UCA announces Community Development Pipeline cohort

25 Northwest Arkansas leaders chosen to participate in program

The University of Central Arkansas Center for Community and Economic Development has selected 25 Northwest Arkansas leaders to participate in the Community Development Pipeline program. The program is designed to provide training and technical assistance to community leaders in Washington and Benton counties.

The Community Development Pipeline program is grant-funded by the Walton Family Foundation.

The following leaders have been selected to participate:

• Audra Butler, Director of Rural Housing at Communities Unlimited.
• Justice of the Peace Beth Coger, Washington County Quorum Court, District 9.
• Bethany Carter, Entrepreneurship Program Manager at Canopy NWA.
• Christian Weber, Planning Assistant at the City of Centerton Planning Department.
• Coletta Patterson, Regional Volunteer Center Planning Director at the Jones Center.
• Geovanny Sarmiento, Sr. Advisor for Community Affairs at the City of Rogers.
• Javier Hernandez, Director of Community Development at the Rogers-Lowell Chamber.
• Mayor Jeffrey Van Sickler, City of Little Flock.
• Jonathan Bricker, Vice President & Commercial Relationship Manager at Regions Bank.
• Josh Vasquez, Rogers Market President at Generations Bank.
• Joshua Johnson, Active Transportation Coordinator at the City of Pea Ridge.
• Kaleb Turner, Parks & Recreation Director at the City of Pea Ridge.
• Keith Urbanski, Professional & Workforce Development: Workforce Partnerships Coordinator at the University of Arkansas: Global Campus.
• Nathaniel Izard, Planner at the City of Bentonville.
• Marlee Stark, Chief Housing Officer/Director of Housing and Community Services at the City of Fayetteville.
• Megan Brown, Director of Operations at the Urban Land Institute - Northwest Arkansas.
• Melisa Laelan, Executive Director of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese.
• Michelle Tabor, President/CEO of the Farmington Chamber.
• Prentis Grayson, Director of Community Partnerships at Crystal Bridges.
• Sarah Henderson, Vice President of the Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Councilmember Sarah Moore, City of Fayetteville.
• Shawntill Puryear, Director of Community Resources at Hark at Excellerate.
• Taylor Robertson, Planning and Development Director at the City of Bella Vista.
• Tyler Overstreet, Planning Director at the City of Bentonville.
• Councilmember Wendy Henson, City of Centerton.

These individuals were selected through a competitive application process based on their dedication to community development and desire to create sustainable change in Northwest Arkansas. Over the course of the program, the cohort will participate in UCA's Community Development Institute (CDI) training and engage in community and economic development work at the local level.

"Northwest Arkansas is one of the nation's fastest growing regions," Director of the Center for Community and Economic Development Shelby Fiegel said. "The Pipeline program was created to empower and support leaders in Washington and Benton counties to capitalize on opportunities and implement strategies for planned, sustainable development."

Cohort members will receive a three-year scholarship and travel support to CDI. They will also have the opportunity to become certified Professional Community and Economic Developers (PCED).

Participants will benefit from opportunities to enhance their leadership skills and network with other community development professionals and experts to learn about the latest trends and best practices in the field. They will also have access to technical assistance resources and support to accomplish short and long-term community and economic development goals.

More information about the Community Development Pipeline program is available at uca.edu/cced/cd-pipeline-program.