John James doesn’t fit the mold. A would-be family practice physician, James gave up medicine on the final day of his residency in 2001 to focus full-time on growing a retail ecommerce he had...
AMP News
High School Students to Compete in Personal Finance Challenge This Spring
Former Walmart Executive to Head Up Annual Heartland Summit
The Venture Center’s Newest Board Member, Guides Entrepreneurs, VC to Growth
MHP/Team SI Names Nicholson Vice President of Public Relations
Changes Coming for Little Rock Power Spot, One Eleven
Ask Renewable Rayna: How Are Batteries Transforming the Energy Sector?
CHI St. Vincent Infirmary Names New Director for Little Rock Emergency Department
Daily Digest: February 18, 2020
‘True Grit’ Author Charles Portis Dead at 86
Magazine
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: John James
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: Brent Birch
The Little Rock Tech Park is the physical embodiment of the commitment by central Arkansas leaders to recognize technology and research as an economic driver, says executive director Brent Birch. Its...
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: Nancy Gray
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is the state’s largest basic and applied research institution with a total budget of $1.3 billion and more than $100 million in annual research...
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: Wayne Miller
Ultimately, the goal of The Venture Center is to inspire social and economic change in the state, says executive director Wayne Miller. On a more tangible level, its mission is to help tech-based...
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: David Snow
As executive director for University of Arkansas Technology Ventures, David Snow oversees the commercialization of research conducted by UA professors, students and affiliated startups. He says...
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: Charles Morgan
Your phone rings. You pick it up, seeing a number you don’t recognize. In the past, this was normal and you’d typically answer to see who was calling. Unfortunately these days, every call from an...
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: Alan Morse
In Arkansas’ northeast corridor, one 114-year-old company rose from humble beginnings to become one of the Mid-South’s biggest local telecommunications providers. Jonesboro’s Ritter...
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: Asa Hutchinson
Shortly after taking office in 2014, Gov. Asa Hutchinson recognized the need for more computer training in Arkansas schools and advocated for the introduction of coding into school curriculums across...
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: Tony Warren
Founded in Little Rock in 1975, Arkansas Systems Inc. grew to serve more than 100 retail banking clients by offering electronic funds transfer (EFT) software for ATM management, debit and credit...
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: Josh Smith
In 2012, little A4 Solutions of Cabot was a tech startup providing IT services and support to government entities. By the end of the year, owner John Adams had purchased majority interest in mobile...
Titans of Tech in Arkansas: Matt Dozier
Little Rock’s EAST Initiative (originally an acronym for Environmental and Spatial Technology) may fly under the radar in terms of name recognition, but its work in exposing Arkansas students to...
Titans Of Tech In Arkansas: Jeston George
The state’s emphasis on tech startup development beginning in the late 2000s led to some significant success stories, Little Rock’s Apptegy one of the biggest. An education-tech startup founded...
Olivia Farrell: Winning Over the Room
by Mark Carter In the fall of 1977, Olivia Farrell unwittingly took the first step on what would become a ceiling-shattering journey to the top of the print publication industry in Arkansas: She...
The Pulse of Health Care: Washington Regional Medical System
Larry Shackelford: Health care industry ripe for expansion in NWA According to the Northwest Arkansas Council, about 7 percent of jobs in Northwest Arkansas are in the health care...
The Pulse of Health Care: Mercy Northwest
Eric Pianalto: Investment in growth paying off Northwest Arkansas isn’t like all regional communities. The area centered around Washington and Benton counties annually is recognized by multiple...
The Pulse of Health Care: Lineus Medical
Spencer Jones: Innovation a significant health care driver The importance of innovation in health care can’t be understated, according to Spencer Jones, founder and chief technology officer at...
2020 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame
by Mark Carter The University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business will induct its 2020 class on Feb. 7 at the Statehouse Convention center in Little Rock. The UA launched its Arkansas...
The Pulse of Health Care: Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
Joe Thompson: ‘ZIP code risk’ a mounting concern Shifts in the scope of delivery and financing models are presenting new challenges for the health care industry, says Joe Thompson, president and...
