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ABOUT NICOLE

Always in Service

Nicole Hart has the experience we need on the City Council. She has served as a nonprofit leader, government official, dynamic public speaker and community activist. She served her country in the Army Arkansas National Guard during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Nicole was Governor Mike Beebe’s military and veterans liaison. She then established ARVets Inc., a nonprofit organization to directly serve veterans and their families.

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Nicole continues to serve as an advocate for women, combat veterans, and leaders all across this country. Nicole has been recognized on an international stage for her work in the veteran community. She is ready for the next chapter in her professional career and seeking a position that will allow her to take her unique set of skills developed and elevate a company to the next level and meet the demands of the industry. 

Deployed to Iraq in 2004 with the 39th Infantry Brigade, Nicole was a member of Headquarters Company Support Battalion, which unfortunately lost the most soldiers in a single tour for the Arkansas National Guard during the Operation Iraqi Freedom war. While dangerous and traumatic, her experience in Iraq crystallized the resilience and resolve she’s harbored all along. With her civic responsibility heightened, her drive to help others strengthened, shortly upon her return, she was blessed with the opportunity to join the Mike Beebe for Governor Campaign to help with what would be his successful election bid.

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Nicole served as Chief Executive Officer of ARVets for six years. During her time they brought in an unprecedented six million dollars in resources to support veterans and their families, they helped over five thousand veterans and their families with one on one case management and impacted upward of 30,000 veterans and their families across the state. ARVets under Nicole’s leadership has left a lasting impressionon the veteran community and the state of Arkansas as a whole.

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When Governor Beebe took office in 2007, he tapped Nicole to serve as his military and veterans affairs advisor. She also represented the office of the Governor on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) to consistently evaluate homeland security within the State of Arkansas, and had oversight of more than 30 boards as a special liaison. One of the highlights of Nicole’s tenure in the Governor’s Office was as a member of the Arkansas Yellow Ribbon Taskforce (AYRTF), which assembled to conduct an in-depth analysis of the needs of Arkansas veterans and how efficiently those needs were being met. It was through this study Nicole identified a major need in the state to support our military, veterans, and families through coordination of effort and resources.

 

As a combat veteran herself, Nicole has a special place in her heart for servicemen and women. Having witnessed the impact of combat on close friends and family, she completely understands the challenges faced by returning veterans and their families. She is especially driven to make sure those individuals and their loved ones are provided the necessary support to transition back into civilian life.

Nicole’s life is rooted in faith and that’s why another one of her passions is serving on the Board of Directors for City Connections, a faith-based program whose mission is to encourage and help engage people of faith who stand ready to give of themselves in their unique area of giftedness, life experiences, and passion! She has been an active member of the Church of Christ since her grade school years in Oakland, California.

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Because of her work and influence, Nicole has received numerous recognitions and honors, including:

 

  • Named one of ‘20 Influential African Americans in Arkansas’ - Power Play Magazine (2014)

  • Humanitarian Award from the Southwest Good Samaritan Center of Hope (2013)

  • Congressional Liaison for Policy (2014)

  • Advisor to the Clinton Health Matter Initiative (2013 and 2014)

  • Speaker for the Regional American Legion Annual Conference (2013)

  • Impact Image Award for her work in the Veteran Community-Arkansas Impact Zone (2013)

  • Featured in the Department of Veteran Affairs “Make the Connection” National Campaign (2013-14)

  • Advisor to Sister Cities International and the UK’s Council on Veterans affairs to help create the Veteran International Exchange program (2013)

  • Panelist for the National Chamber of Commerce “Hiring our Heroes” Campaign (2013)

  • She was one of the TEDx Markham Street speakers during the speaker series fall (2015)

  • She was recognized by Arkansas Times as one of the Female Entrepreneurs of the Year (2016)

  • She received the Irma Hunter Brown Women’s Leadership Award (2017)

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