New CEO Appointed

After a 6 month nationwide search, the Bonnie Brae Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul D. Rieger, MSW, as its new Chief Executive Officer. Joseph Lemond, Esq., Vice-President of the Board of Trustees led the ten-member Search Committee and is both pleased and excited about their choice of Rieger, “The Search Committee is thrilled that Paul will be Bonnie Brae’s new CEO. Paul’s experience and passion for Bonnie Brae’s mission make him a perfect fit for the organization” Paul will begin his tenure at Bonnie Brae on August 15^th. A native of northeastern Pennsylvania, Rieger brings 25 years of experience dedicated to working with youth and families, most recently as Executive Director of CONCERN Professional Services for Children, Youth & Families, where he has served for 16 years. CONCERN operates a continuum of foster care, behavior health, adoption, prevention and residential services in 12 sites across Eastern Pennsylvania and portions of Maryland. At CONCERN, Rieger grew and advanced behavioral health services programming, expanding their continuum of care from placement services to community based mental health and reunification services. This expansion of their continuum not only resulted in greater financial flexibility for the organization, but also fostered increase positive outcomes for the clients served. Rieger’s roots are firmly grounded in residential and behavior health services for youth. Inspired by his experiences working as a college intern at the university of Massachusetts Medical School Child Behavioral Health Division, Rieger began his career path at KidsPeace in Pennsylvania as a Child Care Counselor before moving up the ranks to Director of Community Residential Services and then onward to Director positions at both Wordsworth at Shawnee and Northwestern Human Services. These early experiences will serve him well as he takes this next step in his career at Bonnie Brae. “It is both an honor and a privilege to be chosen to lead an organization with such an exceptional history and reputation,” said Rieger, “I am looking forward to embracing the Board, the staff and the great community that is Bonnie Brae.” Rieger’s first order of business as CEO will be immersing himself in the culture and listening; getting to know the residents, staff, Board and stakeholders, developing these relationships so he can plan thoroughly and most appropriately for Bonnie Brae’s future. Rieger ultimately hopes to build upon Bonnie Brae’s current success and articulate them to the greater community, focusing on the main themes of family, community and trauma informed care. Bonnie Brae’s current CEO, Bill Powers, a nationally recognized leader in residential care, will retire at the end of August after a distinguished career servicing at risk youth and families at programs and agencies in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Oregon, and New Jersey. During Powers’ 15-year tenure as CEO, Bonnie Brae has: doubled the number of residents served on the main campus annually; launched three new community-based transitional homes; initiated community service recreational programs like the Bonnie Brae Knights Drum Corps, who marched in President Obama’s first Inaugural Parade; made community partnerships a vital part of the program including forming the Brae Builders, who have helped build 34 homes with Habitat for Humanity; and brought a solar array and green technology that provides over 80% of the main campus energy needs. Louis DiGiovanni, President of Bonnie Brae’s Board of Trustees knows that Rieger has big shoes to fill, but is confident that Paul has the heart, skills, and experience necessary to move Bonnie Brae forward. “As we close this chapter of unprecedented growth and success with our current CEO Bill Powers, I am confident and enthusiastic that we are turning over the reins of Bonnie Brae leadership to a dynamic individual in Paul Rieger. Paul embraces our Vision and Mission and is the right person to enable Bonnie brae to serve more children and advance a national model of care.”