Arkansas Money & Politics is proud to unveil its list of “Arkansas Influencers” for 2025, those who inspire all to reach higher, achieve more and improve things in local communities. Within this list, find leaders in the corporate, nonprofit and public-service spaces — people who provide jobs, feed the state’s economy and provide a hand up to those who need it.
The individuals on the list were nominated by readers and then handpicked by a group of former nominees — Susan Altrui, Marshall Butler, Kim Clatworthy and Dr. Brian McGee — which narrowed down hundreds of nominations to the final listing. The women and men recognized represent not only the best of what they do but the present and future leaders of Arkansas, each working for the good of all. As the state’s leading publication focused on business, community and policy, AMP is proud to shine a bright spotlight on these outstanding achievers and their accomplishments.
Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees!
| Michael Ahern
Today’s Power
Michael Ahern is vice president and chief financial officer at Today’s Power, a renewable energy company in North Little Rock. Today’s Power prides itself in being cooperative owned and community focused, which, coupled with demand for renewable energy over the past several years, has led to significant growth for the company. Ahern leads the finance and accounting team to ensure the financial operations of the company are performed efficiently and effectively. Ahern has worked in the energy sector for the past seven years. Prior to his work at Today’s Power, Ahern worked at Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. He is also a veteran of the United States Air Force. His experience has enabled him to grow into the position he has today. Ahern has a Master of Science in finance with merit from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Prior to that, he received his Master of Business Administration and undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
| Jeff Amerine
Startup Junkie Consulting
Jeff Amerine is nationally recognized for the creation of lasting venture ecosystems and co-authored in 2021 the Amazon bestselling book Creating Startup Junkies – Building Sustainable Venture Ecosystems in Unexpected Places. Amerine has had senior leadership positions in nine startups and multiple Fortune 500 companies, including American Freightways and FedEx Freight. He has made more than 90-plus venture investments. He now leads Startup Junkie in Fayetteville and co-leads Innovation Junkie in Conway and Cadron Capital Partners. Amerine served as associate vice provost, research and economic development, and director of technology ventures at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville until leaving to pursue Startup Junkie full time in 2015. He served as an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at University of Arkansas’ Sam M. Walton College of Business in Fayetteville from 2009 to 2024. Amerine graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1984, served as an Air Force officer for six years and has a Master of Science in operations management from UA.
| Cory Anderson
Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
As chief innovation officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation in Little Rock, the Rev. Cory Anderson is a relentless collaborator. He builds and maintains local and national partnerships, launches bold initiatives, and strategizes to ensure the nonprofit pursues its goal of equity for all Arkansans. In addition to his role at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Anderson serves as interim executive director at Forward Arkansas, a nonprofit established by the Winthrop Rockefeller and Walton Family Foundation that aims to improve outcomes for Arkansas students. Anderson understands collaboration because it has been his career. For seven years at the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore, Maryland, he supported state-level child advocacy organizations and helped lead the KIDS COUNT Initiative, which provides legislators, public officials and child advocates with data, tools and policy recommendations. He is currently a BMe Public Voices Fellow. He also serves on the boards of Arkansas Baptist College, the Urban League of Arkansas, the Association of Black Foundation Executives and Neighborhood Funders Group.
| Brad Baltz
Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute
Dr. Brad Baltz has lived in Little Rock since he was 5 years old. He has practiced medicine for 30 years, inspired by his parents who encouraged him to pursue a career in health care. During his residency, his mentor introduced him to oncology research, sparking his interest in cancer care. Baltz earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and completed an internship, residency and fellowship in hematology-oncology there. He is board certified in medical oncology.
| Curtis Barnett
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Curtis Barnett is president and chief executive officer of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, serving nearly 2 million members nationwide. He is committed to making overall healthcare more accessible and affordable, and improving behavioral health awareness, access and outcomes. He champions initiatives to transform healthcare reimbursement, address social determinants of health, and provide a whole-person approach to healthcare. Nationally, Barnett serves on the boards of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, the National Institute for Healthcare Management (NIHCM), and as board chair for BCS Financial. He co-chairs the Roundtable on Innovations in Mental and Behavioral Health for the national Health Evolution. In Arkansas, Barnett serves on the University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees, the dean’s executive advisory board for the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business, the Arkansas Research Alliance, and as vice chair of the executive committee for the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. Barnett received a bachelor’s degree from UCA, where he is a Distinguished Alumnus, and a master’s in public administration from the University of Arkansas. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management’s Advanced Executive Program.
| Natalie Bartholomew
First Community Bank
Natalie Bartholomew serves as community president of First Community Bank in northwest Arkansas. A career banker with 24 years of experience, she has expertise in management, strategic planning, lending, retail, culture building, human resources and marketing. Bartholomew has received many honors recognizing her work over the years and has served on a variety of community and industry specific committees and boards. Recently, the American Bankers Association named her to the 2023 ABA Emerging Leaders list. Additionally, Arkansas Money & Politics included her on the 2022 “Power Women” list, and she was named a University of Arkansas Agricultural Business and Economics Distinguished Young Alumni. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Boulder, Colorado, where she now serves as a faculty member.
| Mark Beach
CDI Contractors
Mark Beach was named president and CEO of CDI Contractors in 2022. He joined the company in 2009 as vice president and, shortly thereafter, assumed the role of chief operating officer. For that role, Beach led the restructuring of the company’s accounting practices and the addition of a dedicated preconstruction services department, the addition of virtual design and construction services, and a dedicated business development and marketing team. His construction career began in 1981. He has served in numerous roles of increasing responsibility and has experience in multiple construction sectors, including heavy industrial, health care, higher education, churches, sports venues and performance spaces. His career has taken him to Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Texas and now Arkansas. Prior to joining CDI, Beach was employed by Duke Realty of Indianapolis and operated out of the Dallas office, where he led health care construction for the southern region and oversaw the development and construction of several notable health care development projects.
| Sara Bechdoldt
WACO Title
Sara Bechdoldt is president and CEO of Springdale-based WACO Title. The WACO Title family of companies is made up of 19 locations spread throughout Arkansas and southwest Missouri, as well as Saline County Abstract of Benton. Its roots in the industry run back to 1885. The company now employs 180 associates. Bechdoldt has been with WACO Title since 2021. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville.
| Shannon Bedore
Sightline Retail/Blue Elephant
Food Group USA
Shannon Bedore is CEO of Sightline Retail in Bentonville and Blue Elephant Food Group USA. Bedore founded Sightline Retail in 2015 to provide sales, management, strategy, operations, replenishment, warehousing and administrative support for brands to have a lower cost option than directly hiring an internal retail team. Prior to starting Sightline, she worked at Walmart and Kohl’s. Bedore has also dedicated much time to closing health care gaps for the cystic fibrosis community in Arkansas. She helped open an adult cystic fibrosis clinic in northwest Arkansas and served for many years as board president in northwest Arkansas of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She currently sits on the Mercy Hospital Community Board. Bedore obtained her bachelor’s degree in human resources from Michigan State University and her master’s degree in supply chain management from the Pennsylvania State University. She is currently completing her doctorate at the University of Florida, after which she hopes to teach retail, supply chain and brand management at the collegiate level.
| Alicia Berkemeyer
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Alicia Berkemeyer is a visionary healthcare leader with diverse expertise spanning operations, sales, pharmacy, network operations and clinical services. Currently serving as the Executive Vice President & Chief Health Management Officer for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, she is recognized for her leadership in value-based healthcare innovation and transformation. Her efforts focus on patient-centered care delivery, simplifying healthcare, improving quality and cost and fostering multi-stakeholder collaborations to improve outcomes. Berkemeyer was key in Arkansas’ selection for multiple partnerships with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) since 2012. Currently, Arkansas is one of four states chosen as a State Transformation Collaborative. In 2024, Berkemeyer hosted CMS/CMMI leaders in rural Arkansas to facilitate conversations with local leaders about unique challenges for rural health care. Maternal health and behavioral health are two key areas discussed. Additionally, she was invited by CMS/CMMI to serve as an advisor at the rural healthcare summits, sharing her expertise with stakeholders in Texas and North Carolina. She is a certified health consultant, a managed healthcare professional and a Professional in the Academy of Healthcare Management. She serves on the Cystic Fibrosis Board and the University of Arkansas Little Rock Business Advisory Board. Berkemeyer holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from John Brown University. She completed the Kellogg Advanced Management Global Program and is an Executive Scholar of the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.
