Special Agent, Cyber Squad
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Little Rock)
Senior Consultant
Gallagher
Associate Professor of Economics
University of Central Arkansas (Conway)
Head of Cybersecurity Risk Services
UKON
Andy Runyan is the Head of Cybersecurity Risk Services for UKON, a nationwide cyber and tech e&o wholesaler. Born and raised in Little Rock, Andy now consults IT companies across the country, helping their customers obtain the right cyber coverage to fit their exposure. He has specialized in cyber insurance for 7 years and has presented alongside the FBI cybercrimes department, CISA, and state officials. He and his wife Sarah, married for 20 years, live in Paragould, AR with their three children
Owner
TLB Services
CEO
Talk Business & Politics
Executive Director
Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy
Special Agent in Charge
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Little Rock)
Financial Analyst
Frost PLLC (Little Rock)
Cole Knickrehm joined Frost, PLLC in March 2026, where he focuses on the valuation of closely held entities and litigation support services. Prior to joining Frost, Cole worked at Stephens Inc. in its Mergers & Acquisitions Group, where he focused on transaction advisory engagements across a variety of industries, including automotive and equipment dealerships, healthcare, restaurants, and financial institutions. He has executed transactions for private business owners, public company boards, and management teams, including buy-side and sell-side transactions, strategic alternatives analyses, valuation engagements, and equity and debt capital raises. Prior to Stephens, Cole accumulated five years of public accounting experience across two accounting firms, where he served in financial due diligence and audit and assurance roles. Cole is an inactive Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds both a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Arkansas.
Senior Litigation Associate
Kutak Rock LLP
Peyton Watts is a senior litigation associate at Kutak Rock splitting her time between Fayetteville and Little Rock. Peyton focuses on employment, trucking, construction, and complex commercial litigation. She has experience advocating for businesses in front of both the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in the courts. Peyton graduated from William & Mary Law School and prior to joining Kutak Rock she clerked for the Honorable Joe J. Volpe in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving with her fiancé and hiking with her Australian Shepherd, Murphy.
Director of Finance/CFO
Clinton National Airport
Laura Long is the Interim Director of Finance - CFO at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, where she oversees the Airport’s fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities and serves as a member of the senior executive team. In this role, she leads financial strategy, planning, forecasting, and performance management and advises Airport leadership on financial and economic matters supporting the organization’s strategic objectives.
President/Owner
Salt Group of Arkansas
A former State of Arkansas Tax Auditor, Jeff Simmons has almost 35 years of State and Local Tax experience. A graduate of Arkansas State University in 1989, Jeff received his degree in accounting and went to work for the Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Field Audit. He was appointed to The Governor's Quality Management Team for Field Audit and trained with the Internal Revenue Service to further his career.
After leaving the State of Arkansas he formed a consulting company to assist manufacturers, utility companies, municipalities, and universities in retrieving overpaid sales and use tax and audit assistance.
Senior Director of Human Resources
Delta Dental Plan of Arkansas
Hali Boyce serves as Senior Director of Human Resources at Delta Dental of Arkansas, bringing a decade of dedicated service to the organization. Her career reflects broad expertise in talent strategy, workforce development, and operational improvement, supported by experience in corporate training, national account management, and recruitment leadership. Over the past five years, she has deliberately advanced into executive leadership, building upon a strong foundation in performance excellence and organizational effectiveness.
This session will explain how Healthcare Captives can help Arkansas Employers regain Control.
Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl, associate professor of economics at the University of Central Arkansas, will provide an update on the Arkansas and US economies. He will discuss macroeconomic measures such as unemployment, income, and interest rates, how these measures have changed recently, and where they may go in the near future. Dr. Horpedahl will also discuss potential changes to public policy, both at the state and national level, that may impact economic variables in the future.
Andy Runyan is the Head of Cybersecurity Risk Services for UKON, a nationwide cyber and tech e&o wholesaler. Born and raised in Little Rock, Andy now consults IT companies across the country, helping their customers obtain the right cyber coverage to fit their exposure. He has specialized in cyber insurance for 7 years and has presented alongside the FBI cybercrimes department, CISA, and state officials. He and his wife Sarah, married for 20 years, live in Paragould, AR with their three children
Roby Brock, host of Talk Business & Politics, will provide an overview of the November elections and what to expect. He will also provide a roundup of economic data to provide a complete picture of the state economy.
