After a few months, one organization in Jefferson has hired its new head position.

The Jefferson Matters: A Main Street and Chamber Community Board hired Beth Vander Wilt to be its second executive director. Vander Wilt previously served as the office coordinator and interim director following the resignation of Reegan Hanigan as the director earlier this year.

Vander Wilt has lived in Jefferson for 36 years and worked as a high school Spanish teacher until her retirement in 2018. She was then a tour guide at Thomas Jefferson Gardens in the summer of 2019 and was also hired as the office coordinator for the then Jefferson Area Chamber. When the Chamber merged with Jefferson Matters: Main Street in 2020, Vander Wilt continued to be the office coordinator and the events and tourism coordinator. 

Vander Wilt graduated from Iowa State University with degrees in Spanish, English and secondary education. She earned several honors during her teaching career, including the Iowa World Language Teacher of the Year in 2005, ISU Alumni Educational Achievement Award in 2006, being National Board Certified in 2002 and 2012, along with the Iowa World Language Association Distinguished Service Award in 2018. 

Vander Wilt says she is excited to take over as the director and believes she has an amazing board, volunteers and leaders that will continue to grow the community.