Who are Arkansas’ most influential up-and-comers? Who are the future drivers of the Arkansas economic engine, of policy and culture? Readers helped us determine who the state’s real drivers are shaping up to be.
Arkansas Money & Politics is proud to showcase its Future 50 for 2023.
The Future 50 represents those Arkansans — business, political, cultural leaders — recognized by AMP readers as poised to do big things in their fields.
They could be up-and-comers, business leaders already established or industry veterans who have switched fields. But they all share one thing in common — from them, big things are expected.
This year’s Future 50 honorees run the gamut of Arkansas industry from banking to baseball.
These 50 exceptional Arkansans are highlighted on the pages that follow.
Director, Office of Outdoor Recreation
Arkansas Department of Parks,
Heritage and Tourism
Katherine Andrews is the state’s first director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation within the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. She is responsible for leading the state’s efforts to grow the outdoor recreation economy in Arkansas. This includes the promotion and connection of the outdoor recreation industry, the creation and progress of collaborative relationships between outdoor industry stakeholders in Arkansas, fostering the growth of outdoor companies, and the support and advocacy of conservation in The Natural State. In 2023, Andrews was appointed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to the Natural State Initiative Council and leads the Outdoor Economy subcommittee.
Andrews previously worked for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission as director of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division. Prior to AEDC, she worked as a commercial real estate sales associate for the Hathaway Group in Little Rock.
Andrews attended the University of Arkansas, where she received a B.S.B.A. in finance from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in 2013. She is a graduate of Leadership Arkansas Class XIII and Leadership Little Rock Class XXXV, as well as a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute program.
Hot Springs Community President
Simmons Bank
Duncan Bellingrath serves as Hot Springs community president for Simmons Bank, overseeing operations throughout the market. A native of Pine Bluff, he joined Simmons Bank in 2017 and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Bellingrath is a graduate of Leadership Arkansas Class of XVI, Leadership Pine Bluff and serves as president of the Arkansas Bankers Association Emerging Leaders Council. He also serves as a treasurer of the Arkansas Financial Education Commission and on the boards of the Arkansas Bankers Association, The Salvation Army of Hot Springs and the Hot Springs Metro Partnership.
Founder
J. Ruby Interiors
Jessica Bernard founded J. Ruby Interiors in 2018, focusing on residential and commercial interiors. After graduating college with a BFA in interior design, she began an internship at WER Architects and has since partnered with the firm on a health care project. Bernard collaborates with architectural firms, contractors and other designers as needed on larger projects, allowing her to focus solely on design. While she has her own, eclectic personal style, Bernard always designs according to her clients’ interests and particular tastes. Bernard has worked with charitable organizations such as Arkansas Symphony House in 2020 and the playhouse build for the Girl Scouts of America in 2022.
Founder
Bornhoft Law
Atrial attorney with more than 70 jury trials and 10,000 courtroom hours, James Bornhoft is recognized as an up-and-coming force to be reckoned with in courtrooms all over Arkansas. His career began by serving as a deputy district attorney in the Special Victims Unit & Human Trafficking Prosecutor in Colorado’s largest judicial district. Bornhoft’s passion has and always will be representing victims of injustice. His practice focuses on personal injury cases, family law, estate planning and criminal defense.
A graduate of the University of Arkansas, University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a member of the DU Law National Trial Team, Bornhoft brings unparalleled expertise and tenacity to his practice. Committed to client-centered and compassionate representation, he empowers his clients during their most critical moments. With his visionary leadership and unwavering dedication, he is poised to shape the future of law and leave a lasting impact in the Arkansas legal field.
Founder/Owner
Cahill Design
Marisa Cahill is the founder and owner of Cahill Design, a virtual design service specializing in interior and exterior design for residential and commercial properties. Cahill played collegiate golf at Arkansas State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management with a minor in sales. In 2020, Cahill founded Cahill Design, and in 2022, she joined The Vibe Interiors as an interior designer. Home renovation and design is a passion for Cahill. Whether virtual or local, she assists clients with renderings providing creative visualization of their ideas before committing to physical work.
Cahill is a member of The Venture Center’s 2022 Spark! Cohort and won first place in the annual Pitch N’ Pint competition. She also is a member of the 2023 VC Woman Achieve Program, a statewide mentorship program bringing Arkansas’ women entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop life-changing relationships to drive professional growth.
