The United Way of Northwest Arkansas named Kimberly Aaron its new president.
She grew up in Springdale and has more than 30 years of experience in the business, public and nonprofit sectors, according to a news release.
Aaron served as CEO of the Arkansas Rice Depot, executive vice president of strategy and insights at the North Texas Food Bank and director of the Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Dallas. She also had an extensive career as a consultant in the financial services industry before joining the nonprofit sector.
Aaron said her nearly 16 months at the Rice Depot allowed her to work on child hunger, something that aligns with the United Way's focus on children living in poverty. Aaron said she honed her collaboration skills, and during her time at the Rice Depot worked with the Arkansas Foodbank to reduce duplication. She said after much due diligence, leadership from both nonprofit groups decided to merge, effective Jan. 1, 2016.
"One organization is not going to come up with a solution to children living in poverty," she said. "It's going to take a lot of groups working together. The United Way can be the backbone, and everyone else can be the arms and legs, and feet and hands."
United Way has been a part of the community in different ways since 1931, merging offices to form the United Way of Northwest Arkansas in 2007. United Way NWA serves Benton, Madison and Washington counties in Arkansas and McDonald County in southern Missouri. The organization supports 56 nonprofit groups with funding for 66 programs.
Jill Darling retired as president in March and Shawn Walker stepped in on an interim basis. Walker held several officer positions in his six years as a United Way NWA board member and worked with the board's search committee.
Aaron has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in marketing and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Arkansas, and a doctorate in public affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas, according to a news release. She has served as a volunteer and on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations and city commissions.
Aaron's first day on the job was Monday.
Metro on 11/24/2015