2021 NEA Women in Business: Heather Walker-Clark

Heather Walker-Clark
Owner
Intersect 311, The Glass Factory, Porch Thirty
Residence: Jonesboro
Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology, (1999) and master of public administration (2005), University of Memphis; certification in nonprofit management (2005), American Humanics; certification in crime analysis and criminal intelligence (2011), University of California, Sacramento

What was your dream job as kid and why? Without a doubt, I wanted to be a behavioral profiler with the FBI. I am intrigued and fascinated by human behavior, particularly criminal behavior. My mind is naturally investigative and skeptical, so coupled with my fascination with the criminal mind, this type of work would have been challenging for me and being challenged is a must in my life.

What has been the most fulfilling moment of your career so far? Building and opening the boutique hotel. Everyone told us “no” for so long (years) that it just became this incredible source of energy for me to make it happen. Many told us “it will never work in downtown Jonesboro,” “you are going to lose your money,” “it is a bad investment,” and on and on. And now I am proud to say that we have impeccable outcomes with guest ratings averaging 4.8/5 on all variables; and we are operating between 80%-90% year round.

What’s the next big personal or career challenge you plan to take on? I am opening my coffee shop in fall 2021 called Urban Organics, which is in the front of the boutique hotel in downtown Jonesboro. Opening a coffee shop has been a dream of mine since I was in my teens and now it is finally happening, and I could not be happier! There are a few more exciting things happening soon, but nothing I can talk about just yet.

What character traits do you feel have benefited you in your success? Tenacity, hard work and Arkansas grit.

How do you spend your time away from work? What are your hobbies? I spend time with my boys, my family, and my friends. [My husband] Mat and I brainstorm about our next business adventure. I serve as the chair of the NAACP Economic Development Committee and sit on the board for the Foundation for Jonesboro Public Schools. I like to write poetry as well as work on my blog in my “free” time.

What advice would you give young women who are at the beginning of their careers? Learn everything you can learn at every job. Take the initiative to take on extra duties, tasks, and assignments. Start early and stay late. Be the hardest worker in the room. Do not be afraid to fail. Failure leads to success. Never take “no” for an answer. Maybe a “not yet,” but never “no.” Always do the right thing. If it feels bad in your gut, don’t do it. Character is what is built when no one is watching! Know what you know and know what you do not know and then hire people that complement your knowledge, skills, and abilities. Surround yourself with people that add value to your life and who hold you accountable. Pray always. Be thankful and grateful.

Can you share what you have learned about your business from the COVID-19 pandemic? No matter how much you plan and budget, the unknowns will happen, but God will put people in your path to get you through.

If you have a bucket list, what are the top three things on it? Go to law school, go to Europe for a year, and write and publish a book.

Of all the mentors in your professional career, who has been the most influential and why? This has been a difficult question to answer for me. God has placed so many professional mentors in my life at various points of my career that I cannot single just one out. They have all been influential for different reasons.

To name a few — Jeune Wood was my CAO at Juvenile Court in Memphis, [Tenn.], and she taught me about leadership. She was a strong, smart, educated woman who commanded respect as soon as she walked into the room, but she was kind and generous too. She took a chance on me early in my career and I have always been grateful for her role in the development of my professional life.

Ben Barylske, who is now the CFO of St. Bernards Health System was my CFO at the city of Jonesboro. Ben hired me in 2011 to be the grants administrator for the city of Jonesboro and always had my back, gave me the freedom I needed to operate and be successful, told me when I was wrong (in private), and most of all served as a role model for the kind of person I want to be towards others. He is innately good and I consider him to be one of the most admirable men I have ever known.

Ben Owens, Sr. played a huge role in my career and taught me the importance of listening to the generations of the past. He would give me books to read and then would require me to “give him a report” on what I had learned. One day, he drove me to every single St. Bernards location in Jonesboro and told me the entire history of each facility. He is a plethora of knowledge and understanding. He was raised by his mother and grandmother and has always been a promoter of women. I have much respect for him for many reasons, but especially for this reason. He invested time in me and my career when he did not have anything to gain from it. Wow, God has blessed me with some great mentors!

What’s your biggest passion and why? Fighting social injustice. All people are children of God and are loved by God; therefore, it is my responsibility to stand for those being treated unfairly in this world. (Proverbs 31:8). I have started a blog “injusticeknowmore” on Facebook as a source for information, data, and understanding. This is only a start. I look forward to adding more content very soon.

What’s the last good book you read? “Begging for Change” by Robert Egger.

What is something distinctive that people would be surprised to know about you? I am a certified in crime analysis and criminal intelligence.

What’s your favorite app at the moment? Venmo.

Editor’s note: Profiles for this year’s NEA Women in Business class were compiled and written by George Jared and Paul Holmes.