Profiles

A directory of Profiles for Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Awards

Forty Under 40: Michelle Fittro

After graduating with an advertising degree in 2002, Michelle Fittro said finding a job at an ad agency was nearly impossible. So, she went to work as a bank teller….

Forty Under 40: Chris Hoyle

Chris Hoyle is an overachiever who has built his career on the networking relationships that are so critical in Northwest Arkansas’ supplier realm. Born in Fort Smith and raised south…

Forty Under 40: Bradley Julian

A Rogers native, Brad Julian has spent the last eight years at Rogers’ oldest insurance agency, where his father has been the primary owner for a number of years. Julian…

Achievements: Since 1989, Barrows has led one of the largest mechanical contractors and the second-largest electrical contractor in Arkansas, employing over 600 people and with $95 million in annual revenue;…

The C Suite: Cyndi Dye

Achievements: Joined the company as a consultant in August 2010 and successfully navigated and integrated the sale of Rockfish to WPP Group, the largest media holding company in the world,…

The C Suite: Don L. Gibson

Achievements: Formerly Arkansas president for Bank of America; board member for Winthrop Rockefeller Research Center; executive committee chairman for University of Arkansas Foundation; board member of Ryan Gibson Foundation for…

The C Suite: Kalene Griffith

Achievements: Worked for civic organizations in Kansas and Missouri before arriving in Bentonville in 2005 to lead the city’s tourism bureau; appointed last fall by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the…

The C Suite: Dan Hendrix

Achievements: Established the World Trade Center Arkansas after 31 years in the transportation industry, where he held multiple senior management positions; established the office of corporate and foundation relations within…

The C Suite: Dan Sanker

Achievements: Founded a supply chain management platform for consumer goods companies that was named No. 1 in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 in 2005, and has made the Inc. 5000…

The C Suite: Joe Saumweber

Achievements: Launched RevUnit, which now has 35 employees in four states and works with Fortune 500 companies nationwide. It’s grown 95 percent each year since founded four years ago. …

The C Suite: Todd Simmons

Achievements: Chief executive officer and vice chairman since December 2012; previously served as chief operating officer for six years; appointed as 2015-2016 chairman of National Chicken Council; named 2015 Industry…

The C Suite: Brad Smith

Achievements: Chief executive officer since 2014; managing partner for Cove Creek Development since 2012; chief operations officer and president of military housing division for Kimbel Mechanical Systems from 2000-2014; certified…

The C Suite: Laura Tucker

Achievements: Under Tucker’s leadership, the company is in its 22nd year of operations and has grown to service some of the largest brands in the nation; a past board member…

Fast 15: Ana Claudia Aguayo

Ana Claudia Aguayo arrived in Northwest Arkansas with her family in 1997 as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. She was 8 years old, and didn’t speak one word of English….

Fast 15: David Baker

“There’s a lot you can learn from working hard.” That is David Baker’s advice to younger people eager to dive into entrepreneurship. “There’s nothing wrong with paying your dues,” he…

Fast 15: Molly Blakeman

Molly Blakeman believes in going the extra mile. “I like to get things done and get them done right,” she said. The Paragould native plays an active role in managing…

Fast 15: Mervin Jebaraj

Mervin Jebaraj might have grown up in Dubai, but he’s a card carrying member of the American Outlaws. That’s the name of the ardent fan base for U.S. soccer, and…

Fast 15: Andrew Brewer

Andrew Brewer went to the University of Arkansas for a degree in industrial engineering, and he got it in 2011. But that wasn’t enough. The Fayetteville native also taught himself…

Fast 15: Devin O’Dea

“Lead with your heart, and your feet will follow.” That is the philosophy by which Devin O’Dea lives his life. Three years ago, he decided to forgo medical school, to…

Fast 15: Matt Hoffman

Like most children, Matt Hoffman did his share of coloring. Only his coloring books were different than most. “My parents were always involved in the building industry, and there were…