Stephanie Garner

The Arkansas River Valley Area Council (ARVAC) has served the low-income children and families of Conway, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Perry, Polk, Pope, Scott, and Yell Counties for over 50 years. Because ARVAC has continuously evolved to meet the community’s needs, today, they are broadly recognized in their service area as the most effective and trusted partner for families fighting to escape or avoid poverty.

CEO, Stephanie Garner has been in place since 2013. Under her leadership, ARVAC has undergone restructuring and reorganizing efforts that have saved atrisk programs and resulted in financial and operational stability for the program. She has worked across divisions within the agency to enhance communications and organizational culture, as well as spearheaded successful funding and development efforts. Under her leadership, ARVAC has grown from 1.5 million in operational grant funds 18 million annually.

Ms. Garner has also been integrally involved in crafting comprehensive programming and case management efforts, including comprehensive services and economic engines to support lifting families out of poverty. With over fifteen (15) years prior experience in workforce and economic development, she is working collaboratively with key stakeholders, individuals, and families to break the cycle of poverty within their communities and move individuals toward economic opportunity.

Ms. Garner is a graduate of the University of the Ozarks with a degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from Arkansas Tech University. She serves as a board member on the Arkansas Department of Finance Authority (ADFA) and Past President of the Dardanelle Rotary Club.

A native of Kansas City, Kansas she currently resides in Russellville, Arkansas with her husband minister Henry Garner Jr., daughter Mariah, and son Amare. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, gardening, and preserving her harvest while teaching other how to live sustainably.