2020 07-July-Single-Page

THANK YOU
A
for an
Incredible Experience
s my time as acting President/CEO winds down, I want to thank the hundreds of
people who have supported me in my 35 years at Pathfinder Services. I consider
the time spent at Pathfinder a tremendous gift I will never be able to repay. I want to
thank Joe Blomeke, Chuck Nelson, and Judy (Vanderspool) Frischman, who as the
officers of the Board took a chance on a young, inexperienced person to lead the organization.
I remember telling them that I hoped to remain for three years at least.
Because of the incredible support of the Board and staff over the years for my crazy
ideas, I chose to stay longer. Judy and I enjoyed raising our four kids in the wonderful
community of Huntington, with three of them living in Huntington County along with
five grandchildren.
JOHN NIEDERMAN
President/ CEO
WHO WE ARE
Pathfinder Services envisions a
community in which all people are
valued and accepted and have control
over their own destinies. Our Mission is
to strengthen communities primarily by
enabling people facing physical,
developmental, or economic challenges
to achieve independence, inclusion, and
stability.
My wife Judy has been the bedrock over the years that enabled me to say yes to many
community roles as well as national duties on various Boards and Committees. I
cannot thank her enough for her support of my travels and time away seeking resources
for the agency.
As I think about life after Pathfinder Services, I tear up because I will miss all the staff
who make up Pathfinder Services and their undying commitment and caring for those
we serve. I will miss the smiles and hugs of those we serve every day.
I am not officially retiring until December 31, but new President/CEO Danielle Tips will
be joining the organization on August 3. I have had a chance to spend time with Danielle
and I was very impressed with her. The organization will benefit greatly from her
experience and her passion for the Mission and Values of Pathfinder Services. I will
spend some time helping her get started and then the Board has granted me a sabbatical
to study and learn about how organizations like Pathfinder Services and rural
communities together can change and adapt to the future. I will be putting my discovery
and research hat on and spending time talking with my national network and
others about their thoughts of how to strengthen rural communities and how the
Pathfinder Services of those communities can play a key role in the process of growth
and sustainability. There might be a local project or two that I am able to lend my
expertise to and apply what I am learning.
In retirement, I hope to enjoy time with Judy and the rest of the family that I have not
spent because of working all the time. I do want to continue making a difference in
lives of people through volunteering and maybe some consulting and interim CEO
work with community organizations that, like Pathfinder Services, seek to accept the
value and ability of all people and enable them to figure out how to create a more
meaningful life for themselves and future generations.
Program
SPOTLIGHT
The Dream Fund
The Pathfinder Services Dream Fund was created to help make dreams of
those we serve come true that would not otherwise happen. Recent
photos on social media of those we serve spending fun time outdoors
prompted anonymous donors to come forward to provide bicycles,
tricycles, and side by sides to our friends who do not currently have them.
Thanks to those donors, we have delivered nine bikes and ordered nine
more. They hope this prompts others to donate so everyone we serve who wants a bike gets one!
On Thursday, June 18, the guys at Cline Street took an inaugural ride to Dairy Queen to enjoy a hot weather treat! The maiden
voyage was a huge success and the guys are looking forward to many more rides in the future!
Donating is easy! Learn more at PathfinderServices.org/get-involved