Diedrichsen Leads With Action

PCDC’s Board President Fred Diedrichsen received the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce’s Trailblazer of the Year award at the April 8 banquet.

The award recognizes an outstanding leader in the business community.

Fred, a retired Holdrege dentist, has served on the PCDC board since 2012 and as president of the organization for the past year.

“If I am a trailblazer, I can only think of all the other trailblazers there have been in Holdrege to get Holdrege to where it is today,” Fred said in his award acceptance speech. “If a person is to be successful as a trailblazer, he certainly needs a lot of strong willing workers to follow him. Someone who nominated me for this recognition thought I affected Holdrege in a positive way.  I am humbled and honored.”   

PCDC Executive Director Monica Boyken said, “Fred is intelligent, thoughtful, open, fair and balanced. He has been invaluable as a bridge between the board and staff, a very challenging responsibility for presidents of non-profit organizations.”

Monica said Fred “hasn’t stopped moving” since he started his service to PCDC.

“He is not just a leader, but he’s also a doer,” she said. “No leadership effort is too difficult or uncomfortable, and no task too insignificant for him to give 100 percent.”

In addition to serving as an informed president, Fred also serves on the board development committee and has volunteered for the executive director selection committee. He also organized and participated in the LB840 campaign’s door-to-door visits.

Fred’s other past community work involves serving on the boards of the Phelps County Community Foundation, the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce and the Holdrege Public School board, including a term as president. He also has coached youth sports, volunteered as a TeamMates mentor and served the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church by singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, volunteering as a trustee and serving on the administrative board and as congregational president for eight years.

Fred has also been active in his profession and served as president and speaker of the house for the Nebraska Dental Association and is part of the Nebraska Dental Association Hall of Fame. He also served on the Nebraska Dental College advisory and alumni boards. He traveled to the Dominican Republic and Belize to perform volunteer dental work with Nebraska Mission of Mercy.

Kyle Anderson, a former Trailblazer award winner, said that Fred has provided great leadership to the community over the years and has a strong desire to see Holdrege prosper.

Fred and his wife, Delores, moved to Holdrege in 1972 after his dental training and service in the U.S. Army. They raised their two children, Amy and Chris, in Holdrege.

“We have never looked back or regretted our decision to move to Holdrege,” Fred said.  “Holdrege has been very good for us and it just seems like the natural thing to do to help support and build the community that we love in any way possible.” 

Fred, a native of Scribner, retired from his 42-year dentist career in September 2014 and is continuing his lifelong commitment to community service in his retirement.

“Now since retiring from the active practice of dentistry I have enjoyed being able to volunteer and spend more time in activities that were not always possible before,” Fred said. “The future of Holdrege looks very positive.”