MEET OUR TEAM
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Paula George
Executive Director Paula relocated to Northwest Arkansas from Southern Alabama in 2005. She and her husband Joseph have 2 boys, Kaleb and Tyler. Her son, Kaleb, was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 3. Paula started with AIM as a parent looking for support and help with learning about Autism. She served as a volunteer and Board Member until 2017 when she accepted a full time role with AIM as their Executive Director. She is also the Co-Founder of the annual AIM Walk. Paula is passionate about helping others, especially parents of children with special needs. Paula enjoys spending time with her family and friends, doing DIY projects with her husband and attending church. |
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Tim Roat
Board President Tim joined the AIM board in 2019 as Treasurer and stepped into the role of Board President in 2020. He has been married to his amazing wife Pam for 20 years and they have 4 children. Their oldest, Kayla, was born a couple of years after Tim and Pam were married, Charlotte, Ruby, and Lucas were adopted into their family years later. Ruby and Lucas were diagnosed with autism at an early age and Pam connected with AIM through the AIM Mom's Facebook group in an effort to find support and guidance. Tim has always had a passion for organizations that support children and saw AIM as a natural fit. Tim has worked at Walmart for over 20 years and currently works in their finance department. Outside of work and family, Tim is a sports fanatic and enjoys watching and playing when possible. |
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Alan Rutledge
Vice President Alan joined the Autism Involves Me Board of Directors in 2016.He and his wife, Traci, have 2 children, a daughter Kylie and a son Riley. Riley was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 years old. Alan is passionate about finding new ways to best support the development needs of kids with autism so they can meet 'their full potential. He desires to help AIM continue its mission of awareness and education within the community. Alan has worked for Walmart for over 7 years and currently works as a Sr Manager of Demand Planning. Alan enjoys spending time with his family and enjoying Razorback athletics. |
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Matt Bradford
Secretary Matt joined the AIM Board of Directors in 2019, shortly after relocating to Bentonville from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Matt and his wife, Carol, have twin boys who are on the autism spectrum, and immediately benefited from AIM. Matt graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1990 as a Criminal Justice major and now works for Walmart. Impressed with the mission and purpose of AIM, Matt felt a calling to be a part of the organization as he has a passion for helping other families who are impacted by autism. Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and friends, as well as hiking, biking, and running the NWA trails. |
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Vanessa Boomer
Community/Volunteer Chair Vanessa is a native of Arkansas and graduated from the UofA with a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders as well as an endorsement for English as a Second Language. Current, Vanessa is the Special Services Lead Facilitator at Bentonville High School and a Speech Language Pathologist at No Limits Pediatric Therapies in Bentonville. She and her husband, Barry, have three children, Miles and twins Warren and Grant. Vanessa started intensive therapy with her son, Grant, at the age of 18 months and he was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4. Vanessa has been a longtime volunteer at the annual AIM Walk and she joined the AIM Board of Directors in 2019. In her spare time, she loves to “Call The Hogs” and travel with her family. |
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Rick Carlson
Community/Volunteer Co-Chair Rick relocated to Bentonville from Amarillo, TX in 2003. He has 2 adult children and 3 precious grandchildren. Rick has been an employee of Walmart for over 26 years and currently serves in the role of Associate Relations Case Manager. Having an adult daughter on the autism spectrum makes Rick passionate about helping families who are impacted by autism. He joined the AIM Board of Directors with a focus of helping families during the time when their children transition from high school to functional living as they enter adulthood. Outside of work and AIM Rick enjoys spending time outdoors kayaking, hiking, and grilling. |
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Jacci Zaerr
Board Member Jacci relocated to NW Arkansas from Oklahoma in 2001. She and her husband, Chad, married in 2009 and have three dogs, Riley, Ridley and Lucy. Jacci is passionate about helping and serving others in our community. She has been a mentor with Saving Grace NWA since 2010. She joined the Autism Involves Me Board of Directors in 2018. Jacci has been employed with Walmart for 15 years and is currently a Case Manager II in Associate Relations. She loves to travel to new places and spend time with her family. |
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Shanise Weatherman
Board Member Shanise joined the Autism Involves Me Board of Directors in 2018. She has been married to her husband, Jeff, since 2000. Shanise and Jeff have 3 children, Jaxson, Sydnei, and Kristian. Shanise’s son, Jaxson, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4. She is passionate about autism awareness and serving others in her community. Shanise has worked for Tyson Foods since 2006 and is currently a Pricing Manager in the Foodservice division. She loves to travel, spend time with her family, and watch her favorite team, the Pittsburg Steelers, play football. |
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Sheila Munn
Board Member Sheila graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BS degree in Education. She has taught for 21 years in Special Education; 19 of those 21 years have been serving the children of Bentonville Schools. From teaching in the Autism Classroom to coordinating and providing instruction in Adaptive Physical Education, Sheila has given her heart to kids from all walks of life. She currently serves as the 1:6 teacher at Mary Mae Jones Elementary. Sheila has a heart and passion for helping kids with different abilities reach their potential socially, emotionally, and academically. A huge advocate for creating a more inclusive community in Northwest Arkansas, She works tirelessly to bring inclusive events to our area. Sheila has a daughter, Sawyer, who is the light of her life and keeps her on her toes. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, hanging out at the pool and going to the beach with her family. |
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Naconna Mitchell
Board Member Naconna joined the Autism Involves Me Board of Directors in 2020. Naconna is a native of Northwest Arkansas. She and her husband, Bo,are raising a blended family of seven children. Naconna’s son, Brighten, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 6. Her hope is to raise autism awareness and create a safe and supportive community for parents and caregivers to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Naconna has passionately served her community as a law enforcement officer for the past 8 years. Earlier in 2020, she joined a Walmart team as an Investigator within Global Governance. Outside of work, Naconna enjoys spending her time with family and friends, as well as hiking, kayaking, and cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs. |
We are grateful for the investment of our supporters as we strive to provide a
more inclusive community for families who are impacted by autism.
more inclusive community for families who are impacted by autism.