Mike Mills already out as Arkansas Parks, Heritage and Tourism chief

Gov. Sarah Sanders introduced late Friday afternoon that Mike Mills, the secretary of the state’s Division of Parks, Heritage and Tourism since solely December 2022, is “[stepping] away from the administration” and will likely be changed by Arkansas State Parks Director Shea Lewis.

Mills, proprietor of the Buffalo Outside Heart in Ponca and a member of the division’s board on outside tourism, was appointed by Sanders to guide the division in December. He changed Stacy Hurst, an Asa Hutchinson appointee.

One other division official, tourism director Travis Napper, announced yesterday he was leaving to take a job for a job within the personal sector with Tourism Economics.

The governor’s press launch didn’t embrace an evidence for Mills’ departure. The total launch:

Sanders Broadcasts Shea Lewis as Interim Secretary of the Arkansas Division of Parks, Heritage and Tourism

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Immediately, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders introduced Shea Lewis, at the moment Director of Arkansas State Parks, will likely be serving as interim Arkansas Division of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary as Secretary Mike Mills steps away from the administration.

“Arkansas is the Pure State, and along with his robust document of management in Arkansas parks and tourism, Shea Lewis is completely geared up to step seamlessly into this new function and proceed our work to develop our outside economic system and make Arkansas an unparalleled place to stay, work, and lift a household,” Sanders mentioned. “I thank Secretary Mills for his service to this administration and years of labor as a pioneer in Arkansas’ tourism business.”

Shea Lewis biography:

Shea Lewis was chosen because the tenth director of Arkansas State Parks in 2022. In that function, he was answerable for the day-to-day operation of 52 state parks present in 48 counties, masking 55,000 acres throughout the state.

With over 9 million guests on an annual foundation, his areas of accountability ranged from operations, upkeep, planning, growth, emergency and program companies, advertising, promotion, income, gross sales, outside grants, and normal administration.

Shea began his profession with Arkansas State Parks as a seasonal park interpreter in 1995. With practically three many years below his belt, he has additionally served as a full-time interpreter, park superintendent, area supervisor, and deputy director for Arkansas State Parks.

He acquired a bachelor’s diploma in parks, recreation, and leisure research from the College of Memphis and a grasp’s diploma in instructional/tutorial media design from the College of Arkansas at Little Rock.

A spokesperson for the Parks and Tourism division didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark about Mills’ departure or whether or not his resignation was requested by the governor.

Pulaski County property tax data present Mills and his spouse, Rhonda, purchased a home within the Heights neighborhood in Little Rock for $825,000 in December.

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