Best Laid Plans Take Twist

Probably not unlike a lot of kids who grow up in the shadow of the world’s largest retailer, Tim Robinson dreamed of a career beyond Benton County.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t work here at Wal-Mart,” Robinson said with a laugh.

So much for best laid plans. These days Robinson retrieves information, analyzes it to the nth degree and makes strategic merchandising initiative proposals for Wal-Mart U.S., all from a finance-based perspective.

Interestingly, Robinson sought an internship at Wal-Mart only after the bank he worked for during high school and his early college days couldn’t produce a meaningful job during the summer between his junior and senior years at Rhodes College. Robinson has been at Wal-Mart ever since, serving that internship in the company’s tax department, going through a management program while finishing his degree work, then starting his full-time career in the internal audit department.

 Robinson said the time in the internal audit department was especially valuable because it allowed him “to get my hands involved in a little bit of everything.”

Robinson has been equally productive pursuing his passions away from work. An avid mountain-biker, he started Phat Tire Bike Shop with a friend after they tired of driving to Fayetteville for parts and repairs. Now they’ve got plans to expand their space to include outdoor apparel, camping and hiking gear, etc.

In any spare time, Robinson pursues an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and serves on the board of directors of Arkansas’ Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership group and Downtown Bentonville Inc. The latter aims to make his hometown’s downtown area “a more happening place.”

Robinson sees that as perfectly feasible, especially considering the imminent opening of the nearby Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

And who’s to doubt someone who attended Rhodes on a music scholarship only after being convinced to join the high school choir by female friends? It turns out the cool he gained from singing in front of hundreds has served Robinson on his progression at Wal-Mart.

“When I first had to make presentations in front of my superiors, I felt calm and confident, and I thought, “‘You know what?'” Robinson said. “‘I bet it’s that music thing that’s helped me.'”