Jennifer Morehead, President
Jennifer Morehead is a nonprofit veteran with experience in development, marketing, communications and public relations, and currently works at Hendrix College as director of annual giving. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas in psychology with an emphasis in gender studies and is completing her master’s degree in college student counseling and personnel services from Arkansas State University. In addition to serving on the board of directors for the Children’s Advocacy Alliance, Jennifer serves on the board of directors for the Conway Public School Foundation, volunteers with Out of the Ashes Pit Bull Rescue, and is a member of the Conway Morning Rotary Club. A northeast Arkansas native from Pocahontas, Jennifer relocated to Conway 15 years ago and resides in Conway with her husband, Jeremy, and rescue dogs.
Aaron Knight, Vice President
Aaron Knight is the director of information technology and chief information officer for the city of Conway. As CIO, Aaron leads a team of nine professionals focused on modernizing and securing the city’s technology infrastructure and improving user experience. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Arkansas. In addition to Children’s Advocacy Alliance, Aaron serves on the board of directors for the Faulkner County Affiliate of the Arkansas Community Foundation, UCA Foundation, and is president of the UCA Alumni Association. He also serves on the UCA Computer Science Advisory Board and is the past president of the Conway Public Schools Foundation.
Amber Hester, Treasurer
Amber Hester was born and raised in Conway. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from the University of Central Arkansas in 2007 and 2008. Amber has been married to her high school sweetheart Drew, who is also a Conway native, for 12 years. After working in public accounting for 9 years, she transitioned to her current role running the financial side of their family owned construction company, Drew Hester Construction, Inc. She and Drew have 2 sons, Parker, age 7, and Mason, age 4, who both attend Conway Christian School where Amber regularly volunteers. She and her family are active members of Conway’s Second Baptist Church.
Branden Hampton, Secretary
Branden was born and raised in Mountain Home. He worked law enforcement for 18 years before becoming the general manager of the Neighborhood Pet Shoppe in Conway and Safari Pets in Cabot. Through Neighborhood Pet Shoppe, Branden helps ensure pets find their forever homes through agencies such as Faulkner County SPCA, C.A.W.S., and the Conway Animal Welfare Unit. Branden started working with the organization by securing a donation of a fish tank setup for the child advocacy center. He continued serving the agency by being auction co-chair for the annual Festival of Chairs fundraiser. Branden is a strong believer of the philosophy that if everyone would give a little, as a community we could accomplish so much. He is the proud father of two children, Carrie and Wesley.
Patrick Lewis
Patrick Lewis was raised in Central Arkansas. He, his wife Kaylen, and their two daughter’s Darby and Dylan, moved to Conway in 2016. Patrick graduated from Catholic High School in Little Rock in 2000, and went on to receive a degree in finance from the University of Alabama in 2004. Patrick works for Arvest Bank, currently serving as the Commercial Loan Manager in Conway.
Anushree Jumde
Anushree (she also goes by A.J) was born in India and was raised in both India and Little Rock, Arkansas since she came to the United States with her family when she was 11.5 years old. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science- Planning and Administration. During her time at UCA, she worked as a research assistant and volunteered her time to assist graduate students in their dissertation projects. Through policy and administration courses, her interest peaked in the policy arena which led her to attend the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Service and Administration in 2014. She worked as an intern for Rep. Tim Griffin (AR-02) the summer before starting graduate school at Texas A&M. After graduation, she started her career as a congressional staffer for Rep. Tim Griffin (AR-02) and then was hired to work for Rep. French Hill (AR-02) in 2015. She worked her way up to the position of District Director in 2017.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time volunteering, exploring central Arkansas, and reading.
Adenda White
Adena J. White is an accredited public relations professional working at the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce as director of communications. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas Tech University in speech communication and journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a master’s degree in applied communication studies from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.In addition to serving on the board of directors for the Children’s Advocacy Alliance, Adena is an officer for the Arkansas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, a member of Arkansas Tech University’s alumni board, and chairwoman of the Conway Community Race Relations Initiative’s communications and outreach subcommittee. The Arkansas native was raised in the small town of Center Ridge and resides in Conway with her husband, Matthew.
Elwood Smith, Life Member
As a member of the CASA and Children’s Advocacy Alliance (CAA) board since 2001, Mr. Smith has focused on expanding our ability to serve more abused or neglected children in the 20th Judicial district. He continues to support plans and programs that will enable CAA to assure that every neglected child in our district ends up in a safe, loving and permanent home environment.
Louise Furst, Life Member
Having been a board member since the year 2000, Louise has had the privilege of watching the growth and success of Court Appointed Special Advocates and Children’s Advocacy Center, now known as Children’s Advocacy Alliance. Working with our staff and volunteers makes for a warm heart and thankfulness that so many care about the well-being of children. She has three daughters, five granddaughters and seven great grandchildren who have supported her efforts along the way.
Liz Hamilton
Liz Hamilton has grown up in the design profession. Liz’s ability to approach a project from a holistic standpoint allows a seamless integration throughout the design process. While maintaining a firm grasp on the intricacies of every project , Liz excels in honing every detail from start to finish. From custom residential design to managing several projects spanning a campus’s ever-evolving masterplan, Liz thrives on her ability to provide the very best service to each of her clients. Liz’s dedication to her family and her community are integral to her design philosophy: love what you do, do it well, and do it right.
