Randy Coleman is the General Manager of the Fayetteville Baymont Inn & Suites (formerly the Quality Inn & Suites) and the proud father of Brandy and Scotty. He is currently the only African American GM of a hotel in the Northwest Arkansas area. As a GM, Randy ensures that the Baymont Inn & Suites supports the community through silent auctions, donations, and sponsorships for minority groups, Greek affiliations, and various charities. Due to his leadership and focus on guest and customer satisfaction, Randy was named the 2014 Hospitality Hero of the Year by the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau. And under his leadership one of his staff members was also nominated and nationally recognized for the Choice Hotels’ 2014 Star Service Award.
Randy was a two sport standout at Pine Bluff High School and Junior College with multiple accolades and honors:
- Two time National High School Track & Field All-American
- (#1 in the 4×200 meter relay & #7 in a the 4×400 meter relay)
- Three State Track & Field Championship Titles
- Three Conference Titles
- Two State and Overall Meet of Champions Records (4×200 & 4×400 relays)
- National Junior College Track and Field All-American
Randy is a 1992 graduate from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Business and Technology Education. Originally a walk-on to the University Track & Field Team he was soon awarded a scholarship and named co-captain:
- Three NCAA Track & Field Championships
- All American Honor Roll
- All SWC Honors
- All SEC Honors
- U of A Indoor 400 & 200 meters record holder
His 1993 Distance Medley Relay Team still holds the 7th fastest record in University history.
Along with his many personal accomplishments, his community involvement runs deep.
Twice the chairman of the Parents Committee and President of the Policy councils Randy has also served as the President of the E.O.A of Washington County Head Start Parent Advisory Council, an organization which writes grants for programs to benefit the families participating in Head Start. He also served on the Hilton/Special Quest Team which creates programs, videos, and other resources for families of children with disabilities within the community. Randy served as Chairman of the Advisory Board for FAMILY (fathers advocating male involvement in the lives of youth) an initiative program to empower and encourage active father involvement in the lives of their children.
One of his most fulfilling accomplishments was spearheading the Head Start campaign to provide extra safety for the children and families of the Willow Heights Head Start Program and the surrounding community. Working with the late mayor Fred Hanna, this program provided Children at Play and Cross Walk signage along Willow Street in Southeast Fayetteville as an additional safety measure during the school year and throughout the year. Because of his exemplary work, Randy received the Region VI Head Start Association Volunteer of the Year for the State of Arkansas at the National Convention in New Orleans.
Mr. Coleman was the first African American to serve as an officer with the Board of Commissioners for the City of Fayetteville Housing Authority. During his tenure he lead the establishment of a partnership with the Fayetteville Fire Department to create the “Adopt a Child” Christmas program which, at its inception, served more than 100 children living in public housing. However Randy’s most profound impact was initiating the Fayetteville Housing Authority Learning Center at Lewis Plaza. The Learning Center was designed to provide an educational environment, computer access and resources for Section 8 and public housing recipients and families. As a result of its success the Learning Center was duplicated and recreated within Hill Crest Tower for its seniors, and other tenants within its residence.
Randy has been a volunteer and co-director for the Dads and Kids Expo hosted by the Jones Center for Families. Under his leadership this event both increased sponsorship and participation five-fold.
He is also an active Arkansas Athletic Association (AAA)/ Arkansas Official’s Association member as a certified official in Football and Basketball with the Northwest Arkansas Official Association.
Today, Randy’s passion for Track & Field persists as well as his unwavering and humbling spiritual commitment to be a community servant and to assist those in need within our community with the USA/U of A Track & Field Association and the M&N Augustine Foundation.
He is presently serving his 20th year as a Certified USA/U of A Track & Field Official and is currently in his second term as the first African American board member of the University’s Track and Field Official Association Board. He has officiated over 10 NCAA National Championships, two NCAA Regional Championships, eight SEC Championships, a multitude of Razorback Track & Field meets, several Arkansas High School State Championships and served as co-Meet Director for the National Golden Games for Veteran May (2015).
The M&N Augustine Foundation is a 100% all-volunteer organization with the motto, “turning compassion into action”. His commitment to this foundation represents a personal relationship within the community fueled by his compassionate spirit of volunteerism. Now in his 16th year as a member he actively serves on the Executive Committee which oversees the major operations, functions, and events such as the annual fundraiser, the International Festival and the Annual Easter Feed, which provides more than 6,000 free home-cooked meals to the needy in our community. He also serves as the Client Service co-Director and Warehouse manager. Through the Augustine Foundation Mr. Coleman has impacted countless lives and families in the Northwest Arkansas community.
My personal statement is “Be blessed, and a blessing vessel to others, because the spirit of Volunteerism, is an endearment of your heart, laced with the compassion of your soul, for the value of its results, is a priceless treasure chest of God’s grace”.
