Leadership Arkansas Class XX Graduates 52 Leaders from Across the State

May 15, 2026 (LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) – Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas (ASCC/AIA) announces 52 Arkansans representing a wide range of industries, backgrounds, and communities graduated from Leadership Arkansas Class XX during a ceremony held Friday, May 15, at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock.

Leadership Arkansas is a nine-month leadership development program designed to connect and inspire emerging and established leaders while exploring the opportunities and challenges shaping Arkansas’s future.

“These leaders represent every corner of Arkansas and every major sector of our economy. The relationships they build and the experiences they share through this program continue to strengthen communities across our state,” said Toni Lindsey, Leadership Arkansas Program Director for ASCC/AIA.

Leadership Arkansas alumni include leaders from business and industry, education, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, healthcare, and civic organizations who are using the insights gained through the program to create opportunities and positively impact Arkansas’s future.

“Leadership Arkansas continues to bring together some of the brightest and most committed leaders in our state,” said Randy Zook, President and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas. “This program helps participants better understand Arkansas, challenges them to think bigger about our future, and creates lifelong connections that benefit their communities, organizations, and our state as a whole.”

Leadership Arkansas Class XX was made possible through the generous support of sponsors across Arkansas. Simmons Bank served as the Underwriting Sponsor. Presenting Sponsors included Walmart, Southwest Power Pool, ARcare, and Nucor. Statewide Sponsors included Summit Utilities, Farm Credit, Entergy, and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation.

The following individuals, listed by name, company and hometown, graduated as members of Leadership Arkansas Class XX:

• Louis Alderman – Goodwill Industries of Arkansas – Benton
• Sonya Archer – General Dynamics OTS – Camden
• Suzie Barham – Pafford Medical Services – Hope
• Colonel Sonny D. Baxter – 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard – Maumelle
• Dr. Brian Berry – UA Little Rock – Bryant
• Lindsey Bowman – Craighead Electric Cooperative & Empower Broadband – Jonesboro
• Tucker Brackins – ARcare, Inc. – Little Rock
• Brooke Brewer – NorthWest Arkansas Community College – Centerton
• Jason Chacko – The Pinnacle Mountain Group at Morgan Stanley – Little Rock
• Amber Crawford – Arkansas Department of Commerce – Little Rock
• Kristin Daniel – Parity Financial Group, LLC – Bentonville
• Samantha Evans – Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis – Conway
• Phillip Bryan Fisher – Arkansas Tech University – Russellville
• Erin Franks – Arkansas Children’s – Benton
• Arrianna J.Y. George – Walmart – Bentonville
• Brad Hall – Oaklawn Casino Racing Resort – Hot Springs
• Jonathan Hamner – Crafton Tull – Hot Springs
• Sean Hoagland – PotlatchDeltic – Little Rock
• Heath Hooker – Nucor Yamato Steel – Jonesboro
• Jason Hudnell – Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts – Hot Springs
• Kandi Chitman Hughes, Esq. – Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) – Little Rock
• Colonel (Ret.) Erica L. Ingram – Arkansas National Guard – Little Rock
• Dallas F. Johnson – Summit Utilities – Fort Smith
• Will LaRue – TFC Inc. – Conway
• Lt. Col. Richard J. Lavery V – 188th Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard – Fort Smith
• Clark De’Adrian Lewis – Lockheed Martin – Camden
• Justin McCarty – Simmons Bank – Conway
• Daniela Medina – Walmart – Fayetteville
• David Mitchell – Ozarka College – Fox
• Kerry Jucas Moody – Arkansas Ambulance Association – Little Rock
• Rebekka Nickols – JCD Consulting – Bryant
• Dr. Jeffery W. Norfleet II – Shorter College – North Little Rock
• Connor Olsen – Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation – Maumelle
• Adam B. Osweiler – McClelland Consulting Engineers – Fayetteville
• Scott Provencher – Wright Lindsey Jennings – Little Rock
• Brooke Pryor – CARTI – Searcy
• Eddie Ramos – Banco Si/Signature Bank – Springdale
• Beverly Roberson – Garver – Benton
• David Robinson – W&W-AFCO STEEL – North Little Rock
• Tim Roswell – Glen Sain Chev Buick GMC – Paragould
• David Scoggin – Black Hills Energy – Fayetteville
• Charles Smith – Dassault Falcon Jet – Bryant
• Bentley Story – Entergy – Little Rock
• Sharon Strong – Arkansas Scholarship Lottery – Little Rock
• Alison Taylor – University of Central Arkansas – Greenbrier
• Zeynep Vural – Southwest Power Pool – Little Rock
• Dr. Connie Wilson – Southern Arkansas University – Magnolia
• Tricia Wilson – Simmons Bank – Little Rock
• Lucy Witherow – Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment – Bryant
• Karen Kitchens-Witt – JPMorganChase – Hot Springs
• Caroline Woods – Learfield – Arkansas State – Jonesboro
• Chad Thomas Young – WDD Architects – Cabot

Leadership Arkansas challenges participants through on-site tours, immersive discussions, and cultural experiences designed to deepen understanding of Arkansas’s economy, industries, communities, and opportunities.

To date, more than 1,000 individuals representing business sectors, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, government entities, and civic groups have completed the program.

Applications for Leadership Arkansas Class XXI will open soon. To learn more, visit arkansasstatechamber.com/leadership-arkansas.