roles, Mandell has served on boards, commissions and authorities in the private and public sectors. In 1987 Republican Gov. Bob Martinez named Mandell to the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission, where he served as chairman until 1990. Martinez then appointed Mandell to the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, where he served from 1990 to 1995 and held the chairman and vice chairman posts and was known for reducing tolls and successfully pushing Florida's E-Pass electronic toll collection system. He has served on the boards of Florida Hospital in Orlando, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in LaJolla, and Vermont Studio Center, among others. Mandell sits on the advisory board of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the board of directors for Human Rights First and the Wilson National Cabinet of the Wilson Center.

President Barack Obama named Mandell to the President's Export Council in 2010.

Ambassadorship
President Barack Obama nominated Mandell as the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg in June 2011. Several media outlets noted that Mandell had no diplomatic experience and was a fundraiser for Obama. Mandell donated $30,000 to Obama's campaign and $50,000 to his inauguration committee in 2008. The U.S. Senate approved the nomination in a voice vote on October 18, 2011.

Mandell was sworn in as the 21st U.S. ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on October 25, 2011. He presented his credentials on November 16, 2011. When Mandell arrived in Luxembourg, he filled the post left vacant following the resignation of Seattle venture capitalist Cynthia Stroum. Mandell resigned his ambassadorship in February 2015, saying it was time for him and his wife to return to private life in the U.S.

Luxembourg Grand Duke Henri honored Mandell by naming him a Commander of the Order of the Oak Crown on February 12, 2015. The order recognizes people for exceptional civil and military services.

Personal life
Mandell is married to Julie Walker Mandell and has four children, including two stepchildren. He lives in Winter Park, Florida.