Ruth Whitney

Founder and CEO

Ruth H. Whitney is a lawyer, entrepreneur, and CEO of parent company inVeritas and its subsidiary Select Litigation LLC.  Ruth serves as a strategic advisor to clients based on over 30 years of expertise in law, government, politics and public opinion. She has been privileged to advise Fortune 100 companies, prominent professional services firms, state and federal governments, law firms, nonprofit organizations, and industry associations.  

Ruth earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Association and is admitted to practice in Arkansas and the U.S. District Courts in Arkansas. Ruth has also been admitted pro hac vice in various jurisdictions in the course of her service as a national jury consultant. 

Before founding inVeritas and Select Litigation, Ruth served as counsel and chief of staff to Attorney General Mike Beebe and developed professional relationships with attorneys general across the country. Ruth has extensive legal and management experience, including over 10 years as a healthcare and administrative lawyer with the Arkansas Department of Human Services and as Counsel to Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard. 

Ruth has been featured as a high-profile business leader in Arkansas Money & Politics and the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.  Ruth is a guest writer for Talk Business and has served on several boards of directors including the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce; Arkansas Cinema Society; Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance; and VIC Technology Venture Development. She also serves her state and community as a member of Fifty for the Future and the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. 

HANNAH WHITNEY

Senior Director

Hannah Whitney is a Senior Director at inVeritas where she advises corporations, associations and nonprofit organizations on public policy strategy, government relations, and stakeholder engagement.  Hannah helps clients anticipate policy developments and advance strategic objectives at the state and local levels.

In her role, Hannah helps manage integrated public affairs campaigns that combine government relations, strategic communications, and issue advocacy.  She regularly works with business leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders to develop policy solutions and drive outcomes in highly regulated industries.

Prior to joining inVeritas, Hannah worked for over a decade in the film and media industry as an Assistant Director and Project Manager, where she oversaw production logistics, coordinated large teams, and ensured projects were delivered on time and within budget. In this role, she managed cross-functional crews, production schedules, and communications among creative teams, executives, vendors, and external partners. This experience developed her ability to lead high-pressure projects, manage competing priorities, and maintain clear communication among diverse stakeholders.

Born and raised in Little Rock, Hannah earned her bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College.  She is active in civic organizations focused on hunger relief and downtown development.

Carla Haugen

Chief Financial Officer

Carla Haugen, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), is responsible for the strategic management of financial operations and internal controls, for process improvements, and for providing recommendations to ensure the integrity and strength of inVeritas’ overall financial health.

She is an accomplished leader and brings over 35 years of experience in comprehensive financial management, development of oversight and compliance strategies, and effective executive control of multi-billion-dollar budgets. Her reputational risk skills are second to none and she enjoys a challenge.

Before joining inVeritas, Carla spent 28 years of her career navigating Arkansas State Government at the highest levels.  She served as the Department of Finance and Administration’s Chief Deputy, Chief of Staff and Chief Financial Officer and closed out the last year and half of her public service as the Department of Human Services’ Deputy Chief Financial Officer training fiscal staff on budgets, finance, legislation, regulation, policy, and program delivery.

A native of North Little Rock, Carla earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and continued her studies in Public Administration.  She is a Certified Governmental Accountant and Public Administrator.  Carla is also certified in Government Leadership and Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School and certified in Business Foundations from the University of Arkansas Walton College Executive Education Program.

Kelly Sullivan

Vice President of Research

Kelly Sullivan manages the research division for inVeritas including corporate research; political research; jury selection and litigation support matters; legislative analysis and bill tracking; and political action committee management.

 As vice president of research, Kelly provides due diligence research on potential investors, board members, employees, business acquisitions, and competitors for corporate clients. She conducts market research, in-depth interviews, and public opinion research. She has helped nonprofit and corporate clients create strategic plans, public relations plans, and charitable giving plans.

 Her political research clients include gubernatorial races, congressional campaigns, mayoral races, state legislative races, and campaigns for attorney general. She has directed policy, research, and debate preparation for campaigns, and provides vetting on campaign employees, contributors, stakeholders, and vendors.

