Forty Under 40: Tyler Masters

Tyler Masters is a good listener.

“I listen to hear,” he said. “It’s always been important in my career that those who work with or for me feel heard.”

Born in Anderson, Ind., Masters moved to Northwest Arkansas at age 12 when his mother went to work for Walmart. After high school and various jobs, he joined J.B. Hunt as human resources recruitment coordinator and then became an engineering recruiter.

Deciding to attend college at age 27, he graduated with a history degree from Missouri Southern in 2019. He received his master’s in human resources management from Southern New Hampshire University in 2019. “My biggest achievement was to go back to school, work full time, take a full load and graduate with honors,” he said.

A promotion to associate human resources business partner at J.B. Hunt came in 2020. In 2021, he became director of human resources at Butterfield Trail Village. He restructured compensation strategies, built an internal recruiting process, and changed the internal perception of human resources from administrative to strategic consultant.

In July, recruiting firm Stratice offered him his current job.

His job is “to set up, organize and build the human resources functions and processes internally to allow the company to grow, both from people and financial perspectives.”

Masters’ past leadership positions include executive director of Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Arkansas. He’s currently board chair of Arkansas LGBTQ+ nonprofit The Equality Crew, is part of 2022’s Leadership Benton County and is running for Bentonville City Council.

In the future, he’d like to own a human resources consultancy and help nonprofits and small businesses establish internal human resources departments.