Northwest Arkansas’ 2007 40 Under 40 Class Meet Challenges

This year’s class of 40 Under 40 honorees are smart, ambitious and hardworking individuals – that’s apparent in how rapidly they’ve ascended to their ranks.

During profile interviews with the 11th annual class, the editors of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal surveyed each with 21 questions about everything from where they live (40 percent in Fayetteville) to how prepped they are for retirement (a collective 5.6 out of 10, and 4 of them work in wealth management).

Aside from most being married, the majority of this year’s class shares one common challenge: the management of time and balancing a successful work life with a successful home life. Sixty-five percent indicated this in one way or another.

And most (72.5 percent) have children, so family activities and a desire to be a good provider and a present parent were frequently mentioned along with time management.

Despite those answers, when asked what they miss out on by working so hard, 25 percent of the class said, “nothing” while 32.5 percent said “family time.”

It seems the 40s have more than their successes to bond them together – they also have the daily grind and, however small, their insecurities.

But if anything, this class is triumphant.

Within its ranks are a skydiver, a European backpacker, a triathlete and a jazz musician, proof that bravado, stamina and creativity are crucial to business in Northwest Arkansas.

Many members of this year’s class literally have the opportunity to change the world, and a few have already started down that path.

Twenty-nine are men and 11 are women, about the same as previous classes.

Eight work in the financial services sector, eight work in the real estate industry (from sales to development), two are lawyers (though more have their law degrees) and 11 work for public companies.

Some of this year’s 40s are children of business leaders who long ago blazed a trail in business and made their names known.

But the progeny of the business leaders in this year’s class have built their own names.

In many cases, they’ve doubled their efforts to stand out from their parents’ shadows, and we know that all of Northwest Arkansas is the benefactor of their hard work.

The Northwest Arkansas Business Journal is proud to present this year’s class of 40 Under 40. Click here to read details about each honoree and learn more interesting facts about the class as a whole.