Mike Beebe was sworn in as the 45th Governor of the State of Arkansas on January 9, 2007, following more than two decades of dedicated public service, first as State Senator and then as Attorney General. He believes Arkansas’s future must be built on the foundation of more and better-paying jobs and a first-class education system.

Under Governor Beebe’s leadership, Arkansas has announced more than 21,000 new jobs, even in the midst of a steep national economic downturn. He has provided the largest tax cut in Arkansas history, phasing out the sales tax on groceries, while protecting essential services and meeting the State’s mandate for a balanced budget. By the end of his four-year term as Governor, it’s projected that Beebe’s initiatives will have provided nearly $500 million in tax cuts and ongoing tax relief.

The child of a single mom who quit high school to provide for her son as a waitress, Mike Beebe is a product of – and a believer in – the opportunities that come with education. As Governor, he has led the creation of the State’s first need-based college scholarships, concluded a decade-long court dispute over Arkansas’s public school system, secured the largest single capital investment in Arkansas public schools, and made record investments in the State college and university system. He has expanded adult-education programs to help Arkansans obtain additional education and new skills for better jobs.

In the 2009 legislative session, Governor Beebe introduced and oversaw the passage of the most comprehensive health-care package put forth by any Southern state in this decade.

Born in Amagon, Arkansas (Jackson County), in 1946, the Governor earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro in 1968, and completed law school at the University of Arkansas in 1972, while serving his country in the U.S. Army Reserve.

The Governor and his wife, Ginger, have three adult children. Governor Beebe is an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Searcy, where he has served as a senior warden and member of the vestry.

Bo Mattingly is the host of SportsTalk which is heard across Arkansas, bringing their listeners the latest in Razorback Sports. Bo is a 13-year radio and television broadcasting veteran, who has a reputation for breaking the big stories, and being close to the pulse of the program.

Sports Talk can currently be heard on ESPN 1190 The FAN in Northwest Arkansas, ESPN 96.3 in the River Valley and Western Arkansas, 103.7 the BUZZ in Little Rock and Central Arkansas, and can also be heard at sportstalkwithbo.com.

Al Weiss is president of worldwide operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. He is responsible for operations at the company’s theme parks and resorts including the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disneyland Resort Paris. He also oversees Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, and Adventures by Disney.

He began his 37-year Disney career in 1972 as an hourly Cast Member and worked his way up through a variety of roles and leadership positions. He was named president of the Walt Disney World Resort in 1994 and tapped to lead operations for Disney’s theme parks and resorts around the globe in November 2005.

A strong advocate of balance in life, Al makes his faith and his family top priorities. He is very involved in his church, Faith Baptist in Kissimmee, Fla. He is also chairman of the global board of Vision 360, a multi-denominational church-planting movement dedicated to transforming cities for Christ around the world.

Within the company, the community and the corporate world, Al is known for his passion for creating an unparalleled experience for each and every Disney guest, taking the business to new heights, giving back to the community and creating a world-class work environment for Disney Cast Members.

He is active in the community, serving as immediate past chairman of the University of Central Florida (UCF) Foundation Board of Directors and serving on the UCF Board of Trustees, the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission Governor’s Council, the Florida Council of 100 Board of Directors, the SunTrust Bank Central Florida Board of Directors and the Give Kids the World Advisory Board.

Al was named “Most Influential Businessman in Central Florida” by the Orlando Business Journal in 2005 and has received the Tree of Life Award from the Jewish National Fund for his visionary and humanitarian leadership in the community. In 2001, the National Conference for Community and Justice named Al Humanitarian of the Year, honoring his work to promote respect and understanding among all races, religions and cultures.

A native of Chicago, Al is a graduate of the University of Central Florida. He received his MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. He and his wife, Doreen, have two grown children and live in Kissimmee, Fla.

Frank Broyles was born on December 26, 1924 in Decatur, Georgia. After receiving his degree in Industrial Management at Georgia Tech, Georgia, in 1947, Broyles entered the coaching profession.

