The National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced on Thursday that it has contracted with Susy Rein, President of Strategically Engaged and wife of Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Andy Rein, to facilitate the organization’s Power Beyond Endowment Campaign and other strategic initiatives.

“When my husband was a competitive wrestler and a Big Ten head coach, I assisted with everything from fundraising and marketing to wrestling camps and mentoring student-athletes,” said Rein. “I developed a deep understanding and appreciation for wrestling, its athletes, fans, and the outstanding individuals the sport has shaped. I am a firm believer in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s mission and am excited to partner with its Board of Governors, Executive Director Lee Roy Smith and his staff on strategic initiatives, such as the endowment campaign, that will position the Hall of Fame to thrive and be relevant for generations to come.”

Initiated in 2021, the Power Beyond endowment campaign has raised $2.5 million towards its $5 million goal.

More information about the Power Beyond endowment campaign is available at nwhof.org/exhibits/powerbeyond.

“Susy Rein will be a valuable asset in our Power Beyond Endowment Campaign, primarily focusing on helping our team to execute our campaign plans efficiently,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “It is beneficial to bring in an outside perspective, but Susy also is familiar with our sport and its culture allowing us to better engage and steward our supporters. As with any successful campaign, I am confident that Susy will be laser-focused on helping us build our capacity to become more sustainable, so that we can increase our mission impact.”

"The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has a hard-working staff that covers an amazing amount of territory, time-efficiently. However, to achieve our $5 million Power Beyond endowment campaign goal, we needed more hands on deck,” said John Harris, Board of Governors member and Co-Chair of the Power Beyond endowment campaign. “Susy Rein has the credentials, experience, and wrestling pedigree needed to help our team achieve our target, and to make certain we also receive the generous matching gift offered by an anonymous group of donors."

Rein brings decades of experience helping nonprofits, municipalities, corporations, and executives establish and sustain best practices. She has been entrusted with executive board and leadership roles in each of the organizations she serves, including Glen Oak Lumber and Milling, where, from 1996 to 2013, she served the manufacturer as a marketing and business development consultant, a director on its corporate board, and, ultimately, as the company’s vice president of operations.

Since founding Strategically Engaged in 2013, Rein has used her strategic planning, coaching and communication skills to help clients analyze situations, clarify visions and objectives, and formulate effective strategies.

The Hall of Fame’s endowment fund was created in 2007 with gifts from Board of Governors members that totaled $400,000. The original endowment grew to a little more than $1 million, through investment interest and occasional additional gifts, by the end of 2021.