Britta Clark, Magnolia, Arkansas
Coordinator/Recruiter
Golden Triangle/SAU Rankin College of Business
brittaclark@saumag.edu
Britta Clark is the Coordinator of the Golden Triangle and the Recruiter for the Rankin College of Business MBA program at Southern Arkansas University. In her role, she coordinates meetings, events, and promotes the Golden Triangle Region for Economic Development.
With a decade of experience in Higher Education, she has worked in many roles at both the Community college level as a Career coach, recruiting students for Undergraduate Admissions, and most recently recruiting students for the Graduate program at SAU. As an MBA Recruiter, she manages the marketing and recruitment for graduate students looking to pursue their MBA through the Rankin College of Business.
Britta received her BBA in Marketing from the University of Arkansas at Monticello (2009) and her M.Ed. in Student Affairs and College Counseling from Southern Arkansas University (2015).
In her spare time, Britta enjoys serving her community as a member of Magnolia Junior Charity League and as an active member of First Baptist Church in Magnolia.
Jay Click, Magnolia, Arkansas
Special Projects Coordinator
Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District
jay.click@arkansas.gov
Jay Click is a Special Projects Coordinator for the Southwest Arkansas Planning & Development District. He is a graduate of Southern Arkansas University's School of Science with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology.
Jay has completed the Community Development Institute (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas. He is a member of the Arkansas Community Development Society (ACDS), the Southwest Arkansas Development Alliance (SADA), and the Arkansas Community Economic Development Alliance (ACEDA). Jay sits on two boards: The El Dorado Festivals & Events Advisory Board, and the South Arkansas Youth Services Board of Directors (currently dissolving).
Jay Click has spent his time in community & economic development building relationships with local and regional leaders. He is familiar with the mayors, county judges, and regional developers of Southwest Arkansas. He has negotiated over $135,000,000.00 in construction contracts, is a former president of the Southern Arkansas University Inter-Fraternal Council, a former president of the Epsilon-Kappa Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity, International, and a former president of the South Arkansas Sigma Pi Alumni Association. Jay was also a Freshman Orientation Instructor at Southern Arkansas University and the youngest ever Director of Workers for Victory Bible Camp at age 15. Jay recently planned, organized, and directed a Wood Waste Forum with over 60 attendees, including a delegation of Arkansas legislators.
He is committed to laying the foundations and building the bridges that will elevate this area to national prominence.
Anthony L. (Andy) Franks, P.E., Texarkana, Arkansas
Andy is the President/CEO of A.L. Franks Engineering. He is a 1987 graduate of Magnolia High School and a 1992 graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering and is currently a Registered Professional Engineer in the States of Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, Arkansas Floodplain Management Association and Water Environmental Association. He is a Past President of the Monroe Chapter of the Louisiana Engineering Society. He is a Past Chairman of the Southwest Section of the Arkansas Water Works and Water Environment Association and served as the Chairman of the Membership Committee of the Arkansas Water and Wastewater Managers Association.
Andy lives in Texarkana with his wife, Joie. They have two daughters; Haley (22), who lives in Benton, AR and is employed at UAMS and Reagan (19) is enrolled at the University of Mississippi - Oxford studying Nutrition with plans to attend medical school.
Andy has over 27 years of consulting engineering experience with an emphasis on wastewater collection and treatment, water distribution, storm drainage, floodplain modeling and transportation systems.
Andy enjoys boating, antique/classic vehicles and horseback riding.
Amanda Lance, Hope, Arkansas
Director, Hempstead Hall and Workforce Development
University of Arkansas Hope - Texarkana
amanda.lance@uaht.edu
Amanda Lance is the Director of Hempstead Hall & Workforce Development for the University of Arkansas Hope – Texarkana where she works to bring culturally-relevant events to Hempstead County, to ensure local industries and businesses are provided with a trained workforce, and to promote and maintain a state-of-the-art conference center and theater for the area. Amanda believes an educated and skilled workforce along with an engaged community is the key to long-term betterment of rural areas, specifically Southwest Arkansas.
After spending nearly a decade in the events industry, Amanda is excited to bring her brand of hospitality back to Hempstead Hall where she recently hosted President Bill Clinton, Mack McLarty and Joe Purvis as part of the local Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting.
