Goodbye Statement: Parting Words to My WEDA Family, Mary Perry
It’s been a tough decision, but I decided to retire from WEDA this summer. Leading WEDA has been
the privilege of a lifetime. Watching my grandchildren grow from birth to the tween years has made me realize it’s time to focus more on my family and finally tackle some things I’ve put on the back burner.
When I took this role, I was determined to shift from a top-down culture to a member-driven one. We’ve turned our financial footing around, created numerous engaged working committees, and now many of you have shown interest in serving on committees and even on our board. We’ve also committed to equity for all our members and partners. These changes have been significant and have helped me decide to pass the torch now.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you for your dedication to making Wisconsin a great place to live and work, and for all we have accomplished together as a member-led organization. I take immense pride in seeing hundreds of you grow professionally through our economic development courses, conferences, and Academy series.
While I will miss the day-to-day interactions with our treasured members and generous investors, who are the lifeblood of WEDA, I won’t be a stranger. I look forward to seeing you at events next year and continuing our relationship.
As I enter this new chapter, I’m pleased to share that WEDA will be in good hands. We have a solid succession plan: Kathryn Berger will act as interim president and CEO and assist in onboarding our new president and CEO. Kathryn has been an invaluable member of our board, demonstrating exceptional leadership.
In closing, please continue the great work you do in your hometowns and pay it forward. WEDA is member-driven and needs your active participation to keep moving Wisconsin forward!
This journey has been incredibly rewarding, and you all will always hold a special place in my heart—so I’m not saying “goodbye” but rather “see you later.”
As always, have a super great Wisconsin day!
