Wednesday, November 7, 2018 / 11:30 Am Luncheon Embassy

PRESENTED BY

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2018 / 11:30 AM LUNCHEON ® EMBASSY SUITES AMBASSADOR BALLROOM / LITTLE ROCK

ARKANSAS BUSINESS SUPPLEMENT VOL. 35, NO. 44 / OCTOBER 29, 2018 THE BEST CFOs BALANCE TODAY’S DISRUPTIONS TO REALIZE TOMORROW’S OPPORTUNITIES

HoganTaylor’s business advisors understand the challenges businesses and their financial leaders face in an increasingly disruptive digital age. That’s why our team of former CFOs and controllers seeks to elevate the work of financial leaders through enhanced strategies, innovative data analytics, and the financial guidance businesses need to thrive, now and in the future. We salute the financial leaders recognized as 2018 Arkansas Business “CFO of the Year” Honorees. For additional information about advisory services, contact Clay Glasgow, Advisory Consulting Executive, at 501.227.5800 or [email protected]

LITTLE ROCK 501.227.5800 | FAYETTEVILLE 479.521.9191 TULSA 918.745.2333 | OKLAHOMA CITY 405.848.2020 ® hogantaylor.com MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER If you don’t get Arkansas Business,

hief financial officers don’t usually grandstand or seek the limelight, so the idea of you’ll always be in the dark. honoring them at an awards luncheon might seem unusual. However, for the past 10 years, Arkansas Business has shone the spotlight on C financial leaders in Arkansas with unique achievements in their field. Arkansas’ top financial executives demonstrate a distinct ability to navigate complicated waters and, with ease, switch from being vocal advocates for their companies to humble, behind-the- scenes workers putting in long hours to move the company forward. CFOs walk a unique path helping manage the present and future financial position of an orga- Subscribe today for $64.95 at nization while helping craft plans with the company leadership for future growth. With a steady hand, reams of data and an occasional Magic 8-Ball, a CFO can be invaluable to a CEO, a board store.arkansasbusiness.com of directors and an organization. Arkansas Business isn’t alone in thinking that these leaders or by calling (501)455-9333. should be honored. About 400 business professionals will gather Nov. 7 at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock to pay tribute to these outstanding men and women. We are especially proud to honor two professionals with Lifetime Achievement Awards. This year’s deserving recipients are Jim Fink, CFO of Little Rock Christian Academy, who is receiving the CFO Lifetime Achievement Award, and Joseph Woosley, founding partner of Jordan Woosley Crone & Keaton Ltd., who is receiving the CFO Lifetime Achievement Award in Accounting. We will also announce the winners from among the finalists representing large private companies, small/medium private companies, banks and education and nonprofit organizations. Each of our honorees was chosen by an independent panel of judges who know firsthand about successful CFOs. As you read about this year’s finalists and Lifetime Achievement Award honorees, we hope you’ll think about other financial officers who are also deserving of recognition and consider nominating them for the 2019 awards at ArkansasBusiness.com/CFONominate or simply click the “nominate” tab on our homepage. We’d also love to get your feedback about our CFO of the Year program. You can email me at [email protected] or call me at (501) 455-9269.

Mitch Bettis

PROGRAM

Opening Remarks Large Private Company Mitch Bettis, Publisher, CFO of the Year Arkansas Business Congratulations Bank CFO of the Year Welcoming Remarks Sponsored by Celerit Gary Cooper, HoganTaylor Nonproﬁ t CFO of the Year CHRIS WEWERS Presenting Sponsor On being named a finalist for Education CFO of the Year Recognition of Judges Arkansas Business CFO of the Year! Mitch Bettis Lifetime Achievement Award in Accounting CFO of the Year Awards Sponsored by Citizens Bank Thank you for guiding, inspiring, and encouraging Presentation Lance Turner, Online Editor, CFO Lifetime us in our mission to be wealth-builders for everyone. Arkansas Business Achievement Award Sponsored by Delta Dental Small/Medium Private Company CFO of the Year Concluding Remarks Sponsored by Robert Half Mitch Bettis

PRESENTED BY

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AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 3 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN ACCOUNTING JOE WOOSLEY Jordan Woosley Crone & Keaton Ltd. / Hot Springs

