2025 Board of Directors

Nat Lea

Nat Lea

Chairman of the Board
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Jay Chesshir

Jay Chesshir

President and CEO
Little Rock Regional Chamber

Ruth Whitney

Ruth Whitney

Chairman Elect
inVertias

Patrick Schueck

Patrick Schueck

Treasurer
Lexicon, Inc.

Troy Wells

Troy Wells

Immediate Past Chairman
Baptist Health

Executive Committee
Chairman, Economic Development
Laura Landreaux - Entergy Arkansas

Chairman, Membership
Jay Meador - First Horizon

 Chairman, Advocacy
Robin Miller - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arkansas Realty

Vice Chairman, Communications

David Surguine - The McLarty Companies

 Vice Chairman, Community Development
Dexter Doyne - Doyne Construction Company, Inc.

Vice Chairman, Education & Workforce

Curtis Barnett - Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

 Vice Chairman, Public Safety
Ron Witherspoon - Arvest

Vice Chairman, Small Business
Anthony Brooks - Platinum Drywall, Inc.

 Vice Chairman, Transportation & Infrastructure
Kristin Merlo - Delta Dental of Arkansas

At-Large
Will Ford - Westrock Coffee Company

 At-Large
Bobby Gosser - Baldwin & Shell Construction

Ex-Officio
President, Fifty for the Future
Merritt Dyke - Dyke Industries, Inc

Senior Council (Past Chairmen)

Rajesh Chokhani (2023), BOND.AI
Jim Cargill, Back Porch Consulting - 2022
John Burgess, Mainstream Technologies - 2021
Ronnie Dedman, AT&T Arkansas (Retired) - 2020
Kevin Crass, Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP - 2019

Board of Directors

Terms Expiring 2025

Hunter Bale - Bale Chevrolet Company
Susan Desselle - Capital Sotheby’s International Realty
Anika C. Dixon - Goss Management & Realty
Chris M. Heitzmann - Caterpillar Inc.
Wes Martin - Hathaway Group
Laura Nick - Garver
Kevin Reynolds - W&W | AFCO Steel
Chris White - Simmons Bank

Terms Expiring 2026

Rodney Abston - Regions Bank
Michele Beasley - Telcoe Federal Credit Union
Daryl Brown - MISO Energy
Robin Connell - leafscape
Steve Lancaster - Wright Lindsey Jennings
Gordon Silaski - Centennial Bank
Barbara Sugg - SPP
C. Sam Walls III - Arkansas Capital Corporation Group

Terms Expiring 2027

Jessica Flake Dearnley - Flake & Company
Alan Jessup - Bank OZK
Heather Jones - Bank of America
Brian Marsh - Goodwill Industries of Arkansas
Julie McCallister - ECCI
Brendan Monaghan - Cadence Insurance
Carlton Saffa - Saracen Casino Resort
Sharon Tallach Vogelpohl - mhp.si

Ex-Officio

Steven Baker - Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport
Jean Block - Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority
Tad Bohannon - Central Arkansas Water
Susan Altrui - City of Little Rock
Colonel Denny Davies - 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base
Bryan M. Day - Little Rock Port Authority
Dr. Summer DeProw - UA Pulaski Technical College
Marcy Doderer - Arkansas Children’s
Dr. Christina Drale - University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Gina Gemberling - Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau
Dr. Maurice D. Gipson - Philander Smith College
Carlos I. Giralt-Cabrales - Mexican Consulate
Hon. Terry Hartwick - City of North Little Rock
Gabe Holmstrom - Downtown Little Rock Partnership
Hon. Barry Hyde - Pulaski County
Jim Keet - Little Rock Advertising & Promotion Commission
Colonel Damon M. Knarr - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District
Diane McCoy - 2024 Ambassador of the Year
Clay McGeorge - Little Rock Port Authority
Dr. Jerry Guess - Pulaski County Special School District
Dr. Cam Patterson - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Gregory J. Pilewski - North Little Rock School District
Dr. Leslie Rodriguez-McClellon - Arkansas Baptist College
Hon. Frank Scott - City of Little Rock
Payton Smith - North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce
Ryan Stephens - Create Little Rock
Drew Tessier - Union Pacific Railroad
Tiffany Wilkerson - Arkansas Livestock Show Association
Dr. Jermall Wright - Little Rock School District