Meet Our Board

Ritter is retired as the fourth-generation leader of E. Ritter & Co that was begun in 1886 as a farming & milling operation & is now involved in communications, agribusiness, and philanthropy. He is a businessman, farmer, and community leader. The family has two funds at the Community Foundation.

Senior Counselor and District Representative to Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Kandice is a lawyer and public servant. Licensed since 1998, Kandice has practiced across the state of Arkansas representing individuals and businesses in administrative, local, state, or federal courts or on appeal. In 2016, prior to serving in Governor Hutchinson’s administration, the Governor appointed her to the Arkansas Supreme Court as a special justice in a case. For the past two consecutive years, Kandice has been the Presidents’ choice to receive the Arkansas Bar Association’s Golden Gavel Award. This award is in recognition of excellence in her work as co-chair of the Bar Benefits Committee and the Disaster Preparedness Task Force. As a public servant, Kandice represents the Hutchinson Administration in southeast Arkansas, and among other duties, she helps to ensure that the Governor’s policies and directives are shared directly with Arkansans across a 12-county district. She was selected as an inaugural member to the Arkansas Public Service Academy, sponsored by the Arkansas Bar Association and the Clinton School of Public Service. Additionally, Kandice serves on the governing or advisory boards to the Arkansas Supreme Court, Arkansas Bar Association, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas and the Pine Bluff Salvation Army. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.  Kandice resides in White Hall.

Alyson is a small business owner and agent for State Farm Insurance Company in White Hall. Alyson earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Statistics from Kansas State University as well as her Minister’s Credentials. In 1994 she moved to North Little Rock for State Farm.  Her entire career path changed in 1997 when she became the first State Farm agent to open an emerging market agency in State Farm’s Mid-South region. The objective of the emerging market was to disprove previous held claims of industry “red-lining”. Alyson opened her insurance business in the heart of the lower to moderate income area of North Little Rock where she focused on growing the African American and Hispanic markets.  Alyson resides in White Hall. 

A fifth-generation banker and native of Magnolia, Elizabeth Burns Anderson is Senior Vice President of Farmers Bank and Trust and Executive Director of the Farmers Bank Foundation. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in Finance. In 2020, Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Elizabeth the patient representative of the Arkansas State Medical Board where she will serve until 2027.

As an elected member of the Lonoke School Board, Elizabeth chaired a successful mileage tax campaign and capital campaign to raise over $15 million to bring agriculture and rural healthcare education to Lonoke Public Schools. The Lonoke Business Academy is a workforce education facility geared towards the cultivation of students and businesses within the realm of agriculture and rural health. In 2022, she was awarded the vision and leadership award by Lonoke Public Schools.

Elizabeth comes from a family where giving back is your greatest responsibility. She has been on many boards across Central Arkansas and chairman of almost all of them. Lonoke Community Fund, an affiliate of the Arkansas Community Foundation, Lonoke Century League, Youth Home, Arkansas State Police Foundation Board, Lonoke Partners in Education. and many more. In 2021, Elizabeth joined the statewide board of THE CALL, which supports foster families in Arkansas, she serves as their board Vice Chair. Elizabeth is a recipient of the Lonoke Chamber Acorn award in 2020, for her economic impact in Lonoke, Arkansas. Elizabeth is also a member of the Arkansas Chamber Leadership Arkansas Class XVII and a member of the F.B.I. citizen’s academy.

Elizabeth and her husband Jamie have two boys and live in Scott, Arkansas.

Tracy Cude has served as chief financial officer of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art since 2006. As CFO, she is responsible for the business services division of the museum including accounting, investments, purchasing, museum store, restaurant, special events, catering and information technology.  As a founding member of the leadership team, Tracy was actively involved in the development of the museum.  Prior to joining Crystal Bridges, she led the accounting and operational support team at the Walton Family Foundation and served as vice president for finance and planning at the Walton Arts Center where she led strategic planning functions.  In addition to her nonprofit career experience, Tracy spent nine years as a private consultant and served on a merger and acquisition team for Raytheon Corporate Jets. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Arkansas and holds a Certified Public Accountant license.  She was named Nonprofit CFO of the Year by the Arkansas Business Journal and Accountant of the Year by the University of Arkansas in 2015.

Holly Dunsworth is the Presidential Spouse at University of the Ozarks. She regularly supports the University in roles that range from serving as the acting Dean of Students and visiting instructor of communication to co-hosting events throughout the United States and Central America.

Holly and her husband, Rich, are deeply committed to their community. Holly has served as a member of the Johnson County Community Foundation since 2015 and is a founding member of the Johnson County Imagination Library. She is also a member of the board of Arkansas River Valley Aquatics, an organization that provides competitive swimming opportunities for youth.

Prior to moving to Arkansas in 2013, Holly was an administrator and adjunct faculty member for more than a decade at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Holly earned a Bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal Communication from the University of Evansville (IN) and a Master’s degree in College Student Personnel/Higher Education Administration from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Holly resides in Clarksville with her husband and their three children, Nicolas, Matthew and Emma.

Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Osmar moved to Morrilton, Arkansas, with his family in 1998. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from UCA. After graduation, Osmar began a career in banking, and then joined Northwestern Mutual in 2015. Shortly after joining, Osmar and his brother Gilberto Garcia formed Garcia Wealth Management. Osmar currently serves on several boards including the Faulkner County Community Foundation affiliate. When he’s not working, Osmar enjoys spending time with his family.

