NOARK Chapter Committees
Diversity Committee
Responsible for promoting an environment that recognizes, values, and celebrates the unique contributions and differences within the chapter’s membership and their organization.
Diversity Chair
Caitlin Conner
Global Talent Enablement Leader, Gallagher Benefits
Click here to email Caitlin
Caitlin Conner serves as a Global Talent Enablement Leader at Gallagher, where she focuses on developing and deploying initiatives that support organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and employee growth at scale. With a background in project management, change leadership, and workforce strategy, Caitlin partners closely with leaders to design practical, people-centered solutions that strengthen culture and performance. She is passionate about career empowerment, mentorship, and inclusive leadership, and brings both corporate and nonprofit experience to her work. Caitlin is proud to serve on the board as Inclusion and Diversity Chair and is committed to supporting the growth and impact of the HR community across Northwest Arkansas. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active and can often be found on the tennis court, embracing the strategy, focus, and resilience the game brings – values she also carries into her professional life.
SHRM Foundation/Fundraising Committee
Educate chapter members on the benefits of the SHRM Foundation. Coordinate annual fundraising drive for the Foundation.
SHRM Foundation/Fundraising chair
Alison Ward
Operations Manager, 1st Employment
Click here to email Alison
Alison Ward serves as the Operations Manager for 1st Employment – Siloam Springs, where she supports and oversees workforce solutions for multiple organizations throughout Northwest Arkansas and Northeastern Oklahoma. With more than 15 years of leadership experience in Human Resources, Alison brings extensive expertise in HR strategy, workforce development, and operational effectiveness, particularly within the industrial sector.
Dedicated to advancing the human resources profession, Alison is actively involved in community and professional leadership. She currently serves as the Foundation and Fundraiser Chair for the Northwest Arkansas Society for Human Resource Management (NWA SHRM), contributing to initiatives that elevate HR practices and support the chapter’s strategic mission.
Alison resides in Siloam Springs with her husband, Robert, and their dog, Sam. Outside of her professional commitments, she finds her greatest fulfillment in her family life. She is a proud grandmother to five grandchildren—Erin (15), Carter (5), Nolan (5), Sawyer (4), and Ryann (3)—and looks forward to welcoming two additional grandchildren, Cade in February 2026 and Ozlynn in May 2026.
Alison is deeply committed to her work in Human Resources, driven by a passion for helping individuals gain the support, structure, and opportunities needed to thrive both professionally and personally.
Wage and Benefits Committee
Wage and benefits Chair
Evan Jewsbury, MS, PHR
Human Resources Consultant, Innovative Creations, LLC
Click here to email Evan
Evan Jewsbury, MS, PHR, is an experienced Human Resources leader and consultant with more than 17 years of leadership experience across higher education, healthcare, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. He has served as Chief Human Resources Officer for multiple institutions, including the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Tulsa Community College, and Missouri Southern State University, leading organization-wide initiatives in compensation, benefits, compliance, HR technology, and culture transformation.
Evan is the founder of Innovative Creations LLC, providing fractional and project-based HR support for organizations navigating growth, leadership transitions, and complex people challenges. Known for his hands-on, collaborative style, he delivers practical, data-driven HR solutions with expertise in employee relations, investigations, compensation and benefits design, talent development, engagement strategies, and HR technologies. He is an active leader within SHRM and CUPA-HR communities and is passionate about developing HR professionals and supporting local HR networks.
College Relations Committee
Advisor to the local student chapters and liaison between NOARK and the student chapters. This committee monitors the NOARK scholarship endowment at the University of Arkansas for appropriate funding.
College relations chair
Carrie Sparks
Employment Coordinator, Northwest Arkansas Community College
Click here to email Carrie
With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Carrie has built a distinguished career centered on academic leadership, institutional service, and a commitment to student success. Her professional background includes significant contributions to program development, policy implementation, and cross-functional collaboration. She brings an understanding of the complexities of higher education and the evolving needs of diverse academic communities. Her involvement with professional organizations such as NOARK and SHRM has further strengthened her knowledge and reinforced her commitment to supporting and mentoring others in the field.
Outside of her professional work, Carrie enjoys spending time with her husband, her dog Tucker, volunteering at her church, and pursuing her passion as a master gardener.
Legislative Committee
Provide Chapter members with information on current legislative and regulatory issues that affect the Human Resources Management profession via Chapter publications and legislative seminars and workshops. This committee also conducts limited lobbying activities as authorized by the Board.
Legislative chair
Position Open
TBD
Click here to request more information.
NOARK is actively seeking a passionate and dedicated individuals to step into our open Board positions! This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your leadership skills, connect with fellow HR professionals, and make a meaningful impact in our organization and community. If you’re ready to take the next step in your professional journey, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] for more information or to express your interest!
Programs Committee
Responsible for developing, scheduling, and coordinating programs and seminars for the membership.
Programs Chair
Position Open
TBD
Click here to request more information.
NOARK is actively seeking a passionate and dedicated individuals to step into our open Board positions! This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your leadership skills, connect with fellow HR professionals, and make a meaningful impact in our organization and community. If you’re ready to take the next step in your professional journey, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] for more information or to express your interest!
Certification Committee
Certification Chair
Position Open
TBD
Click here to request more information.
NOARK is actively seeking a passionate and dedicated individuals to step into our open Board positions! This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your leadership skills, connect with fellow HR professionals, and make a meaningful impact in our organization and community. If you’re ready to take the next step in your professional journey, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] for more information or to express your interest!
Workforce Readiness Committee
Seeks to partner with community educational organizations to promote workforce readiness needs.
Workforce readiness chair
Position Open
TBD
Click here to request more information.
NOARK is actively seeking a passionate and dedicated individuals to step into our open Board positions! This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your leadership skills, connect with fellow HR professionals, and make a meaningful impact in our organization and community. If you’re ready to take the next step in your professional journey, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] for more information or to express your interest!
Membership Committee
Membership chair
Position Open
TBD
Click here to request more information.
NOARK is actively seeking a passionate and dedicated individuals to step into our open Board positions! This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your leadership skills, connect with fellow HR professionals, and make a meaningful impact in our organization and community. If you’re ready to take the next step in your professional journey, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] for more information or to express your interest!
