Paul Pickens, a 1992 graduate of Arkansas State University, has been named director of the St. Bernards Health & Wellness Institute.
A native of Blytheville, he most recently served as district director for the MidSouth Business Unit, Staffmark, with oversight of offices in Northeast Arkansas, Southwest Tennessee and Mississippi.
Paul has over 18 years’ experience in running multiple office locations in the staffing industry. For the last 13 years he directed a nine-branch region for the MidSouth Business Unit for Staffmark and was consistently recognized for leading offices to high sales performance.
At the Health & Wellness Institute he will be responsible for overall operation and will oversee a large team of fitness professionals, ensuring they deliver expert instruction and guidance to the members of the facility.
Pickens has a passion for health and fitness, and for years, he has been involved in running and triathlon events.
He is active in community and professional groups, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Northeast Arkansas Society for Human Resource Management Association. In addition, he is a past board member of the ASU College of Business Spring Swing event. He has served on the board of directors for the Governor’s Partnership and is a member of St. Bernards Advocates. Pickens was named a Northeast Arkansas Young Executive of the Year in 2005.
The St. Bernards Health & Wellness Institute is a one-of-a kind facility that integrates medically based fitness, treatment and prevention services, offering a variety of wellness resources in a single place. It provides convenient access to outpatient services, wellness programs, medically based fitness opportunities and more. The 55,000-square-foot facility houses a state-of-the-art fitness center with memberships available to the general public.
Clinical departments of St. Bernards that focus on behavior changes and healthy living also are housed in the Institute at 1416 East Matthews Ave. They include the Center for Weight Loss/HMR Program, Diabetes Management, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Outpatient Physical Therapy. Sports Training by CD Sports, Senses Spa, Café on the Mile, Fit Shop on the Mile, Kids Club and the offices of Jonesboro Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine are located within the Institute as well.
Paul and his wife, Laura, have two children, Caroline, 10, and John Paul, 9, and are members of First United Methodist Church. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Dick Pickens of Jonesboro.