Katherine Andrews to Lead New Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation

Katherine Gentry Andrews

Katherine Andrews has been named inaugural director of the Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation, effective Nov. 29.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson formed that office in June.

Andrews’ salary will be $87,000. She has been at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission since 2016, serving first as a project manager, then as the director of small business and entrepreneurship development. Andrews also previously worked in commercial real estate and was an Arkansas Business 20s in their 20s honoree in 2019.

Hutchinson said in a news release, “Katherine is a native Arkansan and an avid participant in outdoor recreation herself. These qualities combined with her experience in small business and entrepreneurship development make her a natural fit for this job.”

In addition, Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Stacy Hurst announced this week the 10 members of the new Arkansas Outdoor Recreation Advisory Board. The governor formed that board to guide the new office and appointed its members.

Those members are:

• George Dunklin of Humphrey,

• Mike Mills of Ponca,

• Ernie Lechuga of Springdale,

• Will Montgomery of Little Rock,

• Susan Peacock of Rogers,

• Bill Barnes of Mt. Ida,

• Steve Straessle of Little Rock,

• Clint Gaston of Lakeview,

• Amanda Herget of Jonesboro and

• Robin McClendon of Monticello

The date for an initial board meeting has not been set.