The Pulse of Health Care: Arkansas Children’s
Marcy Doderer: Status quo not acceptable Arkansas ranks 40th in child health and well-being, according to Marcy Doderer, president and CEO of Arkansas Children’s. “Systemic issues are...
The Pulse of Health Care: Medical Center of South Arkansas
Scott Street: Health care a community responsibility Recruiting physicians to rural areas can be a tough job these days. But doing so isn’t just the responsibility of local health care providers...
Agriculture
Applications Open for 2020 Arkansas Century Farm Program
Applications are now open for the 2020 Arkansas Century Farm program. Administered by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, the program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the...
Farm Forecast: Unpredictability Ahead
By Tyler Hale After a bruising farming season in 2019, Americans got a better understanding of what farmers have always known – how much of agriculture is out of their...
AgHeritage Farm Credit Names New SVP and Chief Commercial Lending Officer
AgHeritage Farm Credit Services (AFCS) has named a new senior vice president and chief commercial lending officer. Blake Swindle will be stepping into the role, according to AFCS president and CEO...
Heartland Forward Names New Chief Research Officer
Heartland Forward, a Bentonville think tank focused on economic development in the American heartland, has added a chief research officer to its ranks. Dr. David Shideler is taking on the role of CRO...
Haigwood Reappointed to U.S. Soybean Export Council Board
by Tyler Hale A Newport farmer has been reappointed to the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) board of directors. Derek Haigwood has been named to the council for his third term, which ends...
Construction / Real Estate
Cromwell Architects Engineers Names New Director of Strategic Services
Cromwell Architects Engineers has named a new director of strategic services. The firm has selected Jeff Overton for the role, where he will oversee the expansion and improvement of relationships for...
Bank OZK Invests $6 Million in Solar Power Plant for Headquarters
Bank OZK is investing in a solar power plant to generate energy for its new corporate headquarters in west Little Rock, in addition to up to 40 other Arkansas locations. The new solar plant...
Arkansas’ Power Women 2019 – Brandy Harp
Brandy Harp Principal Broker of Jon Underhill Real Estate What attracted you to your career? My love and appreciation of real estate dates back to meeting the love of my life, Richard Harp...
Bentonville Remodelers Star in HGTV’s Fixer to Fabulous
by Angela Forsyth Northwest Arkansas-based HGTV show Fixer to Fabulousjust finished its first season. The show’s stars Dave and Jenny Marrs talk about what it was like to film the show and share...
Structurlam Putting Its First U.S. Timber Factory in Conway
by Ryan Nix On Monday, Dec. 9, the Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation announced that it will expand its operations into the United States, choosing Conway to house its first mass timber plant...
Education
High School Students to Compete in Personal Finance Challenge This Spring
This spring, Arkansas high school students will be developing financial plans as part of the Arkansas Personal Finance Challenge. The event, hosted by Economics Arkansas, aims to build students’...
Student Entrepreneurs Display Wares at YES in Hot Springs
Young entrepreneurs filled the lobby of the Hot Springs Convention Center on Friday for the 15th annual Youth Entrepreneur Showcase Expo Day from the Arkansas Capital Corporation’s Arkansas...
A-State’s Campus Queretaro Undergoing Leadership Change
Arkansas State University’s Campus Queretaro will be undergoing a shift in leadership following the retirement of the campus’ vice rector. In December 2019, Dr. David Ray retired as Campus...
Little Rock-Area Students to Pitch Business Ideas at Junior Achievement...
by Tyler Hale It’s never too early to start a business. Little Rock-area high school students will have that opportunity this month during a business pitch competition at the Arkansas Regional...
Mellow Van Horn Has Made Hogs Baseball Elite
by Nate Olson Arkansas baseball Coach Dave Van Horn is known for his trademark intensity. However, his approach, especially with off-the-field matters, has changed over the 18 years he’s been on...
UA Department of Accounting to Be Named After William T. Dillard
by Tyler Hale One of Arkansas’ most notable business leaders will be getting a college department named after him. The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansashas announced...
