Our Team
Reginald James is a 1997 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics. He completed a M.S. in Education in 2004 from Bethel College in McKenzie, Tennessee.
Reginald is a pianist and organist, and enjoys playing a wide variety of music from jazz and country to R&B, but his passion is church music. He has performed and shared the stage with gospel music greats including Kirk Franklin, Walter Hawkins, Point of Grace, Ben Rector, Dorinda Clark-Cole, O’Landa Draper and The Associates to name a few. For over 30 years, Reginald has been involved in Music Ministry, and directed several local, regional and national bands and choirs. In 2007, he joined the Christian Life Cathedral staff in Fayetteville, Arkansas as the Worship and Arts Pastor.
During the last decade Reginald has been actively involved in music production, and has arranged, recorded and produced several projects for individuals all across the country. Reginald finds fulfillment in helping other organizations and individual musicians achieve their goals and visions.
Recently Reginald has embarked on a music venture with long-time friend and business partner Anthony Ball. Music Moves came to fruition in November of 2019. The purpose was to share Black Music and Arts to their local community and abroad. Reginald is currently enrolled in the Arkansas Center for Black Music at the University of Arkansas. He is seeking a Masters Degree in Black Sacred Music which is one of a kind in the country and is only offered at the University of Arkansas.
Reginald is a pianist and organist, and enjoys playing a wide variety of music from jazz and country to R&B, but his passion is church music. He has performed and shared the stage with gospel music greats including Kirk Franklin, Walter Hawkins, Point of Grace, Ben Rector, Dorinda Clark-Cole, O’Landa Draper and The Associates to name a few. For over 30 years, Reginald has been involved in Music Ministry, and directed several local, regional and national bands and choirs. In 2007, he joined the Christian Life Cathedral staff in Fayetteville, Arkansas as the Worship and Arts Pastor.
During the last decade Reginald has been actively involved in music production, and has arranged, recorded and produced several projects for individuals all across the country. Reginald finds fulfillment in helping other organizations and individual musicians achieve their goals and visions.
Recently Reginald has embarked on a music venture with long-time friend and business partner Anthony Ball. Music Moves came to fruition in November of 2019. The purpose was to share Black Music and Arts to their local community and abroad. Reginald is currently enrolled in the Arkansas Center for Black Music at the University of Arkansas. He is seeking a Masters Degree in Black Sacred Music which is one of a kind in the country and is only offered at the University of Arkansas.
Dr. Jeffrey Allen Murdock is internationally known as a conductor, clinician, and music educator. He currently serves as Director of Choral Activities, Professor of Music, and is the Founding Director of the Arkansas Center for Black Music at the University of Arkansas. He is a 2016 Connor Endowed Faculty Fellow in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, a 2018 recipient of the Golden Tusk Award, the 2019 Most Outstanding Faculty Member among all university faculty, a member of the distinguished University of Arkansas Teaching Academy and is the 2021 GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year.
Dr. Murdock appears regularly in concert, recital, and stage performances, having previously conducted the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, the (Mississippi) Gulf Coast Symphony and has also performed as a soloist with the Fort Smith Symphony, the Memphis Symphony, the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, and the Southern Mississippi Opera. Dr. Murdock’s love of scholarship and performance has led him to study and perform around the world. As a music educator, he loves to invest his knowledge and experience in the next generation of young musicians through clinic opportunities with secondary choral programs, conducting honor choruses, and mentoring choral music educators. Dr. Murdock is highly sought after as a clinician in the field of choral music and education, having conducted All-State and All-Region choirs, or headlined conferences in 26 states and 7 countries. In 2013, he made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting the Millington Chorale in a well-received concert of diverse repertoire. The evening concert featuring the ensemble was praised for its preparation and the ensemble’s maturity of sound.
Dr. Murdock appears regularly in concert, recital, and stage performances, having previously conducted the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, the (Mississippi) Gulf Coast Symphony and has also performed as a soloist with the Fort Smith Symphony, the Memphis Symphony, the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, and the Southern Mississippi Opera. Dr. Murdock’s love of scholarship and performance has led him to study and perform around the world. As a music educator, he loves to invest his knowledge and experience in the next generation of young musicians through clinic opportunities with secondary choral programs, conducting honor choruses, and mentoring choral music educators. Dr. Murdock is highly sought after as a clinician in the field of choral music and education, having conducted All-State and All-Region choirs, or headlined conferences in 26 states and 7 countries. In 2013, he made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting the Millington Chorale in a well-received concert of diverse repertoire. The evening concert featuring the ensemble was praised for its preparation and the ensemble’s maturity of sound.
