Our Mission
The mission of the Ark Angel Alliance is twofold:
Provide a member-driven marketplace to link investors to high potential early-stage ventures
Provide world-class early-stage investor education and networking opportunities
Board of Directors
Jeff Amerine
Jeff Amerine is one of the key leaders nationally involved with the creation of lasting venture ecosystems. Amerine has held senior leadership positions in nine startups and three Fortune 500 companies, and he has made more than 80+ angel investments into new ventures and small businesses either directly or through the funds he manages. Amerine now leads Startup Junkie Consulting and Cadron Capital partners. He served as Associate Vice Provost, Research and Economic Development, and Director of Technology Ventures at the University of Arkansas until leaving to pursue Startup Junkie Consulting full-time. His work at the University canvassed every aspect of the commercialization of life science, biotech, medical devices, healthcare information technology, pharma, and other areas of scientific and technical innovation. Amerine is a recognized expert in lean startup methodology and customer development processes. In addition, he is an adjunct professor and teaches entrepreneurship at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. Prior to all of this, Amerine served six years as United States Air Force Officer, working in the Strategic Air Command as a missile launch officer and later in research and development acquisition. He graduated from United States Naval Academy in 1984 and holds a Master of Science in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas. He is a certified Project Management Institute Project Management Professional (PMP).
James Hendren, Treasurer
James K. Hendren has been the entrepreneurial champion for the advancement of technology startup companies and knowledge job development since the mid-1980’s. He received his doctorate in physics from the University of Arkansas in 1972, providing a foundation for his successful career in sophisticated software development in both the defense and finance industries. James was CEO, then Chairman of Arkansas Systems, Inc. (ARKSYS), one of the early Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) “high-tech” companies. While growing that company from a small, home-grown company to an internationally known corporation, he served on the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority board of directors and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission where he lead the charge for changing the economic development strategies to include high tech startup companies. Hendren has spearheaded the efforts to produce an excellent environment to encourage startup companies in Arkansas.
He has formally worked with more than thirty technology startup companies being CEO of four. He is the Chairman of the Arkansas Venture Center, where he actively participates in the direction of the Center and as an active mentor to members of the Center.
Amy Hopper Swan, Chair
As Program Manager for the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA), Amy coordinates activities that expand collaboration and innovation among research leaders and institutions in the state. Amy led the launch of and administers the ARA Core Facilities Exchange (CFE), an online database of 320+ research assets and accompanying services available for use in laboratories across the state. The CFE exists to enhance statewide grant competitiveness, foster collaboration, reduce redundancy in capital expenditures, increase utilization, and ultimately support a thriving statewide research enterprise. Prior to joining ARA, Amy directed an accelerator for scalable, early-stage entrepreneurs located throughout Arkansas and the Delta Regional Authority territory. She launched her own healthcare software company in 2021 and is board chair of the Ark Angel Alliance, a statewide angel investor network. Amy holds an MBA from the University of Arkansas, is a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), completed the Community Development Institute in 2021, and served as an Arkansas delegate to the Delta Leadership Institute’s Executive Academy in 2018 and 2019.
Jeannette Collins
Jeannette is focused on building an ecosystem that connects ideas, people and resources to ensure entrepreneurial vibrancy—put another way, to highlight and support the brilliant creative potential of NWA and its inhabitants (current and future). As the primary contact for the StartupNWA program, she works with region-wide stakeholders on goals including connectivity, capital access, talent growth, university-industry engagement, resource navigation and story sharing. Originally from Little Rock and currently in Fayetteville, she’s a true champion of the limitless opportunities of NWA.
Alese Johnston, Chair Emeritus
Alese Johnston is a founding partner at StorageTrader, a Little Rock marketplace platform for self-storage facility investments. Her work with StorageTrader draws on her decades of experience in both the FinTech and self-storage industries. She is also an angel investor focusing on real estate and FinTech StartUps.
