Faulkner Lifestyle October 2019 Issue

Yours Truly Consignment
Gloria Bell
Sales Floor Leader
Where did you grow up and get your education? I grew
up in southern California, moved to Mountain Home and graduated
high school there. I moved here when I was given the opportunity
to play volleyball at CBC.
What do you love most about working/living here?
I love the growth in the city. It has changed so much in the past
6 years and its not stopping now.
To what do you attribute your success? Be positive and
believing in the best in people.
Do you have hobbies you want to share? I love being
outdoors, but I also hope to start quilting again.
How are you involved in your community? I coached Conway
Juniors volleyball for 4 years, and I love to shop and eat local.
Any advice for someone just starting out? Always be open
to the idea of change and imperfections. Learn everyday and always
love what you do.
Jennie Cash
Production Leader
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Where did you grow up and get your education? I
graduated from Mt. Vernon/Enola in 2000. I headed to college at
UACCM, but with a baby, decided it wasn’t for me.
To what do you attribute your success? Lots of hard work,
never been afraid to put in the hours or work.
How are you involved in your community? It’s not necessarily
through community, but being a part of Yours Truly. We have
15 nonprofit organizations that we donate to through Consign for
Charity. Its a great concept. Everyone should stop by and check it out.
Tell us about your family. I have 3 kids: Aaliya, a sophomore at
CBC who plays basketball. Ashlynn, a junior at Vilonia, who plays
basketball, softball, and throws in track. Ethan, a sophomore at
Vilonia, who plays football. My husband’s name is Mike.
Any advice for someone just starting out? Always work
hard with good intentions. I lost my job of 8 years after the 2014
tornado in Vilonia. By luck, I thought I’d apply one year later at
Yours Truly. Got the job! I have grown so much as a person, as a
woman, and as a friend.
Candace Meeks
Simmons Bank/Mortgage Loan Officer
Where did you grow up? I grew up traveling
the US as a child in the Air Force. We moved to
Conway when I was in 11th grade. I went on to
UCA and graduated from CBC.
Tell us about your family. I have a wonderful
blended family, split between Conway and
Oklahoma with my parents and siblings. At home
I have two boys. Hayden is 15, and Deagan is 13.
We also have 2 spoiled pups, Rumi and Oakley.
We spend most of our days at the baseball field,
basketball court or out enjoying Faulkner County.
How did you get into your line of work? I
started at Simmons at 17 as a drive thru teller. I
had no idea that banking was my future, but I
loved helping my customers daily. I worked many
different areas of the bank over the years. When
the Mortgage position opened, I prayed for God to
put me where I could flourish, and a few months
later I was hired as an Originator. It is by far my
favorite thing I have done yet in banking.
To what do you attribute your success?
Honestly, I am so thankful for the people who
have taken a chance on me over the years. Bill
Johnson and Ritchie Howell hired me not even
knowing how to balance my checkbook. Over
the years I learned from the best on how to treat
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customers and what banking was all about.
Getting involved in our incredible community
also assisted me in growing my circle. When you
become involved in the community to make a
change, you meet great people along the way to
help push you in the direction you want to go. I
truly work with the best people doing what I love.
I love my customers and helping them with the
homebuying process.
What does the future hold for you here?
I have no plans to leave this area. My boys have
been born and raised here, and the community
is so welcoming. There’s so much to do and so
much beauty to take in. You can shop downtown,
eat at the best places and be minutes away
from a beautiful sunset and bike trail. This will
always be home.
Any advice for someone just starting out?
Networking and building relationships with people
in your community. The best way is to serve on
any of our outstanding non-profits and work with
our community leaders. You will get to know
people that can mentor you and bridge relationships
that will last a lifetime. Be kind and honest to
everyone you encounter, as anyone you meet could
one day be your boss or customer.
DeEnna Runyon
Simmons Bank, Vice President, Market Retail
Manager for Conway, Searcy and Beebe
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Where did you grow up? Indiana,
Florida, Texas and Oklahoma.
What brought you to Faulkner
County? In 1998 a job transfer to Russellville,
then to Conway which was supposed to
be part of the journey, ended up being the
destination! The perfect place to raise both of
my children and continue my banking career.
How long have you been in banking?
40 years, minus a few years as a stay at home
mom, which by the way is more difficult than
working 40 hours a week as a banker!
What do you love most about
working/living here? The people! Our
community is strong. Our city leadership is
strong. Our Chamber is phenomenal. Conway
is truly a magical place! It’s the people who
make up our community as we work together
to better what we have and lay the “right”
groundwork and foundation for the future of
Conway as we continue to pave the way for
our children.
To what do you attribute your
success? Very simple. “People Bank with
People.” We all have the same products
and services but delivering above average
customer service is what will set you apart
from the rest. I always tell my teams to be
“motivated by the fear of being average!”
Simmons Bank was founded in 1903 on
building relationships with their customers. As
weww fast forward to 2019 that hasn’t changed.
People still do business with “people!”
Community involvement? Former Board
Chairman with The American Red Cross over
5 counties including Faulkner County. Former
Conway Noon Rotary board member and
current Rotarian, Conway Regional Women’s
Council and a supporter of Renewal Ranch.
Any hobbies you want to share?
Country Music runs deep in my soul from
playing piano and bass guitar in my parents’
country band as a child, which may explain
my love of Country Music and for the DJ that
makes it all come together on MyCountry Y107!
Tell us about your family. Married in 2012
to Jay Runyon, aka JR with MyCountry Y107.
He is Market Manager and Corporate Director
of Programming with Crain Media, with a
career in radio for 41 years. Two amazing sons:
Pierce Norwine, 25, Catering Liaison at Tacos 4
Life; Camden Norwine, 19, 2019 CHS graduate
attending UACCM, and a bonus godson Tyler
Gober, 9, a soccer player in 4th grade.