| Brent Birch
Little Rock Tech Park
Under the guidance of Brent Birch, the Little Rock Tech Park has remained viable through COVID-19 and continues its planned four-phase, multimillion-dollar development. Prior to joining the effort to bolster the central Arkansas tech startup community, Birch was an executive at Arkansas Business Publishing Group, where, in 2010, he launched Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine. An avid waterfowler, he also wrote and published 2018’s The Grand Prairie: A History of Duck Hunting’s Hallowed Ground. In 2016, he founded the Arkansas Waterfowler Hall of Fame and has served on the board of the Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation. Birch is active in Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl. A licensed real estate agent, Birch also chairs the Downtown Little Rock Partnership and is a former chairman of the Little Rock Open, part of the professional men’s tennis ATP Challenger Tour. Plus he is a five-time USTA league tennis state champion. From 1990 to 1993, the North Little Rock native pitched for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
| Michael Birrer
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Dr. Michael Birrer was named director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock in 2019, where he also took on the position of vice chancellor of UAMS. As the director for the cancer institute, Birrer is charged with heading up all of UAMS’ cancer-related initiatives. The institution employs approximately 150 faculty members who are engaged in cancer-related research and clinical work. Birrer, a medical oncologist, has served in similar roles before, including a stint as director for gynecologic medical oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and the gynecologic oncology research program at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Boston. Most recently, Birrer served as the director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. He resigned from his director’s position at the O’Neal Center in 2019 after serving in the role since 2017. Birrer obtained both his medical degree and doctorate from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York.
| Courtney Bishop
Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare System
Courtney Bishop is CEO of Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare System, which includes Pinnacle Pointe Hospital in Little Rock. She has served in the role since 2023. She previously served as chief operating officer at Pinnacle Pointe. Bishop joined the health care system in 2017 and was named to Arkansas Money & Politics’ “C-Suite” list in 2023 and 2024. Pinnacle Pointe offers a full continuum of psychiatric services to children and teens ages 5 to 17 who are experiencing emotional and behavioral issues, including depression, anxiety, mood swings, grief or loss, attempts to harm self or others, and other high-risk behaviors.
| John Burgess
Mainstream Technologies
Since the inception of Little Rock’s Mainstream Technologies in 1996, the company has relentlessly focused on delivering results for clients while building the most talented team possible. John Burgess was responsible for designing, developing and implementing supply chain management solutions which are currently used throughout the world by major retailers to manage inventories and enhance reporting capabilities. Burgess has served as board chairman of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and on the board of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the board of advisors for the International Association of Cloud & Managed Services Providers, also known as MSP Alliance. He actively supports various organizations which promote science, technology, engineering and math, including Accelerate Arkansas, the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock and Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science. Burgess believes in the value of science, technology, engineering and math education and STEM-related careers as a vehicle for economic development and societal improvement.
| Aaron Burkes
Northwest Arkansas National Airport
Aaron Burkes joined the Northwest Arkansas National Airport in 2018 as CEO. During his tenure, XNA has added two new airlines and 12 new direct destinations, added new amenities, and expanded and renovated numerous facilities. He currently serves as a member of the transportation industry council at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and serves on the board for Arvest Bank of Benton County. He previously served as president of the Arkansas Development Finance Authority. Prior to joining state government, Burkes had senior leadership roles in college administration, regional planning, finance and real estate development. He is also a former elected state representative to the Arkansas General Assembly. He has a Bachelor of Science in natural science from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, a Master of Arts in economics from Clemson University in South Carolina and a Juris Doctor from Baylor University School of Law in Texas. He is a licensed attorney and licensed contractor.
| Marvin Childers
The Poultry Federation
Marvin Childers has served as the president of the Poultry Federation, a trade organization that has represented the poultry and egg industry in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, since 2007. Childers considers it an honor to lead an organization where the industry provides billions of dollars to the state’s economy. Childers is a board member at the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the chamber’s tax committee. He also serves as a board member of the Arkansas State Police Foundation and the Arkansas 4-H Foundation. In 2020 and 2021, Childers served on the Governor’s Economic Recovery Task Force with a focus on agriculture issues. Childers served as an Arkansas state representative from 2001 through 2006 and has practiced law at Friday, Eldredge & Clark in Little Rock since 2000.
| Dr. Steven F. Collier
ARcare Dr. Steven F. Collier, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, serves as president and CEO of ARcare. Collier was raised in Augusta and graduated from Augusta High School in 1973. He then attended Baylor University in Texas and obtained his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Collier began practicing medicine in Pine Bluff and then moved back to Augusta in 1981. There, he established White River Rural Health, the beginning of ARcare. During his career, Collier has served for eight years on the Arkansas State Medical Board and six years on the Baptist Hospital Little Rock Board of Trustees, in addition to serving as medical director at Triad Hospital and chief of staff at Unity Health in 2000. In 2011, Collier was named the Eason-Shuler Community Health Centers Advocate of the Year for his outstanding service and contributions to state and federal legislative work. Presently, he serves on the board of RiverWind Bank, Empower Healthcare Solutions and UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Collier is a community physician to his core. ARcare’s mission of “health for all” was born from Collier’s vision of providing accessible health care to any and every patient, regardless of their plight in life. That mission continues to guide every decision and community initiative of the company. Under Collier’s leadership, the ARcare network has grown to more than 90 locations that stretch beyond the state’s borders to include Kentucky and Mississippi.
| Alyson Courtney
Argenta Contemporary Theatre
Alyson Courtney is director of development at Argenta Contemporary Theatre, which she joined in 2022 after an extensive career in television journalism, most recently on the morning show at KATV Channel 7. She has helped usher in a new era at the theater by overseeing a rebranding and historic expansion, including enhancements to the theater’s education program. She attended Northwestern State University in Louisiana before landing her first job as the early morning producer at the NBC affiliate in Shreveport. Her husband, Wess Moore, is co-host of The Zone on 103.7 the Buzz and sports director at Fox 16.
| Jay Cranford
Cranford Co.
Partner and chief creative officer at Cranford Co., a full-service agency offering Madison-Avenue quality with Main Street accountability, Jay Cranford is responsible for making sure every client’s creative ideas, across all media channels, effectively engage and connect with the desired target audiences. Some of those clients include the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Children’s, Simmons Bank and the Land of Steel. Cranford attended the University of Pennsylvania and later graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas with a degree in economics. He then spent nine years in Los Angeles with TBWA/ Chiat/Day, where he crafted the launch campaign for Sony PlayStation. Cranford’s nonprofit involvement has led him to important work with the Arkansas Museum of Fine Art, the Arkansas Symphony, Ballet Arkansas, The Rep, the American Heart Association, the Nature Conservancy and CARE for Animals. His work has appeared in such prestigious shows as the Cannes International Advertising Festival, the One Show, the London International Awards, the Obies Outdoor Awards, the Radio Mercury Awards, Archive, the AAAA O’Toole Awards and the National ADDY Awards competition. Most recently, his work appears in the 2024 Communication Arts Advertising Annual, a first for an Arkansas agency.
| Patrick Curry
Allegiance Title of Arkansas
Patrick Curry is the president and founder of Allegiance Title of Arkansas. Under his guidance, the company has become known for its customer-centric approach and forward-thinking solutions. Curry also serves as the chief executive officer for AllFirst title companies based in Tulsa, which has about 25 offices and operations in Oklahoma and New Mexico. With a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Colorado State University and a master’s in taxation from the University of Denver, Curry has cultivated a foundation of financial knowledge and expertise. In 2005, he moved to Arkansas to work at WACO Title Co., where he spent 15 years and held the roles of accounting controller, COO, and, finally, president and CEO. Curry currently serves on an advisory board of directors for First National Bank of Northwest Arkansas and was appointed by former Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Electronic Recording Commission for Arkansas.
| Josh Davenport
Seal Solar
Josh Davenport, CEO and co-founder at Seal Solar in North Little Rock, helped launch the firm with Heather Nelson in 2013. A serial entrepreneur, Davenport is a partner in Evolve Auto and Premier Pile Driver, both in North Little Rock. He graduated with an accounting degree from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, where he studied from 2002 to 2006, and earned a Master of Business Administration and a construction management degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
| Bryan Day
Little Rock Port Authority
Bryan Day leads the Little Rock Port Authority. Prior to working in this position, Day spent 20 years working for the city of Little Rock. During his time with the city, he served as assistant city manager and director of Little Rock Parks & Recreation. Day received both his undergraduate and Master of Public Administration degrees from University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
| Jessica Flake Dearnley
Flake and Co.
