PEOPLE IN BUSINESS

Peggy Lancaster of Helen R.

Walton Children’s Enrichment Center was awarded a Child DevelopmentAssociate Credential in recognition of her outstanding work with young children. The credential was awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition inWashington that represents the early childhood education profession.

Lancaster has been employed at the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center for three years.

She is a teacher in the infant department.

The credential is the only major national effort to improve early childhood education by evaluation and recognition of the professionals providing care. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to work well with families to develop young children’s physical and intellectual capabilities.

Coleman Peterson, president and chief executive officer of Hollis Enterprises in Bentonville presentedthe International Keynote Address at the Middle East Human Resource Summit on Nov. 8-12 at the Dubai Knowledge Village in United Arab Emirates. With the distinctionof having been the chief human resources officer for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Peterson introduced his How to Get There from Here strategy to the large international audience.

The summit included representatives from more than 20 countries. Topics included Positioning for Economic Recovery, Linking H.R.

to Business Strategy, and Platforms for Nationalization.

Hollis Enterprises, a human resources consulting firm, was founded in 2004 following Peterson’s retirement from Wal-Mart Stores. He specializes in helping organizations maximize their effectiveness through people.

Jay Smith was named senior vice president for Bank of the Ozarks in Rogers. He will be responsiblefor commercial and consumer lending at the New Hope Road office.

He has more than 25 years of experience in banking and finance. He previously held thepositions of chief operating officer for Bank of Eureka Springs, executive vice president for Arkansas National Bank, and market executive for First Security Bank.

He is on the board of the Law Enforcement Assistance Program, chairman of the board of the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Chamber Foundation Board. He has been involved with the Bentonville Industrial Development Commission and Bentonville Babe Ruth Board.

John Suttle was appointed senior vice president of Corporate Communication for BAE Systems, Inc. He is a 1980 graduate of FayettevilleHigh School. In his new role he will lead communications for the nearly 50,000 BAE Systems, Inc. employees across more than 130 sites around the world as well as external stakeholders. Suttle’s experience in communications leadershippositions spans more than 20 years.

Prior to BAE Systems, Suttle held the position of senior director, communications for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products after retiring from the Army as a lieutenant colonel.

During his militaryservice, Suttle was editor in chief of the Army’s publication Soldiers Magazine, served as military assistant for public aff airs to the secretary of the Army, and was deputy director of Army Public Aff airs Marketing. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.