Arkansas DHS announces new structure of 7 'shared services' offices

Arkansas Department of Human Services Director Cindy Gillespie, surrounded by deputy directors Mark White (left) and Keesa Smith, speaks Tuesday, June 7, 2016, during a news conference at her office in Little Rock.
Arkansas Department of Human Services Director Cindy Gillespie, surrounded by deputy directors Mark White (left) and Keesa Smith, speaks Tuesday, June 7, 2016, during a news conference at her office in Little Rock.

The Arkansas Department of Human Services on Tuesday announced the creation of central offices in a restructuring move its director said will make the agency “stronger and more nimble.”

During a news conference in her office, Director Cindy Gillespie said the agency on July 1 will implement its new structure of seven “shared services” offices that will be led by chief officers who will report to her.

Those offices are finance, procurement, information technology, human resources, communications and community engagement, legislative and inter-governmental affairs, and chief counsel.

Four officers were named Tuesday to lead the newly formed divisions: Mark Story as chief financial officer; Misty Bowen-Eubanks, chief procurement officer; Amy Webb, chief communications and community engagement officer; and Jeff Dean, chief information officer.

Department officials Monday announced the hiring of state Rep. Kelley Linck, R-Flippin, as the agency’s first chief of legislative and governmental affairs, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.

The agency’s chief counsel, David Sterling, will remain in his current position, Gillespie said. The chief counsel office, which serves as a model for the restructuring, will now oversee internal investigations, she added.

Gillespie said officials are looking outside the Human Services Department to fill the newly created chief human resources officer post. That position includes a salary of $100,077, according to the agency.

No one will be laid off as a result of the restructuring of the Human Services Department’s business models, she said, adding that the agency expects salary cost savings of $597,583 through the removal of 25 vacant positions.

Department officials did not give an estimate on how much the restructuring could financially benefit the agency.

Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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