Jessica Flake Dearnley is the CEO of Little Rock’s Flake & Co. She has more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate. She is a chartered financial analyst, a certified public accountant and a certified commercial investment member. Dearnley is licensed in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with a double major in cognitive psychology and creative writing; from the University of Miami with a Master of Business Administration in finance and investments; from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a master’s degree in accountancy and currently is finishing a master’s in finance at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Dearnley serves on the Little Rock Technology Park Board, the Little Rock Regional Chamber Board, Fifty for the Future’s membership committee and board of directors, the Arkansas Women’s Leadership Forum and Vistage International. She has professional experience ranging from wealth management as both financial and credit analysts to asset management, development and brokerage.
| Todd Dennis
Southern Farm Bureau Insurance Companies of Arkansas
Todd Dennis, agency manager in Pulaski County for Southern Farm Bureau Insurance Companies of Arkansas was raised in northwest Louisiana before relocating to Morrilton and then Russellville following his father’s death. After graduating from Russellville High School in 1982, he attended Florida College before completing his education at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville in spring of 1988. That July, he began his career at Farm Bureau Insurance companies in Pulaski County as a multiline insurance agent. In 2018, he was promoted to agency manager in Little Rock. Throughout his career, he said, he has been associated with wonderful colleagues, from managers and sales associates to administrators, and credited his team and their support for the recognition he has achieved within the company and industry. He is a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow.
| Marcy Doderer
Arkansas Children’s
Marcy Doderer, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is president and chief executive officer at Arkansas Children’s, where she leads the state’s only pediatric health system, serving children in Arkansas and beyond. Over her decade leading Arkansas Children’s, Doderer has significantly extended the health system’s reach through an expanded physical footprint to better serve the children and families of Arkansas, most notably through the building of Arkansas Children’s Northwest, Arkansas Children’s Hospital Southwest Little Rock Clinic and Arkansas Children’s Hospital Pine Bluff Clinic, as well as the expansion of Arkansas Children’s Hospital Jonesboro Clinic. In 2023, under her leadership, Arkansas Children’s announced the largest expansion in history and broke ground in 2024 at both hospital campuses. Doderer is active nationally with Children’s Hospital Association and Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety and serves as a delegate to the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board 7. Recognized for her leadership, Doderer has been named one of Modern Healthcare’s “Top 25 Women Leaders” in 2021 and Becker’s Healthcare’s “Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know” in 2023.
| Christina S. Drale
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Christina Drale serves as the chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She was appointed by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees in 2019. Under her leadership, the university has increased enrollment, lowered its net price and expanded corporate partnerships to address key objectives. In 2022 she launched a $250 million capital campaign, the largest in the university’s history, which has now reached more than 80 percent of its goal. Drale joined UA Little Rock in 2006 as an associate dean of the college of professional studies before becoming the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs in 2011. She served as interim executive vice chancellor and provost at UA Little Rock before her appointment as chancellor. Drale earned a doctorate and Master of Arts in sociology and a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of California, San Diego. She accepted her first academic position at Missouri State University, where she served as an associate professor of media, journalism and film, associate dean, and interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters.
| Laura Dunn
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Dr. Laura Dunn has served as the chair of the department of psychiatry in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock’s college of medicine and director of the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute since 2022. She also has the Marie Wilson Howells Chair in Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences. Dunn joined UAMS from Stanford Medicine in California, where she was professor and section chief for geriatric psychiatry in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. Dunn had numerous leadership roles at Stanford from 2015 to 2022, including director of the geriatric psychiatry fellowship training program and director of the geriatric psychiatry outpatient clinic at Stanford Health Care. She became geriatric psychiatry section chief in 2017 and also led numerous departmental initiatives in quality improvement, wellness and professional development. From 2007 to 2015, she served as director of psycho-oncology at the department of psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco, where she was invested in the Gloria Hubner Endowed Chair in Psycho-Oncology in 2013. Dunn graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in Boston with a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics before earning a medical degree at UC San Francisco. She completed a psychiatry residency, as well as a fellowship in geriatric psychiatry, at UC San Diego, where she went on to serve as an assistant professor from 2002 to 2007.
| Robert Eason
Arkansas Land Co.
Robert Eason is owner and principal broker at Arkansas Land Co. in North Little Rock. Licensed in Arkansas and Mississippi, he started as an agent in 2009, soon after graduating from the University of Arkansas Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences in Fayetteville. Since his start, Eason has maintained a full-time career in real estate. He is active in both real estate sales and farm management. He has listed and sold everything from cabins near Maddox Bay to large row crop farms and premier hunting properties across the state. His management encompasses both farm and recreational properties. He is also president of Eason LaRoche Holdings in North Little Rock, which has purchased, developed and sold several recreational developments. Eason LaRoche Holdings owns Prairie Cypress Farm and Lodge, a 1,000-acre recreational farm with both row-crop fields and flooded timber.
| Tamika Edwards
Southwest Power Pool
Tamika S. Edwards, a native of Little Rock, serves as director of human resources and employee engagement at Southwest Power Pool. With more than two decades of experience in social justice, public policy, government and community outreach, Edwards recognizes that her work has always led her to focus on people, policies and systems by facilitating equitable practices to achieve equal outcomes. Her extensive work history includes serving as director of diversity, equity and inclusion at SPP; special advisor to the CEO on diversity, equity, inclusion and engagement at Central Arkansas Water; executive director of the Social Justice Institute at Philander Smith College in Little Rock; director of governmental affairs at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families; director of public policy at Southern Bancorp Community Partners; and community affairs specialist for former U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln. Edwards is involved with civic and community organizations. She is a member of the Greater Little Rock chapter of Jack and Jill of America, a member of Little Rock Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, a founding board member of the Friends of Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, and a member of the Delta Dental of Arkansas and the Little Rock Port Authority boards of directors. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work and community contributions. Edwards earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a Master of Arts in professional and technical writing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Juris Doctor from Bowen Law School.
| Katherine Eldridge
Doe’s Eat Place Little Rock
Katherine Eldridge is the owner of Doe’s Eat Place Little Rock, which she took over from her father, George Eldridge, in 2012. Opened in 1988, Doe’s Little Rock maintains the no-frills tradition of the original in Greenville, Mississippi, and has achieved its own renown as a regional — and even a national — favorite. Doe’s was a favorite of former President Bill Clinton as Arkansas governor, and it became a hangout for Clinton staffers, as well as national press covering the Clinton presidential campaign in 1992. Famous for its patios, including the dog-friendly back patio, Doe’s still attracts politicians and celebrities while maintaining its down-to-earth atmosphere. Eldridge has continued the Doe’s tradition, and the downtown Little Rock hideout lives on as a prime business lunch spot.
| Kim Eskew
Harps Food Stores
Kim Eskew is chairman and CEO at Harps Food Stores, which is based in Springdale, and previously served as president of the company. He has been at the company for more than 45 years and worked his way up from an entry-level position as a cashier and stocker. In 2022, the National Grocers Association honored Kim, along with his wife, Karen, with NGA’s prestigious Thomas F. Wenning Pinnacle PAC Award. The award recognizes the Eskews’ years of service to the independent grocery industry in government advocacy. Late in 2024, Kim also received the Thomas K. Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award from the NGA. Under his leadership, Harps has evolved into one of the most esteemed regional independent supermarket chains in the nation.
| Ryan Flynn
Network Services Group
Ryan Flynn was named president of Network Services Group in late 2013. Network Services Group provides information technology support and Voice over Internet Protocol 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.
| Shane Frazier
Universal Health Services
Shane Frazier has dedicated more than 25 years to improving health care for Arkansans. Frazier started his career at CHI St. Vincent in Little Rock and spent many years in various leadership roles there followed by nine years as CEO at Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare System in Little Rock. Currently, he is a regional vice president at Universal Health Services in Little Rock, where he works closely with the leaders of Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare System, Rivendell Behavioral Health Services of Arkansas in Benton, the BridgeWay in North Little Rock and Springwoods Behavioral Health in Fayetteville to ensure the delivery of quality compassionate health care. He also works closely with the Pointe Outpatient Services, a network of 10 clinics serving the needs of Arkansas families throughout the state. Frazier serves as vice chair on the board of the Children’s Protection Center and serves on the community council for the Little Rock Air Force Base. He has a passion for ensuring Arkansas families receive the care they need to heal and thrive in life. Frazier has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
| Daron Frederick
Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas
Daron Frederick is the chief information officer at the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. Frederick’s career before joining the electric cooperatives included a 16-year tenure in the United States Navy, serving as a team leader/developer for an international banking software organization, serving as a chief information officer in the health care industry, working as the general manager of a nationwide tax service, serving in the role of vice president/CIO for a national trucking company and serving as the information technology manager for the Arkansas State Supreme Court.
| Grant Garrett
Garrett Excavating
Grant Garrett is the CEO of Garrett Excavating, a company founded in 1950 in Hot Springs by his grandfather, Irvin Garrett. Working alongside his grandfather and father for many years, Grant honed his operational skills, demonstrating his potential to lead the company into the future. After a football career with the Arkansas Razorbacks and a stint in the NFL, Grant and his father, Gilbert Garrett, revived the business in 1999 after Gilbert sold the company in 1997. In 2015 Grant purchased his father’s shares of the business, and as of 2024, Grant and his two partners have rebuilt the culture within Garrett Excavating while expanding the company’s footprint with locations in Benton and Rogers. Under his leadership, Garrett Excavating has become a destination workplace within the civil construction community and has completed several high-profile projects, including Opera of the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, East Central Garage in Bentonville, AHTD Northwest Arkansas National Airport Connector, various Walmart Supercenters in the southeastern U.S., Bass Pro Shop and Amazon fulfillment center in Little Rock, Ben E. Keith’s distribution center in North Little Rock, Saracen Casino in Pine Bluff, and Tractor Supply Co.’s distribution center in Maumelle, just to name a few.
