AY Media Group is a multimedia company specializing in niche market publishing. Our portfolio includes Arkansas Money & Politics (AMP), the state’s premier business and political magazine; AY Magazine (About You), a leading lifestyle publication; and the Arkansas Mental Health Guide Magazine.
Beyond print, AY Media Group has expanded its reach through dynamic websites and active social media platforms, delivering timely content across multiple channels.
To request advertising rates or learn more about partnering with AMP, AY Magazine, or the Arkansas Mental Health Guide Magazine, please contact hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com.
Explore Arkansas Money & Politics online at armoneyandpolitics.com, and pick up our print edition each month.
For press releases, story ideas, or editorial inquiries, please email press@aymag.com
Our Staff:
Heather Baker
PRESIDENT / PUBLISHER
Heather Baker is the president and publisher of AY Media Group, home to AY Magazine and Arkansas Money & Politics—two of Arkansas’s most influential statewide media platforms.
An award-winning journalist and media executive, Heather has received numerous honors throughout her nearly 30-year career in publishing, journalism, leadership and community service. Under her direction, AY Media Group has earned widespread recognition for excellence in print, digital media and storytelling.
Heather has dedicated her career to promoting Arkansas and elevating the people, businesses, destinations and nonprofit organizations that make the state exceptional. A passionate philanthropist and community advocate, she has used her publications and influence to support countless charitable causes, fundraising events and organizations across Arkansas.
Heather is proudly representing Arkansas internationally as the cover feature of The Enterprise World. The global business magazine recognizes her as “The Media Icon Redefining the Industry” and highlights her leadership, innovation and impact through AY Media Group.
Heather is also expanding into entertainment as a recurring guest on The Big D, a spinoff of the iconic television series Dallas. She appears as herself alongside her husband, Ryan Parker, giving them an exciting new platform to represent and promote Arkansas before a broader audience.
Above all, Heather is a devoted mother, wife and woman of faith who puts God first in everything she does. Whether she is leading her media company, championing a charitable cause, supporting her family or appearing on screen, she brings energy, authenticity and purpose to every opportunity. Heather believes true success is measured not only by what you accomplish, but by the people you elevate, the lives you touch and the legacy you leave behind.
Follow Heather on Instagram here. hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com
Dwain Hebda
EDITOR-AT-LARGE
Dwain Hebda is president of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths in Little Rock. A writer, editor and journalist of some 30 years, his work appears in more than 30 publications in four states. Nebraskan by birth, Southern by the grace of God, he and his wife, Darlene, have four grown children and two lovely dogs. dwain@ya-mule.com
Mark Carter
SENIOR EDITOR
mcarter@armoneyandpolitics.com
Greg Churan
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Greg grew up in Chillicothe, a small town north central Missouri, and graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he graduated with a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Originally he wanted to work in the outdoor field, specifically in the whitewater rafting business, as that’s what he did during summers of college – guiding rafts in the Smokey Mountains on the Nantahala, Ocoee, and Chattooga rivers. After realizing that his passion for the outdoors should remain a passion and not a profession, he moved to Kansas City, and landed in industrial gas sales with Airgas.
With his passion for the outdoors, Greg jumped at the chance to move to Arkansas with Airgas, and has been in Little Rock ever since. Wanting more freedom and to help people save and invest, he went into the financial planning with Ameriprise.
In 2011 he had an opportunity to work in publishing as an account executive and has had success developing print and digital advertisers for niche publications. Building relationships is incredibly important for anyone in development. Greg feels that building business relationships is important, but what’s equally as important to him is to research and recommend what’s best for each client in each situation.
Greg is an avid waterfowl hunter and outdoorsman, enjoys spending time in the the Ouachitas, Ozarks and duck camp with son, Jake, fiancée, Jennie, her son, Caleb, and Labradors, Trigger and Tru. He is also a member of board of directors of the museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie in Stuttgart. gchuran@armoneyandpolitics.com
Mary Funderburg
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Mary is an Arkansas native, born and raised in Little Rock, and a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in liberal arts. She enjoys the outdoors and plays competitive tennis year-round.
Mary has one son, who is her world, and loves being with family and friends. She looks forward to continuing her adventure with AY Media Group. mary@armoneyandpolitics.com
Karen Holderfield
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Michelle James Daugherty
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Michelle was born and raised in Arkansas and graduated from the University of Arkansas. She owned her own business for 18 years. She is a seasoned sales and marketing executive with over 23 years experience. She loves helping her clients with print and digital advertising strategies. She has two children and her littlest love is her Grandson Lucas James Daugherty.