Grady Matthews started out playing in his worship band at a church in Oklahoma. He later went on to start a southern rock duo called Mike and Grady, eventually creating a full band named 412 West. He found himself passionate about real estate and hasn’t looked back. With two decades of experience in Northwest Arkansas’ commercial real estate scene, Grady possesses a talent for connecting people and opportunities. Cutting his teeth as a landlord leasing representative for a decade, Grady’s previous partnership at Cushman Wakefield | Sage Partners solidified his reputation for excellence.Today, his primary focus is connecting buyers with private equity opportunities. With his deep local knowledge and extensive network, Grady is the go-to expert and serves as a truly valuable asset to our board both for his knowledge and his character.
Anthony Ball is a Northwest Arkansas musician and entrepreneur. Anthony has toured
nationwide as a musician, and has produced shows working with artists like The Platters,
Montell Jordan, Morris Day & The Time, Blind Boys of Alabama, Byron Cage, Bobby Rush,
Richard Smallwood, Fred Hammond, Carl Thomas, and more. Anthony's booking agency,
Smoothman Music Productions, provides luxury entertainment for corporate events,
festivals, weddings, and many special events. His newest venture is Music Moves, a
nonprofit he co-founded to promote Black art and culture in the region through education
and performance. When Anthony is not performing on stage, you'll find him producing
shows, coordinating high-profile events, and promoting freedom through entrepreneurship.
Anthony has big ideas and an even bigger heart!
nationwide as a musician, and has produced shows working with artists like The Platters,
Montell Jordan, Morris Day & The Time, Blind Boys of Alabama, Byron Cage, Bobby Rush,
Richard Smallwood, Fred Hammond, Carl Thomas, and more. Anthony's booking agency,
Smoothman Music Productions, provides luxury entertainment for corporate events,
festivals, weddings, and many special events. His newest venture is Music Moves, a
nonprofit he co-founded to promote Black art and culture in the region through education
and performance. When Anthony is not performing on stage, you'll find him producing
shows, coordinating high-profile events, and promoting freedom through entrepreneurship.
Anthony has big ideas and an even bigger heart!
Dr. John L Colbert, a native of Rondo, Arkansas, graduated from Barton High School in 1973. Attending the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, he received a BSE in Elementary and Special Education (1976), Master of Education in 1981 and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2017.
He has been an educator for 47 years, 44 of those years in Fayetteville and 3 in Ft. Smith. He is currently serving as Superintendent of the Fayetteville Public Schools.
He is very active in his community. He is the Advisor of Kappa Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on the U of A Campus where is a charter member. He is the immediate past District Director of the State of Arkansas for his fraternity and charter member of the Omicron Zeta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is a member, deacon and trustee at St. James Baptist Church, founder and former member of the Yvonne Richardson Center Board of Directors, a 33 degree member of the Masonic Order, Special Olympics Board Member for the State of Arkansas and Area 3, former National Board Member of the U of A Alumni Association, former President and member of the U of A Black Alumni Association Board, former President, founder and member of the NWA NAACP Branch 60-AC, Immediate Past President and founder of Northwest Arkansas MLK Planning Committee and Advisor and Founder of the NWA MLK Dream Keepers. He is a Board Member and Treasurer for the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) and the 2022-2023 President of the Fayetteville Chamber Board of Directors.
He has been recognized for his commitment to his community and Fraternity: National Brother of the Year, 2023 Fayetteville City Council TrailBlazer Award, 2022 Champion of Literacy, Fayetteville Chamber Wes Gordon 2021 Golden Deed Award, Fayetteville Chamber 2019 Individual Leadership Award 2007 Dr. Martin Luther King Salute To Greatness Award (Arkansas MLK Commission), 2017 Andrew J. Lucas Arkansas Alumni Service Award, 2018 Alpha Phi Alpha College Brothers’ Advocate Award, Special Olympics Leadership Award, Black Alumni Service Award, Special Olympics Leadership Award, Arkansas State PTA Principal of the Year Award, Greek Life Chapter Advisor of the Year, and many more.