| Phillip Gilmore
Ashley County Medical Center
Phillip Gilmore resides in Crossett and has called Arkansas home for almost 43 years. Gilmore graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science. Gilmore went on to graduate from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis with a Master of Health Administration degree, also receiving the 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award. Gilmore also has two doctorate degrees from Louisiana Baptist University. Gilmore served as the assistant chief of clinical microbiology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., during the Vietnam War. After the war, Gilmore continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he held the rank of captain. Gilmore has been a hospital administrator at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, Warner Brown Medical Center in El Dorado and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, where he served for 17 years. Gilmore also served as CEO at Hot Spring County Medical Center in Malvern and currently serves as CEO of Ashley County Medical Center in Crossett.
| George Gleason
Bank OZK
George Gleason has served as CEO and chairman of Bank OZK, headquartered in Little Rock, for 45 years. Under Gleason’s leadership, Bank OZK has been profitable every year and has grown to more than $34 billion in total assets, 2,700 employees and more than 240 offices in eight states. Bank OZK is the largest bank in Arkansas and consistently ranks as one of the best-performing financial institutions in the country due to its high level of profitability, strong capital and liquidity, disciplined credit culture, and outstanding team. Gleason is a native Arkansan who received his undergraduate degree in business and economics from Hendrix College in Conway and earned his law degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. In 2022, Gleason was inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.
| Grant Gordy
First Community Bank
Grant Gordy is Conway community bank president at First Community Bank. He has been with First Community since 2017, when he joined the bank as treasury management specialist. In 2019, he was promoted to community president for Conway. He previously served as vice president and business development officer for First National Bankers Bank, as vice president of business development for Gulf Coast Business Credit, and as vice president of business development for Exchange Capital Corp.He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and is a graduate of the Mississippi School of Banking. He is a volunteer instructor at Junior Achievement of Arkansas and a board member at United Way of Central Arkansas.
| Anna Beth Gorman
Women’s Foundation of Arkansas
Anna Beth Gorman is CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, an organization that is one of the leading equity partners in building women’s economic security across the state of Arkansas. During her tenure, the Women’s Foundation has seen tremendous growth while focusing on two signature initiatives, Girls of Promise and Women Empowered. Prior to leading the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, she served as an executive at the Girl Scouts of the USA for several years. In 2022, she was the Democratic nominee for Arkansas secretary of state.
She is a past chairman at the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, active in Club 99 Rotary, a board member at Arvest Bank Little Rock, a board member at Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame and a founding board member at the Southern Capital Project. She began her career in public service working for the Texas Senate committee on state affairs. She has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, as well as a Master of Public Administration and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
| Meredith Green
Washington Regional Medical Center
Nurse practitioner Meredith Green, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, has worked at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville for more than 17 years. She has served in various leadership roles, including administrative director in women and infant services, where she played an integral role in the planning, design and staffing of the Washington Regional Women and Infants Center that opened in 2016. Meredith earned both a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and received credentialing as a clinical nurse specialist in adult and geriatric health. She received the ANGELS Award for Outstanding Service to Obstetrical Nursing from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and was voted Washington Regional’s Nurse of the Year in 2009 and Director of the Year in 2016 and 2017. Meredith was also recognized with the 2018 C.E. Melville Young Administrator of the Year Award by the Arkansas Hospital Association.
| J. Fletcher Hanson III
Moses Tucker Partners
J. Fletcher Hanson III serves as a principal, executive vice president and principal broker at Moses Tucker Partners. Hanson merged with Moses Tucker Real Estate in 2018 to become the firm it is today, Moses Tucker Partners. Moses Tucker Partners is recognized as the second-largest commercial real estate firm in Arkansas and one of the largest and most admired in the region. With offices in Little Rock and Bentonville, Moses Tucker Partners operates statewide and in other parts of the United States. A full-time commercial real estate consultant and broker since 1997, Hanson specializes in providing corporate and individual clients with a comprehensive commercial real estate platform that emphasizes industrial and office properties. He offers deep client experience by coordinating with sales, property management, accounting, maintenance and development divisions. Furthermore, he aligns with the firm’s specialized industrial, office, retail, multifamily and capital markets divisions to provide specialized services as client needs arise. Given Hanson’s unique approach, he can offer more depth and create solutions across the entire commercial real estate spectrum. An active industry and community leader, Hanson’s roster of past and present memberships and community activities include the Little Rock Realtors Association, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Argenta Contemporary Theatre, Argenta Downtown Council, Appraisal Commissioner of the Argenta Special Improvement Business District, Leadership Greater Little Rock Class of XVI, and speaker for the International Council of Shopping Centers and Institute of Real Estate Management.
| Matt Harkness
Saracen Casino Resort
Matt Harkness is a casino executive with more that 40 years of managerial experience in the gaming industry, including 25 years as a chief operating officer and general manager for industry leading casinos throughout the country. He has worked in multiple jurisdictions, including Atlantic City, Las Vegas, the Chicagoland market and, now, Arkansas. He began his gaming career in 1979 at Resorts International in Atlantic City as a table games dealer. With direct experience in casino and marketing operations, the majority of his 45-year career has been at three companies, including eight years at Playboy Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, 15 years at Trump Casinos in Atlantic City and nine years at Four Winds Casinos in Michigan. Harkness has also been the general manager for the past four years at Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff. Saracen is a commercial property that is wholly owned and operated by the Quapaw Nation of Oklahoma. Harkness has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, New Jersey.
| Jon Harrell
Generations Bank
Jon Harrell serves as chairman and CEO of Generations Bank, an Arkansas community bank chartered in 1907 headquartered in Rogers with approximately $950 million in assets. Harrell is the fifth generation Harrell to be involved with the bank. A graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in banking and finance and a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University, Harrell previously served as chairman of the Arkansas Bankers Association and was recently appointed to serve on the American Bankers Association Community Bankers Council.
| Derrell Hartwick
North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce
Derrell Hartwick has been a lifelong resident of the state of Arkansas. Hartwick grew up in the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, where his father served as president and CEO for 15 years. After graduating from North Little Rock High School as an Arkansas Scholar and a three-year letterman, Hartwick earned his Bachelor of Arts in communication from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville while playing football for the Razorbacks. After college, Hartwick moved back to North Little Rock, where he worked with the North Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau as tourism manager. Later, he took a position at the Little Rock Regional Chamber. Shortly after starting, Hartwick was promoted to director of sales. While at the Little Rock Regional Chamber, Hartwick earned his IEDC Mid-South Economic Development degree. Then, looking to advance, he took over as president and CEO of the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber of Commerce in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Hartwick moved back home in 2021 to become president and CEO of the North Little Rock Chamber.
| Montgomery “Monty” Heathman
Heathman Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
The Dental Clinic of Stuttgart
Dr. Montgomery “Monty” Heathman is a second-generation dentist following in the footsteps of his father, the late Dr. N.D. “Dwight” Heathman. A native of Springdale, Heathman graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry in Memphis in 2000. Heathmann, who is the owner and founder of Heathman Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Little Rock and the Dental Clinic of Stuttgart, has been in practice for more than two decades. His clinics feature the latest in cosmetic procedures, as well as general dentistry, including tooth-colored fillings. His work includes ceramic crowns and veneers, root canal therapy, tooth extractions, temporomandibular joint therapies, implant restorations, All-on-4 implant dentures, smile makeovers, and full-mouth rehabilitation, as well as Botox and dermal fillers. In addition, he is a member of the American Dental Association, the Arkansas State Dental Association, the Central Arkansas Dental Association and the Xi Psi Phi dental fraternity. He has also served with numerous local, state and national organizations.
| Brad Hegeman
Nabholz
In his career with Conway-based Nabholz, Brad Hegeman has served in a number of leadership positions including executive vice president, regional president and chief operating officer. In 2021, he was elected vice chairman of the Nabholz Group Board and named chief strategy officer, for which he focuses on growing and diversifying the company through acquisitions, new geographic locations, new service offerings and innovation. Hegeman is committed to his community and dedicates his time to a number of organizations. He is chairman of the Governor’s Military Affairs Committee, chief of staff of the Air Force Civic Leader Program, a member of the CHI St. Vincent board of directors, a member of the Conway Development Corp. board, a member of the Little Rock Air Force Base executive board and chairman of the foundation board of directors for the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
| Melissa Hendricks
University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College
Melissa Hendricks is vice chancellor of advancement and executive director of the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College Foundation at UAPTC in North Little Rock. Hendricks, a Little Rock native, began in the role in January 2024. She oversees all fundraising and private gift administration and special event management. She also has administrative responsibilities for management of the Center for Humanities and Arts Theater and Windgate Art Gallery. Hendricks has a lengthy resume of success in nonprofit management, fundraising and grant writing. Her most recent role has been as foundation director for the Centers in Little Rock, a role she has had since 2018. Hendricks has served on the Little Rock Port Authority board since 2011, including serving as chair from 2018 to 2020. She previously served on the Little Rock Regional Chamber Board and as grants and major gifts officer at Pulaski Technical College from 2006 until 2013, prior to its affiliation with the University of Arkansas System. During that time, she raised $22.3 million through federal and foundation grant funding.