Financial Adviser
Small & Associates
Tara Cobb, a native of Cabot, is a financial advisor with Small & Associates Financial with more than a decade of industry experience. After graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2008 with a degree in marketing, Cobb started her financial career at Small & Associates Financial in February 2010, initially serving as a receptionist. Her dedication and passion for the field quickly became evident. In 2011, she successfully passed her FINRA exams, earning certification as a paraplanner. Fueled by a desire to make a meaningful difference, she decided she wanted to do more. With her sights set on becoming a financial advisor, Cobb pursued her goal diligently and, in 2021, solidified her position as a trusted and knowledgeable advisor.
What sets her apart is genuine enthusiasm for meeting clients and forming new connections. She finds great joy in hearing about her clients’ financial goals and working together towards achieving those goals. Cobb takes pride in empowering her clients, helping them to understand, achieve and manage their financial independence with confidence.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Pulaski County
Born and raised in Little Rock, Drew Dorsey is a graduate of Mount St. Mary Academy, the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and the William H. Bowen School of Law in Little Rock. While in law school, Dorsey worked for two sports agencies, ESQ in Nashville and Rosenhaus Sports Representation in Miami, and gained her license as a Major League Baseball player agent. She spent a legislative session as a law clerk for Capital Advisors Group, a lobbyist firm. She later worked on Congressman French Hill’s reelection campaign in 2020 as a legal intern before joining his 2022 campaign as the political and fundraising director. Following the campaign, she now serves as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Pulaski County. Aside from her work, she enjoys reading, watching the Atlanta Braves, volunteering at Miracle League, playing tennis and hanging out with her three Labs.
Special Projects Manager
GES Inc. (DBA Edwards Food Giant/Edwards Cash Saver)
Steve Edwards Jr. is the special projects manager for GES Inc., the parent company of the Edwards Food Giant and Edwards Cash Saver line of grocery stores. Edwards joined the family business full-time after graduating from the University of Arkansas in 2018 and led the launch of the Edwards Curbside online shopping platform and continues to oversee the efforts of the digital marketing team. He is a graduate of the Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXXVIII, as well as a member of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association’s Central Arkansas chapter, the National Grocers Association Emerging Leaders Share Group and the Alliance Retail Group Retail Tech Advisory Board.
Dentist
Smile Hot Springs
Dr. Ethan Erwin, a compassionate dentist and Hot Springs native, graduated from Lakeside High School in 2012. Excelling at the University of Central Arkansas, he earned a B.S. in biology with honors interdisciplinary studies and chemistry minors before securing his dentistry degree from Texas A&M in 2020. Gaining invaluable experience at Smile Dailey and Arkansas Dental Centers, Erwin joined with Dr. Robert J. Barnett in 2021, rebranding the practice as “Smile Hot Springs.” Residing in Hot Springs with his wife, Dr. Cara Erwin, a physical therapist, and their three children, Erwin is often found enjoying Arkansas’ natural beauty, indulging in fishing or even playing the fiddle when not practicing dentistry.
Director & Staff Assistant to the CEO
Life & Specialty Ventures
(DBA USAble Life)
For nearly 15 years, Andrew Ford has provided leadership in the corporate and nonprofit sectors to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families. At USAble Life, Ford works with executive leadership to advance the company’s business plan and strategic initiatives that deliver supplemental, life, disability and dental insurance products in partnership with 16 Blue Cross Blue Shield plans across the country.
Before joining USAble Life, Ford was a senior associate with the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, where he focused on economic development and education in Arkansas. He also previously supported Southern Bancorp’s banking and development initiatives in the Delta region. A lifelong Arkansan, Ford earned his B.A. in business administration and political science from Ouachita Baptist University and M.S. in economic development from the University of Central Arkansas.
Group President of Operations
Westrock Coffee Co.
Will Ford serves as group president of operations at Westrock Coffee Company. Since starting with the company in 2016, Will has worked in several of Westrock Coffee’s entities around the world, focusing on multiple aspects of the coffee trade. Currently, Ford oversees global production, operations and distribution logistics for Westrock, where he is responsible for over 1 million square feet of operational space across eight facilities. In 2021, he oversaw the construction of Westrock Coffee’s first international manufacturing facility in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and is currently responsible for the construction of the nation’s largest roasting to ready-to-drink facility. Among Ford’s core skills are reviewing and improving efficiencies in order to help the company deliver complex beverage solutions at a global scale in multiple formats.
Ford earned a master’s degree in coffee economics and science from Illy Universtatá del Caffé in Trieste, Italy. He received his B.A. in communications from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Will serves on the boards of the National Coffee Association (NCA) and the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce.
Mortgage Loan Originator
Centennial Bank
Collin French graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He joined Centennial Bank as a loan officer trainee while still in school and then joined the bank officially after graduation. He has worked his way up from loan officer to mortgage loan originator trainee and in 2020, to mortgage loan originator. He recently celebrated his fifth-year anniversary with Centennial.
