Faculty, staff, family and friends of the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering gathered in April to celebrate the induction of five new members. Marking the 39th anniversary of the academy, the event was held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Springdale.

The outstanding success of the annual silent auction, which raises funds for scholarships, was one of the highlights of the evening, raising $2,280 in donations.

New members inducted:

• Demond Dortch, B.S.I.E. 2002, AVP and chief mechanical officer, BNSF Rail
• Becca (Carlson) Luetjen, B.S.I.E. 2010, senior director, engineering, J.B. Hunt
• David O'Mara, B.S.I.E. 2004, director of product marketing, GoDaddy
• Jake Wofford, B.S.I.E. 2010; vice president, operations, J.B. Hunt
• Yisha Xiang, M.S.I.E. 2006, Ph.D. 2009; associate professor, University of Houston

Another highlight of the evening is the presentation of faculty and staff awards, celebrating exceptional performance and dedication. This year, the Academy Faculty Member of the Year was professor Heather Nachtmann. The award recognizes a faculty member who has contributed strongly to the department's mission for outstanding research, teaching and service.

Department head Chase Rainwater gave the remarks about Nachtmann's impact on the department. "Heather's influence extends far beyond her own research. Her funding not only supports her work but also benefits numerous faculty and students across the college," Rainwater said.

As the director of the Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center and the Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center, Nachtmann oversees funding of more than $13 million in addition to various National Science Foundation analytics projects as co-lead totaling $4.5 million.

She serves the department in multiple vital roles, from participating in faculty searches to leading the highly successful external scholarship nomination process. A well-established leader, she is recognized not only on our campus but also among state leaders in Little Rock and with various agencies and elected officials in Washington, D.C.

"We are grateful for her continued contributions to the department and the expanded framework she established in 2024, which has positioned us for continued success in the years ahead," Rainwater said.

Ashley Reeves was honored as the Administrative Staff Member of the Year. Rainwater praised her outstanding contributions over the past year, stating, "She does so many things that allow me to do my job better—the entire college has benefited from her efforts."

Reeves has taken the lead on several major projects, including coordinating the remodel of the new student learning center and organizing the Industrial Engineering Student Banquet. She has also played a key role in supporting the hiring process for new staff in the Master of Science in Operations Management program and managing the administrative responsibilities tied to the search for a department head in mechanical engineering—all while fulfilling her regular duties.

Rainwater also commended her leadership in navigating front office staffing changes, welcoming new staff member Amanda Ashlock. Additionally, he noted the special relationship she maintains with the alumni academy members and the meaningful ways she interacts with them throughout the year.

The weekend concluded on a high note with the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering's annual meeting on Saturday morning, followed by the traditional catfish picnic lunch at Bell Engineering.

The celebration in 2026 will mark an exciting milestone, the 40th anniversary of the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering. To honor this incredible legacy, the board has established a dedicated Historical Committee to capture and share the academy's rich history. Save the date for April 17, 2026, to celebrate four decades of impact, excellence and generosity.

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About the Department of Industrial Engineering: The Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Arkansas was founded in 1950, led by department head John L. Imhoff, who believed deeply in the global impact of industrial engineering. Today, the department averages over 200 undergraduate students and over 40 doctoral and master's students. In addition, the department has three online master's degrees: the Master of Science in Operations Management, Master of Science in Engineering Management and Master of Science in Operations Analytics. These three programs alone enroll over 600 students each academic year. To learn more about the Department of Industrial Engineering, please visit our website.