Certification Committee

Responsible for promoting the benefits of the PHR and SPHR professional certifications awarded by SHRM's Human Resource Certification Institute, planning and conducting Certification Review Courses, and providing access to other materials and programs that assist Chapter members who seek certification and/or re-certification.

Certification Chair: Patti Barnes, SPHR
Sr. HR Specialist
Walmart Stores, Inc.
479-204-0228

College Relations Committee

Advisor to the local student chapters and liaison between NOARK and the student chapters. This committee monitors the NOARK scholarship endowment at the University of Arkansas for appropriate funding.

College Relations Chair: William Ricky Teague, MA
Adjunct Professor
University of Arkansas

Rick Teague is a Human Resources Generalist with a Bachelor’s Degree (BBA) and Masters Degree (MA) in Business Administration. He has 35 years HRM experience working with three of Fortune 100s most admired Companies, McKesson, Nestle and Raytheon.

For the past 15 years he served as Vice President of Human Resources for North America’s largest custom aluminum die casting company based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Experience includes HRM assignments at the local, division and corporate levels of multinational manufacturing organizations.

For the past 10 years, Rick has spent his spare time as an adjunct professor for the MSOM (Master of Science Degree in Operations Management) offered through the University of Arkansas’ Industrial Engineering Department. See www.msom.uark.edu . His graduate level courses include Human Resources Management, Human Behavior Analysis and Organization & Control. He serves as a member of the Comprehensive Review Board for the Fayetteville Campus.

Rick is active in NOARK, North Arkansas Personnel Association; CAO, Compensation Association of the Ozarks and SHRM, the national human resources association know as the Society for Human Resources Management. He is a regular presenter for the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and was recently accepted by SCORE as a volunteer consultant for small business. The University of Arkansas, Global Campus, recently engaged him in Human Resource Professional Certification course-work and curriculum development for small business training. He also serves as trainer for the Arkansas Municipal Clerks Certification Program.

In his spare time, Rick enjoys doing community volunteer work with Arkansas Athletes Outreach, Springdale Chamber of Commerce, the Joe Martin Stage Race and his favorite pastime activity is spending time with granddaughters, and his faithful companion Gizmo.

Communications/SHRM Foundation Committee

Provide timely information to members concerning the Chapter via the NOARK News newsletter and other communication methods. Educate chapter members on the benefits of the SHRM Foundation. Coordinate annual fundraising drive for the Foundation.

Communications / SHRM Foundation Chair: Leah Williams, PHR

Compensation Programs Administrator
University of Arkansas Human Resources
222 Administration Building
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-575-7618

Leah is the Compensation Programs Administrator in the Human Resources Office at the University of Arkansas. She is responsible for leave administration, salary surveys, employee relations, training, and special projects in compensation. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Human Resources Management from Eastern New Mexico University.

Leah has 11 years of progressive Human Resources experience in a variety of areas including employment, payroll, benefits, employee relations, and training and development. Prior to returning to her home state of Arkansas, she was the HR Manager for a manufacturing plant in New Mexico and was responsible for all Human Resources functions and supervising office staff. She is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management and is PHR certified.

Diversity Committee

Responsible for promoting an environment that recognizes, values, and celebrates the unique contributions and differences within the chapter’s membership and their organization.

Diversity Chair: Kimberly McGee, PHR
Senior Manager
Walmart Stores Inc.
479-204-3458

Legislative Committee

Provide Chapter members with information on current legislative and regulatory issues that affect the Human Resources Management profession via Chapter publications and legislative seminars and workshops. This committee also conducts limited lobbying activities as authorized by the Board.

Legislative Chair: Darrin Coon
Business & HR Manager
John Brown University
479-524-7123

Membership Engagement Committee

Responsible for recruiting, member services, member orientation, and maintaining the Membership Directory.

Membership Chair: Brent Carroll
Branch Manager
Worksource
479-770-4900

An Arkansas native, Brent holds a Master's in Mass Communications from Arkansas Tech University. Brent has spent the last 13 years in the staffing and recruiting industry in Arkansas. He is currently the Branch Manager for WorkSource where he manages the Professional Services division for the company. He is responsible for the day to day operation of the branch and has extensive experience handling Worker's Compensation and Unemployment claims and working with local companies in various areas such as; Strategic Planning, Compensation Studies, Succession Planning and other Human Resources areas. Over the course of the past 13 years he has received several awards for his recruiting efforts. His most prized certification is his P.H.R. certification that he received in 2009. Prior to entering the staffing arena, Brent was an Operations Auditor for a state wide bank.

Brent currently resides in Springdale and is the proud owner of a beagle named Sallie and a Black Lab named Lillie.

Programs Committee

Responsible for developing, scheduling, and coordinating programs and seminars for the membership, and accepting reservations for monthly Chapter meetings.

Programs Chair: Cathleen Hoffman, SPHR
HR Manager
Daisy Outdoor Products
479-621-4313

Public Relations Committee

Promotes NOARK and its activities within the community.

Public Relations Chair: Kris DeLano, PHR
HR Director
Marshalltown Company
479-521-8787

Kris DeLano is Human Resources Director for Marshalltown Company in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Kris has more than 25 years of progressive, diversified human resources experience at both the regional and corporate level.   In her current role with Marshalltown Company, she has responsibility for all HR disciplines for both company locations.  As part of the management team, she is involved in setting strategy to support business objectives and implementing policy and process in recruiting, benefits, employee relations, policy development, safety and compensation.  She is a member and serves on the Board of the NOARK Human Resources Association.  Kris is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management and has achieved PHR certification.

Technology Committee

Responsible for coordinating the use of technology and communication with the various other committees.

Technology Chair: Christy Gillespie
479-236-2018

Christy Gillespie began her own company with a focus on small business. She works to help small business owners keep focus on what they do best – running their business. She works with all sales, marketing, networking and social media projects.  With over ten years experience in sales & marketing, and prior to that, a professional temporary for 10 years. She has worked with over 100 companies that earned her a broad range of skills which ultimately helps the local business owner. She is excited to be directing some of her focus to NOARK. She has been involved with the organization for the past two years and looks forward to providing support to the NOARK Membership.

Wage and Benefit Survey Committee

Coordinates the Chapter's Wage and Benefit Survey of selected positions and arranges for its sale to members and nonmembers. The Wage and Benefit Committee also serves as a resource to Chapter members on compensation issues.

Wage & Benefit Chair: Robin Dunivan, PHR
Human Resources Manager
FPEC Inc.
479-751-9392

Workforce Readiness Committee

Seeks to partner with community educational organizations to promote workforce readiness needs.

Workforce Readiness Chair: Sheryl Jegen, PHR

HR Manager & Account Executive
Smartway Transportation Inc.
877-537-2681

Sheryl has been a member of NOARK for over four years after moving from her native KC where she began her career in Recruiting. She has been in the HR/Recruiting profession for 15 years and has been on the Workforce Readiness Committee for three years. This is her second term as chair of Workforce Readiness Committee.

Please contact the Committee Chair if you are interested in participating with any of the NOARK Committees.