Arkansas Money & Politics recognizes Top Professionals in the October issue, as voted by AMP readers. Professionals were recognized in categories that span the spectrum of industry in Arkansas, from banking to real estate, from manufacturing to nonprofits.
In addition to the 2023 AMP Top Professionals list, we include feature stories on four of these Arkansas leaders voted to the list: Stan Jones of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, David Bush of Encore Bank, Chris White of Simmons Bank and Steve Grandfield of Lexicon.
We’re proud to recognize these hard workers who help drive the state’s economic engine.
Andrew Adkins
American Abstract Title Company
Dennis Adkins
Adkins & Associates Real Estate
Louise Allison
Partners Against Trafficking Humans
Louise Allison is the executive director of the nonprofit Partners Against Trafficking Humans. The state’s first anti-trafficking agency, PATH has worked since 2011 to bring awareness to the issue of trafficking and support survivors in their journeys to recovery. The nonprofit’s multifaceted approach includes rescue, restoration, prevention and education. In addition to rescuing survivors and attempting to restore their sense of normalcy following a traumatic experience, PATH also prioritizes community education and outreach to help prevent incidents of sex trafficking before they happen.
Hannah Chambers Ashley
Smith Family Funeral Homes
Hannah Chambers Ashley, funeral director and assistant manager, joined Smith Family Funeral Homes in 2017. Shortly thereafter, she began working toward her funeral directors license, which she received in 2020. Ashley is a National Funeral Directors Association Meet the Mentors graduate and attended the International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association University in 2023. Her purpose as a funeral director is to provide compassionate and dignified end-of-life services with unwavering integrity. Through her work, Ashley strives to offer solace and support to grieving families, honoring their loved ones’ lives while helping them navigate this difficult journey. Ashley is a native of North Little Rock and attended North Little Rock High School.
Dr. Bryan Austin
Austin Family Dentistry
Hunter Bale
Bale Chevrolet
Jessica Baxter
Jess Baxter Design
Katie Beck
Arkansas Hospitality Association
Matt Bell
Origami Sake
Larry Billing
Shadrachs Coffee Roasting Company
James D. Bornhoft
Bornhoft Law
James D. Bornhoft, an eminent figure in Arkansas’ legal sphere, stands as the visionary behind Bornhoft Law. With an impressive record of over 70 jury trials and over 10,000 hours in the courtroom, Bornhoft’s prowess and experience is unparalleled for attorneys twice his age. Bornhoft began his career as a prosecutor and was the youngest attorney at the time selected to be the sole human trafficking prosecutor and member of the special victims unit in Colorado’s largest judicial district. Now rooted in Hot Springs, where his family’s legacy spans three generations, Bornhoft’s practice focuses on personal injury, family law, criminal defense and estate planning. Bornhoft has revolutionized his practice by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology, setting him apart from traditional attorneys. This tech-forward approach has dramatically enhanced efficiency, enabling swift case management and bolstered client communication, positioning Bornhoft Law at the vanguard of modern legal service delivery.
Shannon Boshears
Goodwill of Arkansas
Shannon Boshears joined Goodwill Industries of Arkansas as senior vice president of development in 2022. She launched the organization’s Look for the Good marketing campaign and is spearheading the fundraising efforts of the Goodwill of Arkansas Foundation. Before joining Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, Boshears was the vice president and chief philanthropy officer at Arkansas Hospice. She has practiced marketing, public relations and fundraising for more than 25 years, including her role as vice chancellor of advancement at the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock, while also serving as executive director of the UA-PTC Foundation. Boshears is a Certified Fundraising Executive, a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Arkansas Chapter and also serves on the AFP Global Marketing and Communications Committee. In 2021, she was a finalist for Professional Fundraiser of the Year for AFP Arkansas and a finalist as Non-Profit Executive of the Year for the Arkansas Business of the Year Awards.