She is a frequent speaker at local organizations like The Venture Center, Rotary Club 99, the Arkansas Association of Subcontractors, the Arkansas Society of CPAs, the Arkansas Society of Human Resource Managers, the Little Rock Chamber and Little Rock’s Tech Fest. She has been featured in Arkansas Business, Talk Business and Arkansas Money and Politics. She is quoted in “Exit Planning: The Definitive Guide” – by John Brown, CEO of BEI, in articles by Todd Ganos published in Forbes and has presented for the BEI National Conference for Exit Planners. Her favorite topic is the Silver Tsunami and its impact on economic stability.
Her board service resume includes Rotary Club 99 , Leadership Greater Little Rock Alumni Association, Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts, The Allen School, The Centers for Youth and Families, and the Heartland Alliance for Regional Transmission. She currently serves the Venture Center as a mentor and the Arkansas Governor’s Cup as a judge for the Innovation Division.
Lastly, Stroud is a graduate of both Leadership Greater Little Rock Class 21 and Leadership Arkansas Class 12.
Philip Tappan
Philip Tappan is the Managing Partner of Tappan Land & Water a company owning the majority interest in Quality Foods, LLC (Purple Cow Restaurants), real property LLC’s and natural resource properties in several central Arkansas counties.
A veteran of the foodservice industry, Philip held positions of increasing responsibility with Quality Foods, Inc. from 1985 to 2003. He served as General Manager, President/COO of Quality Foods, and ultimately President/CEO of Quality Performance Food Group. While at Quality he served on the Boards of Directors of International Foodservice Distributors and the Arkansas Hospitality Association. Quality Foods, Inc. was sold to Performance Food Group in 2002 and Philip retired from foodservice distribution in December 2003.
An active community leader, Philip also serves or has served on the Board of Directors for Delta Trust & Bank, Simmons Bank, CHI-St. Vincent Foundation, Arkansas Community Foundation, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Board and Foundation, and Arkansas Foodbank Network where he also served as the campaign chair for the “From Hunger to Hope Capital Campaign” which led to the construction of the Foodbanks state-of-the-art $14.5 million distribution center.
John Nabholz
John Nabholz shares his passion for science and technology-based start-up companies by serving as a long-time member and past Chair of the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority board and as current Chair of the Commercialization Committee. ASTA has a focus to transform University Research and innovative business ideas into growing business startups with deep roots in Arkansas. Nabholz has been an active member of a number of investment funds including Cadron Creek Capital, Cadron Capital Partners, and is currently a Managing Partner for Health Tech Arkansas, a healthcare accelerator and early-stage investment fund that immerses world-class, early-stage healthcare companies from around the country into Arkansas’ leading hospital systems and physician practices.
He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of The Nabholz Group which provides a full range of construction services. Nabholz Construction has been nationally recognized for its innovative employee health care benefits system. Mr. Nabholz also serves on the Board of Directors of NABCO Mechanical and Electrical and Nabholz Properties.
Johns other current activities include Arkansas Policy Foundation Board Member and Vice-Chair, Conway Regional Medical Center Charitable Foundation Board, Health Sciences Entrepreneurship Boot Camp Mentor and volunteer, Conductor (Entrepreneur Incubator) – Mentor and Volunteer, Kiwanis International (Long Term Active Member and Past Board Member), Conway Catholic Campus Ministry Student Center Fundraising Chair.
Marla Johnson
Marla Johnson spent over 20 years deploying pioneering and award-winning work in Internet application development, data design, marketing and digital media in multiple industries including finance, government, retail, agriculture, health, tourism and food-service as CEO and Cofounder of Aristotle, Inc. In 2017, Marla funneled her passion into her online marketing and media consulting firm for transformative technology, Smart Media, LLC, and in 2018, she co-founded LeapXL with Brian Stack.
Courtney Little
Courtney Little graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a focus on Finance and later received his Juris Doctorate from William H. Bowen School of Law. He practiced construction and real estate law until he closed his firm in 2008 when he purchased ACE Glass and was named President and General Counsel. Little has a unique combination of construction and legal experience that helps him serve his customers and solve problems.