Director of Nursing
Nursing Consultant Inc.
Haley Giffin’s journey in health care has been a series of stepping stones. Her love for nursing started when she worked as a certified nursing assistant for several years while working toward her nursing career. Giffin then went on to graduate with a bachelor’s from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Giffin began her nursing career on a medical-surgical unit, but the majority of her experience has been in long-term care. Giffin joined Nursing Consultant Inc. in 2020 as director of nursing in long-term care. Over the last eight years, she has worked diligently to care for vulnerable patient populations. Giffin is grateful to be a part of a company that believes in offering the best life and experiences possible for our elderly population.
BSA Officer
Stone Bank
Ben Hargrave is a banker and the son of a banker. He is a North Little Rock native and after graduating from Central Arkansas Christian, he completed his education at UALR, earning a B.A. in business management.
Hargrave has been part of Stone Bank for six years but has been in banking for 11 years. He started his career as an auditor before becoming a credit analyst. He then moved into compliance as an assistant risk management officer and senior auditor and recently became the bank’s BSA Officer. He is a CRCM (Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager).
Hargrave has been part of Stone Bank’s efforts to recognize veterans and served with his fellow bankers for Junior Achievement. He was involved when the bank delivered food for relief workers from the recent tornados.
When he’s not working at Stone Bank, he likes to take it outside for hunting, fishing, and four-wheeling. He follows any sport involving a Razorback.
Founder
Rock City Digital
As the founder and driving force behind Rock City Digital, Kait Hill is one of Arkansas’ most promising young business leaders. With a clear vision for the future of business, Hill is committed to cultivating a culture of innovation and efficiency. Her progressive thinking and remarkable achievements have garnered widespread recognition, including the Small Business Owner 30 & Under Award from the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce in 2019 and a feature in Local Magazine as a Woman to Watch in 2020.
Setting herself apart with a unique approach, Hill distinguishes herself in the business world through her fresh and innovative perspective. She recognizes the vital role played by individuals within an organization and highly values their contributions. Emphasizing a team-centered philosophy, she has carefully curated a group of passionate professionals who share a deep love for their work and a genuine connection with their colleagues. This valuable teamwork is evident in the exceptional level of dedication and consistent quality of service that Rock City Digital delivers to its clients.
Moreover, her company has been recognized for its excellence, receiving the Best Web Designer and Best Advertising Agency awards for three straight years from Arkansas Money & Politics and others.
Owner
DIMORI Services LLC
Diego Morales Ibarra is the owner of DIMORI Services LLC, a newly established consulting company. Prior to this, he worked as the strategic partnerships manager at the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), where he also served as the coordinator for the pilot program Arkansas Business Navigator. While at ASBTDC, Ibarra excelled at strengthening relationships with stakeholders through outreach and event coordination to ensure the program was accessible to minority communities in Arkansas.
A native of Guanajuato, Mexico, Ibarra completed a business degree at the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo. In 2017, he accepted a job in Little Rock to serve at the Mexican Consulate, eventually ascending to the role of coordinator of community and economic development. Ibarra is passionate about serving the needs and demands of minority populations by developing collaborative strategies in public health, finance and education.
COO
JTJ Restaurants
In 2008, Jake Keet returned to Little Rock after attending Florida State University to open Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe with his partners and family members, Tommy and Jim Keet. As COO of JTJ Restaurants LLC., Keet helped expand Taziki’s into two states and 10 locations.
In recent years, Keet has been involved in creating the restaurants Cypress Social and Petit and Keet and has partnered in three Waldo’s Chicken and Beer locations, two Count Porkula BBQ locations and one Big Bad Breakfast. His family has recently been a part of the purchase of the Breckenridge Shopping Center, where it will be involved in opening numerous restaurant concepts over the course of the next year.
Keet also holds his real estate broker’s license as the principal broker of Keet Realty Group.
Owner, Andrew Klatt Media Collective
Co-founder, 34 North Creative
Andrew Klatt is an outdoor photographer, videographer, media specialist and creative director from Hot Springs. He founded the Andrew Klatt Media Collective and co-founded 34 North Creative, a collective of creative artists who provide creative vision, camera/production gear and post-production work. Klatt works with a number of outdoor industry leading brands, music artists and top-ranked destination lodges.
He travels the country to capture unique imagery in remote places that tells the stories of epic people and places. A graduate of Arkansas State University, Klatt previously worked for The Confluence Group, Red Shutter Media, IDX Inc. and Instrument & Supply Inc.
