BANKING
Al Druso was named senior vice president and bank card manager for Simmons Bank.
Coldwell Banker Commercial Hathaway Group announced Jamie McLarty joined the brokerage team and Martha Matthews Kirspel and Shelby Carey joined the firm as property managers.
The Arkansas Bank Department hired Samuel “Tanner” McKnight, Seth Parsley, Ashish V. Patel and John David Sonnier as bank examiner trainees.
Generations Bank announced Paul Church and Rob Kimbel were appointed to the bank’s board of directors.
EDUCATION
The Little Rock School District announced the selection of two new department managers: Rhonda Langrell Benton of Little Rock, director of Human Resources, and Cassandra Steele of North Little Rock, director of special programs.
ENTERTAINMENT
Arkansas Repertory Theatre announced Anna Kimmell was named it’s director of education.
GOVERNMENT
Jodiane Tritt, vice president for government relations for the Arkansas Hospital Association, was elected president of the Arkansas Society of Professional Lobbyists. Larry Boccarossa executive director of the Arkansas Timber Producers Association, was elected vice president, and Melissa Moody, partner in Capitol Partners, was elected secretary/treasurer. Elected to the board as members are Andrew Grobmyer, Agricultural Council of Arkansas; Steve Higginbotham, Wholesale Beer Distributors of Arkansas Inc.; and Amanda Story, Hargraves Consulting. Other board members include Steve Ferren, Andy Miller and Joe Molinaro. Stanley Hill, Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, will serve as immediate past president.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Mainstream Technologies announced the hiring of John Banovic as senior information technician.
LEGAL
Fort Smith attorney Joey McCutchen was elected president-elect of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.
MEDICAL
Dr. Laura James was named associate vice chancellor for clinical and translational research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
NONPROFIT
The Arkansas Literacy Councils board of directors elected Rev. Steve Copley to the board. Incoming officers for 2016-2017 are Andrew Richards, president; Jerri Derlikowski, vice president; Karama Neal, treasurer; and Leslie O’Malley, secretary.
RETAIL
SeaArk Boats announced the appointment of Chris Yaney as national sales manager.
TRANSPORTATION
Airways Freight Corp. announced that Brad Watson, currently the vice president of international air and transborder operations, has been promoted to executive vice president of international services, and Tom Hatfield has been promoted to executive vice president and general manager.