Staff

Connie Hendrix-Kral, Executive Director

Connie Hendrix Kral has more than twenty years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Previous experience included serving as Executive Director of the North Arkansas Symphony, Director of Donor Relations for the Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation, and Assistant Director of Development for The University of Georgia Foundation. As a native Arkansan on her father’s side going back five generations, she is very excited to have this opportunity to help Northwest Arkansas at this critical juncture in its history. Blending her love of history and the arts, her goal is to have The Peel Compton Foundation “ready to meet the world.”

Educational background includes a B.A. in journalism and history from the University of Arkansas, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She received her M.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia and her Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the UA. Her dissertation was funded by the Indiana University Center of Philanthropy and the title was “Student Services Divisions in Public Universities During Capital Campaigns.”

Her volunteer experience has spanned from serving as the first national chairman of the Advisory Council in conjunction with the national board of directors for RESOLVE, the national organization for infertility. She also served as one of three co-chairs to form the local chapter as well as president. Professionally, she volunteered to serve on the steering committee for the first chapter of AFP (the Association of Fundraising Professionals) and later as its third president. She also was responsible as the first chairman of National Philanthropy Day, which has become an important event to honor those giving back to northwest Arkansas. She was also recruited to serve as the first district chairman for Leave a Legacy.

As Executive Director, Hendrix-Kral is responsible for the fundraising and strategic planning.

Corrin Troutman, chief horticulturist and director of foundation gardens

Corrin has been gardening since she was two years old in West Fork, Arkansas. In 2001, she graduated with a B.S. in Horticulture from the University of Arkansas. She worked as a garden nursery sales representative in Dallas, Texas and the Northeast Texas area after graduation. She has been with The Peel Compton Foundation since 2004. Corrin is a member of the Bentonville Garden Club, Arkansas Certified Nursery & Landscaper Professional, and the American Public Gardens Association. Her interests are in Arkansas native plants, public gardens, urban forests, community volunteering, and public education of gardening, conservation and native plants.

Tiffany Hellerstedt, Business Development Manager

Tiffany has an extensive background in sales and business development. Previously, she has owned her own social media & marketing consulting firm with 10+ years of experience working in the world of higher education. Tiffany has her Master's in Education with an emphasis on Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in French.

Tiffany is a subject-matter expert in advising and training individuals and business entities with social media, planning large and small-scale events, and has facilitated over 100 educational sessions. Tiffany's passion is working with people, which has been the shining light of her position at The Peel Compton Foundation as the Business Development Manager.

Tiffany is an active volunteer in the community, a member of Cross Church Pinnacle Hills with her husband Jeff, Chair of Fund Development for the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas, original member of Crystal Bridges Museum, a published author, and a three-time marathoner. She and Jeff enjoy spending time with their four-legged daughter - Hadley, hanging out with friends, visiting family, and traveling.

Zella Norman, Horticulturist

Zella started working for the Peel Compton Foundation full time as Horticulturist in July 2007. She takes care of the greenhouse, supervises the Peel crew and supports the Site Manager and the crew at Compton. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a B.S. in Landscape Horticulture. While she was attending school, she worked for the University of Arkansas maintaining the horticulture gardens. She also did her horticulture internship for the Peel Compton Foundation in the summer of 2003.

Zella became interested in plants when she was a young child and still finds great delight in watching new plants emerge. She hopes to pass some of that interest on to one of her children or to anyone that is interested in learning about plants.

Victoria Yarborough,
Event Coordinator

Victoria is The Peel Compton Foundation’s newest addition and comes with a background in marketing, event planning, and non-profit fundraising.  She received her MBA from Missouri State University with an emphasis in Marketing, and has a Bachelor of Science in International Management and Spanish. An avid traveler, she has visited over 20 countries and speaks conversational French and professional Spanish.

Her work at the foundation will focus on customer relations, meeting with potential clients to show the event spaces available for rent both at Compton Gardens Conference Center and The Peel Mansion. She will be the main contact for coordinating our events - weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers to corporate meetings and business seminars. 

Victoria is new to Northwest Arkansas and is looking forward to getting to know the area and all it has to offer. In her free time she enjoys being outdoors, taking walks with her dog Dublin, and finding new recipes to feed her always-hungry fiancé.  

Carol Harris,
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Carol has been a Peel Mansion volunteer for the past few years. Carol has recently joined our staff to coordinate all the volunteers at The Peel Mansion. She also helps tremendously when we have bus tours visiting The Peel Mansion. (photo coming soon!)