AGFC director Austin Booth and Doug Osborne of UAM
WE’RE PROUD TO BRING INNOVATIVE DESIGNS TO LIFE
IN ARKANSAS
WE ARE ALSO THRILLED TO CONGRATULATE KERA, BETH, & ANGI
ON BEING NAMED TO AMP’S 2024 WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION LIST!
In 2023, only 11% of U.S. construction workers were female.
Nabholz strives to provide equal opportunities for our employees to reduce that industry gap. With our extensive training and development programs — from Youth Apprentice to Leadership Exploration and Development — we work hard to change the landscape of construction.
Help Arkansas Workers Save for a Stronger Future
AARP Arkansas is advocating for workers to have an easy way to save for retirement on the job through a public-private retirement savings option. Over half of Arkansas private sector workers don’t have access to a retirement savings option at work, leaving them unprepared for the future and at risk for greater reliance on public, taxpayer-funded programs.
Public-private retirement savings options help workers take control of their own financial future.
Expert care where you are.
For decades, Arkansans have turned to Arkansas Hospice when they hear the devastating news that a loved one’s time is limited. As the state’s largest nonprofit provider of hospice services, our mission is to surround these patients, caregivers and families with the best care possible.
Now, our Family of Care is growing to help more Arkansans navigate their healthcare journey. Building on our legacy of comfort and compassion, we’re expanding our expert care to help you and your family live better lives, where you are.
Call or visit us online to learn more about how our family can care for yours.
Arkansas Hospice
Get help now for support during the holidays.
Arkansas Palliative Care
Arkansas Advanced Care
The state’s largest nonprofit provider of care. Support and comfort beyond treatment. In-home primary care for seniors.
First Choice Senior Care
Excellence in non-medical in-home care
FEATURES NOVEMBER 2024
OAKLAWN SEASON
December marks the start of live racing at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, and the famed thoroughbred track has grown into so much more.
LEAVE IT BETTER
If Arkansas wants to remain a duck hunting epicenter, it needs to remain focused on conserving its natural resources, officials say.
LABOR OF LOVE
If ever the term applied to a job or activity, officiating football would have to qualify. After all, without referees, it’s just recess.
The realms of architecture, engineering and construction used to be almost exclusive clubs for men. This is no longer the case.
The AEC industries have experienced their share of challenges over the past five years. AMP visited with a few industry leaders about what’s next.
We asked and readers responded, naming their Arkansas favorites in a wide range of categories from fitness center to mortgage lender.
For those inspired to brighten up the holiday season for a colleague or boss, options galore avail themselves to the executive gift-giver.
A large portion of Ross Whipple’s career has involved cutting down trees, but it is hard to find a bigger fan of forests than the veteran banker.
The Arkansas chapter of the American Institute of Architects has released its annual awards, which are featured inside this special section. Arkansas may not match the African savanna in terms of imposing native fauna, but the Natural State is home to critters that put the wild in wildlife.
TO ADVERTISE call 501-244-9700 email hbaker@ armoneyandpolitics.com
TO SUBSCRIBE armoneyandpolitics.com/subscribe
CONTRIBUTORS
Becky Gillette, KD Reep, Andrew Hutchinson, Steve Lewis, Ryan Parker, Matt Smithmeier, Steve Wilcox
CU TOFF CREEK
545.91±Acres
$4,100,000 Ashley and Drew County, Arkansas
321.07± Surveyed Acres
$2,900,000 Wh ite County, Arkansas
CROC KETT'S LAKE HUNTING CLUB
380±Acres
$1,300,000 for 50% share Arkansas County, Arkansas
GOOSEHEAD AG
1,313.49± Tillable Acres
$10,507,920 Lonoke County, Arkansas
OLD RI VER AT GEORGETOWN
188±Acres
$1,222,000 White County, Arkansas
OUACHI TA RETREAT
652±Acres
$7,800,000 Saline County, Arkansas
BEEDEVILLE FARMS
720±Acres
$4,860,000 Jackson County, Arkansas
WOLVERTON MOUNTAIN C ATT LE RANCH
891±Acres • $5,200,000 Conway County, Arkansas
CONSERVATION
DUCKS ON THE COVER
Hunting and conservation represent two sides to the same coin. AGFC chief Austin Booth and UAM’s Doug Osborne are ready to charge ahead when it comes to managing wildlife habitat. Photo courtesy of AGFC. See story, page 54.
FEEDBACK
HATCHER NOMINATED FOR ARKANSAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME
He helped to start wrestling in High Schools by buying mats for many teams. The cost would have prevented schools from being able to start a team. Mr. Hatcher knows how much it develops character. He has helped Arkansas wrestling from the littlest (Blue Birds) to the college level. The wrestling family is extremely grateful for his support and generosity.
Melinda Cherry Taylor
LIFEBLOOD: GRANTS AN ESSENTIAL PIECE OF NONPROFIT PUZZLE
Thank you for opportunity to share and spotlight our JA mission Arkansas Money & Politics and Heather Baker. We are grateful for our incredible partners and friends to JA!
Tonya Villines
ERICKA GUTIERREZ TALLEY: BREAKING BARRIERS FOR ENTREPRENEURS
Congratulations, Ericka Gutierrez Talley on the incredible work you’re doing to break barriers for entrepreneurs! Your passion for empowering others, especially within the Hispanic community, is truly inspiring. It’s amazing to see your dedication to fostering growth and helping others thrive. Keep up the great work—you’re making a real difference!
Daymara Blanco Baker
STARTUP JUNKIE SELECTED TO LEAD LITHIUM INNOVATION CLUSTER
Awesome. They’ll do great work in this role for Arkansas, I’m certain.
Miles Crawford
GLOBAL PAYMENTS: CONSIDERATIONS WHEN EXPANDING INTERNATIONALLY
Great article for many businesses that have international supply chains Robyn Staggs. I enjoy partnering with you and other team members at Bank of America in Arkansas to assist our families with business addressing their banking needs.
Lawson Hembree, CPWA, CEPA
TOP ONLINE ARTICLES
Oct. 3 — Nov. 4
1 USGS: Arkansas Could Be Sitting on 19M Tons of Lithium Reserves
2 Courtroom Drama: William “Bill” James Jr., James Law Firm
3 On the Ballot: 2024 Arkansas Voters Headed to the Polls
4 Arkansas Razorbacks to Play UCA Bears at Simmons Bank Arena
5 Made Whole: Austin King, Taylor King Law
6 Sig Sauer Hosts Grand Opening of Jacksonville Arkansas Ammunition Center
7 Battle of the Beavers (Buc-ee’s)
8 Wet? Dry? Sunday Sales? A Look at Arkansas’ Disparate Alcohol Laws
The Nabholz Charitable Foundation has donated $1 million toward Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s expansion project.
Sissy Jones honored by Arkansas Sheriffs Youth Ranches
By Mark Carter
MAGAZINES STILL RELEVANT
The results of a survey from earlier this year conducted by the Association of Magazine Media are good news for those of you holding this issue of Arkansas Money & Politics in your hands.
Print magazine publishing has remained strong, while daily newspapers are almost exclusively digital now. The power of print periodicals like AMP and its sister lifestyle publication, AY About You, is growing. Data from the magazine survey found that 85 percent of U.S. adults surveyed and 90 percent of Americans under age 25 reported having read a magazine (print or digital) in the last six months. Encouragingly, 63 percent of U.S. millennials (aged 25 to 40) reported a preference for the touch and feel of a printed magazine.
That preference leads to strong reader engagement. MPA further reported that the top 25 U.S. magazine brands reach more adults than the top 25 primetime TV shows.
Despite the growth of digital businesses and the rise of Amazon, ac-
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Wcelerated especially by the COVID-19 shutdown, Arkansans still seem to favor brick-and-mortar, and accordingly, when it comes to periodicals, most of them prefer the feel of glossy paper between their fingers.
While many consumers have adapted to the advent of digital daily newspapers, I wouldn’t sign up to wrest a copy of the Sunday Dem-Gaz out of the hands of a Hillcrester, lest I return my outstretched arm to my side as a stump.
So on behalf of the team here at AY Media Group and everyone at all the great print publications across Arkansas, thank you for reading and helping keep magazines relevant. Speaking for myself only, the lack of marketable skills in my own occupational toolbox makes me even more appreciative of your patronage.
Copies of AMP and AY continue to fly off the racks across the state. Even if you’re just using one as a door stop, we hope it serves you well. As always, thanks for reading. Let us know how we’re doing.
LIKE A THANKSGIVING TURKEY
e have reached the month of November and one of the most wonderful seasons, a season in which food and football take center stage and families travel through the brisk countryside to gather and celebrate. If you are like us, there is always something going on this time of year, but there is also ample time to sit back and count one’s blessings.
This issue of Arkansas Money & Politics is stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey, making for plenty of good readin’. This month, our industry focuses are on architecture, construction and engineering — AEC for short — and conservation. As we do this time each year, we will recognize some of the top women in AEC in Arkansas.
AMP also heads to the duck blinds and rice fields to look at conservation efforts in the state and what is being done to combat the state’s declining duck populations.
Razorback fans, of course, have a “complicated” relationship with refs. We visited with several high school officials in Arkansas to find out why
By Heather Baker
they are willing to take the heat that comes with donning the stripes.
Our corporate giving guide will showcase some great ideas for the holidays, readers told us who they thought are among the best in their fields in Arkansas, and we will get you set up for the start of live racing at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, where there is so much more to enjoy than just thoroughbred racing.
As we enter the home stretch of 2024, I find myself surrounded by things for which I am thankful, not the least of which is getting the opportunity to promote this beautiful state and its wonderful people. However and wherever you choose to spend Thanksgiving this year, may you be surrounded by the people you love most while still remembering those who need a helping hand.
Also in November, we are proud to feature AMP ’s Best Of, which recognizes the best in the fields in Arkansas as voted by AMP readers. We think there is no shortage of excellence in all fields in Arkansas, but these are the ones who were recognized by readers as tops in their fields.
Thank you, as always, for reading. Hit me up with any questions, comments or story ideas at hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com.
ARKANSAS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PROFILE
NEXT-GENERATION
TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS SYSTEMS
By AMP Staff
Aset of natural and strategic circumstances makes Arkansas a logistic thoroughfare for the entire nation. Centered in the nation’s middle, situated along the Mississippi River and neatly bisected by the Arkansas River, the Natural State provides geographic advantages to facilitate trade. Interstate 40, a comprehensive rail system and a national airport in Little Rock further validate Arkansas as a test bed for innovations that will harness a vital growth opportunity for the state: next-generation transportation and logistics systems.
According to a report commissioned by the Arkansas Research Alliance and completed by TEConomy Partners, many of Arkansas’ major traded industry sectors rely on the ability to move goods and access inventories in highly efficient ways. The systems and technologies that comprise increasingly complex and interconnected transportation and distribution networks are rapidly evolving to include an array of new digitized and automated systems to improve reliability and lower costs. This next generation of transportation and logistics systems represents a strategic investment area that will translate research innovation into solutions that can boost the competitive profile of the state’s major industry clusters.
“Arkansas has a valuable niche in increasing reliability and lowering logistic costs through innovation in transportation, distribution, and logistics hardware and software,” said Bryan J. Barnhouse, president and CEO of ARA.
For Arkansas, with 81,000 jobs in TDL hardware and $37 million invested in industrial research and development, the context of intelligent transportation systems — a combination of information and communications technologies — can be used to help translate research capabilities into deployment of systems and infrastructure. These could then directly benefit the state’s industries, large and small, centered around freight trucking and use of intermodal transportation networks that include unique transportation modalities such as the state’s inland waterways.
These same technology applications are also leveraged into the hardware systems of logistics operations such as material moving and distribution centers, as well as inventory storage and warehousing facilities. Companies with significant distribution operations, such as Walmart, constantly seek to innovate in order to improve delivery time and costs while also moving inventory in ways that augment the productivity of human workers and protect their safety.
While some of Arkansas’ identified growth opportunities are in a nascent stage, next-generation transportation and logistics already has a foundation of industry, government and academia co-developing solutions to tomorrow’s problems. An example is the J.B. Hunt Innovation Center of Excellence at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. That type of public-private partnership is the type of initiative ARA hopes to catalyze through the release of this report and its ongoing programming to support research.
Arkansas’ mix of research competencies and large anchor industries support several growth opportunities that focus on critical portions of the broader transportation and logistics environment. What are the growth opportunities specifically?
“Curious readers are encouraged to pick up a copy of the report,” Barnhouse said.
The report, Enabling an Innovation-Led Future for Arkansas: University Research Competencies Aligned with Industry Growth Opportunities, is available to download for free at aralliance.org/resources. The report not only defines the growth opportunities but identifies the market forces driving growth while underlining the unique research capacities that enable Arkansas to take advantage of the opportunity.
“From both the research and industry sides, Arkansas has been laying the foundation for transportation and logistics innovation for decades,” Barnhouse said. “All the pieces are positioned strategically on the chess board. Now is the time to make the critical moves.”
Whether a business executive, researcher or policy maker, all play an important role in supporting Arkansas innovation and can contact ARA about how to tap into these growth areas. Contact Barnhouse directly at bbarnhouse@aralliance.org.
This installment of Discovery Economics is the first in a series discussing seven growth opportunities for Arkansas, as identified in findings from a comprehensive report commissioned by the Arkansas Research Alliance and advised by leaders from the private and public sectors.
Bryan J. Barnhouse
DREAMS
Cori Keller may have been center stage from the moment she was crowned Miss Arkansas, but her heart was in the Baptist Health ICU with her dad, Lynn, After the pageant, she rushed to see her father, thankful to still have him by her side –which she credits the compassionate, experienced team at Baptist Health for making possible.
Today, Cori continues to support her dad through his recovery, while he cheers for her as Miss Arkansas.
Life is full of ups and downs. Find a healthcare provider who will be with you through them all at Baptist Health. FOR YOUR
OFF TO THE RACES!
Live racing begins in December at Oaklawn
By Sarah Coleman
Hot Springs may be known for beautiful outdoors, thermal baths and wacky events such as the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but Spa City is also home to Oaklawn, one of the last family-owned racetracks in the country and the only thoroughbred racetrack in Arkansas.
As one of the largest tourist destinations in the state, Oaklawn draws in more than 3 million visitors each year, generating more than $28 million annually in direct taxes for the state, city and Garland County. Those visitors will begin hitting town in December with the start of another season of live racing.
“With a 120-year history, a passionate fan base and a reputation for producing champions, including Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders, Oaklawn stands apart,” said Chris Ho, Oaklawn’s vice president of marketing.
The upcoming season’s purse distribution will exceed $60 million. Signature stakes races include the Arkansas Derby, the Rebel Stakes, the Oaklawn Handicap and the Apple Blossom Handicap. The signature races continue to attract top talent from across the country. These days, of course, Oaklawn has much more than thoroughbred racing to offer.
“Oaklawn has consistently grown with the times, offering not only world-class thoroughbred racing, but also a full-service casino, Forbes-recommended luxury hotel, Arkansas’ only Forbes-four-star-rated spa, award-winning restaurants and an event center, making it a premier year-round destination,” Ho said.
Last season, Oaklawn hosted some of the biggest names in thoroughbred racing. Highlights included Thorpedo Anna’s victory in the Fantasy Stakes and journey to the winner’s circle at the 150th running of the Kentucky Oaks and Arkansas-owned Mystik Dan’s triumph in the Southwest Stakes before he went on to win the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.
“The season is always filled with thrilling moments. It is a testament to our program that our contenders consistently achieve success throughout the racing year,” Ho said.
A day at the races is just part of the allure at Oaklawn, which also offers casino gaming, an event center, the Astral Spa and acclaimed restaurants.
On Dec. 6, the track will officially open, and millions of patrons are expected to make their way to the track throughout the season.
“Oaklawn’s 121st season is just weeks away, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with our fans from across the world,” said Louis Cella, Oaklawn president and the greatgrandson and great-grandnephew of Oaklawn co-founders and brothers Louis and Charles Cella, respectively. “Year after year, Oaklawn’s racing program excels, and this season is no exception. With over 100 trainers, 17 new outfits, world-class equine athletes, close to $1 million in daily purses, and a renovated outdoor area with expanded gift shop and concessions, there will be no better place to watch the most distinguished sport in American history. It’s going to be another great time to be part of Oaklawn’s history, and we can’t wait to welcome back the best racing fans in America.”
Ho said opening day will provide an exhilarating start to Oaklawn’s racing season by offering a full day of racing, live entertainment and a vibrant, festive atmosphere. Those who have not yet visited Oaklawn can expect an electrifying environment with thrilling, top-tier racing, live betting and stunning trackside views, he added.
“Fans can look forward to world-class competition, exciting on-site promotions and the electric energy that comes with being at one of the nation’s most iconic tracks,” he said.
Gates will open at 11 a.m., and the first post for the nine-race program is set for 12:30 p.m. Ho recommended visitors come on Dec. 7 for the track special, which includes Oaklawn’s worldfamous corned beef sandwiches and a drink for $1.
Fans can look forward to world-class competition, exciting on-site promotions and the electric energy that comes with being at one of the nation’s most iconic tracks.
— Chris Ho vice president of marketing
“Oaklawn also offers excellent fine dining options, lively bars, and live entertainment during and after the races,” Ho said. “Whether you’re a seasoned racing fan or a newcomer, Oaklawn guarantees an unforgettable day of excitement and fun. Guests often come for the races but stay for the environment.”
Oaklawn offers a unique resort experience, Ho said, and visitors can enjoy 24/7 smoke-free casino gaming, luxury accommodations, fine dining and the Astral Spa. Live entertainment and seasonal events also make Oaklawn a premier destination all year long, regardless of whether it is racing season.
“As the state’s only casino resort, we are proud to provide our visitors with the full entertainment destination package,” Cella said. “The excitement of Oaklawn’s non-smoking casino, an elevated culinary experience at the OAK room & bar and The Bugler, casual fare at one of our many restaurants or concession stands, headliner entertainment in the multipurpose event center, ultimate relaxation at Astral Spa, or a stay in Oaklawn’s hotel — a new level of excellence awaits visitors of all ages.”
This year, Oaklawn’s schedule of 57 race stakes offers purses totaling $17.65 million. The track continues to offer four qualifying Kentucky Derby points races: Smarty Jones, Southwest, Rebel and the Arkansas Derby. Other races that have produced numerous champions include the Fantasy Stakes, the Apple Blossom Handicap, the Oaklawn Handicap and the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.
Race winners at Oaklawn have gone on to win notable races such as the Kentucky Derby.
THE HISTORY OF OAKLAWN
Oaklawn Jockey Club was built in 1904 and designed by Chicagobased Zachary Taylor Davis, the renowned architect who went on to build the iconic Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, a decade later. Oaklawn Park officially opened on Feb. 15, 1905, and became the only surviving racetrack in the area by 1907.
Oaklawn’s facilities have been regularly improved and expanded, serving a greater number of patrons and accommodating changes in the business. In 1992, Oaklawn unveiled a large mural on the facility’s front facade, the largest handcrafted artwork at any thoroughbred racetrack in the country. In the 2000s, electronic gaming was expanding at a fast rate, and more space was needed. Oaklawn converted an area previously dedicated to live racing on the lower level at the south end of the facility, now a self-contained electronic gaming area with its own restaurant.
The original owners of the park included John Condon and Dan Stuart. Brothers Louis and Charles Cella of St. Louis were among the founding partners. The Cella family already operated several racetracks in the Midwest. After the meets in 1906 and 1907, anti-gambling reform took hold in the state, leaving the track closed until 1916. Upon its reopening, the original owners had both died, leaving the Cella brothers in control of Oaklawn. After Louis’ death in 1918, Charles Cella became Oaklawn’s owner. Today, the track remains in the Cella family.
Oaklawn opened in 1904 and was the only surviving racetrack in the area by 1907. The track closed from 1907 to 1916 due to antigambling reform.
The Oaklawn Foundation, established in 2006 as an independent entity benefitting health and education programs in the community, has also distributed more than $14 million since its inception.
Races can now be live streamed through the OaklawnAnywhere app, which is exclusive to Arkansas residents. The app provides past performances, expert analysis and seamless wagering ideal for those enjoying the action from their box seat at the track or at home.
Race-day selections are available on Oaklawn’s website or during the pre-race show, Oaklawn Today, at the track.
“Our experts also provide live pre-race analysis while horses are in the paddock, helping both seasoned bettors and newcomers make informed wagers with expert insights and analysis,” Ho said.
For those who are not yet aficionados when it comes to horse racing, there are several things to consider when wagering. Ho recommended those new to the sport begin with simple wagers such as win, place or show and noted that it takes time to become familiar with a race program.
“Pay attention to key information such as jockey and trainer stats, as well as recent performances,” he said. “Betting is a learning experience, and Oaklawn’s staff is always ready to help guide newcomers.”
2024-2025 RACING CALENDAR
Featured Race Days
Smary Jones Day - January 4, 2025
Southwest Day - January 25, 2025
Rebel Day - February 22, 2025
Arkansas Derby Day - March 29, 2025
Aplle Blossom Day - April 12, 2025
Oaklawn Handicap Day - April 19, 2025
Oaklawn Hotel
BLAZING MORE TRAILS
November’s focus on architecture, construction and engineering gives Arkansas Money & Politics an opportunity to recognize prominent women in fields which traditionally have been male dominated. Many Arkansas professionals, however, are proving that women can thrive in these industries, whether their role is on a job site or behind a desk.
This month, AMP recognizes some of those leaders — in roles ranging from bid coordinator to owner — who are helping blaze trails and grow the state economy in the process.
By AMP Staff
By AMP Staff
Accidental Architect Women in AEC
Brie Gregory, architect
Taggart Architects Little Rock
Louisiana native Brie Gregory likes to describe her decision to study architecture as a “happy accident.” While attending orientation prior to entering Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, she had intended to enter the interior design program but, at the last minute, took a hard right that changed her life.
“Something within me wanted to sign up for architecture,” she said. “I’m not really sure what it was. Maybe I saw it as more of a challenge, like doing a whole building is more challenging than doing the interior of a building. Part of me always likes being challenged by certain things, like doing puzzles. I always said it was a happy accident, but I guess you can say it was more like trusting your intuition.”
Even if, to this day, she does not fully understand what made her do it, Gregory’s success in the field ever since has borne out that it was the right move. She completed her bachelor’s degree in architectural studies, followed by a master’s in architecture, all at LA Tech. Her original plan was to head to New York, where she had worked briefly for a firm during college, but the COVID-19 pandemic and her husband, who she married in 2019, changed her plans, and she settled into a job at Taggart Architects in North Little Rock for the long haul. There, she has built a reputation as a multifaceted professional who is malleable for a lot of different projects.
“In school, you learn how to design
and how to problem-solve in what we call ‘Big A’ architecture, the pretty buildings in a magazine kind of thing,” she said. “That’s what most people think they want to do whenever they’re in school. Once you get into the field, that’s where you really find your niche. Every architecture firm is different and approaches things differently, and that also has an influence on how someone approaches what specialty they want to go into.