Finance / Banking
Simmons Reports Record Earnings for 2019, Announces Two Executive Retirements
2019 proved to be a good year for Simmons First National Corporation, the holding company of Simmons Bank. The company posted record earnings for 2019, racking up 237.8 million in net income. For...
Arkansas Federal Finalizes Merger with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette FCU
Arkansas Federal Credit Union has completed its merger with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Federal Credit Union. Regulators have approved the merger, with members of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Federal...
Chokhani, Copas and Young Join Arvest Bank’s Central Arkansas Board
Three local leaders have joined the board of directors for Arvest Bank in central Arkansas. Rajesh Chokhani, Scott Copas and Chad Young have been elected to five-year board terms. All three...
Crain Named President and CEO for Arvest Bank in Benton County
The regional president of Arvest Bank’s Springfield, Mo. market is moving back to Northwest Arkansas. Brad Crain will be taking over as the president and CEO of Arvest in Benton County. Crain will...
Arkansas Largely Bucking The Trend For Rural Banking Deserts
A recent Federal Reserve report indicates that half of the counties in the United states lost bank branches between 2012 and 2017, a trend that resulted from bank mergers and...
Health Care
CHI St. Vincent Infirmary Names New Director for Little Rock Emergency...
CHI St. Vincent Infirmary has named a new director for its Little Rock emergency department. Nisha Trenthem is set to take the helm for the Little Rock department. Trenthem is currently serving as...
Arkansas Urology Opens New Northwest Arkansas Facility
Arkansas Urology is continuing its expansion in Northwest Arkansas. The Little Rock-based health system has opened a new facility in Fayetteville. Located at 2630 E. Citizen Drive, the new facility...
Arkansas Urology Names New Chief Clinical Service Officer
Arkansas Urology has named a new chief clinical service officer for its health network. Nic Joubert has been named to the role, where he will oversee the clinic services for all of Arkansas...
OBU Signs Agreement Aimed at Streamlining Admissions Process
Ouachita Baptist University is working with a educational non-profit to streamline admissions for high-performing students. The university signed an Affiliation Agreement with Arkansas Colleges of...
Manufacturing
Hot Springs Company Acquires UK Aerospace Fabricating Facilities
Hot Springs aerospace company Radius Aerospace has acquired a United Kingdom-based forming and fabricating enterprise. Radius Aerospace, a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, has...
Superior Group of Companies Investing $10 Million in Eudora Facility
Superior Group of Companies will be investing $10 million to expand its distribution center in Eudora. The expansion is expected to add 125 new jobs over the course of the next five years. The...
Radke Credits Military-Honed Skills for Business Success
by Dwain Hebda Wade Radke is an unqualified Arkansas success story, launching Galley Support Innovations in Sherwood alongside his wife Gina. The Radkes have grown the mom-and-pop venture to a $5...
Blytheville: Return to Prosperous Past?
by Ryan Nix, Photos by Jamison Mosley Far in the northeast corner of Arkansas, five miles west of the Mississippi River, the city of Blytheville remembers a prosperous past while hoping for a bright...
Manufacturers Leading Job Growth in Arkansas
by Mark Carter Arkansas manufacturing seems to be finding its footing following a rough patch to open the 21st century. Manufacturing jobs in the Natural State are up 8 percent since 2014 and...
Sports and Outdoors
Mellow Van Horn Has Made Hogs Baseball Elite
by Nate Olson Arkansas baseball Coach Dave Van Horn is known for his trademark intensity. However, his approach, especially with off-the-field matters, has changed over the 18 years he’s been on...
Walton Family Foundation Gives Grant for Connector Trail in Hot Springs
by Tyler Hale Mountain biking is all the rage in Arkansas, as new trails are being developed throughout the state. The rise of mountain biking trails has grown the state’s tourism footprint and, as...
Little Rock’s Fisher Kept Peace Between Bryant, O’Neal
by Nate Olson There is a very good chance if Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal didn’t have Derek Fisher to mend fences, both players’ legacies wouldn’t have been the same. I always told my...
Former UA Linebacker Greenlaw Will Be Big Draw for Super Bowl Media Contingent
by Nate Olson Dre Greenlaw was a good story before he turned in a phenomenal rookie year for the Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49ers. Some Arkansas fans might be familiar with him. The former Hogs...