Sit down in Joe Woosley’s comfortable office — surrounded by a print of “The Golfers” (1847) by Charles Lees, a gleaming ante- lope’s-head sculpture and a portrait of his wife, Miriam, flanked by two schnauzers — and he’ll tell you about 63 years in accounting. In a building he co-owns in Hot Springs, headquarters of Jordan Woosley Crone & Keaton Ltd., he’ll cast his crisp mem- ory on events that made him a Lifetime Achievement Award in Accounting honoree: courses at Bowling Green Business University (now Western Kentucky University) so rigorous he once was proud to earn a D from a legendarily tough professor who flunked half the class, then Army service that saw the Korean War end just in time for him to stay in the States, trading his rifle for a ledger. He’ll revisit his Kentucky roots, his marriage to a Mississippi girl and his early career in her home state in the 1950s and ’60s, where he recalls race relations being less fraught than they were made to appear by Emma Stone and Viola Davis in “The Help.” He’ll talk about eventually landing in Hot Springs, becoming a 53-year member of First Baptist Church, a 50-year member of the Hot Springs Country Club and an avid Razorbacks fan (except in certain situations when they’re playing Kentucky; then he favors the higher-ranked team). He wrote Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson amid the Razorbacks’ run to the NCAA basketball title in 1994, suggesting defensive variations, and Corliss Williamson & Co. took the big prize. Hot Springs CPA with his own relatively new firm. They renewed Not that Woosley, a sharp wit, is taking credit. He’s just stating their acquaintance later at a professional development course in facts. Memphis, and Jordan badgered Woosley to see Hot Springs, hop- Most of all, the 86-year-old will cover a business career built ing to land him as a partner. on integrity, caring for the vulnerable and efficiency with the Once Woosley saw the town and its beauty — the lakes, hills numbers. “My father taught me by example to be honest, to have and national park, he was sold. He and Miriam, his wife of 65 a strong work ethic and to respect others — no matter their sta- years, raised three children there. tion in life,” he says. His management philosophy is direct, too. After Woosley joined Jordan in 1965, the firm quadrupled in “I respect all my clients and employees so that they know they are size over seven years, and moved to its current location at 126 important to me.” Hobson Ave. in 1976. Over 53 years as a principal at Jordan Woosley, he’s taken pride He says he feels blessed that God led him to First Baptist in the firm’s growth and the chance it gave him to look out for Church of Hot Springs, where for over more than a half-century clients like surviving spouses at risk of falling prey to fraudsters. of membership he has served as a deacon and on several leadership “Serving people that are left behind when the other dies, that’s committees. Woosley boiled it down: “I love my church family.” important,” Woosley says. “I tell them if there’s some trouble, if He’s a longtime member of the Hot Springs National Park something in the home or a car breaks down, they need to call Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the YMCA me before making any financial decision.” That advice saved one board and was actively involved in fundraising to construct the woman from a costly new air-conditioning system when all she current YMCA building, and was also involved in fundraising for needed was a $175 repair, he said. the Boys Club. Woosley was working in Mississippi, where he learned the farm- So what’s next for Joe Woosley? “Continue working part time, ing, banking and oil industries, when he met Clarence W. Jordan, a enjoy my family and friends and play golf as often as possible.”

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6 AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 MANAGED NETWORK SERVICES COMMUNITY BANK OUTSOURCING CONSULTING APPLICATION MANAGEMENT

Celerit is proud to sponsor the 2018 Arkansas Business Bank CFO of the Year Awards

We celebrate this year’s finalists and award winners. At Celerit, we honor the kind of out-of-the-box thinking and innovation that builds such success in today’s challenging financial services environment.

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AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 7 LARGE PRIVATE COMPANY CFO

SUSIE KOEHN CFO / BSR / Little Rock

Susie Koehn (pronounced “cane”) is still abuzz from the mountain- beds serving 50 universities in 25 states. During her eight years with top experience of helping make the initial public offering happen in the student-housing company, Koehn rose from director of accounting May for Little Rock’s BSR. and reporting to senior director of financial reporting. “Taking a company public as a CFO is one of the most challenging “Most people think that finance and accounting are just about the things I’ve done in my career,” said Koehn, chief financial officer of the math, but it’s more reading comprehension,” said Koehn, who grew up apartment-focused real estate investment trust. in Meridian, Mississippi. “That’s always been one of my strong suits.” The $878 million-asset venture, which went public in May on the She graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in professional Toronto Stock Exchange, owns 48 multifamily properties with 9,879 accountancy from Mississippi State University in Starkville and fol- units. lowed that a year later with a master’s in professional accountancy. Koehn joined BSR as chief accounting officer in December 2013 After college, Koehn worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and was and was named chief financial officer in January 2016 in advance of drawn to the audit track. During her nearly eight-year stint with the the private company committing to go public with a $135 million firm, she worked out of the Memphis office as well as three years in stock offering. the company’s office in Zurich. She brought her REIT-public company know-how from EdR Koehn is a volunteer with the Arkansas Chapter of JDRF, formerly Collegiate Housing in Memphis, which managed more than 42,300 known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