| Sean Hinson
CenterRock Advertising
Sean Hinson, partner at CenterRock Advertising in Little Rock, has lived in Little Rock for more than 30 years and has almost 20 years of experience in the marketing and advertising industry. He graduated from the University of South Carolina, where he majored in both strategic marketing and entrepreneurial management. He prides himself as being a team player and thrives on learning from different industries where he is exposed to diverse knowledge bases and distinct challenges. He applies that mentality to raising his two children, McCall “Moh” and Dean, just as his parents did. Hinson believes traveling is the greatest education because it produces valuable perspective. His current focus is exploring unique strategies in order to impact Arkansans in a philanthropic approach.
| Brock Hoskins
Garver
Brock Hoskins is chair of Garver’s management committee and became the Arkansas company’s ninth president and CEO during the firm’s 100th year. Founded in 1919, Garver is an employee-owned, multidisciplined engineering, planning and environmental-services firm with more than 1,300 employees across the United States. Hoskins’ leadership at Garver has been a major component in guiding the company through transformational growth, expanding into new markets and improving the Garver brand. Garver sits in the top 100 of the Engineering News-Record’s prestigious “Top 500 Design Firms” list and is consistently recognized as a best place to work.
| Benjamin Johnson
U.S. Marshals Museum
Over his nearly two-decade museum career, Ben has served in nearly every capacity within the museum industry. From intern, to curator, to senior leadership, Johnson is driven by his passion for history and the role that museums play in creating vibrant communities. Since beginning his career with the SAC Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Neb., he has held senior leadership roles at museums across the country, including Oregon, New York, Iowa and Arkansas. He firmly believes that museums and cultural institutions belong to everyone and that high-quality exhibits and programs have the capacity to educate and entertain citizens of all ages. Matching that philosophy with sound business practices and a dedication to fiscal responsibility, he brings an authentically down-to-earth leadership style to his organizations. Ben received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and religion from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master of Arts in U.S. military and diplomatic history from the University of Nebraska.
| LaDonna Johnston
Unity Health
LaDonna Johnston is president and CEO of Unity Health, an Arkansas health care system consisting of four hospitals, 28 clinics and specialties and more than 150 physicians. Johnston has more than 35 years of experience at Unity Health, having held several key leadership roles within the organization, most recently including administrator of Unity Health–Newport, vice president of patient services and vice president of nursing services. As an Arkansas native with a Master of Nursing Science from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Harding University in Searcy, she is passionate about serving patients, families and communities with excellence and expertise. Engrained in the rich Unity Health history and culture, Johnston has a heart for fostering exceptional patient care and creating a positive working atmosphere where associates can thrive and grow.
| Casey Jones
The Janet Jones Company
Casey Jones started his real estate career in 1987 and quickly became one of the top producers in the Little Rock market. He has provided the Little Rock community with real estate expertise and has an unrelenting dedication to providing both buyers and sellers legendary customer service and exceptional results. He attributes his success to in-depth knowledge of the market combined with hard work and an authentic passion for the extraordinary tradition of helping families find their home. For more 25 years, Jones has been the top producing agent at The Janet Jones Company and in Little Rock. His dedication to customer satisfaction has been profiled in multiple publications, including AY About You.
| Marguerite “Sissy” Jones
Sissy’s Log Cabin
A native of Gillett, Marguerite “Sissy” Jones founded Sissy’s Log Cabin in a log cabin in Pine Bluff in 1970. Over the years, Sissy’s Log Cabin has grown to become one of Arkansas’ most iconic names in jewelry, boasting locations in Pine Bluff, Little Rock’s Heights neighborhood, west Little Rock, Jonesboro, Conway and Memphis, plus a Fort Smith location and a new Little Rock location in the works. The company emphasizes its high level of staff training and works to give back to the communities it serves, including through a jewelry technology program at Southeast Arkansas College in Pine Bluff. Jones was named to the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2022, named Woman of the Year in Philanthropy by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas in 2020, and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women’s Jewelry Association in 2016. Three generations of her family now work at the company, including her son, CEO Bill Jones.
| Steve Jones
Dassault Falcon Jet
Steve Jones has worked at Dassault Falcon Jet in Little Rock for 23 years. He is currently the director of engineering. In his current role, he is responsible for the release of equipped cabinetry definition, including structural substantiation and regulatory compliance. Jones really enjoys the guidance and leadership of the engineering team and instills in them that he is only successful when they are successful. Jones graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. Prior to that, he graduated from Bryant High School in 1996. He is a member of Leadership Arkansas Class XIX.
| Diane LaFollette
Mid-America Science Museum
Diane LaFollette has served as CEO of Mid-America Science Museum of Hot Springs since 2013. During her tenure there, she has led the organization through a $7.8 million renovation of the facility, which included the installation of 90 new exhibits, three new galleries, the Oaklawn Foundation Digital Dome Theater and the Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk. Recent projects include the construction of a new exhibition gallery called the Hall of Wonder, a new 5000-square-foot exhibition space for traveling exhibits and events, and the Oaklawn Foundation DinoTrek, which is a mile of pathways throughout the wooded property featuring dinosaur displays. LaFollette serves on the boards for CHI St. Vincent Hospital of Hot Springs, LifeNet ambulance services and the Ouachita Mountain Regional Science and Engineering Fair. She is an executive committee member of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Board and a director for the Hot Springs National Park Rotary. LaFollette has a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from the University of Missouri and a graduate certificate of nonprofit management and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
| Steve Landers Jr.
Interstate Holdings
Steve Landers Jr. is known by many Arkansans for his decades of work in the automotive industry in the state, but he also is the owner and founder of Interstate Holdings in Bryant, a growth investment firm with a diverse portfolio across consumer retail, real estate, blockchain, media and more. Through Interstate, he owns two cryptocurrency mines in Arkansas. Last year, Landers purchased Warfield Distillery in Ketchum, Idaho, and renamed it Sun Valley Distillery. Warfield spirits and beer were made available in Arkansas in 2024.
| Laura Landreaux
Entergy Arkansas
Laura Landreaux is president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas, a company that has helped power life in Arkansas for 110 years. She ensures Entergy Arkansas meets the power needs of about 730,000 customers every day. She is also responsible for driving the company’s financial and operational business results, customer service, safety, resource planning, economic development, employee development, and regulatory and governmental affairs. She became president and CEO in 2018. She joined Entergy Arkansas in 2007 as senior counsel, practicing regulatory law for five years. She then became manager of regulatory affairs at Entergy Arkansas in 2012. She went on to have other leadership positions, including finance director and vice president of regulatory affairs, where she was responsible for interactions between Entergy Arkansas and the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Prior to joining Entergy, she was an attorney for Salt River Project, a water and electricity utility in Phoenix. She joined Salt River Project after spending several years in private practice at Quarles & Brady in Phoenix. An active member of the Arkansas nonprofit community, Landreaux currently serves on the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce board of directors. She also serves as a board member for the Foundation for the Mid South, the Arkansas Research Alliance and Easterseals Arkansas. She served as the chairperson of Junior Achievement of Arkansas’ 2019 Legacy Luncheon, was presented the 2019 Woman in Business award by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and was named the 2020 Arkansan of the Year by Easterseals Arkansas.
| Heather Larkin
Arkansas Community Foundation
Heather Larkin, a native of Charleston, joined Arkansas Community Foundation in 1998 and became its president and CEO in 2008. She is committed to and enjoys engaging people and connecting resources to build stronger communities in Arkansas. She was also named as a scholar in residence at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service for exemplary contributions in the field of community philanthropy. Larkin is a Hull Fellow and attended the Hull Leadership Program, a program to nurture and inspire the region’s philanthropic leaders. She attended Hendrix College in Conway, and while at Hendrix, she competed in several sports, including cross country, track and basketball. Larkin serves or has served on the boards of Just Communities of Arkansas, the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Foundation, Rotary Club 99 and ACANSA Arts Festival. She was inducted into the Hendrix Athletic Hall of Honor in 2007. She is also a member of various organizations and is a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock class 19 and of Leadership Arkansas Class 1.
| Gar Lile
Lile Real Estate
Gar Lile founded Lile Real Estate a little more than 30 years ago in 1993. An avid outdoorsman his whole life, he knew early on that he wanted his career to be centered around that love. Over the last three decades, he has successfully connected land investors across the mid-South and grown a team of agents with a shared passion. Lile is a licensed real estate broker in four states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee), an accredited land consultant and a certified general appraiser (inactive) in Arkansas. He is actively involved in the ownership and development of farms and recreational properties and has a hand in many major development projects in the state. Lile is an active outdoorsman and dedicated conservationist. He is an Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation board member, former trustee board member of the Delta Waterfowl Foundation, and a life sponsor of both Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited.
| Matt Machen
Arvest Bank
Matt Machen is president and COO of Arvest Bank, a role he has filled since February of 2024 when he was promoted from regional executive for enhanced banking services. He previously served at Bear State Bank in several roles including president and CEO, president and senior EVP and CFO; at First Federal Bank in northwest Arkansas as regional president and SVP; and at First Security Bank as vice president. Machen received his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and financial management services from the University of Arkansas, and he is a 2016 graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking in Philadelphia.
| George Makris Jr.
