S P E A K E R S

S P E A K E R S

S C H E D U L E

S C H E D U L E

K E Y N O T E S

K E Y N O T E S

A T T E N D

A T T E N D

Executive Track Speakers

sponsored by

Barbara Sugg

President & CEO, Southwest Power Pool

Barbara Sugg currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer at Southwest Power Pool, headquartered in Little Rock. Sugg leads SPP’s strategic efforts across a multi-state footprint to work together to responsibly and economically keep the lights on, today and in the future. Prior to this position, she served SPP as Senior Vice President of IT and Chief Security Officer, leading complex and strategic technology initiatives while protecting SPP from cyber risk. Sugg participates in several industry organizations and is active in her local community. She is a certified executive coach and founded the Leadership Foundation for Women whose mission seeks to equip women in pursuit of career success.

Barbara is a proud Ragin’ Cajun, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is an alumni of Harvard Business School, having completed the Advanced Management Program. Barbara is married with 2 children and 2 grandchildren and resides with her husband in Little Rock. In August 2024, Barbara announced her intent to retire from Southwest Power Pool in April 2025 with over 35 years of service to the organization.

Jean Block

CEO, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority

Jean Block is the Chief Executive Officer of Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA) - the sewer utility of the City of Little Rock and the largest wastewater utility in the State of Arkansas. Block was named CEO in August 2023 and is the 6 th CEO in the utility’s history and the first woman to serve in this role. She is a licensed attorney and practiced law for 23 years prior to becoming CEO. Her prior role was Chief Legal Officer at Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority. She has also served as Chief Legal Counsel of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, and an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arkansas.

Block is originally from Mill Valley, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas School of Law. She and her husband, Rodney, live in downtown Little Rock with their cat, CiCi.

2025 Presenting Sponsors

  • DELTA DENTAL OF ARKANSAS

    CO-PRESENTING SPONSOR

  • THE HATCHER AGENCY

    CO-PRESETING SPONSOR