Northwest Arkansas Council selects new officers, works to address ‘challenges’

The Northwest Arkansas Council held its annual fall meeting Wednesday (Nov. 13) and approved the slate of officers who will serve on its executive committee for the next year. The council also discussed programs to address the challenges of a growing metro area.

Simmons Foods CEO Todd Simmons stepped back as presiding co-chair with that role going to Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer at J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Hobbs has served as co-chair with Simmons through the past year. Simmons will remain a co-chair through his six-year term.

Co-chairs serve a six-year term and rotate into the presiding co-chair position. The council has not yet determined who will serve with Hobbs for the next term, but it will be one of the following co-chairs:
• Cindi Marsiglio, senior vice president of real estate at Walmart;
• Craig Rivaldo, regional president at Arvest Bank Group;
• Charles Robinson, chancellor at the University of Arkansas; and
• John Randal Tyson, sustainability and finance exec at Tyson Foods.

Marshall Saviers, the CEO at Cushman & Wakefield / Sage Partners, will serve as treasurer for this coming year and also vice chair in case the presiding co-chair can’t serve out the term. The vice chair term is a three-year stint.

Jim Walton, the chairman of the Arvest Bank Group, will serve as secretary. Alice Walton, founder of Heartland Whole Health remains as chair emeritus of the council, which is now in its 34th year.

New members appointed to the board by the nominating committee include Canem Arkan, managing director of Endeavor Heartland; Jane Duke, the associate general counsel at Tyson Foods; and Carter Malloy, the founder of AcreTrader. Other board appointments over the past year include Walter Harris, CEO of Heartland Whole Health Institute, and Shannon Jones, executive director of TheaterSquared. Jones is exiting the board at the end of this year. Donna Morris, chief people officer at Walmart, is also exiting the board.

The local chambers of commerce also share one board seat for one-year terms. Arther Hurlbert of Siloam Springs has served this past year. The chamber seat will be filled by another local chamber at the January board meeting  Hobbs will also name his presiding co-chair at that same time.

“Northwest Arkansas has a strong track record of economic growth, but with its population projected to reach nearly one million by 2050, the region is entering a new paradigm in addressing challenges. We are at a pivotal crossroads, and the choices we make today will shape the community’s future, defining a legacy for generations. Embracing growth thoughtfully is essential, as we balance the charm and natural beauty that have always set the region apart with an economy that is flourishing from collective efforts,” Simmons said.

The council’s annual report indicates a sharper focus on workforce development with new partnerships being formed, training programs expanded and pathways to high-quality jobs creation. A particular focus on healthcare-related professions will be at the forefront of work the council does this coming year. The council estimates there are between 2,000 and 3,000 unfilled healthcare jobs in the region. Some 10,000 unfilled jobs overall.

Healthcare is also a major platform for the council which plans to work with the Heartland Whole Health Institute, medical educators and health providers to try and transform the region’s healthcare system to one that is value-based, whole-health minded and includes more specialty care to stop the outflow of patients seeking care in other metro areas.

Affordable housing is another platform for the council through its Groundworks partnership between local stakeholders, cities and the Walton Family Foundation to build more affordable housing with increased density near and where people work. The Big Emma Project in downtown Springdale will bring 77 mixed-income apartments, with 30 units reserved for low-income households. Completion is expected in the summer of 2025. Another project slated for downtown Rogers in 2025 includes 3D-printed homes on infill sites that can be sold to local families.

Also on the council’s agenda is continued work to grow the NWA innovation hub that allows startups to relocate and grow their businesses in the region. Plug & Play is a partner in the region providing funding to startups and matching them with companies like Tyson Foods and Walmart.

Infrastructure needs remain a major focus for the council as the region’s growth continues at 30 new residents a day. The council will also lobby for funding and partnerships with state and federal governments for needed road and bridge work.