Hall of Champions

There are key figures in our agency’s history that have had a transformational impact on our organization’s growth and success. These people, companies, and groups have dedicated countless hours over the course of years (or decades) to helping us define and further our mission and programs, plan for the future, weather countless challenges, raise needed funding, and build and strengthen relationships with our community and its members. Simply put, Haven House Services would not have been the same without their leadership. So in 2019, we created a special award to honor them – Our Hall of Champions.

Current Hall of Champions Members:

Michael Rieder

Mike Rieder served as the Executive Director at Haven House Services for an incredible 32 years, from 1977 to 2009. Under Mike’s leadership Haven House Services grew from a small service nonprofit into a well-respected, effective, and responsive community-based organization that has changed the lives of tens of thousands of Wake County youth. Mike is known for his ability to develop innovative solutions in response to community needs. In his time at Haven House, he led the creation of seven new programs to fill gaps in Wake County’s continuum of services for youth and their families so that our youth would have a better shot at being successful. Mike is a strong and vocal advocate in our community, our state, and across the country. His tireless and innovative work has been recognized many times over at the state and national levels. He has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Network for Youth, the Outstanding Service Award from the North Carolina Juvenile Services Association, Outstanding Safe Place Administrator from the National Safe Place Network, and the North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed by the Governor on an individual in North Carolina.

Nina Long

Nina Long is one of our most generous and steadfast champions for the youth and families supported by Haven House Services. Nina served on our Board of Directors from 2010-2019, returned to the Board in 2020, and has served in a number of leadership positions across multiple committees including Human Resources, Board Development, and Resource Development. Nina provided exceptional leadership as our Board Chair from 2016 to 2018. In this role, she led Haven House through an organizational transformation process to build the capacity, leadership, resources, and connections that the agency will need to expand its impact and lay the foundation for long-term growth and sustainability. This included providing leadership for a long-term strategic planning process, the development of Haven House’s first resource development department and team, and the restructuring of the agency to better leverage leadership and resources. Nina is a tireless advocate for Haven House Services. From leading coat drives to connecting the agency to community leaders to talking to funders, she has been a backbone of support and strength for Haven House for more than a decade.