Bethania Baray-Harrison
Director of Talent Attraction at Jonesboro Unlimited
Bethania Baray-Harrison is an award-winning storyteller, strategist and director of talent attraction at Jonesboro Unlimited. In this role, she leads strategies to position the city as a premier destination for top talent.
She created Always Jonesboro, a talent attraction initiative showcasing the city’s quality of life, career opportunities and vibrant community. The initiative has earned national recognition, including an International Economic Development Council Excellence Award, three Gold American Advertising Awards and the Best of Show honor at the 2026 ADDY Awards.
Before transitioning to economic development, Baray-Harrison built a career in the performing arts. As a McCleave Fellow and later director of education and civic programs at Opera Memphis, she expanded partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities and Latinx organizations, while mentoring young artists who advanced to the Metropolitan Opera. She also served as director of opera and vocal instructor at Arkansas State University. Her creative impact earned her a spot on the Memphis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class in 2022.
Born in Mexico and raised in the United States, Baray-Harrison uses storytelling, creativity and community engagement to connect people and open doors of opportunity.
She holds a master's degree from the University of Arizona and a bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University. Baray-Harrison serves on the boards of Opera Memphis, the Delta Symphony Orchestra and the Jonesboro Church Health Center.
Alexandra Bowen
Senior Vice President and Private Wealth Regional President for Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas at Simmons Bank
Alexandra Bowen serves as senior vice president and private wealth regional president for Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas at Simmons Bank. In this role, she leads strategic growth and client service initiatives for high-net-worth individuals and families, bringing a relationship-focused approach to wealth management.
Bowen combines a legal, financial and accounting foundation to guide clients through complex wealth planning decisions. A certified public accountant, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a law degree from the University of Arkansas. She earned a Master of Laws in taxation from the University of Florida. Prior to joining Simmons Bank, she was in private legal practice, focusing on financial and estate planning matters.
Originally from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Bowen maintains strong ties to her community and region. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys playing mahjong and tennis, and spending time with her family.
Veronica Easton, M.D
Internal Medicine Specialist, St. Bernards Clopton Clinic
Dr. Veronica Easton is an internal medicine specialist at St. Bernards Clopton Clinic. A Jonesboro native and Valley View High School graduate, Easton has a long history with St. Bernards, having worked at the medical center while earning bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry from Arkansas State University.
She earned her medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2018, followed by an internal medicine residency and a palliative care fellowship through the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. Board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Easton is passionate about improving healthcare access and navigating the unique wellness challenges of patients in Northeast Arkansas. She lives in Jonesboro with her husband, Chad, and two children.
Candice Underwood
Director of Retail Sales, Optimum
Candice Underwood is a wife, mother of three and a grandmother. With nearly 12 years in the telecommunications industry, she transitioned from human resources leadership into retail operations and has served in multiple leadership roles throughout her career. Today, she serves as director of retail sales for Optimum’s Mid-Central region, leading teams across Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and Louisiana. Passionate about developing leaders and creating opportunities for others to grow, Underwood is pursuing her master's degree, with an expected graduation in February 2027.
