Connections: Fayetteville nonprofit hires Heather Dark, Jen Wasem

The National Child Protection Task Force, which is based in Fayetteville, recently hired Jen Wasem as chief development officer and Heather Dark as chief communications officer.

Wasem has more than 16 years of nonprofit executive leadership. She’s helped raise more than $100 million for philanthropic initiatives.

Dark joined NCPTF in 2022 as a volunteer and has public relations experience in the nonprofit, corporate and growth marketing sectors.

The NCPTF was founded in 2019 by CEO Kevin Branzetti, board chairman Robert Liscouski, Washington County Prosecutor Matt Durrett and former CEO Kevin Metcalf.

The nonprofit has seven full-time employees and recently promoted chief legal officer Teresa Jauregui to chief operating officer.

NEW HIRES
Engineering
Stephen Sichmeller
Centerton
Employer: Horner & Shifrin
Title: assistant regional manager; transportation
Previous employer: Arkansas Department of Transportation
Previous title: assistant division head of roadway design; Northwest Arkansas

Hospitality
Bailie Sonnentag
Bentonville
Employer: Motto by Hilton
Title: director of sales
Previous employer: Atrium Hospitality
Previous title: area director of sales and marketing

Tourism
Jamie Cathey
Bentonville
Employer: city of Bentonville
Title: sports sales manager; Visit Bentonville
Previous employer: Cohobnb
Previous title: director of finance and administration

PROMOTIONS
Banking & Finance
Alisa Kelly
Van Buren
Employer: Chambers Bank
Title: senior vice president; director of audit
Previous title: controller

Beverly Pergeson
Prairie Grove
Employer: First Security Bank
Title: loan officer; banking center manager
Previous title: banking center manager

APPOINTMENTS
Nonprofit
Eric Howerton
Fayetteville
Employer: WhyteSpyder
Title: founder, chief growth officer
Appointment: board of directors
Organization: Cancer Challenge

AWARDS
Banking & Finance
Natalie Bartholomew
Prairie Grove
Employer: First Community Bank
Title: NWA market president
Award: ABA Emerging Leader Award
Organization: American Bankers Association