Morton to retire as senior vice president at ArcBest Corp.

J. Lavon Morton, senior vice president, risk and chief audit executive for Fort Smith-based ArcBest Corp., will retire Dec. 31, 2016, following a 20-year career with the transportation and logistics holding company.

Morton’s association with ArcBest began as an Ernst & Young staff accountant in 1972 and continued in various roles throughout his career at E&Y, where he served as audit engagement partner and tax partner at various times. Morton joined ArcBest in 1996 as assistant treasurer and became vice president for financial reporting in 1997. He later served as vice president for tax and chief internal auditor before he was promoted to his senior vice presidet post in 2010.

“As ArcBest has grown organically and through acquisitions, Lavon has been an integral part of the company, leading all internal audit, risk management and tax-planning efforts. His hard work and dedication have benefited ArcBest, and he will be greatly missed,” Judy McReynolds, ArcBest chairman, president and CEO, said in a statement. “I thank Lavon for his service to our company, and I wish him and his family the very best.”

Laura Bogner becomes vice president, internal audit, and Cheryl Harper becomes vice president, tax, both effective on Jan. 1, 2017. Bogner is director of internal audit and will lead internal audits. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a summa cum laude graduate of Arkansas Tech University. Bogner joined ArcBest in 2000 as internal audit supervisor and later became audit manager.

Harper is director of corporate tax and will manage tax compliance and planning. Harper has a juris doctor from the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a master of laws in taxation from the University of Denver. She joined ArcBest in 2010 as manager of tax. She was promoted to senior manager of tax in 2014 and was named to her director role in 2015.

Barry Hunter, ABF Freight vice president, safety, administration and treasury, who has previously been responsible for risk management for ArcBest, will resume those responsibilities as ArcBest vice president, financial services and risk upon Morton’s retirement.