Our speaker is Jason Pederson who served as KATV’s 7-On-Your Side reporter. In 2019, he joined the Arkansas Department of Human Services where he serves as Deputy Chief of Community Engagement. Jason and Mary Carol have two children, Spencer (1999) and Shelby (2001). About that same time, Jason and Mary Carol became certified foster parents and welcomed a teenager into their home.

J.B. has been their bonus-son ever since, and J.B. has added a bonus daughter-in-law (Terra) and bonus grandson (Eli). The couple’s experience with the foster care system motivated Mary Carol to start a Christian non-profit (The CALL), which helps recruit, train, and support foster families. For fun, Jason enjoys spending time with his nieces, attending Razorback sporting events, playing disc golf, singing karaoke, antiquing, and traveling… all with Mary Carol. “Somebody’s Knocking” is Jason’s first book. He’s already working on his second book.

Some members of the PCBA may remember that Jason received the Pulaski County Bar Liberty Bell award in 2018 and the Citizen Merit Award from ATLA I 2002. His father-in-law received his 50-year pin as a practicing attorney several years ago.