The Struggle to Be Known

Lisa Rhodes changed the trajectory of my life.

If not for her, I would never have come to work in healthcare which has been my adventure of a lifetime.

When I first met Lisa, there was an instant connection. For one thing, we are interested in many of the same things, like music, movies, books and pop culture. But, that’s not to say we agree on everything. We’re able to discuss and disagree, and yet remain friends. Sadly, there’s not many folks these days who can say that!

Lisa is one of the few people able to stand up to the full force of my sarcasm, which is a mighty testament indeed! I will surely miss her at work, and as others have stopped me in the hallways to ask me about her retirement, I’ve begun to realize how many other people will miss her too.

Lisa has had a unique, interesting life. As she retires from healthcare marketing after 28 years, she sums up her career as long and fulfilling.

“I can still remember my first day,” Lisa said, “I was in orientation and scheduled to be there all day. Around noon, the Vice President of Marketing burst into the classroom and said, ‘Lisa, we’ve got work to do and you can’t be down here all day!’ So, I gathered up my things and headed back to my office. I’ve been there ever since!”

Lisa followed a unique path to healthcare marketing. She began her work life as a teenager in radio, where she was an on-air radio broadcaster. In Pine Bluff, she was a disc jockey at KPBA and KCLA and in 1977, she moved to Oklahoma City.

She explains, “I just walked into the radio station off the street and asked for an audition. I had no aircheck, no resume – nothing. I’m sure they expected to get a good laugh. They handed me some sports copy to read that was full of (difficult) tennis player names, and I just read right through it. The man who auditioned me said, ‘I’m not sure if you pronounced them all right but you never once faltered,’ and so I got the job.” A part-time, overnight jock position was soon traded for a daily slot as early morning newscaster and straight man for the morning personality.

Her broadcasting name was changed to, “Lisa Carr,” and she enjoyed four very successful years in Oklahoma. Realizing she wasn’t cut out for a lifetime of climbing the ladder, she returned to Arkansas in 1981 but continued to work in radio off and on for another ten years. During her 20-year broadcast career, in addition to becoming something of a state-wide celebrity herself in Oklahoma, she had the opportunity to meet many touring musicians and groups, interviewing celebrities like Kenny Loggins, Reba McEntire and Randy Travis. She was always interested in popular culture and celebrities, and after moving back, Lisa spent several years as State President of the Oak Ridge Boys Fan Club! As president, she single-handedly published a monthly newsletter for the club for a number of years.

Another highlight of her time in Oklahoma City was two years of serving as Master of Ceremonies for the weekly midnight showing of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Will Roger’s Theatre in Oklahoma City. “About 200 people could fit in that space and we had close to that every week,” Lisa said. “It was a fun time and something new was always happening. They would even turn on the sprinklers in the theater during the rain scenes of the film.”

After returning to Arkansas, Lisa spent several years doing news for KOTN and KFXE in Pine Bluff, and working for talk radio KPBA. In 1990, she officially stepped away from radio, taking a position at the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff where she eventually served as Communications and Public Outreach Director.

It was in 1995 that Lisa began working as a Marketing Specialist at Jefferson Regional. It’s a position that allowed her to do a variety of different jobs, including being the organization’s primary writer. “Through the years, you know you never really know what you might be called upon to do,” she said. “I remember someone calling me once and asking me how they could pick up their family member from the morgue. It’s just always something different every day.”

Around 2013, Lisa also began singing karaoke at a local club and during this time she met a guitar player who was starting a new project. He eventually asked her to sing with them, and she spent a number of years playing gigs with the Highway 49 Band around the state at festivals, VFWs and just about any gathering where people wanted music (many people still recognize her from these appearances). Singing with the band was also where she first met her husband, Randy Rhodes, who had also joined the group. Married in 2021, she and her guitarist husband plan on devoting more of their retirement days to playing and singing.

Wendy Talbot, Chief Experience Officer at the healthcare facility where Lisa worked explains, “Lisa is such a joy to work with. She has made a huge contribution to this organization. She is a highly-skilled writer and her knowledge of the organization allows her to draft press releases, statements and feature articles quickly and efficiently. From annual reports to magazine articles and award-entry narratives, she has been involved in every aspect of the department. She will definitely be missed.”

Lisa has seen many changes throughout her career. “For one thing, it’s much, much busier in this department than it has ever been. We are just taking on more and more. But one of the biggest things to happen in my time here, is COVID. I’d have to say, that having the first COVID patient in the state and later watching him be discharged, that stands out in my mind as a major highlight for sure.”

“There is one thing that hasn’t changed, and that’s the hospital’s commitment to taking care of South Arkansas,” she said. “Jefferson Regional does whatever it takes to make this community a healthier one. I’m proud to have been a small part of that.”

Lisa says she is looking forward to having more free time and no schedule. She plans to spend more of that time with her husband, children and grandchildren. We all wish her a long and happy retirement!