September 20, 2024
First Community Bank is proud to announce the addition of Blake Rutherford as vice president, professional business development officer. Based in the bank’s Northwest Arkansas market, Rutherford will play a crucial role in expanding the bank’s business development initiatives and supporting the financial needs of the local community.
Rutherford brings a diverse and accomplished background to this position. His educational credentials include an LLM, or Master of Laws, in International Law from the University of Michigan Law School, where he served as associate editor of the Michigan Journal of International Law. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he was the first place winner of the William H. Sutton Trial Court Competition and delivered the commencement address at his graduation. Rutherford’s undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, is from Middlebury College, where he was also the commencement speaker and held numerous leadership roles, including president of the Zeta Theta Phi Social House.
“It is a privilege to join Dale Cole and his executive team at one of Arkansas’s most prestigious and rapidly growing banks,” said Rutherford. “I am eager to leverage my experience to serve the community and support the economic development of Fayetteville and beyond.”
Professionally, Rutherford has held several high-impact positions. Most recently, he was a faculty member at the Thaden School in Bentonville, Arkansas, where he designed and taught courses on United States government, international trade, and human rights. Before that, he co-founded SourceStream, LLC, a pioneering bipartisan political live streaming network. His career also includes notable roles with Cozen O’Connor, a full-service law firm in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., and as chief of staff for the offices of the attorney general in both Arkansas and Pennsylvania.
“We are pleased to welcome Blake to the First Community Bank family,” said Laura Brissey, executive vice president, general counsel for First Community Bank. “His background in law, public relations, and education, combined with his commitment to community service, makes him a valuable addition to our team.”
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Rutherford is a recognized community leader. He is the founder of Movies in the Park in Little Rock and has served on the boards of the American Red Cross and the Arkansas Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. His contributions to the community have earned him recognition on Arkansas Business’s 40 Under 40 list, as well as being named one of “25 Arkansans for the Future” and “Eight Young Arkansans to Watch” by the Arkansas Times.
Rutherford’s passion for community involvement extends beyond his professional life. He is a guest writer and commentator for local and national publications, including the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, and enjoys reading, watching movies, traveling, and supporting Arkansas Razorbacks sports.
Rutherford’s parents, Skip and Billie Rutherford, reside in Little Rock, and he has two sisters, Martha Luin Rutherford of Asheville, North Carolina, and Mary Jennings of Singapore. He is the proud uncle to Jack and Libby Jennings.
First Community Bank has a branch location at 5100 W. Park Ave. Ste. 124 in Rogers, Arkansas, and the Fayetteville, Arkansas future branch location at 3150 West Wedington Drive is currently undergoing a comprehensive remodel to provide full-service banking, featuring convenient drive-thru teller services and a dedicated community room. Construction on the branch is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
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