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8 AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 LARGE PRIVATE COMPANY CFO

ANDREW LANDRUM CFO / ABC Financial Services LLC / Sherwood

Andrew Landrum spent 19 years, the bulk of his career thus far, with Acxiom from 1997 to 2016, when he joined ABC Financial, which at Acxiom Corp. of Conway, one of Arkansas’ biggest technology uses proprietary software to manage member accounts for fitness clubs. success stories. Two years ago, he moved to ABC Financial Services With annual revenue nearing $200 million, it has maintained a far of Sherwood for many of the same reasons he had been part of the lower profile than Acxiom, the publicly traded data miner that was Acxiom team. renamed LiveRamp earlier this month after selling the bulk of its busi- “You had a founder who believed that we could create a world-class ness to The Interpublic Group of New York. company right here in central Arkansas. That was the story of Charles Similarly, ABC was sold by founder Bottin’s JBE Inc. holding com- Morgan at Acxiom and that was the story of Jim Bottin here at ABC,” pany to Thoma Bravo of Chicago at the end of 2017. Now Landrum he said. and the rest of the management team are working on a five-year plan Landrum, a CPA, grew up in Paragould and earned an account- to expand from the fitness industry into other industries that need ing degree from Ouachita Baptist University at Arkadelphia and an state-of-the-art management of member accounts. MBA from Memphis State University (now known as the University “There are more and more things that are moving to subscription of Memphis). After practicing with Ernst & Young from 1986-92, model, and that’s good for us. We see it as part of our future. We’re Landrum spent five years with LSI Financial Group, the servicer of sub- never going to leave the fitness industry … but there’s a lot of growth prime auto loans later known as Nuvell. He held various finance roles we can add on by adding other verticals.”

Your leadership and Congratulations, Don Swanson! dedication to smart

financial management

at the Community Don has served PA with distinction for the Foundation allow past 23 years working to advance the School’s generous people to mission to inspire students to explore, make the most of create, contribute, and achieve. their charitable giving. Thank you for helping Thanks for all you do! PA further our vision to be the leader in innovative education. Congratulations Corey!

5 Allied Drive, Suite 51110 Building 5, 11th Floor Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 arcf.org/givesmart 12701 Hinson Road • Little Rock, AR • pulaskiacademy.org • 501.604.1910 501-372-1116

AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 9 LARGE PRIVATE COMPANY CFO

MARK TODD CFO / Rock Dental Brands / Little Rock

Mark Todd’s strengths were always on the mathematical side, “so accounting was just a natural way for me to be involved in businesses at a level where I could add the most value,” the Fayetteville native said. Todd graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a degree in accounting in 1997 and went to work for the accounting firm Arthur Andersen, which is now defunct. He was at the accounting firm for only about five years, but he made a number of lifelong connections. “I had a contact in that network that introduced me to Merritt Dake,” the CEO of Rock Dental Brands of Little Rock, who in 2016 was looking to strengthen the company’s accounting department, Todd said. CFO Lifetime Todd, whose accounting career also includes being the senior vice president of finance for Windstream Corp. of Little Rock, was hired Achievement Award as CFO of the multispecialty dental services company in July 2016. “I have the opportunity to contribute on the financial side,” he said. “Our management team here works as a partnership, and we have col- lectively been able to grow this business.” Since Todd arrived the number of dental clinics under management Congratulations has grown from 27 to 74 practices in Arkansas and Missouri. Rock Dental has about 500 employees. Jim Fink His management philosophy is to hire the best people he can find. “What really helps as a manager is to have talented professionals working for you and executing on the goals that we set as a management Thank you for your leadership and stewardship team,” said Todd, who also holds an MBA from Southern Methodist that has provided unprecedented growth and University in Dallas. financial stability to Little Rock Christian Academy. Todd said he’s driven by a desire to get things right and to fairly We are blessed to have you! present the financial information so it can be used to grow the business. Todd said Rock Dental Brands plans to continue to expand. “Our ultimate goal is to be the leading provider of dental health … across middle America,” he said. Christian. Independent. Collegiate.

