Leadership

Jamie Smith and her husband have lived in Elkins since 2012 and have four pets. She is the owner of Jamie’s Notebook, a home-based writing and consulting agency. Jamie is also a direct sales stylist with the company Lilla Rose and a soon-to-be author.

She is co-founder of the Elkins Community Network and is also is a founding board member of GiveCamp Northwest Arkansas, which is a nonprofit that serves other local nonprofit organizations by providing them with free technology tools, especially websites.

Jamie is a 2000 graduate of John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark., where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

A. Matt Francis has served in a number of leadership roles in the private, government and non-profit sectors. Matt is Founder, President and CEO of Ozark Integrated Circuits, Inc., an Arkansas-based designer and manufacturer of high-temperature electronics. Since 2019, he has served as Council Member, Ward 1, Position 2, for the City of Elkins. He has served in a number of volunteer roles for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical professional society, including as Chair for the Ozark area Section (Northwest Arkansas). He was recently elected to serve as one of 10 worldwide region directors, first as Vice-Chair of Region 5 (American Southwest, 2022-2023) and Region 5 Director (2024-2025). Matt holds the BS Physics, BS and MS Electrical Engineering and PhD degrees all from the University of Arkansas.

Matt is passionate about his community, and helping foster the next generation of successful Arkansans. He is co-founder of the Elkins Electronics/Robotics Club (EREC), which meets weekly at the Elkins Public Library. He is a co-founder of the Elkins Community Network (ECN), helping to connect the community to resources they need. He also serves as an adviser to the Science Venture Studio (SVS) through Startup Junkie that helps foster science-based new businesses in Arkansas. Matt and wife Lynn have lived in the Elkins area for over 15 years, where they restored the 1896 R.H. Stokenbury house and continue to farm hay crops with their daughter Molly on the historic homestead.

Lynn Francis is the owner of Purple Cheetah Consulting, LLC, a web design and digital marketing company that specializes in helping other small businesses to develop their online presence. Lynn is a native of Northwest Arkansas who graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelors of Music Education and a Masters of Music Performance. A lifelong educator, Lynn uses her background in education to help facilitate the Elkins Robotics and Electronics Club and the University of Arkansas Summer Marimba Camp. In her spare time, Lynn enjoys riding horses and working on the small family farm she shares with her husband, Matt, and daughter, Molly.

Mike Abbiatti returns to NWA after retiring from the U.S. Army as a senior officer in the Army Medical Dept. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Arkansas; is an avid Razorback fan after serving as the Captain of the UA Track and Field Team. Abbiatti's career as a technocrat includes serving as a Vice President for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education in Boulder, Colorado, Executive Director for the Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network(ARE-ON) housed at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and lead in the development and operation of the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative( LONI)  as  Associate Commissioner for the Louisiana Board of Regents in Baton Rouge, Louisiana responsible for technology initiatives in higher education. Abbiatti currently serves as the State Ambassador for the US Army Education Outreach Program (AEOP) advocating STEM education throughout the Natural State. Abbiatti's wife, Nan, is a Master Gardener, retired English teacher, and is kept busy with grandchildren in Arkansas, New York, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.

Eve Owens and her husband, Mike, are long-time residents of Elkins and she is active in the community both as a member of the Elkins Library Board of Directors and a member of the ECN Board.

She has more than 20 years of experience in IT security, training and support, application development/programming, and project/team/operations management. Eve is a successful leader that ensures company policies, standards, and procedures were maintained while meeting industry standards and providing optimal support for all stakeholders.

Ezequiel Tovar lives in Elkins and is an Arkansas native. He currently serves as an ECN Ambassador and is a senior at the University of Arkansas majoring in Finance. Ezequiel has a variety of intern experience including various aspects of business and finance management.

Anthony Malloy has been a member of the Elkins community for his entire life. Born in Northwest Arkansas in 2000, he attended Elkins Public Schools for all of his education. He currently studies electrical engineering at the University of Arkansas and has a love for all things nature and antique electronic repair. He has always considered the relationships that he’s formed with the residents of Elkins as some of the most influential and is ecstatic to serve as an ambassador to the community!

Case Kirk is an Elkins Community Network Ambassador and student member of IEEE. He is currently studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. In addition to his studies, Case assists with the Elkins Robotics/Electronics Club. As an ambassador, he sees opportunities to help guide Elkins towards the future; as a resident, he sees many opportunities to strengthen our community.