Simmons First National Corp.
George Makris currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Simmons First National Corporation and the Company’s lead subsidiary, Simmons Bank. Prior to joining the bank in January 2013, the bank had operations in three states and total consolidated assets of approximately $3.5 billion. Today, the company stretches across a six-state footprint with approximately $27.3 billion in assets. Previously, Mr. Makris had been employed by M.K. Distributors, Inc., a family-owned wholesale distribution business, serving as president from 1985 to 2012. Mr. Makris served as a member of the board of directors of Worthen National Bank – Pine Bluff and successors from 1985 to 1996 and served as Chairman of the Board from 1994 to 1996. Mr. Makris also serves as board chairman for Arkansas Charities Trust (ACT) the host organization that oversees the operation of the Simmons Bank Championship Presented by Stephens, a PGA TOUR Champions event hosted in Little Rock. Mr. Makris received a B.A. degree in Business Administration from Rhodes College in 1978 and an M.B.A. from the University of Arkansas in 1980..
| Nirvana Manning
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Dr. Nirvana Manning is chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine in Little Rock. She also serves as director of women’s health services at UAMS and is one of only nine providers in Arkansas to become a certified menopause practitioner. She is an elected member of the Arkansas Medical Society’s board of trustees and an inaugural member of the Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee, to which she was appointed by the governor of Arkansas. She also serves as a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Council of University Chairs in Obstetrics and Gynecology, the North American Menopause Society, and the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Manning graduated from UAMS in 2003 and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at UAMS in 2007. She is a staunch advocate for her patients and implemented such projects as Girlology to educate young girls and caregivers about puberty and self-care. She is active in education regarding access to long-acting reversible contraception for all women in the state.
| Richard Mays Sr.
Richard Mays Law Firm
Richard Mays is founder of Richard Mays Law Firm, a boutique practice in Little Rock dedicated to providing quality legal counsel to individuals, businesses, environmental organizations and citizens’ interest groups. Mays is an award-winning attorney who has practiced law for more than 50 years. Prior to starting his own practice, he served as a staff attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., as well as a lawyer for the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. His experience in those positions gave him in-depth insight into the inner workings of state and federal environmental agencies.
| Dustin McDaniel
Cozen O’Connor
Dustin McDaniel is the co-chair of the Cozen O’Connor State AG Group and managing partner at the firm’s Little Rock office. He served as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and then as Arkansas’s 55th attorney general from 2007 to 2015. McDaniel serves clients facing state attorney general investigations and litigation. He brings extensive experience in government and in private practice and a deep network of relationships. In his national practice, McDaniel advises clients, including Fortune 50 corporations and market disrupters, on every aspect of their dealings with state attorneys general. He develops strategy, advocates for clients’ interests and leads legal teams to deliver lasting results. He focuses on investigations and multistate lawsuits brought by attorneys general on complex issues, including consumer protection, digital privacy, cybersecurity and health care. McDaniel has for many years been a leader in the state attorney general community. He chaired the Southern Region National Association of Attorneys General from 2009 to 2011, co-chaired the NAAG Tobacco Project from 2009 to 2011, and co-chaired the NAAG Energy and the Environment Committee from 2013 to 2014. He also co-chaired the Democratic Attorneys General Association from 2009 to 2011 and currently serves as the national co-chair of the Society of Attorneys General Emeritus. McDaniel has been recognized as a leading practitioner and influencer by Best Lawyers and Arkansas Money & Politics. He and his wife, Bobbi, have been married for almost 16 years, and they have three adult children.
| Pat Moon
Meridian Investment Advisors
As managing principal at Meridian Investment Advisors, Pat Moon is responsible for leading the Meridian team in carrying out the mission of helping clients meet their financial potential. He is a member of the investment strategy team, advisor to wealth management clients and active in retirement plan consulting. He is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and Texas Christian University and is a chartered financial analyst. Moon joined Meridian in 1997.
| John Moran
USAble Life
John Moran, chief financial officer at USAble Life in Little Rock, brings more than 25 years of experience to the company. He joined USAble Life in 2018 after working as CFO at Swiss Re Group in Armonk, New York, where he helped lead acquisitions and growth strategy for Swiss Re’s life insurance start-up business, Life Capital Americas. Before that, he served as CFO and leader of the life insurance division of Enstar Group in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. He also served as senior vice president and controller of central finance at HSBC North America in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was a member of the senior management team of CareOne, a startup senior care company in Fort Lee, New Jersey, that has 56 properties in seven states. His expertise helped build the MultiCare Companies, an elder care services company based in Hackensack, New Jersey.
| Julie Mullenix
Mullenix & Associates
Julie Mullenix is an attorney and lobbyist at Mullenix & Associates in Little Rock, the government relations and consulting firm she co-founded with her husband, Ted, 25 years ago. Throughout her career, she has helped Arkansas secure historic economic development projects such as Atlas Tube, Big River Steel, GTL Americas, Highland Pellets and Hybar, among many others. She has also played a pivotal role in firsts for the state, including the deployment of Arkansas Wireless Information Network and Arkansas Administrative Statewide Information System. An Arkansas native, she is honored to represent some of the state’s most iconic brands, including Oaklawn in Hot Springs, and influential organizations such as the Arkansas Realtors Association. She avidly supports philanthropic causes, from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana to the Children’s Tumor Foundation and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas.
| Sarah Newman
Arkansas Trucking Association
Sarah Newman has served as director of operations at the Arkansas Trucking Association for 22 years. She has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s growth and success. As a driving force behind the association’s educational initiatives, Newman spearheaded the development of the 501(c)(3) technician scholarship fund, creating pathways for high school graduates pursuing careers in medium and heavy-duty truck technology. Her work with the technician curriculum advisory committee has been instrumental in helping Arkansas schools achieve accreditation, strengthening the state’s technical education infrastructure. Newman’s expertise spans comprehensive event planning, facilitating ATA’s maintenance and technology council work and strategic resource allocation across various industry subgroups. Known for her behind-the-scenes leadership approach, she excels at transforming complex logistical challenges into seamlessly executed events. Her dual background in finance and marketing enables her to balance the analytical demands of operations with creative problem solving. Currently, Newman is focused on advancing technical education programs in Arkansas. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway with dual majors in marketing and finance.
| Cam Patterson
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Cam Patterson leads the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas’ only health sciences university, with a mission to educate health care professionals, perform research that translates to new treatments and deliver exceptional patient care across the Natural State. Patterson, an accomplished cardiologist and health care administrator, has been chancellor since 2018. He was previously the senior vice president and chief operating officer of New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Komansky Children’s Hospital in New York. Patterson previously had numerous academic and clinical appointments at the University of North Carolina, including as physician-in-chief at the UNC Center for Heart and Vascular Care and executive director of the UNC McAllister Heart Institute. As principal investigator or co-investigator, Patterson has received more than $60 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention throughout the course of his career. His work has been published in 323 peer-reviewed scientific publications. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Georgia and his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.
| Dawn Prasifka
Girl Scouts – Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
Dawn Prasifka, president and CEO of Girl Scouts – Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, has aided in developing girls of courage, confidence and character that make the world a better place. During her tenure of more than 10 years, she has touched the lives of tens of thousands of girls, volunteers, caregivers and staff members. She has connected members to other businesses and organizations around the state to help girls discover who they want to be and the opportunities in Arkansas.
| Jay Quebedeaux
Baptist Health
Jay Quebedeaux serves as president of regional hospitals for Baptist Health, the Little Rock-based health care system. He oversees five of the system’s regional facilities in Arkadelphia, Heber Springs, Malvern, Monticello and Stuttgart and serves as president for Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County and Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia. Before coming to Baptist Health in 2022, Quebedeaux was CEO of the Mena Regional Health System for seven years. He was also the CEO and COO at Sabine Medical Center in Many, Louisiana, and the CEO of North Metro Medical Center in Jacksonville. Quebedeaux has additionally held leadership roles in Texas and Colorado. Quebedeaux earned his Master of Business Administration from Amberton University in Garland, Texas, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
| Jay Ramsey
Rx Catering
A native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and a graduate of Oklahoma State University, Jay Ramsey brought New York Bagel and Deli to Little Rock in 1994. As the demand for catering increased, Ramsey transitioned from a dine-in bagel shop and deli to a full-service catering establishment, Rx Catering, in 2004. Rx Catering famously caters to “anyone with an appetite” but specializes in business lunches, special events and weddings. Ramsey’s 28 years in food service has provided many opportunities for community service and involvement. Most recently, he served on the board of YoungLife, supporting adolescents in growing their Christian faith. In addition, Ramsey provides free meals to local youth through the Lessons for Life organization, in addition to helping with organizations such as the Little Rock Marathon, the Ms. Arkansas Pageant and various homeless outreach programs. He attributes much of Rx Catering’s success to his long-term co-workers, some of whom he has worked with for more than 20 years.
