Friday Kudos: Former Senator, Family Business Make Moves

FORMER SENATOR MAKES CAREER MOVE
Randy Laverty, a former state senator, will serve as commissioner of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) at the Arkansas Department of Career Education. Laverty will assume the position February 3.

He takes over for Randy Parker, who came out of retirement in October to serve as interim commissioner.

Laverty has served as the Newton County director for the Department of Human Services, Division of Social Services and as an assistant director of field operations for DHS.

Laverty also served as executive director of the Developmental Disabilities Provider Association from 2001 to 2009 and is currently the association’s resource development director, a position he has held since 2009.

He served 16 years in the Arkansas Legislature.

FAMILY BUSINESS SETS SUCCESSION PLAN IN MOTION
E. Ritter & Company, a fifth-generation family-owned business located in northeast Arkansas, announced several changes in its leadership team as part of a retirement succession plan.

Effective January 1, Dan Hatzenbuehler stepped down as CEO but has retained the position of Chairman of the Board, and Charles R. “Chip” Dickinson, Jr. was named CEO.

In addition, two more members of the executive team assumed new positions. Ritter Arnold, who has been the President of Ritter Agribusiness Holdings, has been named Executive Vice President for External Affairs and Kenny Traynom became President of Ritter Agribusiness Holdings.

E. Ritter & Company, parent to Ritter Agribusiness and Ritter Communications, was founded in Marked Tree, Arkansas in 1886. Ritter Agribusiness is located in Marked Tree and currently offers Farm Management and Grain Services. Ritter Communications began providing phone service in northeast Arkansas in 1906 and in December 2012 acquired Millington Telephone and Millington Cable in West Tennessee.

DELTA TRUST PROMOTES
Delta Trust announced the promotions of Chad Carlson, Paula Coffield, Stephanie Parker and Malina Vibhakar.

Chad Carlson has been promoted to senior vice president at Delta Trust Investments, Inc. In 2001, he joined Delta Trust as an assistant vice president and financial advisor. Carlson is a Certified Financial Planner practitioner and an active community member.

Paula Coffield has been promoted to senior vice president. Coffield is the Chenal branch manager and leads the health saving account business. She joined Delta Trust as an assistant vice president in 2001 and has served in a management role at the Chenal branch since it opened.

Stephanie Parker has been promoted to trust officer. She joined Delta Trust in 2007 as an operations assistant in the trust department. Parker will continue to serve as trust operations manager and oversee the daily processing. Most recently, she served in the position of IRA administrator.

Malina Vibhakar has been promoted to vice president. She is currently the director of marketing for Delta Trust and has served in this position since 2011. Vibhakar was hired as an assistant vice president.