Bryan Barnhouse, President & Chief Executive Officer
Bryan comes to the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) as an experienced economic developer. In his previous six years with the Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County, Arkansas, he directed business recruitment and retention, which included landing a $3.7 billion project that converts natural gas to clean diesel on more than 1,000 acres, and led programs that re-oriented the research and curriculum of higher education institutions to match corporate needs in the area. Prior to that, he managed the promotion of industrial recruitment from Asia and global trade and export development for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Bryan is committed to helping advance his adopted state of Arkansas through the creation of economic development opportunities. He is excited to pursue this work by connecting the state’s rich scientific and research communities to each other and to the Arkansas business community. He helps professionalize the practice of economic development as a member of the board of directors for Arkansas Economic Developers. And, as a nine-year member and former Chair of the Little Rock Sister Cities Commission, he helps cultivate relationships and partnerships between Little Rock and cities around the world, particularly with Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, for which he serves as the commission co-liaison.
Bryan and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Little Rock along with their two rescue dogs.
Douglas Hutchings, Director of ARA Academy of Scholars and Fellows
Douglas was named the ARA Academy’s first Director in July of 2019. He is a Hendrix graduate with a Masters and Ph.D. from the University Arkansas, and he is widely known for his active leadership in state’s entrepreneurial community. Working closely with noted entrepreneurship educator Carol Reeves at UA, founding a solar energy technology company, and mentoring countless startup teams, Douglas has become a respected voice in Arkansas. His unique status as a citizen in both the business and academic communities brings authenticity, experience and vision to this important leadership role.
Amy Hopper Swan, Program Manager,
ARA Core Facilities Exchange
Amy Hopper is a proven leader in the Arkansas having launched and scaled programs for the state’s entrepreneurial community. Prior to her new role at ARA, she managed the I-Fund, an accelerator for scalable, early-stage entrepreneurs throughout Arkansas and the Delta Regional Authority territory. She led an array of mentors, instructors, and institutional partners in helping homegrown innovators explore their business ideas.
The ARA Core Facilities Exchange enables researchers to easily find and access specialized scientific instrumentation and capabilities in the state.
Michelle Barnes, Operations Manager
Michelle Barnes is a native of Strong, Arkansas. She served as the Director of Housing at Our House for over 10 years. Our House provides comprehensive services to homeless and near-homeless families and individuals. She has been on the boards of Central Arkansas Team Care for the Homeless (CATCH), Lucie’s Place, and Pulaski County CASA.
Prior to her non-profit work, Michelle was the community developer at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (ASMSA) in Hot Springs, AR. She later founded Real Images, a nonprofit with the mission to ensure that young girls and women are empowered and educated to become the healthiest versions of themselves through programs, scholarships and service.
Julie LaRue, Senior Project Manager
Julie served the U. S. Senate Committee on Finance from 1981 to 1983, then for the Government Affairs division for Baxter Healthcare in Washington, D.C. from 1983 to 1986. From there, she served as marketing manager at Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield until 1999.
Julie was the executive director for the Arkansas Community Foundation/Faulkner County from 2008 to 2014, and has been with the Arkansas Research Alliance since that time.
Julie is married with two children. She and her husband, Wayne, reside in Conway, Arkansas.
Jeremy Harper, Communications Director
With more than 20 years of experience working at advertising agencies in Arkansas and Tennessee, Jeremy brings both creativity and communications strategy to the ARA table. His mission: increase the visibility of research in Arkansas.
Jerry Adams, Founder (Retired)
Jerry retired from Acxiom Corporation in October 2007 after 34 years serving in a variety of senior leadership roles. He began his career with Arkansas Research Alliance in April of the following year.
Jerry helped found and served on the executive committee of Accelerate Arkansas, a statewide volunteer group of leaders focused on building a knowledge-based economy in Arkansas. Active in the startup community, Jerry serves on the management committee of Funds for Arkansas’ Future, the state’s first angel fund. Jerry also serves on the board of Winrock International, the advisory board of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, and serves on the board of VIC Technology Venture Development, a Fayetteville-based for-profit incubator.
He is married with two sons and four grandchildren. Jerry and his wife, Madelyn, reside in Conway, Arkansas.