The Consulate General of the Republic of Estonia in New York is pleased to announce that Ms. Mary B. Nippert of Cincinnati, Ohio, has been appointed as the first ever Estonian Honorary Consul to the states of Ohio and Kentucky. In her 30's, she is one of the youngest Honorary Consuls for any country in the United States.
Ms. Nippert, a jeweler, is active in the non-profit sector and her immediate family includes such notables as the late diplomat, Judge A.K. Nippert (first foreign born, later to become naturalized citizen, Eminent Supreme Archon of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity), the Lt. Governor of Ohio, the late Carl L. Nippert, as well as philanthropists, the late Louis (Great-Grandson and heir to James Gamble, co-founder of the Procter & Gamble Co.) and Louise (Dieterle) Nippert, who were majority owners of the Cincinnati Reds and minority owners of the Cincinnati Bengals professional sport franchises. She is directly descended from Baltic nobility, with ties to Estonia, through her Great-Grandmother, Countess Ida (von Uexkull-Gyllenband) Nippert. While not a member of First Families of Virginia, through her English ancestry, Ms. Nippert also descends from one of first families of that Colony. Ms. Nippert was educated at the University of Cincinnati, Oxford University (England), United States Naval Academy and Gemological Institute of America.
Ms. Nippert was a professional artist and commercial photographer before opening her Cincinnati based high end boutique jewelry store, ten years ago. Many of her paintings are in private collections in Europe and the United States. Among her awards and recognitions, Ms. Nippert has been named a 2014 honoree of the YWCA "Rising Star Career Women of Achievement", the Cystic Fibrosis Society "Cincinnati's Finest" for 2014 and to the Multiple Sclerosis Society "Cincinnati Leadership Class" 2014. She also serves on several boards and was Volunteer Chairperson of the 2014 Campaign Cabinet for the United Way. In addition, Ms. Nippert has served on several grant review committees for the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. She is a member of the Queen City Club, since joining in 2003 and became the first ever 5th Generation member of the Cincinnati Woman’s Club, after joining in 2002. Ms. Nippert was also selected in 2015 by the UCCA, the Ukrainian Congressional Committee of America, to be part of the Special Election Observation Delegation, to monitor election integrity in the Ukraine, but due to scheduling conflicts, she was unable to participate
Estonia, a NATO and EU member, is a growing trade partner with the United States, particularly in technology and energy sectors, and Ms. Nippert will help coordinate and develop business, cultural and educational ties between the nations. The establishment of an Honorary Consulate in Ohio and Kentucky by Estonia is of importance because of the significant manufacturing, agriculture and technology base in the region, as well as the large number of internationally important universities located in the two states.
