Chappaqua Resident to be Nominated to President's Fitness Council

President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Chappaqua resident Robert T. Shepardson to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

He is the co-founder and partner of advertising agency SS+K, which made the announcement. 

Here are some of the details from the press release:

Shepardson led SS+K’s assignment for the Obama for America campaign in both 2008 and 2012.  He served on the paid media team and oversaw the multiple creative campaigns to persuade, register and motivate young Americans to vote for President Obama.  Other current clients include Starbucks, HBO and Wells Fargo.

He has dedicated much of his career creating strategy and advocating for public health and healthcare initiatives including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the LiveStrong Foundation, the Association of Schools of Public Health, the ONE Campaign (Bono’s advocacy organizations), and Share our Strength’s No Kid Hungry brand campaign, among others. He led SS+K’s work for Let’s Move!, First Lady Michelle Obama’s anti-childhood obesity campaign, andJoining Forces, the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden’s initiative to encourage Americans to help military families.   

“As a lifelong athlete who has worked on various public health issues, I am honored to be nominated by the President to his Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition,” said Shepardson.  “I look forward to bringing my experience to the team of athletes and health and fitness innovators on the Council.” 

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and several business and charitable boards, including the New York advisory board of Enterprise Community Partners.  He is also on the advisory board of Hip-Hop Public Health, an innovative and proven program that educates grade-school children about nutrition and exercise through hip-hop.   He is also on the advisory board of Share Our Strength, Franklin & Marshall College’s Leadership Council and the Center for Health Communication at Harvard’s School of Public Health.

In regards to his nominations to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, which include Shepardson, Jason Collins, Misty Copeland, Alonzo H. Mourning, Jr., and Rachael Ray,President Obama said, “I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country.  I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

Shepardson has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and holds a B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College, with a double major in biology and government. As F&M, he was a four-year starting quarterback and Academic All-American.  He is an avid marathoner (6 marathons, 7 half-marathons) and on April 21, completed the Boston Marathon for the second time.

He lives in Chappaqua, New York, with his wife, Jane Kimmel, and their three children.

SS+K is the improbable agency that emerged from the harsh, hyper-competitive world of politics to become a creative agency in the harsh, hyper-competitive world of brand marketing. Political instincts blended with creative talent bore effective, original work for Wells Fargo, Pfizer, VW, Kraft, HBO, College Board & a mop closet full of awards.  SS+K introduced the yellow wristband for LIVESTRONG, created the competition for America's Most Honest City (for Honest Tea) & reignited youthful enthusiasm for an incumbent (Obama for America - For All Campaign).  We work best not just with leading brands, but brands that lead. SS+K is based in New York. For more information, visit www.ssk.com.

About the President’s Council

The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition educates, engages and empowers all Americans to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and good nutrition. Through its partnerships with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, the President’s Council promotes programs and initiatives that motivate people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to lead active, healthy lifestyles. For more information about the President’s Council, visitwww.fitness.gov and follow the President’s Council on Twitter @FitnessGov.