“People do have their thing that they specialize in, and we definitely have people in our office that do that. Personally, I have been more of a generalist as an approach to things. I like being able to jump from one thing to another that vary in scale and project type. It just keeps things really interesting. I would rather do that than kind of rinse and repeat a project type over and over.”
At Taggart, Gregory worked on some multifamily projects and, of late, has focused on master planning and urban infill, work that has yielded projects she notes with particular pride.
“One project that’s going to be done probably here in the next month is Sixth Avenue Plaza in Pine Bluff. That one is one of my very first projects that I took from feasibility study and programming all the way through construction administration,” she said.
“My current project that I’m drawing on, that I’m doing the same thing with, is Riverside Park and Event Center in Batesville. I think what makes those so exciting is every project and client comes to you with a different set of parameters, both constraints and opportunities for each project, and it makes them unique.”
At 27, Gregory is squarely in the “new generation” category of architects, one which boasts more gender equity than in past eras. That said, there are still areas where women are playing catch-up in the profession, such as in areas of licensure, a milestone she accomplished only recently.
“I definitely see a higher ratio of women in current architecture programs today, and I would say there’s a significant growing population of women under 30 who are in the field,” she said. “At the same time, there is a difference between being in the architecture field and actually being a licensed architect. I’m not sure what the specific statistics are, but the number of women who are actually licensed architects is significantly lower [than men].
“In fact, one of my biggest goals was to become licensed as an architect, which I accomplished earlier this year. Now that I’ve accomplished that, I’d like to one day assume one of those leadership positions so that others can see a woman in that position and hopefully inspire more women into making their mark in this profession.”
Building Bridges to the Future
Jessica Halbrook, bridge team leader Garver
North Little Rock
Enroute to her career with Garver, Jessica Halbrook demonstrated all of the traditional academic interests many engineers share, such as a love of science and a high aptitude for mathematics. What also makes her good at her job as bridge team leader at the North Little Rock-based company Garver is something most people do not expect to find in a typical engineer — creativity.
“Creativity plays a huge role in what I do, even though most people don’t realize it,” she said. “One of my main focuses is doing bridge rehabilitation and loadrating analysis of bridges. In doing those things, I’m dealing with something that’s already in place, and that means I’ve got more limitations, which always forces that creativity out. You can’t necessarily just make it bigger. You’ve got vertical limits, or you’ve got to fit the bridge in a certain space to make it work.
“On the load-rating side of things, so many times, you’re dealing with a structure that we’ve been looking at for years. We’ve watched it. We know it’s functioning, but maybe the numbers or the equations are showing that the structure is actually functioning a little bit differently. There’s really an art to figuring out some of these flow paths of loads and if it’s working and why.”
Halbrook, who grew up in Little Rock, started to take an interest in engineering during her sophomore year at Little Rock Central High School.
“I discovered [engineering] in high school when I went to a local engineering firm and talked to several people there,” she said. “That’s when I figured out engineering was a career field that really blended design with the functionality and the math and science structures. I went into college knowing I wanted to do structural engineering.”
Throughout her education, from Central High to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Halbrook was in the minority as far as gender.
“Back in high school, we had an advanced physics class, which is the closest you could get to engineering in our high school,” she said. “We had about 10 people in that class, and two were females. Going into college, I graduated with a degree in civil engineering, and my civil engineering class was about 50 in size, and I was one of three.
“It didn’t really give me pause because I’ve always kind of been a person who can act independently. I don’t have to be the same as the people around me, and honestly, I kind of prefer that sometimes. I like being able to provide that unique perspective and a unique voice in the conversation.”
This level of comfort in her own skin came in handy when she landed at Garver, especially given the department where she ultimately landed, which emboldened her to embrace a diversity of thought when approaching design elements.
“I was pretty aware of what I was getting into, especially knowing I was going to go into structures,” she said. “It’s even more niche and more leaning toward the men’s side. Again, though, like I was hint-
ing at earlier, it’s all about bringing a new kind of perspective. There is the cut-anddry approach, maybe a more general approach, that may come from one engineer where another one is thinking more of the final product, how to think about the path forward as not being straight and narrow, but maybe it comes around the side to get to the same point.
“I feel like sometimes women are more likely to lean into that and can pull that part out, especially those who are very detail oriented — not that men can’t do it, but I think women can sometimes tap into that a little bit more easily.”
Halbrook has invested time and energy to help inspire the next generation of women and girls to consider careers in engineering. “Seeing some of these girls being told that they can do these STEM activities, sometimes it’s still kind of a surprise when someone tells them they can do it or when they realize they’re actually kind of good at this,” she said. “Garver has also been really good about supporting us to be able to do things for Engineers Week where we’ve gone out and talked to kids as young as second grade. We build little bridges with toothpicks and gumdrops. It’s interesting to see them learn what’s not going to work, and then they figure it out, and they’re so excited.”
An International Flair
Meryati Johari Blackwell, partner/creative director
Marlon Blackwell Architects
Fayetteville
It seemed preposterous that a person would come halfway around the world to study a field they know little or nothing about, but that is exactly how Meryati Johari Blackwell’s entry into the architectural field began. Growing up in Malaysia, her interest was in art, and while that served as a good starting point for architecture, she did not know it at the time.
“I didn’t know any architects. This is northern Malaysia,” she said. “I did know I was going to go after a special scholarship that was available to study certain degrees abroad, either in the United States or in England or Australia. The scholarship was only offered for education in a professional degree, like architecture, engineering or computers.”
Having won one of the scholarships, she arrived at the University of Miami at age 17, resolved to study architecture, which she saw as more artistic than information technology or engineering. She was delighted to discover there was more than enough in the coursework to exercise both sides of her brain.
“It wasn’t just entirely art or entirely technical; it was a combination of both,” she said, “so I didn’t really have any regret or a hard time with it, even though I had to spend a lot of time studying. I looked at it as I only had one job, which was to study, especially since I was on scholarship where I had to keep a certain grade point average.”
Blackwell’s scholarship was sizable enough to allow her to study additionally
in London and Venice, which enriched her perspective and broadened her understanding of her profession. Upon graduation, she was supposed to return to her homeland to work at the equivalent of a department of public works as a condition of her scholarship. However, a recession had hit Asia at that time, and the government could not afford to create the positions necessary to place the architects and engineers it had created.
She spent five years working in her field in Miami, at which time Malaysian officials released her from her obligation due to being unable to create a government position for her back home. She returned to Malaysia anyway to find the economy much improved and that being a young architect with experience in the U.S. was highly coveted by local firms. She would return to America, following her husband, Marlon Blackwell, who she met during her time in Florida, to the Natural State.
“When we ended up getting married, he said, ‘After this, you are going to come with me to Arkansas,’” she said. “I was like, ‘Arkansas?’ I didn’t even know where Arkansas was. I’ve never been to Arkansas. I thought it would be like that hillbilly series on TV. He was like, ‘That’s not real.”’
Working side by side, the couple has built Marlon Blackwell Architects in Fayetteville’s stellar reputation for architectural design.
“We’ve done early education, K-12, and then also higher education,” she said. “We’ve done several Montessori schools. We have several early education projects, high school projects and college. We are doing a hospital right now, a surgery cen-
ter for orthopedics.
“Those are the project types we’ve done the most, but we have actually done a little bit of everything. We’re working with Alice Walton’s [Heartland] Whole Health Institute, which is a project that we are finishing right now, and we’ve done libraries and office buildings. We have been lucky in that way.”
Despite her glittering resume, Blackwell said there are times when she is overlooked in her field because of her gender.
“It’s one of those things that I try not to think about, but even now, sometimes it’s like if I go to a job site and I bring my project manager, who’s a guy who’s younger than me, they will look at him or they will talk to him more than to me,” she said. “Culturally, it’s still hard for some people to see women in this kind of profession versus thinking it’s the guy that is in charge.”
At the same time, she said she is encouraged by what she sees in architectural classrooms at the U of A, where she and Marlon recently began co-teaching.
“I would say there’s more women in the department than there used to be,” she said. “I would say it’s either 50/50 or even more women than men, maybe. It is certainly easier and more common for women to set up their own company than in 1995, when I first got here. I just feel like, maybe, it’s a lot more hopeful environment for women in this business.”
Creating Iron-Clad Opportunities
Magen Schlesier, estimator
Lexicon Little Rock
Magen Schlesier has made the most of her time in the construction field. Over less than a decade in the construction industry and just one year at Arkansas steel giant Lexicon, she has already been named Woman of the Year by the Greater Little Rock chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction for her work as a project administrator.
Now the 36-year-old has shifted into the role of estimator, a job she has coveted since graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in construction management.
“Estimating is what my background is in, and that’s what I really love to do. I’m really passionate about it,” she said. “As soon as the door opened for me right here to work for the company that I really, really love and then jump back into the work that I also really, really love and work for a really great boss to boot, oh, I kicked that door in.”
In her new role, Schlesier plays a key function in calculating the costs for the company’s steel fabrication services, data that is used to create bids for various projects.
“When you build a building, there’s material and labor and all kinds of things that go into it,” she said. “Our facet of the industry is steel fabrication, where you basically take the steel that comes out of the steel mill, and we shape it and form it and drill holes in it and all that stuff specific to the job.
“My job is to estimate how many manhours it’s going to take to fabricate all of this material for each individual job and all the other things that go into it, like material pricing. I look through design drawings and specifications, and I put together an estimate for all of those things, and then that is part of the bid that goes out for a project.”
Schlesier is something of an anomaly in her new role; during her eight years of work experience, she has only worked with one other woman in a similar capacity.
“I would consider estimating to be a skilled job,” she said. “It is very specific to who you work for, what you know, what industry you’re in, what trade you’re in. I would consider it very much to be a technical position, and women are few and far between in technical positions in this industry.”
The lack of women in such roles feeds a chicken-and-egg equation that has traditionally impeded change. Women coming up who fail to see role models in skilled jobs may not aspire to go into the field, which, in turn, keeps the pool shallow of women who could potentially break new ground. That is why, she said, she is more committed than ever to providing a role model for future generations of women looking to launch and build rewarding careers in the construction fields.
“There’s a poor public perception of this industry, absolutely, and it is just due to lack of information,” she said. “There’s a phrase that goes, ‘If you can see it, you can be it.’ If I’m a high school student and I have no idea what I want to do for my career, and I’m out on Instagram or Tik-
Tok or Facebook and I see somebody that looks like me out on a job site, I’m going to be like, ‘Whoa, that’s an option.’”
Schlesier said the women who take a serious look at the AEC trades are discovering that they have far more potential career opportunities than previous generations as companies look to maximize all available workforce talent.
“The opportunities for women are vastly improved since 2020, and the reason why is because companies got kind of desperate,” she said. “Infrastructure does not wait. It doesn’t matter if people are sick. You still need bridges. You still need buildings. You still need hospitals. You still need places to live. This industry does not stop.
“Our numbers were declining by quite a bit, and the industry was forced to tap into the other 50 percent of the population for workforce. Some companies did, some companies didn’t, but those who did got the cream of the crop. What the companies that are tapping into the other half of the workforce are finding out is their workforce is improving in general because they’re able to bring in the best candidates for each position, regardless of gender.”
Bryce Abrahamson
Lexicon
Bryce Abrahamson is an accomplished project controller with nearly a decade of experience in the construction industry. Since joining Lexicon in Little Rock seven months ago, she has managed budget oversight and schedule adherence while ensuring effective communication among on-site personnel and stakeholders. Her impressive portfolio includes significant projects such as a $350 million, 700,000-square-foot mall, a historic 71,000-square-foot project at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and a $500 million rebar steel mill.
Victoria Belken
Baldwin & Shell Construction Co.
Victoria Belken, a certified public accountant, currently serves as controller at Baldwin & Shell Construction Co., which is headquartered in Little Rock. She has had the position since 2022. She currently has an active license to practice as a CPA in the state of Arkansas. She graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia with a Bachelor of Arts in accounting.
Kera Britton Nabholz
Kera Britton started her Nabholz career nearly 10 years ago as an intern. Now she has the unique title of closeout specialist after she and coworker Beth Maris developed an innovative closeout website that makes the closeout process easy and accessible for Nabholz clients.
Mindy Burton
Cromwell Architects Engineers
Mindy Burton is an interior designer turned specifications writer for Cromwell Architects Engineers at its Little Rock headquarters. That makes sense given that she is passionate about self-development and learning and growing as a person and professional. Originally from south Arkansas, she now calls Little Rock home. She and her husband have restored and renovated two homes in the historic Hillcrest area that are directly across the street from one another.
Dee Dee Carlile
Crafton Tull
Tull employees, creating training videos and traveling between offices to lead training sessions. She also assists with preparing monthly and annual financial reports company wide.
Lea Cecsarini
McGeorge Contracting Co.
Lea Cecsarini serves as a field office manager technician at McGeorge Contracting Co. She began her career in 2004 as a flagger, and over 20 years, her hard work and dedication have propelled her through the ranks — from flagger to heavy equipment operator to foreman and now field office manager technician. She meticulously tracks every aspect of projects, ensuring they meet the highest quality standards. She is passionate about looking out for her teammates, who have become like family to her. Cecsarini is deeply grateful for the support and investment McGeorge Contracting has put into her growth and career development.
Dana Crawley
C.R. Crawford Construction
Dana Crawley joined C.R. Crawford Construction in Fayetteville as controller in 2023, bringing more than 20 years of expertise in corporate, external, internal and nonprofit accounting. A certified public accountant, she skillfully leads C.R. Crawford’s financial operations and oversees critical processes, including monthly, quarterly and annual closings, as well as external audits. Her leadership ensures sound accounting policies, robust internal controls and effective budget forecasting, providing essential financial direction to the organization.
Brie Gregory Taggart Architects
As vice president of finance at Crafton Tull in Little Rock, Dee Dee Carlile tracks all fixed assets, notes payable, company licensing and state registrations. She reconciles bank accounts, balance sheet accounts and payroll accounts. Carlile also serves as a support liaison to the annual audit team and as the primary liaison between the firm’s project management software company and Crafton
Brie Gregory is a project architect with Taggart Architects in North Little Rock. The Shreveport, Louisiana native received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from Louisiana Tech. Prior to joining Taggart in 2020, she interned at Somdal Associates in Shreveport and Grimshaw Architects in New York City. Gregory received an AIA Member’s Choice Award for the Peregrine Treehouse and Zipline design build project and the AIA Henry Adams Medal.
Jessica Halbrook Garver
Jessica Halbrook is a bridge team leader at Garver with more than 10 years of experience with bridge rehabilitation and load rating. She leads a team of engineers to provide services that range from new bridge design to maintenance of bridge assets for department of transportation, municipalities and private bridge owners. She serves as finance chair for the Arkansas chapter of WTS International. Halbrook received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Julie Kelso Crafton Tull
Julie Kelso is a project manager and vice president of planning at Crafton Tull in Little Rock. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, as well as the American Planning Association, and is a licensed landscape architect in both Arkansas and Texas. Her areas of expertise include large-scale comprehensive plans, bicycle and pedestrian plans, and park system master plans, as well as site-specific projects such as streetscape corridors, trail design and campus planning projects. She has managed several award-winning projects varying in scale from a few city blocks to several counties.
Krista Kirk
CR Crawford Construction
Krista Kirk has been in the construction industry for more than 20 years. With a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Kirk began her career in construction as a project manager’s assistant and, in less than a year, became a project manager. Kirk’s strong management skills and industry experience helped allow her to excel in a male-dominated industry. Her responsibilities include leading complex construction projects and ensuring each project’s completion is achieved on schedule, on budget, and with quality and safety. She has worked on a wide variety of projects for public and private sector clients, including, most recently, the Highlands Oncology treatment center in Springdale; Generations Bank in Fayetteville and Gateway First Bank in Jenks, Oklahoma.
Amanda Mack
Baldwin & Shell Construction Co.
Amanda Mack is director of human resources at Baldwin & Shell Construction Co., which is headquartered in Little Rock. Since joining the company in 2018, she has overseen human resources strategy, employee relations, compliance and benefits while championing a positive company culture.
Beth Maris
Nabholz
Beth Maris has worked at Nabholz for 24 years on many projects, including Little Rock Southwest Magnet High School, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management Operations Center in North Little Rock and the Devil Dog Arena for South Conway County School District.
Angi McDaniel Nabholz
Angi McDaniel joined Nabholz in 2016 as director of marketing communications. She has built and led a specialized in-house marketing team of creative professionals to modernize the Nabholz brand. Under her leadership, Nabholz has developed a marketing strategy that rivals construction competitors and focuses largely on elevating the construction industry and the talented craft professionals driving it.
Jessica Mendoza Benchmark Group
Jessica Mendoza joined Benchmark Group in 2009, bringing four years of experience in design and commercial project coordination. As a natural leader within the program, she helped guide the implementation of new design software technology ahead of client adoption, providing a competitive edge against other firms. Later, Mendoza was promoted to project coordinator, for which she led the quality control team in gaining and maintaining client trust and satisfaction, which led her team to expand their scope of work into special projects. In her current role as program manager, she now leads her team in training, staffing and maintaining client satisfaction.
Kimberly Moore Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas
After 20-plus years of experience working for Koontz Electric Co. in Morrilton, Kimberly Moore joined the Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas in 2023 as apprenticeship coordinator. She coordinates the electrical and plumbing apprenticeship classes and events for all locations associated with ABC. This fall, she developed the first youth department of labor electrical apprenticeship program in the state of Arkansas and registered the first two apprentices. She also developed and kicked off ABC’s first electrical and plumbing preapprenticeship programs.
Magen Schlesier Prospect Steel
Magen Schlesier joined Lexicon in Little Rock in 2023 and transitioned to the fabrication group at Prospect Steel, a division of Lexicon, as a structural steel fabrication estimator in July.
With eight years of industry experience, including more than six years in steel fabrication and erection estimating, she specializes in analyzing construction drawings, conducting on-screen takeoffs, and accurately estimating material and labor costs. She is also a member of an internal taskforce focused on implementing cutting-edge estimating technology and contributes to Lexicon’s communications strategic team.
Congratulations to Jessica Halbrook for being recognized in Arkansas Money & Politics’ Women in AEC issue! As Bridge Team Leader evaluating the state’s historic infrastructure, Jessica dedicates her days to ensuring the safety of communities while helping build a bridge to the future for women in the industry. Jessica Halbrook, PE | Bridge Team Leader GarverUSA.com
Bridgette Smith
Baldwin & Shell Construction Co.
Bridgette Smith is entrusted with the responsibility of managing the service department at Baldwin & Shell Construction Co., which is headquartered in Little Rock. Smith adeptly handles a wide spectrum of projects spanning the state. Her work style reflects a hands-on approach evident in her active presence both in the field and at the office.
Stephanie Whorton Benchmark Group
Stephanie Whorton joined Benchmark Group in 2009 as a permit coordinator. She was later promoted to senior permitting specialist, for which she excelled at working closely with multiple clients, jurisdictions and team members to gain approval for obtaining permits for construction, all while meeting extensive code requirements. Soon after, she was promoted to her current role as program manager, for which she plans, directs, evaluates and improves operations within her team across various projects and multiple clients. Whorton also leads the implementation of key decisions and action items for the architecture department.
Jieyang Xie Lexicon
Jieyang Xie of Lexicon’s Prospect Steel is a skilled project coordinator with 12 years of experience in steel fabrication. She specializes in estimating, production control and project coordination for various structural steel projects. The native of China played a key role in the implementation of the first robotic steel beam assembler in the U.S. at Lexicon, traveling to Austria for training on programming and operations.
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Academies of Central Arkansas provides early career exposure to students
By Sarah DeClerk
With a workforce shortage affecting industry in Arkansas, producing skilled workers and keeping them close to home is more important than ever. The Academies of Central Arkansas hopes to address the state’s workforce woes by exposing students to architecture, engineering, construction and other career fields as early as ninth grade.
“It’s a game changer for the four districts that are involved,” said Shanda Macon, coordinator of school innovation at the North Little Rock School District. “Connecting the business industry to education is the missing link that has been missing for years.”
A program of the Little Rock Regional Chamber, the academies model is based on the Ford Next
Generation Learning Model developed in Michigan. About 40 communities across the U.S. have implemented the Ford NGL Model, including Nashville and Louisville, Kentucky.
Markous Jewett, vice president of the Academies of Central Arkansas at the Little Rock Regional Chamber, said the superintendents of the four school districts involved — Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pulaski County Special and Jacksonville North Pulaski — were impressed by the model’s implementation in Nashville.
“They’ve moved a lot of the educational metrics that we’ve been trying to move in our public school districts for a very long time, so you see graduation rates increase. You see student and teacher
attendance rates increase. You see the number of students earning concurrent college credit and industry-recognized credentials before they graduate increase,” he said. “That’s what got us excited about this model back when we started exploring it in 2018.”
Sharon Tallach Vogelpohl, president and CEO at marketing firm MHP.si in Little Rock and president of Fifty for the Future, a nonprofit that works to promote economic growth in Pulaski County, said Fifty for the Future’s three focus areas are public education and workforce development, economic development, and public safety. The organization co-founded Academies of Central Arkansas, making the program its priority project.
“Their No. 1 area of focus of things that Fifty wants to impact is public education and workforce development, and that’s exactly what Academies is all about,” she said. “It’s about working with the business community in a leadership position and consultative position with the public schools to help homegrown workforce initiatives right here in Arkansas.”
The program was set to deploy in 2020, Jewett said, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the districts decided to postpone the implementation until the 2021-2022 school year. Next year, all high school students at the districts, from freshmen to seniors, will be involved in the academies.
The academies at North Little Rock High School include the Baldwin & Shell Construction Academy of Business, Hospitality & Development; the Academy of Digital, Visual & Performing Arts; and the Baptist Health Academy of Health, Human Services & Law. The North Little Rock Center of Excellence includes the Academy of Engineering Technology & Computer Science and the Baptist Health Academy of Health Sciences.
Ninth graders in the North Little Rock School District participate in freshman academy, which consists of three different teams and includes a freshman seminar course.
“That freshman seminar teacher teaches them about 21st century skills to make sure they’re adequately prepared for life after high school,” Macon said. “They also teach them about the different career academies and pathways so the scholars can make a good decision in January when they select their particular career academy.”
Skills taught include communication, critical thinking, problem solving and leadership, she added. Students in the freshman academy also hear from industry speakers and attend a career expo in November.
“That’s really huge because business industries in central Arkansas come, and the scholars get a chance to go to the different booths and talk to them about their different careers,” she said.
Jewett said the chamber invited 3,500 freshmen from 10 high school campuses to meet representatives from more than 100 employers at the career expo last year.
North Little Rock students also begin touring college campuses in the ninth grade.
