Two years into her tenure as Executive Director of the Emporia Community Foundation, Linda Keheres-Schmidt is now stepping down as leader and moving into a new role with the foundation.
In a news release from the ECF Board of Directors Wednesday, it was announced that Kehres-Schmidt will be moving into “an advisory consulting role with the foundation” effective immediately. Kehres-Schmidt came to Emporia back in 2024, replacing longtime ECF Director Becky Nurnberg, who retired after leading the agency for six years.
In the aforementioned news release, ECF Board President Brian Filinger stated, “Linda has played an integral role in growing the Match Day event, producing record results both years of her tenure. We are now managing more funds than ever before, and our asset base has grown as she worked with various partners to strategically position the foundation for even greater success in the future. We are grateful for her invaluable contributions and dedication and look forward to our continued connection in this new role.”
During an interview with KVOE News Wednesday morning, ECF Board President Brian Filinger says discussions for the transition began at the start of the year.
Loni Heinen, who has been with the foundation for the last 16 years, will now take over as Interim Executive Director. Heinen tells KVOE News she is excited to start this new chapter in her career.
Aside from her new title, Heinen says there will be no changes to operations inside the ECF offices, noting they are getting into their busy season at this time.
Despite the opening of the Match Day window and other activities, Filinger believes the transition comes at a great time and will not have any adverse effect on operations.
As for finding a new permanent president, Filinger says the ECF board will be meeting next Friday to discuss those plans, saying he expects it will look similar to the search effort that led to Kehres’ hiring, with candidate interviews hopefully taking place by mid to late spring.
Heinen joined the foundation in 2010 as a part-time administrative assistant and became a full-time employee when she was appointed Program Officer in 2014. Heinen transitioned to her latest role, Finance Officer, in 2020.
KVOE News has reached out to Kehres-Schmidt for comment.
