WELCOME

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Karen Sykes, MPA, as the new Executive Director of the Arkansas Brewers Guild. With her extensive experience in nonprofit and government sectors, we are confident that Karen will bring remarkable leadership and vision to our organization.

Karen lives in Little Rock and has a Bachelors of Science from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock along with over a decade of experience growing nonprofits and government agencies.

She is also the Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Little Rock and directly manages Little Rock Parks and Recreation volunteers. She is the co-founder of “Impact the Rock: A Day of Unity and Service” and the founder of the award-winning Jr. Park Ranger Program, Chains for a Change Disc Golf Tournament and Music in the Park. Karen brought National Public Lands Day to Little Rock and has led volunteers through the flood, the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 tornado.

Karen is the past President of the Arkansas Volunteer Coordinators Association and the past Nomination Chair and current Member-at-Large of the National Association of Volunteers in Local Government (NAVPLG).

In her free time, she enjoys travelling, working on her house, spending time with her son, fur babies and friends and, of course, craft beer.

While Karen’s position is currently part-time with 20 hours a week dedicated to the Guild, she is committed to making a significant impact. She is working on organizing a board retreat to establish our common mission, values, and goals. Additionally, we are scheduling Guild events where you can meet Karen in person.