Guest Commentary

UCA is central to NWA

Northwest Arkansas is a hub of industry, innovation and opportunity, and great universities do not just respond to opportunity — they help create it. That is why the University of…

Thriving through change: Real estate trends point up

Many of us have heard the expression, “If you build it, they will come.” That logic certainly applies to Northwest Arkansas. Now one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S.,…

Building success through employee care

Garver’s growth over the past decade is one of remarkable transformation. Since 2019, the company has expanded from 650 employees to more than 1,500, effectively navigating challenges like the COVID-19…

Jonesboro: A trendsetter city preparing for the future

When it comes to Northeast Arkansas, the vision many visitors hold prior to arrival is one of fertile soil, dense forest and typical quiet country living. However, the combined efforts…

Outdoor recreation fuels Arkansas’ tourism growth

Whether you are dropping in on the Castle Hub, cruising down the nation’s first national river, chasing a combine harvester in search of a Yellow Rail, defying gravity by trusting…

Building, selling to supply chain businesses

The supply chain technology space has seen an unprecedented wave of new tech startups over the past decade. While venture capital inflow into the logistics sector is retracting to normal…

Energy policy takes center stage

Survival guides use the “rule of threes.” You can survive three minutes without oxygen, three hours without shelter in an extreme environment, three days without water and three weeks without…

Northwest Arkansas’ market-based housing reforms

There is a shortage of affordable housing in Northwest Arkansas, a fact noted by consumers, foundations, public officials and in media reports. Every city in the region is affected by…

How to become a learning machine

So you have an idea. A genius idea. A wonderful, brilliant, genius idea. You’re going to build a product or service that’s going to change the world. You toil for…

Nonpartisan Politics: A better approach for Fort Smith

In today’s political climate, it’s easy to feel divided by labels. But here in Fort Smith, we have the opportunity to work together beyond party lines for the good of…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…