A Sharpsville native has been appointed foundation and development director for Arc of Mercer County Foundation.

Karen Gray formerly did some consulting work before accepting her current position.

She formerly was creative services director for Vantage in Boston. She also was an account executive with Synergy Network in Waltham, Mass.

Ms. Gray said the foundation is being influenced by the Transformation Project. "It's really affecting every organization that deals with mental issues," she said. "Through it, a person is more in charge of the services they buy. My responsibility is to support foundation programs."

Arc, she said, wants to build houses and buy a farm. "I know they already have several houses," she said.

Ms. Gray attended Pennsylvania State University and did graduate work at the University of South Africa in Victoria.

"I lived there for four years, and worked in the English department at the university," she said.

Having only been with the organization for a short time, Ms. Gray is still forming her aspirations for the foundation.

"It is the director's mission to support MCAR's efforts through fund raising and community awareness," said John Holliday, president of Arc of Mercer County's board of directors.

Before returning to the Shenango Valley, Ms. Gray lived in Washington, D.C., and Boston, where she worked in marketing and sales.

She lives in Sharpsville and has two children enrolled at Sharpsville Middle School.