Kendraya Dewberry has been hired as a solutions consultant at Sowell Management of Little Rock. She previously was a client services manager at Ameriprise Financial Services. Jason Lester has been hired as a senior accountant. He previously served as a research analyst at the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Campbell Woods has been hired as a solutions consultant. He previously was an account manager at JTS Financial.
Leigh Ann Biernat has been appointed executive vice president and head of public finance practice at Stephens Inc. of Little Rock. She joined the firm in 2015.
(From left) Kristina Bishop and Emily Horton (First Community Bank)
Kristina Bishop has been promoted to branch manager at First Community Bank of Batesville. She will oversee the operations at the branch while managing resources and staff. Additionally, Emily Horton has been promoted to senior vice president, commercial lending. She has been in the banking industry for 16 years.
Jim Brandt has been promoted to senior vice president, financial adviser at First Community Financial Services of Batesville. He has nearly 27 years of experience in the brokerage and financial planning industry. Audrey Pool also has been promoted to senior vice president, financial adviser. She has more than 20 years of experience in the brokerage and financial planning industry.
Paula Canal has been hired as Rogers branch manager at Armor Bank of Forrest City.
Brandon DeGroat has been promoted to Jonesboro community bank president at Cross Bank of Wynne. He has served as vice president and loan officer of the bank’s Jonesboro market since 2022. Additionally, Chaun Yielding has been promoted to internal audit manager. She has been with Cross Bank for 24 years.
Mary Henderson has been promoted to senior vice president, assistant loan review manager at First Community Bank of Batesville. She will help loan review officers assess loans for compliance to bank policy, procedures and regulations.
Scott Sander has been named director of safety at Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. of Little Rock. Sander has worked for the cooperatives in safety roles since 2016.
Dakota Breshears has been promoted to vice president of meat and seafood at Harps Food Stores Inc. of Springdale. He has been with the company since 2004. Travis Lee has been promoted to director of loss prevention. He has been with the company since 2020.
The Forge Institute of Little Rock has announced a promotion and the hiring of several employees. Scott A. Anderson has been promoted to chief external affairs officer. He will lead the expansion of partnerships and community relationships. Amanda Hannah has been hired as an instructor assistant. Elizabeth King has been hired as an instructor. She has more than 21 years of experience in public education. Lonnie Strange has been hired as an instructor. She has 10 years of experience in education. Kenny Willoughby has been hired as program manager for the Forge Fellowship, helping service members to enter career fields.
Steve Milligan has been promoted to chief information officer and director of information systems at Arkansas Tech University of Russellville. He has been with ATU since 1999.
Miles Bandy has been promoted to manager of systems project engineering at Hytrol Conveyor Co. of Jonesboro. He has been with Hytrol since 1998 and has held several roles including in the areas of power assembly, material coordinator, customer service and engineered to order. Additionally, Sara Leritte has been hired as director of strategic planning. She has seven years of strategic planning experience and 19 years in the technology sector.
See more of this week's Movers & Shakers, and submit your own announcement at ArkansasBusiness.com/Movers.
