Michal Harris

President

Education is a primary factor in Michal’s life, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff in 2006, Master of Business Administration with a focus in Human Resource Management in 2012 from Purdue University Global, and currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education from Grand Canyon University.  He also received the following certifications: grant writer from Penn State University 2020, IBM Data Science Instructor Certificate, and Enterprise Design Thinking Co-Creator.  He is a certified Apple HBCU C2 instructor.  Michal works at Arkansas Baptist College as Faculty in the Public Administration Department.

In the community, Michal serves on Racial Cultural Diversity Commission for the City of Little Rock, Age Friendly Commission of Little Rock, President Elect-Kiwanis of Pulaski Heights, Vice President for Arkansas State House Society, Vice President for Arkansas Volunteer Association, Little Rock Citizens Review Board for City of Little Rock, Vice President For Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Pulaski and Perry Counties Board, Family Services Agency Board member, Family Home of Little Rock Board Member, Fox 16 News Victory Over Violence Member, Friends of Mosaic Templars Young Professionals Board Member, Hat Club of Little Rock member, Central Arkansas Young Urban Professional League, Arkansas Hunger Alliance,  Little Rock Rotary Club 99, member Little Rock Chamber, Lead AR Class 19’, and University of Arkansas Partners Community Board Member.

Quardrick Brumfield

Vice President

Quard is owner of Kingdom Properties LLC, a real estate investment company, and B & B Property Inspectors LLC, a home inspection company.  Quard teamed with Angel’s Haven to provide quality living for women facing abortion decisions.  Quard and his family were stationed here at Little Rock Air Force Base (LRAFB) in 2015.  His role in the air force here at LRAFB was to serve on the executive team to oversee the Child Development Centers, Youth Programs, Home Day Cares, and Airman and Family Center.  In service he was also a Victim’s Advocate volunteer for several years. Quard retired from the United States Air Force in 2018 after serving 24 years.  His most recent tour was Afghanistan in 2016.

Quard earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Faulkner University and Master of Business degree from Harding University.  He is currently enrolled as a Masters in Pastoral Counseling student at Liberty University.  Quard has served as a Shepherd at the Sylvan Hills Church of Christ in Sherwood since 2017.

Kelly Shuffield

Secretary

Kelly Shuffield was born and raised in Atlanta, Ga.  She attended Clemson University in South Carolina where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision.  Kelly is married to Mark who is an Arkansas native.  They have two sons, Mason and Rhett.

Kelly has been a teacher for over 30 years and has taught all grades from PreK to 6th grade.  She is currently a Keyboarding and Coding instructor at Cloverdale Middle School.  Kelly has a love for all things technology and is a Google for Education Certified Trainer and an Apple Teacher.

In college, Kelly became a member of Kappa Alpha Theta women’s fraternity. The National Theta philanthropy is CASA, so it was a great fit for Kelly to become a CASA in August of 2015. She had several cases working toward reunification with the parents.  Serving as a CASA was a rewarding venture, but because of her teaching schedule visitation with children was difficult.  Kelly did not want to leave the work of CASA, so she happily joined the board in the spring of 2020. She is currently finding her niche with an amazing group of people serving on the CASA Board of Directors.

Rosa Perez

Treasurer

Matthew R. Smith

Board Member

Matthew R. Smith is a Senior Attorney and Governmental Affairs Representative with Mackie Wolf Zientz Mann, P.C. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas and his J.D.  from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law.

Matthew lives in Little Rock with his wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter Cora.  He is the recipient of the 2015 Department of Justice Ronald Wilson Reagan Public Policy Award and 2016 NSVRC Visionary Voice Award. He is a member of the State Bar of Arkansas, Arkansas Bar Association, and Pulaski County Bar Association.

