Randy Zook
President/CEO
Randy Zook is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas. Prior to taking the helm of the State Chamber/AIA, Randy was the Deputy Director of Administration and Finance for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. For 34 years, he worked for Atlantic Envelope Company of Atlanta, Georgia, a $200-million manufacturer of custom-printed envelopes and business products, serving as President and CEO of the company from 1989 to 2004. He is currently serving on the boards of KIPP Schools in Helena-West Helena, Economics Arkansas and McGehee Farm & Real Estate Co. He and his wife, Diane, have three grown children and five above-average grandchildren.
Kenneth R. Hall, J.D.
Executive Vice President
As chief lobbyist, Kenny represents the positions of the two organizations on issues related to, and focusing on, the enhancement of a quality business climate in Arkansas before selected government entities, including the legislature, the governor’s office and various state agencies, committees and boards. He helps develop and implement State Chamber/AIA legislative strategies and is responsible for enlisting support for these goals. Kenny coordinates the activities of the State Chamber/AIA issue committees.
Shelley Short, IOM
Vice President Programs and Partnerships
Shelley is responsible for the development, management and execution of the chamber’s programs and strategic partnerships. She also serves as the executive director of Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives (AEDCE), the professional association of local chamber executives and economic developers in the state. Shelley is a native Arkansan with more than fourteen years of economic development experience, most recently serving as the Director of Marketing for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission before joining the State Chamber in 2015. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Management from Regent University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas. Shelley serves on the Arkansas Department of Education State Coalition for Family and Community Engagement and the Board of Directors for the MAKO Conference. She is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Southern Economic Development Council, and is a graduate of the US Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management and the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.
Marcus Turley
Vice President of Membership Development
Marcus is responsible for new business development and retention of existing State Chamber/AIA members. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Southern Arkansas University and an MBA from Texas A&M University in Texarkana. Since 2009, Marcus has received national lifetime achievement and sales contest awards from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Andrew Parker
Director of Governmental Affairs & Executive Director, Associated Industries of Arkansas Foundation, Inc.
Andrew, a licensed attorney and graduate of the William H. Bowen School of Law, is part of the governmental affairs team and works to enhance the business climate in Arkansas by representing the positions of the two organizations before entities that include the following: committees, boards, various state agencies, the governor’s office and the legislature. He is the Executive Director of the AIA Foundation and has led the Be Pro Be Proud Initiative since its launch is 2016. Andrew previously served as Regulatory Counsel for the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission and is the current Chairman of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Toni Lindsey
Director of Governmental Affairs
Toni is responsible for fostering community relations with local chambers/chamber members and elected officials in Northwest Arkansas, while representing the positions of the State Chamber and AIA before entities that include the following: committees, boards, various state agencies, the governor’s office and the legislature. She also serves as the lead staff person for our Leadership Arkansas program. Toni previously worked for the University of Arkansas Department of Athletics for 16 years as Director of Special Events, Television Show Coordinator for the Head Football and Basketball Coaches’ Shows and in several other capacities. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Communication from the University of Arkansas in 2000 and has completed coursework for a Master’s degree in Communication from the U of A. She also has extensive experience serving on various 501(c)(3) boards in a leadership role, plus additional philanthropic experience from a member, volunteer and donor role.
Jeff Thatcher
Director of Communications
Jeff is responsible for developing, directing and overseeing the State Chamber/AIA’s communications, publications, website, social media, media relations, public relations and branding. He also oversees membership retention and secures non-dues revenue via advertising sales. Jeff has extensive experience in the media, for-profit and non-profit sectors and previously worked as the Communications Director for J.A. Riggs Tractor Co., the Caterpillar dealer for Arkansas. He earned Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is a member and former board member of both the Arkansas Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and the Arkansas Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. He also serves as the president of the Children of the Doolittle Raiders, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the legacy of the Doolittle Raiders alive and is a member of the MacArthur Military History Museum Commission Advisory Board.
Deb Mathis
Manager, Scheduling & Events
Deb coordinates many of the details of the organizations’ events and scheduling, while also supporting its communications and marketing efforts. A former teacher, she performs, coordinates and oversees technical and office administrative duties in support of the President & CEO.
Bill Watson
Manager, Event Sponsorship
Bill is responsible for sales of sponsorships to Arkanas State Chamber/AIA members.
He previously worked as Vice President Membership Development for the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Trey Lamberth
Director of Communications, Be Pro Be Proud
Trey is an award-winning philanthropist and a leader in the Arkansas business scene. Previously, he was the Digital Advertising Director for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Trey has dedicated himself to building creative opportunities for organizations to express their brands to the public. He holds a degree in communications from the University of Central Arkansas and spends his free time performing as a drummer in four bands – the most notable being the late CeDell Davis who was nominated for a Grammy in 2015.
Rick Neal
Education to Employee Director
Rick is responsible for engaging state business and industry partners and communicating their workforce needs to education leaders in Arkansas, while creating a seamless transition between high school, post-secondary education and the workforce. Rick previously served as superintendent of the Pea Ridge School District and has worked in public education for the past 36 years. Prior to becoming Pea Ridge School District superintendent, he served as the high school principal for seven years at Pea Ridge School District. He was also middle school principal of Berryville Middle School in the Berryville School District. He began his career as a social studies teacher and basketball coach at Siloam Springs Junior High School. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from the University of Arkansas, and a Master’s Degree and a Specialist Degree from the University of Arkansas. He is passionate about preparing students to enter the global workforce through the integration of technology, real-world STEM learning, and linking to today’s college/career workforce.
Trish Villines
Executive Director, Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence
The Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence partners with the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce to provide training, assessment and recognition to organizations in Arkansas through the Governor’s Quality Award. The Governor’s Quality Award Program offers opportunities for all businesses in the state to assess their performance through a systems perspective and receive award recognition and feedback. The award process uses the Baldrige Excellence Framework, a proven management framework for more than 25 years for all types of businesses and organizations including manufacturing, healthcare, education, government agencies and non-profit. In her role as Executive Director, Trish facilitates training for Chamber members, award applicants and volunteers.
Carol Mugerditchian
Administrative Assistant
Carol works the front desk and is Administrative Assistant to Chamber staff. She brings extensive experience in legal, banking, and retail industries.
