Talk Business & Politics magazine: The business hall of fame edition

by Bill Paddack ([email protected]) 242 views 

Fresh off the press and soon to be in mailboxes across the state, the January/February issue of Talk Business & Politics magazine is rich with news, interviews, features and commentaries.

On the cover, we feature the 2016 class of the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame. Recognized for their leadership in business and community service, these four Arkansas icons – William T. Dillard II, George K. Mitchell, Patricia P. Upton and the late Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller – join an elite group in the Hall of Fame established by the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business.

It’s a new year, a leap year and, guess what, an election year. Veteran political observer John Brummett takes a look at this year’s Senate race as well as interesting legislative matchups. It’s also a time of transition for some companies, including Entergy Arkansas. Longtime CEO Hugh McDonald will be retiring and his successor, Rick Riley, is busy preparing to take the reins of the state’s largest electric utility. Business editor Wes Brown examines the careers of the two men.

Mention the growth and redevelopment of downtown Little Rock and the name Jimmy Moses comes to mind. Rex Nelson profiles the visionary for us and finds out what other ideas he has for the capital city.

In our Sixth Sense leadership series, six business leaders give us their thoughts on making the tough call to shut down a division, operation or company, knowing the ramifications for layoffs and lost revenue.

Inside this issue, you will also find a look at Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s recently formed Military Affairs Committee and what that panel hopes to accomplish; a detailed look at the student debt crisis; a profile of new State Parks Director Grady Spann; a Q&A with entrepreneur Brittany Hodak, an Arkansas native who is co-founder of a cutting-edge entertainment marketing company; and insightful commentaries.

Access the online version at this link. If you want to subscribe to the magazine for free, email [email protected] with your name and mailing address.