The Wellness Council of the Midlands (WELCOM) has named Rebecca Vinton Dorn as its executive director.

Vinton Dorn joined WELCOM in 1996 and has been instrumental in running the nonprofit’s events. She recently received the Hollie Bethel Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Education. She earned a master of arts degree in health education from UNO in 1995 and received her undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota in 1993.

After 15 years of working with the organization and its members, Vinton Dorn said she welcomes the new opportunity. She replaces Howie Halperin, who held the executive director position since 1995. Halperin will remain a contract WELCOM employee serving as the wellness program administrator for the Educators Health Alliance project.

William M. Kizer founded WELCOM in 1982 to promote healthy lifestyle choices in the worksite. Today the organization has more than 200 members, and its efforts span across the state. WELCOM is an affiliate of the national Wellness Councils of America. For more information, please visit wellnesscouncil.org.