She loves spending time with family, traveling and her French Bulldog River. michelle@aymag.com
Carrie Sublett
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Jessica Everson
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER
Hilarious. Hard-working. Those are a couple of the attributes Jessica Everson says people use to describe her (at least when they want something). Jessica graduated from UALR with a degree in history and a minor in sociology. But since she doesn’t actively use her history background at work, she’s content to nerd out at museums and daydream about one day being a museum curator. Jessica is also very involved in the local art scene, serving as volunteers coordinator for ACANSA and a volunteer for the Symphony Design House and CALS. She is mom to a little human, Laila, and a cat, Vera. When she’s not caught up with any of her many endeavors, you might find her meal prepping or hiking. jeverson@aymag.com
Katie Beth Smith
SALES ASSISTANT
A recent graduate of Hendrix College in Conway, Katie Beth Smith is helping streamline processes and improve client support as sales assistant at AY Media Group. Research and attention to detail are crucial to her role, for which she helps in spearheading company promotions, audience engagement and other activities. While at Hendrix, she majored in psychology, an area that will serve her well as she begins her career with an eye for what makes people tick. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, painting and reading. ksmith@aymag.com
Claire Oden
ADVERTISING ASSISTANT
Claire Oden is the Advertising Assistant at AY Media Group, where she assists the sales team with research and help verify information to support their work. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Audio Production. While living in Nashville, Claire interned at Digital Audio Post Inc., where she had the opportunity to work on 9-1-1 Nashville and meet some pretty cool people along the way – including Reese Witherspoon!
Claire loved her time in Tennessee, but Little Rock has always felt like home. She recently moved back with her fiancé and is excited to be back in Arkansas and close to family and friends. When she is not working, you can usually find her reading, doing Pilates, or checking out a new coffee shop. coden@aymag.com
Mak Millard
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Jacksonville-based writer and editor Mak Millard has won awards across multiple categories for both AY About You and Arkansas Money & Politics, from environmental and health writing to business, politics and lifestyle coverage. Mak also manages advertorial content for both publications and the annual Mental Health Guide. A Hendrix College graduate, Mak served as editor-in-chief of student-run news magazine The Profile and enjoyed an editorial internship with The Oxford American. mmillard@aymag.com
Sarah DeClerk
COPY EDITOR
Sarah DeClerk is an Arkansas native who has served as board member and president for the Arkansas Society of Professional Journalists. She worked as a special sections writer for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where she coordinated the weekly Homes Arkansas section, as well as award-winning magazines Downtown Little Rock and Real Weddings Arkansas, among other projects. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she worked as features editor for the campus newspaper, The Forum. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and listening to local music. sdeclerk@aymag.com
Doug Crise
STAFF WRITER
Doug brings ten years of journalism experience to AY, having written for the Conway Log Cabin Democrat, the Pine Bluff Commercial, the Southwest Times-Record of Fort Smith and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. During his time at the ADG, his sports writing, human-interest pieces and investigative writing won both statewide and national awards. He comes to AY after ten years in Louisiana teaching English and coaching high school football, baseball and girls basketball. Doug’s teams won district championships in all three sports and 12 of his athletes went on to play at the college level. In 2018, he helped lead Minden (La.) High School’s girls basketball team to a school-best 31-5 record and an appearance in the Louisiana state semi-finals.
Doug graduated from Hendrix College with degrees in English and Kinesiology and holds a master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Arkansas Tech University. In his spare time he likes cooking, volunteering at animal shelters and racing go-karts. He is an avid Formula One fan and supporter of the Williams F1 team. He lives in Little Rock with his cats Loki, Spud, Max and Lewis. dcrise@aymag.com
Alex Hardgrave
STAFF WRITER
Alex is an Indiana native who moved to Arkansas a few years ago after graduating from Indiana University with degrees in English and journalism. She’s previously worked for publications including The Indiana Daily Student, The Warrick Standard, Little Rock City Lifestyle and The Oregonian. Outside of her journalistic work, Alex enjoys creative writing, reading her book club’s latest pick and experiencing the local theater and music scenes. ahardgrave@aymag.com
Kellie McAnulty
MANAGING DIGITAL EDITOR
Kellie is the Managing Digital Editor at AY Media Group. Social media is her passion. Kellie says though she’s still learning every day, one thing she knows for sure is that helping others succeed absolutely enables her to thrive. Helping a person or business grow makes all the hard work worth it, she says.
Kellie adds that she’s blessed and fortunate to be married to a wonderful man, with whom she’s a parent to two cats. Kellie and her husband love traveling any chance they get, and watching sports (Go Hogs!) and reality TV. kmcanulty@armoneyandpolitics.com
Kilee Hall
ONLINE WRITER
Kilee Hall discovered her love for writing at a very early age, and began writing music at just eight years old. This passion continued into her adult years as she obtained a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in Spanish from the University of Central Arkansas. After college, Kilee gained experience in writing about all things Arkansas while working as a digital content producer at THV11.
