Mike Akin
Chairman
Mike is the Owner of Grand Manor Retirement Community Monticello and CEO of .Akin Industries. Among some other positions he has held are Commissioner- Arkansas State Police. He has served on several Boards both current and former such as Baptist Health System Board of Director, Union Bank & Trust Monticello Board Member, Arkansas Economic Development Foundation, University of Arkansas Former Commissioner- Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Tara Box
Co-Chair
Tara began her career at Countryside, an assisted living facility founded by her in-laws in 1995, helping in the dietary department while she attended college. In 1998, she earned a degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas and then transitioned into the role of administrator at Countryside.
In 2011, her in-laws were ready to retire and approached Tara with buying the Huntsville facility, which she did. Tara wanted to expand her knowledge in healthcare, so she made the decision to pursue a nursing degree. She graduated from North Arkansas Community College as an Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 2012 and later returned to complete the Registered Nurse (RN) bridge program in 2018. Driven by a desire to continually expand her knowledge, she then earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Arkansas in 2021.
Today, she is owner and co-owner of 7 facilities within Arkansas and Oklahoma. As well as being an owner and administrator, Tara is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) and is also a Certified Dementia Care Manager (CDCM).
Tara is a proud mom to two — Jilian, who is a RN at the Huntsville facility, and Jude, who recently graduated from the aviation college and is now a commercial pilot. When she is not busy traveling to all her facilities, she enjoys spending time on the lake with her husband, John, and all their fur babies and visiting Walt Disney World.
Tara is thankful to serve on the Arkansas Residential Assisted Living Association board where she is able to help shape policies and initiatives that benefit assisted living communities across the state. She is thankful for the years and experience she has had over the last 30 years serving the many residents and families in her communities and is looking forward to the years to come.
Scott Kingsborough
Past Chairman
Scott is a Senior-level executive with 30+ years of expertise, known for crafting and implementing successful strategies. He is highly experienced. Scott started in the accounting industry, founded a regional bottled water business in the 90s, transitioned to a Fractional CFO advisory business and entered the assisted living space in 2013. Scott owns The Manor Assisted Living. He currently co-leads the ARALA Board of Directors as the Co-Chairman. He is married to Jill and they have a senior at Pulaski Academy, making his best accomplishment.
Lance Brown
Board Member, Education Committee Co-Chair
Lance graduated high school from Rector High School and attended Arkansas State University graduating in 1986 with a Communications degree. He worked at several radio stations in Arkansas over the years in different roles varying from morning announcer to general manager. He worked for Russell Cellular, the largest Verizon agent in the nation, as a district manager over stores in Northeast Arkansas before moving on to St. Bernard's Healthcare. He has been with St. Bernard's for nearly 18 years. He started out in HR as Employment Center Manager and has now been Community Director for St. Bernard's Village for the past 8 years. He has been married to Marty for nearly 34 years and has two grown children, Dylan and Bailey but no grandchildren yet. They have one foster grandchild. They have one child still at home, an Aussiedoogle, and his name is Leroy. Lance loves playing golf and fishing whenever he can.
Charlene West
Board Member, Education Committee Co-Chair
Charlene is married to her husband Russie, an Army Veteran that served our great country in two ways. They have six wonderful children ages 18-35 years old and four awesome grandchildren ages 2-13. They are soon to be empty nesters as their youngest son is graduating high school this month. They enjoy traveling, boating, camping, and all outdoor activities. Charlene worked in primary care as a nurse practitioner for 25 years plus five years as a nurse practitioner serving residents' needs in long-term care settings. In 2017 they purchased West Haven Residential Care in DeWitt, Arkansas (formally EZ Living). At the time of purchase, they had 23 residents. They are now licensed for 55 and currently house 54 residents. "Residential care is such a unique way to help so many that are in need of assistance. I am truly blessed to get to work doing what I love to do - helping and caring for those in need."
Ed Holman
Legislative Committee Chair, Nominating Committee Member, Former Board Chairman
As Ed learned the ropes of health care financing, he worked on projects in 29 states and projects here in Arkansas including Butterfield Trail in Fayetteville and Parkway Village in Little Rock. From the start of his career, he had various opportunities to participate in the projects we were working on as either partners or investors. This led him to develop and build a new nursing home in Little Rock in 1992. From there he went on to operate a total of five nursing homes with 729 beds, two assisted living communities with 66 beds, residential care facilities with 117 beds, and 153 senior apartments. Ed has been a proud member of ARALA since 2005 and joined the board of directors in 2012. In 2013, he was elected to be chairman and held this position until the Fall of 2021.
Dawn Yakoubian
Board Member, Membership Committee, Nominating Committee
Dawn is the Director of Housing/Administrator at Presbyterian Village in Little Rock. She was born in Stratford, Connecticut, and grew up in Little Rock, AR. She is a graduate of Mount St. Mary Academy and the University of Central Arkansas. She has been in the senior living industry since 1995 when she began as an activity director. She has a passion for caring and advocating for seniors. She has been known to dance on tables, dress as an elf and drive a 25-passenger bus. When she is not enjoying time with residents and co-workers at Presbyterian Village she is spoiling her seven nieces and nephews and her Pekingese dog, Zoey. Dawn has served on the ARALA Board since early in the association's history
Edward J. Garland
Board Member, Membership Committee
Brittney Howell
Board Member
Brittney Howell is the Executive Director of Brookdale Russellville, where she leads with a blend of operational excellence, compassion-driven care, and a deep commitment to resident quality of life. Beginning her career in senior living as a server 14 years ago, Brittney has grown through multiple leadership roles across primary care, rehab, and long-term care. Her personal connection to Brookdale—where her great-grandmother once lived—fuels her dedication to creating a community that feels like home.
Under her leadership, Brookdale Russellville has experienced strong census growth, strengthened team culture, and an elevated reputation within the River Valley. Brittney is passionate about developing staff, supporting families, and ensuring seniors receive the dignity, safety, and joy they deserve.
Driven, authentic, and community-minded, Brittney brings frontline insight and executive-level strategy to the ARALA board, championing quality standards and advocacy for Arkansas’s senior living communities.
Dennington Moss
Board Member, Legislative Committee Member
Claude Bryant
Board Member
Kent Schroeder
Board Member