Deana Brassfield
Jonesboro Cycle & ATV
David Brewer
Wilson Auctioneers
Kevin Brooks
Advantage Service Company
Kevin Brooks has served as Advantage Service Company’s general manager since 2017. With the broad scope of services (heat-air-plumbing and electrical) offered to both residential and commercial customers, it is obvious Brooks wears many hats. Brooks also serves on the Parkway Place Church Food Pantry leadership team and is President of Baptist Preparatory School Booster Club. With a customer-first company culture, Brooks and his management team work hard to provide an exceptional work environment for their staff. While Brooks enjoys fostering employees to help them build stable careers, he also finds himself learning from them at the same time, and he truly enjoys what he does.
Jeremy Brown
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Jeremy Brown leads the retail sales and operations for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s south-central region headquartered in Hot Springs. With more than 27 years in the insurance industry, Brown has held various roles, including director of technology services for a company that was instrumental in moving group benefit enrollments from paper to computer; founder and owner of his own insurance agency; and district manager for a company where he recruited and trained new agents to grow their agencies and provide high-quality customer service after the sale. Brown holds a master’s degree in leadership and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from John Brown University in Siloam Springs. He serves on the board of directors for the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership Hot Springs board of directors as the 2023-2025 board chair, and ambassador for the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Brown serves the residents of Garland County as a Justice of the Peace on the Garland County Quorum Court.
Joshua Brown, CCIM
Haag Brown Commercial Real Estate & Development
Joshua Brown is principal at Haag Brown in Jonesboro. He launched Haag Brown Commercial in 2010, co-founded Haag Brown Development in 2012, co-founded Haag Brown Asset Management in 2016, co-founded Haag Brown Medical Holdings in 2018, co-founded Haag Brown Industrial in 2021 and co-founded Haag Brown AG earlier this year.Brown has guided Haag Brown to more than $150 million in investment transactions, more than $700 million in CRE sales and lease volume, has helped bring more than 100 national retail outlets and restaurants to Arkansas and led more than 100 projects in multiple states from the ground up. Haag Brown Medical Holdings has more than $50 million in medical real estate assets and more than $200 million in medical real estate brokerage.Brown has been named to the Arkansas 250 each year since the group was launched in 2017, he was the youngest Arkansan to receive the CCIM designation, was named Arkansas State University College of Business Executive of the Year and has been the recipient of the ARA Award of Excellence Triple Diamond Level (more than $21 million) every year since 2010.
Jennifer Owens Buie
Arkansas Hunger Alliance
David Bush
Bank Encore
Sandra Byrd
Arkansas Electric Cooperatives
Bret Carroll
Conway Corporation
Hannah Cearnal
U-Storage
James Chavez
Encompass Financial Partners
Tavekia Cook
The Haywood El Dorado
Ryan Daniel
Priority Wire & Cable
John M. Downes, M.D.
Levi Hospital
John Downes, M.D., is the medical director of Levi Hospital in Hot Springs. As the on-staff psychiatrist at Levi, he oversees the inpatient psychiatric unit and transitions outpatient behavioral health. A graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Downes went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps. His specialty is psychiatry, general adult and adolescent with a secondary specialty in forensic psychiatry. Over the course of his career, Downes has served as chief, mental health services; chief, aerospace medicine; psychiatric consultant; been in private practice; and medical director all at various locations. His vast experience and knowledge of psychiatry has made him one of the tops in his field. Downes has been with Levi Hospital for the past 13 years. He continues to work with patients to help them reach their greatest potential both mentally and physically. He is well respected by his peers, staff and patients.
Jessica Duff
Pulaski County Special School District
Jessica Duff currently holds the title of executive director of communications for the Pulaski County Special School District. In her role, she handles internal and external communication, marketing and public relations for the district, which encompasses 26 schools. Duff’s previous tenure in digital marketing and TV helped prepare her for this job at PCSSD. Prior to working at PCSSD, Duff was the director of TraDigital Strategy at Team SI, a digital marketing agency in Little Rock. During her five years at Team SI, Duff managed various client’s marketing needs. Before Team SI, Duff worked nearly a decade in the TV and radio business. Her experience in the fast-paced, always-changing news world adequately prepared her for the innovative, intense atmosphere that is school public relations.
CJ Duvall Jr.
Westrock Coffee Co.