Angie Longing
Angie Longing serves as the Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President for Patient Care Services of Conway Regional Health System, assuming the role in June, 2016, as part of a management agreement between Conway Regional and CHI St. Vincent in Little Rock. Longing had been with CHI St Vincent since June, 1994, where she began her nursing career in Labor and Delivery and CHI St. Vincent Morrilton, a small community hospital. She moved into an Administrative House Supervisor and Recruiter position in 1996, and became the CNO there in December, 1999. Longing assumed progressively larger leadership roles with CHI St. Vincent through January 2016 when she was appointed to the Market Director of Hospital Based Physician Practices and Market Director of Nursing for CHI St. Vincent North in North Little Rock, AR. She is again serving as CNO for CHI St. Vincent Morrilton and for Dardanelle Regional Medical Center, a critical access hospital under management by Conway Regional Health System. She has been board certified as a nurse executive since 2011 and is a member of the American Nurses Association, Arkansas Nurses Association, and the Arkansas Organization of Nurse Executives. Longing was recognized in February 2020 as the North Metro Health Care Administrator of the Year by the Conway Chamber of Commerce. She was named one of the Great 100 Nurses of Arkansas in 2018 and received the Sister Margaret Vincent Blandford Award for Leadership Excellence in 2013.
Justin Welter
Justin Welter is a native of Central Arkansas. He graduated from Greenbrier High School in 2006 and moved to Conway where he attended the University of Central Arkansas. He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in 2011. After working in the automobile industry in sales and finance for several years he transitioned into banking. He currently works at Regions Bank in Greenbrier as a Financial Relationship Consultant/Assistant Manager.
Corey Parks
Corey Parks is the Vice President of Economic Development for the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and Conway Development Corporation. Corey is responsible for responding to requests for information, managing workforce development initiatives, providing statistical analysis of the local and regional economy, and assisting with government affairs. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Insurance & Risk Management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Arkansas.
Trip Leach
Trip Leach is the Chief Financial Officer for New Life Church of Arkansas, a non-denominational church with 18 locations across the state of Arkansas. He is also co-owner of S7 Tactical, a private gun club, and firearm training company. He grew up in nearby Perryville. He has a Bachelor of Psychology from Hendrix College. “I moved to the ‘big city’ of Conway after graduation to attend college and quickly made this my home,” he says. He is married to Courtney Leach and together they have four children, Quinten (15), Alex (13), Bentley (9) and Abigail (8). He currently (2020) serves as the President of the Conway Public Schools Board of Education. “I love the city of Conway and enjoy serving this great community. A lot of my efforts are aimed at the future of our city which in my opinion is our children.”
Jason Owens
Coming soon.
Jeannie L. Denniston
Jeannie L. Denniston graduated with a B.S. in Social Science from the University of the Ozarks. She graduated from the Bowen School of Law in Little Rock in 1994 and opened up a private practice in Morrilton. She earned her certificate as an attorney ad litem in 2002, representing children in both domestic relations and dependency neglect cases. She worked for the Arkansas Supreme Court as a full-time ad litem, representing children in foster care from 2004 to 2010. She served as Conway County district judge in 2016 and 2017. She now works part-time as a trial attorney with Gordon & Caruth in Morrilton, focusing on domestic relations ad litem work, property, wills and estates, and contracts. She is married to Len Schlientz, a professional actor, and is the mother is a daughter and two stepsons.
Michael Bynum
Michael Bynum, a native of Helena and has lived in Conway for over 26 years. Michael is a 23-year veteran of the banking industry and serves as Partners’ Executive Vice President and Central Arkansas Regional President. Michael oversees all of the Bank’s operations and expansion in the Conway and Little Rock Markets. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Arkansas State University. Michael furthered his banking education by completing the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking and American Bankers Association Graduate Nations Commercial Lending School at Southern Methodist University. Prior to joining the Children’s Advocacy Alliance board, Michael served on the boards of Haven and Bethlehem House which are local nonprofit organizations helping abused and homeless families in our community. I am happy and proud to serve on the Children’s Advocacy Alliance Board!
Michael Kirkland
Michael Kirkland and his family moved to Clinton, AR in the spring of 2019 to serve as the chief executive officer/general manager of Petit Jean Electric Cooperative. Michael and his wife Angie have four daughters. Michael has served cooperative members for almost 20 years and prior to that served in the United States Marine Corps where he held the rank of sergeant. Michael has both a Master’s degree in Accounting and in Business Administration from Missouri State University and most recently passed the Certified Public Accountant licensing exam. Michael has a heart for children and believes in giving back to his community.
Danielle House
Danielle House is the Chief Executive Officer for OCTOdent, a new dental products company whose mission is to create products and equipment that improve both the patient and provider experience. Danielle resides in Searcy County, Arkansas with her high school sweetheart, Adam House and their two children, Hallie (9) and Denver (3). Danielle currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Greater Searcy County Chamber of Commerce where she channels her passion to improve her community and the lives of those who also call Searcy County home.
