Barbara Harvel lands Parks Commission appointment

Barbara Harvel, executive director of Leadership Fort Smith, is one of the newest gubernatorial appointees to the prestigious Arkansas Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission.

The office of Gov. Mike Beebe announced Tuesday (May 3) that Harvel, who is also the wife of Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce President Paul Harvel, will serve on the 15-member commission for an appointment that expires Jan. 14, 2015. Harvel replaces Tom Schueck.

Jan Bunyard, of DeQueen, was reappointed to the commission for a term ending Jan. 14, 2007, and Leroy Dangeau of Wynne was appointed for a term that expires Jan. 14, 2007. Montine McNulty, director of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, was named a Commissioner Emeritus.

“I’m really excited about this,” Harvel said Tuesday. “I love the state of Arkansas and with Paul being in chamber work, that crosses over because tourism is an important part of economic development.”

Paul Harvel recently resigned his post as a member of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to focus more on chamber work.

She also said Sebastian County, ranked 5th among Arkansas’ 75 counties with respect to tourism activity, has for too long not had a person on the commission. Polly Crews, of Fort Smith, served on the commission for more than a decade before her death in 2006.

“There has not been representation from this area on that commission for many years. So I am really pleased and honored that that Governor appointed me,” Harvel said.

Harvel said she will spend some time learning more about the commission and its oversight role before determining where she might best make an impact on the commission.

“As you know, the (Parks & Tourism) department, they are an umbrella over parks and many other tourism things in Arkansas. … I look forward to learning more about all they do,” Harvel explained.

Before moving to Fort Smith, Harvel has served as president of the Better Business Bureau of Arkansas; public affairs manager of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States; executive director of Arkansas Quality Award, Inc.; director of career and corporate development at Ouachita Baptist University; and general manager of the Chamber of Commerce in Enid, Oklahoma, where she established Leadership Enid.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Texas A&M University.

Harvel served on the Little Rock Civil Service Commission for 12 years and as its chair for two years and was a member of the Rotary Club. She is also a graduate of Leadership Arkansas, the FBI Citizens Academy and the Little Rock Police Academy.

OTHER APPOINTMENTS
Other appointments of area interest were announced Tuesday.
• Thomas Brock of Fort Smith was reappointed to the Criminal Detention Facility Review Committee to represent the 12th Judicial District. His appointment expires Jan. 14, 2015.

• Eric Burnett, Fort Smith, appointed to the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees. His appointment term expires Jan. 14, 2016.

• Stephen Hayes, Van Buren, was reappointed to the Arkansas Apprenticeship Coordination Steering Committee for a term that expires Dec. 1, 2014.

• Dr. Carolyn Mosley, Fort Smith, was reappointed to the Minority Health Commission for a term that expires Jan. 31, 2013.

• Alan Swaim of Van Buren was reappointed to the Outdoor Recreation Grants Advisory Committee for a term that expires Jan. 7, 2015.