C.J. Duvall Jr. serves as the executive vice president of human resources for Westrock Coffee Co. Duvall has long been associated with serving community efforts across a wide spectrum of interests, from local community gardening in support of teaching students in the field of biological sciences to creating scholarship endowments to prepare students to be teachers, scientists, business leaders and humanitarian leaders all with a focus of giving back to their community. Prior to joining Westrock Coffee, he served as a human capital business consultant to CEOs in different industries. Duvall’s corporate background includes more than 25-years in human resource management for companies such as software services company, Systematics, Alltel Information Services, and Alltel Corporation.
John Eichler
Windstream
Allen Engstrom
CFO Network
Allen Engstrom is owner and managing director of CFO Network. CFO has 45 employees with locations in Little Rock and northwest Arkansas and provides consulting, finance and accounting services to businesses in Arkansas and nationwide. Prior to founding the company in 2004, Engstrom worked in strategic finance doing mergers and acquisitions at Intel Capital. Engstrom was born and raised in North Little Rock and received his MBA at the University of Texas at Austin. After majoring in finance and entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado, Engstrom worked in logistics for the world’s largest steamship company, Maersk-Sealand, which involved spending a year working at the company’s offices in Japan.
Rob Finley
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Cranor’s White River Lodge
Rob Finley was appointed to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission by then-Governor Asa Hutchinson in 2020, replacing former commissioner Ken Reeves. Finley graduated from Cotter High School in Baxter County and followed in his father’s footsteps to join the U.S. Air Force. After his service, he returned to Mountain Home, where he worked in the banking industry and developed a credit-insurance program for financial institutions. He and his wife, Nicki, own Route 66 Warranty in Mountain Home and Cranor’s White River Lodge in Cotter.
William Fletcher
Kinco Constructors
William Fletcher began his construction career as a summer intern for Kinco Constructors while he was a construction management student at Auburn University. He worked under a young superintendent named Doug Wasson. Fast forward to today, and Fletcher has his hands on all aspects of the company as the executive vice president/chief operating officer, working with Wasson, who now is the Kinco president/CEO.
As EVP/COO, Fletcher oversees the company’s finances and workforce on a daily basis, while working with the leadership team of Kinco to achieve the company’s long-term vision and mission. Kinco Constructors is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, and Kinco would not be where it is today without the contributions of Fletcher, who encompasses the company’s tagline of building excellence.
Jeremy Flynn
JF Media+Marketing
Jeremy Flynn is a marketing expert in demand across the country for his creativity and results. Flynn brings more than 13 years of marketing experience to his full-time role as the senior director of live event marketing for the Professional Bull Riders, where he oversees marketing efforts for more than 125 events spanning 50+ markets yearly. In 2020, he launched JF Media+Marketing, a fractional marketing company that provides high-level marketing services to businesses in need of a seasoned marketing director at a fraction of the cost. In a short time, he has worked with more than 50 businesses in Arkansas and surrounding states. Prior to PBR, he was the marketing manager at Simmons Bank Arena and the director of marketing and events at 103.7 The Buzz and The Point 94.1. Flynn has a MBA from the University of Central Arkansas.
Ryan Flynn
Network Services Group
Ryan Flynn was named president of Network Services Group in late 2013. Network Services Group provides IT support and voice-over IP telephone solutions for many businesses across the state. Under Flynn’s leadership, NSG has grown from 11 employees and a single location in North Little Rock to more than 65 employees and three locations in Arkansas. Flynn also has served as president of the Cabot Rotary Club, two terms on the city council of Cabot, on the Cabot Parks and Recreation Commission and on the Lonoke County Election Commission.
Roberta Gonzales
Tyson Foods
Steve Grandfield
Lexicon
Steven Grandfield, chief operating officer at Lexicon, has been a valued member of the Lexicon team for 20 years. Prior to his appointment as COO in January, Grandfield served as president of Lexicon Fabrication Group, which includes Prospect Steel, Custom Metals and Steel Fabricators of Monroe. From the company’s headquarters in Little Rock, as COO, Grandfield oversees all of Lexicon’s daily operations, reviews the efficiency of current business functions and collaborates with executive management to set and meet business objectives.