A former State of Arkansas Tax Auditor, Jeff Simmons has almost 35 years of State and Local Tax experience. A graduate of Arkansas State University in 1989, Jeff received his degree in accounting and went to work for the Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Field Audit. He was appointed to The Governor's Quality Management Team for Field Audit and trained with the Internal Revenue Service to further his career.
After leaving the State of Arkansas he formed a consulting company to assist manufacturers, utility companies, municipalities, and universities in retrieving overpaid sales and use tax and audit assistance.
We are exploring the recent Arkansas Supreme Court decisions and Arkansas Tax Appeals Commission decisions regarding Arkansas sales and use tax. What was a promising development in exemptions has been turned upside down in the last few months and we are going to lay out the ramifications on sales and use tax and what is being done to combat these decisions. Enforcement and legal decisions have made this a difficult time to predict how the items that were originally exempted but not codified are going to be interpreted going forward
Laura Long is the Interim Director of Finance - CFO at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, where she oversees the Airport’s fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities and serves as a member of the senior executive team. In this role, she leads financial strategy, planning, forecasting, and performance management and advises Airport leadership on financial and economic matters supporting the organization’s strategic objectives.
Let’s take a look at what’s happening at LIT – from day-to-day operations and financial outlook to terminal improvements and passenger experience. We will also explore how LIT contributes to the growth and economic
vitality of Central Arkansas and what we’re doing to prepare for the future.
Peyton Watts is a senior litigation associate at Kutak Rock splitting her time between Fayetteville and Little Rock. Peyton focuses on employment, trucking, construction, and complex commercial litigation. She has experience advocating for businesses in front of both the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in the courts. Peyton graduated from William & Mary Law School and prior to joining Kutak Rock she clerked for the Honorable Joe J. Volpe in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving with her fiancé and hiking with her Australian Shepherd, Murphy.
This presentation will explore the basic types of employment claims and the available damages. There will be a specific focus on how a CPA may provide expert services for damages calculations and other support in the litigation process.
Cole Knickrehm joined Frost, PLLC in March 2026, where he focuses on the valuation of closely held entities and litigation support services. Prior to joining Frost, Cole worked at Stephens Inc. in its Mergers & Acquisitions Group, where he focused on transaction advisory engagements across a variety of industries, including automotive and equipment dealerships, healthcare, restaurants, and financial institutions. He has executed transactions for private business owners, public company boards, and management teams, including buy-side and sell-side transactions, strategic alternatives analyses, valuation engagements, and equity and debt capital raises. Prior to Stephens, Cole accumulated five years of public accounting experience across two accounting firms, where he served in financial due diligence and audit and assurance roles. Cole is an inactive Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds both a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Arkansas.
This presentation is intended to provide a foundational understanding of business valuation, including the circumstances that commonly require a valuation, the methodologies used to determine value, and the role of valuation professionals in the process. In addition, the presentation will highlight the various valuation, litigation, transaction, and advisory services that CPAs and valuation practitioners provide to support business owners, attorneys, investors, and other stakeholders.
Hali Boyce serves as Senior Director of Human Resources at Delta Dental of Arkansas, bringing a decade of dedicated service to the organization. Her career reflects broad expertise in talent strategy, workforce development, and operational improvement, supported by experience in corporate training, national account management, and recruitment leadership. Over the past five years, she has deliberately advanced into executive leadership, building upon a strong foundation in performance excellence and organizational effectiveness.
Turning Chaos into Clarity is a practical training designed to help leaders become more intentional in how they manage their work, time, and priorities. Participants will learn how to create systems and routines that reduce overwhelm, increase focus, and improve overall effectiveness. The training emphasizes that leaders set the tone for their teams—when leaders feel scattered and reactive, that energy often carries over to those they lead. By developing greater clarity and structure, leaders can model calm, confidence, and consistency, creating a more productive and engaged team environment.