19010 Cantrell Rd • Little Rock, AR 72223 501.868.9822 • LittleRockChristian.com

10 AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 SMALL/MEDIUM PRIVATE COMPANY CFO /SPONSORED BY

JIM ACUFF CFO & COO / Wilson & Associates PLLC / Little Rock

Even at a young age, Jim Acuff was involved in business. law firm whose practice areas include real estate, elder care and estate “My mom and dad always had some kind of business going on, planning. It has offices in Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi and from convenience stores to used cars,” said the 55-year-old, who grew about 120 employees with 30 attorneys. up in the Detroit area. He worked at his parents’ Tastee-Freez, taking As chief financial officer and chief operating officer, Acuff is orders and collecting cash. responsible for working on the firm’s growth and the operational side Acuff received his bachelor’s in accounting from Lipscomb of the business. He said the goals for the company include expand- University in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1985 and then earned his ing, attracting the best people and having the best technology to MBA from Tennessee Technological University in 1986. support the firm. He was attracted to business. “The accounting side, to me, is the Acuff said he is driven by the sense of accomplishment, and the backbone of the business,” he said. “And if you don’t understand the quote, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve,” accounting side, it’s going to be hard to understand what’s going on from Napoleon Hill, the author of “Think and Grow Rich.” in the business and how you become profitable.” “That’s what I believe,” he said. “That’s what drives me.” He worked for accounting firms and Hawkeye Communication Acuff’s management philosophy is to share the vision of where the Inc. of Charlotte, North Carolina, before joining Wilson & company wants to go “and then getting out of [employees’] way,” he Associates PLLC of Little Rock in 2015. Wilson & Associates is a said. “And you’ll be surprised at what they’ll end up doing.”

JENNY GRIFFIN CFO / Advanced Cabling Systems / North Little Rock

The hard-driving, overachieving Jenny Hergenroether is now the When asked what that meant, Griffin choked back tears. “I’m hap- playful and teary-eyed Jenny Griffin. pier. I’m more comfortable in my own skin,” Griffin said. “It has just Yes, accountants cry. been a dream job. I love my boss, my colleagues. I love everyone.” Griffin, 43, has been an achiever her entire life. She took an Advanced Cabling has been a perfect fit because, as the company’s accounting course at Monticello High School because her grandfa- first CFO, Griffin has built the financial infrastructure her own way ther was a CPA and she was good at math; she ended up teaching with a staff of four. Also, the company’s tight-knit, professional-with- the class for the most part. time-for-fun culture was the tonic to Griffin’s hard-charging ways. She earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Central “I have always been extremely insecure, so I try to be a positive Arkansas in Conway by earning straight A’s at Monticello and scor- person,” Griffin said. “My biggest thing is to make work fun. I like to ing a perfect 36 on her ACT. She made straight A’s at UCA so her laugh. That is my release: Do silly stuff, goof off, play tricks. If you’re grandfather, Hollis Bray, paid her way to earn an MBA from UCA miserable at work, you’re just miserable.” — which she did in one year. Griffin said she runs a tight ship, but when work is done, she makes Insecurity drove Griffin — a CFO finalist a year ago under her sure her team knows they are valued. Her favorite job memories are maiden name — but all that driving led her to Advanced Cabling not the audits managed or avoided but the people she has worked Systems, which hired her as the company’s first CFO three years ago. with.

AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 11 SMALL/MEDIUM PRIVATE COMPANY CFO

SPONSORED BY SETH After 65 years, JENSEN you get very good at CFO / Slim Chickens / Fayetteville

Seth Jensen didn’t join the Slim Chickens restaurant team on the matching ground floor, but he wouldn’t have to take too many stairs to reach his office. Jensen, 45, was hired as Slim Chickens’ CFO eight years ago when skilled candidates the then 7-year-old company had seven locations in northwest Arkansas to accounting and Oklahoma. Jensen had a depth of experience running financials for restaurant chains, including a stint with positions. Houlihan’s as it was emerging from bankruptcy. “If you ever want to learn a business, that’s the time to do it,” Jensen said. When co-founder and CEO Tom Gordon hired Jensen, Slim Chickens was running so lean that Jensen commuted from his home in Dallas and slept on Gordon’s couch. As CFO, Jensen had to make sure the company was financially fit to chase Gordon’s expansion goals. There’s only one recruitment ﬁ rm with the This past year, Slim Chickens had 75 locations, including one in expertise of Robert Half Finance & Accounting. the Middle East, and annual revenue was approaching $100 million. “Writing the playbook is more fun than running it,” Jensen said. We’ve been matching skilled professionals with “Growth companies have their challenges. It’s one of the most chal- companies of all sizes and industries for over lenging things I’ve done in my career.” Jensen, from Exeter, Nebraska, said he jumped at the chance to join 65 years. Slim Chickens once he researched the company and its culture. He said he was amazed that the then-minor restaurant chain had such fervent, Of course, you could choose a recruitment almost cult-like customer loyalty. “I have a good business partner who has unbridled enthusiasm,” ﬁ rm with less experience. But then again, why Jensen said. “At times, I get to be the yin to his yang. If he is the gas would you? pedal, sometimes I have to be the brakes. As long as there is mutual respect and a healthy dynamic for debate, we’ll come up with the right answer. What is the right pace? What pace can we go at without wreck- ing the ship?”

