Sonya Schmidt Murphy has been named chief executive officer of Camp Aldersgate in west Little Rock, succeeding Sara C. Wacaster, a 21-year employee of the nonprofit camp that provides year-round programming to individuals with special needs.
Murphy is an experienced manager of nonprofit organizations, having been executive director of Economics Arkansas and president of the St. Vincent Foundation. She was recognized as an Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree in 2004, shortly after she joined St. Vincent Foundation.
“Our Board of Directors knew we needed someone with vision, energy, leadership, strong community relationships, and a giant heart,” chairwoman Cathy Engelkes said in a release announcing Murphy’s selection. “Each of these are critical as we look to take Camp in new strategic directions. And we are convinced Sonya has demonstrated each of these key qualities throughout her many years of service in Arkansas. Her energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and when combined with her vision and leadership, we just knew we had found the right person.”
Cathy Oldham Sanders has been hired as the new executive director at Hamlin Fistula USA, a nonprofit that supports treatment and prevention of childbirth injuries in Ethiopia.
Prior to joining HFUSA, she was an executive director at Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation. Most recently, Sanders served more than four years as the vice president of philanthropy and foundation relations at Heifer International in Little Rock, where she doubled the major gifts and foundation relations program to over $15 million per year.
She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Administration degree from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro.
See more of this week’s Movers & Shakers, and submit your own announcement at ArkansasBusiness.com/Movers.
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