Jeff Hankins offers consulting services focused on digital marketing strategies, publishing and strategic communications.
Biography
Jeff Hankins is Vice President for Strategic Communications and Economic Development for the Arkansas State University System. The ASU System is based in Little Rock and serves almost 40,000 college students through the four-year A-State campus in Jonesboro and Queretaro, Mexico, as well as two-year institutions based in Beebe, Mountain Home, Newport, West Memphis and Malvern.
Additionally, he owns an independent consulting firm, Hankins Digital Strategies. He is a noted public speaker at civic organizations, chambers of commerce, and media trade associations.
Jeff joined the ASU System in November 2012 after spending 19 years with Arkansas Business Publishing Group in Little Rock, where he was president and publisher. During his tenure, he guided the company into the digital media era and was a frequent speaker at national media conferences on niche media trends. The company won multiple national and state awards for both its print and online products.
In his role with the ASU System, Jeff facilitates all communications and economic development activities for the system and its campuses. Those responsibilities include developing an integrated, multimedia communications strategy for the system and serving as the system’s liaison to statewide business associations and economic development entities. Among Arkansas State's major initiatives are 2016 opening of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine's additional site in Jonesboro and the fall 2017 opening of Arkansas State University Campus Queretaro — the first U.S.-style campus built in Mexico.
A native of Pine Bluff, Jeff received his Bachelor of Science degree in community journalism from Arkansas State in 1987 and was a Distinguished Service Award recipient. He is a 1986 graduate of the Institute on Political Journalism at Georgetown University.
Publishing Career
He became editor of Arkansas Business in Little Rock in 1993, was promoted to publisher in 1996 and became president of Arkansas Business Publishing Group in 1999. He was the founding publisher of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal in 1997; led the startup of a variety of other publications and websites such as Arkansas Next: A Guide to Life After High School and arkansasbusiness.com; and formed the company's FLEX360 website development division.
Jeff is the co-founder of Jonesboro Occasions city magazine in Jonesboro, Ark., and served as CEO of its parent Herald Haven Media LLC from 2003-2009.
His 31-year journalism career also included work at the Arkansas Democrat, the Pine Bluff Commercial, the Pocahontas Star Herald and the Northeast Arkansas Tribune. He made regular television appearances on KTHV, Channel 11, and KATV, Channel 7, in Little Rock and on the Arkansas Educational Television Network's “Arkansas Week.” He hosted "Arkansas Business With Jeff Hankins," a monthly program, on AETN from 2003-2005.
Memberships & Organizations
Jeff is a member of the Arkansas Executive Forum, the Board of Trust at Little Rock Christian Academy and the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act Task Force. He is past president of the international Alliance of Area Business Publications, the Arkansas State University Alumni Association and Pleasant Valley Country Club. He is a past member of the board of directors of the Parenting Publications of America, the Baptist Health Foundation Board of Trustees, the Cystic Fibrosis Arkansas Chapter, the Centers for Youth & Families and the Central Arkansas Executives Association. In 2004, he served on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Higher Education.
In 2010, Jeff was the honoree for the 36th annual Original Toast & Roast benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas. He served as Corporate Chairman of the JDRF Walk for a Cure and as Chairman of the Baptist Health Foundation Regal Regatta.
He is active as deacon, worship leader and Building Committee chair at Chenal Valley Church.
Additionally, he owns an independent consulting firm, Hankins Digital Strategies. He is a noted public speaker at civic organizations, chambers of commerce, and media trade associations.
Jeff joined the ASU System in November 2012 after spending 19 years with Arkansas Business Publishing Group in Little Rock, where he was president and publisher. During his tenure, he guided the company into the digital media era and was a frequent speaker at national media conferences on niche media trends. The company won multiple national and state awards for both its print and online products.
In his role with the ASU System, Jeff facilitates all communications and economic development activities for the system and its campuses. Those responsibilities include developing an integrated, multimedia communications strategy for the system and serving as the system’s liaison to statewide business associations and economic development entities. Among Arkansas State's major initiatives are 2016 opening of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine's additional site in Jonesboro and the fall 2017 opening of Arkansas State University Campus Queretaro — the first U.S.-style campus built in Mexico.
A native of Pine Bluff, Jeff received his Bachelor of Science degree in community journalism from Arkansas State in 1987 and was a Distinguished Service Award recipient. He is a 1986 graduate of the Institute on Political Journalism at Georgetown University.
Publishing Career
He became editor of Arkansas Business in Little Rock in 1993, was promoted to publisher in 1996 and became president of Arkansas Business Publishing Group in 1999. He was the founding publisher of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal in 1997; led the startup of a variety of other publications and websites such as Arkansas Next: A Guide to Life After High School and arkansasbusiness.com; and formed the company's FLEX360 website development division.
Jeff is the co-founder of Jonesboro Occasions city magazine in Jonesboro, Ark., and served as CEO of its parent Herald Haven Media LLC from 2003-2009.
His 31-year journalism career also included work at the Arkansas Democrat, the Pine Bluff Commercial, the Pocahontas Star Herald and the Northeast Arkansas Tribune. He made regular television appearances on KTHV, Channel 11, and KATV, Channel 7, in Little Rock and on the Arkansas Educational Television Network's “Arkansas Week.” He hosted "Arkansas Business With Jeff Hankins," a monthly program, on AETN from 2003-2005.
Memberships & Organizations
Jeff is a member of the Arkansas Executive Forum, the Board of Trust at Little Rock Christian Academy and the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act Task Force. He is past president of the international Alliance of Area Business Publications, the Arkansas State University Alumni Association and Pleasant Valley Country Club. He is a past member of the board of directors of the Parenting Publications of America, the Baptist Health Foundation Board of Trustees, the Cystic Fibrosis Arkansas Chapter, the Centers for Youth & Families and the Central Arkansas Executives Association. In 2004, he served on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Higher Education.
In 2010, Jeff was the honoree for the 36th annual Original Toast & Roast benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas. He served as Corporate Chairman of the JDRF Walk for a Cure and as Chairman of the Baptist Health Foundation Regal Regatta.
He is active as deacon, worship leader and Building Committee chair at Chenal Valley Church.