After 31 years of loyal service, David Short of Arvest Bank in Benton County, Ark. will retire as president and CEO of that local market on April 1, 2012. Dennis Smiley, current president of Arvest Bank in Springdale, will replace Short at that time. See the following announcement for additional details.
BENTONVILLE, Ark., (January 9, 2012)—Arvest Bank has announced that David Short will officially retire as president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank in Benton County on April 1, 2012, and that Dennis Smiley, current president of Arvest Bank in Springdale, will replace Short in Benton County.
Until April 1, 2012, both men will continue their current positions and work together for a smooth transition in Benton County and Springdale. Smiley will be working in both organizations to help with the transition in Springdale and to meet and visit with the associates of Arvest, Benton County.
“We appreciate and honor David’s long, distinguished career of serving Arvest customers for the past 31 years. He has exemplified customer-focused banking for everyone in the company and has led by example throughout his career. David’s retirement opens the door for another leader, Dennis Smiley, who has shown an equal passion for serving our customers. We are fortunate to have outstanding young leaders throughout the bank and Dennis has proven to be just such a person,” said Scott Grigsby, executive vice president and regional manager for Arvest Bank Group.
Dennis Smiley joined Arvest in 1989 working as a commercial loan officer with McIlroy Bank in Fayetteville. In 1991, he joined the then-Springdale Bank and Trust as a loan manager and moved to sales manager in 1999. He was promoted to his current position of president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank, Springdale, in 2001.
Smiley is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s of arts degree in political science and a master’s degree in business administration. He is a graduate of the Stonier School of Banking sponsored by the American Bankers Association. He has served as an instructor both at the Arkansas School of Bank Management and The Walton Institute.
Smiley is active in a variety of community service organizations, including current chairman of the board for the Endeavor Foundation, the Care Foundation and Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation. He is currently involved with Ozark Guidance Center Foundation, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, The Jones Center for Families, The Arts Center of the Ozarks and Springdale Rotary Club.
Smiley and his wife, Cynthia Smiley, are the parents of Jessica and Joseph, both of whom attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
David Short has served as the president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank, Benton County since 2009. Prior to that he was president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank, Bentonville since 1998; chairman, president and chief executive officer of WestStar Bank in Bartlesville, Okla., from 1994 to 1998; and president and chief executive officer of First National Bank of Siloam Springs from 1986 to 1991.
Short started with the Arvest family of banks at the Bank of Bentonville as a vice president and loan officer in 1980 and was promoted to senior vice president and operations manager in 1982. He served as a loan manger in 1984, and was promoted to executive vice president and sales manager in 1986. He has also served as a senior vice president and leasing representative for First Arkansas Leasing Corp., Worthen Bank, in Little Rock from 1976 to 1980 and as assistant vice president and branch manager for First Commercial Bank in Little Rock from 1973 to 1976.
Short is a current board member for Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation and Downtown Bentonville, Inc. He is a member of the Rogers Rotary Club. He has served as a past chairman for the State Banking Board, the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Bentonville and the Bentonville/Bella Vista Adult Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a past board member of Bentonville Public Schools Foundation, Bentonville Cancer Challenge, past treasurer for the Benton County Razorback Club and a past board president for the Beaver Water District.
He and his wife, Deb, have three adult children and seven grandchildren.