While the new executive director of Dreams to Reality doesn't officially take the reins of the nonprofit until Thursday, she's already spending her free time working at the nonprofit.
Jaime Walz has a background in nonprofits that includes a stint as the Central Missouri division director for the March of Dimes.
A local group of women founded Dreams to Reality in 2000 to help disadvantaged women secure interview- and career-appropriate attire. Over the years, the nonprofit has grown and expanded services.
It assists women facing many different degrees of hardship.
In 2016, the organization moved to 500 Jefferson St. in Jefferson City, where it operates a Resale Boutique. The boutique is open to the public 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 9 a.m.-noon the first and third Saturdays of each month.
Walz grew up in Jefferson City. Her family owned and operated the Milo H. Walz furniture store.
She graduated from high school at Jefferson City then attended William Woods University in Fulton, where she was a graphics arts major.
Walz ended up painting billboards in Springfield. Then, her father called and said the store needed help with advertising.
She came home and designed advertisements for the store for about five years.
The family eventually sold the store.
She had her first child, a daughter, 23 years ago. A son came along about four years later.
Walz said her time was spent raising two children.
"When my kids were little, my focus on volunteering was always with the PTA, YMCA, swim teams and things like that," Walls said.
But her daughter, now 23, lives in Fulton, where she teaches. Her son, 19, is a full-time student at the University of Missouri.
"They're old now, so they don't need me as much," Walls said. "It allows me to open it up now."
She realized she could do more for the community.
A niece told Walz about the leadership opening with Dreams to Reality.
"I had thought about it and thought about it. I have always believed in the mission for Dreams to Reality," she said. "I've donated to the organization for 20 years. I just had never thought of being employed or working with them."
Dreams to Reality is well run, Walz said. After the previous director unexpectedly died, the organization's board and volunteers stepped up and took over, she added.
"It's a well-oiled machine. The volunteers know what to do and how to do it," she said. "Between the volunteers, the board and (interim director) Molly Nichols, they did a wonderful job."
Walz understands her role is mainly administrative. It's work she can do evenings and weekends, when the efforts don't interfere with her main job - working for the state.
"It's going to be helping them recruit volunteers," she said. "Helping them more with the social media presence."