Chief Risk Officer and Assistant
Secretary of the Company
Signature Bank of Arkansas
Jeff Maland serves as the chief risk officer and assistant secretary of the company and has been employed with Signature Bank of Arkansas since May 2004. Maland began his career with the bank as a banker trainee and was promoted to compliance officer in October 2005. In April 2007, he was again promoted to loan review/risk management officer, a position he held until his promotion in October 2016 to his current position of chief risk officer.
In his role as CRO, Maland oversees the risk management, compliance, BSA, loan review, security and IT functions for the bank. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a BS in administrative management. He has also completed the Graduate Commercial Lending School at Southern Methodist University, the ABA National Compliance School at the University of Oklahoma and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado.
Director of Communications
North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce
Reynardo Marks, 29, serves as director of communications for North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, with responsibility for communication activities and cultivating external relationships with the chamber’s members and constituencies. In this role, Marks protects and strengthens the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce reputation by guiding external, internal, executive and digital communications, strategic marketing, branding and social responsibility.
Marks oversees various initiatives including the North Little Rock Young Professionals, Military Relations and Vanguard Ambassadors. He also sits on the Chamber’s Minority Business Accelerator board, which focuses on community inclusion. Marks has more than seven years of broad project-management experience. Prior roles include channel partner engagement advisor with Hewlett Packard Enterprise as well as commercial/consumer lending operations analyst with Simmons Bank. Marks earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management with emphasis in strategic management and analysis from Arkansas State University.
Vice President
Hathaway Group
Wes Martin serves as vice president of Hathaway Group. He joined the firm in 2012 and became a partner in 2019. Martin specializes in the leasing and sales of office, retail, land and industrial transactions. He holds both the CCIM and SIOR designations. He was honored by the Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock for the largest office sale of 2018, largest industrial sale of 2020 and largest industrial lease of 2021.
Martin is currently the vice chairman of the board for the Better Business Bureau of Arkansas and serves on the board for the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. Other community involvement includes serving on the board of the Arkansas CCIM Chapter and The Hat Club. He is a past chair of Create Little Rock and the Rotaract Club of Little Rock and was a member of Leadership Greater Little Rock Class 31. Martin earned his bachelor’s degree in finance with an emphasis in real estate at Missouri State University in 2009.
Vice President,
Economic Development
Hot Springs Metro Partnership
Cole McCaskill is the vice president of economic development at Hot Springs Metro Partnership. McCaskill has been working to develop and grow the iconic Arkansas city since he was hired in the fall of 2014. A 2013 graduate of Henderson State University, McCaskill had also interned at the city’s Chamber of Commerce before joining the staff full-time. The Hot Springs Metro Partnership is a separate nonprofit organization that works closely with the chamber to invest in areas of Hot Springs. McCaskill graduated from Henderson with a bachelor’s degree in communications.
Pastor of Connecting Ministries
Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church
Rev. Kathleen McMurray serves as the pastor of connecting ministries at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock. McMurray is passionate about ensuring all people know that they are loved, that their lives are important and that they can make a difference in the world. Young adult and new member ministries at PHUMC have grown under McMurray’s leadership, and last year she received the Denman Evangelism Award from the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church. McMurray has served on the boards of the Wesley Foundations at Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the Ozark Mission Project and most recently at the Children’s Protection Center of Pulaski County.
McMurray graduated summa cum laude from Louisiana State University and holds a master’s degree in divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill. This fall, she begins work toward a doctorate in ministry in church and community leadership at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology.
Financial Advisor/Operations Manager
Ipsen Advisor Group
Nick Merriweather is a financial advisor and operations manager at Ipsen Advisor Group in Little Rock. A native Arkansan, Merriweather has worked with the firm since graduating from Henderson State University in 2016. He earned his Certified Financial Planner certification (CFP®) from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards in 2023. Merriweather’s areas of focus include sustainable and responsible investing, saving for education and cash flow management strategies.
Vice President
R&E Supply
Cory Miller is a dynamic professional serving as vice president at R&E Supply, a renowned company in the HVAC industry. With a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Harding University, Miller possesses a solid educational background in business management. As a third-generation leader, he is proud to carry forward the legacy established by his grandfather, who founded R&E Supply. Miller’s dedication to the company’s growth is evident in his multifaceted role. In addition to his position as vice president, he serves as a board member of CGNA (Controls Group of North America), contributing his industry expertise to the association’s strategic initiatives.
With a keen understanding of the HVAC market, he recently spearheaded the reinvention of R&E Supply’s website. Leveraging his technical skills and knowledge, Miller successfully transformed the online platform, enhancing user experience and positioning the company as a technology-driven industry leader.