Call us today at 1.866.293.3674 roberthalf.com/ar-little-rock

12 AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 SMALL/MEDIUM PRIVATE COMPANY CFO N O N P R O F I T C F O

SPONSORED BY JON DOR CFO / Museum of Discovery / Little Rock

Jon Dor said a career in finance was a “natural fit” for him because but doing accounting at the Museum of Discovery actually makes he always liked math and excelled at it. it fun,” he said. And that career began early, working for his mom’s friend, a CPA, Of his leadership style, Dor said, “I try to make sure that the things while he was in high school. that I expect of those that are around me, or those that work for me, “It’s more about the problem-solving and being able to take the are things that I’m going to be doing myself. I’m not going to ask knowledge of whatever it is you have and combine it with math or somebody to stay late and finish a project if I’m not willing to do that numbers to figure out some type of solution,” Dor said. whenever I have projects that I need to stay late for. That’s kind of how He grew up in the Houston area and graduated with an accounting I live life as well — kind of like the Golden Rule: I treat people how I degree from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. would want to be treated.” For the past 10 years, Dor has been working for nonprofits. He’s He manages human resources for the museum too. been at the Museum of Discovery for three of those. Before that, he Dor supports the museum’s staff by making financial and invest- worked in ExxonMobil’s tax department. ment decisions that keep the nonprofit up and running. He also makes What Dor enjoys about his current job is that he gets to do sure the staff gets along well and is happy with what they’re doing. what he loves for an organization that’s making an impact. “I tell Outside work, Dor works with youth at his church and enjoys people all the time that accounting, to a lot of people, is boring, watching his son play football.

Congratulations Mark Todd DEBBIE HENRY CFO of the Year Finalist, Nonprofit Organization

Debbie is an integral part of the leadership team at Baxter Regional Medical Center, and we are so proud to see her recognized by her peers across the state! Finalist, Large Private Company CFO of the Year

MOUNTAIN HOME, AR www.baxterregional.org RockDentalBrands.com

AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 13 NONPROFIT CFO

DEBBIE HENRY CFO / Baxter Regional Health System / Mountain Home

Debbie Henry’s introduction to the financial side of the health In June 2016, Henry took a job at the 268-bed Baxter Regional care industry came more than three decades ago. Health System as CFO. After graduating from Southwest Missouri State University, Baxter Regional, which has 1,600 employees, has seen its revenue which is now known as Missouri State University, in 1987 with an grow from $185.6 million in 2016 to $202.5 million in 2017. She accounting degree, Henry went to work for the accounting firm said she’s proud that the hospital has been “on an upward trend in KPMG in its Tulsa office. One of her largest clients was St. John a difficult environment.” Medical Center in Tulsa. Henry said her interest in accounting blossomed in high school “I spent several months on the medical center campus and grew when she was growing up in Humansville, Missouri. She was a an appreciation for the significance and complexity of the organiza- member of her high school’s accounting team that competed against tion,” she said. “My appreciation was focused on the financial and other high schools. “The high school accounting courses were my business aspects.” favorite,” she said. Henry left KPMG in 1993 and went to work in finance for compa- Outside of the hospital, Henry is a member of the Rotary Club nies in the manufacturing industry. In 2004, Henry returned to health of Mountain Home, and she’s a past president and board member care as CFO of North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison. of the Rotary Club of Harrison. She also is a member and co-chair At that hospital, she was the financial leader on the construction of a of the CFO Committee of the Arkansas Chapter of the Healthcare $30 million, 124,000-SF patient tower that opened in 2008. Financial Management Association.

