The Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education is comprised of individuals representing a myriad of interests and experiences in terms of leadership, education, and civic involvement. The Board provides oversight regarding management and operations ensuring that the organization follows its mission and objectives. Board members are nominated and elected at the annual meeting and serve multi-year staggered terms.
Mike Barr
BOARD CHAIR
Mike Barr has served as the President of Harry G. Barr Company/Weatherbarr Windows and Doors since 2011 where he was Vice President/Director of Operations from 1999-2011. He received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from University of Arkansas in 1997 where he also received his MBA in 1998. Barr joined the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce Board and served as Legislative Chair from 2009-2012, and was Chairman in 2015. Since 2010, Barr has served on the Bancorp South Community Board of Advisors and the University of Arkansas Fort Smith Board of Visitors. In addition to various leadership positions with the First Lutheran Church and School of Fort Smith, Barr is a 2002 graduate of Leadership Fort Smith where he served on the Board of Advisors from 2010-2012. He is currently serving on the Fort Smith Regional Council, President of the Western Arkansas Military Community Council, and Chair of the Fort Smith Community Health Council. Since 2013, Barr has also served on the Mercy Hospital Fort Smith Board of Directors. Barr and his wife, Greta, live in Fort Smith, and have two children.
Richard L. Dunsworth, JD
VICE CHAIR
Richard L. Dunsworth, JD, became the 25th president of University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, on June 1, 2013. Under Dunsworth’s leadership, enrollment at the private, four-year, Presbyterian-affiliated university has increased more than 35% percent – from 585 in 2013 to 785 in 2022. The growth is being fueled by holding tuition for five years and has resulted in the university being ranked by U.S. News & World Report as No. 1 in the South in the “Great Schools, Great Prices,” category for two consecutive years. The university recently completed its Climb Higher: Campaign for Students by raising more than $73 million to enhance student scholarships as well as support for the sciences and competition athletic facilities.
Dunsworth serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Higher Learning Commission, the largest accreditor of institutions of higher education. He serves on the NCAA DIII President’s Council. He is on the Board of Directors for the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities, having served as the treasurer, Vice-Chair and Chair of the board. Rich and his wife, Holly, actively support Johnson County Community Foundation, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and several institutions of higher education.
A native of Colorado, Dunsworth earned a bachelor of arts in political science from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, becoming the first person in his family to obtain a college degree. He went on to earn a master’s degree in education in 1994 from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and a juris doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2002.
He and Holly have three children, Nicolas, Matthew and Emma.
Lavon Morton
TREASURER
Lavon Morton, a native of Quitman in north central Arkansas, currently resides in Fort Smith and serves as a member of the City of Fort Smith Board of Directors representing Ward 3, with a term extending through 2024. Lavon serves as a City Board representative member of the Fort Smith Audit Advisory Committee. Lavon retired in 2016 from ArcBest Corporation, a Fortune 1000 company headquartered in Fort Smith, where he was a Senior Vice President. During his career at ArcBest, Lavon at various times led multiple functions, including Accounting, Tax, Internal Audit, Risk Management and Compensation and Benefits. Prior to joining ArcBest in 1996, Lavon was at Ernst & Young for 24 years, the last 12 as a Partner. Lavon is a Certified Public Accountant and has a BBA degree in Accounting from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) and a Masters in Taxation from the University of Tulsa. Lavon was named as a UCA Distinguished Alumni in 2020.
Lavon is and has been active in Arkansas non-profit organizations. He is currently a member of the Boards of the Fort Smith Symphony, the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House in Fort Smith and the Arkansas Imagination Library in Little Rock, a Partnership with Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Lavon also serves as a member of the Fort Smith School District Citizens Millage Advisory Committee.
He is a past member of the Board of United Way of Fort Smith Area, and he recently concluded two terms as Chairman of the United Way of Fort Smith Area Endowment Committee. Lavon is past member and two-time President of the Board of the University of Central Arkansas Foundation.
