ROGERS -- School Board members approved hiring Jake Haak as the chief financial officer of Rogers Public Schools on Thursday night.
Haak is business manager and district treasurer for Gravette School District. He's been with Gravette for five years. In the past 10 years he was a vice president at Arkansas Capital Corporation in Fayetteville, loan officer at Farm Credit Services of Western Arkansas in Bentonville and worked at the Soderquist Center in Siloam Springs.
Outgoing chief financial officer Kathy Hanlon has kept the district in good financial shape, said Janie Darr, superintendent. She helped keep Rogers' millage low by attention to detail. Haak will continue Hanlon's work, she said.
"We had some very qualified applicants," said Roger Hill, assistant superintendent for human resources.
Administrators were impressed with Haak's credentials and leadership, Hill said.
Haak holds bachelor's and master's degrees from John Brown University and is certified in Arkansas as a school business official.
Haak is involved with local civic organizations and completed the Leadership Benton County program in 2006, according to a biography supplied by the School District.
Because of his community involvement Haak is familiar with Rogers, Darr said.
Haak said Thursday he was happy to be joining the Rogers team.
"I think they always strive for excellence," he said.
Hanlon will start at Fayetteville School District as their chief financial officer Aug. 4. She said the people in the Rogers School District are like family. Her 20 years in the School District have been wonderful, she said.
Finance officers often work together between districts, and she will help Haak with the transition, Hanlon said.
"The district will be in great hands with Jake," she said.
NW News on 07/18/2014