With a strong focus on customer satisfaction, innovation, and staying ahead of industry trends, Miller aims to further solidify the company’s position as a trusted and influential player in the HVAC sector. Through his leadership and commitment to excellence, he is determined to build upon the strong foundation laid by his grandfather and make a lasting impact on the industry.
General Manager of Arkansas
Black Hills Energy
Joey Msall, PE, ensures Black Hills Energy delivers safe, reliable energy for 183,000 customers in 106 Arkansas communities. He oversees natural gas system operations and integrity initiatives as well as 7,200 miles of infrastructure and construction investments to meet the growing demand for energy in the state while supporting a net zero target by 2035 with enhanced emissions detection and damage prevention efforts. Through his leadership, Black Hills Energy made a $120 million economic impact in Arkansas with 480 employees, charitable contributions and payments in 2022.
A Leadership Arkansas Class XV alumnus, Msall serves on the Rogers Lowell Chamber and Arkansas 811 boards, among other community service efforts. A licensed professional engineer with civil engineering degrees, he has a B.S. from the University of Arkansas and M.S. from Missouri University of Science and Technology, along with an MBA from UA Little Rock.
Director of Marketing
Conway Regional Health System
Currently serving as the director of marketing at Conway Regional Health System, Lauren Norris is responsible for increasing brand recognition and spearheading advertising campaigns for all service lines. With a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Arkansas Tech University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Norris combines her artistic expertise with her business acumen to drive results.
Norris is a dynamic professional known for her expertise in blending creativity and analytical thinking. Having experience in two seemingly opposing fields, art and business, she has honed her adaptability and thrives in challenging environments. Her success as an artist, leader and strategist has equipped her with the skills necessary to thrive in collaborative settings. With a belief that anything worth doing is worth doing well, Norris approaches every task with intention.
Vice President of Commercial Lending and Diversity Outreach
First Community Bank
Bill Oliva is the vice president of commercial lending and diversity outreach with First Community Bank. Oliva came to First Community Bank as a student at Batesville High School, where he began in the maintenance department in 2007 before officially joining the bank in 2008. He has served the bank in various roles including marketing, insurance, Hispanic outreach and lending over the last 15 years. In his current role, he focuses on commercial lending within Independence County and the surrounding areas, as well as working diligently to provide quality-banking services to the underbanked communities in the area.
Oliva attended the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville and is a 2023 graduate of the Barret School of Banking. He is participating in the 2022-2023 Leadership in Banking Academy with the Arkansas Bankers Association and Walton College Executive Education. He was the 2022 recipient of the Arkansas Bankers Association Bill Holmes Leadership award, a prestigious distinction that recognizes outstanding leadership among the emerging leaders in Arkansas banking.
Attorney
Robertson, Oswalt, Nony & Associates
Chris Oswalt is an attorney with Robertson, Oswalt, Nony & Associates, a boutique Little Rock firm specializing in domestic relations and probate and estate planning. Oswalt’s practice areas include family law, probate and estate administration and traffic violations, among others. Oswalt obtained his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University and his juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. He has been a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and has provided pro-bono services through the Center for Arkansas Legal Services (VOCALS) since 2011.
General Manager
Arkansas Travelers
Sophie Ozier joined the Arkansas Travelers in 2017 as a corporate event planner. After serving as an assistant general manager, she was named GM following the 2021 season. Ozier graduated from Webster University in St. Louis, earning a degree in public relations with a minor in media communications. During her time in St. Louis, Ozier interned with Fox Sports Midwest, the St. Louis Blues and the River City Rascals.
Ozier was born and raised in a small town in central Illinois called Cerro Gordo and is a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs.
Chief Economic Development Officer
Conway Area Chamber of Commerce/ Conway Development Corporation
Corey Parks is the chief economic development officer for the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and Conway Development Corporation. He manages the organizations’ community and economic development efforts and oversees talent and workforce development initiatives.
Parks earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Insurance & Risk Management and Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Arkansas. He is a certified Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED), designated by the Community Development Council, and is a graduate of the Community Development Institute and the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.
He currently serves on the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Board of Visitors, and the Board of Directors for the University of Central Arkansas Alumni Association, Arkansas Coding Academy and the Children’s Advocacy Alliance. Parks previously served on the Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives (AEDCE) board of directors.
Senior Control Analyst
L’Oreal USA
Leia Peek is a proud graduate of Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. At ATU, SHE earned her B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting. After graduating, she has earned an MBA from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and passed her exam to become a Certified Public Accountant with the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy.
Peek used her education to work and hone her skills in many areas such as accounting, finance, education and now manufacturing. She joined the L’Oreal USA team at the North Little Rock manufacturing plant after earning her MBA and has held several positions including internal control manager, plant lead for accounts payable and fixed asset manager. She most recently was promoted to senior finance analyst.
