Guest Commentary

Contextualizing Carl Geffken’s impact on Fort Smith

Fort Smith has always been my home, a city I deeply care for and have dedicated years of my life to serving. As a former city director and planning commissioner,…

Giving up control

The craft of improvisation is built on a few core foundational principles. First and the most widely known is the law of agreement, typically referred to as “yes, and.” Basically…

Partnerships key to strengthening maternal health in Arkansas

Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of traveling across Arkansas to visit each region of the state and meet with organizations dedicated to maternal and infant…

Zoning changes are opportunities, not obstacles

When you hear “zoning changes,” you might think “obstacles.” But recent zoning changes in Northwest Arkansas, as well as some that are proposed as part of our cities’ long-term growth…

Lessons learned in commercial real estate

I have started, run and invested in a wide variety of businesses over the past 45 years. Income-generating real estate-wise, I owned residential rentals going back nearly 20 years. But…

Beyond ethics, fair wages are good for business

At Onyx Coffee Lab, our mission is driven by four core values: quality, transparency, excellence and kindness. These principles have shaped our approach to coffee, sustainability, and — most importantly…

Upcoming legislative session agenda already being set

As the Arkansas State Legislature prepares for its 2025 session, several key issues are expected to take center stage. Legislators will navigate a complex landscape while responding to economic pressures…

Replace judgment with curiosity

Replace judgment with curiosity. I don’t know if these words found me or if I found them, but they have transformed my life, my work and my understanding of human-ness….

What excites and intimidates

In July 2017, a guest speaker asked a room full of CEOs, “How do you manage vitality?” What I recall is the looks on the faces of the executives in…

The need for employee education on 401(k) plans

Financial security is increasingly top-of-mind for those in the workforce, and employers are recognizing the importance of providing robust retirement plans. Offering a 401(k) is a commendable start, but it…

Roots like redwoods

Trees fascinate me. Perhaps it is because I grew up in the home of a tree trimmer. My dad spent his entire working life in trees. I can easily recall…

Ag has always been a tech industry

You might think a farmer’s most-used piece of technology is the tractor, but I’d argue that it’s the smartphone. This might sound like a punchline, but the truth is that…

Ripple effects of advancing women in business

For the past eight years I’ve been a proud volunteer for NextUp, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing women in business with one of the largest chapters right here in Northwest…

In search of post-pandemic professionalism

To be certain, much has been written in the past four years about the various ways that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted all of our lives. As a professor at Texas…

Human skills

It drives me a little crazy when we refer to the necessary workplace skills as a combination of hard and soft. I think what trips me up is the language….

Eighth Circuit nixes ‘no harm, no foul’ in arbitration cases

Earlier this month, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals revised the applicable analysis regarding when a party waives their right to arbitration. Arbitration clauses have long been critical components of…

Artificial intelligence: Hype or help?

Throughout history we have seen the introduction and subsequent life-altering impact of technological advances, from personal computers and the internet to mobile phones. Is artificial intelligence (AI) the next tool…

The science of marketing

If there is one common thread among small business owners I have observed over the past 44 years of my career – especially those who aren’t very successful — it…

Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority: Our mission continues

As a proud board member of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA), I often find myself engaging with the community, addressing concerns, and providing updates on our progress. Recently, a…

Smart charitable giving starts with your values

Editor’s note: Heather Larkin, J.D., is president and CEO of the Arkansas Community Foundation. Opinions, commentary and other essays posted in this space are wholly the view of the author(s)….