Northwest Arkansas Tech Summit to happen virtually

The seventh annual Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit will take place virtually Oct. 18-21 and include presenters, such as Scott Spradley, chief technology officer for Springdale-based meat producer Tyson Foods, and Shelley Simpson, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services.

In the past, the summit was hosted at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers. In 2019, it expanded to sites throughout downtown Bentonville. This year will be the first time it will be hosted virtually. The Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce is the organizing body of the event.

“We are all technologists now,” said Ashley Wardlow, executive director of the summit. “In both our personal and professional lives, we rely on technology to connect with one another and to make sense of a rapidly changing world. Going virtual empowers us to welcome a wider audience than ever before, while highlighting the exceptional quality of life unique to Northwest Arkansas.”

Following are summit presenters with Bentonville-based retailer Walmart: Meng Chee, executive vice president and chief product officer; Nuala O’Connor, senior vice president and chief counsel of digital citizenship; Sravana Karnati, senior vice president of technology; and Yazdi Bagli, senior vice president of global business services.

Cheryl Yarbrough of Rogers-based retail analytics company Shiloh Technologies is chair of the summit this year. More information is available at nwatechsummit.com. Those who purchase a “virtual+” ticket can take part in three small-group outdoor activities, hosted in Northwest Arkansas.

“Our virtual+ experiences will be small-group, curated outdoor activities showcasing the physical amenities central to our region’s quality of life,” said Evan Addison Payne, director of marketing and communications for the chamber. “Additional details are forthcoming and will be shared on our newsletter and website.”