Our Board

Cindy Smith who resides in Strong, Arkansas, has a wealth of experience in finance and accounting. She has served on various committees to help maintain and oversee finances in her career as an accountant assistant. She is currently employed by a Fortune 500 company, Murphy USA, as an Accountant Assistant since 2002.

Cindy graduated from Strong High School in 1977 and South Arkansas Community College, where she obtained certification in Clerical Business Administration. She also serves as a Notary Public and a Certified Tax Preparer.

Cindy is active in her community, serving on the Strong-Huttig School District Board of Education since 2007 as Board President.  Her church affiliates are Curry Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Strong, Arkansas and The Church at Gaines Street in Little Rock, Arkansas.  She enjoys singing, fishing, basketball and football.  She has always served as a volunteer during the Murphy USA Annual United Way Campaign which donated $980 thousand this year. She has also participated in the International Women’s Entrepreneurship.     

Cindy brings a deep corporate governance experience through her work with corporate boards, including audit and finance committees—and she is qualified to serve on audit committees as a financial expert.

Her most valued treasures are her testimony and her family. Her most favorite quote by Jane Austen is “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends.  I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”

Colin Jorgensen is from Little Rock, where he lives with his wife, Eve, and two children — Hank (born 2010) and Suzy (born 2014).  Colin has a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from the University of Oklahoma and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Michigan. From 2004 to 2006, he worked as an associate at Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP in Little Rock. From 2007 to 2017, he served as an assistant attorney general and senior assistant attorney general in the Civil Litigation Department of the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office. Colin joined the Association of Arkansas Counties in 2017 as a litigation attorney, and he has served since 2018 as counsel for Arkansas counties in litigation against opioid companies, seeking monetary relief to abate the opioid epidemic across Arkansas.

Colin is a long-time mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas. In January 2019, he was appointed by the Arkansas Supreme Court to a six-year term as Chair of the Arkansas Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP) Committee. He was a member of the JLAP Foundation board from 2016 to 2019, and he served on the board of the Wolfe Street Foundation from 2013 to 2015. 

Colin is a dedicated public servant, and from the beginning, he has been grateful for the opportunity to serve the counties and Arkansans related to opioid litigation and the opioid epidemic.  Colin is especially grateful for the opportunity to serve as a lawyer and a board member because he has lived experience with addiction and recovery.  He knows that sobriety is a miracle and a gift, and to keep it, those who have it must give it away. 

Although she is a native Arkansan, Dr. Virginia Stanick spent most of her adult life in New York City. In 2013, she returned to her home state. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College in Conway; a Master of Social Work degree in clinical social work at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; and a Ph.D. in Psychology  (Cognitive Neuroscience) at The City University of New York. Her professional interests and experience are diverse, including human electrophysiology, neuropsychology, and integrative/behavioral medicine, but the majority of her career has been committed to clinical and research work in a variety of settings focused on substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery.

A native of Conway, John Wilkerson has been employed with the Municipal League since 2006. He began as a Law Clerk, then became Senior Legal Counsel, and now General Counsel. John received his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Arkansas and his J.D. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, School of Law. He currently lives in Little Rock with his wife Zara and three kids – Razik, Amila, and Merah.

Thomas (Tom) L. Barron is a lifelong resident of Pulaski County He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English in 1981 and received his Juris Doctor in 1984. Tom is the principal and owner of Bear State Law, PLLC.

Among his peers and the judiciary, Tom has the highest rating AV Preeminent®. Tom was appointed to the Arkansas Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP) Committee by the Supreme Court in October 2007 and served as the Chair of the Committee. JLAP provides mental health and substance abuse services to Arkansas’ judges, lawyers, and their family members. In 2014, Tom received the Arkansas JLAP Justice Robert L. Brown Community Support Award. This award is presented to a person within the legal community who has performed outstanding service to Arkansas’ communities through a commitment to building and sustaining a program of lawyers helping lawyers. This service has been performed out of a sense of duty, responsibility, and professionalism to improve lives and protect communities by supporting the health and well-being of judges, lawyers and their families.

Tom is also a former board member and chair of The Friends of Recovery Foundation, Inc. (FOR), and is still actively engaged in fundraising, peer to peer counseling, and serves as its legal counsel. Tom is currently a Master of the Bench in the Judge Henry Woods American Inn of Court. and an alumni Master of the Bench in the Judge William R. Overton American Inn of Court (1989-2003). Tom is a member of the Pulaski County Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.

