Executive Summary: Shepard focuses on integrity, involving others, intentional volunteering

Editor’s note: The Fort Smith Metro Daily News Executive Summary series is focused on looking under the title, so to speak, of a business, government, and non-profit executive in the Fort Smith metro.

Rodney Shepard is the regional executive for Arvest Bank’s southwest region, which includes all of Arkansas. He has been with Arvest for 32 years, previously serving as the bank’s first chief customer experience officer and as president for the bank’s Fort Smith and Springfield, Mo., markets.

Shepard is a distinguished alumnus of Carl Albert Junior College in Poteau, Okla., and holds a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla.; a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University and is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., and the Mid-South School of Banking in Memphis, Tenn.

He also is a board member for Forward Arkansas, Mercy Health Fort Smith Communities, and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Board of Visitors.

• What was your first job and what did it teach you?
Grounds crew member at Westark Community College (now UAFS) during the summers of 1984 and 1985. It reinforced things that my parents taught me and my siblings – like you have to work for what you want and nobody is going to hand you anything. It also taught me responsibility like others are depending on you to do your part to the best of your ability, showing up on time and completing your assigned tasks.

• What is a principle or value on which you never compromise?
Integrity. It’s what my parents taught and expected or else. I expect it in all aspects of life. It’s the right thing to do, and I don’t appreciate the many times in my life that others have not been honest with me or others, no matter the setting.

• What’s one belief you held strongly 10+ years ago that you’ve changed your mind about?
Earlier in life, I leaned more toward putting in the extra effort like studying harder, working out longer, staying later, wanting it more, etc. While those things are important, the value of relationships and working together is far more rich. I know without a doubt that the many blessings in my life are because of the impact, influence and involvement of others along the way.

• If you could change one thing about the Fort Smith metro, what would it be?
It would be more consistent collaboration and support for initiatives by our citizens and leaders that would create the quality of life and community that we desire. We’ve seen it in the support of Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, the Foreign Military Sales Mission at the 188th and funding for the I-49 bridge over the Arkansas River.

• What seemingly small thing had a big impact on your life?
Volunteering on a United Way allocation panel in 1994. Since that time, I’ve been intentional and very active in supporting our community through volunteering, board service and encouraging others to do the same.

• What about you would surprise most people?
My taste in music is much, much wider than my food palate. (It’s widely known that I’m a picky eater). What might surprise some is I generally listen to the music of a song and not the words.

• There are many promises and concerns with the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). What societal benefit do you hope AI will produce?
While the full capabilities of this powerful tool are unknown, I hope to see individuals and families experience productivity gains in their day to day lives. Imagine a tool that will help individuals plan, decide or learn in a new, faster and personal way. Things like researching a purchase decision, building and monitoring a family budget or gaining a skill or knowledge in a new way. The internet has broadened everyone’s access to vast amounts of information, however at times it can be overwhelming to distill and consume.

• If you were able to get one piece of legislation through the U.S. Congress and signed into law, what would it be?
Legislation that would require a balanced budget and paying down our national debt annually.  It’s broadly accepted that not doing those things is a bad idea for our country, however, nothing seems to change.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SUBJECTS
Following are the links to previous posts in the Executive Summary series.
ArcBest Chair and CEO Judy McReynolds
Fort Smith Mayor George McGill
BHC President and CEO Marty Clark
Maryl Koeth Purvis, director of the Van Buren Advertising and Promotion Commission
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley
Fort Smith Public Library Director Jennifer Goodson
Bill Hanna, president, CEO, board chairman, Hanna Oil & Gas