Connections: UA dean receives Champion of Construction award

Peter MacKeith, dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, has received the 2026 Champion of Construction Award from the Associated General Contractors of Arkansas.

He plans to step down as dean effective June 30, 2026, and return to the faculty and become more involved in the school’s expanding initiatives in timber wood design innovation.

NEW HIRES
Banking
Kevin Wilhelm
Fayetteville
Employer: First Community Bank
Title: vice president, merchant services manager
Previous employer: Arvest Bank
Previous title: regional merchant sales manager

Mark Wilson
Rogers
Employer: Generations Bank
Title: chief credit officer
Previous employer: Simmons Bank
Previous title: director of small business lending

Nonprofit
Kelly Kemp-McLintock
Springdale
Employer: Bentonville Library Foundation
Title: executive director
Previous employer: Peel Compton Foundation
Previous title: assistant director of development/special projects

PROMOTIONS
Food & Beverage
Colton West
Fayetteville
Employer: Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.
Title: revenue growth management sales analyst
Previous title: senior field sales manager

APPOINTMENTS
Nonprofit
Lauren Enix
Fayetteville
Employer: Walmart
Title: senior director, people partner
Appointment: board of directors
Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas

Jo Fone
Bentonville
Employer: The Great Fit LLC
Title: certified personal trainer, health coach
Appointment: board of directors
Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas

Randy Seeley
Rogers
Employer: General Mills
Title: sales director
Appointment: board of directors
Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas

Gena Sego
Bentonville
Employer: Happy Egg
Title: senior human resources manager
Appointment: board of directors
Organization: Water for Good

AWARDS
Construction
Peter MacKeith
Fayetteville
Employer: University of Arkansas
Title: dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design
Award: 2026 Champion of Construction Award
Organization: Associated General Contractors of Arkansas

Engineering
Kartik Balachandran
Fayetteville
Employer: University of Arkansas
Title: professor of biomedical engineering and associate dean for research
Award: senior member
Organization: National Academy of Inventors

Wenchao Zhou
Fayetteville
Employer: University of Arkansas
Title: associate professor of mechanical engineering
Award: senior member
Organization: National Academy of Inventors