Forty Under 40: Grafton Moore Potter III

The satisfaction derived from a hard day’s work is what motivates Tulsa native Grafton Potter.

Potter graduated from Baylor University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in religion. Afterward, he worked for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, then Allegiance Telecom Inc., in Houston.

In 2003 he started with Alltel and moved to Northwest Arkansas with the company in 2004. In 2006 he joined Windstream Communications, a spin-off of Alltel which handles the landline side of the phone business.

Potter is an account executive with Windstream, and one of his favorite aspects of his work is the business-to-business sales. Last year, he and one other sales representative beat out nearly 150 others to win the Windstream Elite award for sales. Potter manages more than 100 accounts in Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith.

One of his career goals is to be promoted to a director or vice presidential position within the next several years.

Potter enjoys reading books on sales, leadership and Christian living.

He is a Connection Group leader at the Church at Pinnacle Hills, acting as a mentor to young married couples. He enjoys playing golf and hits the greens as often as he can.