Brooks appointed to Arkansas Economic Development Commission

Mary Beth Brooks, president and CEO of Bank of Fayetteville, has been appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe as a member of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the 16-member panel that provides guidance and direction to the state agency focused on job recruitment and retention.

She replaces Mary Ann Greenwood, chairman of Fayetteville-based Greenwood Gearhart Inc., and the appointment expires Jan. 14, 2017.

The University of Arkansas graduate grew up in Fort Smith, the daughter of the politically active and politically connected Mary Ellen and Brad Jesson. Her more than 26 years in banking has included stops in Fort Smith, Little Rock and Memphis.

Brooks, 49, also is a member of the Northwest Arkansas Council, a member of the Fayetteville Public Schools foundation board, advisory board member for the Yvonne Richardson Community Center, is a former board member of the Beaver Water District and former board chair of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.

Brooks is married to U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Brooks, who was confirmed March 5 as a federal judge for the Western District of Arkansas.

“I’m as honored as I can be. I love Arkansas and I’m such an advocate and I’m ready to do anything to help,” Brooks said Monday when asked about the appointment. “If you look at the (AEDC) list, you will see there are a lot of accomplished people on it, and I just hope to be able to be a contributor.”

Brooks said the post will also give her another chance to tour Arkansas. The last time she was able to frequently visit different parts of the state was in the 1980s as a bank examiner. She looks forward to learning more about economic development efforts around the state and then compare those to what is happening in Northwest Arkansas.

“All of that could shed some light on lessons learned, in Northwest Arkansas or wherever, … and then how we use those to make the state better. Whatever is good for one part of the state is good for the entire state,” Brooks said.

Fayetteville native Mike Malone, the president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council, has known Mary Beth Brooks since he returned to Northwest Arkansas in 2006.

“Mary Beth Brooks is a great business leader in Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas,” Malone said in a statement. “She understands economic development through her banking experience and in the roles she’s taken on with the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest Arkansas Council. She’ll do a fantastic job with the AEDC.”

Other AEDC members are:
• Stuart Dalrymple, president of Dalrymple Commercial and Residential;
• Ed Drilling, president of ATT Arkansas;
• Steve Edwards, owner and president of Food Giant Supermarkets;
• Doug Falls, president of Trinity Lighting;
• Gene Hill, president and CEO of Highland Industrial Park (east Camden);
• Loutelious Holmes, assistant superintendent of federal programs, West Memphis High School;
• Thomas Kirk, chairman and president of Tom Kirk Chevrolet and Kirk Equipment Co.;
• Chester Koprovic, chairman of Boyd Metals and Kopco Inc.;
• John Lipton, former member of the Arkansas Highway Commission;
• Jack McNulty, partner, Bridges Law Firm;
• Shelby Moore, owner of Moore Properties;
• Mike Roberts, president, Roberts Law Firm;
• Steve Ronnel, vice president of Metal Recycling Corp.;
• Lee Webb Jr., president of Bellwether Industries; and
• Lang Zimmerman, vice president of Yelcot.

Other Northwest Arkansas residents were included in Monday’s announcement of board and commission appointments.
• John Paul Davis, Fayetteville, to the Criminal Detention Facility Review Committee, Judicial District #4. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2017. Replaces Boyce Davis.

• Patricia Kulish, Fayetteville, to the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy. Appointment expires Aug. 20, 2017. Replaces Lisa Douglas.

• Melinda McIlroy, Fayetteville, reappointed to the State Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board. Appointment expires July 31, 2017.

• Michelle Stephens, Bentonville, to the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission. Appointment expires July 1, 2017. Replaces Debbie Malone.

• Elizabeth Williams, Fayetteville, to the Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Appointment expires June 30, 2017. Replaces Donna Edgmon.

• To the Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children: Dustin Seaton, Fayetteville. Replaces Eunice Thrasher. Appointments expires July 20, 2017.