By Karl Nelsen, PA-C, M.S.
President
NFED Board of Directors
Change is a part of every great story and today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are pleased to share that Greg Klimovitz has been named as the NFED’s next executive director.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Mary Fete
Greg succeeds Mary Fete, M.S.N., R.N., C.C.M., who announced earlier this year that she’s stepping back as executive director in December. For the next three months, Mary will work closely with Greg to prepare him for this new role and ensure a smooth transition.
We are incredibly grateful for Mary’s service since 2002, her leadership since 2014, and the extraordinary advancements made for our NFED family during her tenure. While she will be leaving her executive director role, Mary is not saying goodbye. She will continue to support the NFED in 2026 by focusing on key research projects in a limited capacity. We will celebrate her many accomplishments in a future blog. But, for now, we simply say, thank you, Mary, for everything.
Introducing Greg Klimovitz
You may already know Greg as he joined the NFED in 2024 as the Director of Development and Communications. He has built relationships and championed the mission with enthusiasm and heart. When you meet Greg, you will quickly see his deep passion for our ectodermal dysplasias community and our vital work. He has a natural ability to connect and network with people. We look forward to him fostering new collaborations and increasing our financial resources to help our families.
Mary echoes this sentiment.
“I’m excited for Greg to lead the NFED in this next phase,” Mary Fete said. “He’s energetic and understands what an honor and responsibility it is to serve our families in this new role.”
Greg’s professional journey includes leadership in both nonprofit and corporate settings, with a background in executive leadership coaching, fundraising, marketing, youth programs and community development. He also has served on other nonprofit boards and is passionate about working towards a more just and equitable world. He and his wife, Amber, live outside Philadelphia with their four children. Greg is also an avid Baltimore Orioles baseball fan.
Greg brings not only his diverse experience but also a vision for growth. We are confident that his development expertise and ability to share your stories will help the NFED strengthen our resources, expand programs and reach even more families who need our support. Most importantly, his leadership is rooted in the same values that define the NFED: people first, always.
A Vision for the Future
Greg shared his vision.
“When I joined the NFED staff, I did so with an eagerness to learn as much as I could about not only the ectodermal dysplasias, but even more so, the community that makes this organization so beautiful and impactful. While I have been in awe of the breakthroughs in research, treatment, education, support, legislative advocacy and a growing network of partners and care providers, it’s really the people who have moved me the most.
“The resilience of each individual and family is only matched by the compassion and solidarity of this diverse community. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your executive director and build on the incredible work of Mary Fete and the legacy of our founder, the late Mary K. Richter. Moving forward together as the NFED, we will keep people at the center, strengthen our mission across every pillar, and embrace new tools and ideas that allow us to serve more families in deeper, lasting ways.”
This transition is more than a change in leadership. It’s the continuation of a story that began nearly 44 years ago when the NFED was founded. With Greg at the helm of our dedicated staff and Mary continuing her research contributions, the NFED community is poised for an inspiring next chapter.
Donate today to celebrate Mary’s legacy and Greg’s new leadership.
Have a question or comment? Contact us.