Connections: Bowles to oversee Arvest branches in Benton County

Arvest Bank has named Keith Bowles a senior vice president and regional branch administrator for its Benton County market. He is responsible for managing and supervising Arvest branches in Bentonville and Bella Vista. The company has 10 branches and approximately 154 employees in the two cities.

Bowles has worked in various roles for Arvest during the past 13 years, most recently as a regional branch administrator in Oklahoma City, Okla.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Keith back to Northwest Arkansas,” said Amy Morbeck, sales manager for Arvest in Benton County. “His experience and expertise will be a big benefit not just for the bank, but for our customers.”

NEW HIRES
Government
Melody Kwok
Bentonville
Employer: Benton County Government
Title: communications director
Previous employer: Gravette School District
Previous title: communications and technology specialist

Nonprofit
Gina Johns
Bentonville
Employer: Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas
Title: program director; Washington and Madison counties
Previous employer: NorthWest Arkansas Community College
Previous title: executive assistant for VP of student services

Kim Daniels
Rogers
Employer: Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
Title: annual fund officer
Previous employer: Bailey & Oliver Law Firm
Previous title: community relations director

Hayley James Staten
Fayetteville
Employer: Razorback Foundation Inc.
Title: director of special events
Previous employer: Inn at Carnall Hall
Previous title: sales and event manager

Patrick Kamerling
Fayetteville
Employer: Razorback Foundation Inc.
Title: director of special events
Previous employer: University of Arkansas
Previous title: account executive, ticket sales

PROMOTIONS
Banking & Finance
Randy Torres
Siloam Springs
Employer: Generations Bank
Title: Siloam Springs market president
Previous title: executive vice president, commercial lender

Shawn Dunham
Rogers
Employer: United Bank
Title: senior vice president, commercial lender
Previous title: vice president, commercial lender

Jannie Keck
Huntsville
Employer: Today’s Bank
Title: assistant vice president, branch manager
Previous title: assistant branch manager

Legal
Casey Dorman Lawson
Rogers
Employer: Mitchell Williams
Title: member
Previous title: attorney

Allison Raley
Rogers
Employer: Mitchell Williams
Title: member
Previous title: attorney

Lindsey Vechik
Rogers
Employer: Mitchell Williams
Title: member
Previous title: attorney

Meredith Lowry
Fayetteville
Employer: Wright Lindsey Jennings
Title: partner
Previous title: attorney

AWARDS
Retail
Julie Barber
Rogers
Employer: Walmart Inc.
Title: senior vice president, health and wellness merchandising
Award: Merchant of the Year
Organization:  Chain Drug Review

APPOINTMENTS
Banking & Finance
Adam Arroyos
Fayetteville
Employer: Serve2Perform
Title: founder and CEO
Appointment: board member
Organization: White River Bancshares

Nonprofit
Tom Alderson
Bentonville
Employer: Flywheel Advisory LLC
Appointment: board member
Organization: Peel Compton Foundation

Cie Cochran
Bentonville
Employer: SMT Grant and Nonprofit Services
Appointment: board member
Organization: Peel Compton Foundation

Sarah Dewitt
Bentonville
Employer: Bentonville Public Schools
Appointment: board member
Organization: Peel Compton Foundation

Bruce Gillispie
Bentonville
Employer: Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Appointment: board member
Organization: Peel Compton Foundation

Jamie Sohosky
Bentonville
Employer: Bath & Body Works
Appointment: board member
Organization: Peel Compton Foundation

Kevin Trainor
Fayetteville
Employer: University of Arkansas
Title: senior associate athletics director
Appointment: board president
Organization: NWA chapter, Public Relations Society of America

Jennifer Thompson
Fayetteville
Employer: McClelland Consulting Engineers
Title: marketing coordinator
Appointment: board secretary
Organization: NWA chapter, Public Relations Society of America

Kathryn Heller
Bentonville
Employer: Walton Family Foundation
Title: communications officer
Appointment: board treasurer
Organization: NWA chapter, Public Relations Society of America

Amanda Horn
Bentonville
Employer: 4media group
Title: vice president of public relations
Appointment: director at large
Organization: NWA chapter, Public Relations Society of America

Nathan Green
Rogers
Employer: Northwest Arkansas Council
Title: communications director
Appointment: director at large
Organization: NWA chapter, Public Relations Society of America

Sarah King
Springdale
Employer: independent communications and marketing professional
Appointment: director at large
Organization: NWA chapter, Public Relations Society of America

Retail
John Furner
Bentonville
Employer: Walmart Inc.
Title: president and CEO, Walmart U.S.
Appointment: board chairman
Title: National Retail Federation

NEWSMAKER SUBMISSIONS: Notices of executive promotions, new hires or appointments may be sent by email to Paul Gatling at [email protected].