Arkansas Business

Michael Irvin

Michael Irvin thought his career in commercial real estate was off and running in 2007 when he returned home to Dallas after college to work with Partners National Real Estate.

But two years later, a phone call from Arkansas prompted a change of plan.

Tommy May, chairman and CEO of Pine Bluff’s Simmons First National Corp., asked Irvin, grandson of longtime director Dr. Harry Ryburn, to come back to the banking company as a commercial lending trainee.

Irvin had enjoyed an internship with Simmons First while working on his bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

He decided to resign from his position as a researcher and commercial real estate broker to accept the offer to become a banker. Irvin moved to Little Rock in August 2009 and completed the 18-month training program.

“You get to learn about a bunch of different industries and learn about a lot of different businesses,” Irvin said. “That is something I really enjoy.”

In the fall of 2011, he was elected to the board of directors at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas and currently serves on the finance committee.

This year, Irvin was the chairman of the group’s annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake event and served as the campaign coordinator for the annual United Way campaign at Simmons First.