
2024 ARSHRM State Conference Chair
Broderick Daniels
Southern Bancorp
(501) 850-8999
Broderick Daniels is the Director of Human Resources for Southern Bancorp, where he is responsible for managing the HR Business Partner and HR Operations functions, including employee relations, engagement and communication, talent management, benefits, payroll, legal compliance, leave of absence administration and various employee initiatives. Broderick has over 22 years of experience in human resources. Broderick has served as a volunteer leader in several organizations including Central Arkansas Human Resources Association (CAHRA), Arkansas Society for Human Resource Management State Council, Black Human Resource Professionals Network, Northwest Arkansas Human Resources Association (NOARK), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir. Broderick holds a bachelor’s degree in general studies from Arkansas State University, and a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University.
![2024 ELLA Conference Chair Rickie Smith]()
2024 ELLA Conference Chair
Rickie Smith
Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP
(501) 212-1298
Rickie Smith is the director of public relations at Wright Lindsey Jennings in Little Rock, where she provides leadership and strategic direction for the marketing, media and communications efforts of the firm’s 80+ attorneys. She has been in the field of legal marketing for more than 12 years in Little Rock and has a background in journalism. Rickie has been involved in the HR community for more than a decade as a long-time CAHRA and SHRM member. She served as CAHRA president in 2020 and co-chair of the ELLA Conference in 2010 and has been on numerous other planning and conference committees for ARSHRM. An active community volunteer, Rickie is a graduate of Leadership Arkansas and has held many roles at First United Methodist Church of downtown Little Rock. She and her husband Sam have three pups and love to spend their free time at Lake Ouachita with family and friends.
![2023 ARSHRM State Conference Chair Cindy Ruffing]()
2023 ARSHRM State Conference Chair
Cindy Ruffing, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Siloam Springs Regional Hospital
(479) 215-3120
Cindy Ruffing is currently a Director of Human Resources for Northwest Health providing leadership to both Siloam Springs Regional Hospital & Physicians’ Specialty Hospital in northwest Arkansas. With over 25 years of leadership experience across a variety of industries, along with years of experience as an entrepreneur, Cindy provides human resource strategies with business growth and performance.
Cindy shares her experiences as a frequent speaker at HR and workforce conferences statewide. Cindy draws upon her understanding of human resource strategies and trends to educate fellow HR professionals on topics that matter the most. She holds a master’s degree in organizational management, has been certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources by the HR Certification Institute and a Senior Certified Professional by the Society of Human Resources Management.
Cindy’s recent recognitions include 2021 ARSHRM HR Best Practices Award, Northwest Health Director of the Year - Siloam Springs Regional Hospital 2020, NOARK HR Professional of the Year in 2019, and 2018 Director of the Year Northwest Health – Physicians’ Specialty Hospital. Cindy currently serves as President to the Northwest Arkansas SHRM Chapter, Education Committee Chair for ASHHRA, serves on National ASHHRA Board and is a past Board Member of the Chamber of Commerce in Siloam Springs where she resides with her husband, one (of four) children, two rescue dogs and a gecko.
![2023 ELLA Conference Chair Amy Fisher]()
2023 ELLA Conference Chair
Amy Fisher, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
John Brown University
(479) 524-7128
Amy Fisher is the Chief Human Resources Officer, Director of Risk Management & Government Relations at John Brown University. In this role, she is responsible for Human Resources, Payroll, and the Campus Post Office. Amy is the Client Co-Chair for the Ellucian HR Track Team planning committee. Amy is active in the Northwest Arkansas Human Resources Association as President-Elect for 2017. She is serving as the Finance Chair for the 2017 Arkansas Human Resources Conference and Exposition. Amy has an MBA with an emphasis in Leadership and Ethics and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and as a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).