Vice President/Regional Director
HP Engineering
Colby Post is the vice president and regional director for the HP Engineering Northwest Arkansas team. With more than 15 years of experience in design, Post leads the mechanical, electrical and plumbing design teams in NWA. His responsibilities include organizing project teams, maintaining communication between the team and clients and leading meetings to ensure that projects meet objectives and stay on schedule.
His portfolio includes mixed-use and multi-family developments, higher education, commercial, industrial, retail and medical facilities. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Arkansas in 2009.
Singer/Songwriter/Producer
Cliff and Susan
Cliff Prowse represents one half of the independent musical duo, Cliff and Susan. Prowse is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer who honed his skills in the Mountain View town square. He has collaborated with many award-winning artists, producing more than 30 artists, and has recorded and performed in Nashville.
Cliff and Susan perform more than 200 acts a year around the world. The duo released its debut single, “Drivin’ Me Crazy,” in April 2020. Its signature song, “Fiddle & Keys,” released in January 2023, caught the attention of Mike Huckabee and lead to an invitation to perform on his nationally televised “Huckabee Show” in February 2023.
Vice President
Stallion Transportation
A native of Beebe, Garland Rice IV currently serves as vice president at Stallion Transportation. For the past 20 years, Rice has acquired extensive knowledge and experience, having worked in every department of the company. Under the influence of his father, Butch Rice, president and CEO of Stallion, Rice has developed into a strong and highly respected leader in his own right.
As a key figure on the executive management team, Rice is an important voice in all major decisions at Stallion. His understanding of the industry, loyalty to the company’s values and passion for continued growth and expansion, all make his insight indispensable.
Rice also is heavily involved in Stallion Transportation’s charitable work. Over the years, he has been a “hands-on volunteer” and organized many company events supporting Special Olympics of Arkansas, Wreaths Across America, local and state disaster relief and a variety of other causes.
President
Precision Print Solutions Inc.
Matt St. Clair serves as president of Precision Print Solutions, a locally owned commercial printing company in Little Rock. After graduating from the University of Arkansas with a degree in small business management, St. Clair moved back to Little Rock to help lead Precision Print as a trusted provider of top-notch printing services. He values the importance of building strong relationships with clients and works closely with them to understand their unique needs.
Founded in 1974, Precision Print focuses on its tagline of “one company, many solutions” — earning consumers trust and delivering finished products across several platforms to reach their goals and objectives. Commercial printing, labels, signs and banners, promotional products, just to name a few.
St. Clair is active in his community and enjoys time outside, being at the lake, hunting and fishing, and coaching his daughter’s soccer team.
E-commerce Team Lead
PepsiCo
Eli Saldivar is a prominent e-commerce figure with 15-plus years of experience. Originally from Latin America, he holds international business and marketing degrees from John Brown University. Saldivar started by developing digital practices for leading agencies, including Publicis and Omnicom, serving Fortune 500 clients. In 2019, he joined Procter & Gamble to lead international e-commerce and marketing for Walmart, and then health care marketing and digital commerce. Notably, he oversaw the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program, donating 50 million liters across 26 countries. In July 2022, Saldivar transitioned to PepsiCo to lead its Foods Online business, drawn by a commitment to current and future business success. He enjoys prioritizing people and empowering them to thrive — for example, by mentoring students and entrepreneurs through the University of Arkansas’ Technology Ventures program. Passionate about advancing Hispanic talent, Saldivar collaborates with LatinXNA on community development programs and serves as a board member of Banco Si!, a subsidiary of Signature Bank of Arkansas focused on serving the Hispanic population.
Agent
Ott Insurance
Cole Schanandore is an accomplished insurance agent at Ott Insurance in Conway, where he focuses on advising and helping businesses and individuals across the state protect what’s important to them. After growing up in Conway and graduating from the University of Central Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in insurance and risk management, Schanandore went on to work for a Fortune 500 Company as an underwriter for two years. When an opportunity arose to leverage his education and underwriting experience in sales, he transitioned to a sales position at Ott Insurance, where he has been for the last six years. His ability to navigate the complex world of insurance policies and provide tailored solutions has earned him a stellar reputation among both individual and corporate clients. Schanandore is very active in the Central Arkansas community and industry associations.