 A licensed attorney, Kelly helps clients navigate legal, regulatory, and corporate issues. She manages jury selection and litigation support matters, drawing on her extensive background in research and data analysis to provide insight into the jury pool. She has conducted jury research in various jurisdictions across the nation, including a high-profile federal case in which 11 defendants were acquitted on all 138 charges.

 Prior to joining inVeritas, Kelly served as an associate with a national public affairs company, where she assisted in legislative analysis, grassroots and issue-advocacy campaigns, crisis management, and communications operations. She also spent time at a state political party office and worked on a presidential campaign.

 Kelly graduated magna cum laude from the University of Central Arkansas, where she was a member of the Honors College. Kelly earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is admitted to the Arkansas State Bar.

Kelly serves the Little Rock community as a volunteer with the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund and as a PTA board member. She previously served as a member of the executive committee of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County and co-chaired the task force that led its successful merger with the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund.

Joni Jones

Vice President of Finance and Operations

Joni Jones, vice president of finance and operations, manages inVeritas’ general operations as well as financial planning, investments and banking.

She has more than 36 years of experience in comprehensive financial management and program design and implementation.

Before joining inVeritas, Joni directed the Division of County Operations, the largest division of the Arkansas Department of Human Services. In her role, Joni was responsible for issuing more than $6 billion in healthcare, nutrition and financial assistance benefits to Arkansans each year.

A native of Little Rock, Joni earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas.

Melissa Dean

Project Management Director

Melissa Dean, project management director, brings more than 40 years of experience working in a variety of management positions for the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

Melissa served as both deputy director and chief fiscal officer for the Division of County Operations, the department's largest division.

During her tenure, Melissa supervised the staff responsible for the division's human resource management, financial budgeting and reporting, call center management, fraud prevention, staff development, contract procurement, asset management and quality assurance.

Melissa graduated from the University of Central Arkansas.  She resides in Conway.

Rebecca Ross

Chief of Staff

Becca Ross serves as Chief of Staff, where she manages internal communications, oversees key initiatives and strategic planning, and serves as a liaison between leadership and external stakeholders.

Prior to her time at inVeritas, Becca served as Director of Volunteers and Pages for a presidential nominating convention. Her political experience also includes time in Governor Asa Hutchinson’s administration as Scheduling Assistant, providing executive-level support and managing internal operations. Before her transition into politics, she built a strong foundation in the real estate and title industry, serving in key operational roles.

Becca attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a B.A. in Strategic Communications and a minor in American Sign Language. She also studied English Linguistics at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Tim Leathers

Consultant

Tim Leathers joined inVeritas with 39 years of legal and management experience in the public sector, having most recently served as Deputy Director and Commissioner of Revenue in the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). He began at DFA as a law clerk while attending law school and was also a tax attorney and chief counsel.

Tim served as a loyal and trusted advisor to seven governors and leaders of both parties.  He has managed complex legislative and legal issues and the operations of a 2,900-employee agency that is responsible for the management of the State’s human resources, procurement, accounting and revenue to balance the state $20 billion budget.  He has written laws and managed a legislative process for the financial and administrative concerns of the executive branch.  He represented the State in complicated and high value cases in administrative proceedings and in trial and appellate courts.

Tim received his Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Administration degrees from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He taught State and Local Taxation at the UALR Bowen School of Law and Commercial Law at UALR. He is licensed to practice law in Arkansas State Courts, Federal District Court and Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Tim was a JAG Officer in the United States Army Reserves.  He served two terms as Chair of the Multistate Tax Commission and Chair of the Attorney Section of the National Association of Tax Administrators.  He serves on the Vestry (board) of his church and has been successfully married for forty years.

Amy Kelley Bell

Public Relations

Amy Kelley Bell serves as the creative director for inVeritas. In this role, Amy develops the marketing, design, brand management and digital media campaigns for the firm. During her time with inVeritas, Amy has designed logos, branded nonprofits and developed digital marketing plans for a variety of businesses. Amy’s work has been featured in several publications throughout the state and nation, including Inviting Arkansas, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/High Profile, AY Magazine, Rock City Eats, Arkansas Times, Southwest: The Magazine and the Wall Street Journal.

 A native Arkansan, Amy earned her BFA in dance from the University of Montana in Missoula before returning to the Natural State.