Aaron Knight
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 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. He also serves on the UCA Computer Science Advisory Board and is the past president of the Conway Public Schools Foundation and UCA Alumni Association.
Jennifer Morehead
Immediate Past 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.
Alexander Baney
Vice President
Alexander Baney is a seasoned professional with a background in finance and a passion for community service. He is a commercial loan officer for Malvern National Bank and a native of Conway. Alexander graduated from Conway High School and from the University of Central Arkansas, where he majored in finance. He is also a graduate of the Conway Area Leadership Institute. Alexander is heavily involved in his community and currently serves as the Vice President of Children’s Advocacy Alliance and Vice President of the Conway Public Schools Foundation. In addition, Alexander is currently serving a term on the City Planning Commission.
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, since 2006. 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 and Mason, who both attend Conway Christian School where Amber regularly volunteers. She and her family are active members of Family Life Bible Church.
Justin Welter
Secretary
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 First Service Bank as the Assistant Branch Manager for Conway.
Elwood Smith
Lifetime 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.
Osiris Jauregui
Board Member
Osiris Jauregui was born in Nayarit Mexico. He joined the Garcia Wealth Management Team as a Financial Representative and is eager to serve our clients and community. He is a senior at University of Central Arkansas in pursuit of his Bachelor of Business Administration. Jauregui has completed the Northwestern Mutual Planning Academy and earned both his Life & Health Insurance Licenses. He is also a Board Member for the Children Advocacy Alliance, Paloma Community in Conway. He has been married to his wife of five years and has a beautiful daughter.
Liz Hamilton
Board Member
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.
Jeannie Denniston
Board Member
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.
Melissa Smyth
Board Member
Bio coming soon
Tara Robertson
Board Member
Tara Robertson was born and raised in Mountain Home, Arkansas. She began her fundraising and nonprofit career in 2010 after graduating from Ouachita Baptist University, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Public Relations as well as Business Administration. She has been a director and has served on the board for several nonprofit organizations throughout the years. She moved to Conway in 2016 but shortly afterward left for Northwest Arkansas with her husband and two daughters to focus on expanding their company, Cousin’s Office Furniture, throughout the state of Arkansas. Tara recently moved back to Conway in 2022 and focuses on Sales and Operations for their Conway store location. Although she is not a Conway native, she appreciates and values Conway and the people that serve this community.
Will Smothers
Board Member
Will Smothers is the Chief Information Officer for Coulson Oil
Company. With over 20 years of experience in the field of information technology, he has served in various roles at Edafio Technology Partners, Nabholz, and Acxiom. In addition, he is a retired member of the United States Army. Will and his wife Toni reside in Perry County and have two daughters, Maddison and Riley, as well as four furry dog children. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Central Arkansas.
Corey Parks
Board Member
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.
Jason Owens
Board Member
Jason E. Owens is the founder and owner of the Jason Owens Law Firm in Conway, Arkansas, where he practices in the areas of civil litigation, constitutional law, and appellate practice, among others. Jason earned his Bachelor of Arts from Ouachita Baptist University in 1999 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas in 2002. In addition to his professional life, Jason is involved in the community, including service on several nonprofit boards, membership in the Conway Noon Rotary Club, and leading a community group at New Life Church. Jason spends most of his free time with his wife, Jenny, their three young daughters, and two crazy dogs.
Brett McDaniel
Board Member
Brett McDaniel is the Manager of Engineering and Planning for Conway Corp, the Operators of the City – owned utility system which provides electric, water, wastewater, cable, internet, and telephone and security services for the Conway community. Brett began in November 2005 as the Water Systems Senior Engineer. He was promoted to Manager of Engineering and Planning in 2017 where his focus involves managing a team of professionals on electric, telecommunication, water and wastewater systems projects. His clients include the Conway Corp operations group, developers, utility contractors, architects, professional peers, area property owners impacted by City utilities and each of the citizens enjoying the benefit of Conway Corp utilities.
Before serving Conway Corp he worked from 1993 through 2005 as a consulting engineer at regional firms Larkin and Garver on numerous infrastructure projects in Arkansas, Kansas and Texas, ranging from water distribution tanks, water and wastewater pump stations and treatment facilities.
Candace Meeks
Board Member
Bio coming soon
Michael Bynum
Board Member
Michael Bynum, a native of Helena and lived in Conway for 26 years. Mr. Bynum is a 24-year veteran of the banking industry and serves as Partners Bank’s Co-CEO and EVP/Central Arkansas Regional President. Michael jointly oversees and leads all of the Bank’s operations in the State of Arkansas and expansion in the Conway/Little Rock Metropolitan Area. Michael earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas and graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Prior to joining the Children’s Advocacy Alliance board, Michael served as 6 years as Vice President of the Board and Finance Oversight Committee for Bethlehem House, Inc. He is the proud father of three daughters, Brooke, Kayla and Madeline.
Adam Rose
Board Member
Adam Rose is the Associate General Counsel at the University of
Central Arkansas and a Judge Advocate for the Arkansas Army National Guard. During his six years of active duty as a National Guard Bureau Special Victims’ Counsel, he represented military victims of sexual abuse and developed policy and training for the program. Previously, Adam served as an in-house counsel for a large property management firm in Northwest Arkansas and as the Deputy City Attorney for the City of Conway. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Arkansas, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas, and a Master of Laws in Military Law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia. Adam and his wife Whitney have three daughters.
Michael Kirkland
Board Member
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.
Spencer Hawks
Board Member
Spencer Hawks is an executive real estate broker licensed in Arkansas and Florida. He graduated from Greenbrier High School and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Central Baptist College. He is a former representative in the Arkansas House of Representatives serving portions of Faulkner and Perry counties from 2018 to 2022. Along with his wife Xochilt, he is the proud parent of two daughters, Samantha and Selena, and one son, Sebastian.