Woman of the Year
Mary Zunick
Mary Zunick is the Cultural Affairs Manager for Visit Hot Springs. Her job includes diverse responsibilities that include working with the Hot Springs area arts community, arranging various art projects and murals within the city, developing grants, and serving as the executive director of the Hot Springs Sister City program. Created in 1993, Zunick came on board as executive director in 2008, bringing a new spark to the program that has led to its recognition as one of the country’s most successful sister cities.
Zunick acts as director of the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance, an organization comprised of Hot Springs area artists, art lovers, arts-based businesses and nonprofit organizations with a mission to promote, advocate and celebrate the arts and culture of Hot Springs. Mary led the Cultural Alliance in planning the first “Arts & the Park: Year Zero” in 2014, an event that has grown into an annual 10-day arts festival drawing thousands and featuring over 60 events.
Zunick has worked closely over the last several years with the Japanese Consul General to find ways to promote goodwill and mutual understanding between the United States and Japan which resulted in presentation of a Commendation from The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented to The Hot Springs-Hanamaki Sister City program in 2014. In 2010 Hot Springs was awarded Best Overall Program by Sister Cities International, and subsequently won national awards for Economic Innovation (for sake brewery), and again for best Youth Volunteerism program. She led fundraising efforts after the 2011 tsunami disaster in Japan that raised more than $25,000 to assist those impacted by the tragedy. Under Mary’s leadership the Hot Springs Sister City program is routinely recognized as top in the state and one of the best in the country.
Jessica Cannon
Dr. Jessica Cannon moved to Hot Springs in 2016 from Washington, D.C. Cannon is originally from Austin, Texas, and lived there her whole young life. But, like many adventurers, she longed to explore the world.
She left Texas and studied Biology at Cornell University. She then accepted a commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy. She saw the world from the deck of a big gray ship while selflessly serving her country. At the end of her commitment, Cannon remained in San Diego, Calif., and applied her skills to biomedical research. She helped study heart disease and figured out quickly that she was suited for medicine. She went to medical school and chose to dedicate her life to keeping children healthy. She finished her residency at the Children’s Hospital of New York in New York City and then moved to rural South Carolina with the National Health Service Corps and became the “everything doctor” that she is today. She married her U.S. Army veteran husband, Chris, and they eventually moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked as a military legislative assistant to members of the U.S. Senate. After several years there, the Cannons moved to Hot Springs.
Through her initiatives, the Hot Springs Pediatric Clinic was one of the founding members of the Arkansas Children’s Care Network, the nation’s first statewide pediatric clinically integrated network. The ACCN’s goal is to measurably elevate quality of care for all children in Arkansas through provider collaboration, establishing clinical pathways and improving access to care.
Cannon joined the Junior Auxiliary of Hot Springs in 2018 and has served as fundraising co-chair, vice president, and president.
Cora Jones
Cora Jones is a hardworking devoted individual who always makes herself available to help those in need and a great asset to the community.
Before devoting her work to Butler Pharmacies as a Certified Pharmacy Tech, Jones served as a tax professional with Cora Jones Tax Service as owner and operator in Gurdon for over 23 years and a veteran of the United States Navy. She also is the CEO of WillJones Construction Services Inc.
Jones is currently an ambitious college student with Bryan University who looks forward to taking and passing the CPA exam immediately after July graduation.
In addition, Jones currently serves as Board Advisor of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Hot Springs; Board of
Finance for Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic; Board of Finance for The Buffaloes Foundation Inc., of Arkadelphia; member of Cottrell Chapel CME Church; a missionary; coordinator for CME Church West District One Church One School; Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build volunteer; Food for Thought volunteer; Samaritan Ministries volunteer; and helped found Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus in Gurdon and Texarkana, Ark. She currently mentors two teens in Gurdon and Hot Springs.
Jones is a proud parent of two sons — Jeremiah Maglero and Nathan Jones Jr., and six grandchildren — Kylie, Sydney and Sebastian Maglero, and Kaylyn Jones. For recreation Jones plays the piano, loves camping, fishing, boating, traveling and weekend adventures.
Kai Coggin
Kai Coggin is the author of four poetry collections, most recently “Mining for Stardust” (FlowerSong Press 2021) and “INCANDESCENT” (Sibling Rivalry Press 2019).
She is a queer woman of color who thinks Black Lives Matter, a teaching artist in poetry with the Arkansas Arts Council and Arkansas Learning Through the Arts, and host of the longest-running consecutive weekly open mic series in the country — Wednesday Night Poetry.
Recently awarded the 2021 Governor’s Arts Award and named “Best Poet in Arkansas” by the Arkansas Times, her fierce and powerful poetry has been nominated four times for The Pushcart Prize, as well as Bettering American Poetry 2015, and Best of the Net 2016, 2018, 2021 — awarded in 2022.
Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in POETRY, Best of the Net, Cultural Weekly, SOLSTICE, Bellevue Literary Review, TAB, Entropy, SWWIM, Split This Rock, Sinister Wisdom, Lavender Review, Tupelo Press, West Trestle Review, and many other journals and literary magazines. Coggin is Associate Editor at The Rise Up Review. She lives with her wife and their two adorable dogs in the valley of a small mountain in Hot Springs National Park.
“Everything I do builds and nourishes community. It is my passion in life, especially, to create and (be) a safe space for historically marginalized communities, especially LGBTQ+ youth. The community I serve is Hot Springs National Park, but it is also the world, making it a safer, kinder, and more just place to be,” Coggin said.
Candace Young
“I am a Christian, wife, mother of two boys, Joshua and Trace, grandmother to Braxten, sister, daughter, and a small-business owner with my husband Trent,” Candace
Young said. “I’m a 1979 graduate of Lake Hamilton High School along with my family. I was an original employee of Magic Springs. Worked at The Vapor’s and managed all three Wendy’s (met founder Dave Thomas) for 8 years, and this is where I met my husband who was a ‘pesky’ customer. I then went to work for another customer, Carl Johnson owner of Johnson Cleaners, for over 17 years. So this was the happening place back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.
“This is where I had the pleasure to meet most of Hot Springs and learn of many organizations that in the future I would become a member of! When our boys were grown is when we opened our Trent’s Floor Covering business in 2003 and we are blessed to still be going today. My dad, Don ’56, and brother graduated from Hot Springs High as well, so our roots are deep in this community.
“We lost our son, Trace, in 2013 and through this and other tragedies, God has given us the blessing of being able to share our testimony with others and watch as their grief is comforted through time. God puts people in our paths for a reason is my blessing. So, I will continue ‘Service Above Self’ for as long as I am able to so!”
Laura Pumphrey
Laura Pumphrey, a Family Nurse Practitioner, is helping pioneer the area’s first subscription-based health care program of its kind at myHealth Direct Primary Care. In addition to offering VIP primary care, Pumphrey is also certified in bioidentical hormone pellets, weight loss management, as well as the management of HIV and hepatitis C. She also optimizes thyroid levels and vitamin levels to get patients feeling their greatest.
After spending four years in a federally qualified health center, Pumphrey was offered the chance to be a part of something that allowed her to serve the community in a new and different way. She was approached about the start up of a direct primary care clinic that would allow personalized care for all patients, without regard to insurance and offers discounted cash prices on typical medical services. She was able to look at the community needs around her and direct the care that was offered tailored to those needs. Pumphrey is also very passionate about treating and managing HIV and hepatitis C and was able to recertify with the state at her new clinic location to continue to meet the needs of these patients in the community.
Pumphrey loves calling Hot Springs her home now and enjoys living here with her husband, Matt, and their three children, Emma, Asa, and Anson, who tend to keep them very busy with school activities and sports. She loves spending time with her extended family, traveling, camping, hiking, and shopping. She is an active member at New Life Church.
Karen Kight
Karen Kight is a woman with a huge heart for those she serves and loves as evidenced by her accomplishments for others more than for herself.
As an Arkansas native, she was born and raised in Friendship and moved to Hot Springs after marrying and graduating from Henderson State University with a B.S. Degree in Social Work. As a Social Worker licensed through the Arkansas State Licensing Board, her career has been devoted to working with individuals with a wide range of disabilities and spans through many programs ranging from state agency to nonprofit employment. Her career began with Abilities Unlimited where she worked as work activity program assistant and was soon promoted to work activity program coordinator. Making a career move to the Arkansas Career Training Institute, formerly the Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center, she worked as a habilitation/rehabilitation instructor, vocational evaluator and supervisor of the Employment Readiness Center. Upon returning to Abilities Unlimited by invitation, she served as coordinator of the Work Activity and School to Work Programs and then assistant administrative director before accepting the position of executive director in 2012.
Kight has two adult sons, a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter who are the pride and loves of her life.
Noelle Stephens
Noelle Stephens has been a proud Arkansan since moving to Monticello in 2012.
In 2016, she graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello with a Bachelor’s in General Studies. During her time at UAM,
she served as a philanthropist for her sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma. After finding love in marriage to her husband, Sam Stephens, Noelle found her second love — insurance.
Her first job out of college paved the way to her very own State Farm Agency. She worked for an independent agent for two years prior to working for a State Farm agent in Fordyce. Stephens’ experience in Fordyce led her to receive many awards in the office and her agent aspirant peer group. This position also allowed her the opportunity to serve the community of Fordyce. She has served as Rotary president, president-elect and chamber board member. With five successful years in the industry behind her, Stephens opened her small business in the heart of Hot Springs. She is currently the owner of Noelle Stephens State Farm Agency. Her doors opened on Nov. 1, 2021. Stephens is proud to be a business owner in a community as great as Hot Springs.
In addition to the National Federation of Independent Business, Stephens is currently involved in four different social clubs in Hot Springs. She is an active member of the Junior Auxiliary of Hot Springs as the co-chair in training for fundraising. She is also a member and heavily involved in the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club. Lastly, her involvement in the Arkansas State Farm Associates Political Action Committee allows her the opportunity to stay in front of new laws that affect insurance in Arkansas.
