Arkansas Government Contracting Specialists

msberman@uaex.edu
(501) 671-2361 

• Over 15 years of experience in the field of community and economic development.
• 7 years of experience as a Project Manager of federally funded cooperative agreements.
• Over 3 years of experience as an Awards Officer of federally funded grants and contracts.
• Regional Director for Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
• Member of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.
• Lifelong public servant, former Peace Corps and AmeriCorps member.
• Current member of the Little Rock Sister Cities Commission, promoting cultural and economic development opportunities within the state of Arkansas.
• Masters of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
• Bachelors of Art, Mass Communications from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

mfranks@uaex.edu
(501) 650-6180

• Over 15 years of Procurement Technical Assistance Center experience
• Over 15 years of experience working with small businesses (consulting, counseling and certification)
• Certified VA Verification Counselor
• Over 26 years experience in private sector management
• Past Regional Director, Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers
• Member, National Contract Management Association 
• Associates Degree, Business and Accounting, Crowder College, Neosho, MO.  
• B.A., Business Administration, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, MO.

dgarcia@uaex.edu 
(501) 671-2080

• 24-years Grant/Contract Management experience
• 12-years Community & Economic Development experience
• Professional Community & Economic Developer (PCED)
• Member of Arkansas Economic Developers
• B.S. Business Administration; Double Concentration in Management & Marketing, Lyon College, Batesville, AR
• Certified VA Verification Counselor

thicks@uaex.edu
(501) 671-2227

• 21-year veteran, United States Air Force (USAF)
• Certified VA-Verification Assistance Counselor (VAC)
• Former Arkansas Department of Finance (DFA) Office of State Procurement Specialist
• Vendor of the Year, Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP)
• State of Arkansas licensed teacher, with over 12 years in education, presented training on local, state, national and international levels
• M.S., Operational Management, College of Engineering, University of Arkansas
• B.S., Criminal Justice Administration from Park University

bmahoney@uaex.edu
501-671-2062

• 16 Years in Contracting

• Started career at US Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation
  o Served as Contracting Officer with a $20 Million warrant
  o Primarily performed Construction Contracting

• US Department of Defense, Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA)
  o Served as Procuring Contracting Officer with $10 Million warrant
  o Worked with large Defense contractors
  o Acquisitions were complex cost plus-fixed fee contracts for procurement of highly specialized, new or innovative research

• US Department of the Army, Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District
  o Served as a Contract Specialist
  o Procured supplies, services, and construction for the Little Rock District
  o Area of Expertise: Construction, Commercial Item Acquisition and Services

erussell@uaex.edu
501-671-2393

• 8 years economic development and small-business assistance experience
• 5 years small-business lending experience
• 3 years experience as an adjunct instructor of Management
• 24 years small-business ownership experience
• MBA, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
  B.A., English, Rhodes College
• Certified VA Verification Counselor
• Certified Associate Procurement Professional