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Our staff is happy to assist you with information about the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. Contact a staff member by email by clicking on the staff member name below or call 319.366.2862.
|  | Les H. Garner, Jr.
President & CEO
Works closely with the board to develop and carry out the Community Foundation’s vision and strategies. Responsible for growing the Foundation through charitable giving; provides leadership on community issues. Directs the overall program and administrative activities of the Community Foundation. President Garner most recently served as president of Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa the past 16 years and joined the foundation in July 2010. He graduated with highest honors from the University of North Carolina in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. He received his master's and doctoral degrees in public policy from Harvard University in 1974 and 1985 respectively. From 1987 to 1994, president Garner was president of North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, N.C. Prior to this appointment, he served as assistant professor of business administration and director of the Young Executives Institute at the University of North Carolina. Between 1974 and 1977, he served as special assistant to the director at the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis in Laxenburge, Austria. | | | |
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Karla Twedt-Ball
Vice President of Programs
Responsible for directing the grant program activities of the Community Foundation, including grant making, scholarships, special projects, and other programs operated by the organization such as Youth POWER. Responsible for establishing policies and procedures to manage grant programs.
Karla is an Iowa native and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Iowa and a Master of Public Policy at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. She joined the foundation in 2006.
|  | Wendy Blood
Office Manager
Responsible for operation and maintenance of facilities, office services, and related functions. Provides administrative support, greets the public and facilitates communication with the appropriate staff.
Wendy was born and raised in Cedar Rapids and attended Kirkwood Community College. She previously held positions at The Gazette and Alliant Energy in customer service and field support before joining the foundation in 2006.
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| Jean_Brenneman
Director of Finance
Responsible for planning and directing the financial and accounting operations of the foundation. This includes data processing, fund administration, investment oversight, financial reporting, budget preparation and human resource management.
A native of Eldora, Iowa, Jean received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Iowa. She joined the foundation in 2007. She was previously with McGladrey & Pullen, LLP and the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra Association.
Amber Mulnik
Director of Communications
Responsible for the leading the creation and implementation of the Community Foundation's marketing communications, advertising, public and community relations and special events.
A native of Sallisaw, Okla., Amber earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communications from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo. Amber joined the Community Foundation in 2007. She has held corporate communications positions at Alliant Energy in Cedar Rapids and public relations positions with CMF&Z Marketing Communications in Cedar Rapids and Fleishman-Hillard in St. Louis.
Elizabeth Cwik
Grant Program Associate
Supports the grant making process and manages the county affiliate and YouthPOWER grant programs. A long time Cedar Rapids resident, Elizabeth previously served for seven years as pastoral associate at St. Pius X. She is a graduate of Loras College and holds a bachelors degree in business administration. Elizabeth joined the Community Foundation in 2008. |  |
Josie Velles
Foundation Services Manager
Responsible for logistics, non-competitive grants, and administering the Community Foundation's scholarship program, Josie also provides support for development functions and donor services.
Josie joined the Community Foundation in 2005. A California native and long time resident of Iowa, she graduated from the University of Iowa, and has over 10 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations including the Milwaukee Public Museum and the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
| | | Peggy Whitworth
Interim Director of Resource Development
Responsible for directing asset development and donor services functions at the Community Foundation. Manages fund development, planned giving and donor relations.
Peggy joined the Community Foundation in 2010. Previously, she was the founding executive director of Brucemore, Iowa’s only National Trust Historic property, for 26-years until her retirement in 2007.
Emmylou Ball
Accountant
Assists the Director of Finance with the maintenance of all Foundation financial records. Emmy manages the processing of accounts payable, grants payable and payroll; cash and fund management and preparation of financial reports. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa. Emmy joined the foundation in 2006.
Deb Orr
Administrative Assistant
Provides administrative support to the foundation staff.
Deb previously worked as a Customer Service Representative for the City of Cedar Rapids for 28 years until June 2008. She joined the foundation in August 2008. Rochelle Naylor
Program Assistant
Provides administrative and grants management support for the program-related work of the Community Foundation.
A lifelong Cedar Rapids area resident, Rochelle was previously was a 14-year staff member with the Cedar Rapids Symphony/Orchestra Iowa, first as operations director and then as education director. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa. Rochelle joined the foundation in 2010.
| | | | |  | Barbara Klawiter
Administrator, The REACT Center
The REACT Center, Rockwell Educational Access to Computer Technology, is a non-profit organization funded by Rockwell Collins Foundation and managed by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. REACT rebuilds computer hardware for distribution to qualifying schools and nonprofits. |  | Katie Giorgio
Marketing Assistant, Linn County Nonprofit Resource Center
Coordinates all marketing communications, public and community relations and special events for the LCNRC.
Katie joined the LCNRC in 2008 to combine her passion for marketing and local nonprofit organizations. She has worked for (Cedar Rapids Museum of Art and Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago) and volunteered with (Prairiewoods, St. Matthew Catholic Parish, and the Cedar Rapids Downtown District) nonprofit organizations over the past several years. She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines. | | | |  | Robert Untiedt
Director, Linn County Nonprofit Resource Center
The Linn County Nonprofit Resource Center helps to build capacity for area nonprofits through activities that strengthen nonprofit performance and impact. |
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