Compeer's Leadership Team
Lida Riedlinger
President / Executive Director
Lida Riedlinger brings expertise in management, business
process and training to her role as Compeer Inc. President/Executive
Director. Lida will provide leadership to the Compeer Inc team, work
closely with affiliates to strengthen program support, and deliver brand
awareness through program delivery excellence and repeatability. Her
leadership and collaborative skills inspire results-driven teams, and she is
committed to the Compeer mission of recovery through social integration. Her commitment to Compeer is informed through her work as a board member,
international committee roles, and family experience. Lida holds a
B.F.A. from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Mary Ellen Budny
Vice President of Customer Relations
Mary Ellen Budny serves as the main contact for existing Compeer affiliate locations. She is responsible for helping existing Compeer locations to serve more people, by sharing best practices and developing new funding streams. Budny holds a bachelor’s degree in General Studies-Social Science with a concentration in Psychology from the University of Rochester.
Johanna Ambrose
Director, New York State Region
Johanna Ambrose is the primary contact for Compeer affiliates in New York. She helps strengthen and grow Empire State locations by providing support in such areas as volunteer recruitment, fundraising and program development. Ambrose earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia.
Compeer's Founder
Bernice Skirboll
Bernice “Bunny” Skirboll founded Compeer more than 30 years ago, following a near-fatal automobile accident. Her long rehabilitation helped her realize the power of friendship, and she vowed to make a difference in other people’s lives. Skirboll served as executive director since Compeer’s inception. Under her leadership, Compeer grew from a small program to an internationally recognized mental health agency. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Rochester and has received numerous professional awards. Bernice wrote a book about Compeer, "Compeer: Recovery Through the Healing Power of Friends," which the University of Rochester Press published in 2006.