Connections: Beaver Water District hires new HR director

Korenda Allen of Centerton is the new human resources (HR) director for Lowell-based utility Beaver Water District. She replaces Pat Bates of Bentonville, who is retiring after more than 12 years of service.

Allen has worked in the HR field for the past eight years, advancing her career from a recruiter to an HR generalist, and most recently in a regional role as an HR business partner with AseraCare Hospice. She is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and holds the Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification.

For more than 50 years, the Beaver Water District has supplied drinking water sourced from Beaver Lake to Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville. These cities pump, store, distribute and resell the water to more than 350,000 customers, including people and industries in the cities and surrounding areas.

Beaver Water District has 58 employees.

NEW HIRES
Education
Justin Urso
Fayetteville
Employer: University of Arkansas
Title: director, McMillon Innovation Studio
Previous employer: Skosay
Previous title: CEO and founder

Nonprofit
Kenny Williams
Bentonville
Employer: Pedal It Forward
Title: program director
Previous employer: Peel Compton Foundation
Previous title: program director

Venture Capital
Mark Malo
Bentonville
Employer: Yellow Wood Partners
Title: operating partner
Previous employer: The Clorox Co.
Previous title: vice president and general manager, Walmart

PROMOTIONS
Banking & Finance
Kayo Gonzalez
Fayetteville
Employer: Chambers Bank
Title: senior vice president, compliance officer
Previous title: compliance officer

Debbie Gipson
Van Buren
Employer: Chambers Bank
Title: senior vice president, bank secrecy act (BSA) officer
Previous title: bank secrecy act (BSA) officer

Greg Heller
Johnson
Employer: Chambers Bank
Title: assistant vice president, loan officer
Previous title: commercial lender

Nonprofit
Jarrod Reeves
Bentonville
Employer: The Sunshine School
Title: executive director
Previous title: interim executive director, director of finance and accounting

APPOINTMENTS
Automotive
Dawn Morris
Boca Raton, Fla.
Employer: Growth Partners Group
Title: founder and CEO
Appointment: board member
Organization: America’s Car-Mart Inc.

Nonprofit
Michael Guptan
Rogers
Employer: Walmart Inc.
Title: global head of corporate development
Appointment: board member
Organization: Endeavor Northwest Arkansas