Forty Under 40: Josh Francis

The ability to meet many different types of people and get to know them on a personal and a professional level is an important asset, and it’s certainly not one lost on Josh Francis, 25.

A native of Benton, Francis attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. He met his wife there, and graduated in 2005 with a degree in business administration with a focus on marketing.

After finishing college, Francis worked for Fastening Solutions, visiting job sites and selling construction materials to contractors.

At the time, a friend told him Fleming Cos. was looking for sales representatives in Northwest Arkansas. His wife was about to graduate, so he took the job. Francis was laid off in early August.

Francis has worked on electric cabling and camera projects at Mercy Health Center, Fayetteville High School and the Pinnacle Hills Promenade. He was certified as a Level One alarm technician and also graduated from the Dale Carnegie Training Sales Advantage course.

He attends the Springdale Rotary Club and is active in his church as well. Francis enjoys golf, mountain bike riding and church sports such as softball and flag football.

As far as advice to other up-and-coming professionals, Francis recommends being frank and upfront, he said, because “people can tell if you’re not.”