In appreciation of his longtime civic leadership and community support, Keith Higginbotham is the Centerton Area Chamber Citizen of the Year. This award honors individuals who contribute significantly to the advancement of the city.

Higginbotham exemplifies citizen service. He has been elected to the Centerton City Council since 1990. He is a past member of the city’ s planning commission and helped to create its police department.

A longtime volunteer firefighter since 2001, he has hands-on knowledge of the needs of the fire department. He helped to transition the all-volunteer fire department to a full-time operation. Centerton property owners benefit from an increased ISO rating of 2, which lowers the cost of homeowners insurance. He’ s determined to bring the rating to a 1, which earns the best possible rates. The rate designation is based on a fire department’ s ability to combat structural fires.

When Centerton grew to need a city hall and courts building, Higginbotham facilitated careful expenditures of tax revenues to make these and other improvements, including the new Centerton Recreation Center.

Higginbotham has been active in local concerns since his graduation from Rogers High School. He retired from Academy Sports and Outdoors in Rogers in 2019 and also retired from Walmart Stores Inc. in May 2001. His service as an active citizen volunteer and elected council member has been another career, of uplifting Centerton.

Business Person of the Year

At Ozark Business Solutions, Clint Dobesh helps business owners select the best carrier from whom to obtain affordable, company-provided benefits for their employees. He also provides analysis to make sure the benefits fit and serve the budget of the purchasing company.

Dobesh is a dedicated veteran who served in the U. S. Army during the Gulf War. Following his military service, he built a successful career in the corporate world, holding multiple positions in several multi-billion dollar companies, as well as working with several small businesses.

With a passion for woodworking and a knack for understanding how things work, he enjoys tackling handson projects in his spare time. Clint is happily married and is a proud father of four, and grandfather to three wonderful grandchildren. He values family time and the joy of sharing his hobbies with his loved ones.

Educator of the Year

ELA, 8th Grade Advanced Quiz Bowl Coach Odyssey of the Mind Coach

The Educator of the Year is nurturing future leaders every day at Grimsley Junior High School.

As the coach of a thriving Quiz Bowl team, she steers bright students into deep study and quick recall for competitions. She also is a novice teacher mentor and a Leadership Team and PLC lead; a member of the schools Guiding Coalition, Rewards Money Committee, and Junior High Grading Policy Committee. Collier is a Professional Development Presenter at the district, state and national level for gamification, arts integration and ELL strategies. She published a chapter in the 2024 A Primer on Arts Integration: Strategies, Lessons, and Collective Wisdom of Teacher Leaders.

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