Profiles

A directory of Profiles for Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Awards

Forty Under 40: Jason Marshall, 37

Jason Marshall grew up in a troubled neighborhood in Dallas, which he said gave him an appreciation for the opportunities he’s been given. After graduating from Texas A&M at Commerce…

Forty Under 40: Leah Peterson, 34

Leah Peterson, a native of Peter Pender, a small town south of Ozark, thrives on seeing other people succeed. As director of human resources at Ozark Mountain Poultry, she enjoys…

Forty Under 40: Tatum Owenby, 32

A standout football player at Greenwood and later a letterman at the University of Arkansas, Tatum Owenby is passionate about sports. Because of that, Owenby started his marketing company in…

Forty Under 40: Noy Phoumivong, 35

Noy Phoumivong wears many hats besides her traditional chef’s toque. She’s also an entrepreneur, volunteer, new mom — and roller derby queen. Besides cooking up new products for Simmons Foods,…

Forty Under 40: Joseph Reece, 39

During his sophomore year at Lamar High School, Joseph Reece remembers telling his father he wanted to be a lawyer, specifically a litigator or a tax attorney. “I don’t know…

Forty Under 40: Javier Reyes, 36

Growing up in Mexico, Javier Reyes witnessed that country’s repeated financial crises. A desire to understand those events and help create a solution led him to study economics. He was…

Forty Under 40: Josh Roller, M.D., 36

Since moving to Northwest Arkansas in August 2007, Josh Roller has successfully performed more than 1,100 weight-loss surgeries. Fresh from a fellowship in minimally invasive bariatric and advanced laparoscopic general…

Forty Under 40: Chelsea Shaffer, 35

Chelsea Shaffer said finance was always a natural fit for her. “I like numbers,” she said. “I’ve always been good with math.” Shaffer recently began working at Coca-Cola, where she…

Forty Under 40: Julie Shook, 34

Julie Shook is a good example of what happens when determination and opportunity collide. Born and raised in Berryville, Shook began working at Arvest after learning about two part-time job…

Forty Under 40: Robin Simpson, 38

Robin Simpson jokes about a love for problem-solving that dates to her first algebra class. “I was that kid,” she said. Nowadays, Simpson finds financial solutions that best fit her…

Forty Under 40: Joshua A. Smith, 34

Joshua Smith said one of the best things about his job as an appraiser is being able to interact with quality people and learn from their experiences. Smith, a Van…

Forty Under 40: Darrin Storms, 34

Darrin Storms grew up in Siloam Springs, where a friend’s dad got him interested in dentistry. From there, he developed an interest in orthodontics and after graduating from the University…

Forty Under 40: Mario Valdovino, 36

Mario Valdovino grew up in California, where his family was in the food business. He decided early on he was not going to go down that path, but wanted to…

Fast 15: April Seggebruch

As a Lady Razorback, April Seggebruch earned a reputation for her drive to perform well on the basketball court. “That’s just how I am in life, I think,” she said…

Fast 15: Chris Chandler

People often ask Chris Chandler the exact location of his family business. That’s about to change. “They’ll know with this new building,” said Chandler, CEO of Chandler Equipment Inc. The…

Fast 15: Clarke Moore

Clarke Moore’s rapid rise up the financial industry ladder hasn’t gone unnoticed. Upon Moore’s hiring by U.S. Bank in January, Arkansas real estate titan Jim Lindsey — like Moore, a…

Fast 15: Denny Woods

While most folks would rather have a root canal than do taxes, Denny Woods found his calling when he took a course in taxation at the University of Arkansas. The…

Fast 15: Derek LaFargue

Derek LaFargue wears many hats. One that seems to fit perfectly is that of an entrepreneur, but that would be a wrong assumption. “Never really felt comfortable with that word,”…

Fast 15: E. Conner McNair

Having lived his whole life in Fayetteville, Conner McNair had a simple reason for heading to Georgetown University. “I thought it would be fun to go to Washington, D.C., for…

Fast 15: Jeannine S. Wheeler

The sink-or-swim approach has always appealed to Jeannine Wheeler. She began her swimming career as a toddler, leading to a record-setting prep career in St. Louis and ultimately a scholarship…