by - January 9, 2025 2:41 pm
A 2025 cybersecurity forecast
Americans love to be busy — or at least give the impression we are. As Time magazine recently noted, our society increasingly values being active, at work and at home,…
Guest Commentary
by - January 7, 2025 1:20 pm
Approaching community engagement
Northwest Arkansas has a strong history of community engagement. While it’s true that some companies don’t engage the community – either because they haven’t given it any thought or they…
by - December 31, 2024 8:00 am
Educational agents of change
As 2024 comes to a close, the subject of New Year’s resolutions often arises. Looking for something new or stuck in a rut, many of us vow to ourselves or…
by - December 30, 2024 10:30 am
The transformative role of postpartum contraception
Despite an uptick in awareness and concerted efforts, Arkansas continues to face a serious maternal health crisis. Its vast rural footprint limits access to healthcare, and high rates of unplanned…
by - December 22, 2024 12:16 pm
Learn backwards, live forward
I can still remember learning to drive my first car. My newfound freedom changed everything. It was an exciting right of passage. Although driving equals freedom, the dangers of navigating…
by - December 15, 2024 12:11 pm
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,…
by - December 8, 2024 10:49 am
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…
by - December 1, 2024 10:56 am
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…
by - November 25, 2024 4:50 pm
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…
by - November 24, 2024 11:12 am
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…
by - November 10, 2024 11:35 am
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…
by - November 6, 2024 2:36 pm
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…
by - October 24, 2024 12:58 pm
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….
by - October 14, 2024 10:43 am
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…
by - October 13, 2024 9:20 am
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…
by - September 29, 2024 10:22 am
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…
by - September 11, 2024 12:20 pm
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…
by - August 30, 2024 11:40 am
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…
by - August 27, 2024 3:50 pm
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…
by - August 14, 2024 5:03 pm
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….