YPO plans Northwest Arkansas chapter
by May 1, 2023 12:53 pm 1,451 views
Young President’s Organization (YPO), a global leadership and networking organization for chief executives, is taking steps toward starting a Northwest Arkansas chapter.
A prospective member event is scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday (May 4) at the Ledger in downtown Bentonville.
Founded in 1950, YPO has over 28,000 members across more than 130 countries. Nearby chapters are in Little Rock, Springfield, Mo., and Tulsa, Okla.
“It’s wild that YPO doesn’t exist yet in Northwest Arkansas,” said Dan Arnsperger, CEO of Blue Ribbon Industries in Rogers. “Communities smaller than ours have thriving chapters. I think over time, at least 25 members locally is realistic.”
Arnsperger joined Blue Ribbon, a landscaping services business, in January. Before that, he spent more than two decades working in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, most recently as the CEO of Happy Egg Co. He is helping coordinate the recruiting event in Bentonville and explained that YPO is a “highly curated” group. Membership minimums include:
- Under 45 years old when joining
- At least 15 full-time employees
- CEO/president title or equivalent (managing partner, board chair).
Arnsperger said the recruiting event is free, and a short program would begin around 6:30 p.m. Stephanie LaRue, a YPO chapter manager in Springfield, is organizing the gathering. She is accepting RSVPs at [email protected].