NATALIE TIBBS
Executive Director of Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County and Restoration Village
Natalie Tibbs was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but her family moved to Rogers when she was 6 years old. She is the youngest of five children. Her parents opened a long-term women’s and children’s shelter called Restoration Village, which is why they moved from Tulsa, and led that shelter until this past year when they retired. “Therefore, I was raised in a shelter, but because my parents led it,” Natalie said. “In 2000, my parents opened the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County. It was the second in the state of Arkansas and first to ever serve our area.” Natalie was 18 at the time this organization opened. She went to nursing school, became a registered nurse and was the first full-time sexual assault nurse examiner certified in adults, adolescents, and pediatrics to work at the CAC of Benton County. It was her first job out of college. In the same year she started her job, she married her husband, Kevin Tibbs, who is a firefighter for Rogers Fire Department. “Together we have seven children. We laugh that we have a situation of his, mine, ours and theirs,” she said. He has two older daughters, and Natalie had one son. Together they then had two daughters, adopted one son and are working on finalizing the adoption of their youngest daughter, who is now 2 years old. She came to their care during the latter half of 2020. Natalie has worked at the CAC since 2006 and became the executive director in 2015. In 2020, she also became the executive director for Restoration Village. The two nonprofits are co-housed on the same property in Little Flock. She went back to school in 2020 to receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology. “It’s a pretty full but great life, and I am excited to see what God has in store for this next part of our journey leading both agencies!”
Where is your happy place?
Date nights with my husband and anywhere water and nature are involved – boating, kayaking, beach waves or secluded cabins in the mountains
What do you do when you are not working?
I have a husband and four kids at home, so I am either cleaning up after them or at one of the kids’ activities. We have a lot of weekends full of soccer!
Favorite quote:
Be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances.
Favorite meal:
I can’t refuse a good ribeye or filet with a loaded baked potato and a wedge salad.
Best time of day for you:
I am a night owl. I do some of my best work after the kids go to bed (even went back to school recently completing it all at night). There is just less distraction, and I can put on some music, light a candle and get focused.
Favorite song on your playlist:
Depends on my mood as I listen to a wide variety of music. Any song by Gabby Barrett currently gets cranked up louder lately, and you might find me singing along.
What book is on your bedside table?
I love leadership and personal development. I have several on my nightstand. I think the one on top is “The Infinite Game” by Simon Sinek.
For more information about Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County, visit www.cacbentonco.com. For details on Restoration Village, visit www.restorationvillage.net.