In his nearly 20 years of service with Lexicon, Grandfield has been part of numerous key projects, including the recent Tesla Assembly building in Austin, Texas, and many Amazon facilities across the country. Before joining the company, he served as a structural engineer at SEMF Holdings Consulting Engineers and Pitt & Sherry Consulting Engineers in Australia. Grandfield is an honors graduate from the University of Tasmania in Australia with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
James Griffin
Edward Jones
Tim Grooms
Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull
Tim W. Grooms is a founding and managing member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull He represents banks, health care managers, real estate developers, real estate brokers and other clients in a variety of transactional matters. He has substantial experience in real estate and general commercial lending transactions and has negotiated hundreds of retail, office and commercial space leases on behalf of major national retailers and numerous developers, landlords and tenants throughout Arkansas and the Mid-South. Grooms serves as counsel to numerous banking and real estate industry groups, including the Arkansas Community Bankers, Arkansas Rural Rental Housing Association, Arkansas REALTORS Association (including numerous local REALTOR boards), and the state chapter of the Building and Office Management Association. Licensed to practice in Arkansas and New York, Grooms is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and a fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys.
Woody Harrelson
The Hatcher Agency
Tammy Harvey-Stauber
American Taekwondo Association
Tammy Harvey-Stauber is chief ambassador for ATA International, the director of the H.U. Foundation, and office manager at Arkansas Home Service West. At just 16 years old, Harvey-Stauber became the American Taekwondo Assocation’s youngest certified taekwondo instructor, and at 17, she opened her first taekwondo school in Benton. Harvey-Stauber has trained in the art of taekwondo for more than five decades, demonstrating leadership and active involvement within the organization, an exhibition of ethical conduct and contribution to the growth of Songahm Taekwondo. Now a ninth degree black belt and the highest-ranking female within ATA International, Harvey-Stauber will become ATA International’s first female Grand Master in 2024.
Korey Hendrix
McGraw Realtors
Amber Henson
Urban Living & Development
Chris Ho
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
Chris Ho has lived in Arkansas since 1989 and serves as the vice president of marketing at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs. He started his career in 1995 as a graphics and website designer. His advertising and marketing experience led him to CJRW in 2017, where he worked with the Oaklawn account for five years. In his current position, Ho manages all things marketing for racing, casino, hotel, event center, spa and the many restaurants on property. He serves on the board of directors at the Mid-America Science Museum in the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute and the Diamond Lakes Travel Association.
Larry Jackson
ARMI Contractors
Michaela Johnson
CARTI
Colbie Jones
Keep Arkansas Beautiful
Jacob Jones
Jones & Son Diamond & Bridal Fine Jewelry
Randy Jones
First Community Bank
Stan Jones
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Stan Jones Mallard Lodge
Stan Jones was born and raised in Clover Bend, where he and his family have been farming for over five generations. Jones is an owner of Banded outdoor sporting apparel, Avery Outdoors and the Stan Jones Mallard Lodge. In 2017, Jones was handpicked by former Gov. Asa Hutchinson to be a member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. In June, Jones succeeded former commissioner Bobby Martin as AGFC chairman following the expiration of his term. He is a graduate of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and serves on the Chancellor’s Cabinet. He also serves on the Red Wolves Foundation 500 Club and the Clover Bend Historical Society.
William Jones IV
Sissy’s Log Cabin
Son of Bill and Sharri Jones, William Jones IV is chief operations officer and a member of the Sissy’s Log Cabin executive board of directors. Jones is the third generation of the family to make a career at the company founded by his grandmother, Sissy Jones, in 1970. Jones is a 2012 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, and he became a graduate gemologist in 2013 after attending the Gemological Institute of America.
