Ten Thousand Villages Iowa City announces Liz Preciado Genell as the new executive director beginning Sept. 1. She brings retail, management, non profit, and education experience having managed Revival clothing store for 10years as well as working for The Iowa Artisan’s Gallery and The Soap Opera. Recently, she taught at The Montessori Children’s Nursery.
“I admire the fair-trade mission of the organization and feel strongly that this is the future of retail,” she stated in a release.
She feels that her new position at Ten Thousand Villages is “meant to be” because it aligns so well with her family’s values of eco-friendly sustainability, social justice, income equality and gender equality. She is excited to champion these causes globally.
Genell will fill the role of Cassidy Bell who successfully launched the store as executive director four years ago. Board member Joani Miller stepped in as interim when Bell took another retail position.
Ten Thousand Villages is a global maker-to market non-profit retailer located on the Ped Mall in downtown Iowa City. It is the first permanent Villages store in Iowa bringing fair trade artisan-crafted gifts, home decor, jewelry, personal accessories, textiles, art, and sculpture from over 30 countries.
In addition to Genell and an assistant executive director, the store is operated by volunteers.
