Profiles

A directory of Profiles for Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Awards

Forty Under 40: Jenny Burbidge

Benefiting the community by creating outdoor spaces for people to enjoy together is how Jenny Burbidge sees landscape architecture. Originally from Fort Smith, Burbidge graduated from the University of Arkansas…

Forty Under 40: Amanda Bailey

Seeing the invisible and doing the impossible makes Amanda Bailey a visionary. Still, she said she’s also “gritty enough to dig my heels in and work with the people around…

Forty Under 40: Jacob Arnold

Jacob Arnold’s grandparents, Frank and Barbara Broyles, influenced his decision to seek a nonprofit career. “I think my grandfather was the greatest fundraiser in Arkansas history as the former athletic…

Forty Under 40: Nathan Akers

Nathan Akers joked that he’s a U.S. native as he lived throughout the country growing up and while working as a traveling welder. Still, if he had to choose a…

Forty Under 40: Trent Addington

Trent Addington works to give Walmart’s customers a fast, safe and efficient payment experience. He also works to keep Walmart’s costs low, so the retailer can continue to provide its…

Women in Business: Mandy Wolff

Residence: Fayetteville Education: B.S., chemistry, Arkansas Tech University Professional background: Wolff was recruited to ARMI in January 2017 for her business and marketing experience and developed a marketing strategy that…

Women in Business: Jill Wagar

Residence: Bentonville Education: B.S., marketing and public relations, Oklahoma State University Professional background: Wagar’s executive career spans more than 25 years in the medical services, higher education and cultural arts…

Women in Business: Gail Shepherd

Residence: Fayetteville Education: B.Arch., University of Arkansas Professional background: An award-winning architect and project manager on several nationally recognized projects, Shepherd has practiced at Hight Jackson for 22 years and…

Women in Business: Suzanne Lantz

Residence: Springdale Education: B.A., architectural studies, University of Arkansas Professional background: Since beginning her work with The Stitt Group, an energy-efficient homebuilder, Lantz has designed more than 800 custom passive-solar…

Women in Business: Shannon Hendrix

Residence: Springdale Education: B.S. and M.S., dietetics and nutrition, University of Central Arkansas Professional background: Hendrix was named senior vice president and chief administrator at Arkansas Children’s Northwest in 2020….

Women in Business: Jules Gianneschi

Residence: Rogers Education: B.F.A., fiber design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago; M.S., organizational management and design, Capella University Professional background: Gianneschi joined America’s Car-Mart in 2022 as its…

Women in Business: Laura Ferner

Residence: Fayetteville Education: B.A., liberal arts, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith; J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law Professional background: Ferner joined the firm on January 1, 2017, and…

Women in Business: Lela Davidson

Residence: Rogers Education: B.A., business administration/accounting, University of Washington Professional background: With a wide-ranging digital media and marketing resume, Davidson has held leadership roles for a leading shopper marketing agency…