The purpose of the Arkansas Lottery Commission is to oversee the operation of a lottery whose net proceeds will provide scholarships and grants to Arkansas citizens for in-state colleges and universities. Scholarships are to be available for nonprofit, public and private, two and four-year colleges and universities. The commission may establish and oversee one or more lotteries to fund the scholarships as well as to fund the commission operations. Arkansas Code Annotated § 23-115-102 and 23-115-801(a)(2)(A).
Under A.C.A. § 23-115-102, the lotteries are to be operated and managed in a manner that:
• Provides continuing entertainment to the public
• Maximizes the revenue generated
• Preserves the integrity and dignity of the process
• Accounts to the public and the General Assembly through reports and audits
Ray Thornton, Little Rock, Chair Thornton is the UALR Bowen School of Law Public Service Fellow. He served Arkansas as a Congressman, Attorney General, and Supreme Court Justice, as well as the President of both Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas System. This appointment by Senate President Pro Tempore Bob Johnson expires April 1, 2015.
Dianne Lamberth, Batesville, Vice Chair Lamberth is Secretary, Lyon College Board of Trustees; Past Chair, University of Arkansas at Batesville Board of Visitors; Chair, White River Health System Board of Directors, Chair, Governor’s Task Force for the Twenty-First Century Economy; and a member of the First Community Bank Board of Directors. This ALC appointment by Governor Mike Beebe expires April 1, 2015.
Derrick Smith, Little Rock, Secretary-Treasurer Smith is a partner in the Mitchell Williams Law Firm of Little Rock, Rogers, and Austin, Texas. His practice focuses on insurance, corporate and regulatory law, appellate practice, and administrative law. This appointment by Senator Johnson expires April 1, 2011.
George J. Hammons, Pine Bluff Dr. Hammons is Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Philander Smith College. He is a senior scientist at the National Center for Toxicological Research, and earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University. He has previously served on the Arkansas Racing Commission and the Bradley County Board of Election Commissioners. This appointment by Governor Beebe expires April 1, 2011.
Mike Malone, Fayetteville Malone is the Executive Director of the Northwest Arkansas Council, an economic development group. Previously, he worked as a congressional aide in Washington, D.C. and as an assistant in the Clinton White House. This appointment by House Speaker Robbie Wills expires April 1, 2013.
Ben Pickard, Searcy Pickard retired last year after 28 years as Vice Chancellor of Student Services at Arkansas State University-Beebe. He is past president of the Arkansas College Personnel Association, Arkansas Association of Student Financial Aid Administration, and the Arkansas Council on Student Services, and he served by appointment of the Governor on the Arkansas Student Loan Authority. This appointment by Governor Beebe expires April 1, 2013.
Patty Shipp, Morrilton Shipp, with her husband Kenny, have been small business owners since 1979. The two have owned and operated several retail businesses, including a clothing store and a convenience store. This appointment by Senator Johnson expires April 1, 2013.
Dr. Susan Ward-Jones, Marion Ward-Jones is a physician who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the East Arkansas Family Health Center in West Memphis, with satellite offices in Lepanto and Blytheville. She also serves on the Arkansas State Board of Health. This appointment by Representative Wills expires April 1, 2011.
Joe White, Conway White is a former trustee at the University of Central Arkansas, owns a convenience store, and is a bank board member. He is a former general manager of an automobile dealership. This appointment by Representative Wills expires April 1, 2015.
Director, Ernie Passailaigue
Ernie Passailaigue is a native South Carolinian, born in Charleston. He graduated from Porter-Gaud School in 1965, earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of South Carolina in 1969 and received a Master’s in Business Administration from The Citadel in 1974. While working in Charlotte, North Carolina as a senior accountant for an international public accounting firm, he passed the exam and was licensed as a certified public accountant in 1971. Passailaigue served as an Associate Professor of Business Administration at the Charleston Southern University from 1973 to 1988. At the same time, he was managing partner of his own accounting firm in Charleston. Also, Passailaigue is the former owner of the Charleston Royals and Rainbows Professional Baseball Team. In 1988, he was elected to South Carolina Senate and served for thirteen years until August 2001, when he resigned to become Executive Director of the South Carolina Education Lottery. He has served on a number of boards and committees, and has been the recipient of numerous legislative and public service awards.
Mr. Passailaigue currently serves the lottery profession as immediate Past President of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), Chairman of the Powerball Group and Vice President of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL).
David Barden, Vice President, Gaming Operations
Ernestine Middleton, Vice President, Administration
Julie Baldridge, Director, Public Affairs and Legislative Relations
Joanna Bunten, Director, Advertising and Marketing
Carolyn Cabell, Director, Product Development
Lance Huey, Director of Security
Philip Miley, Controller
Timothy Parrish, Treasurer
Mike Smith, Director, IT Gaming
Robert Stebbins, Director of Sales
Robin Ussery, HR Manager
Mary VanLeer, Director, IT Infrastructure
Bishop Woosley, Chief Legal Counsel