Wiederhold returns to Main Street Medina
Former director served for eight years here
Matt Wiederhold, 48, is returning to Main Street Medina as its executive director after a year-plus stint with The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio. Photo by PAMELA WAGNER
MEDINA – He just couldn’t stay away, apparently.
A year after the board named his successor, Matt Wiederhold, 48, has returned to Main Street Medina in the executive director role. He will take over again Monday, Oct. 2 after throwing his hat into the ring for consideration earlier this month.
Wiederhold replaces Jeremy Levine, 43, who held the post for about 11 months and amicably parted ways with the nonprofit economic development firm a few weeks back.
“I am excited to return to Main Street Medina and continue the good work that we had started,” stated Wiederhold, who steered Main Street from 2008-2016. “I look forward to building events and infusing new life and new opportunities into existing programs.”
Wiederhold first left Main Street in April 2016 to become director of development at The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, a Cleveland-based human relations organization focused on eliminating bigotry and racism.
“I’m also happy to return with a year-and-a-half of development and grant experience, which will help the organization be more sustainable for the future,” Wiederhold said.
Main Street is best known for its downtown events, like Candlelight Walk, International Fest and Beer Fest. Events in 2015, Wiederhold’s last full year at the helm and Main Street’s most successful, attracted more than 127,000 attendees who brought an estimated $1.2 million economic impact with them.
Main Street said in a press release Wiederhold will be able to “step in and immediately begin working on our biggest event of the year, Candlelight Walk.”
Main Street Medina is continually referred to as a “model” chapter by its parent organization, Heritage Ohio. It is funded almost entirely through membership dues and private and public donations, which includes annual funds from the city of Medina. Nearby Wadsworth also has a Main Street program.
Carole Kowell, Main Street Medina board chairwoman, said the decision to bring back Wiederhold was an easy one based on his experience.
“He certainly knows the organization. He’s very passionate about the community and historic preservation,” Kowell said. “In the time he’s been away, he’s learned a lot of about grant writing and fundraising, all this stuff that’s really going to be very beneficial to us ... We’re very happy to have him back in the community. We’re excited about it and he’s excited about it, which is the best part.”
Wiederhold said he and his family are planning to move back to the Medina community.
A year after the board named his successor, Matt Wiederhold, 48, has returned to Main Street Medina in the executive director role. He will take over again Monday, Oct. 2 after throwing his hat into the ring for consideration earlier this month.
Wiederhold replaces Jeremy Levine, 43, who held the post for about 11 months and amicably parted ways with the nonprofit economic development firm a few weeks back.
“I am excited to return to Main Street Medina and continue the good work that we had started,” stated Wiederhold, who steered Main Street from 2008-2016. “I look forward to building events and infusing new life and new opportunities into existing programs.”
Wiederhold first left Main Street in April 2016 to become director of development at The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, a Cleveland-based human relations organization focused on eliminating bigotry and racism.
“I’m also happy to return with a year-and-a-half of development and grant experience, which will help the organization be more sustainable for the future,” Wiederhold said.
Main Street is best known for its downtown events, like Candlelight Walk, International Fest and Beer Fest. Events in 2015, Wiederhold’s last full year at the helm and Main Street’s most successful, attracted more than 127,000 attendees who brought an estimated $1.2 million economic impact with them.
Main Street said in a press release Wiederhold will be able to “step in and immediately begin working on our biggest event of the year, Candlelight Walk.”
Main Street Medina is continually referred to as a “model” chapter by its parent organization, Heritage Ohio. It is funded almost entirely through membership dues and private and public donations, which includes annual funds from the city of Medina. Nearby Wadsworth also has a Main Street program.
Carole Kowell, Main Street Medina board chairwoman, said the decision to bring back Wiederhold was an easy one based on his experience.
“He certainly knows the organization. He’s very passionate about the community and historic preservation,” Kowell said. “In the time he’s been away, he’s learned a lot of about grant writing and fundraising, all this stuff that’s really going to be very beneficial to us ... We’re very happy to have him back in the community. We’re excited about it and he’s excited about it, which is the best part.”
Wiederhold said he and his family are planning to move back to the Medina community.