Profiles

A directory of Profiles for Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Awards

Forty Under 40: Troy A. Kestner, 39

Two weeks in graphic design and architecture was all Troy Kestner needed — all he needed to head to the business college.Once there, Kestner knew he’d found a home, taking…

Forty Under 40: Clint Lazenby, 37

Clint Lazenby left the University of Arkansas with an international economics degree, but a study-abroad program proved most beneficial.“What I walked away with is you can think the process drives…

Forty Under 40: Laura Kellams, 38

Five minutes is all it takes to know why Laura Kellams loves her job. “The people we represent are too busy working and trying to feed their kids to go…

Forty Under 40: Mark McWhorter, 37

Mark McWhorter spent years in the investment sector and liked most of it, but one thing bothered him.“Sometimes the market just doesn’t cooperate,” he said, laughing.McWhorter craved something more tangible,…

Forty Under 40: Hernan Muntaner, 38

Hernan Muntaner spent his first 36 years in Argentina, then hopped on a plane headed to America for an expatriate assignment for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.“Sometimes you have to close your…

Forty Under 40: Annette Nichols, 38

Annette Nichols’ career in hotel management began with an offer she couldn’t refuse.Nichols was director of sales at Hyatt Place Hotel when corporate honchos — likely impressed with her handling…

Forty Under 40: Justin Mills, 39

From his nonprofit work to the insurance business, Justin Mills wants to help Northwest Arkansas. By assisting the Literacy Council of Benton County, the Rogers-Bentonville Elks Lodge and the Benton…

Forty Under 40: Wendi Phillips, 39

Armed with degrees in journalism and law, Wendi Phillips took a job as resource director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas in 1997.The group was about “people helping…

Forty Under 40: Jeremy Wilson, 38

Jeremy Wilson has a bachelor’s degree in finance but has spent more time running business operations and developing ideas.The University of Arkansas graduate was hired as automatic teller machine coordinator…

Forty Under 40: Mark Wagstaff, 37

Mark Wagstaff’s young Boy Scout curiosity with electronics translated to his future career, where experience led to a new dream: owning his own business.In 1999, with a bachelor’s in electrical…

Forty Under 40: Martine Downs Pollard, 37

A life built around pubic policy may have been inevitable. After all, Martine Downs Pollard went to high school at Joe T. Robinson in Little Rock — home of the…

Forty Under 40: Jason Carter, 39

Jason Carter started learning the mortgage business from a friend in banking in 2003 and hasn’t looked back. It quickly became a gratifying challenge he equates to “working a puzzle.”“You…

Forty Under 40: Kyle Jack, 33

A year from graduating with a computer drafting and design degree, Kyle Jack left Missouri Southern State College to join what he called “the school of hard knocks” in prototyping,…

Forty Under 40: Ryan Hale, 35

“Wherever you’re at, be all there.”That’s the motto former NFL player Ryan Hale has taken from the football field to the office.The 1999 University of Arkansas graduate and former captain…

Forty Under 40: Greg Primm, 36

Gregg Primm realized early on he had an affinity for accounting. Armed with two degrees (accounting and management) from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from the University of…

Forty Under 40: Marty Shell, 38

Fourteen years ago Marty Shell’s dad, Buck, did something impressive. He used his severance package to start the company that would evolve into Five Rivers Distribution. The company now operates…

Forty Under 40: Tim Singleton, 36

Tim Singleton is in his car for more than two hours every day driving to and from work. A Van Buren employee by day and Bentonville resident by night, Singleton…

Forty Under 40: Robyn Goforth, 35

It seems entrepreneurial scientist Robyn Goforth, a partner in the development of a new solution for osteoporosis, has struck gold with her unflagging zeal for scientific discovery.After earning her doctorate…

Forty Under 40: Barry Graves, 39

Nowadays, Barry Graves is paid to run the company that wouldn’t hire him 15 years ago. In 1992, he was an 18-year-old Springdale High School graduate and began selling real…

Forty Under 40: Ulanda Terry, 30

Hard work and good grades were a big part of Ulanda Terry’s life growing up. Between part-time work and school activities, the Pine Bluff youth definitely stayed busy. “Mom instilled…