These social clubs allow Stephens the opportunity to serve the community.
Stephanie Nehus
Stephanie Nehus is a native of Kansas, but relocated to Hot Springs in 1988 with her family. She graduated from Lakeside School District in 1993. Her parents, Dick and Becky Antoine, both had careers in the area and dedicated countless hours of volunteer time and involvement with local charities and organizations. They instilled that passion in Nehus and her sister.
Nehus completed her Bachelor of Science in Education degree at Henderson State University, along with her Master of Science in Education degree. She completed her Doctor of Education degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Servant leadership is her guide in all aspects of life. She is married to Zachary Nehus and has three children, Andrew, James, and Julia.
Nehus’ professional roles have included junior high mathematics teacher; secondary curriculum coordinator for Math and Science; assistant principal; principal; director of Secondary Education; Associate superintendent of Learning Services; and superintendent beginning July 1, 2017. She has had the pleasure to serve Benton School District, Stuttgart School District, and Hot Springs School District in her 24 years in public education.
She chose education as a career pursuit because she wanted to make a difference. As a young child, she enjoyed “playing” the teacher with dolls of pretend students. That developed into a true interest and longing in eighth grade, when Nehus’ family moved from Kansas to Arkansas. Because of a dedicated, compassionate math teacher — Mrs. Patti Wilkerson, of Lakeside School District — who went above and beyond to serve students, and who especially connected with Nehus and left an impression on her, she knew that education was her career path. Ironically, Nehus and her sister both chose careers in education, and both have earned Ed.D.’s in respective areas of expertise.
Kathy Packard
Kathy Packard is a Licensed Professional Counselor, with a specialty in gerontology, and the executive director of Oaklawn Center on Aging, Inc. At the age of 18, she decided she wanted to work with and help older adults thrive in their communities. She considers herself fortunate to have found a profession that allows her to pursue her passion. She has worked in various settings ranging from physical rehabilitation to end of life care. Her focus has always been to enhance quality of life and help those caring for others as they age.
As the executive director of OCOA, she guides the staff and volunteers to carry out the mission and vision of OCOA, which is to enhance the quality of life for older adults and to partner with other community agencies that have the same vision. She has been in the geriatric field for over 30 years and loves her work. As an educator, she believes that the more we know, the healthier we age. Years ago, she committed to learn as much as possible on how to help people age in place. She provides expertise in tai chi, neuroplasticity, chronic pain, diabetes, healthy nutrition, caregiving, dementias, and other areas of interest for older adults. She loves teaching and providing resources for others to help them be able to stay home and have a healthy life.
In 2009, she was hired by the Oaklawn Foundation to open the ninth Center on Aging in the state of Arkansas. Packard considers herself fortunate to have found exceptional people to work with her throughout the years. The best advice she received in her professional career was “employ really smart people and allow them to work to their capacity.” With this advice in hand, she and the staff grew the Oaklawn Center on Aging by developing partnerships with the aging agencies, offering educational programs, providing resources and assisting older adults in need. In 2019, OCOA became a nonprofit organization under her direction. OCOA has served over 144,000 adults since 2009.
She is most proud of her recent professional accomplishment of organizing appointments and volunteers for four drivethrough COVID-19 vaccination clinics providing over 6,000 vaccinations, and partnering with community churches to provide an additional 5,000 vaccinations while working with the city of Hot Springs and Garland County. Miriam Ramirez
“I graduated from Benton High School in 2009 and got my Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Arkansas Tech University. As a daughter of immigrants, the idea of becoming an immigration attorney was naturally appealing to me. I graduated from the University of Arkansas in May 2016. Shortly after graduation, I moved to Hot Springs. In 2018, I decided to open up my own law firm. Determining the location of my firm was difficult, but easy at the same time. It was difficult because I honestly was attracted to bigger cities like Little Rock or Fayetteville. But it was easy because Hot Springs had already become my home.
“On Jan. 2, 2018, I opened up The Ramirez Law Firm, PLLC, at Lindell Square, only a few blocks away from the courthouse. My practice consists of immigration law and family law. I am also frequently appointed by the local judges as an attorney ad litem to represent the best interest of children before the Court.
“The Hot Springs community has been so supportive and welcoming. My work is extremely stressful, exhausting, and demanding. However, I always feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that I can give back to our community. Hot Springs is slowly becoming more diverse and there is always a need for a local immigration attorney Being bilingual, I have been able to provide legal services for a lot of the community that does not speak English.
“I have frequently assisted in local schools as a resource for their students who have recently immigrated to the United States. A lot of them have immigration matters to attend to, so I always provide guidance for them.
“Even though I am an attorney, the scope of my job expands to more than just meeting people’s legal needs. I am a frequent point of contact for the local Hispanic community, helping people find medical attention, mental health services, or routine things like setting them up for an appointment to get their driver’s license.”