Forty Under 40: Bethany Davis

Bethany Davis didn’t like babysitting, so when she was 14, she found a different way to make money. She made origami cranes for 25 cents apiece. She wanted to make $12 per hour, the same rate she would make babysitting.

She did the math and knew exactly how many she needed to make per hour to achieve that goal.

After high school, Davis worked as an esthetician. She spent many nights and weekends giving facials, applying makeup, performing body treatments and removing hair. Her husband Nic worked in the banking industry.

She noticed something about his schedule that appealed to her. He had consistent hours, and they were “business hours.” 

“I noticed that he didn’t work nights or weekends,” she said. “That’s when I decided to pivot into the business world.”

Davis spent time working her way up through the banking ranks. Eventually, she was encouraged to join The Barcode Group, a company that acts as a conduit between brands, manufacturers and retailers.

She is currently the president of the Bentonville Team. She works with small- to medium-sized suppliers that sell goods in Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.

Davis and her team do a wide variety of tasks with their clients. They develop sales strategies, study analytics and provide other services to help run their businesses.

On any given day, work might include a high-level strategy meeting, picking up boxes or taking pictures. Making herself dispensable to other people is a key element of her job.

In her spare time, she likes to garden and play golf with her husband and two children, Jordyn and Camryn. Davis serves as a youth leader for several religious organizations. The family also enjoys spending time with their dog Winston.