“We’re not trying to get them to decide what college to go to in ninth grade,” Macon said. “We’re getting them on that college campus so they can see what college is all about.”
Each academy focuses students’ studies on a specific industry and has multiple pathways students can take. Students have the same teachers for their core courses throughout 10th, 11th and 12th grade.
“That’s kind of the secret sauce behind that is that academy team,” Jewett said. “Not only do they meet as department teams, where they meet with the math department and the social studies department, but they also get to meet as academy teams.”
During those meetings, the academy teams discuss any interventions individual students might need and plan complementary lessons, often in collaboration with industry partners.
“If we take a construction academy, for example, they may be in their geometry class, learning about right angles, and then in their welding class, they’re learning how to weld right angles, and then in the
Whether students are touring the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, opposite, or learning how to save a life, above, the Academies of Central Arkansas helps students visualize the career paths available to them. (Photos provided)
Shanda Macon
Markous Jewett
Sharon Tallach Vogelpohl
Job shadowing, industry tours, guest speakers and internships are available to high school students in Pulaski County through the Academies of Central Arkansas.
chemistry class, they’re learning about how to test the chemical integrity of the bond that they just welded,” Jewett said. “They’ve identified something they’re interested in, and we’re going to tailor their learning experiences around that.”
In North Little Rock, students began taking industry tours in 10th grade, and 11th graders focus on job shadowing. Next year’s seniors will have internship opportunities, Macon said.
Students who participate in the academies can graduate with credentials that range from certifications to operate heavy equipment and first aid certifications to certified pharmacy technician, certified nursing assistant and certified teaching assistant.
“This academy model makes sure that when these scholars graduate, they are prepared for life — life going to college, life going straight into work, life going into the military or some kind of instructional trade,” she said. “They will be adequately prepared, and the business partners will get scholars that they practically had a hand in helping us prepare them for their journeys after high school.”
The Academies of Central Arkansas now has nearly 80 industry partners who last year contributed more than 9,000 hours and provided more than 1,000 students with industry tours, job shadowing opportunities and paid internships, Jewett said.
North Little Rock recently solidified a branded partnership with Baldwin & Shell Construction Co.
“That’s one of our largest pathways is construction, and it’s not just boys or males, but girls are getting involved,” Macon said. “To me, that, too, is important because back in the day, when I was in high school, girls weren’t interested in construction, but now we’re leading construction companies.”
Another partnership is with Taggart Architects, she said, adding that even students who enjoy visual art can benefit from that partnership because of the design work involved in architecture.
She added that North Little Rock students have
the opportunity to switch academies once during sophomore year. Students are only allowed to switch academies once because it is important that they form a bond with the business partners who serve as their mentors and, potentially, future employers, Macon said.
The district works with both the business community and students to determine which pathways to provide, she said, adding that the academies have a focus on high-wage, high-demand careers in Arkansas.
“As business industry needs change, our pathways can change,” she said. “We want to stay in tune
with what the needs are in this community so we can make sure that those needs are being met and the scholars have some place to go after high school.”
MHP.si partners with Wilbur D. Mills University Studies High School in Little Rock by meeting with faculty to talk about what the firm does and what credentials they like to see from candidates, Tallach Vogelpohl said. Mills staff have also toured MHP.si, and the firm provides guest speakers and shadow days, in addition to participating in the annual career expo.
Tallach Vogelpohl encouraged other businesses to become involved in the Academies of Central Arkansas, adding that the Little Rock Regional Chamber provides opportunities for various levels of engagement.
“Ultimately, I would encourage people to do it because it’s one of those rare win-wins,” she said. “It’s an investment in our kids’ future and also in your own business’ future because we have the ability to forge these partnerships. You’re helping kids, and you’re getting the workforce that you need to make your business grow.”
Career readiness in the North Little Rock School District extends throughout the lower grades with the district’s E4 plan. The four E’s stand for expose, explore, expand and excel, the four phases students pass through from pre-K to graduation.
Part of the E4 plan for pre-K and elementary students is themed schools, Macon said. Seventh Street Elementary was recently renamed North Little Rock 6 Academy of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences to reflect its career theme.
“Do we expect them all to be a part of agriculture or work with animals? No. We’re exposing them to that,” she said. “That’s the hook to get them interested in learning about that particular career.”
The theme, along with field trips and speakers, will help familiarize students with agricultural and veterinary fields. In addition, students will learn through the lens of those career fields in ways that range from naming and counting animals in pre-K to speaking in front of a class about a favorite animal in first grade.
Both the academies and the district’s E4 plan are aligned with the career-ready focus of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, she added.
“The LEARNS Act, basically, it emphasizes career and technical education and increasing the college and career readiness,” she said. “With this model, that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Although early in its implementation, Jewett said the academies model has already shown indicators of success, including more students earning
industry-recognized credentials in high school, fewer instances of disciplinary infractions and higher enrollment rates.
“We see that enrollment at our academy high schools has increased for two consecutive years, and we anticipate it being another increase this year,” he said. “Those numbers aren’t final yet, but we know that that means that our schools are schools of choice because of the opportunities that students are getting as a result of academy supplementation that they just wouldn’t get elsewhere.”
Macon, who helped implement the academies program at Little Rock Southwest Magnet High School before joining North Little Rock School District in August, said within one year, the Little Rock school saw a drop in disciplinary action at the freshman academy.
“It’s an investment in our kids’ future and also in your own business’ future because we have the ability to forge these partnerships. You’re helping kids, and you’re getting the workforce that you need to make your business grow.”
— Sharon Tallach Vogelpohl, president and CEO at marketing firm MHP.si
“North Little Rock is a large high school, so you could get lost in a large high school like that,” she added. “Breaking it down into smaller learning communities helps them to be seen.”
She said she hopes to recruit additional business partners and provide more concurrent credit options for students, adding that she expects the academies model to increase the labor pool in central Arkansas, generate better-prepared employees and enhance the local business community.
“We’re going to make central Arkansas more competitive for people that are looking at moving into this area, so stronger education works. Having job opportunities, that works,” she said. “I just see it as a winwin for everyone.”
Tallach Vogelpohl said Fifty for the Future and the Little Rock Regional Chamber hope to start a nonprofit similar to PENCIL in Nashville to ensure the continuity of the Academies of Central Arkansas. Jewett agreed that such a nonprofit would facilitate the program’s long-term success.
“One of the issues in urban education across the country is administrator and teacher turnover, and so this model is built so that it’s not dependent upon one person to implement,” he said. “It goes back to that community-connected approach that we are doing as a region so that if we do have a superintendent transition or a principal transition or a transition at the Little Rock chamber, this work continues.”
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THE DIGITAL WORKPLACE
Tech helps firms work for a better tomorrow today
Since the beginning of the modern era, new technologies have changed the way things are built and how people work. There was a slow gradient of evolution as the building approaches of the Renaissance were transformed, decade by decade, by new tools and techniques. The process was sped up significantly by the industrial revolution, which introduced steam-powered cranes, reinforced steel and other advancements. Finally, digital technology has ushered in a
new post-modern era in which industries are torn down and rebuilt at the speed of light. An all but constantly changing landscape means that education does not halt when a degree is earned and the job is secured, but learning is required over the entire course of one’s career — and there is so much for students to learn in the ever-expanding field of architecture, engineering and construction.
Today, entire homes can be 3D printed in a day, bricks are laid by robots, existing
structures are scanned with lasers, and project mockups are edited remotely in real time by team members in several different time zones, but what does it take to build the architecture, construction and engineering knowledge and skills necessary to complete marvels that once were impossible?
When it comes to education, there is, perhaps, no better place to start than the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering. The department is laying a foundation for the next generation of leaders in the construction industry while deconstructing the barriers of entry that many face. The school has just experienced its largest single-year increase in enrollment, rising from 180 students in 2023 to 208 this fall.
Hank Bray, chair of the department, credited several factors for the growth: The program boasts a 100 percent job placement rate upon graduation at among the highest starting salaries while construction jobs continue to dominate the job market, boasting a high demand for construction management and civil engineering professionals in the state.
“By embracing technology early, students position themselves as forward-thinking professionals,” said Gozde Gursoy, who teaches courses in building information management at the university. “Employers are looking for graduates who can implement digital tools to enhance productivity, reduce errors and create more sustainable designs. Staying ahead in technology also ensures that they can keep pace with the industry’s rapid evolution, making them more adaptable and valuable to their employers.”
Her students use software such as building information modeling, which allows 3D visualization and building walk-throughs, something students will do every day once they enter the workforce.
“If time is money, information is power,” said Drew Moffitt, geospatial solutions leader at North Little Rock-headquartered engineering firm Garver. He is also part of Garver’s enterprise solutions team.
Moffitt said BIM, along with other cutting-edge softwares, have revolutionized the entire engineering process.
“If you have never interacted with a BIM model, think of it as a tiny digital copy of the design, such as a building or bridge,” he said. “It drives near-instant hu-
man understanding where a previous 2D layout might not have.”
Put another way, by WDD Principal and Project Architect Nathaniel Martin, the models are “digital twins” of realworld projects, which help teams identify potential conflicts in the virtual buildings before they become conflicts in the field.
One of the best parts of the budding technology is that reviews can be made in virtual reality using off-the-shelf equipment available at favorite retailers.
“The 2010s were a decade where digital 3D modeling overtook digital 2D drawing as the industry standard for producing architectural designs and drawings,” Martin said. “This technology continues to develop year by year, and as designers, we have to constantly stay educated on the newest features to stay competitive.”
Things sure have come a long way since WDD began in 1919, when drawings were done by hand with ink on linen fabric. Founded the same year, Garver is also intentional about staying abreast of the latest trends.
Moffitt said data analytics also plays a major role in the work of engineering companies today. Mountains of data can be sifted through with the help of programs like Microsoft’s Power BI and Tableau, which help engineers make sense of information in a short amount of time.
“This helps unlock internal metrics for reporting and tracking and provides outside views into previously hidden data,” he said. “Having smarter reporting on schedules keeps construction on schedule, saving money for owners and minimizing impacts on the public. Interactive budgeting and planning software is leading to better project selection and management for owners that can help save time on large internal efforts during an annual budget cycle.”
He added that safety has been greatly improved thanks to collaborative software
Anne Turner
Nathaniel Martin
This image from a pump station was created by Garver using mobile SLAMbased (Simultaneous Location and Mapping) Lidar.
A person walks with the scanning equipment while it records millions of points and reference images. The software then stiches them together as a colorized point cloud allowing for the creation of digital as-is copies of infrastructure. The hardware used was a NavVis VLX2 scanner.
(Image provided)
If time is money, information is power.
— Drew Moffitt, Garver
available to field staff, leading to fewer trips to job sites. The software allows direct reporting on progress to supervisors with reports and photos.
“Advancing computational abilities have always played a key role in the AEC industry as complex calculations are required to complete designs,” said Anne Turner, coordinator of the civil and construction engineering program at UA Little Rock.
Some of the flashiest advancements in recent years have been the application of artificial intelligence, VR and drones.
“Drone-based imagery captures are being automated for quick, repeatable capture and turned into imagery and 3D datasets, allowing for remote investigation and unit quantity calculations,” Moffitt said.
Of course, AI has become the belle of the (wrecking) ball as companies seek out a myriad of uses. Moffitt warned that the entire industry should be wary of “solutions for solutions’ sake,” saying “When new technologies become solutions looking for problems, an entirely new way of doing things can set our industry back significantly.”
“We are seeing value due to increased productivity and a reduction of errors or conflicts due to the use of AI and BIM,” said Clay Gordon, president of
Kinco Constructors, headquartered in Little Rock. “We have begun using AI within our project management software, and its ability to significantly improve time searching and summarizing data is helpful. BIM continues to help us in construction coordination and planning efforts, being more efficient and reducing conflicts in the field.”
Both Gordon and Moffitt agreed that such developments have radically reshaped all phases of the building process.
“Of all the phases, I think conceptual design has been changed the most with technology — and for the better,” Moffitt said. “Drones can provide quicker understanding of a job site through high-resolution imagery datasets and 3D products, mature [geographic information systems] allow design teams to get a quicker understanding of the constraints they might face and high-quality Lidar elevation data is readily available across the U.S. from the [U.S. Geological Survey]. These three things can kick-start a project to a faster delivery with significantly less cost than before.”
“Tools such as VR can help an owner get a better realization of their project versus seeing it only on paper,” Gordon said. “AI and BIM have brought us good value in both preconstruction and construction phases of a project. There is a tremendous amount of data and volumes of documents on a given project, and technology’s ability to simplify the searching, sorting and storing of that data is very helpful.”
To Moffitt, the most exciting technology and a “definite game changer” is reality-capture technology, particularly radiance field-based reconstructions such as NeRFs and Gaussian Splats. He said that technology allows users to capture the physical world around them in 3D using normal cameras on cell phones, drones or other devices and share it with anyone. Still under development, he said the recreations can be very near one-to-one with reality. Software is just now being released to allow viewing the recreations in VR headsets.
For firms such as Garver, Kinco and WDD, change is nothing new, since two of the companies have been around for more than a century and the other for more than 50 years, but the most recent rapid transformation of the industry has taken place over just the past few years.
“Five years ago, we didn’t have actual AI enhancing our abilities to synthesize complex problems like we do today, with the advent of the ever-improving large language models popularized by OpenAI’s ChatGPT,” Moffitt said. “While these are very impressive and I use it daily, I think it actually did AI a disservice because people were quick to think, ‘AI is here. It will solve all of our problems.’ AI is a very broad field full of differ-
ent components, and when put together by experts correctly, it can help solve very specific problems in engineering. However, it is not the panacea many have thought so far.”
He said it is not a question of whether AI will play a part or not but of how big of a role it will have in the industry. Moffitt said he sees AI as a double-edged sword. When used to help save time in repetitive tasks or helping get to a conclusion faster, it is a net positive. It can be a net neutral when design software can intake a company’s library of work and help it produce a better product with greater accuracy and consistency. However, he said he sees it as a net negative when used to intentionally and prematurely reduce workforce.
His counterpart at Kinco, Gordon, also sees the technology trends heading in the right direction for the construction industry.
“I don’t see technology or AI as a bad thing but a good thing,” Gordon said. “Technology will help us combat labor shortages, but it will not take away the need for skilled labor or people in general. The human element of our business will not change as we are still a service industry, and it takes people with a diverse skillset to build anything. Technology will allow people in our industry to be efficient and devote their time in the places where it is more productive and of value.”
For all the good it has done and will do, there are still concerns that the machines will one day take over and steal all the good jobs.
“There are some concerns about AI eventually replacing the architect, but a more likely scenario is that AI becomes a tool that architects use to generate ideas and possible solutions at a faster rate,” Martin said. “As architects, we remain liable for the real world spaces we help create, and so there are legal issues with outsourcing our work. Future architects may become content editors rather than content creators if AI becomes increasingly useful. One surprising effect of AI is proliferation of highly ornamental and stylized images of space. If nothing else, this has given the design world a new source of visual inspiration, but the negative ‘hal-
We are seeing value due to increased productivity and a reduction of errors or conflicts due to the use of AI and BIM.
— Clay Gordon, Kinco Constructors
By embracing technology early, students position themselves as forwardthinking professionals.
— Gozde Gursoy, UA Little Rock
lucinatory’ effect sometimes present in AI tools like Chat GPT will be interesting when translated to real-world mistakes.”
Across the board, the pros agreed that AI is meant to enhance the work of AEC workers, not replace them.
“While technology is a valuable tool, it will never replace the human element of critical thinking, people skills and a hard work ethic,” Gordon said. “Those traits have made our industry one of the best, and that will not change. However, the people and companies with those skill sets or traits and willingness to adapt to technology for improved productivity will be successful in our industry.”
To ensure humans are ready to work alongside their programmed peers, workers need training and experience. In the classroom, students are working closely with professionals to get a sense of what is happening in the field. Even the professors have experience working for firms or running their own businesses.
UA Little Rock students glean from the experience of industry partners at Cromwell Architects Engineers, CDI Contractors and Turner Construction Co. during biweekly meetings as they present their senior design project deliverables, Turner said.
“These meetings provide valuable guidance by experienced professionals as the students work toward creating structural design drawings and a construction estimate and schedule for a structural steel building,” she said.
“Collaboration between industry and academia is key in preparing students for the future,” Gursoy added. “At UA Little Rock, we work closely with professionals to ensure our curriculum reflects current trends and prepares students for realworld challenges.”
In addition to inviting experts into the classroom where they can share how technology is being used in ongoing projects, Gursoy attends conferences where she learns about the latest breakthroughs, such as Hilti’s Jaibot, a semiautonomous robot that drills and marks points on ceilings.
As intimidating as all the terms and jargon seem, the programs are a lot easier
to learn than they first appear. As more and more people, especially from younger generations, become adept in computer literacy, the barrier for entry decreases. The only modern tech mentioned so far that requires a formal education and licensure to operate commercially are drones, the operation of which is a fairly straightforward, easy and low-cost task.
“There really is no formal training for using a smartphone or laptop and software creators have done a great job with intuitive user interfaces and processes,” Moffitt said.
While not necessary for employment, certificates and hands-on experience still give graduates an edge over those without such credentials.
Students at UA Little Rock have access to industry-standard software such as Autodesk Revit and Navisworks, as well as structural-analysis software RAM Structural System, Gursoy said.
“Our students participate in projects that mirror real-world scenarios, allowing them to gain experience with the same tools used by professionals in the field,” Gursoy said. “Additionally, we have partnerships with local companies and access to materials and tools such as laserscanning technology through industry collaborators, giving students a well-rounded experience.”
Whether one opts to take classes or not, it can be extremely beneficial to learn how the tools work before applying for a job — and that takes an eagerness to learn and the same hard work of generations gone by.
“Someone who wants a career in design or construction needs a personal drive to learn and grow combined with training of some kind,” Martin said. “This could be by being mentored on the job, studying in a forward-thinking trade school setting or gaining a college degree in construction management, architecture or engineering.”
The proliferation of digital inventions is not slowing down. Gursoy said over their lifetimes, students can expect even more automation and digitization in construction processes, since AI and machine learning are likely to become “crucial.”
While the advancements may be alarming, overall, there is a lot of good that comes out of them. It is up to the companies consumers know and trust to use technology responsibly and continue to put clients, safety and their employees above profits and productivity.
“In spite of all the technological changes in the industry,” Martin said. “Problems are ultimately solved by people who care about doing good work.”
AEC EXECS Talk
Challenges, TRENDS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
By Mark Carter
Any listing of the coolest jobs on the planet would have to include healthy representation from the architecture, engineering and construction industries. Cool, though, rarely translates to easy.
The AEC industries have experienced a wild ride the last few years with the COVID-19 pandemic, stressed supply chains, spiking materials costs and a shortage of workers.
Arkansas Money & Politics spoke about lingering challenges, new trends, the rise of artificial intelligence in their industries and more with a few representatives of AEC in Arkansas — Kate East of AMR in Fayetteville, Russ Fason of WER Architects in Little Rock and Dan Fowler of Cromwell Architects Engineers in Little Rock.
Russ Fason
AIA, LEED AP, principal and CEO, WER Architects
Have things begun to settle down in relation to materials costs and availability?
A Just in the last six months, we’ve started to see costs flatten out. Unfortunately, they won’t ever go back down, but at least they aren’t going up month over month, making it slightly easier to budget. There are still some long-lead-time items, mostly electrical switch gear, transformers and generators, but overall, lead times have improved greatly.
In which sector are you seeing the biggest demand?
A We are still seeing demand across the board. We have a wide range of educational, retail, medical and civic works in progress. What we are not seeing as much of is new office space, and that is a direct correlation to the large stock of empty office space nationwide after the pandemic and a shift in the way businesses work. We are doing quite a bit of tenant improvements to existing office space.
What are the main issues faced by architects today?
A Maybe the most interesting issue is the one of artificial intelligence and its role in architecture. It will take a long time to integrate AI fully into what we do, and it will never replace what we do as designers, but AI will undoubtedly be part of the way we work, hopefully to do some of the mundane tasks and allow us more time in our day for actual design. If you aren’t thinking about how AI is going to impact what you do now, then you’re behind the curve.
Has the architecture industry in Arkansas experienced any staffing issues?
A Attracting talent is a constant issue. We find it somewhat easier in our northwest Arkansas office with the [University of Arkansas] architecture school being located there. Bringing talent to central Arkansas can be challenging. Architecture, at least the way we practice it, is such a collaborative process, we don’t have the luxury of outsourcing our work like other industries do to remote workers. My goal as CEO is to make sure we have a culture that our employees feel valued in as part of the WER team, one that keeps up with the changing priorities of the incoming workforce. We want our employees to be happy and relay to their peers what it’s like to work with WER because we are always on the lookout for talented designers.
What, if any, new design trends are you seeing?
A Not necessarily new, but flexibility and adaptability are even more prevalent across all sectors. Offices are providing flexibility in the types of spaces they give their employees to work in, schools are providing flexibility to address the various ways that students learn and that teachers can adapt their spaces to suit. There is less emphasis on “green building” because at this point, it’s a given that we are selecting materials and systems that are good for the environment. Now there’s more of a shift to examine and plan for the well-being of the people that use our buildings.
WER handles a wide range of projects, from Razorback baseball’s impressive Hunt Center to the historic Lakeport Plantation. What’s your favorite type of project?
A We are generalists, meaning we work on a wide range of project types. This is really a necessity when working in a state our size, and we’ve made the conscious decision over our 46-year history to focus our work within the state. Our favorite projects are ones that enrich the communities that we live, work and play in alongside our clients. We have experts in all sectors and it’s not uncommon for someone in our office to be documenting a historic property and designing a new university building. I come from a family of educators, and most of the work I’ve done over the last 20 years is in educational buildings because I feel the most connected to that. We have others who love medical work, office work or civic projects. We have some true crime fans that are loving working on the new Arkansas State Crime Lab at the moment. We never design the same thing twice, so whatever project might be next is probably our favorite.
Kate East
ASID, LEED AP, principal, AMR Architects
It has been a wild ride the last few years. What are some of the issues still experienced by architects today?
A Construction costs have certainly made bringing projects to fruition more difficult in recent years, but one of the most intriguing issues facing our industry is AI. At our firm, we’re not treating it as a threat but rather as a powerful tool. However, the potential changes AI might bring to our industry and our inability to accurately predict its impact is a concern we monitor daily. The capabilities of AI are astounding. Tools like parametric design software can now generate thousands of design iterations in minutes, a task that would have taken weeks just a year ago. As a designer who uses Claude daily, I’m fully invested in leveraging these tools, yet the sheer number of AI applications and their rapidly evolving capabilities feels like drinking from a fire hose. We’re constantly adapting to new technologies that reshape our workflow and expand the boundaries of what’s possible in architectural design.
What are some of the unique challenges faced by women- and minorityowned businesses?
