Tag: forty-under-40

Forty Under 40: Lauren Marquette, 30

Lauren Marquette is filled with the volunteer spirit, and knew from an early age she wanted to help people. A job offer from Susan G. Komen, where she interned while…

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…

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…