Senior Vice President of Sales
Infinity Worlds
Max Shaw is the senior vice president of sales at Infinity Worlds, a division of the Barcode Group. Shaw worked to pay for college while he was a student at the University of Arkansas, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor’s in supply chain management and a minor in real estate financing. After graduating, Shaw worked for J.B. Hunt as a logistics engineer and senior implementation manager before becoming a sales analyst for Rich Products in 2013. This move allowed him to get his foot in the door of the supplier community. He became a national account manager for Pinnacle Foods before making Infinity Worlds his home in 2018. In this position, he has grown the business by 84 percent and managed $500 million in revenue. Shaw helps his community as well, serving as a board member for Micah’s House and as a volunteer with the American Diabetes Association.
Owner
Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcake Shoppe
Not many people can say that they have taken the dive into entrepreneurship, but at age 22, Mackenzie Simon did. Her already robust portfolio is quite impressive. Since she graduated high school just four years ago, Simon has worked tirelessly to build her brands — Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcake Shoppe in Hot Springs and Fayetteville, and Mackenzie’s Extraordinary Gift Shoppe and Pour Some Sugar On Me Sweet Shoppe (both in Hot Springs). Simon had been a barista at Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcake Shoppe in the historic district of Hot Springs since her parents first opened it in 2011. She took over the family business in 2015 after graduating from high school. Simon believes being authentic is the most powerful characteristic that you can have. “A resilient, outrageously authentic woman is unstoppable,” she said.
Principal, Vice President of Brokerage
Moses Tucker Partners
Greyson Skokos serves as a principal and vice president of brokerage at Moses Tucker Partners, a full-service commercial, residential and development firm, offering a full spectrum of real estate services for clients throughout Arkansas and surrounding states. After receiving his BBA in finance from University of Arkansas Walton Business College in 2015, Skokos began working for Moses Tucker Partners in the accounting and property management division. Quickly moving up the firm’s ladder, Skokos has played an instrumental part in the continued growth and diversification of the company’s book of business. In his work, he has represented real estate developers, Fortune 500 retailers, lenders, borrowers and other clients on complex commercial transactions. Skokos attributes his success to world-class leadership mentoring and a loyal team of hardworking contemporaries and says the firm’s rich history and impact on communities across Arkansas are what set it apart.
Event & Marketing Manager
Jacksonville Parks and Recreation
A native of Viola, Megan Tharp graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 2018 with her Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration and an emphasis in tourism and event management. Immediately after graduation, she accepted a position as the special event coordinator for Jacksonville Parks and Recreation. In 2019, she received the award on behalf of the department for Festival of the Year through the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association.
After stepping away from her position during the pandemic, Tharp returned and accepted the new title of event and marketing manager. Within her current career, she oversees the Events & Marketing Department, where she helps to facilitate 18 annual events for the community and runs point on print marketing for the organization.
Chief Marketing Officer
Museum of Discovery
Kendall Thornton serves as the chief marketing officer for Museum of Discovery, where she handles media relations and oversees promotional and creative initiatives for the 96-year-old science center. After receiving her degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in political science from Arkansas State University, Thornton began her career in nonprofit communications and later governmental public affairs. She describes the role she’s had for 10 years at the museum as her “dream job” due to never-ending unique experiences, such as coordinating appearances from Kevin Dulaney, the “science guy” from “The Tonight Show,” while he was a museum educator or promoting the Shock the Rock event that brought the world’s largest Tesla coil to Little Rock.
Senior Associate Attorney
Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon
After graduating at the top of her class from the William H. Bowen School of Law in 2019, Jalen Toms joined the Law Offices of Katherine Blackmon. With her trademark tenacity and strong work ethic, Toms worked her way up to become the Senior Associate Attorney at the family law firm. Prior to attending law school, Toms earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Louisiana State University. Her original goal was to be a veterinarian, thereby following in the footsteps of her father. After working as a veterinary technician for several years during her undergraduate career, it became clear to Toms that she has too soft of a heart to make the undeniably hard decisions that come with being a veterinarian.
Toms’ decision to practice family law reflects the soft spot she has for those most in need of guidance and support. She believes her clients are often going through what could be considered the most emotionally fraught situations they have ever been in. Toms’ devotion to her clients is obvious not only in her willingness to listen and “hand-hold,” but in her energetic and zealous representation in the courtroom.
Since practicing at the Law Offices of Katherine Blackmon, the firm has been voted Best Law Firm in the state of Arkansas in 2021, 2022, and 2023 in AY Magazine.
Toms continues her passion and love for animals by spending time with her three rescue dogs and three rescue cats and fostering animals whenever possible.
