Riverland Community College

Ardell Brede became Mayor of Rochester, Minnesota on January 6, 2003. Prior to being elected, Mayor Brede held numerous positions at the Rochester Methodist Hospital and the Mayo Clinic of Rochester.

Riverland Community College honored Brede with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006. Brede addressed Riverland graduates as the Commencement keynote speaker.

Born in Austin, Minnesota, Brede received an Associate degree in commerce from then Austin Junior College (now Riverland Community College) in 1959 and took several graduate courses in the University of Minnesota Extension Division program. Brede has also attended Management classes and seminars at Brigham Young University and the Rochester Methodist Hospital/Mayo Rochester.

Brede is married to Judy Brede and they have three children, Leslie Kennedy, Scott Brede, and Jennifer Brede. Under his leadership as Mayor, Rochester has consistently ranked among the top ten most livable cities in the nation and has been named Star City, All America City, and Money Magazine's "#1 Best Place to Live in America."