30th annual Forty Under 40 event to feature 3 speakers

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by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) ago 107 views 

Plans for the 30th anniversary of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 luncheon are being finalized. This year’s class will be celebrated at a luncheon Aug. 11 at Embassy Suites in Rogers. The event is sponsored by Intrust Bank.

This year, NWABJ Editor-in-Chief Roby Brock will moderate a panel discussion with the following three guests:

  • Robert Burns, director of the Home Region Program at the Walton Family Foundation.
  • Blake Woolsey, chief strategy and communications officer for the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business. She’s had stints with Mitchell Communications and Heartland Forward and serves on the board of directors for the Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA).
  • Rebecca Hurst, managing partner and a founder of Smith Hurst PLC, is an adjunct professor at the UA School of Law.

The conversation will center on leadership and personal growth, the role these honorees have in shaping the future of Northwest Arkansas, and a larger worldview for the region and its potential.

“I know Robert, Blake and Rebecca will all bring their unique perspectives to this discussion, and I’m excited to hear their thoughts on these topics,” Brock said. “We also do a private session with the honorees, and I am truly looking forward to commentary on how they view the future of Northwest Arkansas.”

The milestone year puts the Forty Under 40 recognition into its fourth decade of honoring the region’s best and brightest leaders. Brock said looking back at the list of past honorees is a very satisfying reward of the work that goes into this award every year.

“Each year, this event shines a spotlight on a new generation of leadership,” he said. “To have done this for three decades is a remarkable achievement. I’m really proud of everyone, past and present, who have earned this recognition. Most importantly, I’m proud of how the alumni of Forty Under 40 have developed into major leaders impacting the destiny of this region and the state as a whole.”

HONOREES
The Northwest Arkansas Business Journal 2026 Forty Under 40 honorees includes young business and community leaders from the Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith metros. The honorees were chosen by a panel of the Business Journal’s editorial staff based on career achievements and community work.

Following is the 2026 Forty Under 40 class.

Chris Bakunas, McClelland Consulting Engineers
Meredith Bergstrom, Walton Family Foundation
Lauren Blass, Blue Ribbon Industries
Kael Bowling, Friday, Eldredge & Clark LLP
Omeshia Boyles, The Goddard School
Oksana DeMaris, Focus Commercial Real Estate
Pat Dickinson, Colliers Arkansas
Bianca DiFonzo-Smith, New Nexus Group
Ray Ford, Arvest Bank
Stephanie Gannon, Walmart
Jonathan Hagerman, The Dirt Therapy Project
Erin Jefferson, UAMS Northwest Regional Campus
Devin Kuhl, ArcBest
Meredith LaFreniere, WACO Title Co.
Serafina Lalany, StartupNWA
Andres Lazarte, Basis Health
Anthony Le, Buena Vida Chiropractic
Mandy Leesch, Bowman Consulting Group Ltd.
Sarah Livengood, Arkansas Community Foundation
Keith McDaniel, Shiloh Christian School
Joey McGehee, Rose Law Firm
Rachel Pendergraft McGehee, Natural Capital
Joi McGowan, Amani Counseling & Co.
Cannon McNair, HFA Architecture + Engineering
Josh Mickle, Mickle Griffin LLC
Jett Moore, Greenwood Gearhart
Rob Moore, AcreTrader
Zac Morgan, Jersey Mike’s Arkansas Missouri Oklahoma
Matt Mozzoni, Cushman & Wakefield / Sage Partners
Jordan Powers, Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic
Russell Reynerson, Legacy Bank
Nick Reynolds, Verizon
Tim Rodgers, 49 Financial
Justin Seliger, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.
Jose Socorro, Jan Pro
Rachel Sullivant, University of Arkansas
Katie Thompson, Science Venture Studio
Taylor Townsend, HoganTaylor
Kaylen Wood, Korn Ferry
Alex Woods, Washington Regional

The honorees will be featured in the Aug. 10 issue of the Business Journal. They also will be honored at an awards luncheon Tuesday, Aug. 11, at Embassy Suites in Rogers. Individual tickets or tables may be purchased by calling Rob Gutterridge at 479-725-0394 (ext. 5) or by sending an email to [email protected].