Broyles was a quarterback at Georgia Tech from 1944 through 1946 and also lettered in baseball and basketball.

He worked as an assistant coach at several colleges before becoming head coach at the University of Missouri in 1957.

He had a 5-4-1 record in his one season at Missouri and then went on to the University of Arkansas, where he rebuilt a struggling program. His 1964 team won all 11 of its regular season games, was voted national champion by the Football Writers Association of America, and beat Nebraska 10-7 in the Cotton Bowl. Broyles shared the American Football Coaches Association coach of the year award with Ara Parseghian of Notre Dame that year.

In 19 seasons at Arkansas, Broyles won 144 games, lost 58, and tied 5. His teams won 7 Southwest Conference championships and played in 10 bowl games. He retired from coaching after the 1976 season, but remained at Arkansas as athletic director.

He served as an assistant coach at Baylor University, Texas, Florida University, Florida, and Georgia Tech, Georgia, and as head coach at University of Missouri, Missouri, before coming to Arkansas in 1958. Broyles coached the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, football team Razorbacks for 19 years.

He became the University of Arkansas’s director of athletics in July 1973.

Since 1986, Pastor Floyd has served as the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale in Springdale, Arkansas. Under his leadership the church membership has grown to 16,000, thousands of people in Northwest Arkansas and across the world have been reached for Christ through missions, and, in 2001, the church expanded to a second campus in Rogers, Arkansas, The Church at Pinnacle Hills. Because of additional sites, the church is One Church in Many Locations.

Dr. Floyd is the leader, founder, and host of the Summit Business Persons’ Luncheon, a weekly lunch seminar that hosts guest speakers from across the country. Each spring and fall, leaders share their insights on business, leadership, ethics, success, and life principles and values. Speakers have included John Maxwell, Mike Huckabee, the former Governor of Arkansas, Reggie White, John Tyson, Truett Cathy, JB Hunt and many others. The Summit currently reaches up to 500 business people each week. Dr. Floyd speaks at the Summit several times a year.

Each week, Pastor Floyd’s television program, Ronnie Floyd Winners, can be seen worldwide on the Daystar Television Network. Pastor Floyd has spoken at many national and international conferences, like Promise Keepers, has been featured on numerous television and radio programs, including Focus on the Family, and has held several positions in the Southern Baptist Convention.

In his three decades of ministry, Pastor Floyd has authored 18 books including The Power of Prayer and Fasting and 10 Things Every Minister Needs to Know. Pastor Floyd’s blog, www.betweensundays.com, serves as a challenge and encouragement to both Pastors and laypeople alike.

Pastor Floyd’s proudest accomplishments stem from his personal life. He and his wife, Jeana, have been married for almost 32 years. They have two sons, Josh and Nick. Josh is married to Kate, and they have two sons, Peyton and Parker. Nick is married to Meredith, and they have one daughter, Reese Caroline.

Leland E. Tollett is Interim President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tyson Foods, Inc. and oversees all operations and sales for the company.

While Tollett was named to his current position in January 2009, he has actually been associated with Tyson Foods for 50 years and previously served as the company’s CEO from 1991 to 1998.

Tollett joined Tyson in 1959 as Director of Research & Nutrition and subsequently held executive management positions in the company’s broiler and production divisions before being named Tyson’s Chief Operating Officer in 1981. Tollett became President and CEO in 1991 and served as Chairman and CEO from 1995 to 1998, when he retired.

Tollett served on Tyson’s board of directors from 1984 until early 2008. He has also been a member of the Poultry Science Association, the Arkansas Poultry Federation and has served as President of the Arkansas Feed Manufacturers Association, as well Chairman of the National Broiler Council (now known as the National Chicken Council).

A native of Nashville, Arkansas, Tollett attended Southern State College (now known as Southern Arkansas University), and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He has also participated in seminars at the Harvest Business School.

Dr. Becky Paneitz from Ronnie Floyd on Vimeo.

