Tag: best-in-class

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…

Fast 15: Jennifer Ford

There may not be a friendlier person at J.B. Hunt than Jennifer Ford. No really, it’s true. It’s a matter of fact that Ford has twice (2006, 2009) been named…

Fast 15: Josh Clemence

John Lennon famously said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” That lesson came early for Josh Clemence, who, shortly after graduating from the Fay…

Fast 15: Matt Hartness

A self-described “people person,” Matt Hartness thrives on interacting with others, through both his work and mentoring. It took him a little while after college to find his niche, but…

Fast 15: Michelle Hurst

At an age when other kids may have been riding teeter-totters or watching “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” Michelle Hurst went to work. When Hurst was 6 years old, she began working at…

Fast 15: Stuart Collier

Stuart Collier began his career in health care by washing dishes. That was in 2006, after Collier graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Arkansas and applied…

Fast 15: Susannah Shinn

As a child, Susannah Shinn joined her grandfather every Saturday as he went out to volunteer with different organizations. “When I was young and forming all these really pivotal opinions…

Fast 15: Tracy N. Rowan

When Tracy Rowan found herself in a field that has little to do with what she studied in college, she addressed the situation with her trademark passion and energy. Translation:…

Vincent Straszewski still smiles when he remembers seeing Saatchi & Saatchi’s years-ago work regarding gun violence. Straszewski was struck, he said, by “how clever the communication could be.” “I wanted…

Forty Under 40: Melanie Arterbury, 38

For Arkansas native Melanie Arterbury, each day brings new client problems — and she loves solving them. At least that’s how it’s been for more than 12 years.In 2000, the…

Forty Under 40: James Brandenburg, 36

When James Brandenburg went to work for JVS International, a retail supplier of dining textiles (tablecloths, placemats, etc.), he “took care of Wal-Mart, and that was about it.”That strategy made…

Forty Under 40: Bryan Billingsley, 36

Bryan Billingsley began working at HEBCO Inc. as a summer job while in high school. President of the locally owned and managed federal defense contractor since 2005, Billingsley said he’s…

Forty Under 40: Luke Briggs, 31

When opportunity knocks, Luke Briggs is ready.That was evident when Briggs graduated from Tulane University in 2001 and took a consulting job at Ernst & Young. Working in a “robust,…

Forty Under 40: Jody Dilday, 39

Jody Dilday was a high school senior in Sioux Falls, S.D., when her dad got a job at Jones Truck Lines in Springdale. The move to Northwest Arkansas was critical,…

Forty Under 40: Ryan Gribble, 38

Ryan Gribble went all the way to Japan just to get home.An Arkansas native, Gribble attended Westminster, where he met Phil Bradley. Bradley played pro baseball in Japan and helped…