Forty Under 40: Wendy Shumate

Wendy Shumate will tell anyone who asks that she has the best job – being able to serve her hometown of Rogers.

Shumate, 35, has served as assistant to Rogers’ Mayor Steve Womack since 1999. A Rogers native and graduate of Rogers High School, Shumate also serves on board for the United Way, Main Street Rogers Promotion Committee and the Frisco Festival.

Shumate was employed by First Brands Corp. and Hudson Foods, but it was while working for Mercy Health System at Northwest Arkansas that a meeting with the then-mayoral candidate at a local restaurant became a job opportunity for her. Shortly after Womack was elected to office, Shumate was interviewed and then hired as his assistant.

With Womack running for reelection in November, Shumate hopes to be able to continue with her job during Womack’s next adminstration.

Shumate said she realizes that “nothing worthwhile ever comes easy” and credits her father with influencing her the most throughout her life.

“My dad did hard, honest work,” Shumate said. “He came from where the odds were against him but was able to retire from management at Glad Manufacturing. In my opinion, he’s just the best man there is,” Shumate said.