Author: Nancy Peevy

Fast 15: Erin Thomas

Erin Thomas led public communications for Ronald McDonald House’s (RMH) $3.5 million capital campaign to build an 11-bedroom house in Fort Smith and got it done in two years. Her…

Fast 15: Melodie Hays

Starting and running a candle and bath bomb business in college, Melodie Hays realized she enjoyed problem-solving. With a major in English literature and a minor in supply chain management,…

Fast 15: Hannah Newkirk

Helping people plan their financial future motivates Hannah Newkirk in her work at Arvest. “The average person doesn’t know all the ins and outs and constantly changing laws and tax…

Fast 15: Kimberly Kay

Seeing the confidence she inspired in seventh and eighth graders in area rural schools through a robotics curriculum she developed and taught as a homeschooled eighth grader set Kimberly Kay’s…

Fast 15: Haley Vincent

Haley Vincent’s work as a scholarship program manager at Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas (SPSF) “fills her cup.” Working with single parents in Benton and Carroll counties, she…

Fast 15: Taylor Toreno

Losing her mother at 15 shaped Taylor Toreno and motivated her to be successful. “She always told me I could be whatever I want to be,” Toreno said. “I want…

Fast 15: Ryan Pottinger

Growing up in Overland Park, Kan., Ryan Pottinger remembers thinking what an impact his dad had and what a cool job it was. Pottinger decided he wanted to follow in…

Fast 15: Lourdes “Lulu” Peredo

Lulu Peredo’s parents, her role models, ingrained in her that whatever legacy she leaves has to benefit her community. While she’s still exploring that, she’s living it out at Runway…

Fast 15: Sara Lynn Geiger

With her eyes on Northwest Arkansas’ future, Sara Lynn Geiger is “making sure what we’re doing today results in a better tomorrow.” Geiger works to create a better quality of…

Fast 15: Micah Bender

Problem solving motivates Micah Bender. A thinker who is always learning, he likes to be in the details and do the thinking to help his team execute. “I like to…

Elm Springs event venue offers unique options

Partners Robert Murphy and Beau Reynolds opened Heroncrest Event Center, their high-end, luxury event venue, about 18 months ago. Their goal of being “extraordinary every day” has added another option…

Fast 15: Megan Rich

At age 20, Megan Rich studied engineering at Golden West Community College in Huntington Beach, Calif., and worked as an in-process inspector at AAE Aerospace when she had an epiphany…

Fast 15: Martin Ojeda

Martin Ojeda learned work ethic and servant leadership as a carhop at his family’s Sonic restaurant in Pensacola, Fla. His parents did not graduate from high school but achieved success,…

Fast 15: Adam McFain

Adam McFain has dreamed of owning a company since he was a kid, buying candy boxes at Sam’s Club and selling them to his friends. Growing up in Greenwood, McFain’s…

Fast 15: Beckie Irvin

When Beckie Irvin is passionate about something, she wants to share it with everyone. That includes outdoor education. “It’s what my career and passions are rooted in,” she said. Irvin…

Fast 15: Megan Heckes

Megan Heckes’ journey to her work at the United Way started with a degree in accounting from Harding University in 2017. After graduation, she became a business analyst in Walmart’s…

Bentonville nonprofit creates lasting change with clean water

Every two minutes, a child under 5 will die somewhere in the world simply because they didn’t have clean water. Lifewater International, a Christian clean water nonprofit headquartered in Bentonville,…

Providing a SafeHaven: Doug Elms’ mission is to keep people safe, company’s brands out of the headlines

On May 26, a maintenance worker at the Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose, Calif., showed up at the railyard where he worked and began shooting, killing nine people, including…

Fast 15: Dequeshia Prude-Wheeler

Dequeshia Prude-Wheeler’s desire to be an attorney began as a child, watching Clair Huxtable, the attorney/mom on “The Cosby Show.” “I saw the prestige associated with being an attorney, the…

Fast 15: Hunter Gehring

Hunter Gehring enjoys helping other people be successful. As a wealth manager, he offers financial counsel to his clients to have peace of mind when they are ready to retire….