While at ArcBest, Lavon served more than ten years on the Tax Policy Committee of the American Trucking Associations in Washington D. C., including six years as Chairman.
Lavon served as Chairman of the ACHE Advancement Advisory Council from inception to the end of 2020.
Lavon and his wife Brenda Yelvington, a professional photographer, documentary film maker and life coach who formerly taught accounting and tax at several universities, have one daughter, Kameron, who is currently in the graduate program at Columbia University in New York City.
William “Bill” Anderson, DO
SECRETARY
Dr. William Anderson serves as a long-term care provider and is the manager of LTC Solutions PLLC. He is also the regional medical director for Compassus Hospice and a member of their medical director advisory council. Furthermore, he is board-certified not only as a hospice medical director but also in family practice. William built and managed Gore Family Clinic for 27 years. His love for people of all ages has led him to serve his patients in his office, nursing homes, and, ultimately, his community. Equally important to him are his wife, four daughters, and four grandchildren. At the end of the day, he enjoys a good cup of coffee, an exciting book, the outdoors, and spending time with his family.
Licenses and Certifications
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
- Board Certified American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP)
- Board Certified Hospice Medical Director
Memberships
- American Osteopathic Association
- American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
- American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
- Oklahoma Osteopathic Association
Community Activities
- Board of Directors Sequoyah Memorial Hospital
- Previously served on Gore City Council
- Previously served on Gore School Board
Education
- Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from OSUCOM
- Bachelor of Science from Northeastern State University
Mike Carroll
CHAIR EMERITUS
J. Michael Carroll, referred to as Mike, is a retired partner of Landmark, CPAs and Landmark Financial, LLC. Mike joined Landmark (formerly Beall Barclay) in 1981 after spending four years with a regional accounting firm. Throughout his career, he has served as a business consultant to closely-held, family owned businesses. Mike served multiple terms as the managing partner of the firm. Mike resides in Fort Smith with his wife Pam. They have three children and nine grandchildren. His family plays a significant role in his life, and he devotes much of his free time to his wife, children and grandchildren. Mike also enjoys reading and playing golf.
Professional Designations and Licenses
- Certified Public Accountant
- Securities Licenses, Series 7 and 66
- Arkansas Insurance License
Memberships
- Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants
Community Activities
- Baptist Health System, Board of Trustees
- State of Arkansas
- Member of Governor Hutchinson’s transition team
- Commissioner of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission–Chairman in 2018
- Arkansas Economic Development Foundation, Board of Directors and Treasurer
- Chairman of Transformation Advisory Board, appointed by Governor Hutchinson
- Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants
- Board member and past Chairman of the Board
- First Baptist Church, Fort Smith
- Church Treasurer for past 35 years
- Deacon – served several terms as Chairman
- Previously have served in the following capacities:
- Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
- Fort Smith United Way, Board of Directors
- Ouachita Baptist University, Board of Trustees
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Board of Directors
- Mercy Medical Center, Board of Advisors, Chairman
- First National Bank of Sallisaw, OK (now Firstar), Board of Directors, Chairman
Education
- Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas – Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting (1977)
Sean B. Baker, DO
Sean B. Baker, DO, is a native of West Memphis, Arkansas. At age six, he relocated to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with his family as his father, Dr. William Levi Baker, Jr., went to the mission field as a veterinarian with Christian Veterinary Mission to serve a three-year term in Haiti. Dr. Bill Baker then went on to work for USAID as the lead veterinarian on a large pig repopulation project for the next four years. The family was forced to leave Haiti after four coup d’etats as well as increasing violence and instability within the country. The family returned to central Arkansas where Dr. Sean Baker completed high school in Sherwood, Arkansas.