COREY MOLINE CFO / Arkansas Community Foundation / Little Rock

A two-year mission trip to southern Argentina during his col- charitable giving to make a sustained impact. lege years resulted in an “epiphany” for Corey Moline: Engineering Moline is particularly proud of the Arkansas Gives charitable giv- wasn’t the field he needed to pursue. ing events administered by ACF, which raised and distributed more He took a leap into accounting, despite not having had any previ- than $13 million for nonprofits in the state, and of ACF’s recent ous business or accounting courses. “I came back from my mission move from Union Station in downtown Little Rock to Riverfront and dove head first into it and fell in love,” Moline said. Plaza in Riverdale. Moline, a Utah native who moved to the Sherwood area when he The ACF manages more than $250 million in investments for was 8, graduated from Sylvan Hills High School and then attended about 2,000 charitable funds. Challenges facing the nonprofit, the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, where he earned a Moline said, have included fluctuations in investment markets, BBA in accounting. recent changes in tax law that reduced the incentives for charitable He went on to work at Moore Stephens Frost, Hudson Cisne & giving and communication and technology associated with ACF’s Co., the trucking company Continental Express Inc. and back to 28 affiliate offices throughout Arkansas. Hudson Cisne, where he was a manager and principal and led the As for his management style, Moline said he tries to “appreciate governmental and nonprofit practice of the firm. In 2014, Moline the good and learn from the bad” and he seeks to ensure that his left to join the Arkansas Community Foundation, a nonprofit that employees feel empowered to do their jobs. Also: “Even if it’s part promotes smart giving by helping people protect and grow their of someone’s job to do something, it never hurts to say thank you.”

14 AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 NONPROFIT CFO

CHRISTINE MURPHY CFO / Recovery Centers of Arkansas / Little Rock

Christine Murphy wanted to be a scientist, but she soon discov- RCA, a community-based provider of services for substance abuse and ered she had chemistry with numbers. related disorders, two years ago and has been CFO for less than a year. Murphy was once “very determined to do chemistry, but appar- Nevertheless, at 29 she’s proud of her efforts to maximize rev- ently they want you to be well-rounded as a scientist, and I hated enue, maintain grant and government-funding compliance and biology,” she said. reduce turnover. Serendipitously, the relatively new financial chief at Recovery “I was initially surprised to have a nomination for this,” she said. Centers of Arkansas found a remarkable similarity between chemis- “In prior years I had not considered myself unique; however, I try and accounting. “I fell in love.” believe my dedication and ethics have led to my recent nomination. Problem-solving with numbers became her passion, and integrity I’d say the secret to success is recognizing that the moment you stop her watchword: “Hard work will take you far,” she said, describing moving forward you will start to move back.” her management philosophy, “but without ethics and honesty you She, her husband and three children attend Benton First will not ever succeed.” Assembly of God, where she’s been a youth leader, and she’s a board A Benton native who grew up in Little Rock and Texas, Murphy member of the Young Professional Network of Saline County. attended Baylor University and got her BBA from the University of Murphy said one of her mentors, Lindsey Baker, audit and assur- Arkansas at Little Rock. She spent four years at EGP PLLC in North ance partner at EGP, taught her to be a leader “not by demanding Little Rock, the last two and a half as senior auditor. Murphy began at respect, but by earning it through compassion for others.”

Congratulations! Jim Acuff On being named a finalist for the 2018 Arkansas Business CFO of the Year

Thank you for your leadership and continued dedication to the Wilson Pride.

Wilson & Associates, PLLC • Wilson+Miller, PLLC

400 West Capitol Ave., Suite 1400 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 219-9388

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AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 15 BANK CFO / SPONSORED BY

ERIC MANGHAM SVP & CFO / Arkansas Federal Credit Union / Jacksonville

Credit unions brought Eric Mangham to Arkansas early in his Working with CEO Rodney Showmar, Mangham was promoted career, and his plan is to stay right where he is. from financial analyst to senior financial analyst and then to CFO. His hometown of Orange, Texas, is across the Sabine River Net income exceeded $6 million for the first time in 2016, grew to from Louisiana. He went to college at Lamar University in nearby $8.3 million in 2017 and is on track for $10 million this year. Beaumont, Texas, and worked for Wells Fargo Bank for a year and With an eye toward improving net interest income, AFCU’s effi- a half while completing his MBA, also at Lamar. ciency has improved as well. Operating expenses ate up more than That’s when his career officially began, dispatched to Little Rock 67 percent of gross income in 2015, but by the middle of 2018 that as an examiner with the National Credit Union Administration, had been cut to just under 57 percent. the federal regulators of credit unions. The NCUA had only five Mangham said he admires Showmar’s willingness to take chances employees in Arkansas. “You actually office out of your house,” and try new things while putting employees and AFCU members Mangham said. ahead of financial results. Five years with NCUA “sparked my passion for how credit His regulatory history shows in his work on the board of the unions serve their members,” Mangham said. In 2012, he took what directors of the Better Business Bureau of Arkansas. “You need he had learned to Arkansas Federal Credit Union of Jacksonville. someone to hold businesses accountable for what they claim to AFCU, with assets of $1.2 billion, is by far the largest of the 56 offer,” Mangham said. credit unions chartered in Arkansas.

