NEA Business Notes: Black History books donated to Lyon College

In recognition of Black History Month in February, Batesville native James L. “Skip” Rutherford III, dean emeritus of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and a member of the Lyon College Board of Trustees, has again donated a curated selection of Black history books to the Mabee-Simpson Library at Lyon College.

This marks the fourth consecutive year Rutherford contributed to the college’s Black History Collection. His donation now totals 82 volumes dedicated to celebrating and preserving Black culture and history, according to Lyon College. The 28 new titles added this year include works highlighting the lives of influential African American leaders and the broader cultural and historical contributions of Black Americans.

Among the widely read and critically acclaimed additions to the collection are “James” by Percival Everett; “John Lewis: A Life” by David Greenberg; “Black in Blues” by Imani Perry; “Mother Emanuel” by Kevin Sack; “I Lived to Tell the Story” by Tamika D. Mallory; and “Fearless and Free” by Josephine Baker.

Endowed Fund For Vocal Music Education Majors Established At ASU
Arkansas State University has established a new endowed fund to support students pursuing vocal music education. The Dixon, McDonald and Turnbow Sisterhood Endowed Enrichment Fund will provide annual financial assistance for full-time vocal music education majors who participate in professional development experiences such as regional or national conferences in choral music or choral music education.

The fund was created through a $25,000 gift and will generate $1,000 annually to support two $500 awards each year. Awards are available to students in the Department of Music within the College of Liberal Arts and Communication.

Recipients will be selected based on academic standing, financial need, and their pursuit of experiences that enhance their development as future educators. Applications will be reviewed by the A-State director of choral music and vocal music faculty or an appointed scholarship committee.

The fund recognizes A-State alumnae Venus Dixon Hamilton of Paragould, Janeene McDonald Lee of Brinkley, and Sherry Turnbow Phillians of Wynne. The trio met as vocal music education students in the 1980s, performing in university choirs and participating in Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity. Their friendship, formed in campus rehearsal rooms and hallways, became a true sisterhood that has endured across decades, according to ASU.

Graddy Appointed To Lawrence County Chamber Of Commerce Board
The Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce has appointed Lee Ann Graddy to its board of directors. Graddy will serve the remainder of the term previously held by Nyssa Wilson, which expires at the end of 2028.

Graddy is a graduate of Walnut Ridge High School and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arkansas State University. She has 25 years of experience in education, having worked with Hoxie School District, Valley View School District, and Blessed Sacrament Catholic School.

Graddy and her husband, Steve, own and operate a row crop and cattle farm in Lawrence County.

Ricciardi Hired As Business Development Officer With FNBC
FNBC Bank has announced that Richard “Rick” Ricciardi has been hired as the bank vice president, business development officer for Small Business Administration (SBA) lending.

Ricciardi has more than 30 years of experience in small business and government-guaranteed lending. His background includes roles in SBA and U.S. Department of Agriculture credit underwriting, and SBA lending and business development at several financial institutions.

In his role at FNBC, Ricciardi will focus on expanding the bank’s SBA lending platform, developing relationships with small business owners, and helping entrepreneurs access flexible financing.

Ricciardi serves as an advisory board member for the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC). He has also been engaged with the SBA Emerging Leaders Program as a judge and participant reviewer.

High School Creative Media Submissions Sought For A-State Fest
Area high school students interested in a future in creative media are encouraged to participate in the upcoming competition hosted by Arkansas State University’s School of Media and Journalism.

Submissions for the Great A-State Media Fest are open and will remain open until March 27. The event is back from a year-long hiatus.

Lyon College Vet School Hires Philanthropy Officer
Leah DiPietro, a 1999 graduate of Lyon College, has joined the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine as its first philanthropy officer, bringing more than two decades of experience in communications with nonprofit, government and higher education organizations.

DiPietro recently was deputy director for Arkansas Tourism, where she spent more than 10 years working with journalists and tour operators from around the world to promote travel and visitation to The Natural State.

Before her tenure at Arkansas Tourism, DiPietro worked in Washington, D.C., as a deputy press secretary and speechwriter in the United States Senate and as an editor at Thompson Publishing. Her higher education experience includes teaching English composition and career development at Wichita State University and political science at the University of Phoenix.

DiPietro has been involved in animal welfare and education as a docent and volunteer at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Sedgwick County Zoo, the Little Rock Zoo, the Sherwood Animal Shelter and the Great Plains Nature Center.

City Of Jonesboro Wins 2025 Trendsetter Award
The city of Jonesboro has been named the 2025 Trendsetter Award winner for Technology and Security by the Arkansas Municipal League, highlighting the implementation of an Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) program and its impact on public safety.

The accolade recognizes the emergency medical dispatch operation at the E-911 Communications Center, combining nationally accredited training with secure, technology-driven protocols to deliver immediate medical guidance to callers while first responders are enroute.

While staffed and primarily funded by the city, the E-911 Communications Center is a partnership program that serves the city’s more than 80,000 residents and dispatches for all of Craighead County, supporting more than 116,000 residents across 707 square miles. The center ranks among the busiest in Arkansas, handling more than 155,000 calls annually.

St. Bernards Hires Family Medical Specialist Dr. Michael Tedder
St. Bernards Healthcare has hired family medicine specialist Dr. Michael Tedder, who brings nearly 50 years of clinical experience to the St. Bernards primary care network in Jonesboro.

Tedder earned his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock in 1974. He then completed a family medicine residency at St. Vincent’s Infirmary, also in Little Rock. Prior to medical school, he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Arkansas Tech University.

Tedder began his career at the Jonesboro Family Practice Clinic and the Crawley, Tedder, Harris Clinic. His career includes the delivery of more than 3,000 babies and serving two years as medical chief of staff at Craighead Memorial Hospital. He is board-affiliated with the American Academy of Family Practice and has maintained an Arkansas State Medical License for 50 years. He is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the Craighead County Medical Society. He was recently honored by the Arkansas Medical Society as a 50-year Member in Good Standing.