Connections: Erica Preston joins Simmons Bank business development team

Pine Bluff-based Simmons Bank has hired Erica Preston as senior vice president and director of market development for Northwest Arkansas.

Preston, who lives in Bentonville, was previously chief operating officer for Danville-chartered Chambers Bank.

An alumna of the University of Arkansas, Preston is also a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Banking. The Northwest Arkansas Business Journal included Preston in its 2015 Forty Under 40 class.

NEW HIRES
Banking & Finance
Robert Gaffigan
Rogers
Employer: Generations Bank
Title: vice president; commercial lender
Previous employer: Legacy National Bank
Previous title: commercial loan officer

Angela Horton
Rogers
Employer: Generations Bank
Title: commercial loan officer
Previous employer: United Bank
Previous title: business development specialist

Education
Shadow JQ Robinson
Fort Smith
Employer: University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
Title: provost; vice chancellor of academic affairs
Previous employer: University of Tennessee-Martin
Previous title: dean; College of Engineering and Natural Sciences

Legal
Le Ann Box
Fayetteville
Employer: Hall Booth Smith
Title: of counsel
Previous employer: Elliott & Smith
Previous title: attorney

Amber Sanders
Fayetteville
Employer: Hall Booth Smith
Title: of counsel
Previous employer: Lightfoot, Franklin & White
Previous title: associate attorney

Nonprofit
Lance Johnson
Fayetteville
Employer: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas
Title: executive director
Previous employer: Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County
Previous title: director of children’s services

Real Estate
Adam VanBecelaere
Rogers
Employer: Cushman & Wakefield/Sage Partners
Title: brokerage market director
Previous employer: Walmart Inc.
Previous title: director; real estate and portfolio management

PROMOTIONS
Banking & Finance
Charlie Van Ness
Fayetteville
Employer: Simmons Bank
Title: division president; NWA, Little Rock and Tulsa markets
Previous title: NWA market president

Chris Rittelmeyer
Fayetteville
Employer: Simmons Bank
Title: NWA market president
Previous title: vice president, commercial banking

Nonprofit
Jill Suel
Fayetteville
Employer: Walton Arts Center
Title: Walton Arts Center senior director of marketing and sales
Previous title: marketing director

Hillary Morgan
Fayetteville
Employer: Walton Arts Center
Title: marketing director
Previous title: senior marketing coordinator

AWARDS
Retail
Craig Underwood
Fayetteville
Employer: Underwoods Fine Jewelers
Title: president
Award: Robert M. Shipley Award
Organization: American Gem Society

Transportation
Wyatt Jepsen
Rogers
Employer: Walmart Inc.
Title: truck driver
Award: 2021 Driver of the Year
Organization: Arkansas Trucking Association

Russ Curbo
Bella Vista
Employer: Lew Thompson & Son Trucking
Title: director of safety
Award: 2021 Safety Professional of the Year
Organization: Arkansas Trucking Association

APPOINTMENTS
Nonprofit
Brent Williams
Fayetteville
Employer: University of Arkansas
Title: associate dean; Sam M. Walton College of Business
Appointment: board member
Organization: Economics Arkansas

Transportation
Brad Hicks
Rogers
Employer: J.B. Hunt Transport Services
Title: executive vice president; president of highway services
Appointment: board member
Organization: Arkansas Trucking Association

Utilities
Joey Msall
Fayetteville
Employer: Black Hills Energy
Title: director of operations
Appointment: board member
Organization: Arkansas 811

DESIGNATIONS
Real Estate
Oksana DeMaris
Bentonville
Employer: Focus Commercial Real Estate
Title: broker
Designation: Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
Organization: CCIM Institute