FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2021
Contact:
Skot Covert
skot.covert@auditor.ar.gov
501-371-2141
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (March 3, 2021) – Jessica Keith, the Internal Auditor for Arkansas Auditor of State Andrea Lea, will be promoted to become the Auditor’s Chief of Staff effective April 1. She will replace Skot Covert, who will be leaving to pursue an opportunity outside of state government.
Keith, a native of Stone County and a graduate of Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, has served as Lea’s Internal Auditor since 2019. Besides assisting in converting to a new, more efficient unclaimed property management system, she facilitates risk assessments in all the departments within the Auditor’s office.
“Jessica has been a trusted member of my staff and has a reputation for improving office efficiency, but she also has a strong leadership quality that will allow her to excel in this position,” Lea said. “We hate to lose Skot, but Jessica has proven she has the skills to fill the chief of staff role and has earned this promotion through her experience and hard work.”
Keith has previously served at the Department of Finance and Administration, as well as financial institutions. She earned her BSBA in Economics and Finance from Arkansas Tech University and is a Certified Internal Auditor. She is also a member of the leadership boards of the Downtown Little Rock Community Development Cooperation and the Central Arkansas Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors. She and her husband Clayton are small business owners in Little Rock.
Covert has been on Lea’s staff since 2015, first as the Director of Communications and then becoming Chief of Staff in November 2017.
“I’m going to miss Skot – he’s been a trusted friend and has implemented many strategies that allowed us to become more efficient and effectively utilize our resources on behalf of Arkansans,” Lea said. “He is a hard worker who believes in good-government policies. I’m happy that he’s able to follow his passion.”
These changes will be effective April 1.