About Shawn O'Donnell for Congress

About Shawn O'Donnell

Shawn was born in Houston, Texas in 1955, the second son of
a SantaFe railroader and a registered nurse. The O'Donnell
family grew to include six children and Shawn spent his
formative years experiencing life in Texas, California, New
Mexico, and Illinois.

From the age of ten Shawn has been working and, at the age of
twenty four, started the first of what was to become a series of
business ventures. Over three decades he expanded his ever
growing business and management background and experience
to include retail, manufacturing, information technology,
start-ups, business development, and consulting. He's been a
sales and marketing director, founder and president of an
educational services company, president and chief operating
officer of various manufacturing companies and the chief
financial officer of a computer software company.

A lifelong Democrat and resident of the First Congressional
District for over 10 years, Shawn is an active member of
numerous Democratic political organizations. But Shawn is
about much more than business and politics. He is the former
Chairman of the Stewardship Committee of the Archdiocesan
Pastoral Council of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of
Chicago. Has been an advisor to parochial school boards, a
member of parish finance councils and very active in other
parish ministries.

Shawn is a great believer in lifetime learning and has been
involved in a wide variety of ongoing courses, seminars, and
studies including: Zope, Python, content management, various
project management software, Total Quality Management
(TQM), JIT Production, ISO in Manufacturing, Growth in
International Markets, Contract Law, Family Leave Act,
OSHA, Valuing the Closely Held Corporation, SEC
Compliance, and even a master's program in tool and die
making. He is an honor graduate of the Corporate Lawyer's
Assistant Program at Roosevelt University and has taken
advantage of the excellent educational offerings at the
University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Governors
State University, the University of Illinois and the University of
Houston for studies in finance, economics, sales and marketing,
international relations, and research.

Over the years Shawn has been an active member of various
civic and professional associations including: Chambers of
Commerce, Lions, Rotary Club, Civitan, Tooling and
Manufacturing Association, Association of Mechanical
Engineers, International Association of Software Professionals,
the Virginia State Golf Association and the United States Golf
Association

Shawn is the author of numerous articles and commentaries
about politics, business, and economics which have appeared in
publications nationally and internationally. He has made guest
appearances on radio, television, and Internet streaming media.
Always looking to the future, he has been an active member of
the blogosphere since its inception. He recently coauthored the
book, Rebuilding The Democratic Party From The
Grassroots: The Ultimate Guidebook for Democrats.

Shawn is married with two grown children.