LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced today that she will appoint Shash Goyal, Annemarie Dillard Jazic, Glen Johnson, John Schmelzle, and Jon Wickliffe to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Each of these appointments will expire on January 14, 2027. Shash Goyal will replace Mike Carroll, Annemarie Dillard Jazic will replace William Brewer, Glen Johnson will replace Gina Radke, John Schmelzle will replace Richard Barrows, and Jon Wickliffe will be reappointed.

“I am proud to appoint this group of talented, experienced business leaders to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission,” Sanders said. “Together, we will make Arkansas the best place to start and grow a business, attracting companies across the nation and the world to make their home here in Arkansas. Their expertise will be an asset to my administration as we foster a pro-worker, pro-business environment that will unleash our full economic potential.”

Shash Goyal Bio:
Shash Goyal is the CEO and founder of I Square Management, directing acquisition and redevelopment of hotels and commercial properties. He has invested and developed multiple real estate projects in Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, California, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Alabama.

He is a graduate of the University of Gujarat, India, where he received his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and his MBA in Finance.

In 2013, he was appointed as a member of the State Parks and Tourism Commission, and in 2017 he served as chairman. That same year, he was named a “Rising Star 40 under 40” by Arkansas Business, and in 2018, he was listed in Arkansas Top 200.

Annemarie Dillard Jazic Bio:
Annemarie Dillard Jazic is the Vice President of Ecommerce and Digital Marketing for Dillard’s and has over two decades of retail experience with a breadth of expertise ranging from visual merchandising, buying, trend direction, procurement, marketing, and ecommerce. Annemarie has held board positions on technology startups, Sapho (acquired by Citrix) and Venku and is as an active angel investor for several startup companies.

Annemarie is a graduate of Pulaski Academy in Little Rock Arkansas and has a bachelor’s degree from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California where she graduated *** laude and was awarded the Marsha Israel award for most outstanding student in the Lloyd Greif School of Entrepreneurship.

With a long philanthropic background, Annemarie was president of the California Gamma Chapter of Pi Beta Phi, a member of the board of advisors for USC’s Marshall Partners and board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters while in Los Angeles. In Arkansas, Annemarie has served on the boards of UAMS Winthrop P Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Arkansas State Fair, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and was a committee member for the Economic Recovery Task Force during the COVID-19 crisis.

Glen Johnson Bio:
Glen is the President of Blue Flame Minerals and Co-CEO of DYNE Hospitality Group and DYNE Development. Blue Flame Minerals is an oil and gas company that invests in mineral rights throughout the country, including the Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas. DYNE Hospitality Group is the largest Tropical Smoothie Café franchisee with over 100 cafes in six states, including 25 in Arkansas, and more than 2,000 employees. DYNE Development is a real estate development company focused on building real estate for Tropical Smoothie Café franchisees. All three businesses were started by Glen and are headquartered in downtown Little Rock.

John Schmelzle Bio:
John operates Schmelzle & Associates, a commercial real estate development and investment company focused primarily on Northwest Arkansas. The company also has active investments in in hospitality-including Walk-On, Slim Chickens and Freddy’s as well as a mineral exploration company.

In 2009, John served in an operational capacity for Kingston Management Services, which in a partnership with the FDIC, acquired a $1.2 billion portfolio of mostly defaulted real estate loans, originated by the now defunct Arkansas National Bank. He then went on to acquire portfolios of distressed real estate debt in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crises.

John began his career in 2001 as a multi-family broker for a firm which eventually became Warren Buffet’s Berkadia. He later went on to handle acquisitions for a Salt Lake City based apartment investment company, operating nationwide.

John currently serves as Chairman of the Planning Commission for the City of Rogers – one of the fastest growing municipalities in the nation. He also serves on the board of directors for the U.S. Marshal’s Museum Foundation in Fort Smith, AR as well as the Benton County based Law Enforcement Assistance Program, a 501c3 dedicated to providing support to local law enforcement agencies.

John holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, is a CCIM candidate, Urban Land Institute member, and holds a Real Estate Broker’s license in the State of Arkansas.

Jon Wickliffe Bio:
Jon Wickliffe grew up in Little Rock and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 1999, Jon was appointed by the Mayor to the Little Rock Port Authority. He served on the Board of the Port Authority for 19 years, including two years as Chairman. In 2019, Jon was appointed to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

He started his career working in the sand and gravel business with Jeffrey Sand Company, and is now responsible for business development in Arkansas at Vantage Health Plan. Prior to his work with Vantage, Jon spent 20 years in executive sales roles in pharmaceuticals.