Forty Under 40: Tina Marie Hernandez Hodne

Tina Hodne’s career was set: she was a partner in a 12-attorney law firm and held various leadership and volunteer roles in her hometown of Sioux City, Iowa. Then in 2003, her husband accepted a job at Tyson Foods in Springdale.

Hodne was hired by Kutak Rock in Fayetteville, and had a brief stint as a professional fundraiser before landing with her current firm in 2005.

According to Hodne, establishing herself in Northwest Arkansas has been her biggest challenge.

Since relocating, Hodne has been named to the boards of The Jones Center for Families and Walton Arts Center, graduated from the Leadership Fayetteville program and is a founding member of the United Way of Washington County’s Young Womens’ Alliance.

She credits her success to her inability to sit still for long periods of time, “I’m more efficient and tend to run my life better when I have a full plate.” For example: When efforts to sell a house by owner didn’t pan out, Hodne didn’t hire a realtor — she became one. She now works with the Griffin Company Realtors part time.

Hodne earned her law degree with distinction in 1994 from the University of Iowa and said her career highlight has been the fact she has passed five bar exams, each on the first attempt.