A Being a minority- and women-owned firm in Arkansas has given us a unique perspective on the AEC industry. Our diverse leadership has opened doors to several exciting projects as clients increasingly value fresh viewpoints in design and diversity. We’re particularly proud of our innovative approach to work-life balance within the office, which challenges some industry norms.
That said, we’re aware of the subtle challenges that minority- and women-owned firms can face, especially here in Arkansas. While we’ve been fortunate building strong networks, we sometimes wonder if we’ve lost out on certain opportunities simply because we don’t fit the traditional mold of a white male-owned firm. Despite progress in the industry, unconscious biases can still play a role in project awards, particularly in more conservative sectors of the market.
Are projects that tie communities together, such as work on college campuses, still a primary focus of the firm?
A Our firm is deeply committed to creating walkable, communityoriented projects that genuinely benefit the public. We focus on projects that stitch communities together and foster vibrant, inclusive urban environments. This is why we’re drawn to campus projects. They’re like miniature cities, offering opportunities to design diverse, interconnected spaces on a smaller scale.
Mixed-use developments are at the heart of our design philosophy. The integration of places people can live, work, shop and socialize in close proximity reduces the need for car travel, encourages walking and cycling, and fosters a sense of community. We’re passionate about serving underserved communities and con-
tributing to urban infill, making the most of existing infrastructure. Our goal is to create accessible, and inclusive spaces that meet client needs while positively impacting the broader urban fabric. We believe architecture has the power to transform communities, and we’re dedicated to harnessing that potential in every project.
How do your degrees in fine arts and interior design benefit you in your role as principal?
A My degrees in fine arts and interior design benefit me as a principal in many ways. My out-of-state fine arts degree, pursued in an environment where I went in knowing no one, pushed me out of my comfort zone, driving personal growth and enhancing my social confidence. This experience was invaluable in developing the interpersonal skills I use daily with colleagues and clients in my current role. Additionally, the arts degree honed my eye for aesthetics, which translates directly to creating visually appealing and harmonious interior spaces.
Secondly, my interior design degree, which I earned while working at the firm and attending the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, provided me with industry-specific skills. Working in the field while attending school really helped amplify what I was learning in the classroom. An added benefit is that many of the people I met while at UCA are still in my professional network, which is particularly helpful in my role as a principal.
In terms of the big picture, what do you see as the challenges ahead for the industry as a whole?
A Climate change adaptation: Our industry must lead in creating resilient buildings and spaces that can withstand increasingly extreme weather events. This is crucial for ensuring the longevity and safety of our structures in the face of changing environmental conditions.
Affordable housing in low-density areas: Unlike densely populated urban centers, Arkansas has plenty of space. However, we face a unique challenge of not having enough housing despite the available land. The issue here isn’t about high-density solutions, but rather about creating affordable, quality housing that makes efficient use of our abundant space. We need to work alongside city and state officials to come up with policy changes that increase funding for housing and allow unique zoning to accommodate these needs. Diversity and inclusion: Our industry needs to address the lack of diversity in its workforce and ensure our designs cater to a wide range of cultural and accessibility needs. In Arkansas, this means considering the diverse needs of our rural and urban populations as well as different socioeconomic groups.
Dan Fowler
president, Cromwell Architects Engineers
Are you still seeing issues related to material costs and availability?
A Material costs and availability of labor continue to be hot topics for us as we work with our clients. Prices seem to have stabilized, but we have yet to see any major retreat in costs in most sectors we work in, locally and nationally. Our discussions with clients these days involve reinforcing that conditions today may be the new normal and that waiting for prices to fall won’t be a viable strategy. Falling interest rates are opening up some key markets for us — industrial and manufacturing — and some speculative developments locally.
What are some unique challenges faced today on the engineering side?
A We have a very competitive industry, and we aren’t producing the number of grads in our universities who stay in Arkansas to support meaningful growth. The recent federal funding of infrastructure construction has brought opportunity for engineers across the country, but it has driven an increase in competition for talent. With the change in economic climate and the resulting tightening of margins in many sectors, we have seen our clients increasing emphasis on speed of execution and controlling construction costs. Locally in Arkansas, we are seeing a steady influx of national engineering firms entering the market, especially for infrastructure projects.
What are some advantages to offering architecture and engineering services under one roof?
A Cromwell has a different structure in that it has all major design disciplines in-house. We believe that the best outcomes result from collaborative efforts between client, architects and engineers. We can trace this innovative approach to the late 1800s, when we first combined creative and technical talent to solve
problems for our clients. In the mid-1900s, we built a team of architects and engineers that could support the rapidly growing industrial and manufacturing sector under the guidance of Gov. [Winthrop] Rockefeller. Today, most of our projects demand highly technical solutions, and being able to involve our engineers from the beginning improves outcomes for our clients as well. This approach provides clients with a valuable resource, not only in new designs, but also in operating and maintaining facilities.
What prompted the opening of an office in Charlotte, North Carolina, and are there more growth plans on the horizon?
A Cromwell has been in growth mode since we moved our headquarters to East Village [in Little Rock] in 2018. We are being very deliberate about how and where we grow. Our regional offices in northwest Arkansas and Europe — and our headquarters in Little Rock — have all experienced dramatic growth over that time period. Our new office in Charlotte is going to complement the work we are already doing across the country and around the world. It will allow us to better support our clients within the mid-Atlantic region. We’ll be able to attract talent to support our growth, and our team will have access to some great projects that will increase the impact we are having in our communities. Although we are just ramping up our new office in Charlotte, to meet our growth goals, we aren’t ruling out future offices in key geographies across the U.S. and overseas.
What new trends are you seeing?
A Just like most industries, the AEC industry is grappling with how to best utilize emerging technologies and AI in practice. Today, those technologies are focused most heavily on improving efficiency and rapid ideation and prototyping. As computing capabilities continue to improve, our industry will, through the widespread adoption of AI, work toward an improved built environment and ultimately a better human experience through design.
Which projects are the most rewarding, and which are the most challenging?
A For our organization, the projects that mean the most are the ones that have the greatest impact on people in our communities where we live and work. We aren’t simply designing buildings. We are eradicating cancer, improving education for future generations, making state government more efficient, supporting the families of those that defend our freedoms at home and abroad, improving health care outcomes, improving public safety, and driving job creation. When we celebrate our successes as a company, that impact is celebrated first.
Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale, pictured, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock are both undergoing a strategic expansion.
(Photos provided)
EXPANSION MODE
State’s pediatric health care system growing to meet needs
By Sarah Coleman
In 2023, Arkansas Children’s began clinical expansion, part of its strategic plan of delivering unprecedented child health in the state. The plan was set into motion with the focus of delivering better access, outcomes and on-campus experiences at the nationally-ranked pediatric health system. With the project expected to be completed throughout the remainder of an eight-year master facility plan, the total cost of expansion is projected at $318 million for construction at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock and Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale. The expansion will impact both campuses separately, but is considered to be an expansion of the entire system. Polk Stanley Wilcox and Cromwell Architects Engineers will serve as
While the health care system is using bond money and some of its revenue to complete the expansion, Arkansas Children’s will also rely on more than $90 million in gifts to make the project a reality.
We’ll continue to set our ongoing expansion plans based on the continuous demand for services, so this phase that we’re currently in is the one we have planned to get us through the fiscal year. We also are adding additional outpatient clinic rooms in the Children’s Center for Health and Wellness.
— Jamie Wiggins, executive vice president and chief operating officer
the project a reality. (There are several ways to give financially to Arkansas Children’s, and those interested can connect to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation to identify ways to contribute and make an impact.)
Jamie Wiggins, executive vice president and chief operating officer, said the expansion is a result of an assessment and market review of health care needs throughout the state. The hospital in Little Rock extends services for the growing areas extending to Jonesboro, Pine Bluff and beyond, and the northwest campus serves the rapidly growing population in northwest Arkansas.
“We really looked at the population growth and our clinical programming growth to make sure that we’re leveraging all of our resources across the system. We know that by increasing capacity in northwest Arkansas that it will create capacity for us in Little Rock, which allows us to also serve more patients there,” Wiggins said. “This [expansion] allows us to meet the needs not only in Arkansas but beyond our borders, as well.”
Wiggins said that through the development of the master facility plan, the system leadership team was able to determine what kind of workforce is needed for the plan to work efficiently and effectively.
The expansion of the system, in addition to the growing number of providers, will allow for the system to maintain a greater patient population so that doctors can see more patients and clinical programming can continue to grow. The projected growth on the talent acquisition side will include growing the team by 400 new team members and 150 physicians and providers.
Arkansas Children’s Northwest
Arkansas Children’s Northwest was originally built with future expansion in mind and is meant to grow with the community, Wiggins said. The ongoing facility project will allow the hospital to grow from a 25-bed hospital to a 40-bed hospital, add surgical space with the addition of two operating rooms, and provide new procedure rooms, a pharmacy, an infusion center for hematology oncology patients, an occupational and physical rehabilitation services area, and more.
architects of record, and Nabholz will be the construction manager.
As a system-wide growth project, the outcome will not only include a larger bed capacity at the respective locations but also for the transformation of both inpatient and outpatient surgical approaches with the addition of an ambulatory surgery center and the redesign of clinical spaces.
While the health care system is using bond money and some of its revenue to complete the expansion, Arkansas Children’s will also rely on more than $90 million in gifts to make
“Arkansas Children’s is a health care system,” Wiggins said. “While we have a hospital geography in northwest Arkansas and a hospital geography in central Arkansas, it actually is the system that is driving the delivery of health care and the commitment to improving child health across the state, so we have to leverage our resources together and work together as a system to make sure that we are making smart investments, not duplicating clinical services where we don’t need them. Regardless of any person’s geography in the state, we need all Arkansas to celebrate and support Arkansas Children’s.”
Prior to the addition of Arkansas Children’s Northwest, patients from northwest Arkansas who needed ACH’s services had to make the almost three-hour drive to central Arkansas. The development of the local hospital, as well as the ongoing expansion efforts, have allowed for that barrier to be stripped away, giving the state larger access to pediatric health.
“We’ll continue to set our ongoing expansion plans based on the continuous demand for services, so this phase that we’re currently in is the one we have planned to get us through the fiscal year,” Wiggins said. “We also are adding additional outpatient clinic rooms in the Children’s Center for Health and Wellness.”
The Children’s Center for Health and Wellness is the medical office building adjacent to the hospital, which allows physicians to meet and see outpatients there. The building houses primary care services, Wiggins said, and recently, endocrine and
A new outpatient building at the Little Rock campus will include an ambulatory surgery center to allow for more same-day surgery visits.
genetics services were moved to the building, as well.
“Looking to next fiscal year, we’ll be able to move our cardiology outpatient services over to the Children’s Center for Health and Wellness, as well,” she added.
While the system still has some specialists in Little Rock who make the trek to Springdale to provide care, the impact of having an ambulatory and inpatient presence in northwest Arkansas will allow children and their families to remain in their community when they receive or are maintaining care.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
In Little Rock, Arkansas Children’s Hospital is building a new outpatient building, which will house a sports medicine and orthopedics clinic, a new clinical lab, and a new pediatric clinical research center.
“This will allow us to continue to support those programs,” Wiggins said. “The biggest thing we’ll be adding there is an ambulatory surgery center.”
The larger inpatient facility houses ambulatory surgery currently, and Wiggins said the addition will allow for more same-day surgery visits, creating a unique patient experience in which patients can enter the building, have surgery at the building and go home from the same building.
“For Little Rock, the new ambulatory building will be our new main entry, where we have all of our family services being centralized in the campus, which has a fiscal year 2026 open date,” Wiggins said.
Wiggins said that after that phase is completed, the next phase in the project will focus on renovating ambulatory outpatient spaces and enhancing inpatient spaces.
For Little Rock, the new ambulatory building will be our new main entry, where we have all of our family services being centralized in the campus, which has a fiscal year 2026 open date.
— Jamie Wiggins, executive vice president and chief operating officer
PROMINENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN ARKANSAS
ASU THREE RIVERS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
Owner: ASU Three Rivers
Project Location: Malvern
Valuation: $7.4 million (construction only)
Start Date: August 2024
Completion Date: August 2025
Architect: Lewis Architects Engineers
Construction Manager: Clark Contractors
BAYOU METO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Owner: Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District
Project Location: Jacksonville
Valuation: $24M
Start Date: March 2023
Completion Date: 4Q 2024
Architect: WER
Construction Manager: Baldwin & Shell
BENTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Owner: Benton School District
Project Location: Little Rock
Valuation: $37.2M
Start Date: January 2023
Completion Date: 2Q 2025
Architect: Lewis Architects Engineers
Construction Manager: Baldwin & Shell
CENTRAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Owner: Springdale Public Schools
Project Location: Springdale
Valuation: $54M
Start Date: April 2024
Completion Date: 4Q 2024
Architect: Architecture Plus
Construction Manager: Baldwin & Shell
ELKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOOL
Owner: Elkins Public Schools
Project Location: Elkins
Valuation: $7.4M
Start Date: November 2024
Construction Manager: C.R. Crawford Construction
LITTLE ROCK WEST HIGH SCHOOL
Owner: Little Rock School District
Project Location: Little Rock
Valuation: $147M
Start Date: June 2023
Completion Date: 2Q 2025
Architect: Lewis Architects Engineers
Construction Manager: Baldwin & Shell
MARIAN G. LACEY K-8 ACADEMY ATHLETIC FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
Owner: Little Rock School District
Project Location: Little Rock
Valuation: $8.1 million (construction only)
Start Date: January 2024
Architect: Cromwell Architects Engineers
Construction Manager: Clark Contractors
MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL BILLIE ARENA
Owner: Monticello School District
Project Location: Monticello
Valuation: $24.3 million (construction only)
Start Date: April 2023
Completion Date: November 2024
Architect: Odom Architecture
Construction Manager: Clark Contractors
MURRELL TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Owner: Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District
Project Location: Jacksonville
Valuation: $24M
Start Date: March 2023
Completion Date: 4Q 2024
Architect: WER
Construction Manager: Baldwin & Shell
NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE CENTER FOR ROBOTICS AND MANUFACTURING INNOVATION
Owner: North Arkansas College
Project Location: Harrison
Start Date: February 2024
Completion Date: June 2025
Architect: Risley Architects
Construction Manager: Clark Contractors
SOUTHWEST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Owner: Springdale Public Schools
Project Location: Springdale
Valuation: $47M
Start Date: April 2024
Completion Date: 4Q 2024
Architect: WD&D
Construction Manager: Baldwin & Shell
UA HPER BUILDING
Owner: University of Arkansas
Project Location: Fayetteville
Valuation: $18.9M
Start Date: June 2024
Construction Manager: C.R. Crawford Construction
NORTHEAST RICE RESEARCH & EXTENSION CENTER
Owner: University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research & Extension
Location: Harrisburg
Valuation: $15.8M
Completion Date: Summer 2024
Architect: WER Architects
Construction Manager: Nabholz
LEWIS AUTOMOTIVE
Location: Fayetteville
Valuation: $48M
Completion Date: Summer 2024
Architect: BCH+O Architects
Construction Manager: Nabholz
MOTTO HOTEL
Owner: Windsor-Aughtry
Location: Bentonville
Valuation: $30.9M
Completion date: Summer 2024
Architects: BGKT Architects
Construction Manager: Nabholz
XNA TERMINAL MODERNIZATION
Owner: Northwest Arkansas National Airport
Location: Highfill
Valuation: $37.2M
Completion Date: 2025
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Construction Manager: Nabholz
ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S MASTER FACILITIES PLAN
Owner: Arkansas Childrens
Locations: Little Rock and Springdale
Valuation: $318M
Completion Dates: 2026
Architects: Polk Stanley Wilcox and Cromwell
Architects Engineers
Construction Manager: Nabholz
CENTRAL HIGH NEW SCIENCE BUILDING AND FIELD HOUSE
Owner: Little Rock School District
Location: Little Rock
Valuation: $60.6M
Completion Date: Spring 2025
Architect: Polk Stanley Wilcox
Construction Manager: Nabholz
Lea’s journey with McGeorge Contracting—from Flagger to Field Office Manager Technician—is a testament to her hard work, commitment, and passion for
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Proper wildlife habitat management leads to more ducks in the winter.
(Photo courtesy of AGFC)
Long THE GAME
In
Arkansas, hunting and conservation bound together
Arkansas has been hailed as duckhunting epicenter, but warming temperatures and other factors are pushing wintering birds north. Hunters have nonetheless found enough success to continue to deliver an economic boon to the state each winter.
Despite a recent trend of declining waterfowl population numbers, the 2024-2025 Arkansas duck hunting season is expected to deliver another economic boon. The 2024 Waterfowl Report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated more birds this winter, though the long-term average (since 1955) remains down. The study counted 6.6 million mallards, Arkansas’ staple wintering bird, which is an 8 percent increase from 2023 but still 16 percent below the long-term average. The state’s second most common duck, the blue-winged teal, numbered 4.6 million, down 12 percent from last year and 10 percent from the LTA.
Ducks indeed are big business in the state, but the number of birds stopping to winter in the Natural State is still on a long-term decline. Ducks’ numbers are on the decline in Canada, and by the time the birds reach Arkansas, they are finding fewer leftovers in the rice fields, which are now harvested earlier in the year.
State and local officials have long cited the $1 million-a-day economic impact of duck season on Arkansas. They now have official license to bump that number up. Bethany Hildebrand, president and CEO of the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, said she had heard numbers higher than $1 million in recent years.
By Mark Carter
“I find that oftentimes, even when numbers are down, we still see a large influx of hunters,” she said. “They come for the camaraderie as much as the hunting, I believe, and hunting camps are still full.”
Austin Booth
The USFWS report further found that waterfowl hunters spent more than $306 million over the 72-day season in 20222023. That comes out to $4.25 million per day.
Stuttgart — and by extension, the Arkansas Delta — rightly earned its reputation as Duck Hunting Capital of the World, and officials from the public and private sectors are working to ensure it stays that way.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Ducks Unlimited are partnering to renovate greentree reservoirs across the state and work with farmers to ensure that ducks have nice flooded fields to beckon them come late fall. Austin Booth, director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said the relationship between conservation and duck hunting is a symbiotic one.
“Conservation and duck hunting go together like a two-stroke outboard and cold December morning,” he said. “The state of Arkansas continues to charge ahead in our conservation efforts. There’s no question that greentree reservoir duck hunting is one of the crown jewels of the Natural State. We recently completed a major infrastructure project at Henry Gray Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area, and we are in the early stages of looking at GTR renovations at Dave Donaldson Black River WMA and George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA.
“The commission is dedicated to ensuring this precious resource is healthy and robust for current and future generations of waterfowl hunters.”
Doug Osborne, a professor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, oversees a banding program that helps determine duck populations in Arkansas each year.
His research centers on movement ecology, migration, philopatry (the tendency of an individual to stay in its home area or birthplace), bottomland hardwood as mallard habitat and the health of overwintering waterfowl in the Delta.
We are training the next generation to take care of our natural resources. Our kids wear dirty boots.
— Doug Osborne, UAM “
Part of his job entails conducting aerial surveys of state duck populations. Osborne said the Mississippi Flyway, one of the continent’s primary thoroughfares for wintering birds headed south, has seen its head count shrink from roughly 10 million a decade ago to about half that today. He added that the lower numbers have not greatly impacted Arkansas’ waterfowl staple, mallards — yet.
“Our aerial surveys have shown us that the numbers here have been trending down over the last eight years,” he said. “The population of ducks in Arkansas is really low. Reproduction is down, and populations are shifting north. If it continues, small communities that rely on the duck hunting industry will be impacted.”
The 2023 waterfowl population count for North America from USFWS found a 7 percent drop from 2022 (from an estimate of 34.7 million ducks to 32.3 million) and a 9 percent drop from the long-term average. The same survey found that breeding mallards were down 18 percent, from 7.4 million to 6.1 million.
The movement of waterfowl is impacted by many things. The breeding grounds of Prairie Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, eastern Alberta and western Ontario), which feed the Mississippi Flyway, have experienced a significant loss of grasslands and wetlands, which translate into nesting areas. Arkansas is dry, as well, offering less surface water than usual, and ducks go where food and cover can be found. Historically, the state’s flooded winter rice fields and greentree reservoirs have provided ideal cover and habitat for ducks. Hunters follow the ducks, but those dry conditions — combined with earlier harvesting practices — have left more fields barren.
“Earlier harvests are leaving nothing on the ground for the ducks,” Osborne said. “It looks like a desert in places where there used to be flooded fields. We’re not good at managing our fields for ducks.”
Doug Osborne
Bethany Hildebrand
Corey Dunn
The state needs to implement an adaptive harvest management program, Osborne added, starting with reduced bag limits.
“We probably should’ve reduced the bag limit five or six years ago, but it never happened,” he said.
Osborne said his department’s research confirms that Arkansas indeed is home to a lot of hunters, and that density may be applying some pressure on the ducks.
“The hunter density is very high here,” he said. “We have a lot of people hunting in a small area. That pressure makes birds do crazy things.”
Osborne praised the commission’s private lands program that pays farmers to flood their rice fields in the winter.
“In Arkansas, you’ve got to make sure we have food and cover for the ducks,” he said. “We want them to live here in the winter.”
Last winter, AGFC implemented its conservation incentive program in partnership with Greenway Equipment, and almost 12,000 acres of restored wetlands were added to the Arkansas landscape. The commission worked with private landowners to offer $3.5 million in incentives to improve habitat on their properties.
Randy Brents, assistant chief of the commission’s private lands habitat division, said 11,871 acres were placed under contracts to enhance waterfowl habitat, and 127 landowners signed up to flood their rice fields and wetlands.
“We have contracted with farmers to flood 10,961 acres of rice fields using surface water sources during a 90-day portion of the waterfowl wintering period, and none of those acres will be tilled, leaving as much waste grain as possible for ducks and geese,” he said. “Another 910 acres of native wetland plants will be flooded that can offer even more benefit to waterfowl and other migratory species.”
Many of these acres could have been otherwise tilled early or
The banding program started by UAM professor Douglas Osborne helps the state keep tabs on the number of migrating birds in the state. (Photo courtesy of UAM)
left dry during the migration season, he added.
Another 4,000-plus acres of private wetlands are included in the commission’s waterfowl rice incentive-conservation enhancement program. This program works with farmers to flood rice fields with the caveat that landowners allow limited public hunting on their land through a permit-based draw system, Brents said. He also noted the federal Migratory Bird Resurgence Initiative, for which just fewer than 30,000 acres in the state are enrolled in federal programs to promote wetlands wildlife benefits.
“Our private lands biologists have been working hard with landowners to apply for these incentives, as well,” he said.
Public land accounts for about 10 percent of the state’s territory, so working with private landowners to address conservation issues is crucial in states like Arkansas. This public-private partnership is especially important when it comes to managing waterfowl, said Garrick Dugger, head of the private lands habitat division.