Chief Executive Officer
VLS Waste Solutions
Soroya Tucker is an entrepreneur and the visionary behind the success of the valet trash industry. With a passion for excellence and a deep understanding of the multi-family landscape, Tucker recognized the need for a more convenient and efficient waste disposal solution. With a clear vision in mind, she founded VLS Waste Solutions, combining her entrepreneurial spirit with her strong environmental values. Under her leadership, VLS Waste Solutions has thrived, forging strong partnerships with property owners, management companies and homeowner associations. Her unwavering commitment to providing tailored solutions has earned Tucker the trust and respect of her clients and the admiration of her industry peers. She is a recipient of the Arkansas Apartment Association Supplier of the Year award in 2020, and she served as chair of the supplier’s committee and as a member of the Arkansas Apartment Association Board in 2021. She’s also participated in the 2021 Spark! class through The Venture Center in Little Rock and has been selected for the first cohort of the Minority Business Empowerment Fund initiative running from 2022 to 2023.
Associate Attorney
Farrar & Williams
Tiffany Tucker is a native of Bryant and graduated from Ouachita Baptist University magna cum laude in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and mass communications. She obtained her juris doctorate from the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law. Tucker is an attorney at Farrar & Williams PLLC in Hot Springs, where has practiced primarily in the areas of trusts, estate planning, probate and elder law for the past decade.
In 2021, Arkansas Money & Politics named Tucker one of its Legal Elites. She is the immediate past president of the Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club. She currently serves on the board of trustees of the Oaklawn Foundation, Hot Springs Fifty for the Future, the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and its Executive Committee. Tucker was named as the 2016 Rising Star by the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and served as the chairperson for the Mid-America Science Museum board of trustees in 2019.
Senior Vice President/Market Executive
Bank of America
Magen Tune has served in many different roles in her 14 years with Bank of America and currently serves as senior vice president and local market executive for Arkansas. In this role, she is responsible for business integration, strategic planning, coordination and leading the bank’s local philanthropic contributions, managing events and sponsorships and facilitating relationships with the community and opinion leaders.
Tune is an active member of the Arkansas Leadership Team, Bank of America Women’s Leadership Council and the local Power of 10 Women’s chapter. She is serving her fifth year as a board member, first year as the secretary for the Junior Achievement of Arkansas board and first year on the Our House board. She is a Bank of America Better Money Habits champion, meaning she teaches free financial education courses to Arkansans with community partners.
Communications Director
Saline County
Trevor Villines, who serves as the communications director for Saline County Government, is responsible for educating the public about the county’s programs and events. These programs and events include details on elections, passports, tax payments, property assessments, public gatherings and road closures. Villines, a native of Saline County, graduated from Benton High School in 2015. He then enrolled at the University of Arkansas Sam Walton College of Business, where he received his degree in 2019. Villines has always been passionate about helping the local community in Saline County. While a student in the Benton School District, Villines had the opportunity to begin serving his community through roles such as president of the Benton Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, director of Saline County MYAC’s Bike-A-Thon and president of the Benton Superintendent’s Student Ambassador Group. Villines considers it an honor to continue serving his community through his role with Saline County Government.
Co-owner, Indigo Counseling
Founder/CEO, Grow and Guide Kids
Katie Walker is the founder and co-owner of Indigo Counseling in North Little Rock. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist and is currently working towards being fully certified in Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy (EMDR) and clinical hypnosis. Walker has been providing services for over 10 years and provided more than 15,000 hours in the therapy room helping others cope with various issues.
In addition to Indigo Counseling, she is the founder and CEO of Grow and Guide Kids.
Grow and Guide Kids is a business she started in 2019 to help give parents, teachers, child-care workers, etc. simple techniques to utilize when working with children. She also uses this business to travel and train various groups of people around the United States. She is passionate about providing quality training to foster and adoptive parents as well as school districts.
Walker also is the author of three social and emotional children’s books (“Alice and the Anger Sandwich,” “David and the Dandelion Thoughts,” and “Cora and the Coping Skill Umbrella”) and one mental health workbook for children to teach them about the brain (“WIRED: A Kid’s Guide to Understanding How the Brain is Wired for Safety, Satisfaction, and Success”). She plans to continue to write more books and create more curriculum surrounding mental health.
Founder and CEO
The W Agency
Corrie Wilson is the founder and CEO of The W Agency Branding, Marketing and Media Limited Co. The company’s client base includes law firms, real estate brokerages, clothing brands, food companies and more. The company offers a wide range of services, including digital marketing, print marketing, business strategy, graphic design, photography and cinematography. The majority of the work is done by Wilson in house.
Wilson was born and raised in Helena before relocating to Central Arkansas in 2005. He spent years in sales, including B2B and real estate. He’s taken Harvard courses in entrepreneurship, economics and contract law. Wilson’s goal for The W Agency is to re-energize businesses that have hit a glass ceiling and introduce the next set of brands that will be household names.
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