The Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation Board of Directors' nineteen members represent the various communities of northwest Arkansas and are chosen for their demonstrated leadership abilities.

Fadil Bayyari
Fadil settled in northwest Arkansas after leaving the Middle East as a high-profile businessman. He is the President of Bayyari Construction & Properties in Springdale. He takes an active role in his community as a Rotarian, the commissioner for both the Springdale Planning Commission and the Northwest Arkansas Planning Commission, and he serves on several local boards. He also constructed the only mosque in northwest Arkansas.

Jim Blair
James B. Blair has been a recognizable face in northwest Arkansas philanthropy for many, many years. He received his BA from the University of Arkansas and stayed on campus to complete his LLB and JD at the UA School of Law. Mr. Blair is retired from Tyson Foods where he was their General Counsel, but still keeps a law office in Springdale. Some of the many honors he has received over the years include Northwest Arkansas' Philanthropist of the Year, Arkansas Arts Council's Arts Patron of the Year, Chancellor's Medal from the UofA, and induction into Fayetteville Schools' Hall of Honor. He has served as Chairman of the UofA Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Arkansas State Board of Higher Education and is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Past and present service on area non-profits include the Jim & Diane Blair Charitable Foundation, the Fayetteville Public Library Foundation, the Tyson Family Foundation and the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation. He was born in Elkins, Arkansas and is married to Nancy Beth Blair.

Don Blakeman
Don is the President of Blakeman's Fine Jewelry in Rogers and is a certified gemologist. He is the past president and current board member of the Springdale Rotary as well as the National Conference for Community & Justice. He is a program advisor for the Students in Free Enterprise program at JBU, and a past board member of the Arts Center of the Ozarks.

Jackie Brashears
Jackie Brashears is a life-long resident of Huntsville, Arkansas and has been a leader and strong supporter of civic and non-profit organizations in Madison County for many years. She served as the Chairperson for Madison County for the American Heart Association and has been on the board of the Northwest Arkansas Tourism Commission. Mrs. Brashears is currently a member of the Huntsville Friendship Club, the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce and is a board member for Arvest Bank of Huntsville. She is married to Sumner Brashears and has a daughter, a son, and four grandchildren.

William "Jack" Butt, II
Jack is the managing partner of the Fayetteville law firm of Davis, Wright, Clark, Butt and Carithers, PLC. He is certified as a specialist in tax law by the Arkansas Board of Legal Specialization and has been twice named among the top ten business lawyers in the state by the Arkansas Times poll.

Ed Clifford
Ed retired in 2001 from Wal-Mart after 17 years in merchandising management. Ed now serves the communities of Bentonville/Bella Vista as the President/CEO of the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce. He has served as president of the following organizations: Bates Health Foundation, NWA Senior Services, and NWA Art Alliance. He is a founding director on the NWA Land Trust and a member of the Northwest Arkansas Council. In 2002-2003, he served as District Governor for Rotary District #6110.

Joy Drummonds
Although now retired from running her business, the Washington County Abstract and Title Company and Metro Title Services in Benton County, Joy has been active in both professional and community activities. She serves on the Springdale Library Board, Arvest-Springdale Bank Board, and she led the Springdale Beautification Foundation. Awards have included the Athena Award, Title Person of the Year, and she has been honored with a lifetime membership in the Arkansas Land Title Association.

Terry England
Terry England serves as Director for Customer Services for Arkansas Western Gas. He was born in Siloam Springs where he graduated from John Brown University. Terry lives in Springdale where he has been active as a board member on Springdale Chamber of Commerce, past president of Springdale Rotary Club, past president and current vice president of Arkansas One Call, and President of Arkansas Gas Association.

David Evans
David R. Evans is the President of Frez-n-Stor, Inc. in Springdale, Arkansas. He received his BS in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas. Mr. Evans is a dedicated supporter of civic organizations in northwest Arkansas where he has served as President of Springdale Rotary and Chairman of the Springdale United Fund. He was named Man of the Year by the Arkansas Poultry Federation, another organization for which he served as President. He was born in Prairie Grove and now lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Cathy.

