Business partners, co-founders of Arkansas Talent Group
Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine, co-founders of Arkansas Talent Group, have over 25 years of combined experience in recruiting, working with each other for 10 years prior to branching out on their own. Leading their industry with intentional focus on client relationships, Shine and Chunn are committed to connecting top talent with exceptional companies throughout Arkansas. With Shine’s strengths falling in business integration and Chunn’s in envisioning the bigger picture, the duo has built their business on the foundation of the following core values: excellence, passion, partnership, integrity and communication.
What lessons have you learned from working together?
We learned that finding the right partner is the key to success. We have made every decision as true partners and have leaned on each other quite a bit, both personally and professionally. We quit our corporate jobs at the same time and started our new company on a leap of faith, believing in and trusting one another.
In what ways are you involved in the community outside of work?
In 2023, we started The Arkansas Talent Podcast to help business owners and candidates in the accounting, finance and human resource fields learn and grow. This has allowed us to help ourselves and others learn more about career choices in these fields, how others have found success and what challenges leaders in these fields face. We also discuss trending topics like burnout, remote work, career search tips and general economy and job market updates. It was important to us to be involved in the industry and to be a place for knowledge sharing.
What is the secret to collaboration and compromise in business and in life?
The secret is built on mutual trust and respect. This means listening to one another, providing open and honest feedback, and being open-minded to each other’s ideas.
What is the best thing about being part of a “Dynamic Duo”?
We are living out our dream of building our own recruitment firm here in Arkansas. We have already found incredible success, and we look forward to our future and what’s to come. We have been told many times by friends, mentors and partners what a great partnership we have made, which is both humbling and encouraging as we continue to build our business and legacy.
Is there anything else readers should know?
Chris has two Stephanie Michelle’s in his life: his wife of six years, Stephanie Michelle Chunn, with whom he has three young children, and his business partner, Stephanie Michelle Shine, who has been married to John Shine for almost 13 years with two children. Chris gets asked almost daily by candidates or clients how Stephanie is doing, and he has to ask, “Which one?” It has become a running joke between our families.
See the full list of Dynamic Duos 2024 here.
