Development Director Kelly Zega Leaves Crystal Bridges

Did you know Kelly Zega recently resigned as director of development at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art? Her final day was July 22.

Zega had been employed at the Bentonville museum since last September. Before that, she was director of public relations for Cox Communications in Arkansas for nearly a decade.

Zega — the assistant director of communications for the Arkansas Alumni Association when she was part of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 class in 2000 — told Whispers her break is a sabbatical of sorts.

“I’ve never not worked,” she said. “But my fiancé was very encouraging to just say, ‘You know what? Why don’t you just be you for a while.’ It’s not a forever thing. But I am going to enjoy it for a while and see what comes my way.”

Zega, who will marry Scott Syer on Aug. 20, said she’ll do some traveling the next few weeks before returning to Fayetteville.

“I have some creative projects that I’ve had in mind for a long time that I never thought I would have time to pursue,” she added. “I am looking at doing some of that and just seeing what happens. I am sort of a free agent at this point.”

A Crystal Bridges spokeswoman told Whispers that Emily Ironside has been promoted as Zega’s replacement.