Profiles

A directory of Profiles for Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Awards

Forty Under 40: Keith Bowles

Keith Bowles was attending college when he joined Arvest Bank in Fayetteville as a teller in 2009. He’s remained with the bank because of the culture and mentorship. “When I…

Forty Under 40: Lauren Oswalt Baber

If she’d followed the prominent career choice within her family, you would be reading about Lauren Baber, the successful doctor. “I did think about that [career], but I have an…

Forty Under 40: Christopher Adkins

ArcBest’s vision, “We’ll find a way,” resonates with Christopher Adkins. “I like to think that any problem is solvable. If I’m given a mission impossible, I’ll find a way to…

Residence: Fayetteville Education: B.S., health/science, University of Arkansas; M.H.S.A., University of Arkansas at Little Rock Professional background: In 2021, Wenger was named the vice chancellor of UAMS’ Northwest Regional Campus….

Women in Business: Latisha Settlage

Residence: Fort Smith Education: B.S., agricultural business; M.S., agricultural business, University of Arkansas; Ph.D., agricultural business, Purdue University Professional background: Settlage leads academic operations for various business and industry programs….

Women in Business: Stephanie Orman

Residence: Bentonville Education: B.A., broadcast journalism, University of Arkansas; M.A., communications, Missouri State University Professional background: In 2018, Orman was elected mayor of one of the fastest-growing cities after serving…

Women in Business: Sunny Martinez

Residence: Bentonville Education: Attended Phillips (Calif.) College Professional background: In 2020, after working for the company for more than two decades, Martinez became the owner of the Job Guide, founded…

Women in Business: Ashley Knight

Residence: Fayetteville Education: B.S., biology, University of Arkansas at Monticello Professional background: In 2021, Knight was promoted to chief operating officer after serving as president of the Walmart team. She…

Women in Business: LaTricia Hill-Chandler

Residence: Rogers Education: B.A., business administration, LeMoyne-Owen College; M.S., management, Indiana Wesleyan University Professional background: Chandler has nearly 30 years of experience in DEI work. In 2019, she was named…

Women in Business: Jennifer Hardin

Residence: West Fork Education: B.S., education, University of Arkansas; Graduate School of Banking at Colorado Professional background: In 2021, Hardin was appointed Northwest Arkansas market president. The West Fork native…

Women in Business: Adriana Graham

Residence: Fayetteville Education: B.S.I.B. (international business), M.I.S. (information systems), University of Arkansas Professional background: Since joining Tyson Foods in 2004, Graham has served in multiple senior-level roles and led teams…

Women in Business: Helena Gadison

Residence: Springdale Education: B.S., communications; M.S. leadership, John Brown University Professional background: Since August 2019, Gadison has held a senior sales role for Conair LLC. Before that, she spent more…

Women in Business: Kourtney Barrett

Residence :Bentonville Education: B.S., organizational business, John Brown University Professional background: Barrett has been a real estate entrepreneur and brand builder since she was 18. Her most successful venture is…

Fast 15: Lazaro Torres

Lazaro Torres was 21 when he opened his first business. “It took a couple of failures before I hit the nail on the head,” he said. In fall 2020, he…

Fast 15: Derek Stout

It was not a giant leap for Derek Stout to enter construction. Even at a young age, he said he appreciated how things are built. Before he was 10 years…

Fast 15: Jasmine Smith

Jasmine Smith was connected to the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith before graduating high school. A Mansfield native, she participated in the Western Arkansas Technical Center program through UAFS…

Fast 15: Megan Rich

At age 20, Megan Rich studied engineering at Golden West Community College in Huntington Beach, Calif., and worked as an in-process inspector at AAE Aerospace when she had an epiphany…

Fast 15: Whitney Parker

UAMS hired Whitney Parker in the fall of 2019 as an administrative analyst, but she quickly demonstrated her aptitude and personality as a leader. A quick learner, Parker now manages…

Fast 15: Martin Ojeda

Martin Ojeda learned work ethic and servant leadership as a carhop at his family’s Sonic restaurant in Pensacola, Fla. His parents did not graduate from high school but achieved success,…

Fast 15: Michael McGill

Michael McGill is part of a new generation of leaders in the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi River. In March, Little Rock business law practice Rose Law Firm…