REATHEL PRIVETT

EVP & CFO / Union Bank & Trust / Monticello

Reathel Privett started work at Union Bank & Trust in Monticello Advancements followed to operations secretary in February 1985, as a 17-year-old teller back in May 1980. The part-time job marked assistant cashier and operations officer in May 1989, assistant vice the beginning of a career and the establishment of a vocational president and controller in May 1992, vice president in October home. 1994, senior vice president in September 1999 and chief financial “Thirty-eight years,” Privett said of working at her hometown officer and chief information officer in November 2004. bank. “It’s been a long, great career for me.” As a kid, Privett used to play “bank” and “school,” which led to For the past 12 years, she’s held the posts of executive vice presi- consideration as real-world occupations as she grew up. dent, chief financial officer and chief information officer at Union “I thought about being a teacher, but I guess banking won out,” Bank & Trust. The $210 million-asset lender operates three full- Privett said. “I just got into it and loved to crunch those numbers.” service locations in Monticello and Warren with a staff of 53. She helped re-establish the local Kiwanis Club about 10 years ago “I’ve always been strong in math and accounting,” Privett said. and is a past president of the group. Outreach to children in need is a “As far as banking goes, I just learned about it from the ground up.” focus of the group’s efforts, which includes doing bedroom makeovers. After completing her associate degree in business administration “The intent is to get them in a better atmosphere, something to at the University of Arkansas at Monticello in May 1982, she was look forward to come home to and a better place to do schoolwork,” promoted to loan secretary. she said.

16 AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 BANK CFO / SPONSORED BY

CHRIS WEWERS CFO / Southern Bancorp Inc. / Little Rock

Chris Wewers started on a banking career as a part-timer while Arkadelphia, where he served as chief financial officer for nearly a in college back in 1991. His passion for the lending business hasn’t decade. waned during those 27 years. In 2011, he joined the turnaround team of Harrison’s First Federal “With a stroke of a pen, we change someone’s life,” said Wewers, Bank/Little Rock’s Bear State Bank as executive vice president and chief financial officer since 2015 at the nearly $1.3 billion-asset chief operating officer. Along the way, Wewers served as CEO of the Southern Bancorp Inc. “That’s what I love about this business. bank and its parent company before landing at Southern Bancorp. We’re making a bet that they’ll take the money and do something He graduated in 1992 from Henderson State University at special with it.” Arkadelphia with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and in 1995 from Its namesake bank in Arkadelphia is one of the largest rural devel- the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a master’s in business opment banks in the nation and helps support a charitable sister administration. company, Southern Bancorp Community Partners. His civic resume includes membership in Little Rock’s Rotary Club Wewers’ route to Southern Bancorp began in Arkadelphia with 99 and service as director of the Pay It Forward Foundation, which Merchants & Planters Bank/Horizon Bank and moved through provides college scholarships for Lake Village high school graduates. Sparkman and its Merchants & Planters Bank to Fayetteville, Wewers also serves on the board of directors of the Henderson State where he became president of Community Bank of North Arkansas University Foundation and is chairman of the university’s School of in 1999. Two years later, Wewers moved to Summit Bank of Business advisory council.

CFO OF THE YEAR

JUDGES

LEN FREY Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, JOHN ROGERS MARNIE OLDNER Arkansas State University CFO, Treasurer, Chief Executive Stone Ward Ofﬁ cer, Stone Bank

AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 17 EDUCATION CFO

PAUL CHERRY Vice President for Finance / Central Baptist College / Conway

Paul Cherry is having the time of his life at Central Baptist College Cherry, of Little Rock, got into accounting because he thought in Conway. it would give him a solid foundation in the business world. After Cherry joined CBC three years ago as its vice president for finance graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with after spending a lifetime in accounting, predominantly at a bank. an accounting degree, he went to work for the Arkansas Division Cherry, 65, worked at Caddo First National Bank in Glenwood — of Legislative Audit while taking night classes at UA Little Rock’s later First National Bank of Hot Springs, now part of Arvest — as Bowen School of Law. CEO, CFO and general counsel during his 22-year tenure. The accounting-attorney combination has helped Cherry, who In 2015, when he heard CBC had a position, he inquired about it worked in the attorney general’s office for many years before going and was hired within the week. into private practice as a CPA. After three years in private practice, “I have really enjoyed providing an expertise as the growth of he took the CEO job at Caddo First. the school has increased,” Cherry said. “It has been tremendous to Cherry said he has told Central Baptist he plans to stay two to be able to work with some highly educated people and provide an five years before retiring. Working at a small college is a challenge, accounting basis that affects everything. I have enjoyed the college with fluctuating enrollment always the chief concern, but Cherry dynamic. finds solace during the hectic times. “It has been a blessing to gather “I’m older so it was almost like I don’t need to retire; this is some- people together, and if we have an issue coming up, we will pray thing that is worthwhile. It’s a mission here at the school.” about it,” Cherry said.