Alyssa Loyd Mraz

Board Member

Alyssa Mraz is a Human Capital Management (HCM) Consultant at Paylocity Inc. In her role, she works strategically with the C-Suite & HR Departments to evaluate HR/ Payroll technology to streamlines processes, mitigate compliance risk, and integrate systems – all while creating an engaged organizational strategy.  Alyssa also serves on the Executive Board of the Argenta Downtown Council as Secretary/ Treasurer, and volunteers to coordinate the tulip planting in Argenta each year. Last year she served as the NLR Young Professional Board President and as their Community chair.

Alyssa resides in her hometown of North Little Rock with her husband Eddie Mraz and their two dogs. She loves being outdoors (with Eddie) either hiking or biking, and often taking their nieces/ nephews to explore with them.

Tim Giattina

Board Member

Tim is an attorney and partner at Hodge Calhoun Giattina.  Tim graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2003.  Following his graduation, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked in various political capacities.  In 2007, Tim moved to Little Rock to pursue a joint masters/law degree at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and William H. Bowen School of Law.  After law school, Tim practiced with a nationally prominent personal injury attorney specializing in automotive and tire product liability litigation.  He then worked in risk management, managing litigation and providing coverage analyses for insurance syndicates based in the Lloyd’s of London market.  Before founding Hodge Calhoun Giattina, Tim worked as a litigation attorney specializing in civil defense.

Tim lives in North Little Rock with his wife Annie and their two dogs.  A former college athlete and sports fan, Tim plays tennis, basketball, and golf, and most Fall Saturdays you can find him watching college football.

Will Gruber

Board Member

Will is the Vice President of Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships at inVeritas where he leads the firm’s government relations and strategic partnerships division. He previously served as a senior staff attorney for the Pulaski County Attorney’s Office, service as a legal advisor to county officials and representing the County’s interests before the Arkansas Legislature and Public Service Commission. Will’s broad range of legal experience encompasses both the public and private sectors. He served as an assistant attorney general in the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office and a deputy prosecuting attorney for the Arkansas Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. He later worked in private practice where he represented clients in circuit and district courts and before the Arkansas Real Estate and Fair Housing commissions. He began his career serving the Arkansas Air National Guard where he later achieved the rank of staff sergeant.

Will is active in his community, serving on the board of directors of the Next Generation Young Professional of the North Little Rock CHamber, and as an active member of the Arkansas Bar Association and Think Big Little Rock.  He has also served as a big brother in Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Shalanda Walker

Board Member

Shalanda L. Walker is a proud native of Malvern, AR. After graduating from Malvern High School in  May 2000, Shalanda went on to further her education at the Historic University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. While pursuing her degree, Shalanda was highly involved in an array of organizations such as Tau Beta Sigma Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the UAPB Marching Band; where she was Head Captain of the 24 Karat Golden Silks Flagline. In May 2005, Shalanda graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Science Degree in Criminal Justice.

Since January 2013, Shalanda has been employed with the law firm Mackie Wolf Zientz & Mann where she currently holds the position of Referral Team Lead and oversees the intake department for Arkansas and Tennessee. With an endearing love for her country and fellow man, Shalanda proudly served as an Arkansas National Guardsmen for the United States Military from February 2015 to October 2021 as a Human Resources Specialist. Being able to serve her State and Country has given her much joy and fulfilment.

Shalanda is an active member of the Saint Mark Baptist Church of Little Rock. She’s highly involved as a volunteer for their Feast of Hope Outreach Ministry; which feeds thousands in the Little Rock community, as well as the church’s annual job fair that helps to provide jobs for thousands of residents throughout the community. She’s also involved in the Music Ministry; however, her calling is working in the Deaf Ministry, where she provides sign language for those members of the deaf community that attend service.

Shalanda resides in Little Rock, AR with her husband Jefferson D. Walker, Jr.; and together they are the proud parents of 2 sons.

Elizabeth Kanopsic

Board Member

Taylor Pearson

Board Member

Lauren Dixon

Board Member

Katie Crosby

Board Member

Blake Flemister

Board Member