Hand in Hand Names Next CEO

Hand in Hand is pleased to announce that Angie Kendall has been selected as the next CEO to lead the organization. Board President John Byrne said, “Angie’s passion about our mission and the families we serve makes her an excellent choice to lead Hand in Hand in the future. Her passion for collaboration and innovation paints an inspiring vision for this organization as we grow in the future.”

Kendall graduated from Iowa State University with a BS in Child, Adult, and Family Services. Starting her career in early care education at ChildServe, an agency dedicated to meeting the unique needs of children with developmental delays, disabilities, injuries and other special healthcare needs, she relocated to the Quad Cities in 2007. Here she continued her career working in early childhood before spending six years at the Child Abuse Council, ultimately serving as the Director of Development and Communications. Since 2018 Kendall has been a Senior Development Officer at the Genesis Health System Foundation and Genesis Philanthropy.

“My career has been dedicated to advocating for young children and their families" Kendall said. “I’m very excited to bring my experiences and leadership skills to this new opportunity.”

Kendall succeeds Mark Smith, a co-founder of Hand in Hand who has served as CEO for 20 years. Smith will retire later this spring after a lifetime of serving children and young adults of all abilities.