Summer Khairi
UAMS
Merry Kline
Belle & Blush
Dr. Carmella Knoernschild
Dr. Carmella Knoernschild Orthodontic Clinic
Dianne Lafollette
Mid-America Science Museum
Jennifer Lancaster
Lancaster Law Firm
Frank Lawrence
The Athletic Clubs
Rick Leasure
ARMI Manufacturing
Brayden Mallett
Arvest Bank
Brayden is a client advisor for Arvest Wealth Management. He is a graduate from University of Central Arkansas in Conway with a bachelor’s degree in finance and minor in management and a master’s degree in business administration. Mallett provides his clients a positive experience by confidently and proactively assisting them with their financial planning, retirement, insurance and wealth management strategies needs. Prior to joining Arvest, he worked in the banking and financial services industry since 2014.
Dr. Carla Martin
Go Forward Pine Bluff
Peggy McCall
Miracle League of Arkansas
Ron McCarty
Powers of Arkansas
Ron McCarty serves as vice president of cControls for Powers of Arkansas. He is responsible for the operations, service and sales groups for the company’s building automation systems segment in the Little Rock and Tulsa markets. He also oversees the company’s federal contracts group and serves as corporate compliance officer. He joined Powers in 2010 and has been part of the executive leadership team for the last five years. McCarty earned a bachelor of science degree from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture in Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He’s an active volunteer locally and nationally with American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
Brian McGee, M.D.
Arkansas Diagnostic Center
Brian McGee, M.D., is the medical director for the Digestive Disease Specialists of Central Arkansas in Little Rock. He is dual board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine. He is an honor graduate from Xavier University of Louisiana and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where he also completed his residency and fellowship training. McGee has received numerous accolades and awards for his patient care and dedication to educating all on proper digestive health. He is the founder and president of C.H.A.D. (Colorectal Health Advocates & Doctors), a nonprofit with a singular mission to “X out” or eradicate colorectal cancer. These efforts have been recognized by the American College of Gastroenterology, culminating in McGee being awarded an international award for his efforts regarding Colorectal Cancer Awareness.
Jay Meador
First Horizon
Jay Meador is president of First Horizon’s central Arkansas market, where he is honored to lead all facets of the bank’s business in this area. He started with the bank in 2008, working on both the private client and commercial banking teams, and began in his current role in 2019. Meador is currently a board member of Goodwill Industries of Arkansas (treasurer), Economics Arkansas, Junior Achievement and Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is a native of Little Rock and graduated from Pulaski Academy. He received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and his MBA from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.
Brad Medlock
Medlock Construction
Staci Medlock
RE/MAX Elite
Staci Medlock is consistently one of the top-performing real estate agents in the central Arkansas area, carrying almost 20 years of experience under her belt. A native of the area, she caters to a wide range of clients in cities across the region, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Maumelle, Jacksonville, Cabot, Searcy and Beebe. While Medlock’s abilities as a Realtor are across-the-board, she has extensive experience in new construction, custom home building and working with first-time homebuyers. Medlock has also served as justice of the peace for Pulaski County’s 15th district since 2013.
Megan Miller
The Bridgeway
John Morris
ARcare
Pam Nelson
NWA Land Trust
Denver Peacock
The Peacock Group
Julia Ponder
Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Association
Dr. Daron Praetzel
Arkansas Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
Dorcas Prince
Low’s Bridal
Dorcas Prince is the owner of Low’s Bridal. She attributes the success of the business to working hard each day, week, and year to ensure brides have an amazing experience on their journey to find the perfect wedding dress. Low’s offers a large, diverse selection of wedding gowns in sizes 0-34 at great prices. Each bride works one on one with her own personal consultant in order to provide the best possible experience. One of the things that makes Low’s unique is the number of gowns available in every size that can be taken home that day, whether the wedding is in one month or a year away. Since Low’s Bridal opened in 1977, it has been a labor of love, and Prince considers it a blessing to be a part of the memories and upcoming new chapter of life for each bride and her family.
