Bill Shiell

For over 25 years, Bill Shiell has helped floundering institutions flourish. Before joining BrightDot, he served as President of Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois. Under his leadership, Northern reinvented their educational model, sold a 28-acre campus, launched an on-demand training platform, grew enrollment during COVID-19, and raised over $21 million for operations and new initiatives. 

Bill brings an entrepreneurial spirit to every challenge he faces and believes that we learn and grow through reflection on adversity and responding to unforeseen challenges. According to Bill, the best strategies and most profound joy are borne out of responding to the needs of the people we serve. As we adapt to the unexpected, we can have the most significant impact. Bill learned this firsthand in Knoxville, Tennessee. As a pastor in the “Volunteer State,” Bill’s church opened its doors as a Red Cross shelter for evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. This experience changed his view of leadership and became a template for his work today. 

Bill understands the pressures that Presidents face today and the challenges of learning how to fundraise during economic downturns. He has served on and trained boards and provided executive guidance for nonprofits as a consultant. Bill and his wife Kelly have two adult children and reside in Lombard, Illinois.