EDUCATION
AR Kids Read announced its board of directors and officers for the fiscal year. They are chairman Donald Wood, vice chairman Judy Love, executive director Charlie Conklin, Tjuana Byrd, Lindsey Gray, Sharon Heflin, Jared Henderson, Gloria Redman, Gain Robinson and Jamie Scott.
FINANCIAL
Southern Bancorp Community Partners announced the hiring of Jennifer Johnson as the organization’s director of public policy.
INSURANCE
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield named Carl Carter as manager of network operations; Erin Maxwell as director of Claims/BlueCard Administration; and Amanda Haralson as manager of strategic services and project management.
USAble Life announced that James Casey has assumed the role of president and chief executive officer.
MEDICAL
Brad Parsons has been named chief executive officer of NEA Baptist Health System.
Psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Powell has joined the medical staff at the Unity Health - Clearview geriatric behavioral health unit.
Cornea and uveitis specialist Dr. Tayyeba K. Ali joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Dr. Ahmed A. Sallam, a physician with specialty training in uveitis, has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and is now seeing patients at the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute.
QualChoice announced that Nathan Nolen has been hired as the Project Center of Excellence program director.
NONPROFIT
The ACANSA Arts Festival announced the election of Joe Kolb as president of its board of directors.
WHERE TO SEND NOTICES
Notices of executive promotions, new hires or job changes should be sent to: People Editor; Business News Department; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; P.O. Box 2221; Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or by e-mail to sszafranski@a rkansason line.com. Notices should be limited to a few paragraphs and may be accompanied by a photograph, preferably a glossy black and white, which will be used on a space available basis. Photos cannot be returned.