During this time and after his experiences in Haiti, Dr. Baker felt a strong calling to help others. In high school, he became a lifeguard, lifeguard instructor, and swim instructor. In his senior year of high school, he joined the local fire department and completed his training through the Arkansas Fire Academy to become an Arkansas fireman. After completion of high school, he went on to college at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, participating in the ROTC program for the army and completing the EMT training offered to the Arkansas Fire Academy. Due to a severe knee injury, he was unable to continue in the ROTC program, and he left the University of Central Arkansas to attend Garland County Community college in Hot Springs, Arkansas, completing the paramedic program over the next year. He went on to serve as a paramedic and fire fighter for the next 11 years in various places in the state of Arkansas. While there, he served on the board of the Arkansas Paramedic Society. He also returned to complete his college degree in biology and physical science at the University of Arkansas while working an average of 72 hours a week on the ambulance at Conway Regional Medical Center. Dr. Baker then went on to participate in the masters of health service administration program at the University of Arkansas Little rock. During his time there, he served as a graduate assistant to the Arkansas Medicaid program and an administrative intern at Baxter Regional Medical Center.
While he had a strong desire to pursue health administration, he truly missed regular patient care. He decided to apply to the Oklahoma state University College of Osteopathic Medicine program and was accepted. After this acceptance, he made the difficult decision to delay his health care administration training and entered his training to become an osteopathic physician. During his time at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, he served in multiple roles, including president of the Student Osteopathic Medical association, student ambassador, and osteopathic manual medicine trainer. He then completed an internship and residence in family medicine at Tulsa Regional Medical Center, receiving the Resident of the Year award and serving as chief resident. During this same time, he also re-entered service in the Oklahoma National guard, starting as a field medical assistant and 2nd Lieutenant and receiving a direct commission as a captain after his intern year.
Upon graduation of residency, Dr. Baker was afforded the opportunity to join a brand new group of physicians at Mercy Clinic in Fort Smith in 2007. He began full-time practice with the group in Van Buren in 2008. Dr. Baker then served the fledgling group as an inaugural board member of the clinic and its first board chair. He was called to active duty with the army during the 2009 surge of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He chaired his first board meeting from Baghdad, Iraq. He also deployed in 2012 to Kosovo as a service task force flight surgeon with the Arkansas medevac unity. Dr. Baker has continued to be a practicing physician with the group until the present day. He had the opportunity to help grow the group from one of less than 20 positions with 2 primary care locations in 2007 to currently having over 300 providers in over 25 primary care locations. Of note, some of these locations are in assisted-living facilities and school-based clinics. In 2010, he was named medical director of primary care, and in 2012, he was promoted to department chair of primary care and has served 2 terms on the health system community board. He has also had the opportunity to support the creation of the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and develop a strong working relationship between Mercy Health System and the college. He was privileged to be the inaugural Program Director of the family medicine residency in Fort Smith and currently serves as its associate program director. He continues to serve in the Oklahoma National Guard and has attained the rank of Colonel and flight surgeon.
In 2022, Dr. Baker and his wife started a new business in the river valley called Farmers Market Direct. The mission of his new venture is to provide the local community with the most locally-produced, nutrient-dense foods available. He resides in Fort Smith with his wife, Erica, and their four children. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians and currently serves as the past president of the Arkansas Osteopathic Association. He considers it one of his most humbling honors to serve on the board of trustees of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education.
Jeff Beauchamp
Jeff Beauchamp, realtor with Sagely & Edwards Realtors, is a native of Fort Smith, Arkansas. A graduate of Westark College (now the University of Arkansas Fort Smith), Jeff joined the Arkansas Air National Guard, retiring in September 2002. As the retired President of Bedford Camera and Video, Jeff had oversight of seven stores and approximately 100 employees in the Arkansas/Oklahoma region. Quite involved in his community, Jeff has served as a volunteer firefighter and first responder, as a local fundraising director for the American Heart Association, a fundraising chairperson for the U.S. Marshalls Museum, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce. Jeff currently serves on the Photographic Research Organization Board of Directors, the Fort Smith Regional Health Care Board, the Fort Smith EMS board, and The Degen Foundation Board. Jeff has been named as the recipient of the Arkansas Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award as the Top Marketing Professional for 2007, and the Air National Guard Unit Career Advisor of the Year. In 2009, he received the Barbara Broyles Sharing Award from the Arkansas Alzheimer’s Association. Jeff and his wife, Lucy, reside in Van Buren and are the proud grandparents of eight grandchildren.
