Profiles

A directory of Profiles for Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Awards

Forty Under 40: Josh Vasquez

A leader at one of the nation’s fastest-growing banks, Josh Vasquez pinches himself sometimes for the opportunities he has been given. “As a whole, I never imagined I would have…

Forty Under 40: Corey Thompson

Corey Thompson left his hometown in east Texas in 2005 to accept an academic scholarship offer from the University of Arkansas. Nine years later, he had three UA degrees —…

Forty Under 40: Autumn Lewis Spicher

A first-generation college student, Autumn Lewis Spicher has always had an innate desire to achieve. As a high school senior in Joplin, Mo., she earned the prestigious Honors College Fellowship…

Forty Under 40: Rachel Spencer

Rachel Spencer’s interest in transforming food systems led her to Arkansas over a decade ago. As a result of her success at the grassroots, state, regional and national levels, she…

Forty Under 40: Max Shaw

Max Shaw plans to build Infinity Worlds to be synonymous with the top-tier sales agencies in Northwest Arkansas. He envisions the parent company, The Bar Code Group, as synonymous with…

Forty Under 40: Brandon Sebald

Brandon Sebald moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2012 to open area Planet Fitness locations. Initially, he intended the move to be temporary but decided to stay. Over the past decade,…

Forty Under 40: Eli Saldivar

Eli Saldivar has been at the center of the e-commerce world for more than 15 years. Born in Pachuca, Mexico, Saldivar attended John Brown University because his sisters went there….

Forty Under 40: Abigail Reith

Abigail Reith spent 10 years earning degrees in three states to finish her education in the animal health industry. With a focus on poultry medicine, health and management, it’s no…

Forty Under 40: Blake Pennington

The second-largest city in the state relies on Blake Pennington to keep its government running smoothly. “Not everybody is going to be happy with what we do,” he admits. “But…

Forty Under 40: Betsy O’Connor

Betsy O’Connor has led and expanded research into health disparities in specific populations in the United States and internationally. In 2015, she joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences…

Forty Under 40: Joey Msall

Joey Msall has always been interested in building and construction. He is fascinated by design, civil engineering and long-term city planning. In 2010, he decided that the energy sector might…

Forty Under 40: Jack Mitchell

Jack Mitchell was in high school when he began to pursue a career bridging the gap between technology and business. He worked an evening accounting job at the Walmart home…

Forty Under 40: Matt McClanahan

Matt McClanahan has worked in the retail industry since 2007 and has managed $500 million for brands and retailers, such as Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Walmart. After graduating from…

Forty Under 40: Tyler Masters

Tyler Masters is a good listener. “I listen to hear,” he said. “It’s always been important in my career that those who work with or for me feel heard.” Born…

Forty Under 40: Bruce Lynch

The last few months of 2006 were wet in Oklahoma, which was terrible weather for an excavation and dirt worker like Bruce Lynch. “In the dirt business, when it’s good,…

Forty Under 40: Zach Ledford

Zach Ledford was looking for a new opportunity when he transitioned from a supply chain career to the banking industry. He also wanted to move back to his hometown of…

Forty Under 40: Sarah Langham

As assurance partner, Sarah Langham leads the microinnovation initiative for HoganTaylor. The initiative empowers staff to make small changes, try new things to solve problems and find solutions for clients…

Forty Under 40: Will Kraner

Will Kraner has worked only for Benchmark Group since graduating college but hasn’t remained stagnant. After earning a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Arkansas in 2006, Kraner accepted…

Forty Under 40: Patrick Kinnamon

In the past four years, Patrick Kinnamon helped guide a tech startup toward becoming a multimillion-dollar global business. He’s got plans to do it again — and bigger — with…

Forty Under 40: Michelle Hurst

After taking a high school accounting class, Michelle Hurst knew she wanted to be an accountant. Originally from Southwest City, Mo., Hurst was intrigued with business while working at her…