Most Rochesterians know Donna Dedee as a face of television news for nearly two decades. During that time, Dedee honed and developed many professional skills and relationships that have shaped her career in the community spotlight from the camera to marketing and fundraising, and now executive leadership. Today, Dedee is the president and CEO of Bishop Kearney High School and the first woman in the country to lead a Christian Brothers school. Her journey and accomplishments demonstrate a thorough understanding and implementation of effective leadership and dedication.

Career Choices
"If you had told me as I walked across the stage at the Eastman Theatre in 1981 (as a Bishop Kearney graduate) that I would be back here in this position, I'd have said you were crazy," says Dedee. "It wasn't at all what I had my sights set on (then)." Many 17 year olds don't have careers mapped out, but her mother, Joyce Dedee of Penfield, says her daughter had plans in motion early on.

"Donna was always very ambitious. She worked part time after high school. She interned at Channel 10 in high school and into college. She learned every aspect of the news department," says Joyce. But Dedee acknowledges that people move on to other things:

"I loved television. But after 20 years, I had done everything I wanted to do. I was tired of working nights, weekends and holidays, rush home, feed and bathe the children and head back to the office." Dedee had not only worked in front of the camera, she launched and led FOX Rochester, the city's first 10 pm news broadcast. But Dedee was ready for a change.

In 2001, Joe Calabrese, then president of United Way of Greater Rochester, whom Dedee had known from her years covering stories in the community, approached her with an opportunity to work with the organization. Dedee says that her propensity for leadership and business and the timing of the opportunity were ideal.

"The United Way was different because of the nature of the business, but I used all of the skills that I had honed in broadcasting-news, writing, community relations and
marketing — it was a great fit. It showed me the other side – fund raising and finance in a different way. It also exposed me to some community leaders who were clearly making a difference along the way." She accepted the post of Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations.

As she worked in this role, Dedee realized a desire for a leadership opportunity. The position of President at Bishop Kearney opened, and Dedee saw it as the perfect opportunity for executive leadership, and as a way to help an institution that she cares deeply about.

"When Donna informed me of her decision to assume the presidency of Bishop Kearney, I was extremely saddened for our organization," says Peter Carpino, president of United Way of Greater Rochester. "But I recognized that leadership opportunities like that don't come along very often."

Dedee has demonstrated her skills well. This year, Dedee was instrumental in procuring a partnership between Bishop Kearney and B. Thomas Golisano, a long time advocate of education reform. Their goal is to position Bishop Kearney graduates for success in college by providing real world technology and innovative skills. Dedee says the partnership has far reaching community benefits as well.

"This illustrates how business and social entrepreneurs see the value in education." The value at Bishop Kearney is that with Mr. Golisano's help, the "Core Plus" Program will transform education through technology in an effort to make the school the best in the nation.

Creating a Legacy
As she reflects on her career path, Dedee notes that each role and position she has had was for a reason. "Every experience has uniquely prepared me for where I am now."

Now is in an expansive office where Dedee is just steps from halls overflowing with students between classes. It is there that she looks forward to mingling with and is inspired by the students, and where she says she recognizes her purpose. She says that as much as things have changed, much remains the same. The traditions that were so prevalent and part of the foundation when Dedee was a student are part of what drew her back. The Christian Brothers philosophy and mission live on. "What has changed is the environment around us, we have evolved to a great degree-particularly in recent years in the technology sphere," says Dedee.

But at Bishop Kearney Dedee is not your traditional leader. She did not come up the educational track. While she is very proud to have the role of being the first woman President, she is very conscious about her responsibility and need to set an example. "Whether male or female, lay leadership or religious leadership, each of those things represents a transition that is prevalent in the church because many vocations are disappearing," says Dedee. "So there is more responsibility that comes with that. As a woman I feel the most responsibility to do a good job to show my daughter that anything is possible. It doesn't matter what you are doing – do your best." And she does her best at measuring her role as a parent to her children.

Dedee recalls days of recording newsbreaks while her little ones were in the wings. Her face beams and a smile spans ear to ear when she speaks of Eddie, 12 and Mary Grace, 10. Friend Carol Anne DeMoulin, Senior Vice President of Fund Development & Marketing at Catholic Family Center of Rochester says she met Dedee when the children were younger, and their careers brought them closer.

"When I think of how Donna approaches whatever it is she does, she does it with passion, patience and persistence, and that's a person you can't help but want to be around," says DeMoulin. It's a recipe for success that works in many environments.
Dedee reflects on raising her children and pursuing her career.

"I wonder sometimes if my 10 year old appreciates what I am doing," says Dedee. As we are talking, Dedee's cell phone rings. Joyce has just wrapped up spending
grandparents' day at school with Mary Grace. Dedee is always in touch with her kids, and very close with her family and extended family, much of whom live in or around Rochester. Dedee's thoughts over whether or not her daughter understands what she is doing are allayed as she shares a shining moment when her daughter was assigned to write about whom she admired most.

"She wrote 'I most admire my mom'," Dedee shares proudly. "That means I did my job! That is what is most important to me." Her daughter's essay goes on to talk about Dedee's important roles in television, at the United Way, and now at Bishop Kearney. Dedee carries that with her every day. As a woman, she thinks about her daughter growing up and believing that there are no obstacles to what she wants to do. Dedee can certainly take comfort in knowing that she is a true role model.

The Rochester Community
All of Dedee's career choices have involved close interaction and communication with people and community issues. Throughout her career Dedee was exposed in media to many of different parts of the community that she might otherwise have not known. She is now able to embrace that and give back. She serves on many boards, including The Girl Scouts of the Genesee Valley and the Salvation Army. Dedee also previously served as President of the Board of Directors on the Women's Council of the Rochester Business Alliance. And she takes those roles seriously.
"Every one of the organizations I am involved with I want to help succeed," says Dedee.

Broken Glass
Ginny Cornyn, a former Xerox executive fostered a friendship with Dedee during Dedee's media years. Cornyn was an engineer by trade, and made marked achievement in what became a highly successful career. When she took her post at Bishop Kearney, Cornyn gave her a "glass ceiling pin" because she was proud that Dedee had made her way as she had. Dedee was proud to receive it from Cornyn personally. But Dedee is very clear about women, roles and success:
"Whether you succeed, excel, are recognized or not, you are always dependent upon the fact that you are a woman. But achieving success is a matter of individual skills, drive and talent whether you are a man or woman." And Dedee is a shining example of her words.

Donna and her husband Ed live with their children, Eddie, 12, and Mary Grace, 10, both of whom she expects to see in the halls of Bishop Kearney in the future. The family lives in Penfield.