Change is Inevitable (OPINION)

Some people enjoy change. Others do not. But change is inevitable.

However, change can also be exciting. It is good, and energizing. Let’s face it, when it comes to journalism, “routine” can sometimes be a bad thing.

Don’t mistake my tone. Rob Keys is an awfully good journalist, and was an even better boss. I was pretty surprised the day he told me he was leaving as editor, and halting a journalism career of more than two decades, to take a job in the corporate world with the most dominant bank in Arkansas.

But if you haven’t realized by now that Arvest Bank generally gets what it wants, then you haven’t been paying attention.

Rob is a pro, and certainly a desired commodity, and Arvest made a smart choice to grab him. He’ll remain a very good friend, and a terrific sounding board.

His exit, though, brings about an exciting change for me. It’s with a great measure of humbleness that I introduce myself as the editor of the Business Journal.

My name, hopefully, should not be too unfamiliar, as I have been an assistant editor for this publication for more than two years, and spent nine years as the sports editor for the daily paper in Bentonville.

I’ve watched kids named Walton do extremely well on the football field at Bentonville High School.

And it was fun to visit recently with Bethany Freeman, a member of this year’s Fast 15 class, who I reported on during her career as a state champion swimmer at BHS.

But the business world in Northwest Arkansas is also a lot of fun to cover, and I’m thrilled to take on this new role.

And while the change is exciting, one thing at the Business Journal will remain a constant, and that’s our dedication to being a go-to source for industry news and information.

If you have ideas on how we can best do that, please share them with me by calling, writing or stopping by to visit. I always love to visit.