Connections: Medical school, Washington Regional announce new hires

Several new hires in the Northwest Arkansas medical field were recently announced, including a new associate dean at the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, and advanced practice registered nurses at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.

NEW HIRES
Construction
Becky Gosnell
Fayetteville
Employer: Buffalo Builders
Title: business development manager
Previous employer: C.R. Crawford Construction
Previous title: internal marketing director

Education
Dr. Kristen A. Kassaw
Bentonville
Employer: Alice L. Walton School of Medicine
Title: associate dean, student affairs and professor
Previous employer: Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at the University of Houston
Previous title: associate dean for student affairs and clinical associate professor

Healthcare
Amanda Brouhard
Fayetteville
Employer: Washington Regional
Title: advanced practice registered nurse
Previous employer: Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas
Previous title: registered nurse

Dr. Ahmad Debian
Fayetteville
Employer: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Family Medical Center
Title: primary care physician

Brandelein Stefonek
Fayetteville
Employer: Washington Regional
Title: advanced practice registered nurse

Nonprofit
Ramsey Champagne
Fayetteville
Employer: Mount Sequoyah Center
Title: interim executive director
Previous employer: self-employed
Previous title: consultant

Simone Terry
Fayetteville
Employer: Walton Arts Center
Title: senior director of human resources
Previous employer: Regiment Security Partners
Previous title: executive vice president of human resources

Retail
Steve Blair
Fayetteville
Employer: New Nexus Group
Title: vice president of people and culture
Previous employer: Fulcrum Collective
Previous title: chief people officer

PROMOTIONS
Education
Dr. John Spollen
Fayetteville
Employer: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine
Title: executive associate dean for academic affairs
Previous title: associate dean for Northwest Arkansas

Dr. Leslie Stone
Fayetteville
Employer: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine
Title: associate dean for Northwest Arkansas
Previous title: associate professor, department of family and preventive medicine

Engineering
Kelly Schmidt
Bentonville
Employer: CEI Engineering
Title: client sector lead — outdoor recreation
Previous title: community development manager, Northwest Arkansas

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

Alex Newby
Fayetteville
Employer: Walton Arts Center
Title: senior director of production
Previous title: technical director

Josh Spurgers
Fayetteville
Employer: Walton Arts Center
Title: technical director
Previous title: assistant technical director

APPOINTMENTS
Nonprofit
Tyler Hamedi
Rogers
Employer: Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Journey
Title: executive broker
Appointment: board president
Organization: Rotary Club of Rogers

Erin Hollingsworth
Bentonville
Employer: The Hershey Co.
Title: senior associate, online merch Walmart & club
Appointment: board of directors
Organization: Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas

Jené Huffman-Gilreath
Rogers
Employer: Arvest Bank
Title: private banking manager
Appointment: board of directors
Organization: Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas

Jennifer Martinez Belt
Bentonville
Employer: Scott Family Amazeum
Title: chief philanthropy officer
Appointment: board president
Organization: Rotary Club of Bentonville

Brett Meek
Bentonville
Employer: Northwest Arkansas
National Airport
Title: chief infrastructure officer
Appointment: board of directors
Organization: Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas

AWARDS
Retail
Ross Cully
Fayetteville
Employer: Harvest Group
Title: founder and CEO
Award: Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026, Southwest region
Organization: EY

Transportation
Chris Moore
Bentonville
Employer: Walmart Transportation
Title: truck driver
Award: 2026 Arkansas Grand Champion
Organization: Arkansas Trucking Association