Shelly Yellen
December 4, 2020
Shelly Yellen New President of Federation in 2021

Local business owner and long-time volunteer in the Jewish community, Shelly Yellen was installed as President of the Buffalo Jewish Federation Board of Governors at the 117th Annual Meeting and Award Celebration held last night (if you missed it, you can watch it HERE). Shelly succeeds Leslie Shuman Kramer and will begin his term as President in January.

Born and raised in Buffalo, Shelly is a consummate volunteer beginning his engagement with the Jewish community in Washington, DC through event participation at Federation, MAZON, and AIPAC.  In Buffalo, Shelly has been involved in a variety of Jewish organizations including Jewish Federation Apartments, the Bureau of Jewish Education (now CJEL), and Congregation Shir Shalom.  Shelly’s Federation leadership includes chairing the Annual Campaign for Jewish Buffalo and serving as Treasurer.  He is also a past recipient of the Ann & Meyer Riwchun Emerging Leadership Award. “I’m very blessed and grateful to my parents, Barbara and Jack Yellen, and grandparents, Anne and Fred Lippa, all of whom have set a high bar for volunteer leadership in our community,” Shelly remarked.

Shelly received a BA from University of Maryland and an MBA from American University.  He began his career as a Senior Financial Analyst at the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and returned to Buffalo in the early 1990’s to work at Lancaster Steel Service Company, a multi-family Regional Steel Service Center.  Shelly ultimately became President of Lancaster and sold the business in 2007 to Ryerson Steel; the largest publicly held Steel Service Center in North America at the time.   After about a year with Ryerson, Shelly joined Mr. Fox Tire Company as a partner.  Missing the steel industry, he started Yellen Metals LLC in 2011 and several years later sold the business to Venture Steel, a large privately held Metals Service Center.  Today, he serves as Vice President for Venture Steel U.S., Inc.

Shelly met his wife Heidi when he returned to Buffalo in the 1990s. The Yellens have three children: Kayla, Noah and Ethan.  “We are fortunate to have been able to raise our children surrounded by family and great friends,” Shelly added.  “Heidi and I are proud to contribute to building a strong community that offers a vibrant Jewish life.  “