Rusty Meeks, who formerly served as president and chief executive officer for the Arkansas Travelers, will start work as the state Department of Finance director of strategic initiatives late next month.
“Anyone who has attended a game at Dickey-Stephens Park has experienced Rusty’s innovation in providing a great customer experience,” state Department of Finance and Administration Secretary Jim Hudson said Monday in a news release. “I’m looking forward to him bringing that same approach to DFA.”
Meeks will start work for the department on July 21 with a salary of $141,125 a year, state Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Scott Hardin said Tuesday. Meeks’ last day with with the Arkansas Travelers was June 22, he said.
“This is the reallocation of an existing position,” Hardin said in a written statement.
“Rusty’s initial focus will be a thorough review of the services offered at the state’s 134 Revenue Offices,” he said. “He will look for opportunities to streamline and improve those services, with a customer service focus. Rusty will serve as project lead and liaison between the teams required to implement these changes. Rusty’s work will continue across the Department, from the website to the various ways we work with taxpayers.”
Meeks joined the Arkansas Travelers organization at 23 years-old, eventually leading the team as president and chief executive officer, and he is credited with creating a one-of-a-kind fan experience at Travelers games, according to the finance department. He worked for 12 seasons with the organization.
In addition, Christy Bjornson, director of state Department of Finance and Administration’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABC) and Tobacco Control Division (ATC) has been named administrator of the department’s Regulatory Division, and Paul Gehring, the department’s assistant commissioner of revenue, has accepted the department’s chief legal counsel role, Hudson announced Monday.
“DFA’s leadership team will be strengthened by these changes,” Hudson said.
Meeks, Bjornson and Gehring “understand the Department’s commitment to excellence in service,” he said. “Whether it’s a Revenue Office transaction or renewing a permit through our Regulatory Division, our customers will see that commitment. Christy and Paul are already trusted leaders within DFA, and I’m thankful to expand their roles.”
As Regulatory Division administrator, Bjornson will oversee ATC, ABC, the Medical Marijuana Commission and the Racing Commission, the finance department said. Bjornson will maintain her roles as director of ATC and ABC. The Regulatory Division has day to day oversight of 5,200 tobacco permits, 6,500 alcohol permits, more than 50 medical marijuana permits, the state’s three casinos, and live thoroughbred racing.
Bjornson replaces Trent Minner, who departed the department for the private sector at the end of 2024.
Gehring, who has led the department’s Revenue Legal Division for several years, will provide oversight to all attorneys across the department as the department’s chief legal counsel, according to the finance department. Gehring will continue to review legislation and related revenue impact reporting and maintain his revenue-related responsibilities, and Hudson has also tasked Gehring with reviewing finance department’s income and sales tax rules to find opportunities to provide clarity for taxpayers and to ease their compliance burdens.
Bjornson’s salary is now $141,125 a year, up from $133,905.20 a year, and Gehring’s salary is now $180,250.51 a year, up from $175,000.59 a year, Hardin said. They have been in their new roles since last week, he said.
Meanwhile, Hardin said while the chief economic forecaster position has not been filled since John Shelnutt retired on Dec. 31, 2023, “Secretary Hudson has full confidence in the Economic Analysis Division, which has handled forecasting since Dr. Shelnutt’s retirement.”
Hardin said that “A total of 22 resumes/CVs were received,” for the position and “Secretary Hudson had informal discussions with several candidates.
“The required qualifications include a Ph.D, with years of experience and expertise in revenue forecasting,” he said.
About two months after the departure of Robert Brech, the finance’s department’s top-ranking budget official, to become the executive director of the Office of Professional Conduct that investigates complaints against attorneys and disciplines attorneys, Hardin said that the Budget Division is currently led by Assistant Budget Administrators Cayce Raney and Jessica Moore.
Hardin added that his administration “does not have any immediate plans to fill” the budget director position.
“Applications have not been received as the position has not been posted or advertised,” Hardin said Tuesday in a written statement.