“We know that it takes wetland habitat on a landscape level to provide energy for migrating ducks and geese,” Dugger said. “Even if all of the public land in Arkansas is flooded and full of food, it’s only a fraction of the habitat needed to draw ducks to Arkansas and give them the nutrition they need during and after migration. Private land accounts for so much more of our state’s landmass, and it’s the actions of those landowners that play a pivotal role in wildlife management for us all. If rice fields aren’t wet, hunters everywhere notice it in empty skies and empty game straps.”
Hunters are the driving force behind conservation. Booth said two of the three major funding sources for conservation in Arkansas come from hunters — the purchases of hunting licenses and duck stamps and the excise tax paid by manufacturers of firearms and ammunition.
“This mutually beneficial relationship provides the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission with the resources we need to increase habitat quality and availability, thus creating more opportunities for people to chase greenheads, both in quantity and quality,” he said.
Corey Dunn, Ducks Unlimited senior director of development for Arkansas, said some of the population numbers for this coming season are higher than originally forecast. The organization is committed to working with partners to ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to hunt and enjoy the state’s natural resources.
“DU is leveraging federal funds to provide $25 million to AGFC over the next 10 years,” he said. “We’ve committed to bringing more than $11 million three years into that.”
Ducks Unlimited has restored more than 1,500 acres in Arkansas back to native wetland, he added.
The projects and initiatives are designed to help Arkansas maintain one of its true cultural calling cards — a tradition that binds families, neighbors and even former strangers together.
“During duck season, hunters are gonna stop and buy fuel. They’re gonna go out to eat,” Dunn said. “They’re gonna go stock up at Mack’s and Fort Thompson. They’re gonna buy a new duck boat. There’s a lot of that involved. The impact is massive. It’s hard to calculate.”
Osborne said UAM has about 100 students enrolled in its natural resources program, 20 in his tract focused on wetlands ecology and management, 12 who are focused on waterfowl specifically and another four working on master’s degrees. About 80 percent of the students are from Arkansas, but the college draws students from across the country, he added.
“If you’re passionate about ducks, we have one of the most active waterfowl programs in the country,” Osborne said.
The natural resources program partners with AGFC, USFWS, DU and about 50 private landowners, including George Dunklin Jr.’s Five Oaks Agriculture Research and Education Center in Humphrey.
Osborne said his students receive their true education in the field.
“We are training the next generation to take care of our natural resources,” he said. “Our kids wear dirty boots.”
Osborne said there is work to do if tomorrow’s conservation leaders are to find the environment in the same or better shape than was left them.
“It’s gonna come back to bite us on the butt,” he said of the state’s waterfowl management. “It’s nibbling at our ankles now. We’re at half of where we were five, six, seven years ago. We have to have these hard talks now.”
Regardless of the numbers, there remains something special about Arkansas during duck season. The nationally acclaimed World Championship Duck Calling Contest and Wings Over the Prairie Festival will have its 89th installment over Thanksgiving weekend on the streets of Stuttgart, signaling the official start of a new season.
While more ducks in the air may help translate to more hunters on the ground, Stuttgart remains the unofficial duck hunting capital of the world, Hildebrand said.
“The tradition of coming to Stuttgart for many people is still something special,” she said.
RECREATION CONSERVATION
Officials work to ensure Arkansas remains the Natural State meets
By Steve Wilcox
Recreation and conservation do not always come together in the same thought, but what initially appear to be unrelated subjects are in truth blood relatives. It is fun in the sun and a walk through the trees meets a college-level earth science class. In the state of Arkansas, where the very term “nature” lives in the state’s important tourism branding, concern for the health and ecosystems of state parks, water resources, flood-control projects and public lands is served by conservation with a capital C. It is that important.
“We’re protecting, preserving and conserving the state’s national, natural, historical and cultural resources while, at the same time, we’re providing recreational and educational opportunities to the citizens of Arkansas and our visitors. We’re in a balance between use and conservation constantly,” said Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism and director of Arkansas State Parks. “We are charged with enhancing the economy through tourism, and that’s a part of what we do while leading in resource conservation. You can see this in different ways. In all of our state parks, one location may be more about protecting a historic view, while others may be protecting a specific natural resource.”
In a state with abundant natural resources, wild spaces and plenty of water, conservation means preservation but also ensuring the public has a seat at the protect-the-environment table. Lewis, who started in the state park system as a park interpreter, came to understand that people on a guided hike, a
Bull Shoals dam plays an important part in Arkansas conservation efforts. (Photos provided)
bike ride or an event soon connected with the location in a very personal way.
“I always felt that if visitors could come and have a great experience, it would lead to that conservation and preservation component because if someone loves what you offer, if they are connected to the resource, they’re going to want to preserve and protect it, as well,” Lewis said. “That’s always been a large part of who we are, building on the hospitality that we’re known for. We see a new generation of park rangers and conservationists that come into the department with new ideas. That innovation is what really keeps us going, looking at things in different ways and being progressive in our thinking about the lands that we [the state] own.”
MORE THAN PARKS ALONE
Arkansas conservation efforts also benefit from federal efforts aimed at completely unrelated issues such as flood control.
The White River watershed was under constant threat of flooding in the 1920s and ‘30s, leading to massive destruction and loss of life. When the U.S. government began building dams to address the chronic problem in the 1940s, recreation areas were born at Table Rock Lake in Missouri and Beaver Lake and Bull Shoals
Shea Lewis
Lake in Arkansas. Missouri’s Lake Taneycomo, another component of the government’s White River effort, was built in the early portion of the 20th century with hydroelectric power generation in mind.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for construction and maintenance of the manmade lakes in southern Missouri and northwest Arkansas. Just like efforts in the Arkansas state parks and other outdoor resources, recreation also means conservation. Bulls Shoals reservoir and dam offer an excellent example.
“You’ve got Bull Shoals Dam, and then you’ve got the reservoir that was built behind it, and then you’ve got the White River downstream, but all of that basically starts at the boundary line. It starts with maintenance,” said Jay Townsend, chief public affairs officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District. “We have public lands that were purchased for reservoir operations, and the team of rangers are always conducting boundary-line maintenance when they’re not performing tasks related to recreation.”
Those maintenance tasks are all connected to conservation and some environmental sleuthing — like watching for evidence of illegal tree cutting that can cause soil erosion.
Townsend is enthusiastic about conservation questions related to sites like Bull Shoals because conservation is part of the mission.
“I love it. We have natural resource specialists who go to school and learn about conservation, and they get jobs like park ranger,” he said. “This allows them to do multiple things, from managing parks and visitors and welcoming them to ensuring the shoreline around the reservoirs is clean and pristine.”
At sites like Bull Shoals, all of the efforts at the site, recreation, conservation and flood mitigation congeal into a singular effort to offer something for virtually everyone. That includes monitoring of the swim beaches, shoreline assessment and ongoing dam reviews in which engineers go through the concrete structure, crawling through every inch to look for anything that might be out of place.
“There’s been constant maintenance since the [Bull Shoals] Dam was put into service. We constantly evaluate the condition of the machinery,” Townsend said. “One thing I think that is cool is the oil lifespan inside that dam, which is used to operate the hydropower units. That oil is used for decades
because we clean it, filter it and refine it. We have a clean operating unit.”
There is also a shoreline management plan at Bull Shoals, a comprehensive plan that provides information and advice to landowners about maintaining areas adjacent to public lands.
“We have that shoreline management plan there so that they (landowners) know they can’t construct things on this public property. Oftentimes, we’ll go out in the field and find things that have been constructed on public property, which is encroachment or a trespass, so we have to go ask them to remove it. There are lots of things that go into protecting the dam and the lake.”
A LONG-TIME EFFORT
Petit Jean State Park in Morrilton was the first state park established in Arkansas.
“We’ve been in this business since 1927, when Petit Jean was first set aside for the idea of conservation, recreation and preservation,” Lewis said. “We just celebrated our centennial in 2023, so we’re looking at the next 100 years of Arkansas State Parks. One of the greatest gifts to the state of Arkansas has been Amendment 75 to the state constitution, which created the conservation tax or conservation amendment that supports Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Game and Fish, Keep Arkansas Beautiful and the division of Arkansas Heritage.
“That one-eighth-of-one-cent tax really gives us a leg up in this area, it gives us the funds, the dedicated recurring funds, that allow us to have continuity of programs in conservation, as well as maintenance and other areas. We’re so fortunate to have that.”
Jay Townsend
Both the state parks department and the Army Corps of Engineers look to the future with help from community groups, conservation organizations and private citizens. In some instances, these entities and individuals have specific knowledge and unique skill sets that are stronger than government departments, so aligning with those partners and working in unison with them is a key to the future success of public lands.
Petit Jean State Park in Morrilton
was the first state park established in
Arkansas.
“We engage the communities around the park, so if we’re making plans — like a controlled, prescribed burn — we can’t be successful without the engagement of the community around the state park,” Lewis said. “You have to work with landowners that are adjacent to the park. You have to communicate what is taking place. You have to instill confidence in the safety aspect. Parks are part of communities, even though some of them are in very rural areas. We have to engage the public in what’s taking place.”
Protecting endangered species, controlling invasive species, ensuring water quality, building trails into virgin forest areas — these are all examples of the intersection of recreation and water-resource management, including hydroelectric power generation and conservation. The linkage is on display every day. The Corps of Engineers’ efforts to ensure the preservation of endangered plants and animals are not beyond the Corps’ technical purview considering that like the state parks program, the Corps is on the front lines of conservation efforts.
“One of the big ongoing issues at the moment is about endangered and threatened bats that we have locally. Those
include the gray bat, the Indiana bat and the northern longeared bat,” Townsend said. “One of the unique critters that we have on Bull Shoals is the Tumbling Creek cavesnail. We make every effort to try to protect endangered species in accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We try to do a lot of prescribed burning to maintain the viability of our forested areas, try to keep areas open for pollinators, turkeys, deer. It’s an all-encompassing effort in order to try to conserve what we have and maintain it.”
Conservation is about maintaining both land and water resources, but the mostly unseen efforts such as oil reuse, controlled burning to ensure viability of nature areas, including management of invasive plant species, and controlling the water levels of lakes and reservoirs are the key, often mundane tasks, set to preserve the natural world in Arkansas for generations to come.
Was there a grand plan more than 100 years ago to merge recreation, preservation, conservation, power generation and flood control? No doubt some of those elements were considered together, but an organic melding has created a stew that serves all of the constituencies, from campers and tourists to folks who need electricity and clean water.
The entrance to the visitors center at Petit Jean State Park (far left); Davies Bridge at Petit Jean.
Never Run Out
Ammo Never Run Out
Sisters are Shootin’ it for Themselves
Women’s Ducks Unlimited event to revive interest among central Arkansas enthusiasts
By Dwain Hebda
Hunting is becoming a more diverse activity in Arkansas.
With an embarrassment of riches in lakes, rivers, forests and mountains, Arkansas supports an outdoor culture unrivaled by any other state in the union. From mountain biking and hiking to fishing, camping and all manner of hunting, the Natural State is aptly named, and the moniker is worn proudly by consumptive and nonconsumptive enthusiasts alike.
The face of the Arkansas outdoors consumer, however, is changing and changing fast, particularly in the arena of hunting. Once dominated by white men, hunting is becoming much more diverse, particularly among women who are taking to the turkey fields, deer woods and duck blinds in growing numbers.
Brandy Robinson of Cabot is one such enthusiast whose hunting and fishing experiences comprise some of her earliest memories of growing up in Jacksonville.
“My dad was a hunter, and I fished with him until he passed away when I was 7,” she said. “After that, I didn’t really have any males in my life growing up, but when I met my husband, he took me deer hunting, and I’ve killed several deer of my own.”
Robinson’s husband, Matt, is also a duck hunting enthusiast and an active participant in Ducks Unlimited, including as past Arkansas state chairman and current Region 4 vice president for the national organization. As such, the couple have been familiar sights at DU events and fundraising efforts throughout their relationship over the years, including heading a successful calendar program, sales from which have raised substantial funds.
All of that inspired Brandy to take on a new cause, reviving Ducks Unlimited activities just for women in central Arkansas.
“As Matt and I would help out with these events all over the state, I started to realize there weren’t any events locally just for the ladies,” she said. “The main DU events do have ladies raffles and stuff, but nothing that’s just specifically all about the women. I decided I wanted to kick one off.”
Across the state and nation, women are being hailed as a new force in outdoor activities. According to the National Rifle Association Hunters’ Leadership Forum, participation in hunting among men has been on the wane since the 1980s, when numbers dropped 16 percent for the decade. Meanwhile, female hunters doubled in number during the same time period, and today, women account for as much as 15 percent of total hunters in the U.S., the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found.
The trend has continued as perceptions and attitudes about women in the blind or on the stand continue to change. The NRA notes that nearly half of the households in the U.S. have a firearm and about a third of U.S. adults personally own a gun, which has led to a surge in women in some kind of shooting sports. To be precise, the organization puts the number of women in recreational shooting in the neighborhood of 15 million. Perhaps more important are the number of newcomers these sports attract every year. In target shooting alone, women ranked fifth among demographic categories for new target shooters in 2022, trailing African Americans, Democrats, Hispanics and 18- to 34-year-olds, respectively. Of women who participated in the activity that year, 1 in 4 was a first-timer.
Other recent studies show interest is high to try hunting, as well. Outdoor Life reported that in a recent survey of college students who had never hunted but indicated they might like to, nearly half were women. In another recent study from June 2023, Seattle Pacific University researchers found that among 63 modern hunter-gatherer cultures, 73 percent of women not only participated in hunting but taught others to hunt, used a wider variety of weapons than men and were key to providing wild meat for their families.
In Arkansas, hunting culture reflects a similar trend of
The main DU events do have ladies raffles and stuff, but nothing that’s just specifically all about the women. I decided I wanted to kick one off.
— Brandy Robinson, chair of Ducks and Divas
Brandy Robinson
more women heading out to track their quarry, both with their families and with each other and both formally and informally. Groups that have popped up, including Shoot Like a Girl, Sisterhood Outdoors and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman program, have all given women the chance to learn, enjoy and pass on outdoor skills, including hunting, in the company of other women.
The rising tide of women in the outdoors is also reflected in the governance of the AGFC itself, where in 2019, Commission Vice Chairman Anne Marie Doramus was the first woman appointed to a full term as commissioner in the state’s history. She was joined by ex-officio commissioner Michelle Evans-White, a professor and community/ ecosystem ecologist at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Tickets for the event are $40 for adults and $25 for ages 17 and younger. Sponsorship opportunities and full-table packages are also available.
Ducks Unlimited has long welcomed women to its work to preserve and protect habitat in the U.S. and Canada. In Arkansas, in fact, the state group currently features women in positions of leadership at the district level and on the state board of directors and has dedicated co-chairpersons who specifically serve women members.
“Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization, with more than 4,000 grassroots fundraising events each year across the nation,” Brandy Robinson said. “It is mostly volunteer based; the chapters are run by volunteers, and they cover all the grassroots events in Arkansas. DU spends 80 percent of its revenue directly on conservation, and since its inception in 1937, it has conserved more than 18 million acres of waterfowl habitat throughout North America.”
Central Arkansas once had a thriving female DU presence, complete with its own events just for women, an effort that has laid dormant for more than a decade. Robinson is currently looking to revive those efforts with Ducks and Divas, an event that will take place in spring at the Jacksonville Community Center ballroom. The April 19 event will welcome female hunters, conservationists and outdoors enthusiasts of all ages to an evening of food and fun for which all proceeds will directly support the work of Ducks Unlimited.
Brandy said in addition to raising money, she wants the event to be a launchpad for female hunters to find others of similar interests in central Arkansas, joining a like-minded community that supports all women in the outdoors, regardless of experience. She said even women who do not duck hunt can get behind DU’s message of wetlands and habitat protection.
“My biggest thing is I want this land to be here for my kids and my grandkids, for future generations,” she said. “I think all women kind of feel that way. We want the best for our children and future generations. We want that land to be there and for our kids to be able to enjoy the same things that we got to enjoy.
“What I’ve always been told is if it’s good for the ducks, it’s good for other wildlife and people, so even if you aren’t a duck hunter and you don’t really care if the ducks come through, if you care about other species and about just nature in general, this is a way to preserve that.”
To purchase tickets to Ducks and Divas or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, scan the QR code at right.
Ducks Unlimited has long welcomed women to its work to preserve and protect habitat in the U.S. and Canada.
Seeing the Forest for the TREES
Local banker advocates for forestry with an eye on the environment
By Todd Traub
Alarge portion of Ross Whipple’s career has involved cutting down trees, but it is hard to find a bigger fan of forests than the veteran banker and forest landowner.
Whipple, 73, is president and CEO of Horizon Capital Partners, president of Horizon Timber Services and chairman of the board of trustees at the Ross Foundation. A member of the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame, he has been involved in the lumber industry in some capacity since he attended Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, but above and beyond the clear cutting, Whipple considers himself a conservationist.
“It’s all about the diversity of the ecosystem, and you need to keep it in balance,” Whipple said. “You can treat the environment as it should be treated, and you can still grow value if you do it right.”
Horizon Capital is one of the largest family-owned land and timber businesses in southwest Arkansas and manages about 70,000 acres. The
Arkadelphia-based Ross Foundation was founded in 1966 and manages close to 64,000 acres of timberland for conservation purposes while also administering a philanthropic grants program benefiting the people of Clark County.
The acreage was accumulated in large acquisitions, including big purchases from International Paper when it began divesting its land base.
Horizon Capital privately leases some land for hunting or other private uses, while Ross Foundation ground is mostly for public use. The business and philanthropic sides are wholly separate, Whipple said.
The foundation is a private 501(c)(3), Whipple said, noting that “there are certain lines with a private foundation due to its tax-exempt status that we don’t cross. We don’t intermingle employees. We keep everything separate.”
Before he attended HSU, Ross’ distant cousin Jane Ross, who had no immediate family of her own, gave him a job at the family’s 30,000-acre timber business, which was started by her grandfather J.G. Clark in the 1880s. Whipple attended school and spent most of the rest of his time working for the admittedly demanding Ross, fielding pre-dawn phone calls and having to cancel a lot of weekend plans when work beckoned.
His first land holding was 500 acres Ross gave him as a gift.
“Of course, with her, I played 1,000 questions, and I know it drove her crazy, but I thought that was one of the best ways to learn,” Whipple said. “She exposed me to so much that kids my age didn’t get exposed to.”
Whipple learned the lumber business, from sawmills to high level meetings, with all the travel that entailed. With a degree in business from HSU and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Whipple returned to the family business but began to segue into finance.
He engineered mergers and acquisitions at Arkadelphia’s Merchants and
Planters Bank that led to the creation of Horizon Bancorp, later sold for 3.5 times its book value. He founded Summit Bancorp in 2000. The institution had $1.2 billion in assets at the time of its sale to Bank of the Ozarks, now Bank OZK.
These days, he is more focused on the land and timber management side and the work of the Ross Foundation.
“Basically, for the most part, we do manage this resource for the long term,” Whipple said. “I don’t think anybody’s in it for just 25 years and leaving it.”
While trees must be cut down if people are going to build things with lumber, proper practices can nonetheless lead to thriving ecosystems, Whipple said.
“Reestablishing your forest through a clear cut is not always bad. You just don’t need to do it all,” he said. “You create diversity within your forest. These great, deep, dark, preserved forests don’t attract a lot of songbirds. A clear cut may attract a certain butterfly or a certain songbird that you wouldn’t see in a closed canopy.”
The wood in Arkansas is primarily pine, but hardwood is more ideal and has more value.
“We love hardwood for what it does, what it grows, for the diversity of the habitat,” Whipple said, “but you have to manage it properly, and you have to manage it for a longer rotation.”
A truly industrial forest, Whipple said, aims for a 25-year tree rotation. Horizon Capital is closer to a 35- to 40-year rotation, he added, while foundation timber is rotated closer to every 45 years.
Lumber from a 40-year-old tree is stronger than that of a 25-year-old tree, Whipple said, and the longer rotation is better for carbon reduction.
“One of the largest carbon sequestration events occurs in a tree, and I think that’s important for the environment,” Whipple said. “A tree is a great store of carbon, and I think it’s important that we don’t emit more carbon into the atmosphere than we need to.”
Other practices include smaller acreage clear cuts and clear cuts that are in
It’s all about the diversity of the ecosystem, and you need to keep it in balance. You can treat the environment as it should be treated, and you can still grow value if you do it right.
— Ross Whipple
harmony with the local topography. Horizon does not cut through creeks, leaving a buffer between forests and clear cut areas, and also does not cut up to a creek’s edge, leaving a filtration system to help keep water and runoff clean.
Whipple said forests provide balance for the environment and ecosystems and noted that not all wildlife is huntable. From bugs and butterflies to bears, a well-managed forest serves as an opportunity to perpetuate numerous species.
“Which wouldn’t be there if it was just an open dirt field,” Whipple said.
THE GROUNDWATER game
Modern farmers are using tech and resources to better manage a vital resource
By Todd Traub
In an agricultural state such as Arkansas, water management is critical not just for producing crops but in helping farmers with their bottom line.
Agriculture is the leading industry in Arkansas, and the state is the No. 1 rice producer in the United States. According to the Nature Conservancy, about 8 billion gallons of water are used each day during growing season in Arkansas, which, Farm Progress states, ranks third in the nation at 4.25 million irrigated acres.
“Obviously, it’s crucial,” said Evan Teague, vice president of environmental issues at Arkansas Farm Bureau. “Without an adequate supply of clean water, growing the food, fiber and shelter needed by our state, our country and the world would be impossible. State and federal regulatory agencies recognize the importance by listing agriculture as one of the primary designated uses.”
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Ser-
vice estimated that about 80 percent of irrigation demand in Arkansas — which is second in the nation for volume of irrigation water pumped — is provided by groundwater from the Lower Mississippi Basin, and of that, only about 48 percent is sustainable.
It is tough enough dealing with high input costs, lowered commodity prices and the unpredictable weather events that are always a farmer’s nemesis, Teague said, but water is one of a farmer’s biggest annual expenses.
“I think the biggest complaint is that the average person doesn’t realize how much farmers are already doing to conserve water,” Teague said. “There is a perception that farmers turn a pump on and walk away because the water is ‘free’ when, in fact, energy usage to operate irrigation pumps is one of a farmer’s largest input costs. Reducing water usage and being as efficient as possible is in their best financial interest.”
Over the past couple of decades, however, farmers have been accessing a number of methods and programs in a quest to get the most use out of a limited water supply while saving money or cutting costs.
One such practice, perhaps the most important according to Teague, is field leveling or grading, which has made possible the adoption of other practices. Leveling makes irrigation more efficient by distributing water evenly and has three primary types — natural, or ungraded, which is just as it sounds; precision, which creates a constant slope; and zero-grade, in which an entire field is rendered flat.
