Forty Under 40: Megan Raynor

Megan Raynor has an exceptional commitment to connectivity and community involvement, and her career is a testament to the rewards.

Raynor says she chose the field of accounting by accident. She was “just looking for busywork” the summer before college when she took a job in the accounts payable office of Sparks Regional Medical Center. She got the job because she had been a babysitter to children of the hospital’s comptroller, who offered her a part-time position. Raynor enjoyed the accounting work, which she continued after earning a business degree from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

In 2006, Raynor joined Hanna Oil & Gas, a family-run production and exploration company. She was recommended for that job after mentioning to a former teacher that she was looking for a new position.

Raynor participated in 2010 Leadership Fort Smith and met a woman on the Clayton House Board of Directors who later contacted her about joining that board (Raynor has been there five years now). She is part of Keep Fort Smith Beautiful, is a Fort Smith Jaycee (once a Volunteer of the Year), and this month will travel to Quantico as an alumni of her city’s 2016 FBI Academy (she also went through the police, sheriff, fire and citizen’s academies).

“I want to be informed. I get to be in the know and meet people. The person who influenced me the most to get involved is my aunt, Peggy Weidman.  She was very involved in many areas of Fort Smith, from helping grow the art museum and cancer support house, to being on the Parks and Recreation and Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commissions. I think it’s very important to give back and make your town a better place to live.”