Monday Kudos: Coulson Oil Names New CEO

Coulson Oil names a new CEO and UCA names a new chief of staff for the office of the President.

JOHN HARRIS NAMED CEO AT COULSON OIL
Coulson Oil Company’s Board of Directors announced Thursday two major leadership changes, according to Mike Coulson, chairman of the Board.

Elected as president and chief executive officer is John Harris, who has served in several capacities with the company, including manager of environmental compliance, manager of petroleum services, and vice president and chief operating officer since 2012.

David Zakrzewski, who resigned as president and CEO, was elected vice-chairman of the board of directors.

Said Coulson, “David’s leadership with our company has been pivotal in repositioning us from a dealer-centered fuel distributor back into the retail fuel industry. His negotiations to acquire Road Runner convenience store branding options in Arkansas and northeast Texas will be his legacy and have given us new opportunities for growth and geographic expansion.”

Zakrzewski will assume senior advisory duties along with J.W. (Jim) White, chairman emeritus, and Coulson.

KELLEY ERSTINE NAMED UCA CHIEF OF STAFF
University of Central Arkansas President Tom Courtway announced that Kelley Erstine will join the UCA executive staff, effective July 1, 2013 as Chief of Staff.

A native of Sheridan, Ark, Erstine is a 1979 graduate of UCA with a degree in journalism. Previously, he served UCA as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, and also served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement. In his new position with UCA, his salary will be $170,000 per year.

Since July 2008, Erstine has served as the chief executive officer of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, a state trade association representing approximately 1,000 independent insurance agencies.

BILLY LAW NAMED MARKETING COORDINATOR
Billy Law will take on duties as Marketing Coordinator for Clark Partners Realty Group, overseeing all creative marketing strategies and design as well as event planning.

Law joins Clark Partners with 6 years of professional graphic design experience with a background in the printing industry, most recently as Senior Graphic Designer at Arcom Printing in Fayetteville. Law attended Southern Arkansas University Tech and was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society in 2007, an honor only one student per department receives each year.

Clark Partners Realty Group is a full-service real estate team at Bassett Mix & Associates, Inc. Clark Partners serves northwest Arkansas and specializes in Fayetteville’s downtown and historic neighborhoods.

UA TO BESTOW HONORARY DEGREES
Two University of Arkansas alumni — Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli and Arkansas businessman and philanthropist Lee Bodenhamer — will receive honorary degrees from the University of Arkansas in recognition of their achievements in politics and business, and for their strong support for education.

The degrees will be bestowed during the spring 2013 All University Commencement ceremony at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, May 11, in Bud Walton Arena.

President Martinelli will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Bodenhamer will be given a Doctor of Arts and Humane Letters. Martinelli and Bodenhamer will both address the graduating class of 2013.