Member Spotlight: Hugh McDonald

Congratulations to ReadyNation member Hugh McDonald, who was recently appointed Secretary of Commerce for the state of Arkansas.

Hugh has been a member of ReadyNation since 2017 and a dedicated supporter of early childhood education throughout his career. As President and CEO of Entergy Arkansas from 2000 until he retired in 2016, he led Arkansas’s largest energy utility while also supporting access to high-quality early childhood education for children in the state. During Hugh’s tenure, he focused Entergy Arkansas’s efforts on ensuring access to pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds, helping to broaden the reach of these programs and give Arkansas’s children the support they need to succeed in school, work, and life.

Since joining ReadyNation, Hugh has been an active member, authoring op-eds on pre-K and child care and meeting with policymakers. We look forward to seeing how he develops Arkansas’s workforce pipeline and helps the state thrive as Secretary of Commerce.