Landers Award Has Competitive Field in 2020
by Nate Olson Since its inception in 2000, the Landers Award has become Arkansas’ premier high school football honor. Longtime KATV sports director Steve Sullivan orchestrates the event that...
Desperate Missouri State Hoping to Cash in on Petrino
by Nate Olson A familiar name to Arkansas football fans will be coaching just up the road in the Ozarks next year. Missouri State named Bobby Petrino its head coach Wednesday. A press conference is...
Former Hog Pat Bradley Forever an Arkansan
by Nate Olson It took one visit, and Pat Bradley knew Arkansas had more in common with his hometown of Everett, Mass. than he thought. Pat was on a recruiting visit in September of 1994 and Hogs...
The Evolution of Sports Media: Can Specialty Team Sites Provide Balanced...
by Mark Carter The news business may be here to stay, but the manner in which it’s delivered and consumed is evolving at a fairly rapid pace. These days, consumers aren’t met at the...
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
The Venture Center’s Newest Board Member, Guides Entrepreneurs, VC to...
by Tyler Hale Collins Andrews is preparing entrepreneurs for the long haul. The longtime information technology management executive has become a key player in Arkansas’ burgeoning startup scene...
The Top Performer’s Field Guide: Perception is Reality
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” –Warren Bemis by Jeff Standridge Without getting into Zen concepts like, “what is the sound of one hand clapping” a person’s...
Origin Program to Serve as Starting Point for Budding Entrepreneurs
by Tyler Hale Local entrepreneurs in Arkansas will now have another resource at their disposal. The Venture Center and the Little Rock Regional Chamber have partnered to develop a new program, called...
Little Rock-Area Students to Pitch Business Ideas at Junior Achievement...
by Tyler Hale It’s never too early to start a business. Little Rock-area high school students will have that opportunity this month during a business pitch competition at the Arkansas Regional...
The Innovator’s Field Guide: Don’t Just Do Something – Sit There!
by Jeff Standridge “The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.” -Aristotle Scotland’s King Robert the Bruce had a problem...
AMP Sponsored
Online Privacy: How Secure Are You?
With so much concern about malicious attacks, online privacy has become one of today’s hot topics. It applies to every size of business, from the home office to the enterprise, and the extent of...
Top 10 Ways to Stay Focused at Work
This content is presented in sponsorship with Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Distraction happens. Especially if you are a part of the four percent of U.S. adults who have attention deficit...
Eldridge Brooks Partners: Experienced Attorneys, Innovative Partners
Conner Eldridge and Steve Brooks got together in January of 2018 to catch up and realized they were in similar places in their careers. They also realized that they shared a vision to build a legal...
The Risks and Rewards of Blockchain Technology
This content is sponsored by Business World. Blockchain has been touted as the most disruptive technology to hit businesses since open-source software—or, some say, since the internet itself. As a...
Rx Catering is a One-Stop Spot for Food Services
Preparing an event is a stressful endeavor, filled with variables that can and likely will go wrong. To minimize the possibility of mistakes being made, it’s vital to partner with individuals and...
Artificial Intelligence for Businesses: The Roadblocks
This content is sponsored by Business World. Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are improving business processes from the factory floor to the customer’s door. Used to its fullest...
How Emails Put You at Risk of Cyber Attacks
This content is sponsored by Business World. By now, most people are well aware of the dangers of malicious emails. However, we’re still falling for the scams—and cybercriminals are still...
Everything AI Can Do for Your Network
This content is sponsored by Business World. Artificial intelligence (AI), it would seem, is today’s business panacea. Its capabilities give you the power to transform your business into a...
Building School Safe Rooms to Withstand Severe Weather
Why are schools spending money on buildings they hope never to use? Throughout the Midwest and Southeast, this is exactly what’s happening as schools prepare to protect students during severe...
Stay Breach-Free: The Importance of Keeping Your Copiers Secure
This content is sponsored by Business World. With all the talk about cybersecurity these days, it’s likely that your copiers and printers are some of the last technology you’re concerned about. ...
