Author: Talk Business & Politics staff

Talk Business & Politics staff

Forty Under 40: Drake McGruder

When Drake McGruder started working for Georgia Pacific in 2008, his daily commute included driving by a Planters nut facility and thought he might like to work there. He joined…

Forty Under 40: Eric Leemis

Eric Leemis’ father, who was a healthcare consultant, introduced Leemis to the healthcare industry and helped to generate his interest in the field. A Memphis, Tenn., native, Leemis earned a…

Forty Under 40: Christopher Ladd

Christopher Ladd earned an economics degree from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Texas. A career in finance was a goal while pursuing those degrees, particularly in…

Forty Under 40: Meagan Kinmonth-Bowman

Retail, shopper behavior and computer science. Meagan Kinmonth-Bowman loves those topics. She is immersed in all three at Stonehenge. The business was stood up earlier this year as the technology…

Forty Under 40: Mervin Jebaraj

Mervin Jebaraj always had an interest in community outreach roles working with the public. That led him to his job at the University of Arkansas’ Center for Business and Economic…

Forty Under 40: Joe Hurst

Joe Hurst has been interested in public service since high school. The Van Buren native was involved in the George W. Bush presidential campaign in 2000, was an intern for…

Forty Under 40: Randall Hurban

Randall Hurban solidified his career path at age 8. A friend’s parents were architects and had designed their own house in Greenville, N.C. Hurban remembers his early conviction: “This is…

Forty Under 40: Kelli Huntley

Kelli Huntley chose to use her skills as an accountant to work in the healthcare industry because she enjoys contributing to an organization with a “greater purpose.” Originally from Pine…

Forty Under 40; Brian Hogue

Brian Hogue earned respect within the area’s legal community for his mediation skills and ability to find resolution in challenging family law cases. Other attorneys refer clients to him for…

Forty Under 40: Matt Hicks

Matt Hicks began his career in banking by accident. After graduating with a sports management degree from Arkansas State University in 2004, he needed a job but wasn’t sure what…

Forty Under 40: Addam Hardy

Addam Hardy started computer programming in middle school but didn’t see it as a challenge, so he joined the Army and studied linguistics. The Siloam Springs native spent about a…

Forty Under 40: Nick Griffin

Nick Griffin stumbled into a career in civil engineering as a computer major in college who decided he didn’t want to sit in front of computers all of his life….

Forty Under 40: Louis Graham

Louis Graham is passionate about problem-solving. When he became frustrated with shaving while running late for a meeting, he invented a product to improve the process. In June 2018, he…

Forty Under 40: Dusty Graham

As much as anyone over the past 15 years, Rogers architect Dusty Graham has left his fingerprints throughout Northwest Arkansas. A high school course in landscape drafting piqued his interest…

Forty Under 40: Rep. Megan Godfrey

Megan Godfrey earned a degree in 2006 from the University of Arkansas in Spanish and Latin American studies. Within two months, she was in California working for the nonprofit Teach…

Forty Under 40: Brock Gearhart

Brock Gearhart earned a financial management degree from the University of Arkansas in 2004. He had long had his sights on beginning his professional career in New York City, so…

Forty Under 40: VaShonda Eason

As a kid, VaShonda Eason loved Lifetime movies based on true stories. She always wondered how the characters healed, what changed in their lives and who helped them after the…

Forty Under 40: Tyler Dees

Tyler Dees leads the Walmart and Sam’s Club team at Siloam Springs-based poultry producer Simmons Foods, selling $100 million in retail products annually. The Siloam Springs native fell in love…

Forty Under 40: Tyler B. Clark

Growing up in Springdale, Tyler Clark’s parents modeled philanthropy. “I thought that’s what everyone did,” he said. “Little did I know it was rare.” Reflecting on his parents’ hard work…

Forty Under 40: Kevin Butzlaff

Kevin Butzlaff describes the work he does for the world’s largest company as being pretty awesome. It also leaves a significant and lasting impact on the environment. Most notably, he…