Martine Pollard to deliver keynote address at Forty Under 40 event

by Paul Gatling ([email protected]) 1,380 views 

Martine Pollard, an executive with the state’s largest health insurer, will be the featured speaker at the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s 26th annual Forty Under 40 event.

The luncheon will be held on Aug. 16 at the Embassy Suites in Rogers. It will include awards presented to each of this year’s honorees. Intrust Bank in Rogers sponsors the event, scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A native Arkansan, Pollard is Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield’s vice president of the Northwest Arkansas market. She joined the company last fall. Before that, she was a key member of Mercy Northwest Arkansas’ executive team for several years as executive director of community and public relations, and communications and community integration.

Pollard has led government, business and community relations initiatives throughout her career, including serving as senior vice president for government affairs for the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce and as a congressional staffer for former U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor.

Pollard holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. She is a Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) board member.

Starting in 1997, the Business Journal has honored 40 outstanding professionals under 40 who live and work in the six-county coverage area of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Sebastian and Crawford counties. They were nominated as best in class by their peers in all industries.

This year’s Forty Under 40 issue will be available on newsstands and online Monday, Aug. 15.

Corporate tables and advance tickets for the Forty Under 40 event are available by calling Rob Gutterridge at 479-725-0394.