Dr. Rebecca Paneitz became the second President of NorthWest Arkansas Community College on August 1, 2003. Her greatest strength is her honesty and vision for making the college the best it can possibly be. She was instrumental in developing the college’s five-year strategic plan in 2004. Her leadership has strengthened the college’s enrollment plans to ensure steady growth. In addition, Dr. Paneitz has established four learning centers in the college’s service area to address the needs of communities we serve.

Professional and Educational Background

Dr. Paneitz received her bachelor’s degree in office administration from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and her master’s in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She served as personnel administrator for the Arkansas Department of Corrections before becoming Dean of Technology and Trades and then Dean of Arts, Business and Communication at Pueblo Community College in Colorado. She then became Dean of Instruction at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where she was instrumental in the planning and development of their advanced technology center – a feat she had also accomplished at Pueblo. She completed her doctorate in vocational education from Colorado State University in 1997. In 1999, she moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and joined Central Piedmont Community College as Vice President for Instruction until her return to Arkansas.

Professional Affiliations

Dr. Paneitz is very active in the community and involved with the following: Arvest Bank Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer Forum, Northwest Arkansas Council, Bentonville/Bella Vista, Fayetteville, Rogers /Lowell, and Springdale Chambers of Commerce, Northwest Arkansas Regional Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges, Arkansas Association of Women in Two-year Colleges, Arkansas Capital Corporation Board of Directors, Arkansas Women’s Forum, American Association of Community Colleges, Association of Community College Trustees, Association of Community College Trustees Advisory Committee of Presidents, Center for Occupation Research and Development Board, Cooperative for Advancement of Community Based Postsecondary Education (COMBASE), Global Corporate College Board, and the League for Innovation in the Community College.

Awards and Achievements

Since her arrival in northwest Arkansas, Dr. Paneitz has received the “Trailblazer” award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; included in the 2005-2006 Empire Who’s Who Registry of Executives and Professionals; selected to be a member of the Arkansas Women’s Forum; and selected to be the recipient of the 2005 Outstanding Alumni Award for Achievement and Merit from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. In 2007, Dr. Paneitz was honored by Just Communities with the Humanitarian of the Year award during the Fifth Annual Cultural Celebration. Just this year, Dr. Paneitz distinguished herself as a leader and was named Woman of Distinction by NOARK Girl Scouts. She was also chosen to participate in The Children’s Museum of NWA Dancing with the Stars to become a Celebrity Waitress for the event.

Personal

Dr. Paneitz is a native Arkansan from southeast Arkansas. She is married to husband, Dave. She has two daughters and three grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys golf, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Mayor Bob McCaslin from Ronnie Floyd on Vimeo.

A native born Arkansan, Bob has been married to his wife, Lana for 41 years. The McCaslin’s have two married daughters and three grandchildren.

Upon graduation from Arkansas Tech University, Bob taught Math and Chemistry  in public school for four years prior to joining Kraft Foods.

Assignments with Kraft Foods took the McCaslin family to Fort Smith, Kansas City, Houston, Memphis, Springfield, Dallas and Atlanta prior to their move to Bentonville in 1996.

Retired since February 2002, Bob has extensive experience in Sales, Sales Management, Operations Management, Customer Service Management and Financial Management  as a result of his career with Kraft Foods which began in 1972.

Bob served two terms  as an Alderman prior to being elected Mayor of Bentonville. He is active on many community committees and endeavors.

Bob and Lana are active members of the Church at Pinnacle Hills.

Additionally, Bob is a Gideon, a Rotarian, member of the adult chapter of the F.C.A., a member of the Bentonville – Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Board of  Directors for Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas.

Jack Shewmaker from Ronnie Floyd on Vimeo.

Jack. Shewmaker served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Wal-Mart Stores until 1988. He has been President of J-COM, Inc., a consulting company since 1994. Mr. Shewmaker has been a Director of Sisters Of Mercy Health System, Inc. since September 4, 2007. He serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of Drury University. He served as an Independent Director of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. from 1977 to June 2008, and currently serves as a Consultant of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.