Meet our Board Members: Carrie Niedert

Name and Board Title

Carrie Niedert - Board Chair

What city do you call home?

Cape Coral, FL 

Tell us a little bit about your background – personal and/or professional.

I am an HRIS Analyst for Smithfield Foods. My entire career has been in HR in different areas including HRIS, Benefits and Recruiting.   I have been married to my husband for almost 19 years but we have been together for almost 27 years.  We have 3 children, and our oldest is graduating high school this year and he will be moving away for college this summer.    Our middle daughter is finishing her freshman year of HS and our youngest is finishing 5th grade and will be moving on to middle school.   Time really does fly by. 

Where did you grow up?

Plymouth, WI

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

Watching beautiful sunsets anywhere.  I also love to watch my kids play sports (that takes up any time for hobbies 😉) and watching them find their sport and grow with it. And volunteering with AFSP!

What might someone be surprised to learn about you?

We have 4 dogs and a bearded dragon - yes I love dogs 😊. I wish I could win the lottery and rescue them all.  

Why did you become involved with AFSP?

I lost my father to suicide 8 years ago in May.  Since then I have had a niece and a teenage daughter with lived experiences.  I don’t want anyone to go through the pain and suffering my family has.   Also people need to understand they are not alone in their struggles with mental illness! 

What was your first introduction to AFSP?

When I moved to Florida 7 years ago, I saw on social media a post for an Out of the Darkness Walk, checked the website found the closest walk and I signed my son and I up in Sarasota. My family and friends supported us with donations.  Him and I listened to the opening ceremonies, cried, and walked on the beautiful Siesta Key Beach, met others going through the same thing and felt a sense of belonging, though I knew no one and was in a brand new state.  I then attended the International Survivor of Suicide Loss event a few months later.  From there I started a walk in Naples with another survivor and then joined the board shortly after.   After moving from Naples, I am excited to start a brand new walk in Ft Myers Dec 2022.  

Personal Favorites: 

I love the community walks and tabling at different events including Pride and veterans events.  Even though I am not a political person, I also truly love advocating for suicide prevention and mental health, especially in DC.  It is sad, the impacted people you will meet everywhere. 

What is one of the most important things you would share with the community about AFSP?  

AFSP is really an amazing organization that provides so much support and resources for loss survivors and people struggling.  They help loss survivors find a purpose and a way to bring hope to others.  They also bring training and education to the community, schools and business.  They truly care about everyone who volunteers and understands self care is such an important part of everything we do.  

Anything else you’d like to share?

Being a loss survivor is like being in a club you don’t want to be in, but finding AFSP has made the journey so much better. 

Do you have a hidden talent?

I can truly say I have found I can help people and bring hope and light to others going through the same thing - which I never thought in a million years I would be doing this.   Who would have thought I would be chairing and organizing community walks.