Herman named to succeed Bimler as Wheat Ridge head

Dr. Richard Herman of Oak Park, Ill., has been named to succeed Dr. Richard Bimler as the fourth president of Wheat Ridge Ministries, effective Jan. 1, 2006.

Bimler, who has served in the position since 1991, announced last year that he would step down.  His last day will be Dec. 31.  Bimler said he plans to continue to be involved in ministry opportunities through speaking, writing, and consulting and would be open to serving Wheat Ridge in some way at the request of the new president.
 
Herman, 53, has served since 2002 as vice president and chief operating officer of Wheat Ridge, based in Itasca, Ill.  He joined the Wheat Ridge staff in 1992.
 
A 1974 graduate of Concordia University, River Forest, Herman also holds a master’s degree and an educational specialist’s degree from Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton.  In 1991, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from his alma mater, Concordia University.
 
Prior to joining Wheat Ridge, Herman served six years as executive director for parish services with the Synod’s Florida-Georgia District.  He also has served as teacher or principal at Lutheran schools in Florida, as president of the Lutheran Education Association, and as chairman of the Conference of LCMS Education Executives.
 
Wheat Ridge Ministries, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, is an independent Lutheran charitable organization that “seeds new ministries of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ” throughout the world.  At this writing more than 100 ministries are receiving Wheat Ridge funding.

Posted July 19, 2005

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