Mary Riedel joins WID as CEO

Prominent community figure Mary A. Riedel, APR, ABC has been named Chief Executive Officer of Women In Distress of Broward County. Currently the director of major gifts at Nova Southeastern University, Riedel officially assumes her new position March 31, 2008.

“This is a major step for our organization and we are thrilled that Mary has accepted an opportunity to lead our efforts to end abuse in South Florida,” said Carol Molnar, Chairman of the board of directors of Women In Distress of Broward County. “Mary is a very well-respected member of the community and someone who has contributed significantly to so many wonderful causes and organizations throughout the years, including serving as a past board member and chair of Women In Distress.”

Prior to cultivation and stewardship of major gifts for NSU, Riedel had worked in media marketing and community relations for nearly 37 years, including more than 18 years as community affairs manager at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and publisher of the newspaper’s weekly Society section. Before moving to South Florida in 1987, she spent more than 17 years in marketing and communication management for The Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel.

Riedel has been active in the community, serving in leadership roles for a number of nonprofit organizations, in addition to Women In Distress. Her board service also has encompassed such organizations as United Way of Broward County, Community Foundation of Broward, Donors Forum of South Florida, Sun-Sentinel Diversity Venture Fund and Minority Development & Empowerment (MDE, Inc.), among others.

Riedel currently serves on the boards of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward – Davie Units, Funding Arts Broward, Inc. and the Community Advisory Board of Valley Bank. She also is a mentor with the Women of Tomorrow organization and is a member of the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches. Professionally, Riedel is accredited by both the International Association of Business Communications (ABC) and Public Relations Society of America (APR), and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

Riedel received her journalism degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., and is a graduate of Leadership Broward, Leadership Palm Beach County and Leadership Boca Raton. She and her husband, Bill, reside in Fort Lauderdale and have two grown daughters.