The Woodward Alumni Hall of Fame Association
Shelley Brown Milano Inducted 2013 - Class of 1974
It was a long and arduous journey from Toledo's Point Place to the University of California's Berkley campus, but with direction and encouragement of Mr. Duvendack, Shelley was taught that she could accomplish anything. "Mr. Duvendack had a profound effect on me. He taught all of us on the SAGA staff that we could accomplish anything we put our sights on. He also taught the girls that they could be a success if they worked hard. He helped me gain confidence and because of that I succeeded in my life career."
Memories of Shelley's four years at Woodward include her friends: Debbie Decola, Mary Houghtell, Jim Miller, Randy LaGrange, Chris Dilly, Heidi Pinkley, and Linda Sommers. From playing basketball, working on the SAGA, and building homecoming floats Shelley still cherishes those times working together as a team to accomplish their goals.
While fully engaged in the Woodward experience, early on Shelley or "or the nick-name that she
truly hated" as she was known to her friends, wasn’t quite sure of her abilities. When Shelley was notified that she was nominated as one of the students to receive the TATILER Award Shelley never told her parents. On the morning of the award presentation, Mr. Geis had to call her parents to let them know that Shelley had won.
After leaving Woodward, Shelley journeyed to Adrian College where she received her B. A. Summa Cum Laude in 1977. Traveling west, Shelley was accepted at the Boalt Hall School of Law on the University of California’s Berkley campus. Shelley received her J. D. degree in 1982 and was immediately hired by the firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease in Columbus, Ohio. Honing her legal skills in literally all aspects of corporate law, Shelley stayed with the firm till 1986 when she moved from Columbus to Marysville to join Honda of America. Shelley left Honda as their Vice President and General Counsel in 1995. Returning to the West coast, Shelley became Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Starbucks Corporation. Advancing to Advisor to the CEO of Starbucks, Shelley left in 2004 for EDDIE BAUER, Inc. in Redmond, Washington. While at EDDIE BAUER Shelley once again became Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
Shelley's corporate career as a key executive and strategic business attorney gave her unique insight into overseeing various company’s business strategies and operations. This experience gave Shelley an exceptional ability to merge vision, knowledge, and everyday practical business capability into a defined corporate approach to succeed. On the other side of the corporate world, because of Shelley's tenure with Eddie Bauer during their bankruptcy proceedings, Shelley became known for her expertise in crisis management.
Shelley gives freely of her time serving on the boards of the following: Bartell Drugs, Adrian College, ETC, Family Foundation of North America, Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Pike Place Market Foundation. Currently, Shelley is working with silversmiths from Gujarat, India through Zavida Gemstones. Shelley designed the business model to assist the artisans who lost everything in the earthquake of 2001.
Shelley has three grown daughters; Angelina 27, Lauren 23, and Giuliana who is 20. Recently, Shelley has taken up painting which gives her a chance to explore her creative side. She also enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures.