Big Changes Ahead!
Dear ACR family,
It is with a heavy heart that I am sharing today that I will be leaving ACR at the end of May. Our family will be embarking on a new adventure in Denver, Colorado, and I wanted to leave this beloved community with some words of gratitude and what to expect next.
It has been an honor building this unique place alongside so many of you over the last four years. When I joined the staff in 2020, we were deep in a global pandemic that we didn't yet understand, had just moved into our massive new space on Wheless Lane, were closed to the public due to Covid, and the future was very uncertain. Now, four years later, together we've surpassed more than 2.5 million pounds of materials diverted from the landfill, we've launched dozens of new programs, we're coming off the busiest four months the center has ever had, and we're supporting more of our community than ever before. I certainly don't feel finished in my work here - and I don't think I ever would - but it's been a rare privilege to have had the opportunity to contribute to something so special to our community.
One of my boys from our first visit to ACR in 2016.
Looking forward, I am excited to announce that Kat Moulton, our current Programs Manager, has graciously accepted the position of Interim Executive Director. As many of you know, Kat has been with ACR since she started as a reuse specialist in the old center. Rather than stepping into my shoes, I'm sure she will be designing her own as she prepares for ACR's future. Kat is truly one of the most capable people I have ever met, and her dedication to ACR and our people runs deep. We are so lucky to have her.
Kat will be supported in her new role by our entire team of reuse geniuses throughout the organization, including a few folks who are taking on new responsibilities. Molly Shaw, our current Programs Coordinator, has stepped back in to support our center-based teams in the role of Center Operations Manager. As you may remember, Molly was ACR's very first Retail Manager way back when we first moved into the Wheless location. Tanya Marin, our current Community Engagement Manager, is taking on additional engagement responsibilities as the public face of ACR in their new role as Community Engagement Director. Please join me in congratulating Kat, Molly, and Tanya and show them and our entire team some extra support through this transition.
I hope to have the opportunity to say “Till next time…” to many of you in person before I depart on May 31st. You can also reach me by email at jenn.evans@austincreativereuse.org until the end of the month.
Thank you for your partnership and friendship over the last four years. I will always be proud of what we built together and can't wait to see what ACR does next!
With immense gratitude and reuse love,
Jenn
From ACR’s Board of Directors:
ACR Announces Kat Moulton as Interim Executive Director
The Board of Directors is announcing that Katherine ‘Kat’ Moulton has been appointed as the Interim Executive Director of Austin Creative Reuse, effective May 15th, 2024. Kat, who is currently the Programs Manager, will succeed Jenn Evans, who is leaving the Executive Director role she has held since 2020 due to a move out-of-state.
ACR’s Board is thrilled that Kat will be moving into this role. Kat has been with ACR since our days at The Linc, and she has filled a variety of roles: from donation processing to program planning to risk management. Her breadth of experience, deep understanding of the organization, and strong relationship with the staff and external stakeholders have inspired confidence in our board members that our organization is in good hands.
We are incredibly grateful to Jenn Evans who helped us start anew after our move to our Wheless location and successfully led our organization to pivot during pandemic shut down, keeping all of our staff employed and creating new revenue streams. She has led ACR to its many milestones to become the thriving center, community, and advocate for reuse that it is today. Jenn, who started her journey with ACR as a board member, will be dearly missed by all of us and we wish her family well in their new adventure.
Jenn Evans expressed confidence in the board’s choice: “Kat is truly one of the most capable people I have ever met, and her dedication to ACR and our people runs deep. We are so lucky to have her.” The ACR Board looks forward to working with Kat over the next twelve months as we work to clearly define ACR’s strategic goals to further grow and strengthen the organization towards its mission in the coming years.