Mike Rainwater
Rainwater Holt & Sexton
Dustin Ralston
Greystone Country Club
Blake Rickman
UAFS
Terisa Riley
UAFS
Guneev Sharma
National Park Foundation
Dr. Kris Shewmake
Shewmake Plastic Surgery
Jim Smith
Conner & Winters
Seth Speight
Prairie Ag Service
Seth Speight is a lifelong resident of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, and his entire professional career has been dedicated to agriculture. Speight graduated with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 2008. Speight and best friend Jacob Tidwell were presented with the opportunity to start their own agricultural aviation business; the pair have since built their entire business around customer service, pilot safety and timely and professional applications. They are both still actively involved in the day to day operations of Tidwell Flying Service in Lonoke County, which is owned by Tidwell’s father, Jeff, who has been a mentor to both men. Combined, Speight and Tidwell operate seven agricultural aircraft that serve a wide swath of farmland in east central Arkansas. The business is an active member in the Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association and the National Agricultural Aviation Association.
Lindsey Spencer
In-between Designs
Roger Sundermeier
First Arkansas Bank & Trust
Michelle Towne
Inviting Arkansas
Ashley Trentham
Chenal Pet Palace
Ashley Trentham is the co-owner of Chenal Pet Palace and Arkansas Pet Resort. Since 2005, this family-owned business has been taking care of Arkansas’s four-legged friends. Furry, feathery, scaled, or bald, Trentham has always felt compassion for all little creatures. It was only inevitable that Trentham would one day make caring for animals her career. For 18 years, she has been a partner at Chenal Pet Palace and Arkansas Pet Resort. They are a day-care, boarding and grooming business for dogs and cats. As a family-owned business in Arkansas, Trentham is most thankful for the continual support of their customers. Trentham attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she obtained a Bachelor of Art in art history.
Tiffany Tucker
Farrar & Williams
Jeff Turnbow
Winning Local
JeffTurnbow.com
Jeff Turnbow of Conway often appears in the media as an expert at growing small to medium businesses. His experience spans two decades in marketing and business development. He has extended his expertise to more than 3,000 businesses in over 200 unique categories. He is also a best-selling author, honored with the Editor’s Choice Award for Mastering the Art of Success, a collaborative work with renowned figure Jack Canfield. In his role as Fractional CMO, he provides strategic guidance for up to ten companies annually, while also spearheading WINNING LOCAL, a leading digital marketing agency. He has become a most requested speaker at DigiMarCon, the world’s largest digital marketing conference series. His recent book, Winning Local: How to Build Your Brand and Dominate Your Target Market, has already been met with acclaim. He’s a recognized thought leader in the field, making appearances on many outlets, including major networks such as Fox, CNN and MSNBC.
Itzel Velazquez
Kiva Hub Capital Access Manager
Itzel Velazquez is dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurship and fostering community growth. As the Little Rock Kiva Hub Capital Access Manager for Forge Fund, she helps local entrepreneurs access capital through 0 percent interest, crowdfunded Kiva loans. She also works with Conexion de Negocios Latinos as the events coordinator, where she provides support to Latino business owners. Velazquez holds a master’s degree in higher education from Loyola University Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in international studies and political science from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. She is a member of Junior League of Little Rock, serves as a board member for Create Little Rock and serves on the Minority Business Accelerator Committee and the Next Gen(eration) Humanities Conference Committee.
Missy Ward
Mallard Ready Mix
Mike Watson
State Farm
Mike Watson is a State Farm agent serving Sharp, Izard, Fulton, Stone, Lawrence and Independence Counties. Since opening his first office in Highland in 2011, and adding a location in Melbourne soon after, Watson has been serving the people of north-central Arkansas with the coverage they need to protect what matters most. The success of his agency has earned Watson inclusion in both the Lifetime Presidents Club and the Million Dollar Round Table. Before entering the insurance industry, Watson spent 12 years as the athletic director at Melbourne High School, his alma mater, where he coached basketball and softball. Watson is heavily involved in his community; he is a member of the Northeast Arkansas Intermodal Authority and is a trustee of Ozarka College.
Michael Westerfield
FORV/S
Bud Whetstone
Whetsone Law Firm
Deke Whitbeck
Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation
As a loving family man, Little Rock native Deke Whitbeck enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters, Cate and Charley, developing in his children the same appreciation for the state’s woods, waters and plains he developed growing up in the Natural State.
