Author: Talk Business & Politics

Forty Under 40: Rick Ludeman

Rick Ludeman, 39, got into the building materials business at the age of 14 when he started working part time for Joe Reedy at Reedy’s Hardware in Vermilion, S.D. He…

Forty Under 40: Jeff Lynch

Jeff Lynch, 37, is new to Northwest Arkansas having moved to Fayetteville just three months ago, but he’s learned banking from the ground up. “I started working as a teller,…

Forty Under 40: Andy Murray

Andy Murray, 37, grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and received a bachelor of science degree in computer science from Ohio Tech in 1983. He worked for Procter and Gamble for…

Forty Under 40: David Needham

David Needham was born and raised in Van Buren. In 1987, he earned a bachelor’s degree in radio and television broadcasting from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Six months later,…

Forty Under 40: Mark W. Powell

Mark Powell thought it was tough leaving football behind after his high school days, electing to enroll at the University of Tulsa. He learned a tougher lesson when, as a…

Forty Under 40: Steve Proffitt

Steve Proffitt, 38, grew up in Indianapolis, Ind., and went to work for an optical firm in Toledo, Ohio. In 1991, he landed a job in Wal-Mart’s Crawfordsville, Ind., optical…

Forty Under 40: Cary Richardson

As large as poultry giant Tyson Foods Inc. is, Cary Richardson said there is still a family-oriented atmosphere around the workplace. Perhaps that’s why Richardson, senior vice president and general…

Forty Under 40: Angela M. Ryan

Angela Ryan is the queen of the king of beers. As general manager for McBride Distributing Co., Ryan is responsible for one of the largest Budweiser beer distributors in Arkansas….

Forty Under 40: April Rye

In representing the best interests of children affected by either neglect or abuse, Washington County attorney ad litem April Rye realizes that anything less than thorough attention to each case…

Forty Under 40: Cammie Harp Scott

Cammie Harp Scott turned a potential tragedy into a fulfilling lifestyle, and she hasn’t looked back since. Scott was finishing a master’s degree in industrial engineering at the University of…

Forty Under 40: Brian Shaw

Brian Shaw looks at a real estate project as a puzzle, and he really enjoys seeing all of the pieces fit together. A principal with Irwin & Saviers Co., Shaw…

Jeffrey Dunn, president and CEO of Bank of Arkansas in Fayetteville, said Craig Shy has contributed to the institution’s growth by “expanding existing relationships and developing new ones.” But Shy,…

Forty Under 40: Lisa Knemeyer Skiles

Lisa Skiles grew up in Berryville and earned a bachelor of science in business administration degree from the University of Arkansas in 1987. The first two years out of college,…

Forty Under 40: Holly P. Smith

Holly Smith considers a job unfinished a problem. Her favorite part of her job: problem solving. As co-owner of The New Century Group, Smith has a full plate of jobs…

Forty Under 40: Jim Stuckey

When Jim Stuckey joined J.V. Manufacturing in 1990, the business did a more than respectable $14 million in sales per year with Cram-A-Lot trash compactors and balers. This year, the…

Forty Under 40: Tom Terminella

Tom Terminella knew where his career was needed. Without wasting any time, he earned his Realtor’s license as a senior in high school. He didn’t look back. After 11 years…

Forty Under 40: Jeff Thames

Jeff Thames, 37, caught the banking bug when he was 16. A native of Talequah, Okla., Thames started at the bottom of the totem pole with First State Bank in…

Forty Under 40: Gary Tollett

Gary Tollett didn’t get into agribusiness on purpose. But after mastering the art of corn trading, what else could a guy do? The Springdale native was brokering corn out of…

Forty Under 40: Kevin Trainor

Seven years of leadership with the University of Arkansas athletic department made Kevin Trainor the leading candidate this August to fill the Hogs’ sports information director’s post. Trainor, 28, has…

Forty Under 40: Matthew Waller

Matthew Waller said he’s sure people who know him well are a bit surprised at the success of Mercari Technologies Inc, a company he co-found along with Randy Laney and…