Ryan Weidner, '98, M.B.A. '12, Joins NIU Alumni Association Board of Directors
By Lia Kizilbash Gillet
Ryan Weidner, ’98, M.B.A. ’12, is appointed to the NIU Alumni Board of Directors effective July 1, 2024.
(Photo: Katie O’Brien Photography)
Ryan Weidner, ’98, M.B.A. ’12, is elevating his strong partnership with the NIU Alumni Association, this time as a board member. He brings his energy, established professional network, and wealth of experience to the role.
“I wanted the opportunity to offer my time and talents back to the institution that has meant so much to me and has significantly contributed to my success and growth,” Weidner said about joining the board beginning July 1.
As co-founder, president and CEO of Pollyanna Brewing Company, Weidner is already a committed partner of the NIU Alumni Association through Dawgma, a collaborative Kölsch-style ale, adored by Huskies for its name, logo, and taste, and as a gracious host of alumni events at their suburban Chicago breweries over the years.
After completing his M.B.A. at NIU, Weidner was motivated to follow his dreams and unleash his entrepreneurial spirit.
“It has been a serendipitous, amazing ride!” Weidner said. “I found a few like-minded, passionate partners to join me in starting Pollyanna. In the 10 years since starting the business, we’ve grown to four locations, two brewing divisions and a distilling division. We employ approximately 80 people, have our product at nearly 1,000 retail points in Illinois, and have won 20 national and international awards for our beer and spirits.”
With its success, it’s hard to believe that Weidner’s role as Pollyanna’s president and CEO isn’t his day job. Rather, launching and growing the business has been his passion project.
During traditional business hours, Weidner serves as the director of finance for the Chicago district at Graybar. He oversees nearly $1 billion in accounts receivable and other assets through its Midwest markets.
“My team and I navigate what has become an ever-changing dynamic in supply chain management,” he said. “As a distributor of electrical, communications, data networking and industrial products, we’ve faced significant risks and challenges over the past few years.”
(Photo: Matt Brendich, NIU Alumni Association)
Weidner has been with Graybar, a Fortune 500 company, for over 26 years, interviewing with them on NIU’s campus during his senior year at NIU.
“I made one of the best decisions of my life starting a career at Graybar,” he said. “Growing up in a construction household, I spent a few years in high school and college working with my dad on job sites. Little did I know that my experience would prove invaluable as I established my career at Graybar, where most of our business is in the construction space.”
In addition to his construction background, Weidner credits his NIU education as the foundation for his professional success. As a first-generation college graduate, he essentially put himself through college (during his undergraduate years) by working when he wasn’t taking classes or studying. At the time, Weidner didn’t realize finding a balance between work and school—remaining focused on achieving his educational goals—would later serve him when striking a balance between Pollyanna and Graybar.
Weidner said he was eager to start his professional career but always planned on earning an M.B.A.
“Going back to NIU to further my education was always on my mind, and I am thrilled to have made that decision,” he said.
Today, as a double Huskie, Weidner enjoys connecting with students by sharing his wisdom and experiences as they look to the next phase of their lives. He has assisted students in the College of Business Professional Sales Program to develop their sales skills and has worked with some students to pursue post-graduation opportunities at Graybar.
“I remind fellow alumni to pay it forward,” he said. “It is extremely rewarding to contribute to the future success of others.”
Weidner is grateful to have found a balance between Graybar, Pollyanna, and family, and he looks forward to adding the NIU Alumni Association Board of Directors to the mix. He and his wife, Cyndi, are enthusiastic travelers who are either getting ready to go somewhere or planning their next trip. They are proud parents of their sons, Landon and Colin, and Saydee, their golden retriever. In Weidner’s free time, he plays disc golf, hits a new local diner for his favorite meal of the day, or cheers on the Chicago Cubs from Wrigley Field or a seat at Pollyanna.
“Pollyanna Brewing Company created a community for our customers to gather, celebrate, relax and unwind,” he said. “I enjoy spending time at one of our locations when I can. Seeing our concept and mission carried out every day by our amazing staff has been so rewarding. NIU alumni have a very similar community, and I am proud to be on the Alumni Association Board of Directors as someone who can play a role in bringing Huskies together.”
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