Leveling or grading opens the door to other practices and technology such as flexible and corrosion resistant Polypipe, which can better withstand environmental stressors; Pipe Planner, which helps create more efficient irrigation systems; multiple-inlet irrigation in rice production; tailwater recovery pits or systems with in-field recycling of irrigation water; alternate wetting and drying in rice production; and irrigation automation, which can use phone apps to start or stop pumps remotely.
“These practices can be used individually but really make a difference when used conjunctively,” Teague said.
Crop rotation has long been used to help with soil and crop health. Cover crop rotation — planting crops after harvest to emerge in late fall or early winter — helps with water efficiency by improving soil structure and nutrients. “Zero-till” methods of tilling avoid plowing or disking in favor of a more precise planting method using a notill drill and are often used in conjunction with cover crop rotation.
No-till minimally disturbs the soil and reduces sediment and nutrient transport, but some farmers have been skeptical, primarily because they have limited experience with the practice, Teague said.
“This is where costshare programs as administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and county conservation districts can allow farmers to experiment with these practices without taking on the full financial risk,” he said.
Among the many entities that exist to help farmers with water management are the UA Division of Agriculture; the Natural Resources Conservation Service; the USDA Agricultural Research Service; county conservation districts; and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division.
“NRD has tax credit programs that incentivize the construction of on-farm storage and tailwater recovery systems,” Teague said.
Teague noted a number of programs that Arkansas Farm Bureau works with and supports to promote water conservation work and research, including the Arkansas Discovery Farms program headed by Mike Daniels; the irrigation, management and conservation research being conducted by UA professor and water management engineer Chris Henry, who hosts an annual Most Crop per Drop competition; and the work of the
I think the biggest complaint is that the average person doesn’t realize how much farmers are already doing to conserve water.
—Evan
Teague, Arkansas Farm Bureau
USDA-ARS’ Joe Massey and Michele Reba in Jonesboro, who are researching irrigation automation, water conservation and greenhouse gas reduction in rice production.
The scientists and researchers may be conducting independent work, Teague said, but “they are all working collaboratively and sharing their research. We, in turn, provide opportunities for them to share with our membership and the agricultural community generally.”
While water management has improved, especially over the past 10 years, the question is now, “How do we go from good to better to best?” Teague said.
“I believe the greatest challenge to moving up the scale is risk mitigation and increasingly incorporating technology into irrigation management,” he said. “It will never be fully automated, but automation can reduce the time commitment required by farmers.”
Arkansas farmers are able to harvest their crops each fall because of water conservation practices. (Photos provided)
GEAR FOR THE TRAIL
By Dwain Hebda
When Russell Roberson talks outdoor equipment, people listen. An engineer by training and an outdoorsman to the bone, the founder of Alpha Innovations has endured the same frustration as many of his customers — flimsy accessories for customizing his side-by-side that cannot take what the Natural State dishes out.
“I have land. I have dogs. I like to hunt. I have a side-byside, and I tried some products to customize it that were on the market, and they just weren’t up to muster,” he said. “I’m not the worst on stuff, but I do use it. The first rack system I had I tore up in, like, three months.
“As an engineer, you know, we’re trained to solve problems. Sometimes we solve problems that people don’t know they have. I saw this as a problem that could be solved through better engineering and better materials.”
The experience led Roberson to design a new system made in America and built to take whatever punishment hunters, landowners, emergency personnel or garden-variety outdoor enthusiasts would ever encounter.
“Ours is a higher end product,” he said. “It’s way more heavy duty. It’s modular and very customizable. Most of all, it’s something that will last for years, season after season.”
Alpha Innovations’ modular systems transform side-bysides for a variety of usage. With nearly endless configurations of racks and platforms, the humble swamp buggy is transformed into a highly functional vehicle that is immensely more practical.
Alpha Innovations redefines upscale outdoors
Alpha Innovations in Russellville has positioned its products as top-end components for serious side-by-side applications at work or play. (Photos provided)
“Well, it starts with the do-all rack system developed mainly for trail riding, working and hunting,” he said. “There’s several systems out there that are just for duck hunting, just for trail riding. We didn’t want that. We wanted it modular and adaptable. We started off with just the basic front rack and a rear rack, and then from the rear rack, we got the roof platform and the extended roof platform.
“Then we got into systems that are a little more for work, making a Milwaukee Packout accessory for a more industrial application. It works out well for keeping tools secure, dry and dust-free when you’re out on the trail. We’re just trying to hit the different sectors of the market without getting locked into one.”
The Russellville-based company, which launched a couple of years ago, has positioned Alpha Innovations products as top-end components for serious side-by-side applications at work or play.
“I have a friend who works for Indian lands out in Oklahoma, and they use their side-by-sides for a lot of prescribed burns,” Roberson said. “He brought us his list of problems, and we worked with him to develop a system that met their needs, that carried the amount of fuel they wanted to carry, had the size pump they wanted, the amount of water they wanted, how many tools they needed to carry. When you’re out there on that fire line, it’s important to have all that stuff easily accessible and able to refill and go.
“Duck hunting in Arkansas is big for us, but we also
have a big market in Texas where it’s more predator hunting. We’re really getting a lot of traction in that market with shooting platforms and gun mounts and things as guys keep control of the predators on their land.”
The company is Roberson’s second venture, the first being Omega Solutions, a 24-year-old firm that designs and manufactures equipment for the lumber industry and industrial sawmills. He leverages Omega’s existing manufacturing capabilities to produce Alpha’s stock and custom components right in Russellville.
The modular systems are rigorously tested beyond what most people will subject them to and installed by the company’s expert employees, who transform stock rigs into the burly, go-anywhere, do-anything machines of customers’ dreams.
The only thing the business cannot do, Roberson unapologetically said, is anything approaching cheap.
“We’re proud to have created a higherend product,” he said. “It’s quite a bit more expensive than some of our competitors, designed for the guys who are really going to use and even misuse or abuse it.”
Roberson has spread the word about his product through trade shows, where
Alpha Innovations’ modular systems transform sideby-sides for a variety of usage.
the company’s fully rigged display models routinely steal the spotlight.
“You can look at our stuff online, but a website really doesn’t do it justice,” he said. “We hit the trade show circuit really hard so people can touch and feel it. Everywhere we go, we’re the most photographed booth. When we put our stuff out, immediately, everybody’s got their cell phone cameras out.
“We had a big overland show up in Missouri, and there are, like, $300,000 rigs set up, and here we are with a side-by-side, and people are literally coming up, saying, ‘Man, this is the coolest thing at this whole show.’”
In addition to online sales, Roberson has also reached agreements with a limited number of side-by-side dealerships, and while more are in the works, he is as particular about his retail partners as he is about the product itself.
“We’re looking to branch out, but we are very selective in the dealers we choose. We don’t want overlapping territories, and we don’t want two partners that are too close together,” he said. “We’re also only interested in dealerships with a good
reputation. If they aren’t good dealers, we don’t want to be associated with them.”
He is equally measured when it comes to managing Alpha Innovations’ growth, a strategy that has paid off throughout Omega Solution’s history. He said steady, controlled expansion is the secret to keeping quality high and employee loyalty running deep.
“We want to stay relatively small and nimble,” he said. “We have really good people, really good engineering, really good fabrication. We can build almost anything anybody wants to buy, and we’ve still kept it under 50 employees, all of whom I can keep busy. All the guys that get really, really big seem to have to lay everybody off when the market changes every five years, you know? Me, I consider my employees my family, and I’m going to do whatever I can to keep my people employed.”
Founder Russell Roberson Roberson said steady, controlled expansion is the secret to keeping quality.
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
By Dwain Hebda
Bears and gators and hogs,ohmy!
By Dwain Hebda
During the first half of the 1800s, as a nod to its prodigious population of Louisiana bruins, Arkansas earned one its earliest, albeit unofficial, nicknames, the Bear State. A century later, the state’s resident bear population was reduced to less than 50 animals and moniker hawkers shifted to the Wonder State, as in, “I wonder where all the bears have gone.”
If 2024 is any indication, it may be time to reestablish the earlier nickname to replace the Natural State that came into official usage in 1995. This year has been the Summer of the Bear in Arkansas, not only in the wilds of the Ouachita and Ozark mountains, but in metro areas from Searcy to west Little Rock.
Bears are not the only unusual wildlife visitors to catch residents’ attention these days, however. Thanks to a successful reintroduction program that dates back to the early 1970s, alligators are now becoming common sights in and along the state’s waterways. As well, feral hogs continue to increase in number of
specimens and size of territory in spite of, not because of, wildlife management authorities.
All in all, it is a wild time to live in Arkansas. The following is a summary by species of where the wild things are.
BLACK BEARS
Ursus americanus luteolus have enjoyed a long and colorful history in Arkansas. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Louisiana black bears were documented in abundance by early explorers and lived throughout the Ozark Plateau, the Ouachita Mountains, and throughout canebrakes, river valleys and the Arkansas Delta.
Native people were the first to hunt the bruins for meat and fur, but the forthcoming hordes of European and white settlers were more interested in harvesting bear fat as a fuel source for oil lamps, as insect repellent and as hair gel.
The once plentiful black bear population in Arkansas nearly disappeared by 1927 but has since rebounded.
The bear was also one of the territory’s first tourist attractions, drawing foreign outdoorsmen and hunters to the area for a chance at squaring off with the majestic beasts. Some of these sportsmen such as famed German tourist and hunter Friedrich Gerstäcker published their exploits, which only increased interest in the experience.
Following the Civil War, bears became viewed less as noble quarry and more as dangerous nuisances. Stories about attacks on livestock and humans, many of them exaggerated or fabricated, led to the wholesale slaughter of bears by locals and market hunters alike. By 1927, only about 45 remained, leading officials to outlaw bear season and, 30 years later, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission began releasing expatriated Canadian and Minnesotan black bears into the wild. With the ban on hunting remaining in place for another three decades, a stable bear population was established.
Today, tightly controlled harvest is allowed in six of the eight AGFC zones during the fall hunting season, which speaks not only to the population of bears, but their range of territory.
“Bears have definitely expanded from repopulation efforts,” said David Luker, assistant chief of the Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Division. “Like any animal, they generally have a home range but as population increases, things are going to be pushed out. That’s generally how a lot of these bears show up in these unusual areas, like in town.”
Luker said he was not surprised nor has he been alarmed by the bear encounters reported to the agency of late, saying, in most cases, a bruin that shows up in a populated area is likely lost or merely exploring, perhaps scouting out its own domain.
“It could be any bear, but more times than not, it’s going to probably be younger bears that are just out exploring,” he said. “It really happens a lot with the young males, the ones that get pushed out and have to go set up their own territory.
“Another thing that could cause bears to want to move is food sources. If we have conditions where there’s food sources that are limited, they’re going to search out and find something to eat.”
Left to their druthers, bears typically avoid humans, although as Luker said, the food situation can send them to civilization, where they find sustenance in garbage or from pet food left outside. Done frequently enough, their natural wariness of humans tends to dull.
“You take a deer, for example — you go down in the woods and a deer sees you, it tears out running,” he said. “A deer that’s been acclimated to people around houses and subdivisions, they’ll stand in the yard. You walk down the sidewalk, and that deer will just watch you walk by.
“Same thing with bears. Bears that are generally raised in close proximity to civilization are going to be a little more comfortable, and as time goes on, they’ll get a little more comfortable. People putting out dog food, cat food, that’s going to bring them in. If they’re desperate and they’re hungry, they may not feel altogether comfortable, but they gotta eat.”
Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold
Experts say bears tend to avoid humans and generally only attack when surprised. In most cases, their instinct is to take defensive measures such as simply running away. That especially goes for black bears, which rarely attack humans unless cubs are involved, Travel Experience reported.
When hiking, go in a group or make noise to reduce the chance of inadvertently sneaking up on a bear, thereby startling it. If faced with one, stay calm, face it and make yourself look as big as possible. Keep talking in a low voice, but do not scream or yell at it or make sudden movements. Backing away slowly is a good, nonthreatening move, but people should never turn their backs on a bear or try to outrun or outclimb it up a tree. All things being equal, a black bear will generally shuffle off.
Rare though it is, black bears can attack, and when they do, they are being predatory, and there is just one option left — fight for one’s life. Grabbing something to hit it in the face and nose is great, but know this is a serious situation involving a creature with bad intentions. DO NOT PLAY DEAD. Experts say a bear that gets resistance will most likely give up for more yielding prey.
The best defense is to be aware when you are in bear country. Take posted warnings seriously, and pack bear spray when hiking or camping. Remember, bear spray is not bug spray, so do not fog the campsite before bed time, trying to ward them off. Instead, use it like mace but at a greater distance.
AMERICAN ALLIGATOR
More commonly associated with Louisiana and Florida, Alligator mississippiensis actually has a long historical residency in the Natural State, where it thrived in the state’s rivers, ponds, lakes, bayous, oxbows and cypress swamps.
The Arkansas Gazette, in May 1828, provided one of the earliest recorded accounts of the creatures, reporting the killing of an 11-foot gator on the north side of the Arkansas River at Little Rock. Starting in 1860, the creatures suffered a century of population loss due to habitat depletion dating back to the 1780s and unregulated hunting that reduced numbers to an all-time low both in Arkansas and elsewhere.
State and federal entities reacted to protect the creatures. The Arkansas Game and
Fish Commission passed new restrictions in 1961, and Congress listed the alligator an endangered species six years later. Alligators rebounded from their dire straits over the next 20 years, moving from endangered to threatened status by 1977, and were delisted altogether in 1987.
For 12 years starting in 1972, the AGFC reintroduced the American alligator to its former Arkansas homeland, releasing nearly 3,000 gators from stock in Louisiana. Most were released on private land at the request of landowners looking to control other nuisance wildlife, but they were also released in the wetlands around Arkansas Post near Dumas in Arkansas County and the marshes of Millwood State Park near Ashdown in Little River County.
During the early 2000s, population surveys showed sufficient numbers to introduce limited hunting of alligators in Arkansas by special permit. Despite being limited to three of the state’s five alligator management zones over just two fourday periods, the hunts have steadily yielded more of the reptiles taken. According to the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, hunters set a record for alligator harvest last year, bagging 202 alligators on public and private lands.
ShouldMeanwhile, gator sightings have been called in from farther and farther north, suggesting the creatures’ habitat is spreading.
“We have great habitat for them, as you can see, and the population definitely has expanded to where we’ve got a good number of alligators in the state,” Luker said. “We do surveys, and we get reports that show us they are starting
Smile and Stay Back
one encounter an alligator, be it in a waterway or the backyard, experts shared one simple instruction: Stay away from it.
“Honestly, they prefer to avoid people,” biologist Becky McPeake was quoted as saying in a recent blog post by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Agency. “It’s when they become used to being around people that they become dangerous. Some people want to feed them for some strange reason. Please don’t. It can have terrible consequences for both people and pets.”
Gators can be surprisingly fast on land — faster than they can swim, Surf Researcher states — but only in very short bursts because their big bodies and short legs are not built for running. That said, proximity is key, and McPeake recommended cutting the beast at least a 60-foot berth. If one has to run, run away in a straight line.
A far more dangerous situation is encountering an alligator in the water or on a shoreline,
where gators generally feed.
Let’s not mince words here: Humans cannot outswim alligators, which can reach 20 miles per hour in the water, or outmuscle them if they successfully bite and roll, a move that drowns gators’ air-breathing prey. Once a gator clamps on, most people are in deep trouble, but fight back anyway, aiming for the tip of the nose or the eyes, in the hopes the animal lets go in favor of finding something easier.
“Fight like hell. Don’t go willingly,”
Frank Mazzotti, professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, told ABC News. “The bigger fight you put up, the more likely it’s going to let you go and say, ‘This isn’t worth it.’”
to expand their habitat to some degree. Alligators generally are not like a bear. They can’t move quite as fast, and their movement is generally going to be along waterways.
“They will cross over land, there’s no doubt, and we’ve moved numerous nuisance alligators that were walking across an ag field or on the side of the highway. Generally, though, when they’re doing that, they’re just moving from one waterway to another.”
Luker is quick to add that there is a limit to continued alligator sprawl, since the potential for cold, snow and ice increases as the creatures head farther north. He put the “Arkansas Gator Line” at Interstate 40 around Little Rock.
“Weather conditions in Arkansas will definitely constrict that zone,” he said. “That hard freeze we had a few years ago or when we got 12 to 15 inches of snow on the ground for two weeks, that’s very hard on alligators. They basically hibernate in winter. They might make a burrow on the bank, or a lot of them will actually submerge down in the water, where they can lay for hours without breathing, and then float up for air.
“If we start getting freezing temperatures, a lot of these alligators will stick their nose up right above the water surface, and you can see where it’s actually frozen around an alligator’s snout. Sometimes if
it freezes over so hard and fast the alligator is not strong enough to bust through the ice, he literally drowns. We lost a lot of alligators during that last hard freeze that way, so that limits how far an alligator can really progress north because the colder the temperatures get, the likelihood of him surviving in that environment goes way down.”
FERAL HOGS
In 1909, University of Arkansas head coach Hugo Bezdek was asked for his assessment of what was then the Arkansas Cardinals football team. Bezdek described the squad as resembling a “wild band of razorback hogs” for their fierce style of play. The team went undefeated that year, and by the following season, the mascot was changed, and fans have been calling the Hogs ever since.
In the wilds of Arkansas, however, feral hogs have engendered few fans. Sus scrofa are everywhere in the state, non-native invaders that adapt to virtually any terrain, are impervious to weather, propagate quickly and have few predators. Female hogs start breeding at 8 months and are capable of producing two litters of up to 12 piglets every 12 to 15 months.
According to the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, feral hogs cause any number of issues, from property, crop and pasture damage to water pollution and spreading disease to livestock. They do not just munch on crops; they root up the landscape such that Smithsonian Magazine termed them the “rototillers of nature” in a piece about the problem.
The hogs also compete with native wildlife for food supplies,
wreck habitat, and even consume small mammals, the young of larger mammals, and eggs of wild ground-nesting birds such as bobwhites and turkeys.
Hogs can live as long as 25 years and are tough, aggressive beasts capable of reaching 30 miles per hour on a dead run and equipped with fearsome 3- to 5-inch-long tusks. Little wonder then, that Luker considers feral hogs the most pressing threat in the Arkansas ecosystem, well ahead of bears and alligators.
“We’re way worse off than we were 10 years ago, for sure,” he said. “If you look at maps from 10 years ago to maps as of today where hogs are located, they’re in a lot more areas, and unless you really put a very strategic plan in place to control them, they’re going to steadily expand.
“There’s been a lot of different research, and probably, on average, most hog populations expand about 4 miles a year roughly. Some of the research I’ve read shows they could go up to a maximum of 8 to 10 miles, possibly.”
Arkansas is not alone in its battle with wild swine. According to Modern Farmer, there are an estimated 6.5 million to 9 million feral hogs terrorizing at least 35 states. The rooting horde carries a steep price, anywhere from $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion in damages and control costs.
“The [U.S. Department of Agriculture] has referred to the phenomenon as ‘the feral swine bomb,’” the magazine reported.
Experts are divided on what to do about the feral hog problem. Liberalizing hunting guidelines are one seemingly obvious solution; however, the animals’ natural intelligence causes it to take evasive maneuvers. That can actually make the problem worse as animals scatter and establish new sounders, or family groups, in different locations.
The AGFC warns against hunting, favoring instead largescale trapping, which is more efficient and economical in capturing the whole sounder at once. The agency quoted studies that show at least 66 percent of a hog population must be removed each year just to maintain current numbers. Hunting has shown to reduce hog populations by 8 to 50 percent.
“At the current rate, they’re definitely going to be moving into more residential areas as the population expands,” Luker said. “Hogs are a way worse nuisance. They can get acclimated to people quicker, and they will actually move in and cause a lot more damage than alligators or bears. You have 30 pigs move on your yard or your cop fields, and you’ve got major problems.
“The state is doing some great things. We’ve got programs where people can get grants to get funds to buy traps. We’re working with different agencies in the state and putting things out there to help people trap their pigs and get them off their land. That’s definitely going to help because you have to use these smart traps to trap hogs. Any hog that is not trapped is just educated, and that makes them very difficult to catch.”
Do Not Call This Hog
Like alligators and bears, feral hogs tend to stay away from people, but as the number of animals increases and sounders overlap with inhabited areas, attacks are becoming more frequent. Stone Age Man reported hog attacks are more common than those by wolves and cited one study that showed while there were only about 400 attacks between 1825 and 2012, 70 percent of those had occurred since 2020.
Large, solitary males are the most dangerous, especially when cornered or if they feel threatened in some way. About twice as many attacks happen in winter as in summer.
As previously stated, hogs are extremely fast and remarkably agile given their size, so outrunning one from a reasonably close proximity does not favor the human. What does play in their favor is the swine have relatively poor eyesight, so depending on distance, a hog might not notice a person at all, allowing the person to quietly sneak away.
Hogs also cannot climb, so in a pinch, shimmying up a tree to a height of about 6 feet should put one out of harm’s reach.
In a human versus hog matchup, however, it is best to grab something to fight with. Do everything to keep your footing. Finding oneself on the ground in a hog attack is bad news because it exposes the human to being gored by the animal’s tusks. Fight ferociously as long as the pig does; even though attacks generally only last a minute or so, it can feel a lot longer in the heat of battle.
We have been proud to feature many of the state’s most prominent businesses in Arkansas Money & Politics. These businesses represent the entire spectrum of industry in Arkansas, from local restaurants to trucking companies.
AMP asked its reader to nominate those businesses they considered “the best” in their fields. We think all Arkansas businesses are the best in their fields, but the top three vote-getters in each category are recognized and listed alphabetically in the pages that follow as the AMP “Best of 2024.”
ACCOUNTING FIRM/CPA
BROWN ROGERS & CO.
Denman, Hamilton & Associates CPA is a full-service accounting firm specializing in business advisory services that empower business owners to win in the marketplace through proven tax and growth strategies that work thanks to a highly qualified team led by partners Neil Denman and Deron Hamilton.
FLEXION POINT
ADVERTISING AGENCY
ROCK CITY DIGITAL
SIXTYONE CELSIUS
In a world where it’s harder than ever for brands to stand out, Little Rock’s Stone Ward helps clients come out on top using strategic thinking and a constant pursuit of big ideas.
AG/FARM EQUIPMENT
GREENWAY EQUIPMENT
HEARTLAND EQUIPMENT
HOBBS FARM IMPLEMENT
APPRAISER
Since its 1967 founding by father-and-son duo Tom and J.T. Ferstl, Ferstl Valuation Services has grown into one of the oldest and largest full-service appraisal firms in Arkansas. Its services include commercial and residential real estate, expert testimony, and consulting services.
MAC VALUATION GROUP
PINNACLE APPRAISAL CO.
ARCHITECT
HERRON HORTON ARCHITECTS, JEFF AND JENNIFER HERRON
POLK STANLEY WILCOX, REESE ROWLAND
BRAM KEAHEY
Bram Keahey is partner, manager and project architect at Taggart Architects in North Little Rock’s Argenta district. Keahey has been with the firm for 31 of its 50 years.
