Meet the AFF Board

Tillman Pittman, President

Tillman Pittman joined AFF in 2005 and has served on the board since 2012. While he fishes for trout and saltwater species…his passion is warm water—especially small-mouth bass on Arkansas’ Buffalo River and Crooked Creek. A veteran himself, he enjoys giving back through Project Healing Waters.

Kenley Money, Vice President

Kenley Money joined AFF in 2010 and has served on the board since 2011. She started fly fishing in 2010 on local waters. Her love of fishing began with a cane pole and cork on a small creek in Montgomery County, Arkansas, where she would catch countless bream for the many barn cats around (the cats knew the sound of the returning car and would run out for a tasty fish meal). Even though she has fished from Vermont to Montana, she enjoys the Little Red River most of all.

Ron Blome, Secretary

Ron Blome has been a member of Arkansas Fly Fishers since 2015 and a Fly Fisherman since 2010. Besides fishing Arkansas' great tail-waters. Ron enjoys Fly Fishing for small-mouth on the Buffalo River and fly fishing on mountain streams in the Appalachian Mountains. Ron has several fly fishing outings documented on YouTube. Additionally, Ron is a freelance Video Journalist who works for THE WEATHER CHANNEL. 

Mark Wingfield, Treasurer

Mark joined the Arkansas Fly Fishers in 1991. He has served on the AFF board as both Vice President and President. Mark has always been passionate about the outdoors. He is a serious fly tyer and fly rod builder. Additionally, Mark enjoys camping, canoeing, kayaking and cycling. He has fly fished for game species all over the world but loves the small streams and Arkansas trout fisheries the most. Mark is married to Gena and they have two children and five grandchildren.

John Shiver, Conservation Officer

Avid outdoorsman that enjoys hunting, fishing, canoeing, and sports of all kinds, John Shiver serves on the board of the Arkansas Fly Fishers as the Conservation Officer. His interests are preserving and protecting the watershed and environment that we enjoy. John is also an avid trout fisherman who has had opportunities to travel around on fly fishing to Colorado, Utah, and Montana. He has even fished with team Arkansas in the America’s Cup in Colorado. It was a humbling experience going against the best in the world!”

David Gardner, Membership Officer

David Gardner was introduced to fly fishing and AFF by attending his first club meeting in June of 2016. Since that time and meeting with numerous members picking their brain and gathering information, David developed a strong desire to "fly fish it forward" assisting others that are new to fly fishing.  He is interested in trout management conservation and the promotion/preservation of Arkansas natural resources. In addition to fly fishing, David enjoys duck hunting and is partial to black labs. He is married to Pat and they have three children, two daughters in law and two precious grand daughters.

Sherry Barnhart, Casting for Recovery Coordinator

Sherry Barnhart joined AFF in 2018 and is an at-large board member. She began fly fishing in 2012 when she was a participant at a Casting for Recovery retreat. Because of the impact the retreat made on her life, she currently volunteers with AR Casting for Recovery and is also involved in helping provide opportunities to introduce women to fly fishing. Although she’s fished rivers in several states, her favorite place remains the White River in Arkansas. That is where she made her first cast, caught and released her first trout, and had her first experience of spending hours on the river yet feeling like it was only minutes 

Ashley Money, Project Healing Waters Coordinator

Ashley Money began his fly-fishing adventure in 2007 when he walked into the Ozark Angler Fly Shop in Little Rock and, after not finding minnows or worms in a refrigerator, finally asked what kind of fishing equipment they sold. A month later, while fishing an Orvis Anniversary Edition Zero Gravity fly rod on a crisp fall day on a West Virginia stream, he caught his first fish on the fly rod; a 13-inch brown trout. Needless to say, that was enough to be “hooked.” Ash became an AFF member in 2009 and joined the board in 2010. He has helped build partnerships between AFF and other community outreach programs including Project Healing Waters.

Bobby Cheatham, Board Member Emeritus 

Bobby Cheatham was born and raised in Arkansas and has been married for 55 years. Bobby is also a Navy Veteran and has a BS in accounting from UA Little Rock. He grew up with a fascination for the fly rod, which led him to the Arkansas Fly Fishers, around 1988. He has served as AFF’s president and has been a board member ever since. Additionally, in the 90s, he became an FFF Certified Casting Instructor and has taught casting at the Conclave and Sow Bug, which is in Mountain Home. His favorite fishing spots are the Buffalo, Crooked Creek, the King, etc. for small-mouth bass. Now retired from the Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit, Bobby spends his time with his family, which consists of his wife Sue, daughter Gina and her husband Doug, granddaughter Whitney and her husband Mason.

Cheri McKelvey, Board Member

Although new to fly fishing it’s something Cheri McKelvey has been interested in for quite some time. After taking a Fly Fishing 101 class she joined the Arkansas Fly Fishers in 2022.  A member invited her on a guided trip and she caught her first trout on a fly rod…needless to say it was one of the best days ever!  Fly fishing is now added to the “favorites” list that also includes traveling, hiking and kayaking.  She is co-owner of an aviation company and is excited to be joining the board, from sky’s to streams flying seems to in her nature.

I started attending meetings in 2008. Officially joined the Arkansas fly fishers and quickly jumped on and started serving as a board member. I’ve also held the offices of secretary and treasurer. I am currently an at-large member. I grew up in Helena, Arkansas. I moved to Little Rock in 1997. I’m employed as an optometrist at Arkansas Children’s hospital. Outside of fly fishing, I am an avid cyclist. I ride road bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes, you name. I also enjoy golf, and can be a bit of a beer geek. 

David Watson grew up fishing for small mouth bass at his family’s cabin on Big Piney Creek north of Russellville. Then later began fishing for trout on the Little Red when a friend introduced him to fly fishing. So for the last twenty five years, David has pursued fly fishing not only in Arkansas but across the USA. David rejoined the club in 2021 after selling his business and retiring. In addition to fly fishing, David loves to travel. His role on the Board as travel coordinator allows him to combine his passions and share it with others. David’s favorite fishery is “steelheading” on the Pere Marquette in Michigan. David is married to Caryl and has five children along with three grandchildren.