EDUCATION 

Central Baptist College recently named four new members to its board. The new members are Michael Benefield, Andy Chisum, Chris Lucy, and Jennifer Weaver. Each will serve a five-year term that began Jan. 1. 

CBC’s board also includes Kirk Shelton, Chris Vines, Kellie Harper, and Judy Wallace. 

Steve Elder has been promoted to vice president for enrollment management at CBC. He most recently served in the interim role and has been employed at CBC for nine years.  

Elder will oversee all aspects of CBC’s recruitment, registration, and retention strategies, provide supervision for all enrollment personnel, and oversee and analyze market conditions to consistently meet overall enrollment goals.   

Riva Brown, associate professor and global learning specialist at the University of Central Arkansas, has been named Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer of the Year.  

Brown was nominated by Winrock International for the award for her work in Senegal in July conducting comprehensive digital marketing training for the members of the economic interest group (EIG) Kawral Rewbe Gourel Hadji, a women’s organization dedicated to producing organic moringa and hibiscus. 

The Farmer-to-Farmer Program is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, to provide technical assistance from U.S. volunteers to farmers, farm groups, agribusinesses and other agriculture sector institutions in developing and transitional countries to promote sustainable improvements in food security, agricultural processing, production and marketing. Her work included a five-day workshop focused on website creation, social media optimization, and digital marketing. 

She was one of nine recipients worldwide. 

Jennifer Craun has been selected as UCA’s associate general counsel and Title IX coordinator. In her role, she will serve as part of UCA’s legal team and will be responsible for state, federal and regulatory compliance matters including but not limited to employment, contracts and education law. As Title IX coordinator, she will help to develop training and programming to support UCA’s compliance with the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs and activities.   

Craun has been a practicing attorney for 24 years in all three branches of state government and private practice. She most recently worked for the Bureau of Legislative Research for two years. 

REAL ESTATE

Velda Lueders was recently selected as regional vice president for the National Association of REALTORS. Lueders will oversee the work of the association’s Region 9, which includes Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. 

It is a one-year term that began Jan. 1. 

“I am incredibly honored to serve as the connecting point to our national association on behalf of my peers,” Lueders said in a news release. “This role will enable me to directly communicate REALTOR® needs, affect positive change and further the real estate industry — not only in my home state but across the country.” 

Lueders has served on local, state and national REALTOR boards and committees. She was the president of the Arkansas REALTORS Association in 2018 and Faulkner County Board of REALTORS in 2005 and 2011. She is a former member of NAR’s meetings and conferences, professional development and professional standards committees. She was also the 2018 Arkansas REALTOR of the Year. 

Lueders holds numerous NAR designations, including Accredited Buyer’s Representative, Certified Residential Specialist, Senior Real Estate Specialist, Seller Representative Specialist, At Home With Diversity, Commitment to Excellence, Military Relocation Professional, and Real Estate Negotiation Expert. She is also a REALTORS Political Action Committee Hall of Fame member. 

TECHNOLOGY 

Mainstream Technologies has hired Rhonda Hayes as its benefits manager. Hayes will be responsible for working with benefit carriers and brokers to ensure all associates’ benefits are the best and most affordable. She will also work with associates on claims and assist when life changes require updates to their coverage. 

UTILITIES 

Conway Corp has promoted Tori Freeman to billing analyst 1. Freeman started at Conway Corp in 2021 as a cashier.  

Several Conway Corp service employees were honored with Customer Service Excellence awards during the Mid-America Cable Telecommunications Association awards in November. 

Lead Customer Service Specialist Jennifer Brannon, Customer Service Specialist Tressie Mazen, and Customer Care Specialist Renisenb McGehee were recognized with a Master Performance award in sales. 

Customer Care Specialists Michelle Hatfield and Briana Jackson, Customer Service Specialists Toby Hibbs and Savannah Tindall, Customer Care Specialists 2 Emily Keller and Kelly Johnston, and Customer Care Team Leader Nicole Pizzolato were honored with Superior Performance awards in sales. Customer Care Specialist Neil Holman was recognized with a Master Performance award in services. 

Carrier Relations & Account Development Coordinator Jimmy Dolan recently earned his Key Accounts Certification from the American Public Power Association. 

Conway Corp Telecom Maintenance Senior Foreman Brent Garren recently placed top ten at the International Cable-Tec Games against other technicians from around the nation. This event was sponsored by the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers. The Games are designed to showcase the talents and tech skills of local field employees. The best cable technicians were selected to participate during months of competition among SCTE chapters across the United States and Canada. 

Conway Corp Electrical Systems Engineer Earnest Taylor was recently selected to serve as the Reliability Representative on the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider Program Review Panel. The RP3 program supports the use and implementation of best practices that help utilities continue to be safe, reliable and thrive as organizations.