Niel Crowson
Education
Niel Crowson of Jonesboro, a 1975 graduate of Arkansas State University, has been appointed to a five-year term on the ASU Board of Trustees. Crowson currently serves as president and CEO of E.C. Barton & Co., one of Arkansas’ largest privately owned businesses. He has served as a member of the ASU Foundation and is a current member, as well as former chair, of the A-State Chancellor’s Cabinet. In 2012 he was honored as a university Distinguished Alumnus by the Alumni Association, and in 2002 he was selected as the Outstanding Business Executive of the Year by the A-State College of Business.
Financial Services
Andrew Pickett has joined VA Hospital Federal Credit Union in Little Rock as president and CEO. He previously was assistant service center manager at Arkansas Federal Credit Union.
Donald Britnell has joined FNBC Bank’s Sharp County offices as community president. Based in the Ash Flat administrative offices, his responsibilities include commercial lending, business development and overall consumer lending production. Britnell has more than 30 years of banking experience. He most recently served as community executive and regional manager for Simmons First National Bank in the Hardy and Mammoth Spring markets.
Government
Sarah Page Tacker has been named deputy attorney general for the Public Protection Department of the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office in Little Rock. Tacker joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2006 as an assistant attorney general for the Consumer Utility Rate Advocacy Division. In 2010 Tacker was named a senior assistant attorney general of the Consumer Protection Division and consumer counsel of Arkansas.
Health Care
Dr. Shona Ray-Griffith, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, has been awarded the 2015 Susan A. Hickman Memorial Research Award by Postpartum Support International. Ray-Griffith, who sees patients in the Women’s Mental Health Program of the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute, received the award for a research proposal involving acetaminophen exposure in pregnant women.
The Susan A. Hickman Award is given each year to an individual involved in a scholarly research project that contributes to the field of perinatal mental health.
Nonprofits
Chris Shenep has been promoted to director of major gifts with the Centers for Youth & Families Foundation in Little Rock. Shenep has been with the organization since 2013 and most recently served as director of annual giving.
Debra Wood has joined the Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock as special events coordinator. She previously was exhibits and events manager with the William F. Laman Public Library in North Little Rock.
Retail
Ron Tiarks, former president and CEO of Wal-Mart Germany, has joined 8th & Walton in Bentonville. Tiarks, with more than 30 years of professional service, will be executive vice president and will lead and grow the company’s international business. Dana Young also joins in a leadership role of new business development and human resources. Young has more than 30 years of experience in sales, customer service and performance development training, including nine years in the IT, finance and human resources departments at Procter & Gamble.
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