Former Commerce Secretary Mike Preston joins Stephens Inc.

Former Arkansas Secretary of Commerce and Arkansas Financial Growth Fee director Mike Preston is becoming a member of Stephens Inc. to begin a brand new Web site & Incentive Advisory (SIA) apply, the Little Rock-based funding agency stated Wednesday (Jan. 18).

Preston served eight years as AEDC director for former Gov. Asa Hutchinson. After authorities reorganization in 2019, Preston served as Commerce Secretary. He will likely be primarily based in Little Rock.

The brand new Stephens SIA group will advise companies on their progress methods by serving to them perceive the alternatives and challenges with website choice. This may embody navigating advanced incentive plans and help with negotiations so as to produce optimum options for his or her shareholders, the corporate stated.

“Mike has constructed appreciable experience in understanding what’s essential to an organization looking for to increase geographically,” stated Brad Eichler, Govt Vice President and Head of Funding Banking. “This experience contains not solely website choice however an intensive understanding of the workforce and incentive applications. We imagine this experience will likely be useful to shoppers all through the nation. We’re excited to have somebody of Mike’s caliber and popularity be part of our group, and to supply his skillset for the good thing about our company shoppers.”

Previous to his work in Arkansas, Preston served as Vice President of Authorities Relations with Enterprise Florida, Inc. He additionally served as Chief of Employees for Senator Steve Oelrich of Florida.

Preston earned his Bachelor of Political Science from the College of Florida in 2005.