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Medicaid Client Voice Council Members

Medicaid Client Voice Council Members

Meet the Members

Kristen Arnold

Kristen Arnold lives in Conway (Area 3) with her husband, three boys (Weston 6, Grayson 4, Lawson 3) and is a sister/guardian over her 24- year-old brother Lawrence, who was adopted through the foster care system and was diagnosed with Autism at age 3. Kristen has spent over 17 years working with children/adults with disabilities. She is entering her fifth year with Empower Healthcare Solutions where she currently works as an Adult Behavioral Health Care Coordinator Supervisor. She has a Bachelor’s in Psychology from The University of Central Arkansas and a Master’s in Developmental Therapy from Henderson State University. Kristen is eager to help as many Arkansans as possible get the most out of the many Medicaid programs.

Brittany Gilmore

Brittany Gilmore was born and raised in DeQueen (Area 4), a city she still calls home. After spending several years in active addiction, Brittany emerged from the battle to start a non-profit with her mother to help others in addiction. “Breaking the Ties that Bind” helps connect at-risk youth and adults with mental health, behavioral health, and substance abuse resources. Her four years of long-term recovery helps her serve as a Peer Recovery Specialist. Brittany attended Purdue University and is mother to a 14-year-old daughter. Her hobbies include developing pilot programs, taking deep dives into true crime rabbit holes, cooking, and spending time with her loved ones.

Gale Hollaway

Gale Mathis Hollaway was born and raised in Jonesboro and now lives near Hardy (Area 2) with her husband Randy on a 300-acre cattle farm. A three-time graduate of Arkansas State University (BSE, MSE, and EdS), Gale is a retired educator who taught in the Nettleton, Osceola, and Pocahontas school districts before teaching at her alma mater, ASU. Gale received numerous awards and recognitions during her teaching career. Following the death of their daughter Ashley Elizabeth, the Hollaway’s became foster parents, eventually adopting three children who were raised along with their biological son. Gale says all their children (and now two grandchildren) have an array of abilities and disabilities. The family spends leisure time at their Mountain Lodge in Baxter County.

Heather Honaker

Heather Honaker is an Alabama native who has called Little Rock (Area 6) home for over a decade now. For nearly 20 years she has dedicated herself to nonprofit management, raising money for some of the state’s largest public organizations. Her freelance writing for local magazines, newspapers, and trade publications also help support these groups. Heather and her husband Ben have three children and one puppy, all under the age of seven. In 2018 their daughter Ellie was born with Down syndrome and a host of other complex medical conditions. Heather blogs about her experience as a mother to a child with different abilities: TypicallyNotTypical. There she shares honest and raw stories about her family’s oddities, challenges, and special needs.

Kevin Hoover

Gary “Kevin” Hoover was born and raised in Eureka Springs, but he now calls Greenbrier (Area 3) home. In high school Kevin became an accomplished percussionist and was offered a full scholarship but instead chose to pursue his first musical love: the banjo! Kevin played for two years in Branson at Silver Dollar City before touring with several country bands that opened for acts like Marty Haggard and the Kentucky Headhunters. Like many musicians, he had a 9 to 5 job too. Kevin owned a transmission repair shop until 2008, when an accident while working on a car left him partially paralyzed. That began his Medicaid education and Kevin looks forward to using what he has learned to help others.

Etandra McClure

Etandra McClure was born in West Memphis and now lives in Little Rock (Area 6) with her 16-year-old daughter. Etandra earned her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Bethel University and is also an Army veteran. She has worked in healthcare for more than 10 years, currently serving as the Clinic Manager for an outpatient mental health facility. In her free time, Etandra likes to travel with her daughter, play board games, and host gathers for her family and friends.

Michelle Pedro

Michelle Pedro lives in Springdale (Area 1) with her family of eight. Michelle is Policy Director and Communications Specialist at the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese. She has a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from the University of Phoenix. Michelle has a background serving vulnerable populations such as at-risk youth, IDD individuals, people facing homelessness, and victims of abuse. She has served her community for well over a decade and continues to do so in her capacity at the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese. When she is not working she is spending time with her family or volunteering.

Betty Raiford

Betty Raiford lives in Pine Bluff (Area 5) with her husband and their 35-year-old son Daniel who has Down Syndrome. Another son, Derek (32) is a registered nurse in Little Rock. Betty is a Program Manager for Toxicology Pathology Associates, Inc. at the National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson, Arkansas. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from UA-Pine Bluff and is a certified Histology Technician from the American Society of Clinical Pathology. Advocating for Daniel led Betty to serve on several statewide boards and commissions, and she hopes that experience will be valuable to the Medicaid Client Voice Council.”

Yolanda Traylor

Yolanda Traylor lives in Little Rock (Area 6) with her two children (ages 23 and 14) and her dad. She has served in the Early Childhood Education field for over 22 years. She is currently the director of Day School at First Church in Maumelle. Yolanda earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Philander Smith College and her Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Services from Arkansas State University. When Yolanda is not working, you will find her helping in the community through Mission Mini Serve and her sorority, advocating for mental health and spending time with her family and friends.

Angelica Yanez

Angelica Yanez lives in Rogers (Area 1) and has called northwest Arkansas home for 15 years after growing up in Los Angeles. She volunteers as a bilingual interpreter for the Rogers public school system, something she has been doing for over a decade. In 2014, Angelica was working in the online insurance marketplace and helping to launch the Affordable Care Act when an accident left her partially disabled. She has also worked at Goodwill Industries Career Center as the liaison to the Hispanic Community and the general public.

She is blessed to be the mother of a two-year-old daughter who has developmental delays. Angelica plans on continuing her education in the healthcare information field and working towards becoming a professional interpreter. Her life journey has taught her many Medicaid lessons. She wants to use that knowledge to help others, especially single moms as well as those with disabilities and the parents of children with disabilities.