The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associate Industries of Arkansas has announced the latest class for Leadership Arkansas, the program that aims to educate and engage business leaders in the state to enhance local economies and communities.
In the latest edition of the program – Leadership Arkansas Class XV – there were 31 individuals selected to participate. This marks a dramatic reduction of the typical class size. According to the state chamber, this is roughly half the usual class size.
This reduced class size is designed to accommodate social distancing requirements in order to hold class sessions in person.
The class members include:
- Allison Bermudez, Strategic Communications & Media Relations Advisor, MISO, Little Rock
- Jill Bobo. Development Director, The CALL, Hot Springs
- Kent Bridger, Regional Community President, Simmons Bank, Jonesboro
- Danna Caldwell, Sr. HR Consultant, JTS Financial LLC, Russellville
- Nate Caldwell, Operations Manager, Weiser Brown Oil Company, Magnolia
- John Cantabery, Senior Project Manager, Garver, Conway
- Jennifer Christman Cia, Associate Editor, Arkansas Living, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Little Rock
- Sammie Cribbs, Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer, North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, Harrison
- Jake Fair, Attorney, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP, Little Rock
- Jill Floyd, Project Manager & Director of Community Outreach, CDI Contractors, Little Rock
- Jay Geaney, 154th Training Squadron Commander, Arkansas Air National Guard, Cabot
- Jeremiah Gentry, Vice Wing Commander, Arkansas Air National Guard, Fort Smith
- Maggie Jo Hansen, Senior Manager, Tyson Foods, Fayetteville
- Nathan Harris, SVP – Commercial Lending, Citizens Bank, Fayetteville
- Jeff Hatley, Public Information Officer, Ozark Regional Transit, Rogers
- Allison Hestand, Chamber CEO/Economic Development Director, Paragould Regional Chamber of Commerce, Paragould
- Aaron Huntley, SVP – Strategy, First Western Bank, Springdale
- Chad Kinsley, Director of Operations, Black Hills Energy Arkansas, Springdale
- Courtney Little, President, ACE Glass, Little Rock
- Rusty Meeks, Assistant General Manager, Arkansas Travelers, Little Rock
- Jennifer Morales, Director of Delta Dental Smiles, Delta Dental of Arkansas, Benton
- Joey Msall, District Director, CenterPoint Energy, Jonesboro
- David Orr, Director of Development, ARcare, Russellville
- Ryan Pettigrew, Sr. Manager, US Realty Operations, Walmart, Prairie Grove
- Grace Rains, Director of Operations, Conductor)/ Executive Director , Ark Angel Alliance, Conway
- Brandon Resecker, Sr. V.P – Energy, Crafton Tull, Conway
- Karen Shaw, EVP & CFO, Citizens Bank, Batesville
- Hunter Stuckey, VP of Lending, Signature Bank of Arkansas, Bentonville
- Ventrell Thompson, Regional Customer Service Manager, Entergy Arkansas, Little Rock
- Amy Williams, President/CEO, Cabot Chamber of Commerce, Cabot
- Drew Williams, Vice President of Business Development, Baldwin & Shell Construction Company, Redfield
Leadership Arkansas will launch on Sunday, Sept. 20 with an orientation session. This will last from Sunday through Tuesday, Sept. 22 at the Fairfield Bay Conference Center.
The remaining sessions are listed below:
Session II: Education & Workforce, Oct. 15-16, Batesville
Session III: Agriculture & Outdoor Life, Nov. 16-17, Jonesboro
Session IV: Government & Military, Dec. 8-9, Little Rock, North Little Rock & Jacksonville
Session V: Natural Resources, Defense & Industrial Development, Jan. 11-12, 2021, El Dorado, Magnolia & Camden
Session VI: Economic Development and Infrastructure, Feb. 18-19, 2021, West Memphis & Blytheville
Session VII: Tourism, History & Revitalization, March 11-12, 2021, Hot Springs
Session VIII: Regional Development, April 21-25, 2021, Northwest Arkansas
Session IX: Leadership, Planning & Graduation, May 20-21, 2021, Little Rock
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