Fast 15: Sarah Henderson

Sarah Henderson has moved quickly into a leadership role at one of Northwest Arkansas’ most visible business organizations, where she oversees operations and public affairs.

Henderson, a Bentonville native, stepped into the No. 2 role in January after joining the chamber in October 2024 as marketing and communications director. She manages strategic communications, advocacy efforts and outreach that support businesses across the region.

A 2022 graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in agricultural communications and leadership, Henderson built early experience in Washington, D.C., working on Capitol Hill. She served as communications director for U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, and previously worked as a press assistant for the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and as an intern for Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla.

Her time “on the Hill,” she said, shaped how she understands public service.

“I was able to learn very quickly the widespread impact that my role and others on the Hill were making on people,” Henderson said. “It showed me the importance of policy and hearing directly how it affects daily lives.”

That people-first mindset began earlier, during her first job as a high school student teaching children how to ride horses at a Bentonville stable.

Working with young riders taught her patience and communication, she said, skills she still uses in leadership roles today.

Henderson returned to Bentonville following the unexpected death of her father in 2023. The move, she said, was driven by a desire to be closer to family, including her two sisters, and to invest in the community that had shaped her.

“I wanted to understand more about the place my dad poured so much into,” she said. “I saw how much Bentonville and downtown Bentonville meant to him, and I wanted to give back in that same way.”

At the chamber, Henderson focuses on strengthening community connections. She helped revive a long-running women’s business conference, bringing together participants from industries ranging from construction to corporate leadership.

Henderson said her motivation comes from seeing people succeed and knowing her work plays a role in that progress.

Outside the office, she spends time with family, often at Beaver Lake, and keeps a routine that includes reading and weekly mahjong games.