Forty Under 40: Eddie Hight

Eddie Hight doesn’t really like to talk about himself. He’d rather discuss the company he loves and directs, America’s Car-Mart Inc. in Bentonville.

Now publicly traded, Car-Mart operates nearly 60 used-car dealerships in seven states.

Hight, who turns 40 in November, manages the company’s daily affairs as chief operating officer.

About 400 employees work for the company, and 17 occupy its headquarters.

For the last 18 years, Hight has climbed Car-Mart’s corporate ladder, and he is most proud of the way he started: at the bottom. In May of 1984, Hight joined the company as a management trainee.

A year later he took over his own Car-Mart dealership, and 10 years later he became general manager of the corporate office. Two months ago, Car-Mart promoted Hight to COO.

He said his ascension to senior management from an entry-level position is common in the company.

Maintaining aggressive, controlled growth of the company is Hight’s primary professional concern now.

He said Car-Mart could potentially grow to include 120 dealerships over the next five years.