David Craig
David C. Craig earned BSBA and MBA degrees from the Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas and is a registered investment advisor with October Wealth Advisors, Inc. David served as a faculty member for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, Arkansas State University, and John Brown University. He has received gubernatorial appointment and reappointments to serve on the Arkansas Student Loan Authority Board from 1988 until 2017 (Chairman from 1996-2013). He has also served on the Western Arkansas Community Foundation (2001-2014), the Leadership Fort Smith Alumni Board (Treasurer 2005-2014), and was a Trustee for the Community Services Clearinghouse. (2009-2018). David is currently a Public Member of the Institutional Action Council of the Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Schools and Colleges and a board member of The Degen Foundation.
TRACEY GEREN
Tracey Geren is the former President and CEO of Weldon, Williams & Lick, Inc. (WW&L), a company renowned for its century-plus legacy in ticketing and custom security printing. After starting her career briefly in public accounting, Tracey joined WW&L in 1985. She dedicated 32 years to the roles of Secretary/Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer before being named President and CEO in 2017, a role she held for seven years until retiring in 2024. Notably, she was the company’s fifth president, as well as the first woman and the first non-family member to assume this role.
Tracey is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University, a Certified Public Accountant, a Leadership Fort Smith graduate, and a 2020 Northwest Arkansas Women in Business honoree.
Active in her community, Tracey served in leadership roles on the boards of numerous area non-profit organizations, including the Fort Smith Area United Way, United Way Endowment, Lincoln Childcare Center, Trinity Catholic School Foundation, Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, Girls Inc., Arkansas Tech University Foundation, and Employers Advanced Coalition on Health.
Tracey is currently on the WW&L Board of Directors and the Arvest Bank Fort Smith Regional Advisory Board. She also served on the ACHE Board of Advocates prior to becoming a Trustee.
Tracey resides in Fort Smith with her husband, Jeff. They have two children and one grandchild.
Cole Goodman, MD
Dr. R. Cole Goodman recently retired as the President/CEO of Mercy Clinic of Fort Smith Communities where he oversaw the growth of the clinic from 20 to over 200 physicians, 5 to over 200 APNs/PAs, 37 employees to 900+ co-workers, 76 clinic office locations, 39 specialties, 15 communities and 2 states over a 10-year period. He has also been on the staff of St. Edward Mercy Medical Center since 1978, and has served as Chief of Surgery at Sparks Regional Medical Center and St. Edward Mercy Medical Center. Dr. Goodman earned his M.D. from UAMS in 1973, and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Inc., has served as the past president, and is a founding member of the Arkansas Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. He is also a past president of the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Active in his community, and within many charitable organizations, Dr. Goodman has served on the Board of Directors for Girls’ Inc., as well as being a past president of the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club, where he currently remains on the Board of Directors, and was honored as an inductee into the organization’s Hall of Fame. He has served on the Board of Directors of Medical Aid for Children of Latin America and has participated in 15 mission trips to Bolivia and the Dominican Republic. He has also served as a Fort Smith City Director, and is currently on the Board for the United States Marshals Museum. Dr. Goodman and his wife, Staci, reside in Fort Smith and have three children and four grandchildren.
