VegMin Learning Welcomes New Executive Director

VegMin Learning Welcomes New Executive Director

Emily Mailhot Reporter – Vegreville News Advertiser

Facing the retirement of long-time Executive Director Holly Cepeda, the VegMin Learning Society is happy to introduce a new staff member to the community. Stacey will be taking over the Executive Director role after Holly leaves at the end of August.

While Cepeda says she is sad to leave after 13 years, she is looking forward to her retirement and says it is coming at a good time. “The VegMin Society is in a good place. We have god board members, good staff, and the courses are smooth-sailing. I’m not worried about passing on my roles and have even given up a few things already.”

She looks forward to enjoying life, traveling, and maybe returning to the Vegreville’s Got Talent competition… as a contestant! Her last day will be August 3th, the final Friday of the month.

Stacey Eckenswiller first moved to Vegreville from BC a couple of years ago to be closer to family and has a background in Mental Health, as well as in education.

“I was very interested and excited to see their ad in the paper because it just seemed to fit so perfectly.”

She most looks forward to being involved in the community through VegMin, and just being part of their big picture.

“I don’t really want to change anything right away,” said Eckenswiller, “I think we’ll just leave the programming as it is for a year and get used to the position unless we see any big gaps in the community that need to be filled.”

She would like for the community to know that she is here and available. “Please come on in to say hi to me and say goodbye to Holly.”

VegMin ties up summer break on August first and will be open starting then.

Dwayne Hlady, hair of the society board, says that while the position is so diverse, four people could probably do it. “But I think Stacey fits perfectly, she’s up to the challenge.”

As always, the board may rely on new members to continue their operations. “We’ve got four right now, so if somebody is sick and can’t make it to the meeting we don’t have a quorum. It puts the organization at risk because we can’t function without them.”

Board members meet once every second month over lunch to make governing decisions and bring new ideas from the table based off of their experience in the community.