| Seth Runser
ArcBest
Seth Runser is the president of ArcBest. With a deep knowledge of logistics operations gained from more than 17 years at the company, Runser advances the company’s long-term growth through operational efficiency and continuous improvement with a commitment to delivering value to customers through innovative technology, a hands-on approach to creating logistics solutions and a focus on service excellence. Runser joined the company in 2007 as an ABF Freight management trainee and has gained valuable experience as operations supervisor, service center manager, regional vice president of operations and vice president of linehaul operations. In 2021, he was named president of ABF Freight, and in August 2024, he was named president of ArcBest. As ABF president, Runser navigated unprecedented change and guided ABF through the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing employees’ safety while keeping customers’ supply chains moving. He oversaw the successful renewal of a five-year union labor agreement, led an ongoing transformation of ABF and delivered solid financial performance through a challenging economy. Runser has led advancements in the company’s sustainability initiatives, including its ongoing investment in maintaining a modern fleet for ABF that improves fuel economy and reduces GHG emissions, initiatives such as city route optimization technology and testing electric straight trucks, yard tractors and forklifts. He is a former Arkansas Trucking Association board member, a former American Trucking Associations highway safety policy committee member and a BNSF customer advisory board member, and he has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Kent State University in Ohio.
| Adolfo Santos
Arkansas Tech University
Adolfo Santos became executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville in 2024. He had previously served as assistant provost and professor of political science at Texas A&M University since 2018. Before that, he served as dean of the Georgia Gwinnett College School of Liberal Arts, special assistant to the president and chief liaison officer at the University of Houston-Downtown and American Council on Education fellow at California State University-Monterey Bay. He began his education career at the University of Houston system in 1995 and served as department chair, assistant chair and faculty member in social sciences. He also served as a statistical analyst in the UH Center for Mexican American Studies and a research associate in the UH Hobby Center for Public Policy. Santos has a Bachelor of General Studies in political science from the University of Houston-Downtown and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in political science from the University of Houston.
| Marshall Saviers
Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners
Through the ups and downs of the office and industrial real estate markets, Marshall Saviers has consistently outperformed his competitors as one of the top brokers in the region. President of Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners, he has 15 years of experience in the industry and boasts an extensive list of Fortune 500 companies as clients. Saviers has completed hundreds of lease transactions totalling millions of square feet across the country. In Arkansas alone, his transactions total more than $150 million in the past 12 to 18 months as he has been involved in some of the largest investment sales in the state.
| DuShun Scarbrough Sr.
Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission
DuShun Scarbrough Sr., executive director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, is a Little Rock native who began his community involvement at age 15 with a youth speak-out conference titled “Death of a Race.” He later participated in youth seminars and preventive programs, igniting a lifelong passion for service. A graduate of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, he has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and was awarded the JTPA Scholarship. Scarbrough also earned a Master of Business Administration from Webster University, a Master of Counselor Education from Florida A&M University and a Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. He holds certifications from the King Center in Atlanta and Harvard Kennedy School in Massachusetts. Under his leadership, the commission hosts the nation’s largest day of service and is among five states to issue a commemorative King legacy license plate, exemplifying Scarbrough’s commitment to promoting nonviolence and service.
| Patrick Schueck
Lexicon
Patrick Schueck is CEO of Lexicon, a leading provider of construction management, fabrication, erection, mechanical installation, golf course construction and plant maintenance services. Lexicon delivers up to four million man-hours and 150,000 tons of steel annually through its multiple divisions – Prospect Steel, Custom Metals, Steel Fabricators of Monroe, Lexicon Industrial Constructors, Lexicon Industrial Maintenance, Lexicon Energy Services, Heritage Links and Universal.
Schueck serves on several boards including Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the American Institute of Steel Construction, Easterseals Arkansas and U.S. Bank. He also serves as vice chair and treasurer of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission and as a member of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, the University of Arkansas College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council and the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering.
| Mitchell Shelby
Gary Houston Electric Co.
Mitchell Shelby is a licensed master electrician with more than 20 years in the electrical industry. He has made significant contributions to the personal development of the team that has worked alongside him throughout the years. Currently, Shelby serves as vice president at Gary Houston Electric Co., where he leads both the commercial and service divisions, in addition to filling various other roles within the company. Shelby excels in collaborative design-build processes, control and automation systems, lighting systems design, and adaptability in the face of changing project needs. Being able to interact with the customer and make their vision come to fruition within their budget brings an element of partnership with a combination of complementary skills, resources, expertise and perspectives. Shelby is also an avid outdoorsman. Whether it be hunting, fishing or spending time with his family, outdoors is where he feels the most connected to himself.
| Todd Shields
Arkansas State University
An academic administrator, a nationally known scholar and an unabashed champion for students, staff and faculty, Todd Shields was named the fourth appointed chancellor and the 14th individual to lead Arkansas State University’s flagship campus in Jonesboro. He spent many years at the University of Arkansas, where he rose through the ranks to serve as dean of the largest academic unit in Fayetteville. Shields’ depth of academic administrative experience spans from department chair to research centers and from deanships of individual colleges to divisions touching all corners of the university. His two most recent academic appointments, dean of the graduate school and international education and dean of the Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences, illustrate his leadership strength.
| Paul Simmons
Harding University
In 2017, Paul Simmons became the 13th head football coach at Harding University in Searcy. He led the Bisons to the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship, Harding’s first in an NCAA sport. He was named 2023 AFCA National Coach of the Year, 2023 Don Hansen Football National Coach of the Year, 2023 D2Football.com National Coach of the Year and 2023 Great American Conference Coach of the Year. He has a 77-14 overall record and an .870 winning percentage in conference games. Simmons earned his bachelor’s degree in social science from Harding in 1995. A native of Ashdown, he and his wife, Kimberly, have three children.
| Todd Simmons
Simmons Foods
Todd Simmons is CEO of Simmons Foods, a leading supplier of poultry, pet and animal nutrition products based in Siloam Springs. Todd is the third generation Simmons to lead the company following in the footsteps of his father, Board Chairman Mark Simmons, and his late grandfather, Founder M.H. “Bill” Simmons. Starting as an hourly team member in 1990 and working his way up to learn all aspects of the company, Todd was eventually promoted to CEO in 2012. Todd’s ability to drive a people-first culture, a mindset that the company prides itself on, is integral to providing quality food products and services for customers in all 50 states and 40 countries. Todd graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a degree in entrepreneurship and minored in theology. He serves as chairman of the board of Namida, general partner of Natural Capital and vice chair of Signature Bank of Arkansas. He also serves with the Georgetown Board of Regents, TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, the Northwest Arkansas Council in Springdale and the Alice Walton School of Medicine Board in Bentonville.
| Barry Simon
Datamax
A native of Chicago, Barry Simon graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in business. He moved to Little Rock in 1985 to become president of Datamax. Under his direction, the organization has enjoyed steady, substantial growth and has six locations in Arkansas and five in Texas. Both he and Datamax have been recognized in local publications. Simon emphasizes strong company culture and community involvement as foundations for sustained success. He has served as a board member for numerous nonprofit organizations, including the Centers, CARTI, the Better Business Bureau and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana. He is always particularly happy to share with peers the contents of the Datamax Little Blue Book, the organization’s cultural guidepost for more than 30 years. Simon and his wife, Patti enjoy spending time with their son, Cody, their daughter-in-law, Drew, and their two grandchildren. Cody is the current vice president of sales at Datamax.
| Les Smith
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education
Les Smith is the senior vice president and chief of staff at the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education in Fort Smith, a role he has had since March 2024. He joined ACHE in 2019 as chief business strategy officer, bringing more than 20 years of experience from Arvest Bank, where he advanced from teller to executive vice president and loan manager. In addition to his role at ACHE, Smith is a member of the board of directors for Mercy Health Fort Smith Communities. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and a graduate banking and finance degree from Louisiana State University.
| Wayne Smith
Oaklawn
A native of Narragansett, Rhode Island, and a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, Wayne Smith began his career in public accounting and finance before moving on to corporate accounting at ITT Sheraton, where he focused on hospitality. Smith served in senior management positions at MGM Mirage, MGM Grand Las Vegas, MGM Grand Detroit and Caesars Entertainment, as well as Empire City Racing and Gaming in New York and Penn National in Illinois, where he brought more than 28 years of successful and diverse gaming industry experience. In 2017, Smith was named the general manager of Oaklawn Hot Springs and is only the sixth person to hold that title in Oaklawn’s 115-year history. For more than two decades, Smith has been an active volunteer at multiple community and charitable organizations. He has served as a board member of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He serves as a commissioner at the Hot Springs Advertising & Promotion Commission and is an executive board member of Fifty for the Future, for which he served as president in 2020. His dedication to the growth and betterment of the Hot Springs community has also led him to sit on several local advisory committees.
| Jeff Teague
Citizens Bank
Jeff Teague has been CEO of Citizens Bank since June, but his connection to the company goes back a lot further than that. In 2021, he was named chairman and CEO of Citizens Bancshares, the holding company for Citizens Bank of Batesville. The bank was founded by the grandfather of his wife, Sarah, more than 70 years ago. Before taking the reins, he owned Teague Auto Group, which included Teague Chevrolet, Teague Toyota and Teague Ford, all in El Dorado. He entered the car business in 1981, when he and his father bought a Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealership in Walnut Ridge. He grew up in nearby Summerfield, Louisiana, and played college ball in Ruston at Louisiana Tech. In the south Arkansas community, he has been active with Rotary International, the South Arkansas Regional Airport Commission, the El Dorado Economic Development Board, the Arkansas State Police Commission and two local chambers of commerce, on top of being named Time magazine’s national Dealer of the Year for 2014.
| William Tedford Jr.
