In June, Katie Alford replaced Nancy Jones, a legend in her own right and “the only president the Community Foundation of Abilene ever had.”

“Katie is a young star in our community who sees the big picture,” Paul Cannon, chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, said when Alford was selected as president and chief executive officer.

No one was happier with Alford’s selection than Jones, who hired Alford in 2005 as finance director for the foundation. In March, Jones was named chief executive officer of the Community Foundation of North Texas, headquartered in Fort Worth.

Alford, 32, was chosen from among 27 applicants to replace Jones, who said she expects Alford to lead the foundation to new heights.