Tom married Holly in 2003 and took on the wonderful role of becoming a parent to his stepson, Gavin. Today, their family is complete with their three dogs Toto, Olive, and Virgil. Tom, Holly, and Gavin are all dedicated to helping others and volunteering in their communities. They all particularly share a passion for helping those with addictions and family members of those with addictions find the resources and support they need.

Gloria Gordon, MS is a retired research scientist and medical/technical writer who moved from New York State to Arkansas in 1993.  She is an independent advocate for the elderly and people with disabilities, and has been writing grants for the state and nonprofit organizations at no charge for 20 years.  She received a BA from Wellesley College and an MS from the University of Pennsylvania, and did graduate work at New York University Medical School.  In Arkansas, she has worked at Biotechnical Services, Inc. as a senior medical writer, editor, and auditor of regulatory documents, preclinical and clinical study reports, and safety assessment documents.  Most recently, she has worked as a parttime grant writer for Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care.  Previously, she worked for 20 years as a senior research toxicologist and electron microscopist for a multinational pharmaceutical company (Pfizer), and conducted academic research at three major university medical centers (New York University, University of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Jefferson Medical Schools).  She has published journal articles in the fields of pathology, microbiology, oncology, chemotherapy and dermatology.  

Danny Bradley has served as chief of the North Little Rock Police Department since January 2001. Prior service includes six years as chief deputy of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office and, before that, twenty-one years with the North Little Rock Police Department where he worked his way from cadet to captain. He was instrumental in bringing about organizational change to incorporate the principles of community policing in both departments.

Chief Bradley has worked on a wide range of police issues in Arkansas. He was key in establishing the first organized police supervision and management training in Arkansas that evolved into the Criminal Justice Institute which is part of the University of Arkansas system. He instructed in that program as well as having served as adjunct faculty for the Criminal Justice Department of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

“Like father, like son, like grandson.  I am the third generation of my family to become a law enforcement officer, so you might say, protecting and serving others is in my blood.  Since my first job in law enforcement over 39 years ago, I have considered this honorable profession a calling, and it is a privilege to now be serving my community as Sheriff of Washington County.

My granddad, Earl Thomas, moved from Missouri to California for work in the 1920’s.  He had a relative on the force with the Los Angeles Police Department, so he applied and was hired. Granddad retired from the LAPD after 20 years as a foot and mounted patrol officer.  My dad, Robert Helder, also worked 25 years for the LAPD as a patrol officer and detective.  He was a Lieutenant Detective in the Homicide Division when he retired.  One note of interest about my dad…he was the lead investigator in the Charles Manson – Sharon Tate murder investigation.   

I moved to Arkansas as a teen, graduated from West Fork High School, and began my law enforcement career in 1979 with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, working in communications as a dispatcher and later as a field deputy.  In 1982 I was hired by the Fayetteville Police Department where I worked for 21 years, retiring in 2003 as Deputy Chief of Police.  I then returned to my roots and began working for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office as Chief Deputy for Sheriff Steve Whitmill in April 2003.  In 2004, after Whitmill accepted a position with Tyson Foods, I entered the race for Sheriff and was subsequently elected.  I began serving my first term on January 1, 2005. Beginning 2021, I am now halfway into my very first four-year term, and 16 years as your sheriff.

I have been married to my beautiful wife, Holly, for over 30 years.  We have been blessed with three awesome children, Nolan, Clay and Karli, and six amazing grandchildren. Nolan, wife Kasey, and their children, Kane, Ruthie, Ellie, Henry, and Alana live in Headland, AL. Nolan serves as Family Pastor with Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama, and is currently working toward his Doctorate in Theology at Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans.  Kasey stays busy as a “stay at home” mom where, along with all of the normal demands of a mom, she home schools our grandchildren. 

Clay, who graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in International Relations, has returned from New York City where he had a career in production. He currently serves at CLC in production.  

Karli graduated from the University of Arkansas in December 2016 with a degree in Hospitality Management. She married Beau Waddell in August of 2018, and on August 14, 2020, brought grandchild number six, Joey, into the world.  Beau was ordained this year and they remain busy serving in a variety of areas for New Life Church in Fayetteville. We enjoy being active and involved with our family and our community.”

As Chief Legal and Ethics Officer, Executive Vice President for LiveRamp (formerly Acxiom Corporation), Jerry C. Jones leads the Legal, Privacy/Data Ethics and Public Policy teams in addition to being responsible for the strategy and execution of mergers, alliances and other strategic initiatives company-wide.  During his 24-year tenure, Jones has spearheaded several high-profile projects such as Acxiom’s expansion in international markets including Australia, Japan, China, Europe, Brazil, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. He has also played a significant role in moving the company into digital and interactive marketing services as well as leading Acxiom/LiveRamp through the successful acquisition of two public companies, in the US and in France.

