EDUCATION

Gordon Schmidt has been named chair of the Department of Marketing and Management in the University of Central Arkansas College of Business. As chair, Schmidt will collaborate with faculty and supervise department activities that support the college’s mission. He will teach courses related to Human Resources, leadership and organizational behavior. He will also continue his research in the future of work, virtual leadership, neurodiversity, and how leadership differs across contexts.

Schmidt previously served as director of the David and Sharon Turrentine School of Management at the University of Louisiana Monroe. Schmidt has a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Michigan State University. He also has a bachelor’s in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

Jay Faulkner has been named the new director of the Veterans and Military Resource Center at UCA. He recently retired from the U.S. Army, having served more than 24 years, and is an Iraq War Veteran. He retired at the rank of Master Sergeant. 

Faulkner is a 2005 UCA graduate. Upon retiring from the Army in 2024, he began working at UCA as the veterans benefits coordinator.

In his new role, Faulkner will lead a team of eight individuals who assist all military-connected students. 

FINANCE

Gratus Wealth Management-Northwestern Mutual Conway was recently named among the best in Arkansas for financial security professionals by Forbes. Gratus Wealth Management is owned by brothers Gilberto and Osmar Garcia. Gilberto serves as president and CEO, and Osmar serves as co-founder and partner.

HEALTHCARE

James Fulmer, M.D., has joined Conway Regional Health System’s Conway Medical Group as a family medicine physician. Fulmer is a graduate of Conway High School and the University of Central Arkansas. He earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Mallory Bagwell, D.O. has joined the Conway Regional Hendrix Medical Clinic as an internal medicine physician. 

Bagwell earned her undergraduate degree from Henderson State University and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University in 2022. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Conway Regional Health System in 2025. 

TOURISM

Rachel Shaw has been elected president of the Heart of Arkansas Regional Tourism Association. The regional tourism associations are charged with encouraging and promoting travel to and within their specific regions of the state.  The Heart of Arkansas represents Pulaski, Faulkner, Saline, Lonoke and Prairie counties.

UTILITIES

Jason English has been promoted to headend engineer. In the new role, he will oversee the operation, maintenance, and reliability of the company’s headend systems, helping ensure customers receive high-quality video and broadband services. He will also continue to support the organization’s fiber network and video infrastructure while working to maintain the performance and stability of critical telecommunications systems. 

English began his career at Conway Corp in 2005 as an installer trainee. 

Rachel Myers has been promoted to receptionist II in the customer service department. 

In her new role, she will continue serving as one of the first points of contact for Conway Corp customers, providing customer service, and supporting daily operations of the department. 

Myers began at Conway Corp in 2007, and became a customer care specialist in 2008. She became a receptionist in 2016. 

Chad Sayers has been promoted to telecom installer technician 3 following the completion of his certification. In his new role, he will oversee advanced installation projects, mentor newer technicians, and continue providing customers with high-quality broadband and telecommunications services.

Sayers started at Conway Corp in 2023 as a telecom installer trainee.

Clint Cook has been promoted to senior headend engineer. He will provide advanced technical leadership for the company’s headend operations, helping ensure the reliability and performance of Conway Corp’s video and broadband services. He will also support Conway Corp’s fiber network and video infrastructure while working to maintain and enhance critical telecommunications systems. 

Cook began at Conway Corp in 2001 as an installer trainee. 

Alicia Francis recently earned her Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional certification. Francis started at Conway Corp in 2023 and serves as its training coordinator. 

Lee Tedford was recently recognized by the Arkansas Water Works & Water Environmental Association with the Water Outstanding Achievement Award for water systems serving populations greater than 5,001. The award recognizes outstanding leadership, dedication, and contributions to Arkansas’s water industry. 

Tedford began at Conway Corp in 2010 as a water systems engineer. He was promoted to water systems manager in 2017.

Conway Corp Chief Executive Officer Bret Carroll has been named treasurer of the American Public Power Association for the 2026-27 term. 

APPA is the national organization representing not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities. The association advocates for public power at the federal level while providing policy guidance, education, training, and resources to help utilities strengthen the communities they serve. 

Carroll will serve on the executive committee and help provide strategic leadership and financial oversight for the national organization, which represents more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities serving approximately 49 million people across the country.

Conway Corp Chief Financial Officer Erin Brown received the APPA’s Public Power Rising Star Award, recognizing emerging leaders who are making significant early-career contributions to advancing public power through innovation, leadership, and service to their communities.

Brown joined Conway Corp as a power supply analyst in 2019. He advanced through several roles before being promoted to chief financial officer in 2023. He played a key role in securing a 20-year solar power purchase agreement that supports Conway Corp’s long-term energy strategy while helping provide cost stability for customers.