CFOs

Brent Beaulieu

Baptist Health

Brent Beaulieu is the chief financial officer for Baptist Health. In this role, he is responsible for all finance, revenue cycle, supply chain, risk management and real estate activities in the organization. Beaulieu joined Baptist Health in 2007 as assistant vice president of finance and has been an invaluable part of leading the system’s financial operations ever since. Prior to joining Baptist Health, he spent nine years as a CPA, specializing in health care matters with national accounting firm BKD. He received a degree in accounting from Harding University.

Beaulieu also lends his expertise to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas, where he began serving on the finance committee in 2021 and joined the full board for 2022. He is past president of the Arkansas chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and also served on the national Principles and Practices Board from 2013-2016. He was a member of the Health Care Expert Panel for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants from 2010-2013.

Jennifer Bridges

OrthoArkansas

Jennifer Bridges has responsibility for the financial operations of OrthoArkansas, which includes multiple clinic locations, three ambulatory surgery centers, an insurance company and a real estate entity. Bridges joined OrthoAkansas in 2020, bringing with her more than 15 years of accounting, finance and leadership experience. Her background includes experience in private equity, nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies. She earned her MBA from the University of Arkansas and undergraduate accounting degree from Arkansas Tech University.

She currently serves as the treasurer of the board of directors for Journey Church–Central Arkansas and the treasurer of the board for OrthoArkansas Insurance Company LLC and the advisory council for Christian Leadership Alliance.

Jay Brogdon

Simmons First National Corporation and Simmons Bank

Jay Brogdon was named president and chief financial officer of Simmons First National Corporation and Simmons Bank effective Jan. 1. Prior to assuming these roles, he served as EVP and treasurer. Upon joining Simmons in 2021, Brogdon was instrumental in negotiating its acquisition of Spirit of Texas Bancshares Inc., a $3.2 billion-asset bank. In his current role, Brogdon is responsible for leading strategy, investor relations, financial planning and investment as well as trust and estate administrative services. Prior to joining the company, Brogdon served as managing director of investment banking where he advised clients on transactions totaling more than $15 billion. Brogdon is a graduate of Harding University.