Maria Bunting Smedley , J . D .
Vice President for Human Resources & Corporate Strategy Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation
Alpha Rho Omega , South Central Region
Maria Bunting Smedley is the Vice President for Human Resources & Corporate Strategy for Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives , Inc . and has more than 15 years of electric utility industry experience . Maria is responsible for human resource policy , talent management , and total rewards strategies and programs . She also leads corporate-wide strategy development and implementation . Maria is licensed to practice law in Arkansas and Virginia with degrees from George Mason School of Law ( J . D .), the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga ( MBA ) and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville ( BSBA ). Maria is also a graduate and class speaker of the Harvard Business School ’ s Advanced Management Program ( AMP196 ). In 2018 , Maria was recognized nationally as a Chief Human Resource Officer Leader of Distinction at the North American HRO Today Forum . Smedley serves on the boards of the Center for Energy Workforce Development , the Arkansas Foodbank , the School of Business Advisory Board of Philander Smith College and also serves on the Human Resources Committee of the Southwest Power Pool Board of Directors . In 2019 , the Honorable Frank Scott , Jr ., Mayor of Little Rock , Arkansas appointed Maria to the Citizens Review Board where she serves as parliamentarian .
Kara I . Smith , J . D .
General Counsel Oklahoma Health Care Authority Upsilon Theta Omega , Mid-Western Region
Kara I . Smith is the General Counsel for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Oklahoma City University School of Law ( OCU Law ). She received her B . A . in Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies from the University of Oklahoma and her J . D . from OCU Law . Prior to joining OHCA , she was Chief Assistant Attorney General within the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General ( OAG ). An elected member of the Oklahoma Bar Association ’ s ( OBA ) Board of Governors and chairs several OBA Committees ; past member , Oklahoma Bar Foundation ( OBF ) Board of Trustees ; OBA Leadership Academy graduate ; recipient of the OBA Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Diversity Award ( 2017 ); OBA President ’ s Award ( 2012 ) and OBF President ’ s Award ( 2015 and 2017 ). Secretary and PR Chair for the OCU Law Alumni Association ; Executive Board , Robert J . Turner Inn of Court ; and Founder of the A Step Ahead Preparatory Program .
Latisha Owens Tarrant , J . D .
Senior Vice President , Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | PRA Group , Inc . Upsilon Omicron Omega , Mid-Atlantic Region
LaTisha Owens Tarrant is Senior Vice President , Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of PRA Group , Inc . ( Nasdaq : PRAA ).
In her role , she oversees all corporate legal matters , including the legal team supporting major transactions . She also advises executive management and the Board of Directors on corporate governance matters . LaTisha has more than 20 years of experience in federal securities law , corporate governance , and mergers and acquisitions . Before joining PRA , she served as Managing Associate General Counsel for Anthem , Inc . ( NYSE : ANTM ) and was Vice President and Senior Counsel – Corporate Finance and Governance for Amerigroup Corporation ( NYSE : AGP ). She was also a partner and senior counsel at McGuire Woods LLP . LaTisha is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and University of Texas at Austin School of Law . She was initiated in the Nu Chi Chapter in Fall 1991 and is currently a member of Upsilon Omicron Omega .
Lashell McCullough Vaughn , M . S .
Vice President & Chief Information Officer Memphis Light , Gas & Water
Beta Epsilon Omega , South Eastern Region
Lashell Vaughn , VP & CIO , Memphis Light , Gas and Water ( MLGW ) in Memphis , Tennessee , has 30 + years of experience in Information Technology . She joined the sorority in the Fall 1980 Lambda Eta Chapter at Mississippi State University . She is a Silver Star , Life Member , current South Eastern Region Representative to the International Leadership Development Committee , former member of the International Protocol Committee , member and former President of Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter and former South Eastern Region Conference Chairman . She holds a B . S . in Computer Science and M . S . in Telecommunication & Information Systems . Soror Vaughn is a member of Th e Links Incorporated , Girl Friends of America , and Mt . Pisgah Baptist Church . She was recognized as TN Energy Professional of the Year , National Association of Professional Women - VIP Woman of the Year , and Engineering Alumni Distinguished Fellow ( MSU ). She is the wife of Clinton Jr . and mother of Alpha Kappa Alpha member Victoria and Clinton III .
Nichole Wilson , D . P . T .
Vice President of Integrated Primary Care and Ancillary Services Community Health Network Alpha Mu Omega , Central Region
Dr . Nichole Wilson is Vice President of Integrated Primary Care for Community Health Network . She is the senior executive directing the success of 15 departments that provide care to 380,000 patients and generate $ 500 million in annual revenues . Her span of control includes 1,800 staff members , 480 physicians and 115 sites of care . Wilson is also responsible for pioneering innovations and consumerfocused experiences in the healthcare setting . Wilson is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and was recently named a Minority Leader to Watch by Modern Healthcare Magazine . Her board service includes the Indy Public Safety Foundation , the African American Legacy Fund of Indianapolis , and the Madam Walker Legacy Center . She is recipient of numerous honors for her professional and civic success . Wilson currently serves on the International Constitution Committee of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority , Inc .® and has previously served in various roles at the local , regional and international levels .
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