Dr. John L Colbert enjoys swimming, diving, weight lifting, racquetball, tennis, meeting people and traveling. His motto in life is “Through Christ, all things are possible.” He was married to the late Cheryl Jumper Colbert for 42 years and has two daughters, J’onnelle Colbert-Diaz and Janneesa Colbert. He also has two precious granddaughters, Sy’Ree and Serena Diaz.
Tanya Mims has been the Fayetteville Community President at First National Bank of NWA since 2018. She previously worked for Arvest Bank from 1997 until 2018. She graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1993 with a B.S.B.A. in Finance and Real Estate and the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado in 2022.
Her community involvement includes the Junior League of NWA, Peace at Home Family Shelter, Christian Life Cathedral Executive Board Member since January 2022, Leadership Fayetteville class XXXII, Arkansas Fair Housing Commissioner since 2019, University of Arkansas Mentor for the Future Women Business Leaders Program since January 2021 and Director on the Steele Crossing Board since November 2021.
During her career with Arvest bank, Tanya won the Sales of Service award from 2000-2003, 2009, 2011, and from 2013-2017. She was in the AMC Best of the Best from 2009-2017 and earned the Certified Mortgage Planner Designation in 2003. She was also an honoree of the Class of 2020 Women in Business from Talk Business and Politics.
She enjoys hiking and biking with her husband and two sons, sharing the FNBNWA community driven spirit with surrounding neighbors and is an avid Razorback fan.
Her community involvement includes the Junior League of NWA, Peace at Home Family Shelter, Christian Life Cathedral Executive Board Member since January 2022, Leadership Fayetteville class XXXII, Arkansas Fair Housing Commissioner since 2019, University of Arkansas Mentor for the Future Women Business Leaders Program since January 2021 and Director on the Steele Crossing Board since November 2021.
During her career with Arvest bank, Tanya won the Sales of Service award from 2000-2003, 2009, 2011, and from 2013-2017. She was in the AMC Best of the Best from 2009-2017 and earned the Certified Mortgage Planner Designation in 2003. She was also an honoree of the Class of 2020 Women in Business from Talk Business and Politics.
She enjoys hiking and biking with her husband and two sons, sharing the FNBNWA community driven spirit with surrounding neighbors and is an avid Razorback fan.
Jason is a real estate broker and owner of Smith and Associates, Real Estate Services. He is a father of six, and believes in making the world a kind place for our future generations.
Jason loves music and has been a performer since the age of 4. His parents were artists and in the late 70’s and early 80’s they had a shop at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. Jason made friends with bluegrass musicians there and began singing on stage with their group at 4 years old. In the 6th grade he began playing the saxophone, then changed to flute, and finally settled in the 7th grade on trombone after complaining about being teased! Jason attended All Region and All State and was awarded multiple music scholarships for college but decided on ministry instead and served as a missionary in Russia.
After about a year he found out his family was struggling and returned home to work and help the family get caught up.
After about a year, Jason decided to move to Fayetteville on an old motorcycle that friends had given him with backpacks and duffle bags strapped all over it. He found a job as the first ever assistant manager at the brand new Eureka Pizza on Leverett in Fayetteville and stayed with church friends until he had enough money for a place.
Not long after that he began working as a martial arts instructor for Randy Edwards and helped grow Randys school from 60 students to over 300. Jason was given an opportunity to open a school in the Memphis, TN area and left Fayetteville from 95-98. Memphis was not the right place for him to raise a family, so he moved back to Northwest Arkansas and has been here ever since.
Jason worked as a manager for a department at JB Hunt and decided to try his hand at real estate. It has been a perfect fit for him since 2004. In 2007, he became a managing broker for the well known brokerage Crye-Leike, Realtors. In 2017, Jason decided it was time to open his own office and started Smith and Associates, Real Estate Services. The success of the business has been a true blessing and has been a wonderful journey.
Jason enjoys fishing, walks, funny shows on TV, and watching the Dallas Cowboys with his football crazed son Isaac. Jason enjoys spending time with his kids doing whatever they’d like to as long as they get to be together. Time on the boat, working out at the gym, or shopping with the girls are regular events.
