MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The hearts and minds guiding SpIndL’s mission
At SpIndL, our Board of Directors is more than a leadership team — they’re passionate advocates, community builders, and bold believers in neurodivergent empowerment. With diverse backgrounds in education, business, and lived experience, each board member brings a unique perspective to the table, united by one shared goal: to help young autistic adults in the River Valley live independently and confidently.
Lori Hull, President and Founder of SpIndL
Lori Hull, President and Founder of SpIndL, is an advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace and for bringing hope to families of autism. Lori retired from ArcBest Technologies in July 2023 after a 27-year career in software development, technology training, project management, and management in the project management office. As her final initiative before her retirement, she spearheaded the formation of a neurodiversity program in the parent company ArcBest. Her commitment to workplace inclusion led her to establish an employee resource group (ERG) named Distinct Minds for neurodivergent employees, creating a space of belonging wile raising neurodiversity awareness throughout the company.
As a parent of autism, Lori and her family have experienced first-hand the challenges and gaps in services for the autism population and their families. Post-retirement, Lori turned her focus to identify where she could make the most meaningful impact in supporting other families. She had discovered a critical shortage of affordable programs supporting young adults with autism after high school, particularly in developing independent living skills. While some organizations across the country offer these services, their often prohibitive costs place them out of reach for most families. She founded SpIndL with the mission of providing affordable services in the River Valley that help young adults with autism and other neurodivergent conditions to build the skills to eventually live independently. Her long-term vision is to influence a community of neurodiversity.
Tracey Shultz, Treasurer, and Board Member
Tracey Shultz, Treasurer of SpIndL, is a CPA at Hankins and Company, CPAs. She has been actively involved in the community for years, serves as Treasurer for Christ the King PTO, Trinity Junior High Booster Club, and Future School Mission Control.
With a personal understanding of the challenges young adults on the autism spectrum may face in finding employment and building social connections, Tracey is passionate about SpIndL’s mission. She is excited to be part of this initiative and looks forward to contributing to its growth and impact.
–Kay Lynn Clay, Treasurer, and Board Member
Kay Lynn Clay, Board Member and Treasurer of SpIndL, has spent her 37 – year career at ArcBest, working in several different areas of the company including terminal operations, sales, marketing, and U-Pack moving. She currently manages a combined team of graphic designers, production coordinators and company store personnel.
She and her husband Brian have been married 35 years and have 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren. They enjoy time on Lake Ouachita, riding their ATV in the Ouachita National Forest, and watching their grandkids do all the things grandkids do!
Kay Lynn joined SpIndL because she has a heart for people on the autism spectrum and has seen first-hand the challenges they face as they move into young adulthood. She is excited about what SpIndL will bring to the River Valley.
Dr. Shannon Lively, Board Member
Dr. Shannon Lively is Assistant Professor of Supply Chain & Analytics for the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. Dr. Lively’s dissertation, “Neurodiverse Perception of Inclusivity in the Workplace”, presented in August 2024 to the Academy of Management, was inspired by his daughter, who is on the autism spectrum.
Shannon retired from ArcBest Technologies as Vice President – Technology, Research & Development in December 2021 after a 32-year career in innovative technology, line-haul and engineering.
Shannon is proud to be a member of the Board of Directors for SpIndL and is committed to furthering opportunities for the neurodivergent individuals in our community.
Rose Catalano, Board Member
With a remarkable 42-year tenure in mortgage lending, Rose Catalano combines financial expertise with passionate advocacy for special needs families in the Fort Smith Region. Wife to Bob and mother to Dustin and Jennifer, she has been intimately connected to individuals with autism for over six decades. Her profound understanding of the importance of services for post-high school citizens on the spectrum stems from her personal experiences, making her an ardent advocate for their continued growth in independent living.
Throughout her career, Rose has served on numerous non-profit boards while helping countless families access available services, inspired by her advocacy for her son Dustin. Her commitment to community service and passion for improving lives perfectly aligns with SpIndL’s mission of enhancing quality of life for those striving for self-sufficiency, creating a legacy of expert financial guidance and heartfelt dedication to helping others succeed.
Daniel Mann, Board Member
Daniel Mann is a member of our board of directors with an extensive background in real estate and business development. Daniel is currently the Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer for the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority. He is responsible for the ownership, management, and development of the 5,400 acres known as Chaffee Crossing.
As a native of Tulsa, OK, Mann has more than 25 years of experience in community and economic development in Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, and now Arkansas. During his time overseeing Chaffee Crossing he was actively involved with the sale of over 1,000 acres and over 250,000 square feet of existing buildings. Over his career he has successfully recruited manufacturing, warehouse/distribution, professional services, and energy companies which led to the creation of over 6,100 new jobs with a total of over $3.6 billion in new investment.
Daniel currently serves on the Board of the Fort Smith A&P Commission, Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority, Chaffee Crossing Historic Preservation Organization, and the Frontier Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Daniel is deeply passionate of the mission of SpIndL and desires to work to fill the gaps in services in Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. He is dedicated to the growth and development of the newly established non-profit organization and excited to bring his skills to advance the mission of elevating young neurodivergent adults to independences.
Stephanie Burton, Board Member
Stephanie Burton is a Real Estate Executive Broker serving both Arkansas and Oklahoma with unmatched dedication and expertise in the real estate industry. With years of experience guiding clients through buying, selling, and investing in property, she is know for her compassionate service, strong work ethic, and ability to make real estate dreams a reality.
Beyond her professional life, Stephanie is a proud wife, mom, and bonus mom to six wonderful children. Her heart and drive extend far beyond real estate – Stephanie is deeply passionate about advocacy for young adults on the autism spectrum. As the mother of a son with autism, Aiden, she has personally navigated the unique challenges that families face. Her firsthand experience has fueled her mission to bring awareness, resources, and opportunities to the local community.
Stephanie is excited and honored to be a part of SpIndL, where she can combine her passion for advocacy with meaningful action to help support young adults with special needs as they transition into independence. With her background, voice, and heart for change, she brings both professional insight and personal commitment to the SpIndL team.
Brad Lewis, Board Member
Brad Lewis is a Financial Advisor with United Financial Advisors, where he works alongside his father in their family-owned practice. A Greenwood High School graduate, Brad graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance.
Having grown up in Fort Smith, Brad spends his time in several community organizations including the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, and Assistant Alumnus Advisor to the UAFS Kappa Sigma Chapter.
Brad and his fiancé, Haleigh, are proud to be in Fort Smith and invest their time and energy into the River Valley community. He is honored to serve on the board of SpIndL and looks forward to supporting its mission of empowering young autistic adults to live independently and confidently.
Lee Watson, Board Member
Lee Watson is a Fort Smith native and attorney who has worked in private practice, the prosecutor‘s office, the public defender’s office, and the most recent 26 years or so as counsel for several large companies in Fort Smith. He also served in many community organizations over the years, including the Bost Foundation and Trinity School Board along with volunteering for the Westark Council Boy Scouts of America and other local organizations.
Lee is married to Kathy and they have two boys, Zane and Pierce. Pierce is 19 and intellectually disabled with severe autism. From only a few months old, Pierce’s needs presented challenges to which doctors, teachers and professionals were only able to provide very limited information about resources to help. This left his parents to find and navigate the difficult process to locate and obtain resources that Pierce needed.
Through their experience with Pierce and other families in the special needs community, Lee and Kathy experienced the reality of the adage that “if you know one special needs person, you know one special needs person” as they are all different with differing abilities and needs. Lee is proud to join the SpIndL Board to use his professional and personal experience to assist SpIndL in meeting the needs of our young men and women.
