Forty Under 40: Dustie Jenkins

Dustie Jenkins has never met a stranger. He loves getting to know his employees and his customers and has used that knowledge throughout his sales and marketing career to outwork and outsmart his competitors.

Jenkins grew up in Harrison and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1991 with a major in general business and a minor in transportation logistics. He worked for Roadway Package Systems as a shift manager until 1992, when J.B. Hunt Transport Services hired him to become the companys national sales manager for its hazardous waste division.

In 1996, Hunt sold the division to Tri-State Motor Transit, and Jenkins joined Tri-State as its national sales manager. By early 2000, Jenkins wanted to move his family back to Northwest Arkansas and soon landed a job at Tyson Foods as the companys national sales representative for Sams Club.

Promoted to vice president of club store sales in 2003, Jenkins took over club store marketing as well in early 2006.

Jenkins, who heads up the business segment of the 2006 Washington Country United Way Fund campaign, sits on the board of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce and enjoys riding his 2005 Harley-Davidson Deluxe.