New local Red Cross CEO looks to future: Wiemann says preparedness, getting agency's message heard are among his goals

San Diego Business Journal, April 17, 2006 by Liz Wiedemann

The new leader of the local American Red Cross chapter is focusing on increasing awareness of the Red Cross message and promoting preparedness.

Named the chief executive officer of the San Diego/Imperial Counties American Red Cross in March, Jeff Wiemann was the chapter's interim CEO since November.

Known locally for its disaster preparedness and responsiveness, the chapter looks to become the "provider of choice, investor of choice, and employer of choice," Wiemann said.

"Preparedness is like buying insurance, and in today's world of instant gratification, achieving our goals will take some work," said Wiemann who served eight years in the Navy as deputy public affairs officer for Navy Region Southwest, executive officer of the USS Hurricane, and chief engineer of the USS Ford.

No stranger to leadership roles, Wiemann served as deputy chief of business operations at the San Diego Unified School District as well as the chief operating officer for Network Insight, LLC before joining the Red Cross.

Wiemann then acted as the chapter's chief operating officer and chief financial officer for three years before filling the vacancy left by former chapter CEO Ronne Froman's resignation when she was appointed late last year to head San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders' staff.

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said of Wiemann's past experience with the chapter, "He was an integral part of the leadership team that overhauled the chapter and addressed serious problems that arose over the handling of donations during the 2001 Viejas Fire in the community of Alpine."

Promoting preparedness is the goal of the Red Cross.

The chapter operates on a $10 million annual budget, with 183 employees and 1,400 active volunteers.

Upon receiving news of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, local chapter response to the arrival of 2,500 Katrina evacuees was "fantastic, a true collaboration," Wiemann said.

With a $4.5 million fund-raising goal per year, the chapter raised that amount last year for Katrina support alone, aside from meeting the expected annual goal.

Wiemann also shares the chapter's long-term vision to help San Diego become America's most prepared community, which entails workplaces, employees, houses of worship, nonprofits and government agencies working together to craft that message, he said.

Regardless of corporate and government agency efforts, the message of preparedness must translate to the homes of individuals, Wiemann said, and it is his goal to initiate some basic training.

In order to achieve the Red Cross' vision of becoming "America's most prepared community," Wiemann would like to see some fundamental preparation such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, and first aid brought to individual homes, he said.