LR Port elects Bobby Brown as chairman

The Little Rock Port Authority board of directors elected Bobby Brown as chair of the board. His term will run from July 2022 through June 2023.

Brown was first appointed to the Little Rock Port Authority in 2016. During his time on the Little Rock Port Authority board, he has served as treasurer and vice chair.

Brown, a Little Rock native, serves as president and CEO of Interstate SignWays, which engineers and fabricates highway signage used in 40 states across the country.

He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas in 1975 and Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas in 1980.

Brown began his career at AFCO Metals, Inc. in Little Rock. Starting as a product manager, Brown went on to become president and COO. After AFCO was acquired by Inland Steel Industries of Chicago, Brown served as vice president of marketing. From 1995 to 2000, Brown served as CEO for Audio International before cofounding and serving as CEO of Syair Designs from 2000-2005.

He is a member of Fifty for the Future and Little Rock Rotary Club 99. Brown previously served as director for J.M. Tull Metals, Associated Industries of Arkansas, a member of the UA-Little Rock Foundation, on the Little Rock Boys and Girls Club, and as an Arkansas Arts Center Trustee.

“I am honored to serve as chair of the Little Rock Port Authority board of directors. My family has a rich history at the Port and fifty years ago this month, I help my father open AFCO Metals at the Port of Little Rock. This community is blessed to have a place like the Port of Little Rock and the economic impact we have on central Arkansas is second to none. I hope to help the Port continue to grow and meet our objective of creating high-paying jobs for the community.” said Brown.

The Little Rock Port Authority Board of Directors elected Clay McGeorge as vice-chair and Stan Hastings as treasurer.