Coming in July: new leadership to Trox Gallery & Gifts and Emporia First Friday.
The founder of both the business and event, Kaila Mock, is moving to Manhattan to work alongside her husband, Joel Smith, at Syndicate Tattoo. Kristin Oberle will take over Trox as she prepares for retirement, having worked 30 years as an art teacher at Emporia Middle School. Mock says Oberle is well-positioned to take Trox into the future.
Meanwhile, Mock says Emporia First Friday Marketing Director Kat Dorcas now takes over the full reins of that event.
From her perspective, Dorcas says Emporia First Friday has been popular for years because it is “accessible” to all, and she doesn’t see that changing with the leadership adjustment.
Emporia First Friday recently celebrated its 100th Art Walk last month, bringing artists to downtown Emporia businesses to interact with and support local and area artists. Trox, meanwhile, was named for longtime Emporia art teacher Jerry Troxel, a friend and mentor to Mock. It opened in 2020 and was the first local business to occupy the Emporia Main Street incubator space before moving to its current location in 2021.
1 pm Wednesday: Changes in leadership and ownership coming for Trox Gallery and Gifts and Emporia First Friday as Kaila Mock announces departure from Emporia
A major shift is coming for an Emporia business and monthly downtown event soon.
Wednesday afternoon, EFF announced that First Friday Art Walk co-founder and Trox Gallery and Gifts Owner Kaila Mock will be leaving Emporia to become the shop manager for Syndicate Tattoo in Manhattan where her husband Joel Smith currently works. As such, Mock will be “handing over the reins” of EFF to current Marketing Director Kat Dorcas.
Dorcas has been with EFF since 2022 after a lengthy career in communications with Flint Hills Technical College. In speaking of the future of EFF Dorcas stated “The art walk Kaila and Joel established has become such a vital event in Emporia and I want to see it carry on. While no one can replace Kaila, my hope is to continue Emporia First Friday in the same spirit as it was created.”
The change in leadership comes during a banner year for EFF which recently celebrated its 100th art walk and received the 2024 Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce Community Impact Award.
Separately, Kristen Oberle will take over ownership of Trox as she gets set to enter retirement after 30 years as an art teacher at Emporia Middle School. In the aforementioned news release, Oberle stated “I know I have big shoes to fill but I am humbled and excited to begin this new endeavor. Having worked at TROX the past four years, I feel I know the store and will continue providing quality art/gifts to Emporia. I am honored that Kaila trusts in my abilities to continue her vision.”
Named for the late Jerry Troxel, a longtime Emporia art teacher who was both a friend and mentor to Mock, Trox Gallery and Gifts opened in 2020 and was the first local business to occupy the Emporia Main Street incubator space.
Of the upcoming changes in ownership and leadership, Mock stated “EFF and Trox will both be left in capable hands, and I’m excited to see how each will flourish under new, energized leadership.” All changes will become effective in July.
KVOE News has reached out to Mock and others for additional comment.
