Forty Under 40: Elizabeth Prenger

Elizabeth Prenger developed an interest in nonprofits while working for a political consulting firm in Washington, D.C. Before joining The First Tee, the Little Rock native worked for a nonprofit involved in education reform but didn’t offer services in Northwest Arkansas. She was interested in one that did, and a friend introduced her to The First Tee.

“I fell in love with it,” Prenger said.

In 2013, she started as director of outreach and was managing community relations and volunteers. After the former executive director retired, she was promoted to the position in July 2017.

The scope of her work has expanded to include human resources, accounting and staff leadership development. She oversees six full-time employees and up to 20 part-time staff. The organization also has as many as 90 volunteers.

Peak season runs from May to July, but The First Tee offers programs between April and November. Starting this fall, the programs will be available all year after an 1,800-square-foot building is completed at the Lowell facility. By the end of this season, Prenger expects the programs will have 800 participants.

She previously worked for Santa Monica, Calif.-based nonprofit National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, political consulting firms Markham Group in Little Rock, and New Partners in Washington, D.C., as well as on political campaigns for a Delaware gubernatorial candidate and former President Barack Obama in Miami. She also was an intern for former U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor in Washington, D.C.

Prenger serves on the board for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, is a member the Washington County Democrats and an Alzheimer’s Arkansas supporter. Prenger, who is a recipient of the Girl Scouts Gold Award, also volunteers for the Girl Scouts Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.