leslie barnespresident, co-founderLeslie graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2018 with a BS in Industrial & Systems Engineering. She was a founding board member of AMP as she saw a gap of manufacturing professional networks in Fort Smith. She has a passion and vision to develop an organization that transforms the culture of welcoming, developing, and retaining manufacturing leaders in the local community. Outside of work, she enjoys going to music festivals, visiting new places and spending time with her family and friends.
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logan longvice presidentLogan graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2018 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He began working at Hytrol August 2021 and previously worked at ABB as a Manufacturing Engineer. He joined ARVMYP to engage with others in a meaningful way professionally and in support of his community. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family outdoors.
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travis gregorycompliance officerTravis holds BS degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Arkansas. Currently, he works as an R&D engineer at Rheem’s Air Conditioning Division. As a River Valley native, he is passionate about developing and retaining the immense talent of our local community. In his free time, Travis enjoys traveling and any excuse to be outdoors.
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KRISTY WOODRUFFPROFESSIONAL OUTREACHKristy is a seasoned Senior HR Business Partner at Rheem, bringing a wealth of experience to her role, where she supports the Residential and Commercial Engineering and Procurement teams with her expertise in Business Management and Human Resources. Her journey in the HR field is marked by a significant tenure at Walmart’s Home Office in Bentonville, where she honed her skills across various HR roles for 12 years. Kristy’s leadership abilities further shone through during her time as an HR Manager at Schwan’s manufacturing in Stilwell, OK.
A true people-person at heart, Kristy is driven by a passion for connecting individuals with their calling, guiding them to discover and pursue what they love. When she’s not empowering professionals in the workplace, Kristy cherishes the moments spent with her family. Together with her husband and daughter, she enjoys exploring new places, embracing the beauty of the outdoors, and creating lasting memories through travel. |
jane greenwaldmarketingJane graduated from Louisiana State University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 2016. Since graduating she has gained experience in Pulp and Paper, Oil and Gas, and currently works in HVAC. Since December of 2022 she has worked for Rheem Manufacturing as a Senior Process Engineer. Jane joined AMP as a way to bolster the connections between manufacturing professionals in the River Valley and surrounding areas. She enjoys spending her free time horseback riding, crafting, hiking with her rescue dog, Suki, and diving into a good video game.
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mick weissprogrammingMick graduated from Western Governors University in 2023 with a MBA in IT Management. He moved to Fort Smith in 2022 from Bloomington, Illinois to work at Pernod Ricard as an Operational Technology Engineer. Mick joined ARVMYP to build strong relationships with other like-minded young professionals in the River Valley. When Mick isn’t working, he enjoys golfing, reading, playing guitar, or playing video games with friends from home. Previously, Mick lead marketing at his own business.
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Jess CummingsprogrammingJessica has worked for Trane for 17 years and is currently on the Operational Excellence team leading process improvement initiatives. She graduated from the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith in 2019 with an AAS in Workforce Leadership, Commercial Pilot - Helicopter in 2021 from FlyARH and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt in 2023 from the UAFS Center for Economic Development. She joined ARVMYP to network and grow connections within the industry. In her free time she flies helicopters for FlyARH and is a member of Western Arkansas Runners.
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zack hallearly talent outreachZack graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 2022 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and began working as a Manufacturing Engineering in the machine shop for ABB in Ozark. He joined ARVMYP to grow professionally and make new connections. After joining he saw an opportunity to share his experiences with early talent about what a career in manufacturing has to offer and joined the leadership team. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, working on vehicles, hunting, and spending time off road.
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AMANDA CERVANTESEARLY TALENT OUTREACHAs a Supervisor of Production Control at Rheem Manufacturing, Amanda applies over 10 years of experience and a Six Sigma Greenbelt certification to optimize supply chain performance and efficiency for one of the world's leading providers of heating, cooling, and water heating solutions.
Leveraging core competencies in process improvement, problem solving, and customer relationship management, Amanda leads cross-functional teams, collaborates with stakeholders, and implements effective distribution strategies. She holds an MBA with an emphasis in International Management from John Brown University, which aids in navigating the global and dynamic nature of the supply chain industry. Currently, Amanda is pursuing a Doctorate in Supply Chain and Logistics from Liberty University. With a passion for developing and nurturing early talent, Amanda is excited to join the Board of Directors as the Early Talent Outreach Chair. |