Tuesday Kudos: Former Sen. Lincoln Joins Advisory Group Board

Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln lands on a new board, plus changes at the Dept. of Education and St. Vincent’s Health System.

LINCOLN JOINS ALLIANTGROUP BOARD
Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) has joined the board of directors for alliantgroup, a consulting firm that works with businesses to identify tax incentives and credits.

The board includes several former IRS executives, tax leaders, and former federally elected officials. Lincoln served on the powerful Senate Finance committee during her term in the U.S. Senate.

“From my experience in Arkansas I have developed a real passion for helping agriculture and manufacturing businesses. It is critical to keep this type of work in the United States,” Lincoln said. “I look forward to collaborating with alliantgroup to ensure that U.S. jobs stay where they belong and American companies continue to thrive and grow.”

HERNANDEZ IS ED DEPARTMENT’S NEW FISCAL CHIEF
Mike Hernandez, the superintendent of the Danville School District, has been named the Arkansas Department of Education’s new assistant commissioner of the Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services.

He replaces Jared Cleveland, who will be assistant superintendent of personnel in the Springdale School District.

The commissioner is one of five in the department and is in charge of monitoring state and federal fiscal programs; calculating and distributing state funding; monitoring fiscal and financial stability; providing guidance to districts on policies and rules; and developing the department’s legislative branch requests. If a school district is found in fiscal distress, it’s because of the work of the Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services.

He has a bachelor of science in biology and a master of arts in mathematics education and educational leadership. He is in the doctoral program at Harding University.

(Steve Brawner contributed to this post.)

ST. VINCENT NAMES NEW MEDICAL GROUP PRESIDENT
David Foster, M.D. has accepted the new leadership position of President of the St. Vincent Medical Group. His focus is working with employed and aligned physician partners at St. Vincent.

Foster comes to St. Vincent from Houston-based CHRISTUS Health where he served as Chief Medical Officer of the CHRISTUS Provider Network, Medical Director of the CHRISTUS Health Plan, and a practicing family medicine physician with the CHRISTUS Medical Group.

He has served as a hospital vice chief of staff, co-chair of a hospital department of family practice, and board member of a faculty practice plan affiliated with Texas A&M. Foster is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.