Business Journal Introduces The 2012 Forty Under 40 Class
by August 20, 2012 9:38 am 122 views
Well, it’s that time again — time to introduce our readers to another Forty Under 40 class.
This marks the 16th time the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal has honored such a group, and having been part of producing four of those issues, I can say that it’s always an adventure. And I mean that in the best way possible.
As always, the push for nominations began in the spring and they rolled in like waves. This also is a good time to mention a change that’s been made to our nomination system.
While readers will recognize the beginning of the official push for nominations as soon as the forms start showing up on the inside back cover of your Business Journal, they also can be made online. Simply visit www.nwabusinessjournal.com, and click on the “Best in Class” tab. The rest is easy.
The vast majority of nominations were submitted via the online option this year, and we’re happy to provide such a convenient alternative for our readers. Perhaps the best part about the online capability, though, is that nominations can be made at any time throughout the year.
We here at the Business Journal keep running files so that when we come across an individual we believe might be a fit for Forty Under 40, we can enter the appropriate information and re-visit it during the selection process. Likewise, the next time you come across someone who strikes you as a best-in-class professional, please take a few minutes and let us know by submitting an online form.
For now, though, the focus is on the 2012 Forty Under 40 class. We’re proud to bring you a glimpse of where they came from, where they are and where they’re headed.
As usual, the class comes from an array of industries, and all corners of our six-county coverage area. There are 24 men and 16 women.
One of the most noticeable things about this year’s class, at least in our eyes, is that nine members are in some way tied to the health care industry. That’s almost 25 percent, which seems like a whopper of a number.
There are at least a couple of reasons, however, for such a high percentage of health care-related honorees. For starters, according the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age in our country jumped from 35.3 years in 2000 to 37.2 years in 2010, thus a higher demand for health care professionals. It’s also worth noting that, depending on which data you prefer, health care jobs make up anywhere from three to five of the fastest-growing professions in our country.
This year’s class also featured an abundance of management types, which always is the case. These classes are designed to recognize the best and brightest, after all, and those kinds of people naturally are promoted into leadership positions.
There are plenty of other statistics and trends regarding the class you can find on the following pages. From their political and religious affiliations to their preferences in smartphones and forms of social media, we provide numerous snapshots of this year’s class as a whole.
It’s always fun — despite the extra hours and rewrites — for us to put together these classes and learn about them both as individuals and as a group. And it is our sincere hope that our readers enjoy the finished product.
Cheers!