Jones is a member of the board of directors of Agilysys, Inc., Walton College Business Integrity Leadership Initiative, Arkansas Research Alliance, ForwARd Arkansas, and Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP) Advisory Board.

He also was the chairman of FASTERArkansas, connecting students to a 21st century education in trying to bring high-speed internet to every public school in Arkansas. His passion for community-related challenges has been the driving force for the creation of several programs, including Harnessing 21st Century Solutions: A Focus on Women.   As leader of the initiative, Jones was responsible for bringing to Arkansas the annual meeting of the Club de Madrid, an organization comprised of 93 former heads of state of 65 democracies to the Clinton Presidential Center where Jones serves as a Special Advisor. Jones holds a degree in public administration and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas.

Danny began his lifelong career in public service in the mid-70s. His parents instilled “service to others” as one of the most important parts of life.
His career with the public started with working at the Lafayette County Road Department. During this time, he also served as a volunteer firefighter for Stamps Fire and Rescue eventually become Fire Chief. Later he would become a Deputy Sheriff with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office.

An opportunity arose for Danny to become a member of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management as the Area 4 Coordinator including a variety of rolls such as response, recovery, and mitigation to all types of disasters. His days also involved planning for the next upcoming disaster.
In 2002 he ran and was elected Sheriff of Lafayette County, serving the citizens for two terms. In 2007 he began his service as the Deputy Director of Arkansas Department of Emergency and in 2019 he served as State Director for the Arkansas Crime Information Center. After retirement his desire for community service was answered as he began serving as the Local Emergency Manager for Lafayette County. In 2019 he ran and won his election as Lafayette County Judge where he continues to serve today. Danny’s hobbies include hunting and fishing mainly. His first love is spending time with his family and
friends cooking and spending time in “the shop”.

Since her early teens, Kaitlynn Ford has served as an engaged community leader and passionate advocate for change at home in Southern Arkansas and across the United States. At age 13, Ford was appointed President of the Young Artist Studios (YAS), a role she continues to hold today. YAS is an arts program for students that fosters creativity in youth to combat violence, drugs, and abuse. Ford has been honored to speak at the Arkansas State Capitol for World Drug Free Day, perform at Extreme Youth Programs, read the Governor’s Proclamation for Red Ribbon Week, and represent Arkansas at national conferences like Project Prevent, National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Washington DC, and CADCA Mid-Year. Recognized for her contributions, Ford received the NAACP Youth Recognition award and the Arkansas Prevention Network’s Youth of the Year award and Outstanding Youth of the Year award all in 2021. She became a published author through the Poetry Book Society in 2019, further amplifying her voice in advocating for positive change. At only 20 years old, Ford serves as an important advocate for youth on the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership’s Advisory Board. YAS has received Coalition Partnership Empowerment Funding in 2023 to support their prevention work in El Dorado, empowering the group to build their impact in Central Arkansas.

Jeanne Y. Wei, M.D., Ph.D., Jackson T. Stephens Professor of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), is Chair, Reynolds Department of Geriatrics & Executive Director of the Reynolds Institute on Aging (RIOA). Dr. Wei is board certified in internal medicine, geriatrics & cardiovascular medicine and sees patients in the Thomas and Lyon Longevity Clinic at RIOA.

After obtaining M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois, Dr. Wei completed an internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital as well as a staff fellowship in Gerontology at NIH/NIA in Baltimore, Md. She then joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, and became director of the Division on Aging at Harvard and chief of the Gerontology Division Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In 2002, she joined the faculty at UAMS.

She has received continuous NIH funding for more than 30 years. Her major research interests include the aging cardiovascular system.  Dr. Wei has served on NIH peer review study sections, National Institute on Aging (NIA) and was chairman of the NIA Board of Scientific Counselors. In addition, she has served on advisory boards of research foundations, pharmaceutical companies and the FDA. She has published more than 200 scientific articles, served on multiple editorial boards and is a reviewer of 34 peer-review scientific journals. She has authored six books, including one geriatrics textbook, and AGING WELL: The Complete Guide to Physical and Emotional Health, a health guide for the general public.

Jeanne has more than 35 years of experience in caring for patients, training future geriatricians and cardiologists, conducting geriatric and gerontological research, mentoring geriatric fellows and junior faculty members, and developing academic programs and initiatives.  A gifted teacher, Dr. Wei received the “Outstanding Clinical Educator Award” from Harvard Medical School in 2000 and the “Outstanding Woman Faculty Award” from the UAMS College of Medicine in 2005.  She is recognized nationally and internationally for her contributions to aging research.