Commission

Marty Shell, of Fort Smith, represents the Arkansas River and his term expires in 2025. As a second-generation port terminal operator, Commissioner Shell has been employed by Five Rivers Distribution for the past 28 years being able to work with his father Buck Shell, the founder of Five Rivers Distribution for 15 of those years. Commissioner Shell is active with both the Fort Smith and Van Buren Chambers of Commerce, serves as a Civil Service Commissioner for the City of Fort Smith Police and Fire departments, and is a former President and current member of Arkansas Oklahoma Port Operators Association. Commissioner Shell and his wife Shannon have been married for 20 years and have three children, Mackenzie, Avery, and Nathan Shell.

Phyllis Harden, of Hensley, serves at-large and her term expires in 2026. Commissioner Harden is primarily responsible for Legislative and Special Projects for Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel Company. She began her career with Pine Bluff in 1981. Commissioner Harden was instrumental in the initiation of Pine Bluff’s most successful Safety Program, which dramatically reduced injury and illness to the company’s highly productive people. She is frequently in Washington, DC lobbying for The Corps of Engineers waterway projects and funding. Phyllis is on the Board of Directors and a Past-President of the Mississippi Valley Associated General Contractors, which is the largest geographical Branch of the Associated General Contractors of America and represents contractors on the river system from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Dredging Contractors of America, Washington, D.C., and is on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the National Waterways Conference, Washington, DC. Locally, Commissioner Harden is Vice-Chairman of the Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Port Authority Board. She was the first female commission member, and on June 23rd, 2020, she became the first female Arkansas Waterways Commission Chair.

The Commission appointment representing the Ouachita River is currently vacant with a term that expires in 2027.

Commissioner John Edwards
Term expires January 14, 2027

John Edwards, of Scott, represents the Mississippi River and his term expires in 2028. Commissioner Edwards was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and spent much of his childhood in rural Lonoke County, Arkansas. He graduated from the University of Central Arkansas and the Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Commissioner Edwards served as an aide to former U.S. Senator David Pryor of Arkansas, where he was responsible for working with agricultural related issues. In 1996, he was appointed by the Clinton Administration as the Arkansas State Director of USDA Rural Development, the youngest person ever appointed to this post. USDA Rural Development is the lead federal agency providing funding for rural housing, businesses, and public drinking water systems. Commissioner Edwards was recognized by his superiors as having one of the best run offices in that agency and was noted for finding innovative solutions to infrastructure challenges in communities across the state of Arkansas.

I

Mike Lowe, of Texarkana, represents the Red River and his term expires in 2029. Commissioner Lowe is a third-generation farmer, farming land adjoining the Red River. Commissioner Lowe serves on several levee and drainage districts in his area, including the Arkansas Levee Task Force, and was a member of the Arkansas Farm Service Agency State Committee. Commissioner Lowe and his wife Diana have one daughter and two grandsons.

Rajesh Chokani

At-Large Economist

Rajesh Chokhani, of Little Rock, serves at-large as an economist and his term expires in 2030. Commissioner Chokhani is President of BOND.AI in Little Rock and the 2023 Chairman of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. Rajesh moved to the United States from Mumbai in 2007 to establish Welspun Tubular’s first factory outside India. During his time as COO, he grew the facility to more than 800 acres land, 1 million square feet of structures and hired 1,000 employees.

Rajesh has a passion for community service and serves on many boards of business and philanthropic endeavors, including Arvest Bank, Harmony Health Clinic, the Hindu Temple of Central Arkansas, and as Co-Chair for IndiaFest. He was appointed to the board of The University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College by Governor Asa Hutchinson and currently serves as Chairman of the Board. Rajesh is also the first Indian-American Chairman of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce in its 157-year history.

Rajesh is passionate about workforce development in Little Rock and sees the city’s potential as a miniature Silicon Valley. He aims to launch an entrepreneurial ecosystem to encourage new entrepreneurs to relocate to the city which will form a catalyst to develop more talent for the technology industry.