Kilee is also a pop culture enthusiast and probably the biggest Harry Styles fan you will ever meet. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, checking TMZ for the latest celeb gossip and playing with her cat, Cappie. khall@aymag.com
Mike Bedgood
PRODUCTION MANAGER
mbedgood@armoneyandpolitics.com
Maggie Holloway
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR ASSISTANT
Maggie Holloway is the Advertising Coordinator Assistant at AY Media Group, where she enjoys helping Arkansas businesses share their stories and connect with their communities. A Magma Cum Laude graduate of the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in Public Relations and Communication, Maggie has a background in marketing, social media, and client relations. She is passionate about supporting local businesses and is proud to be a part of a team dedicated to celebrating everything that makes Arkansas unique. Outside of work, Maggie enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, exploring local coffee shops, or being outdoors. mholloway@aymag.com
Lora Puls
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Lora has been a graphic designer for 23 years. To her, layout design is like a puzzle; an exciting challenge to get all the pieces fitted together to create the perfect picture. Since family is at the center of her life and hers all live out of state, she travels frequently and is inspired by places and sights both in and out of the Natural State. Though she was born and raised in Iowa, she now calls Arkansas home (as well as those Hogs!). lpuls@armoneyandpolitics.com
Lee Smith
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Lee has been a designer in the Little Rock market for nearly 30 years and for four years before that in Washington, DC. His experience ranges from public relations work with Fortune 500s to a large national family and marriage ministry as well as a statewide health insurance company. His primary role has been in developing marketing collaterals and communication pieces for corporate marketing. He has created everything from buttons to banners, books to brochures, annual reports, fact sheets and large-scale event graphics. If it can be printed or produced, he’s designed it. Lee has five grown children, five grandchildren and a really great cat named GunGun. lsmith@aymag.com
Jerry Cordova
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Jerry Cordova hails from the Chicagoland area, yet has spent most of his adult life in Central Arkansas. He lands at AY Magazine with a degree in Fine Arts and over 20 years of Graphic Art expertise. As a past small business owner himself, he thrives at showcasing individuals and businesses uniqueness through visual branding.
When not laying down eye catching graphics, you will find him laying down interpretive rhythms with his bass guitar. He has graced stages around Arkansas and beyond for as long as he can remember. At times being a full time dedicated band member, to hired stage performer, to composing original music for other artists. His most recent music endeavors have led him to be a sought after studio session bassist, recording on multiple studio albums in the last year alone.
Jerry and his wife enjoy spending time hitting flea markets, catching a live concert or taking in an interesting documentary or indie film. They reside in a home owned by their Maine Coon cat, Mr. Finck. jcordova@aymag.com
Darlene Hebda
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Having grown up on a farm in Nebraska, Darlene Hebda learned the value of hard work and integrity. She has used those lessons and her customer service skills in the insurance industry where she has worked for a home office, an agency and a brokerage firm. She has also used those same skills in the medical industry and, now, as the editorial coordinator for AY Media where she helps to schedule photography and editorial interviews. One of her favorite duties in working at AY Media is interacting with so many fascinating and incredible people in the state of Arkansas. Outside of the office, Darlene enjoys spending time with her husband, Dwain, and their two canine companions. darlene@aymag.com
Vicki Vowell
CEO
Vicki Vowell is the founder and CEO of AY Media Group (formerly Vowell, Inc.), a multimedia company that specializes in niche-market publishing. AY Media Group publishes AY Magazine (About You), a lifestyle magazine, and Arkansas Money & Politics (Arkansas’ premier business and political magazine). Ms. Vowell, a native of Harrison who studied journalism at the University of Arkansas, created her publishing company so that she could share the stories of the people and places in Arkansas.
In 2001, Ms. Vowell founded AY Magazine‘s “Runway for a Cause,” a luncheon/fashion show in which survivors of breast cancer walk the runway in the season’s high fashion. The luncheon has been one of the state’s largest fundraising events, and in its first 10 years, it raised more than $1 million for local breast-cancer organizations. The Association of Fundraising Professionals has named “Runway for a Cause” an Outstanding Volunteer Organization.
Ms. Vowell has served the community as a member of the Little Rock Executive’s Association, a board of Baptist Health Foundation, member of the CARTI Foundation, the Mayor’s Commission on Tourism, and Women and Children First. She is a past member of the boards of Curran Hall and CareLink. She has received the Phyllis Brandon Philanthropist Journalistic Award, the 2017 Ozarks Ambassadors Award from the North Arkansas College Foundation and was featured in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette‘s “High Profile” in September 2009.