MEL SANSOM CFO / Harding University / Searcy

Barefoot skiing isn’t typically associated with CFOs. But a that too,” he said. At work and home, Sansom advises, “Surround photo of Mel Sansom doing just that won the National CFO yourself with good people and processes.” Photo Contest last year. Sansom was inspired by his junior high football coach and The annual “fun CFO” online contest is hosted by CBIZ Inc. Bible class teacher, who instilled the importance of being focused, of Cleveland. Visitors to the CBIZ-run website vote on 30-40 having a good character and improving every day with practice. photos. Sansom holds a master’s degree in accounting from Harding Sansom, who is from Pensacola, Florida, lost by just a few votes and a doctorate in higher education administration from the this year. But he isn’t just about fun and games. He likes to point University of Arkansas at Little Rock. out that he has decreased debt at Harding University by approxi- Prior to joining Harding’s team in 2002, he worked at Ernst mately $20 million over the last four years. & Whinney of Nashville, Tennessee, his father’s CPA firm in Dozens of operational areas report to him, and Sansom said Pensacola and Hamilton Health Care System in Dalton, Georgia. he’s made a lot of improvement in planning construction, com- Sansom is a Searcy Water Utilities board member. He has also munication and funding projects. chaired a United Way fundraising campaign, served on the Searcy “I try to focus on three things: making sure that they’re done on Regional Chamber of Commerce board and is a past chairman time, they’re done with high quality and they’re done on budget. of the board of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for And we really made a lot of strides in that area and are proud of Children) of White County.

18 AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 EDUCATION CFO WE COUNT ON SETH

DON Seth Jensen has been in the restaurant industry for most of his career, but most SWANSON recently he has served as our CFO. Over Head of Finance & Investment / Pulaski Academy the past seven years, Seth has helped lead Little Rock Slim Chickens from a small restaurant Don Swanson called being involved in doubling the size of Pulaski company to an international chain with Academy’s campus “almost overnight” his greatest accomplishment. over 75 locations spanning 14 states, the That happened in 2008, after the UK and Kuwait; with 100’s more in school bought property from its neigh- bor, Fellowship Bible Church, which development. built and moved into a new building. For three years, Swanson said, he and his team worked on renovating the former home of Fellowship Bible We could not be prouder of his leadership, Church and on securing financing for expertise and forward thinking. Some say the project. It was a big turning point in the school’s history, he said. seven is a lucky number, but Slim Chickens Swanson and his brother were raised by a single mother, and the family moved to Arkansas when he was 10. He graduated in 1985 has been lucky to have Seth on our with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arkansas Tech University. Swanson said he worked as a public accountant for a few years and Executive Management Team from day then as an internal auditor for Onebanc. Being in banking was fun, he one. Congratulations on being nominated said, but the industry became less stable as more mergers and acquisi- tions took place. Swanson’s growing family needed more stability then, as a 2018 nalist for CFO of the year! and he thought the Pulaski Academy job would provide it. He’s been working at the school for 23 years now, and a lot of moving parts — finance, facilities, information technology, the retail store — report to him. “Coming to work every day is fun. Coming to work every day is challenging, and it’s different every day,” Swanson said. “Working with the people here is amazing because we all want the same thing. We all want what’s best for the kids.” Swanson’s mentors instilled in him “the fact that you’ve got to come to work and you’ve got to give it your best every day, and when you do that, you’ll make mistakes, but a lot of good things will happen. And if you can be consistent in that, you’re going to be successful.”

SETH JENSEN SLIM CHICKENS, CFO

AN ARKANSAS BUSINESS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT / October 29, 2018 19 Your leadership makes us smile.

Delta Dental of Arkansas congratulates our clients who were named as finalists in the Arkansas Business 2018 CFO of the Year awards. We’re proud to help recognize these outstanding professionals for their contributions to their companies and their communities.

Paul Cherry, Central Baptist College Jon Dor, Museum of Discovery Jenny Griffin, Advanced Cabling Systems Debra Henry, Baxter Regional Medical Center Andrew Landrum, ABC Financial Services Eric Mangham, Arkansas Federal Credit Union Corey Moline, Arkansas Community Foundation Christine Murphy, Recovery Centers of Arkansas Mel Sansom, Harding University Don Swanson, Pulaski Academy Mark Todd, Rock Dental Brands Chris Wewers, Southern Bancorp, Inc.

DeltaDentalAR.com