Brodnicki served as a Corporate and Community Impact Director for the American Heart Association in the San Francisco Bay area for four years, prior to taking the role of Executive Director in January 2022.
Rose Festival President Contesa Diaz-Nicolaidis said, "Rose Festival's theme for 2024 is ‘Dream Forward’, and bringing Nick on our team is the perfect example of doing just that. While he has deep respect for the history and tradition of the festival, he represents its future. He will help challenge us to be better and stronger, and our organization is up to that challenge."
Diaz-Nicolaidis leads the large volunteer Board of Directors of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation. She begins her second term in that role on Thursday at the Rose Festival's Annual Meeting.
Brodnicki is originally from Buffalo, New York. He has a Bachelor's of Adolescent Education and U.S. History from Canisius University and a Master's of Information and Library Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He's had careers in teaching, nonprofit management and as a professional triathlete, and he is a current MBA candidate at Portland State University. His varied experience brings a focus on community and driving shared outcomes. Nick and his wife live in North Portland.
“There is no better time to be celebrating the people and communities of Portland,” says Brodnicki. “I’m thrilled to join this storied organization to help drive the Dreams of Portland Forward.”