As president of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, a job Whitbeck has held since 2016, the goal is much the same: to provide native Arkansans and guests access to quality outdoor experiences through education, conservation and preservation.
Leading AGFF, the fundraising arm of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Whitbeck has brought the organization to new heights, raising millions of dollars in support of AGFC initiatives and AGFF programs including maintaining nature centers, funding youth shooting programs and investing in wildlife conservation. In so doing, Whitbeck has mustered support and inspired grassroots activism from every corner of the state to preserve myriad outdoor ecosystems for future generations of outdoor enthusiasts.
Chris White
Simmons Bank
Chris White serves as executive vice president and chief community banking officer for Simmons Bank. In this role, White oversees all community banking activities with responsibility for driving strategy, business development and delivery of core banking services across Simmons’ six-state footprint. Since joining Simmons Bank in 2004, White has seen the company grow from $2.4 billion in assets to its current size of approximately $28 billion. During this time of evolution and consolidation in the banking industry, he has served in a variety of leadership roles across Simmons’ home state, most recently as executive vice president of metro market development. White is a graduate of Louisiana State University Banking School, Leadership Fayetteville, Leadership Hot Springs, Leadership Greater Little Rock and Leadership Arkansas. He also serves on the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Board.
Josh Whitehurst
First Orion
As the company’s senior director of product management, Josh Whitehurst is instrumental in developing and overseeing the direction of products that continue to position First Orion as the leader in the highly competitive and emerging branded communication industry. In the past year alone, First Orion has experienced a 165 percent increase in revenue from its branded communication products. This increase stems from the drastic growth in enterprises adopting the technologies at a rapid pace, primarily due to Whitehurst’s ability to identify and develop solutions needed in the marketplace before others. Leading a tech company’s product management organization requires an innovative mindset and entrepreneurial spirit, which Whitehurst has showcased throughout his career. Before joining First Orion, he co-founded a telemedicine startup and a marketing consulting firm. Whitehurst received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, where he was a founding father for the UCA chapter of Phi Gamma Delta International Fraternity.
Candice Whitlock
Signature Premier Properties
Wendy Williams
Fyzical Therapy
Ben Wingfield
Arkansas Children’s
As director of supply chain operations at Arkansas Children’s, Ben Wingfield guides strategic and operational aspects of the health care system’s supply chain. Over five years of leadership, Wingfield has improved operating efficiencies by controlling and reducing supply costs, developed a supply chain diversity program and is committed to peer and partner collaboration through improving communication and access between the supply chain and clinical departments. With over a decade of health care experience, including navigating Arkansas Children’s supply-chain challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Wingfield has positioned Arkansas Children’s for future success through cost savings, strategic partnerships and inventory management.
Ted Womble
First Orion
Ted Womble is the director of business development at First Orion. Womble has been with First Orion since 2015, when he started as a sales associate. He previously worked as an account executive at Crews & Associates, and he holds Series 7 and Series 63 licenses from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Womble attended Southern Methodist University in Texas and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy.
Candace Woodruff
Performance Tax Group
Jackie Worley
Junior Achievement
Jackie Worley, business manager for Junior Achievement of Arkansas joined the team seven years ago. She is responsible for the day to day accounting, organizes their events, assists the president and CEO, Tonya Villines. Worley grew up in Sandusky, Ohio, where she began her bookkeeping and office manager duties. She excels in customer service and says she owes it all to waitressing at Applebee’s, where she met her husband, Travis Worley. The couple started their journey in entrepreneurship when moving to Arkansas in 2016, partnering with Dan Cook in ownership of Marco’s Pizza.
Randy Zook
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
Randy Zook is the president and chief executive officer of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas. Prior to taking the helm of the State Chamber and AIA, Randy was the deputy director of administration and finance for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. For 34 years, he worked for Atlantic Envelope Company, a $250-million manufacturer of custom-printed envelopes and business products, serving as president and CEO of the company from 1989 to 2004. He is currently serving on the boards of Arkansas Public School Resource Center, the executive board for the Quapaw Area Council for By Scouts of America, Economics Arkansas and McGehee Farm & Real Estate Co.