John-Adams has been Quality Systems director at Nucor Steel Arkansas since 2000, has been with Nucor for 28 years and is a certified Quality and Environmental Systems lead auditor. She is a past president of the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce and serves as board president of The Haven of Northeast Arkansas Domestic Violence Shelter. John-Adams is a member of the Great River Economic Development Foundation Board, chairs the Board of the KIPP Delta School and is a board member of The National Cold War Center.

Brad Johnson received his certification from the American Board of Dermatology in 2004. He graduated from Greenwood High School in 1991, completed a bachelor’s degree in physics from Hendrix College in 1995, and received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in 2000.  He and his wife, Dr. Sandy Johnson, are fundholders.

Dennis has served as an investment banker with Stephens since 1993. He is a registered Municipal Securities Principal and a Municipal Advisor Principal. He holds a master’s degree with honors from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and has completed post-graduate training at Harvard University, the University of Texas, and the University of Virginia. Dennis served a full 9 years on the Community Foundation’s state board ending that tenure in June 2020. He served on the Fayetteville Area affiliate board for years. He and is wife Marla are fund holders.

Racheal Oberste graduated in 2004 from University of Arkansas with a degree in fashion merchandising. She worked for Walmart’s corporate office as a merchandising buyer before returning to central Arkansas.  She is the founder of PeachLayne a retail manufacturing company.   She and her husband, Dan, have two young children.  Rachel will bring to the board age diversity, a business perspective, and an understanding of family philanthropy. In addition, she has a deep network in central Arkansas.

Dr. Porter retired from dentistry after thirty-seven years of service. During that time, he served his profession in various leadership roles at local, state and national levels. In addition to his professional service, Dr. Porter has served on numerous committees, boards and commissions that focus on community service and quality of life issues. He currently serves on the boards of Garland County Habitat for Humanity, Oaklawn Center on Aging, Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic and Hot Springs Area Community Foundation. In addition, Dr. Porter is actively involved with Hot Springs First Baptist Church as Trustee, Deacon and choir member. He has been married to his wife, Janet since 1969. They share three children and ten grandchildren.

Jennifer Ronnel is a Huntsville, Alabama native and graduated with highest honors from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in government in 1990. She also graduated with honors from Harvard Law School, with a J.D. in 1996. She was admitted to the District of Columbia and Arkansas Bars in 1996.

Jennifer was a corporate and international tax attorney with Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. from 1996-98. She was an insurance regulatory attorney with Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard from 1999-2005, a Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXI member, president of the Junior League of Little Rock from 2006-07 and past board member of Congregation B’nai Israel. She has served the State of Arkansas on the Arkansas Development Finance Authority Board. She was the 2017-2018 president of the Pulaski Heights Middle School PTSA and is a past president of the Forest Park Elementary School PTA (2012-13). Jennifer also served as the Little Rock Central High PTSA President (2020-21) and is currently serving on the Tiger Foundation Board. She received the Volunteers in Public Schools Jane Mendel Award in 2021. She is on the UAMS Hospital Board of Advisors, the UAMS Rockefeller Cancer Institute Board of Advisors and the UAMS Rockefeller Cancer Institute Envoys Board. She is a founding member of the Envoys Board, with a mission of increasing public awareness of cutting-edge cancer treatment and prevention available at UAMS.

Jennifer is Senior Counsel at Metal Recycling Corporation. She and her husband, Steve, are residents of Little Rock. They have three children: Jason, Marilyn and David, all who have attended Little Rock public schools.

Vance is founder (2018) of System61, a new “fintech” that partners with progressive banks to digitize and automate legacy products and processes.  Starting in 2002, Vance spent 15 years leading a family-owned business, Smiley Technologies, Inc., that builds and services core banking technology solutions for community banks.  Earlier in his career, Vance spent time in private equity and IT services businesses in Texas and Tennessee. 

Vance holds degrees in Finance and Organizational Behavior including an MBA from Vanderbilt University in Nashville.  Vance and his wife Angela have three children and are both elders at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Little Rock.  He enjoys work, family, sailing, and flying.

Scott Van Horn is co-owner of Sugar Creek Foods International and is managing partner of Van Horn Family Partnership. Scott is a past board member of the Pope County Community Foundation of which his father, Mac Van Horn was a founder. He is on the board of directors of Friendship Community Care, River Valley Children’s Advocacy Center and a former board member of River Valley Bank. Scott is a former board officer lifetime member of the Russellville Chamber of Commerce Red Coat Committee.

Scott is the father of three: sons Ryan Van Horn and Dalton Van Horn, and daughter Madison Van Horn.

Sharon E. Wilson, CPA, B.S.B.A.’90 – Life Member, is a native of Lake Village, AR, currently residing in Forrest City, AR. In 1990, she received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.  After graduating from the university, Sharon went on to obtain her license to practice as a certified public accountant from the State of Arkansas. She is currently the owner of a public accounting practice in Forrest City, Arkansas.

Sharon began her accounting career in 1990, with the Coopers and Lybrand accounting firm’s audit department (currently known as Price-Waterhouse Coopers) where she realized her passion for working with not-for- profit organizations and their causes coupled by witnessing her mother’s unwavering love for others and service to her community growing up.

Wilson currently serves as the Chairman of the St. Francis Community Foundation. Sharon is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the assistant director of her church’s youth department. She is a member of Sam Walton’s College of Business Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board. She has served in various other capacities in her community, including serving on the Forrest City School Board. She and her husband, Judge E Dion Wilson have three children, Haley, Kobe and Kenn.