Kayla Kolar

Kayla Kolar has been in nonprofit executive leadership for over 30 years and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of House of Refuge since Jan. 1, 2021. Prior to that, she was President and CEO of HD SOUTH, Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum, for 15 ½ years, where she led the organization through most of a $2 million capital campaign and a complete rebranding from a history museum to a complex arts and culture nonprofit. Before that, she was the Executive Director for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the Deputy Director of the Desert Botanical Garden, and a Division Sales Manager with the National Federation of Independent Business. While at the Garden, she chaired the annual Luminaria event and was the lead project manager for a $17 million capital campaign and expansion. 

Kayla holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Illinois State University. She is a graduate of Gilbert Leadership Class XIV, was on the Gilbert Leadership Board of Directors for seven years, is a past president of the board, and is a past recipient of the Gilbert Leadership Award. Kayla is a graduate of the Gilbert Citizens Police Academy. Previously she has served on the boards for the Central Arizona Museum Association and the Museum Association of Arizona ,was a national officer for Phi Beta Lambda, Inc., and is a past recipient of the Chandler Gilbert Community College Silver and Teal Award. Kayla is currently involved in the Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek Chambers of Commerce. She has been a volunteer for such organizations as United Way, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Future Business Leaders of America, and the March of Dimes.

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Guiding Growth: Conversations with Community Leaders

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