Bentonville commission votes to fill vacant seat with Garner

Commissioners voted 4-2 for Garner to join the commission. Commissioners Matt McClure and Lee Culpepper were the two votes against.

BENTONVILLE — Jordan Garner will fill the vacant Advertising and Promotions Commission’s seat formerly held by Josh Morey.

Morey, who represented the hotel industry as general manager of Four Points by Sheraton, resigned from the commission in April to pursue a job opportunity in New York.

Commissioners voted 4-2 for Garner to join the commission. Commissioners Matt McClure and Lee Culpepper were the two votes against.

Garner is the sales manager for Ropeswing Hospitality Group. She represents Record, an event venue, as well as large group sales.

She was one of three applicants. The other two were Daniel Hintz, owner of B Side Loft, an Airbnb space, and Pamela Ferguson, director of sales of La Quinta Inn & Suites. Commissioners said the three candidates were all qualified.

“We have three very qualified people here,” said Matt McClure, commissioner. “They all bring something unique to the table.”

Chad Goss, commissioner, motioned for Garner to be selected. Her experience with events would provide a unique perspective to the commission, he said.

“That’s where I think diversity of thought maybe comes into play,” he said. “But again, we have three very qualified people.”

Hintz played a large role in making Bentonville what it is today and would be an asset to the commission, McClure said.

Hintz was the executive director of Downtown Bentonville Inc. from 2007 to 2014. He’s worked with Visit Bentonville to develop the hospitality and culinary scene downtown. In 2014, he created Velocity Group, which works on various place-making projects throughout the country.

Commissioners talked about the strengths of each of the candidates for several minutes prior to voting. They encouraged Hintz and Ferguson to reapply when the next opening becomes available.

“If they’re not on the commission, we’re still going to be working with them,” said Kalene Griffith, Visit Bentonville president and CEO.

“Makes me wish I could expand the board,” said Lee Culpepper, commissioner.

Garner will finish Morey’s term, which is to expire January 2020.

The seven-member board consists of two City Council members, one at-large member and four representatives from lodging/meeting industries and restaurant industry.

The commission has traditionally had two lodging/ meeting representatives and two restaurant representatives, but state law does not require that, Griffith said.