ARCHITECTURE FIRM
At Cromwell Architects Engineers, a successful facility is much more than good architectural design. Success is based on the resolution of complex solutions, with the application of the widest range of technical and aesthetic skills.
POLK STANLEY WILCOX
Taggart Architects is a distinguished architectural firm with a legacy spanning 50 years. Founded in 1974, the firm has cultivated a reputation for delivering superior architectural solutions characterized by high quality and cost efficiency.
ARKANSAS COMPANY
ORIGAMI SAKE
Petit Jean Meats in Morrilton was founded nearly 100 years ago as Morrilton Packing Co. by German immigrant Felix Schlosser. Still owned by the same family, Petit Jean Meats is one of the most popular brands in Arkansas.
The team at the Croissanterie in Little Rock is not just slinging pastries; team members do it with a flair that is uniquely Arkansas and now in multiple locations.
AUCTION COMPANY
BLACKMON AUCTIONS
ROY DUDLEY ESTATE SALES
WILSON AUCTIONEERS
AUTO SERVICE
BALE CHEVROLET
Lexus, a
company,
been
tomers since 1989. With customer service its No. 1 priority, Parker Lexus goes above and beyond to serve all Arkansas drivers.
RUSSELL CHEVROLET CO.
BANK
For more than 60 years, Arvest has been committed to focusing on the customer above all else. This dedication has remained the same as it has grown to become one of the largest banks in Arkansas. The bank provides a complete range of financial services, including mortgage loans and mortgage services.
SIMMONS BANK
Stone Bank has six locations in Arkansas and is currently remodeling its new headquarters in Little Rock on Chenal Parkway, which features four drive-thru lanes, Saturday banking and a reimagined, state-of- the-art banking center.
Parker
Parker Automotive
has
serving cus-
Founded in 1990 by Greg Hatcher, The Hatcher Agency has been Arkansas’ leading employee benefits agency since its inception and has grown to become the largest organically developed agency in the nation. We offer group medical benefits to employers of all sizes, delivering what we call “Outrageous Service.” As the top producer for all major health carriers, we are able to guarantee the Lowest Price in the market.
For trusting us for 75 years to bring you, your loved ones, your company, your community peace of mind… thank you. It is Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s mission to improve the health and financial security of the members and communities we serve. And it’s our privilege to help look out for your physical, emotional and social health, connecting you with resources, and helping you navigate the healthcare system — so you and the ones you love can live your best life, your whole life long. Take good care, Arkansas.
And, congratulations to Curtis Barnett for being selected an AMP Best CEO and Gray Dillard for being selected an AMP Best COO and to the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas for being selected an AMP Best for Foundations. We believe they do great things for our state; thankful you do, too.
YEARS
Thank you Arkansas Money and Politics Readers for trusting us and voting us as AMP Best Sign Company of 2024! We are proud to serve the state of Arkansas.
Over 60 years of experience and we’re always looking to do better. Thank you for choosing us.
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BMW of Little Rock
BUSINESS INSURANCE AGENCY
CHRIS MOSES
FALL INTO STYLE
Sunstar Insurance of Arkansas is an independent agency with a wide array of products and companies to choose from and more than 200 years combined experience in the insurance industry.
BMW of Little Rock
Since 1990, Little Rock’s Hatcher Agency, the largest organically grown company of its kind in the country, has been the home of outrageous customer service and the state’s top-
PROUDLY OWNED AND OPERATED BY McLARTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
BMW of Little Rock is home to a large selection of new BMW models, certified pre-owned vehicles and used cars. In addition, the dealership has an on-site automotive service department with professional technicians ready to provide maintenance and repairs.
MILLIE WARD
In her role as agency president, Millie Ward is truly a Hall of Famer. She was named in 2015 to the Sam M. Walton Arkansas Business Hall of Fame. She is also widely recognized as a business influencer, leader and speaker.
BUSINESS CATERER FOR EVENTS
GINA’S CATERING
Whether planning a corporate event, a party with friends, a wedding to remember or a holiday gathering, the culinary experts at Little Rock’s Rx Catering put the “special” in special events.
Imagine being at an event, and instead of the usual rubber chicken, one is greeted with the aroma of freshly baked croissants. That has got to be an event caterer’s dream come true, and apparently, at the Croissanterie, it is a reality.
BUSINESS CONSULTING FIRM
BOYETTE STRATEGIC ADVISORS
FLEXION POINT
PINNACLE ADVISORS
Mercedes-Benz of Little Rock is celebrated as one of the best car dealerships in the state for its unparalleled customer service, extensive selection of luxury vehicles and commitment to community.
RUSSELL CHEVROLET CO.
CASINO
Open 24/7, Oaklawn’s smoke-free, state-of-the-art casino has more than 1,500 slot machines, live craps, live blackjack and live music. The sportsbook area also offers fans a place to watch and wager on their favorite teams.
SARACEN CASINO RESORT
SOUTHLAND CASINO HOTEL
CEO
CURTIS BARNETT
Curtis Barnett is president and CEO of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which serves more than 2 million members nationwide. As president and CEO, he leads the organization’s efforts to help transform health care, striving for a more affordable and compassionate system.
TROY WELLS
Troy Wells is president and CEO of Baptist Health, the largest health care system in Arkansas. It comprises 12 hospitals, a large integrated physician enterprise, a retirement village and long-term care facility and more.
Chris Moses is the president and CEO of Moses Tucker Partners. Moses oversees the strategic direction of the Little Rock-based commercial real estate and development company throughout the state of Arkansas.
COURTNEY BISHOP
As CEO of Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare System in Little Rock, Courtney Bishop leads a team of mental health professionals that helps patients with specific, individualized plans to ensure they are equipped to live their best lives. Therapists are certified in trauma-based therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, sand tray therapy, play therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
MURPHY USA, JENNIFER BRIDGES
STALEY TECHNOLOGIES, MARTHA MALEK
JOHN ROGERS
With 35 years of financial management experience, including 22 years at Stone Ward, John Rogers is a trusted resource for clients, vendors and team members. He also manages human resources at the agency.
CHAMBER
GREATER HOT SPRINGS
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
LITTLE ROCK REGIONAL CHAMBER
NORTH LITTLE ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CHARITY EVENT
SERVING UP SOLUTIONS
The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance is dedicated to ending hunger in Arkansas through advocacy, education, direct support to food pantries and community programs, and its annual Serving up Solutions charity event.
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF ARKANSAS & NORTH LOUISIANA, CHOCOLATE FANTASY BALL
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF ARKANSAS, GALA FOR GOOD
Our Stars Are Always Shining Bright
Sunstar has added vast experience to our already stellar team of insurance professionals. Covering more of the Natural State than any other independent insurance group, we’re one of the fastest growing insurance agencies in the region. That’s the power of local. That’s the power of Sunstar. Learn more at sunstarinsuranceofarkansas.com
Integrated Logistics Solutions That Keep Supply Chains Moving
We listen carefully, thoughtfully analyze how our processes, services and technologies impact your experience and customize solutions to meet your supply chain needs. It’s more than just knowing your business — it’s about developing true connections, so when you need help with a problem, you know just who to call. Welcome to ArcBest.
Thank you, readers of AMP Magazine, for voting us Best Trucking Company 2024!
CHIROPRACTOR
BLEDSOE CHIROPRACTIC, AMANDA BLEDSOE
CHRIS BLACKMON
Under the skilled leadership of doctors Chris Blackmon and Reid Clark, Little Rock’s Blackmon Chiropractic Clinic is dedicated to providing chiropractic solutions to patients’ unique needs in head, neck and muscular pain.
CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH & REHABILITATION, BEV FOSTER
COMMERCIAL CLEANING
A SHARPER IMAGE
ADEBAYO CLEANING SERVICES
JK JANITORIAL
COMMERCIAL EVENT PLANNER
AVAD3 EVENT PRODUCTION
RAMSEY & CO. WEDDINGS & EVENTS
SEQUENCE EVENTS
COMMERCIAL POWER WASHER
For more than 15 years, Arkansas Pro Wash in Bryant has earned the reputation as the go-to for professional exterior cleaning among commercial real estate owners and managers in Arkansas.
MIKE JR.’S MOBILE WASH
COMMERCIAL PRINTING
ALLEGRA
Founded in 1974, Arkansas Graphics is the result of hard work, perseverance and commitment to excellence. Today, owner Kevin Wilcox continues to evolve as the printing business matures with the expansion of digital technology and media.
SOUTHERN REPROGRAPHICS
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners is an Arkansas-based commercial real estate firm offering brokerage, development and property management services. The firm is committed to protecting client investments, boosting operational efficiency and prioritizing employee well-being.
Moses Tucker Partners’ property management division offers services tailored to meet each of its clients specific needs. MT provides property management services for more than 8.2 million square feet in the state of Arkansas.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT
ENGEL & VÖLKERS LITTLE ROCK, SELEN STRICKLAND
FLAKE & CO., JEFF YATES
CHRIS MONROE
Chris Monroe is a principal and the vice president of corporate services at the Moses Tucker Partners Little Rock office, where he assists in the leadership and oversight of the firm’s brokerage platform with an emphasis on retail advisory services.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMPANY
COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL
Kelley Commercial Partners in Little Rock builds long-standing business relationships by delivering superior commercial real estate services that provide clients with a competitive advantage and meet their every commercial real estate need.
Moses Tucker Partners is a full-service commercial, property management and development real estate operation that offers services that include tenant representation, landlord representation, real estate and economic consulting services, and more.
COMPUTER SERVICES COMPANY
Delivering stress-free information technology support that ensures both computers and phone systems are functional to peak efficiency, North Little Rock’s Network Services Group does not just care about technology — it cares about the clients.
PCA TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
Pinnacle IT
Founded in 1992 as the Computer Hut, Little Rock’s Pinnacle IT offers cloud, VoIP, data backup, email, Microsoft 365 and server support solutions for businesses in Arkansas. Pinnacle IT has more than 35 information technology professionals with offices across the Natural State.
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
as Arkansas’ construction leader, dedicated to excellence and employee ownership.
Little Rock’s Kinco Constructors is a full-service commercial construction company setting the highest standards for its work across diverse industry sectors. Kinco builds relationships that start positive and stay positive, lasting well beyond the scope of a project.
A company with no purpose is like a ship with no rudder. The purpose statement for Nabholz Construction reflects the goals Bob Nabholz and craft professionals had when starting Nabholz 75 years ago.
CONVENTION & VISITORS
BUREAU
EXPERIENCE FAYETTEVILLE
Showcasing North Little Rock’s many amenities and fine attractions, North Little Rock Tourism is committed to maximizing tourist and convention visitors’ experiences in the central Arkansas city.
VISIT HOT SPRINGS
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
GRAY DILLARD
Gray Dillard is responsible for financial activities for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, HMO Partners and USAble Corp. Additionally, Dillard holds executive management responsibility for actuarial services, underwriting, capital management, internal audit and controls, and regulatory and marketplace compliance.
DANIEL ALFORD
Daniel Alford serves as chief operating officer at Network Services Group. NSG is a managed service provider headquartered in North Little Rock that offers managed information technology, phone systems and cybersecurity. Additionally, NSG offers cloud and artificial intelligence consulting.
COUNTRY CLUB
CHENAL COUNTRY CLUB
COUNTRY CLUB OF LITTLE ROCK
PLEASANT VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB
CREDIT UNION
ARKANSAS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
TELCOE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Kelley Commercial Partners in Little Rock builds long-standing business relationships by delivering superior commercial real estate services that provide clients with a competitive advantage and meet their every commercial real estate need.
Garrett Excavating does not just build structures; it shapes the future. With more than 75 years of innovation, it stands
TRUSERVICE COMMUNITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
DENTIST
ARKANSAS DENTAL CENTERS, SANDIE LEDING
CHASING BIG IDEAS SINCE
1984.
A race that started in 1984. A legacy that extends throughout our state and beyond. An agency that continues to move forward and, of course, build good. We are honored to still be in the lead after all these years. Thank you to the readers of AMP for voting Stone Ward the Best of 2024 in seven categories, and congratulations to our fellow honorees.
ROGERS
BOSS, MILLIE WARD
Thank You!
We are humbled and incredibly grateful to have been voted the Best Law Firm in AMP’s Best of 2024. As a firm, we are honored to be recognized for our zealous representation of clients navigating the emotional waters of family law matters.
Thank you again for your loyalty and support. We look forward to continuing to provide you with the highest level of integrity, empathy, and legal representation.
DENTIST
GARY JONES
Gary Jones of Conway Regional Interfaith Dental Clinic provides dental care at reduced rates for the uninsured or those on Medicaid. At the patient’s first appointment, the Conway Regional team will develop a treatment plan for the patient that includes the cost of dental care.
MONTY HEATHMAN
Dr. Montgomery “Monty” Heathman is a second-generation dentist following in the footsteps of his father, the late Dr. N.D. “Dwight” Heathman. Monty Heathman has been in practice 24 years, and he has practiced in the Little Rock and Stuttgart areas for more than 14 years.
DERMATOLOGY CLINIC
Dr. Hayden Franks and the dedicated dermatology care team at Franks Dermatology in Little Rock specialize in providing medical and surgical dermatology with a passion for providing the best in patient care.
LITTLE ROCK DERMATOLOGY
PINNACLE DERMATOLOGY
DISASTER RESTORATION
CHENAL RESTORATION
DRUG TESTING
COURTHOUSE CONCEPTS
FIRST CHOICE DRUG TESTING
XPERT DIAGNOSTICS
DRY CLEANING SERVICE
HANGERS CLEANERS
SCHICKEL’S CLEANERS
TIDE CLEANERS
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
CCI OF ARKANSAS
GARY HOUSTON ELECTRIC CO.
STALEY ELECTRIC
ENERGY COMPANY
ENTERGY ARKANSAS
FIRST ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Summit Utilities provides safe, clean and reliable natural gas to 525,000 families and businesses throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma and the Texarkana, Texas, area and operates 17,000 miles of gas main pipeline in those three states.
ENGINEERING FIRM
Cromwell Architects Engineers has all major building services engineers in-house, which gives it the benefit of providing an integrated, coordinated design process for projects from start to finish, providing clients with a valuable resource.
Snyder Environmental in North Little Rock is an environmental remediation firm that focuses on safety and accuracy for a quality job well done. The company specializes in asbestos abatement, lead paint removal and stabilization, mold remediation, commercial duct cleaning, and decontamination.
EVENT PRODUCER
LILIAS & OLIVE
RAMSEY & CO. WEDDINGS & EVENTS
SEQUENCE EVENTS
EVENT RENTAL
A Perfect Bloom in Beebe helps make couples’ big days even better by offering a range of florals and wedding rentals. The company can provide for a full range of wedding arrangements, in addition to furnishings, place settings, decor and more.
PARTY TIME RENTAL AND EVENTS
Since 1886, Tipton & Hurst has been constantly evolving, innovating and raising expectations. Built on a foundation of family, Tipton & Hurst makes sure every plant, flower, gift and interaction meets the Tipton & Hurst standard of excellence.
EXCAVATION COMPANY
Metro Disaster Specialists is a proven leader in all disaster situations and has a long history of professional approach and practical knowledge applied as an essential source for both property owners and insurance professionals.
SERVPRO
DIVERSE WORKPLACE
Baptist Health embraces diversity and works to foster an inclusive culture for all, driven by the belief that everyone deserves health care that understands their individual needs. The health system works hard to create a workforce representative of the unique populations served in Arkansas communities.
With more than 100 years of experience serving central Arkansas, Conway Regional Health System has been the go-to name in health care for generations of Arkansas families.
Garrett Excavating thrives on diversity, and each team member brings unique strengths. The company is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where the company builds more than projects — it builds a vibrant, welcoming workplace for everyone.
Garver is an employee-owned multidisciplined engineering, planning and environmental services firm with more than 1,200 employees across the United States. Garver focuses on aviation, buildings, construction, enterprise solutions, federal, survey, transportation, water and wastewater.
Insight Engineering was founded “with the vision to bring efficient and elegant design to the buildings and communities in Arkansas where we live, work, and play.” They are an SBA-certified woman-owned small business and an Arkansas Economic Development Commission-certified minority and women owned business enterprise.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING FIRM
CTEH
HARBOR
Specializing in moving mountains and uncovering foundations, Garrett Excavating’s excavation experts blend precision with power. Every dig is a step toward clients’ visions and is executed with unmatched expertise.
JAMES A. ROGERS EXCAVATING
JOHNNY BROCK EXCAVATING & LANDSCAPING
EXERCISE FACILITY/FITNESS CENTER
Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center is a medically integrated health and fitness center dedicated to improving members’ health, fitness and quality of life. Its medically integrated approach focusing on safety and clinical integration is unique to the area.
THE ATHLETIC CLUBS
ZEN STUDIO
EYE GLASSES
BURROWS & MR. FRANK’S OPTICAL
JAMES EYECARE & OPTICS GALLERY
MCFARLAND EYE CARE
Best Of Service Department
Conway Regional has been the community’s hospital for more than 100 years, providing high-quality, compassionate care. As our community continues to grow, recognitions like Best of Arkansas Money and Politics’ highlights our commitment to ensuring the communities we serve receive exceptional care.
Best Exercise Facility/Fitness Center
Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center
Best Hospital
Conway Regional Health System
Best Health Care Provider
Conway Regional Health System
Best Diverse Workplace
Conway Regional Health System
Best Health Case System
Conway Regional Health System
Best Dentist
Gary Jones, DDS
Best President or CEO of a Health System
Matt Troup
FINANCIAL/PERSONAL INVESTMENT SERVICES
BOW TIE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ARKANSAS CHILDRENS
Meridian Investment Advisors’ mission is simple: to help clients realize their financial potential. Meridian is focused on providing evolving advice and sophisticated solutions that address client’s needs throughout their lifetime.
RED DOG INVESTMENT GROUP
FLORIST
FRANCES FLOWER SHOP
TANARAH LUXE FLORAL
Since 1886, Tipton & Hurst has been constantly evolving, innovating and raising expectations. Built on a foundation of family, Tipton & Hurst makes sure every plant, flower, gift and interaction meets the Tipton & Hurst standard of excellence.
FOUR-YEAR
COLLEGE
CENTRAL BAPTIST COLLEGE
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is dedicated to providing affordable, high-quality education that opens doors for students from all backgrounds. By fostering deep ties with the community, UA Little Rock help students shape a brighter future for themselves and for central Arkansas.
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
GLASS COMPANY
ACE GLASS
Established in 1950, Capitol Glass Co. is the oldest locally owned and operated auto glass company in the central Arkansas area and is a third-generation family-owned business. Capitol Glass moved into its current location in downtown Little Rock in 1953.
SMITH GLASS SERVICES
GUTTER
LEAFFILTER
LeafGuard has been equipping Arkansas homeowners with innovative gutter systems since 2001. Led by president Bradley Wright, the local, family-owned contractor prides itself on customer service and the superiority of LeafGuard’s onepiece covered gutter system.
POWELL & SONS GUTTER SERVICES
Baptist Health is there, giving its best, for every step of each patient’s journey, connecting patients with the quality care they need for whatever stage of life they are in. Baptist Health has delivered Christian compassion and innovative services for more than 100 years.
ArkansasHospice.org — (877 ) 713-2348
The state’s largest nonprofit provider of hospice services, Arkansas Hospice surrounds patients, caregivers and families with the best possible care, serving Arkansans in a decadeslong legacy of compassion.
CIRCLE OF LIFE HOSPICE
GENTIVA
With more than 100 years of experience serving central Arkansas, Conway Regional Health System has been the go-to name in health care for generations of Arkansas families.
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
As Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization, Baptist Health has more than 250 points of access, including 12 hospitals, urgent care centers, a senior living community, more than 100 primary and specialty care clinics, a nursing college, and graduate residency program.
CHI
ST. VINCENT
With more than 100 years of experience serving central Arkansas, Conway Regional Health System has been the go-to name in health care for generations of Arkansas families.
HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDER
As Arkansas’ oldest and largest health insurer, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has been helping improve the health, financial security and peace of mind for Arkansans for more than 70 years.
DELTA DENTAL OF ARKANSAS
UNITED HEALTHCARE
HOME HEALTH PROVIDER
Elder Independence Home Care is dedicated to serving central Arkansas with the best client-centered and affordable home care services. The team at Elder Independence strives to give clients and their families peace of mind.
Superior Senior Care was founded in Hot Springs in 1985 and built from the ground up. Over the past 39 years, it has grown to include 27 locations. Superior is the first licensed and nationally accredited caregiver referral service in the state.
TRINITY HOME HEALTH OF ARKANSAS
HOSPITAL
ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock is the largest private, not-for-profit hospital in Arkansas at 827 licensed beds. It serves as Baptist Health’s flagship hospital. The nationally recognized, faith-based hospital opened as Baptist State Hospital in 1920.
With more than 100 years of experience serving central Arkansas, Conway Regional Health System has been the go-to name in health care for generations of Arkansas families.
HOTEL FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL
ALOFT ROGERS-BENTONVILLE
CAPITAL HOTEL
Oaklawn offers business travelers an ideal mix of work and play at its Forbes-recommended hotel. Take advantage of the ample meeting space, fast Wi-Fi and sumptuous room service, and relax after a long day with an assortment of luxurious amenities.
HOTEL FOR LEISURE TRAVEL
21C MUSEUM HOTEL BENTONVILLE
CAPITAL HOTEL
With the only Forbes-four-star-rated spa and Forbes-recommended hotel in Arkansas, award-winning restaurants, and views of the historic Oaklawn racetrack and surrounding Ouachita Mountains, Oaklawn gives hotel guests an excellent place to stay, play and get away.
HVAC CONTRACTOR
DASH HEATING & COOLING
FREYALDENHOVEN HEATING AND COOLING
Middleton Heat & Air is a locally owned, award-winning company, servicing and installing all major brand residential and commercial HVAC equipment in Arkansas for more than 48 years.
WE BUILD INSPIRING PROJECTS THAT CREATE COMMUNITY VALUE
AND SOCIAL PROSPERITY.
Dr. Brian Peters & Titus Maximus
INDEPENDENT LIVING
A newly imagined, 20-acre retirement village, Grand Village at Clear Creek in Fayetteville represents the finest in senior living anywhere in Arkansas, providing the ultimate in amenities, activities, services and security.
PARKWAY VILLAGE
Sponsored by 11 Presbyterian churches in the greater Little Rock metropolitan area, Presbyterian Village’s mission is to provide comprehensive continuing care for older adults. Presbyterian Village strives to offer a healthy, secure and joyful environment.
INDUSTRIAL ROOFING
Arkansas Industrial Roofing has served the communities of Little Rock and Hot Springs since 1977. From servicing repairs to production work and prudent consulting, Arkansas Industrial Roofing takes its responsibility to its customers throughout Little Rock and Hot Springs seriously.