Amanda's educational journey has taken her full-circle from the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope to Harding University in Searcy to Harding University in Florence (Italy), and finally to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She has earned an Associate of Arts from UACCH and a Bachelor of Arts – Journalism – Advertising/Public Relations from the U of A.
When she's not at work, Amanda enjoys baking for friends and family, learning to turn her brown thumb green, and discovering new podcasts (currently reliving "The West Wing" through "The West Wing Weekly"). She is a member of the Hope Church of Christ, Junior Auxiliary of Hope, Southwest Arkansas Arts Council Board, and United Way of Hempstead County Board, and volunteers with The CALL in Hempstead County.
Dr. Peter Maggio, Hope, Arkansas
Dr. Peter Maggio is in his fifteenth year as an educator. He is currently the principal at Spring Hill High School in Hope, Arkansas, a position he has held since 2016. While his time in the classroom was spent as a music educator teaching band and choir in a number of Arkansas schools, his passion lies in helping teachers grow and develop in the classroom.
Dr. Maggio's research in music education has been highlighted at various conferences around the country. In addition to his other research interests in folk music and community music, his dissertation focused on assessment in music education and how scores, rankings, and ratings of ensembles affect the performing students' musical self beliefs.
Dr. Maggio is on the board of the Arkansas Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, the Hempstead County Education Task Force, and is a graduate of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Master Principal Institute through the Arkansas Leadership Academy.
Dr. Maggio holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Education from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, and Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership and Bachelor of Music degrees from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Beckie Moore, Hope, Arkansas
Executive Director
Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce
beckie2502@sbcglobal.net
Beckie is a Graduate of Hope High School with a BSE degree from Henderson State University. She is currently the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce Director. She was formerly an 11th & 12th grade English teacher for 5 Years at Hope High & Rogers High. She has also been the Director of Nonprofits for 23 Years including the Clinton Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters Central AR, Main Street El Dorado, United Way Clarksville, TN & Longview, TX; Hospital Foundation Director in McAlester, OK & Mt Pleasant, TX.
Beckie has certifications in strategic planning, board development, nonprofit management & leadership, advocacy, hospitality, grant writing; and event planning & implementation. She has received the Peabody Award (Group) Winner / C-Span American President Series and nonprofit leadership awards. Beckie is a graduate of the El Dorado, AR leadership class, McAlester, OK leadership class and Clarksville, TN leadership class.
Beckie's hometown is Hope, AR. She has two sons and 3 grandchildren.
JoAnn Muldrew, Emmet, Arkansas
Human Capital Management Director (retired)
Fort Worth ISD
jmuldrew71@gmail.com
I was born in the small rural town of Emmet, located in Southwest Arkansas with a population of about 500 residents. I graduated from the local schools and attended Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas where I received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. My teaching career began in Hope, Arkansas and I later moved to Fort Worth, Texas where I continued my career in education. I became interested in technology and began to use a computer in the classroom. To advance my skills, I received a Master's degree in Technology from Texas Wesleyan University and continued to engage students utilizing the computer. In 1997, I was named "Teaching with Technology" Elementary Teacher of the Year. As technology advanced and district's processes became automated, I worked in the HR Staffing department, recruiting and hiring teachers. One of my greatest achievements was supervising a small certification staff to audit the entire district, validating credentials for professional and paraprofessional employees. All was successfully completed in the time frame allotted along with an updated tracking system for certification. Working with a knowledgeable and dedicated staff prepared me to excel in the department and as Director of Staffing, I had the opportunity to work with Central Administrators, campus level and auxiliary personnel. After retiring from Fort Worth ISD, I returned to my roots in Emmet. I recently worked as an Assistant Director for a Federal funded Head Start Program and acknowledge that the skills and lessons learned over the years have prepared me for the challenges of this small rural town. Surrounded and supported by family, I am excited about the future and look forward to making a difference in the lives of residents and in the community. The best is yet to come.
DeAnna O'Malley, Texarkana, Arkansas
DeAnna O'Malley was born and raised in Texarkana. She is a proud Military mom to a US Marine son and 3 daughters who are the light of her life. She has been equally blessed with a grandson who has shown her that love doesn't stop with just her children.