Jason L. Hill, DO
Dr. Hill received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1999. He graduated from Northeastern State University in 1986 with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry. He completed a one-year internship at Tulsa Regional Medical Center (now Oklahoma State University Medical Center) in 1999-2000. He completed his Family Medicine residency at Oklahoma State University Family Medicine Residency in 2002. He is board certified in Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine by the American Osteopathic Association. Most recently, in 2019, Dr. Hill completed a Health Policy Fellowship through the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
He has practiced Family Medicine in both the inpatient and outpatient settings at Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority in Talihina, Oklahoma since completing his residency. He has served in numerous elected positions on the medical staff and was designated the Chief Medical Officer in 2005 and continues to serve in that capacity. In 2011 Dr. Hill initiated the accreditation process for his health systems first ever residency training. He successfully founded the Choctaw Nation Family Medicine Residency which is accredited both by the American Osteopathic Association as well as the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education. Furthermore, he applied for and received a grant to fund this residency through the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (HRSA THC-GME) program.
Dr. Hill is a member of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) and the Oklahoma of Osteopathic Association (OOA).
Dr. Hill has served as an Alternate Delegate and Delegate to the AOA House of Delegates in 2014-2020. He was appointed to the OOA State Board of Trustees in 2015 where he currently serves as President-Elect. He was appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma to the Physicians Manpower Training Commission which incentivizes practice in rural primary care from 2014 through 2020. He also currently serves on the ACOFP Committee on Legislation, the Committee on Men’s Health, the Committee on Education and Evaluation, and serves as preceptor for medical students. He has performed lectures on numerous topics to Family Medicine Residents and at various continuing medical education state and national conferences. He has also been speaker at the 2018 National Tribal Sovereignty conference and keynote speaker at the 2018 Oklahoma Rural Hospital Association conference. Dr. Hill was awarded the A.T. Still Award of Excellence by the OOA in April 2014, as well as the Indian Health Service Area Director’s Impact Award in July 2014.
CRAIG RIVALDO
Craig Rivaldo retired as regional executive from the Fayetteville-chartered Arvest Bank Group in 2025 after a thirty-seven-year career with the institution. He played a key role in launching Arvest’s expansion into the Fort Smith metro area in the late 1990s and held the position of regional executive since February 2020. Prior to that, he served as president and CEO of Arvest Benton County and Arvest Ft Smith/River Valley.
Rivaldo began his professional journey at Arvest as a trainee with McIlroy Bank in Fayetteville (now Arvest Bank, Fayetteville) in 1987. In 1999, he was one of the original team members who established Arvest’s operations in Fort Smith becoming president and CEO with the Fort Smith/River Valley region in 2010. With a banking career dating back to 1982, Rivaldo has contributed in roles such as credit analyst, commercial lender, sales manager, and loan manager, president, prior to his corporate executive role.
He has remained actively involved in non-profit organizations across Arkansas, serving on executive committees and boards including the Northwest Council, Bentonville Chamber of Commerce, Mercy Hospital NWA, Downtown Bentonville Inc., Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Exchange Club, and the Fort Smith Museum of History.
Rivaldo is a graduate of Northside High School in Fort Smith and holds degrees from Westark (now UAFS) and Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. He has also completed advanced studies at the National Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma and the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. Rivaldo and his wife, Mary Jo, have one son, Connor, and currently reside in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Frank Shipley
Frank Shipley is a native of Fort Smith and graduated from Fort Smith Schools prior to attending Baylor University where he received his BBA in Marketing in 1978. After Graduation from Baylor, Shipley got a job with the Accenture Division of Arthur Andersen & Co working out of the Houston Office.
Frank returned to Fort Smith in 1986 as the third generation involved in the Family Business, Shipley Baking Company.
Shipley continued as President of the Bakery after the Business was acquired by Flowers Foods Inc. in 1996 and then later served as President of Flowers Bakery of Crossville TN until his retirement in 2018.
Shipley has actively volunteered and served on the Boards of several Fort Smith area agencies and organizations; including the Westark Area Council of Boy Scouts, United Way of Fort Smith Area, Merchants National Bank, and the Fort Smith Civil Service Commission. Frank treasures his Faith, Family, Friends and Community.
Frank and his Wife Mary moved back to Fort Smith in 2020 to be close to their 2 Children and 4 Grandchildren.