COOs

complex director and ultimately president of Simmons Prepared Foods.

Named COO in 2016, Jackson’s value-centric approach and commitment to a people-first culture have been an integral part of the company’s success. With more than 9,000 team members, Simmons Foods Inc. and its affiliates serve customers in all 50 states and more than 40 countries. Jackson received a bachelor’s degree in administrative management from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

William Jones IV

Sissy’s Log Cabin

Born and raised in the Natural State, William Jones IV has played an integral role in expanding the Sissy’s Log Cabin footprint across Arkansas and into Tennessee. As chief operations officer and a member of the executive board of directors for the family-owned jewelry store, Jones focuses on perfecting what truly sets Sissy’s apart: extraordinary customer service and a culture of caring, both for its employees and for the communities it serves.

Jones graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in business administration/finance and went on to attend the Gemological Institute of America, becoming a graduate gemologist in 2013.

Jordan Martin

Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners

Jordan Martin, COO of Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners, began his real estate management career in 2002 working for Cassidy Turley (formerly Colliers Turley Martin Tucker and now Cushman & Wakefield), one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the country. In addition to his extensive experience working directly for Cassidy Turley, he also has experience working as a consultant for Yardi Systems and working as an independent consultant.

As a consultant, Martin worked with clients of all sizes, including Fortune 500 companies, implementing Yardi software and assisting companies with their month-end and year-end processes as well as identifying and implementing solutions allowing companies to gain efficiencies. His areas of expertise include Yardi subject matter, strategic process improvement, software implementations, financial reporting and analysis, internal controls and compliance, budgeting and forecasting, as well as project management.

Mike Mudd

Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas

Mike Mudd joined Mercy in 2022 from Rochester Regional Health in Rochester, New York, where he served as COO of service lines for the five-hospital system. His extensive background in health care includes supervising operational leadership, managing physician relations and working closely with nursing leadership. As COO at Mercy, Mudd collaborates with Mercy Hospitals Arkansas President Ryan Gehrig to drive the hospital’s organizational vision, operational strategy and day-to-day operations.

Mudd has maintained an active role in charitable organizations throughout his career in health care, including involvement with the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society among others. He has already made an impact since joining Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, and he is an important contributor to the mission of Mercy’s ongoing $500 million expansion in the region.

Payton Smith Metro Disaster Specialists

Payton Smith began his career at Metro Disaster Specialists throughout high school and college when he obtained knowledge of the business and completed the company’s management training program. He served as Metro’s restoration production manager for six years. In 2015, Payton received the highest certification in the restoration industry, Certified Restorer®, through the Restoration Industry Association and accepted a sales and marketing role.

In 2018, he was named the company’s chief operating officer and continues to oversee the operations of the Restoration Division. He is affiliated with numerous industry and insurance organizations, serves on multiple business and charity boards and devotes many hours to community service representing Metro Disaster Specialists.

Payton attended North Little Rock High School and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing.

Wallie Sprick

WDD Architecture

Wallie Sprick joined WDD in 1984 immediately after earning a five-year professional degree in architecture from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Sprick was promoted to partner and director of production in 1994. As director of production, he schedules the production staff, coordinates project milestones and implements the firm’s quality control plan. Sprick was elected COO of WDD in 2012. He has been the project architect on a variety of building types, including commercial, medical, educational, financial, criminal justice facilities and federal projects.