DeAnna is very active in the community. She is a Certified Car Seat Technician, worked with the PetSafe contest that won $100,000 (two years in a row) to build dog parks in both Texarkana's, along with a host of other social media contests. She was selected as an ALT Magazine 'Fabulous Under Forty', a Leadership Texarkana Graduate and is most currently the Outstanding Arkansas State Employee. She is an avid volunteer, hosting community clean-ups, works with disaster relief efforts , is a youth advocate for local youth groups, educating them about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, serves on several planning committees of city events and is the neighborhood organizer for National Night Out.
Her love of the community led her to become a board member for the National organization NUSA, Neighborhoods, USA, where she was past Secretary and on the Public Relations Committee. She also serves on the Southwest Arkansas Regional Taskforce, is a member of Pink Behind the Thin Blue Line and the Southwest Arkansas Geocache Association, played a key-role in multiple county Hometown Health coalitions, and is a board member of Main Street Texarkana. She speaks at several conferences across the country throughout the year on topics such as: Community Mobilizing, Utilizing your Community Resources and Unique Funding Opportunities.
When DeAnna isn't busy, she loves spending time with her family: cheering on her youngest daughter in cheer competitions, her son as he runs his marathons, her next-to-the-oldest as she learns that she is paying for her raising with her sweet little boy and her oldest as she is in her senior year of college while working full time as well. DeAnna loves to camp, travel and geocache with her husband along with working in their family business.
Bria Page, Texarkana, Texas
Administrative Assistant
City of Texarkana, Arkansas
bria.page@txkusa.org
I was born on May 27, 1994 in Texarkana, TX. I graduated from Texas High School and went on to work at Southwest Arkansas Development Council. At Southwest Arkansas Development Council, I was a Receptionist/Data Coordinator. I learned how to communicate with the public and effectively coordinate files while maintaining a database labeled CAP 60 for 9 counties. Learning the skill of multitasking better prepared me for the next phase of my career. After the company dissolved, I accepted placement with The City of Texarkana Arkansas as the Administrative Assistant and this position taught me the importance of leadership.
With this position I have been able to hone my skills by joining the following committees. The Farmers Market where I am the Publicity Advisor, The Community Outreach Program where we assist with funding for low to moderate income households, and The Southwest Arkansas Workforce Development Board where our strategic goal is to develop an efficient partnership with employers, the educational system, and community-based organizations.
I am a mother of two adorable boys. My oldest is an avid baseball fan who also plays in our area's junior league. My youngest being two years old is only now developing his interests. It is a joyous process to behold. In my spare time I enjoy music, cinema, and the pursuit of general knowledge.
In the year of 2017, I achieved the notable award of Public Works Department Employee of the Year. In the future I hope to continue to grow expanding my horizons and mastering my ambitions. My goals are to finish my bachelor's degree in the field of Business Management. Once I obtain this degree, I hope to assist women with similar backgrounds to fulfill or accomplish their own goals.
Dr. Lee Smith, Horatio, Arkansas
Lee Smith was born in DeQueen, Arkansas in 1973 and was raised in Little River County, Arkansas. After graduating from Foreman High School in 1991, he attended Southern Arkansas University where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education. His first teaching job was in Mena, Arkansas at Acorn High School in 1996. While teaching he began work towards his first Master's degree in Agricultural and Extension Education that was completed at the University of Arkansas in 2001. His Master's thesis related to problem-based classroom instruction was accepted for presentation at the National Agricultural Education Research Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. He continued to earn a second Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Henderson State University and a Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Dr. Smith has 24 years of experience in education with 13 years in the classroom and 11 years in administration. He has presented his research and approaches to leadership at multiple regional, state, and national conferences. His areas of influence have been in Agriculture, Workforce Development, Innovative Curriculum, Educational Leadership, and Instructional Technology.
Lisa Taylor, De Queen, Arkansas
Economic Development Director
UA Cossatot Community College
ltaylor@cccua.edu
Lisa Taylor is employed by UA Cossatot as the Economic Development Director for Sevier County. She graduated from Northeastern State University with a bachelor's degree in 2010, and is currently a student at the UAMS Clinton School of Public Service working on a master's degree in public service.
Taylor has nearly twenty years of experience working in community development, nine of which have been in the area of public health.
