Lynn S. Grefe Chief Executive Officer National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
Lynn Grefe's professional career has centered on issues, advocacy and solutions. She has worked for state government in the criminal justice system; the private sector for a variety of corporate and non-profit clients on legislative and corporate issues; moved into the non-profit political arena for women's reproductive health issues for eight years; and, in 2003 was named Chief Executive Officer of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). In her current position as C.E.O., Ms. Grefe is charged with growing NEDA to national prominence to address the needs of the 10 million people who suffer from eating disorders and their families in this country. While Grefe is based in New York, the NEDA headquarters are in Seattle, WA. She travels nationwide, serves as the spokesperson of NEDA and is bringing her lifetime of talents in communications, politics, issue advocacy, and corporate and non-profit development to the organization. Prior to NEDA, Grefe was the National Director of the newly created Republican Pro-Choice Coalition in January of 1999 and served through 2002. From 1995-1999 she served as the Director of the Republican Pro-Choice Alliance of New York and Political Director of the national Republican Pro-Choice Political Action Committee (PAC). She was a leading grass roots advocate for the pro-choice position within the Republican Party throughout the country. In addition, through its PAC, Grefe worked to identify, educate and assist pro-choice Republican candidates in their campaigns. As National Director, Ms. Grefe's responsibilities included legislative and political issue analysis and strategic planning; grassroots development; public speaking; educational and communications program planning and implementation; and lobbying. As a spokesperson, she made a number of TV appearances and addressed numerous audiences. Through her leadership, Ms. Grefe developed 10 state chapters in the U.S., increased the organization's membership, quadrupled the funding and expanded the organization's nationwide reach through grassroots efforts. In addition, she actively lobbied for family planning, teen pregnancy prevention and women's health concerns and was integral to the passage of three pieces of legislation. Prior to joining the reproductive rights cause, Ms. Grefe was President of International Civics, Inc. (ICI), a public affairs/political consulting firm, where she designed and implemented public affairs strategies for corporate and non-profit organizations. Clients have included Continental Insurance, IBM, ARCO, Hershey Food Corp., New York Power Authority, Majestic Drug Co., Australian Bottlers Assoc., and many others. During her 16 years with ICI, she created and launched communications plans and strategic issue campaign programs; handled press relations; designed, conducted, and analyzed public opinion surveys; and trained groups and individuals (elected officials, candidates and business professionals) in public communications skills and volunteer efforts. She has written brochures, press releases and has produced and edited two in-house corporate videos. Ms. Grefe has also worked on several political campaigns. Ms. Grefe co-founded and directed the NY Area Public Affairs Professionals, a non-profit organization for public affairs pros to meet with legislators and leaders to discuss issues of interest (1980-1986). Earlier in her professional career, Ms. Grefe was dedicated to the issue of juvenile offenders and was part of the professional team that opened the first halfway house for girls in the state of Florida. Ms. Grefe supervised staff managed the intake process, counseled teens and their families and became the community liaison and spokesperson for the program. Ms. Grefe assisted in editing: Fighting To Win: Business Political Power, E. Grefe, 1981, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich and The New Corporate Activism: Harnessing the Power of Grassroots Tactics for Your Organization E. Grefe and M. Linsky, 1995, McGraw Hill. Grefe holds a M.A. Degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a B.S. Degree in Criminology from Florida State University. As a student, she traveled extensively visiting police facilities and correctional institutions within the U.S. and abroad. She has two children, was a soccer coach, Girl Scouts Leader for 10 years, and town coordinator for 4 years.