Gary Head
Gary Head is the President and CEO of Signature Bank of Arkansas and White River Bancshares. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1982 with a BSBA in Banking and Finance and promptly began his banking career in northwest Arkansas. Mr. Head graduated from the SMU School of Banking in 1987. Gary's commitment and contribution to the community is well-known; he currently serves on the boards of the Fayetteville Economic Development Commission, the NWA Council, Ozark Guidance Center Foundation and Pagnozzi Charities. Mr. Head was born in Eureka Springs and currently resides in Fayetteville with his wife, Teri, and two daughters, Alex and Allison.

John Neihouse
John is a shareholder in the firm Harrington, Miller, Neihouse & Kieklak. After graduating from Arkansas Tech University in 1985, he practiced as a Certified Public Accountant in Ft. Smith. He later attended law school at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and graduated with honors in 1989. John obtained his Masters of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from Southern Methodist University in 1990. He was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1989, where he worked in the tax section of a Dallas law firm. John joined this firm in January 1995. John maintains both his Arkansas and Texas attorney's licenses.

Betsy Phillips
Betsy Phillips is a long-time resident of Springdale where she has been active as a volunteer in numerous community activities. She currently serves as a director on the following nonprofit boards of directors: Arts Center of the Ozarks, Circle of Life Hospice, and the Jones Center for Families. Betsy is married to Loyd Phillips and has two children, MacKenzie and Joanne.

Julie Roblee
Julie has served her native Springdale through an active volunteer role for numerous organizations. She has served on the Pink Ribbon Committee for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Ozark Affiliate. The Pillars Society of the United Way of Washington County has also benefited from her fundraising capabilities. Her most recent volunteer assignment is serving on the first advisory board for the Springdale Education Fund.

Mark Simmons
Mark is chair of Simmons Foods, Inc., located in Siloam Springs where he resides. In addition, he has served as Chair of the National Chicken Council. He is now serving or has served on numerous local, regional, and state boards including Walton Family Charitable Support Trust Board of Directors and John Brown University Board of Trustees.

Don Soderquist
Don brings a lifetime of business and community experience including serving as Senior Vice chairman of the Wal-Mart Stores; founding the Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics at John Brown University; and being inducted into the Retailing Hall of Fame in 1996. He lives in Rogers.

Mary Stockland
Mary Stockland is a CPA who retired from Tyson Foods after 25 years spent in various accounting, financial and human resources positions. She has a BS in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Arkansas. Mrs. Stockland has been very active on many local non-profit boards, including Bread of Life, where she is a current board member and a member of several committees. Other organizations that have benefited from Mrs. Stockland's philanthropic spirit include The Wesley Foundation, The Elizabeth Richardson Center, The United Way Foundation of Washington County and The Arts Center of the Ozarks. She was born in Fayetteville and currently lives in Springdale with her husband, Dick.

Dick Trammel
A resident of Rogers, Dick is affectionately known as "Mr. Northwest Arkansas." He currently serves on the boards of the North Arkansas Symphony, Ozark Natural Science Center, the U of A's Campaign for the 21st Century, and the Arkansas Arts Council, among others. In 2002, he was selected as the Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year by the northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Fundraiser Professionals.

Jim von Gremp
Jim von Gremp of Rogers is Vice-President of LinkMark located in Bentonville and is a certified public accountant. He served District #2 as a state representative, and the following nonprofits have benefited from Jim's leadership: Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Benton County, 2002 Benton County United Way Drive, and the Bentonville Chamber of Commerce.

DeAnne F. Witherspoon
DeAnne is an Optometric Physician who has practiced in Rogers since 1991. She is active in the American Optometric Association having received the Optometric Recognition award for 18 consecutive years. She is an active member of Altrusa International of Rogers, having served two years as president. She currently serves as a board member for First Western Bank in addition to numerous nonprofit organizations. In 2002, she was named the recipient of the 2002 Louise Thaden Woman of the Year Award from Northwest Arkansas Business Women's Conference.