The following people were recently hired or promoted in Northwest Arkansas. To add an employee to an upcoming list of new hires and promotions, email us at [email protected]. Announcements should be limited to a few paragraphs and be accompanied by a photograph.
John Musser, Custom Electronics
John Musser was recently promoted to CEO of Custom Electronics, Inc. after nine years with the Lowell-based technology company which serves Northwest Arkansas, the River Valley, Northeast Oklahoma and Southwest Missouri.
Musser spent the last two decades in the electrical and electronics industry and after joining Custom Electronics in 2014 as a commercial sales agent, worked his way to become chief operating officer.
Musser holds the Arkansas Level One and Level Two Alarm Board Certifications, the highest level recognized in the state. He also holds the highest level of certification for Fire Alarm in the National Institute of Certified Engineers of Technology, which is recognized by all states and the U.S. governement.
Patrick and Stacey Connelly, Salvation Army
The Salvation Army of Northwest Arkansas welcomed new leadership in Captains Patrick and Stacey Connelly, who assumed their position on June 26, 2023.
Officers are typically transferred to different locations every 3-5 years. The Connellys come from Shawnee, Oklahoma, where for the last four years they were responsible for the programs and services of the Shawnee Salvation Army Corps.
The Captains are responsible for overseeing all Northwest Arkansas Area Command services including the Fayetteville and Bentonville shelters, all three NWA Family Stores, and the Fayetteville Rehabilitation Program.
Michael Farris, Northwest Medical Center
Michael Farris has been promoted to medical director of the emergency department at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale.
Farris joined IES in 2023 as an emergency medicine physician at Northwest Health, which operates hospitals in Springdale, Bentonville, and Siloam Springs, along with freestanding emergency departments in Centerton and Fayetteville.
Prior to his current position, he worked as an emergency medicine physician at Freeman Health System in Joplin, Missouri. Before that, he served as the director of the emergency department at Labette Health in Parsons, Kansas. Dr. Farris dedicated his services as a flight surgeon in the Air Force Reserves from 2000 until 2015.
Heather Hutchison, Washington Regional
Heather Hutchison, APRN, is now providing care for patients at Washington Regional Gastroenterology Clinic, located inside Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic in Fayetteville.
Hutchison provides evaluation and treatment of disorders and diseases of the digestive system alongside Bradley Hicks, MD.
Hutchison earned her Master of Science in nursing from the University of Central Arkansas and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Arkansas. She has more than 24 years of experience in the health care industry, including seven years caring for patients at Washington Regional Urgent Care clinics.
Justin M. Webb, Arkansas Scholarship Lottery
Justin M. Webb was recently promoted to director of security and compliance of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
A native of Little Rock, Webb had been lottery security deputy director since 2021. He was hired as a lottery security specialist in 2012 and later moved to senior security specialist.
Prior to joining ASL, Webb worked as a patrol officer and sergeant for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Police Department and as a Department of Community Corrections parole and probation officer in Hot Springs.