Stephens Group Asset Management
William Tedford Jr., the chairman of Stephens Group Asset Management, works with clients and their portfolios and also oversees marketing and research for the firm. Tedford has been in the investment business since 1965. Prior to the establishment of SGAM, he had a 51-year career at Stephens. From 1996 to 2017, he was executive vice president, director of fixed income strategy and chairman of the asset allocation and advisory committee of Stephens Capital Management. From 1982 to 1995, Tedford was manager of the equity division of Stephens. In 1989, Tedford served as chairman of the board of governors of the National Association of Securities Dealers, the self-regulatory arm of the securities industry and the predecessor of what is today known as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. In addition, he served on the board of directors at Nasdaq. A Little Rock native, Tedford has been married to his wife, Pat, for 63 years.
| Sarah Thomas
The Venture Center
Sarah Thomas is program manager for strategic partnerships and programs at the Venture Center in Little Rock. She is also a yoga instructor at Sage Health and a district leader for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She previously served as community outreach specialist and emergency preparedness coordinator for Community Health Centers of Arkansas. She received a Master of Public Health from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and received diabetes training from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta.
| Lenore Trammell
Big River Steel
Lenore Trammell joined Osceola’s Big River Steel in 2014 as chief compliance officer and general counsel, and chief administrative officer was added to her titles in 2019. She also serves on Big River Steel’s executive committee and is the executive sponsor of the employee resource group, NextGen. Her career in steel manufacturing began in sales and pricing for Rouge Steel. Trammell is president of the Greater Memphis Chapter of the International Association of Women.
| Matt Troup
Conway Regional Health System
Matt Troup has served as the president and CEO of Conway Regional Health System for more than nine years. Conway Regional has seen historical growth in net revenue that has consistently stayed above 20 percent from 2020 to 2022. Conway Regional has achieved the best-place-to-work designation for eight continuous years in Arkansas and seven continuous years nationally. Troup views health care as a faith-driven calling — a sentiment reflected in how he interacts with his team daily. Staff from every facet of the health system are inspired to be bold, exceptional and answer their calling to help others. Previously, Troup has worked in Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida as a chief operating officer and vice president. He has a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Texas A&M University. He completed his Master of Science in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
| Cathy Tuggle
Tuggle Services
Cathy Tuggle began her career in real estate 33 years ago in property management before launching her own business, Apartment Hunters. After one year in business, she started Arkansas Suites, a corporate housing company. Together, the two businesses were under the real estate entity of Tuggle Services, a real estate and relocation service. Tuggle serves as the principal broker and owner at Tuggle Services. She enjoys working with clients who are relocating to the metropolitan area and those who are moving locally. Tuggle loves serving the community and currently serves on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock advisory board and real estate council, ArvestBank board, AR Kids Read and Fifty for the Future. She is also a member of Rotary Club 99.
| Kris Upton
RPM Group
Kris Upton, a certified public accountant and certified commercial investment member, serves as president and CEO of RPM Group, the parent company of RPM Commercial, RPM Management, Coldwell Banker RPM Group and numerous investment companies. Upton oversees strategic direction and investment management. Prior to joining the firm in 2003, Upton worked in finance, investor relations and operations positions at Alltel, a Fortune 200 company. He served as the company’s primary spokesperson to Wall Street on financial matters.
| Brant Ward
Signature Bank of Arkansas
Brant Ward serves as president of Signature Bank of Arkansas and treasurer of White River Bancshares. He has been employed with Signature Bank of Arkansas since 2005. He began his career with the bank as a banker trainee, which led to the position of loan coordinator and then commercial loan officer. In 2008, he was promoted to funding officer and became an integral part of the finance department. During his time as funding officer, he was in charge of managing the bank’s liquidity, bond portfolio, internet deposits, and forecasting models and reports. He also helped prepare budgets, assisted with setting deposit rates, assisted with management of the assets and liabilities, developed new funding sources, and was a part of the team that managed other real estate owned. Ward was promoted to chief administrative officer and treasurer in 2016, chief operating officer and treasurer in 2021 and president in 2023. As president, Ward continues to manage the bank rates, liquidity, and asset and liabilities of the bank, along with management of the bank’s bond portfolio. He serves on the executive management committee, which focuses on strategic business planning, policy development and problem solving. Ward received a bachelor’s degree in business management from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia and a Master of Business Administration in business entrepreneurship and finance from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and completed the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado.
| Jeanne Wei
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Dr. Jeanne Wei is the Jackson T. Stephens Professor and Chair at the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics and executive director of the Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Wei is board certified in internal medicine, geriatrics and cardiovascular medicine and sees patients in the Thomas and Lyon Longevity Clinic at the Reynolds Institute. After obtaining medical and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois, Wei completed an internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, as well as a staff fellowship in gerontology at the National Institute on Aging and National Institutes of Health in Baltimore. She then joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Hospital, both in Boston, and she became director of the division on aging at Harvard and chief of the gerontology division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In 2002, she joined the faculty at UAMS. Wei has more than 35 years of experience in caring for patients, training future geriatricians and cardiologists, conducting geriatric and gerontological research, mentoring geriatric fellows and junior faculty members, and developing academic programs and initiatives.
| Troy Wells
Baptist Health
Troy Wells is president and CEO of Baptist Health. The Little Rock-based health system is the state’s largest private, nonprofit health system, having more than 10,000 employees and handling more than 20 percent of the state’s hospital business. Wells earned his bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and his master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He started at Baptist Health in 2005 after interning at the former St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hot Springs and serving as administrator of Newport Hospital. When former Baptist Health CEO Russ Harrington retired in 2015, the Baptist board of directors selected Wells to replace him. Under Wells’ leadership, the Baptist system has grown, having recently added Drew Memorial Hospital in Monticello to the system, and has partnered with other health organizations. Baptist partnered with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock on a cancer care center and on its graduate medical education program, which is designed to help increase the state’s health care workforce.
| Cindy Westcott
Summit Utilities
As the vice president of operations and contract services at Summit Utilities, Cindy Westcott oversees daily operations, ensuring safety and compliance for gas systems at Summit Utilities. For that role, she leads a team of more than 670 employees to ensure safe and reliable service to approximately 630,000 gas customers in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri and Oklahoma. Westcott’s career at Summit Utilities included roles such as vice president of operations, engineering and contract services and vice president of customer development. Before joining Summit Utilities, Westcott had various leadership roles at CenterPoint Energy in engineering, operations and regulatory. Westcott has a Master of Business Administration degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Westcott is also a licensed professional engineer in Arkansas and has been actively involved in professional organizations and volunteering in the communities Summit serves.
| Gene Whisenhunt
Hickingbotham Investments
Gene Whisenhunt is the president and chief operating officer at Hickingbotham Investments in Little Rock. He is a longtime member of the board at Little Rock Christian Academy and served as chair for four years. He and his wife, Kathy, have three children who all attended LRCA. Whisenhunt is the past chairman of the Baptist Health Foundation Board and the board at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia.
| Danny Wilkerson
Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care
Dr. Danny Wilkerson chairs the board of directors at the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, a nonprofit organization that works with individuals and health care providers to improve overall health and consumers’ experience of care while reducing health care costs. He also sits on the board of directors at the American Society of Anesthesiologists and serves as the alternate director for the Arkansas Medical Society to the American Medical Association House of Delegates. Wilkerson previously served as the 2021-2022 president of the Arkansas Medical Society, as well as the chairman of the AMS board of trustees. Wilkerson has been a professor in the department of anesthesiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine in Little Rock since 2000. He also has an appointment as a professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology. He attended medical school and completed his internship and residency at UAMS. He is also certified with the American Board of Anesthesiology.
| Lisa Willenberg
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
Lisa Willenberg became chancellor at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton in 2019. The college’s fourth leader since its establishment in 1963, Willenberg is the first woman to have the position. A skilled administrator and longtime active member of the community in Conway County, Willenberg’s previous role as vice chancellor at UACCM included managing the college’s finances, human resources, information technology and physical plant. Willenberg has served at UACCM for 27 years, starting as a general accountant and becoming a vice chancellor in 2011. She also has experience as an adjunct instructor of accounting. She earned her Master of Education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. She also graduated from the College Business Management Institute at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
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