Arkansas
Forward Arkansas adds Rodney Shepard, Edie Stewart to board – Talk Business & Politics
Forward Arkansas has added Rodney Shepard of Fort Smith and Edie Stewart of Little Rock to its board of directors.
Shepard is a regional executive for Arvest Bank, and Stewart is senior vice president and chief mission officer for Goodwill Industries of Arkansas.
“Throughout their careers, Rodney and Edie have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to strengthening their local communities, including investing in education,” said Ben Kutylo, Forward’s president and CEO. “They understand the economic importance of our mission and are passionate about preparing young people to succeed in the classroom and workforce.”
As regional executive for Arvest Bank, Shepard oversees the company’s banking operations in Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. Based in Fort Smith, he has been with Arvest for more than three decades, previously serving as chief customer experience officer and president of the Springfield, Mo. and Fort Smith markets.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Northeastern State University and an MBA from Webster University. He is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University and the Barrett School of Banking.
At Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, Stewart focuses on education, skills training and workforce development. She previously held leadership roles at the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), including as Director of Educator Preparation. Before the ADE, she was the assistant vice chancellor for enrollment at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and an instructor and university supervisor coordinator at the University of Cincinnati. She’s also held teaching positions in K-12 and higher education.
She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a master’s in special education from the University of St. Joseph.
Established in 2015 by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and Walton Family Foundation, Forward Arkansas promotes innovation in education.
Related
CORNING, Ark. (KATV) — Regulatory Enforcement Agents with the Department of Finance and Administration, along with local police, seized a significant amount of illegal THC products from Pacific Green in Corning on Tuesday.
According to the DFA, more than a dozen agents joined the City of Corning Police in the day-long operation that resulted in two arrests.
DFA agents seized more than 25 pounds of illegal products consisting of flower, vapes, and edibles.
Owner Ben Bennett and employee Sharia Shipman were arrested and both charged with the following:
- Delivery of a Schedule VI controlled substance (Class D Felony)
- Possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with the purpose to deliver (Class B Felony)
- Controlled substances – Offenses relating to records, maintaining premises (Class C Felony)
- Possession of drug paraphernalia (Class D Felony)
- Unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate certain crimes (Class C Felony)
Bennett’s bond was set at $150,000, while Shipman’s bond was set at $100,000.
“In addition to selling illegal products, investigators confirmed violations involving underage access at this location,” said David Potter, Director of the Regulatory Enforcement Division. “This retailer, which was located within 1,000 feet of a school, presented significant public health and safety concerns. We are proud to partner with the Corning Police Department in addressing these violations. We seized a substantial quantity of illegal products, including flower, vapes, edibles, and other items, during the operation. We appreciate the cooperation of local law enforcement and information received from the community that led to yesterday’s operation and stopped this blatant disregard of the law.”
Note: All suspects accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
The Department of Finance and Administration said Arkansans can use Apple Wallet to present their license or ID in person, online and in apps at select organizations, including at more than 250 Transportation Security
IDEMIA Public Security North America and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles have launched Arkansas driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet, allowing residents to securely store and use their credentials on an iPhone or Apple Watch.
The new feature gives Arkansans the ability to present their identification at participating businesses and venues, at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in more than 250 airports, and online or within apps when age or identity verification is required.
The launch builds on Arkansas’ ongoing efforts to expand digital identification options. In March 2025, the state introduced the Arkansas Mobile ID app, and officials say adding IDs to Apple Wallet offers residents another secure and convenient way to access their credentials.
“We’re proud to build on our partnership with the Arkansas DFA’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles, expanding on the launch of the Arkansas Mobile ID app in March 2025. The launch of ID in Apple Wallet in the state provides Arkansas residents a new, secure way to store and present their digital credentials, with transparency and control over how their information is shared at the forefront,” said Rob Gardner, CEO, IDEMIA Civil Identity.
To add an Arkansas driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, users can tap the plus sign at the top of the Wallet app on their iPhone, select “Driver’s License or State ID,” and follow the verification process.
Officials say privacy and security were central considerations in the rollout. Information stored in Apple Wallet is encrypted on a user’s device, and users control when and how their information is shared. When presenting an ID, only the information necessary to verify age or identity is provided.
Apple and the Arkansas Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles also do not receive information about when or where residents use their digital IDs.
The technology is also designed to make verification easier for businesses. Participating businesses can use IDEMIA’s Mobile ID Verify app to accept and verify mobile IDs directly from an iPhone without requiring customers to hand over their devices or use additional hardware.
The launch marks another step toward broader adoption of digital credentials in Arkansas, giving residents a secure alternative to carrying a physical driver’s license or state ID while maintaining control over their personal information.
For information on the launch of IDs in Apple Wallet in Arkansas, click here.
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