Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
BUSINESS PEOPLE
Dan Kessler recently joined NWA Financial Partners as a financial planner. He worked at Arvest for 30 years before moving to the Bentonville company. NWA Financial Partners, at 811 S.W. Raintree Lane, Suite 26, opened six months ago.
Kessler graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance, banking, insurance and real estate.
Jill Wagar has been promoted by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville to director of advancement, a newly created division of guest services, development, group tours and membership departments. She was formerly the director of development. Wagar took charge of the museum’s corporate sponsorship program in February 2011, securing significant private support for the new art museum’s programs, exhibitions, operations and endowments.
The certified fundraising executive has 17 years experience in fundraising and a bachelor’s degree in marketing and public relations from Oklahoma State University. During the five years she served as associate vice president for development at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, Wagar oversaw a $16 million capital campaign. She spent 10 years in public affairs and development for The Children’s Center, a private nonprofit hospital for children in Bethany, Okla.
Kutak Rock LLP law firm has added nine attorneys to its Fayetteville office at 234 E. Millsap Road, Suite 400, and three to its other Arkansas office in Little Rock. Stanley
B. Baker and Tameron C. Bishop have been named as counsel status.
In addition to his law degree from the University of Arkansas, Baker earned a doctorate of veterinary medicine, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Georgia in 2008, and holds a degree in chemical engineering. His practice focuses on patents and trademarks, particularly in counseling clients on intellectual property portfolio strategy and management, research and business strategy and intellectual property commercialization. He has extensive experience in patent and trademark infringement and infringement versus noninfringement opinions as well as representing clients in scientific and technical matters in federal courts.
Bishop focuses her practice on real estate, commercial transactions, secured lending, real property and asset- based lending. Her practice also includes general corporate assistance, contract negotiations, and advice and planning for all aspects of business representation. She earned her juris doctorate degree, magna cum laude, at the University of Arkansas in 1999.
New associates in Kutak Rock’s Fayetteville office are:
Max R. Dietchler , who focuses on general civil litigation. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in 2007 from Hendrix College in Conway and his J. D., summa cum laude, from the UA in 2012.
Scott Jackson, who practices in the areas of employment law, commercial litigation, medical malpractice defense, nursing home defense and appellate law. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration, summa cum laude, from the UA in 2005 and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock in 2008.
Samantha Blassingame Leflar, concentrates her practice on the defense of
health- care providers, appellate practice and general civil litigation. She earned her bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from the UA in 2007 and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the UA in 2010.
Allissa L. Sims, Real Estate Practice Group, who earned her bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in 2008 from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and her J.D. from the UA in 2011.
Jerrod L. Slayton, who focuses his practice on real estate matters. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UCA in 2009 and his J.D. from UA at Little Rock in 2012.
Kristen H. Taylor, who practices in general civil litigation, medical malpractice and nursing home defense, insurance defense, premises liability defense, commercial litigation, negligence and tort defense and in appellate practice. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the UA in 1994 and her J.D. in Fayetteville in 2000.
Kyle T. Unser, Litigation Practice Group, who earned his bachelor’s degree from the UA in 2004 and his J.D. at UA in Fayetteville in 2007. E-mail smorris@nwaonline.com or send your item to Sue Morris, P.O. Box 7, Springdale, Ark. 72765. Information must be received by noon Wednesday before the Sunday the item is to be published.