Photo: Kimberly Jones (left) and Gwen Khayat
The Twin Lakes Community Foundation (TLCF) has announced the retirement of Gwen Khayat and appointment of Kimberly Jones as the group’s executive director.
Sara Zimmerman, TLCF chairperson, says, “I know that the board of the Twin Lakes Community Foundation appreciates Gwen for her contributions to our organization and her years of service. We will miss Gwen and wish her the best in her retirement.”
A Baxter County native, Khayat joined TLCF in March of 2016, spending four years helping people and non-profits with grant applications and establishing endowments of the organization’s service area, which includes Baxter, Marion, Izard and Fulton counties.
After living in Houston and Kuwait before returning to the Twin Lakes Area, Khayat spent 26 years as the Baxter County librarian, retiring from that position in 2015. She oversaw the library’s efforts in conjunction with the Baxter County Library Foundation to apply for grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation for a new building. The grant was awarded, and the new facility opened in 2010.
Zimmerman welcomes the new executive director saying, “We are happy to announce the hiring of Kimberly Jones.”
Jones is a 1993 graduated of Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics. She has worked as a substitute teacher and secretary for the Mountain Home Public School District. Jones previously served as a food technologist for Tyson Foods in Springdale and dietary manager for Mohawk Care Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before relocating to the Twin Lakes Area 15 years ago.
“Kimberly has lived in the Twin Lakes area for 15 years and has volunteer experience and contacts that will serve the Foundation well,” says Heather Larkin, president and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation. “Her innovative spirit and her ability to analyze information to make informed decisions make her an excellent leader for our Twin Lakes affiliate.”
Led by a local board, the Twin Lakes Community Foundation was established in 2002 with a $50,000 donation. Since then, the group has awarded more than $2.6 million through its Giving Tree grants.
To learn more about the board, its funds and endowments, visit arcf.org/affiliates/twin-lakes or contact Jones at(870) 321-8887.
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