RILEY HAYS ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION INSURANCE AGENCY
CADENCE INSURANCE, A GALLAGHER COMPANY
THE CASHION CO.
SMITH & CO. INSURANCE
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER
AT&T
WINDSTREAM XFINITY
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
BROWN COMSTOCK
PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISORS, BECKIE COMSTOCK
PAT MOON
As managing principal of Meridian Investment Advisors, Pat Moon is responsible for the strategic vision of the firm. Moon is a member of the firm’s investment strategy team, advisor to wealth management clients and active in retirement plan consulting.
PINNACLE ADVISORS, MARSHALL BUTLER
IT COMPANY
INUVO
Delivering stress-free information technology support that ensures both computers and phone systems are functional to peak efficiency, North Little Rock’s Network Services Group does not just care about technology — it cares about the clients.
Pinnacle IT
Led by founder Chris Bates, Pinnacle IT has spent more than 30 years providing service excellence and solving Arkansans’ technical issues. The company addresses a wide variety of cyber and data security challenges and has an emphasis on health care organizations.
JEWELER
Based in Little Rock, Jones & Son has provided the best value in jewelry to its customers since 1986. The jeweler combines modern style and luxury with an old-fashioned commitment to meeting the needs of its customers to provide an unparalleled shopping experience.
Founded in 1970, Sissy’s Log Cabin is a family-owned and -operated jewelry store with six locations across Arkansas and Tennessee. Well-known for its extraordinary quality jewelry and exceptional customer service, Sissy’s Log Cabin offers a spectacular selection of diamonds, jewelry, estate jewelry and fine gifts.
WILKERSON JEWELERS JOURNALIST
THE SALINE COURIER, DARRELL BROWN
DWAIN HEBDA
A customer-focused, award-winning editorial services company based in Little Rock, Ya!Mule provides an array of writing and editing services for publications, individuals and businesses.
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, REX NELSON
LAND REAL ESTATE BROKER
ARKANSAS MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE
ESQ REALTY GROUP
Since 1993, Lile Real Estate has connected land sellers with buyers across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. The full-service agency offers expertise and solutions for the unique needs of rural real estate buyers and sellers. The firm has more accredited land consultants than any other firm in the state.
LAW FIRM
GILL RAGON OWEN ATTORNEYS
At the Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon in Little Rock, the firm’s goals are to walk clients through difficult domestic situations and provide representation tailored to each individual client. The firm’s compassion and experience enable it to get results for clients.
In 1988, the Benton law firm of McMullan and Brown was founded on rather simple values and its unique knowledge of the title and real estate industry. Those are the qualities and values that guide the firm, and its members are committed to carrying them on.
MANUFACTURING COMPANY
DARK HORSE MEDICINALS
An industry leader in quality and safety, Lexicon has built structures around the world. The Lexicon family of companies includes Custom Metals, Prospect Steel, Steel Fabricators of Monroe, Lexicon Energy Services, Lexicon Industrial Constructors, Lexicon Industrial Maintenance, Universal and Heritage Links.
WESTROCK COFFEE
MEMORY CARE FACILITY
AVENIR SENIOR LIVING
MEMORY CARE OF LITTLE ROCK AT GOOD SHEPARD
PINNACLE PLACE MEMORY CARE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER
ARGENTA COUNSELING + WELLNESS
COMPASS FAMILY COUNSELING
Located in Little Rock, Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare System provides psychiatric care for children and teens ages 5 to 17. It offers individualized mental health treatment in a secure and nurturing environment and is dedicated to helping patients find a way to live happy lives. Pinnacle Pointe Healthcare System is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Department of Education.
MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS
AGENCY GWL
Veronica Love is the founder and CEO of Home Health Care Agency of Arkansas and the president of Southern Carrier Services, a nonemergency medical transportation company.
LEADING THE WAY IN ARKANSAS FOR OVER 30 YEARS
For more than three decades, Pinnacle IT has been at the forefront of delivering innovative technology solutions across Arkansas and surrounding areas. Our leadership team, under the direction of CEO Chris Bates, is committed to driving forward-thinking strategies that ensure our clients thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Our experienced leadership team and dedicated professionals work together to provide cutting-edge services including cloud computing, cybersecurity, IT consulting, and more. We pride ourselves on being proactive, responsive, and deeply invested in the success of the businesses we serve.
It’s been an incredible journey serving the businesses and communities of Arkansas for over 30 years. We’re more excited than ever to continue providing tailored IT solutions that not only meet today’s challenges but anticipate tomorrow’s needs.
– Chris Bates, CEO
One of the most frequent questions we get asked is, “What is a CVB?” Those in the tourism industry know it means “convention and visitors bureau”, an organization focused on attracting visitors from a variety of markets (such as leisure, business, meetings and groups) to a destination. We recently changed our name to North Little Rock Tourism to better encompass all we do: economic development, marketing, content creation, advertising, direct sales, events, community engagement, small business support and moreof course, all with our signature flair for hospitality and fun. And that’s our philosophy in a nutshell: we listen and we strategically adapt to better serve visitors, industry partners and our community.
MORTGAGE LENDER
Arvest is a full-service mortgage provider with a variety of options to suit both existing and soon-to-be homeowners. Experienced loan officers help clients find the best options for their needs, whether they are buying a home or financing improvements.
Lynn and Amanda Pettus founded Pettus Workplace Solutions in their hometown of Little Rock in 1989. Pettus has grown into one of the largest office solutions dealers in the region. The team’s goal each day is to excel at customer service and the customer experience above all else.
OVERALL COMPANY
First Community Bank’s mortgage department offers home loans tailored to fit needs ranging from first-time homebuyers and veteran loans to jumbo mortgages and adjustablerate options.
SIMMONS BANK
MOVING COMPANY
ELITE MOVERS
HAMILTON MOVING CO.
SOUND THE ALARM
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
ARKANSAS FOODBANK
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF ARKANSAS
Garrett Excavating’s vision to “impact the hearts and minds of people” drives everything it does. Thanks to its dedicated team, Garrett is transforming Arkansas’ landscape with innovation, community focus and a people-first approach.
Delivering stress-free information technology support that ensures both computers and phone systems are functional to peak efficiency, North Little Rock’s Network Services Group does not just care about technology — it cares about the clients.
PHARMACY
ARGENTA DRUG CO.
MARKET PLACE PHARMACY
THE PHARMACY AT WELLINGTON
PHILANTHROPY FOUNDATION
ARKANSAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
BLUE & YOU FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHIER ARKANSAS
WINTHROP ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
PLACE FOR A COFFEE
MEETING
BLACKBERRY MARKET
NEXUS COFFEE & CREATIVE
It is not just about the coffee; it is about ambiance, conversations and deals sealed over a warm cup. The Croissanterie in Little Rock has evidently nailed the art of turning caffeine into camaraderie.
PLACE FOR A LUNCH MEETING
SAMANTHA’S TAP ROOM & WOOD GRILL
Supported by the Arkansas Zoological Foundation, the Little Rock Zoo works to inspire people to value and conserve the natural world. The AZF helps grow and develop the zoo with funding for new habitat construction, improvements and educational programming.
NURSING HOME
BRIARWOOD NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER
COLONEL GLENN NURSING & REHAB
Sponsored by 11 Presbyterian churches in the greater Little Rock metropolitan area, Presbyterian Village’s mission is to provide comprehensive continuing care for older adults. Presbyterian Village strives to offer a healthy, secure and joyful environment.
OFFICE DESIGNER
Interior design has been an important element in Cromwell’s design services for decades. Cromwell’s award-winning interior design team works to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment.
HARPER HOWEY INTERIORS
K2M DESIGN
OFFICE SUPPLIES
ARKANSAS OFFICE PRODUCTS
COLEMAN’S OFFICE PRODUCTS
Founded in 1970, Sissy’s Log Cabin is a family-owned and -operated jewelry store with six locations across Arkansas and Tennessee. Well-known for its extraordinary quality jewelry and exceptional customer service, Sissy’s Log Cabin offers a spectacular selection of diamonds, jewelry, estate jewelry and fine gifts.
PAYROLL SERVICE
FLEXION POINT
PAYCHEX
TPC was established in 2001 and still boasts the loyalty of its first employee, a testament to the firm’s enduring culture. Its continuous growth reflects the firm’s commitment to a personable approach with clients in which staff strive for genuine partnerships rather than mere transactions.
PEST COMPANY
ADAMS PEST CONTROL
LEGACY TERMITE & PEST CONTROL
THE BUG MAN
PET HOSPITAL
BOULEVARD VETERINARY CLINIC
HILLCREST ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Lake Hamilton Animal Hospital proudly serves Hot Springs and the surrounding areas with compassion and expert care. The talented veterinarians and experienced animal health professionals at Lake Hamilton treat every pet as though it were their own.
The Croissanterie began selling its homemade croissants at farmers markets in 2019, and the demand exploded. The idea began when breakfast sandwiches were the most requested item. During quarantine in 2020, the Croissanterie food truck hit the road. Quickly growing out of the truck, the first brick-and-mortar opened in Little Rock in late 2021. A downtown location opened last summer.
TRIO’S RESTAURANT
PLACE FOR A SPECIAL EVENT
ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
A talented hospitality team, high-quality audio/visual technology and in-house catering options make Oaklawn an event planner’s best bet. Layout options range from small settings for presentations to large areas for weddings.
RUSTY TRACTOR VINEYARDS
PLACE FOR TEAM BUILDING OR COMPANY RETREAT
37 NORTH EXPEDITIONS
TOPGOLF
WINTHROP ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE
PLACE TO MEET AFTER WORK
HILL STATION
PETIT AND KEET
SAUCED BAR & OVEN
Northwest Arkansas’ Premiere Independent Living Community
Discover a lifestyle of freedom, fun, and fulfillment in Northwest Arkansas’ community. Our facility is designed to provide a vibrant and engaging environment, where you can embrace an active lifestyle while enjoying the comforts of a well-appointed home.
Grand Village offers:
• Indoor Pool
• Frequent outings throughout Northwest Arkansas
• Chef prepared meals included in monthly rent
• Full size houses also available to rent
PLACE TO WORK
Delivering stress-free information technology support that ensures both computers and phone systems are functional to peak efficiency, North Little Rock’s Network Services Group does not just care about technology — it cares about the clients.
Stone Ward is an inclusive, eclectic group of people with the shared purpose of helping clients, fellow team members and the community succeed. The Stone Ward team is grateful for awards but more so for lasting relationships with clients.
For the past 90 years, the Arkansas Trucking Association has served as the voice of the trucking industry. Made up of more than 330 trucking and service companies, ATA helps members grow their businesses and protect their interests.
THE POULTRY FEDERATION
PROMOTIONAL APPAREL
Cache Restaurant in Little Rock is an ideal venue for business dinners and combines a sophisticated atmosphere with exceptional cuisine and attentive service. Guests can choose from a menu highlighting seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
SONNY WILLIAMS’ STEAK ROOM
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
CHENAL PINES RETIREMENT RESORT
Superior Senior Care was founded in Hot Springs in 1985 and built from the ground up. Over the past 39 years, it has grown to include 27 locations. Superior is the first licensed and nationally accredited caregiver referral service in the state.
PLUMBING CONTRACTOR
PASCHAL AIR, PLUMBING & ELECTRIC
Founded in 1974, Arkansas Graphics is the result of hard work, perseverance and commitment to excellence. Today, owner Kevin Wilcox, continues to evolve as the printing business matures with the expansion of digital technology and media.
SOUTHERN BRANDING
TRIVIA MARKETING
PUBLIC FIGURE
DAVID BAZZEL
As one of the hosts of Morning Mayhem at 103.7 the Buzz and the driving force behind the cultural institution that is the Little Rock Touchdown Club, David Bazzel is one of the most respected names — and voices — in Arkansas football.
NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER AT GOOD SHEPARD
PARKWAY VILLAGE
SECURITY COMPANY
ENCORE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
MTJD
TRIPLE-S ALARM
SENIOR CARE FACILITY
FOX RIDGE LUXURY SENIOR LIVING
Superior Senior Care was founded in Hot Springs in 1985 and built from the ground up. Over the past 39 years, it has grown to include 27 locations. Superior is the first licensed and nationally accredited caregiver referral service in the state.
Led by owner Travis Victory, Victory Plumbing is the fastestgrowing new-age plumbing company in the state. The company offers full-service residential and commercial plumbing services to central Arkansas, along with 24/7 emergency plumbing services.
PRESIDENT OR CEO OF A HOSPITAL/HEALTH SYSTEM
TROY WELLS
Troy Wells joined Baptist Health in 2006 and assumed the role of president and CEO in 2014. He earned a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
MATT TROUP
Under the leadership of Matt Troup, Conway Regional Health System has achieved a “best place to work” designation for seven continuous years in Arkansas and six continuous years nationally. Troup views health care as a faith-driven calling.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES,
DR. CAM PATTERSON
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
ARKANSAS NURSE PRACTITIONER ASSOCIATION
TIM GRIFFIN
Faith, family, and a love for his state and country have always guided Tim Griffin’s path in public service. As a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, as well as a former congressman and lieutenant governor, Griffin is now charting a new course as Arkansas’s 57th attorney general.
TODD YAKOUBIAN, KARK
PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM
SIXTYONE CELSIUS
Little Rock’s Stone Ward helps brands identify their most valuable stories, then works collaboratively with them to create relevant, timely and shareable content across the appropriate channels.
THE PEACOCK GROUP
RESTAURANT FOR BUSINESS DINNERS
ARTHUR’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE
THE SPRINGS PREMIER
SIGN COMPANY
LAMAR ADVERTISING CO.
Little Rock Sign - Conway Sign has served Arkansas for more than 60 years. With each passing year, the team is always looking to grow as a business. The team is thankful for being voted a best sign company of 2024.
SOLAR COMPANY
DELTA SOLAR
SEAL SOLAR
TODAY’S POWER
SPORTING GOODS
Fort Thompson Sporting Goods has been family owned and operated for more than 90 years. The company’s 30,000 square feet of retail space offers everything the Arkansas hunter, fisher, hiker or outdoorsman needs to enjoy the Natural State.
GEARHEAD OUTFITTERS
OZARK OUTDOOR SUPPLY
STAFFING AGENCY/ RECRUITMENT
Arkansas Talent Group is an Arkansas-based permanent placement recruitment firm that specializes in accounting, finance and human resources. ATG was created to provide a local top-tier service that offers a first-class experience.
ASAP PERSONNEL SERVICES
TRAVEL NURSE ACROSS AMERICA
SURVEYOR
HOPE CONSULTING
TUCKER LAND SURVEYING
TAX SERVICES
Denman, Hamilton & Associates CPA is a full-service accounting firm specializing in business advisory services that empower business owners to win in the marketplace through proven tax and growth strategies that work thanks to a highly qualified team led by partners Neil Denman and Deron Hamilton.
ERGA INCOME TAX
GARLAND & GREENWOOD
CPAS AND ADVISORS
TECH COMPANY
Delivering stress-free information technology support that ensures both computers and phone systems are functional to peak efficiency, North Little Rock’s Network Services Group does not just care about technology — it cares about the clients.
Pinnacle IT
Pinnacle IT was founded in 1992 and has grown and adapted alongside the technological needs of its clientele. From cloud services to data backup, the company has unmatched expertise and prioritizes service excellence with every job.
SMILEY TECHNOLOGIES
TECHNICAL SCHOOL
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE
TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING FIRM HOGANTAYLOR
Delivering stress-free information technology support that ensures both computers and phone systems are functional to peak efficiency, North Little Rock’s Network Services Group does not just care about technology — it cares about the clients.
SMILEY TECHNOLOGIES
TIRE COMPANY
AMERICAN TIRE & WHEEL
AUSTIN BROTHERS TIRE & SERVICE
DISCOUNT TIRE & BRAKE
TITLE COMPANY
AMERICAN ABSTRACT & TITLE CO.
COMMERCE TITLE & CLOSING SERVICES
FIRST NATIONAL TITLE CO.
TRAVEL AGENT
POE TRAVEL
SMALL WORLD BIG FUN
SUE SMITH VACATIONS
TRUCKING COMPANY
ArcBest is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that leverages its full suite of solutions to meet our customers’ supply chain needs. Serving as a trusted advisor, ArcBest connects shippers to the logistics solutions they need.
J.B. HUNT
Stallion Transportation Group, headquartered in Beebe, has operated as an asset trucking company and third-party logistics company for more than 30 years. It is widely recognized for its dedication to customer service and philanthropic work.
TWO-YEAR COLLEGE
NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE
VIDEO PRODUCTION
Stone Ward in Little Rock works to help brands share their stories across all kinds of media, providing relevant, timely and sharable content that gets the message out.
SIXTYONE CELSIUS
WEB DESIGN FIRM
SIXTYONE CELSIUS
As one of the early ad agencies to recognize the potential of digital to connect brands and consumers, Stone Ward in Little Rock developed hundreds of digital platforms that range from websites to apps to interactive tools.
WEBMONSTER
WELLNESS CLINIC
ARKANSAS AESTHETICS
Beyond Wellness is honored to be included in AMP’s “Best of 2024.” The team at Beyond Wellness sends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has trusted the firm on their wellness journey. Here’s to many more years together.
SOLUX AESTHETICS
WOMAN-OWNED
BUSINESS
In 1988, the Benton law firm of McMullan and Brown was founded on rather simple values and its unique knowledge of the title and real estate industry. Those are the qualities and values that guide the firm, and its members are committed to carrying them on.
Karen Lamoreaux has been married for 23 years and is a mother to three children. In 2009, she launched Arkansas’ first swim school, Safety Before Skill, and left her career in health administration behind.
The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton is a two-year college within the University of Arkansas System that offers university-transfer and career-specific training programs and more.
The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton is a two-year college within the University of Arkansas System that offers university-transfer and career-specific training programs and more.
Celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of its owners, the Croissanterie being voted “Best of 2024” is a nod to not just delicious food but also to the backbone of the Little Rock business — a testament to its grit, vision and fantastic taste in breakfast menus.
A Strong Start: Arkansas Talent Group
InFebruary, two highly successful staffing professionals left their Fortune 500 jobs behind to build a firm of their own — one by and for the people of Arkansas, where local expertise would be met with white-glove service. Only eight months in, Arkansas Talent Group has been recognized by readers of Arkansas Money & Politics as the best staffing agency in the Natural State, and founders Stephanie Shine and Christopher Chunn are just getting started.
“We never could have imagined our company would be so well received in the market so quickly,” Shine said. “Our direct-hire business is thriving, and we’ve already hit our yearly projections. Moreover, we are surprised at how much success our executive search division has done.”
While the firm also specializes in accounting, finance and human resources, Shine and Chunn soon realized the considerable need for executive-level placements at Arkansas companies. Run by professionals who live and work in the state, Arkansas Talent Group has had great success placing CEO, COO, CFO and other C-suite roles.
“Our unofficial motto is, ‘relationships over transactions,’” Shine said. “We want our candidates to trust us when we say it’s a great opportunity and it’s been heavily vetted.”
Successful recruiting is about more than fulfilling a job description. Arkansas Talent Group concerns itself deeply with ensuring candidates are a match for the culture and personality of a prospective employer to make for a long-term fit. Shine and Chunn have also welcomed Senior Talent Recruiter Jennifer Thompson and Talent Recruiter Bailey Clark, giving the team a combined 45-plus years of experience.
There is no other firm in the state that knows the community, talent and trends better than Arkansas Talent Group. The firm’s consultative approach allows businesses and new hires to hit the ground running, and a 120-day placement guarantee reflects the group’s confidence in their services. With a commitment to doing good business and a passion for moving Arkansas businesses forward, Arkansas Talent Group will expand its offerings in the near future as it continues to be the staffing agency of choice for clients around the state.
Bailey Clark, talent recruiter, from left, Christopher Chunn, co-founder, Stephanie Shine, co-founder, and Jennifer Thompson, senior talent recruiter
Arkansas Money & Politics presents
Executive Gifts
For colleagues or
clients,
one-of-a-kind presents make an impression
Christmas is a time when most everyone looks forward to giving and receiving gifts. In addition to the usual list of friends and family, corporate gifts round out the season of presents. While perhaps less anticipated than presents from loved ones, buying or unwrapping such gifts can be just as delightful, especially when the goods go above and beyond the usual popcorn tins.
The pages that follow provide a guide to some innovative companies that provide one-of-a-kind business gifts for both clients and employees. Check out these offerings from Hammer & Stain Hot Springs, Rx Catering in Little Rock, Sun Valley Distillery in Idaho, and Petit Jean Meats in Morrilton, plus a handy gift available from AY Media Group.
By AMP staff
EXECUTIVE GIFTS
Hammer & Stain Hot Springs
Thoselooking for unique corporate gifts that stand out can choose Hammer & Stain Hot Springs for personalized, highquality items that leave a lasting impression. The do-it-yourself concept provides a wide range of customizable items fit for clients, employees and most anyone else.
“Whether you’re seek-
ing elegant, whimsical or DIYinspired gifts, we offer a wide range of customizable products perfect for any occasion,” owner Cynthia Hall said.
The shop offers an array of engraved cutting boards, tumblers, knives, decanters and more, all expertly laserengraved at the Hot Springs studio. From an unforgettable flask or a sophisticated shot glass to top-notch tumblers, cool keychains and comfy ball caps, there is no shortage of ways to express gratitude and spread cheer to everyone on the corporate gift list.
“Impress your clients, employees or partners with gifts that are truly one of a kind,” Hall said. “Boost your brand and make your gift memorable with Hammer & Stain Hot Springs.”
Hammer & Stain also provides the option to give the gift of experience by offering gift cards available in any monetary value. Recipients can have a blast choosing from a wide range of projects, from stuffing plush animals to crafting a ceramic masterpiece or slinging paint on a canvas.
A woman-owned business, Hammer & Stain Hot Springs is a popular location for birthday parties, bachelorette parties, girls nights out and more. Giving the gift of a gift card gives recipients the chance to see what all the chatter is about, while choosing custom-etched gifts makes a statement that sets givers apart from the crowd.
EXECUTIVE GIFTS
Petit Jean Meats
Located in Morrilton, Petit Jean Meats has been a part of the Arkansas meat industry for nearly a century. The company began as Morrilton Packing Co. in 1928, when it was launched by German immigrant Felix Schlosser. Now owned by the fourth generation of the same family, the company is known for its tasty awardwinning products.
It is no surprise that companies have long turned to
Petit Jean Meats when it comes time to express appreciation for clients, employees and associates. The company’s gift box includes peppered bacon, smoked bacon, summer sausage and Ozark-style smoked sausage. The deluxe gift box offers smoked bacon, boneless smoked ham, summer sausage and Ozark-style smoked sausage.
Shoppers can also purchase the breakfast box, which includes a boneless smoked, sliced ham, peppered bacon, smoked bacon, fresh roll sausage and a cinnamon coffee cake. Popular gifts shipped individually include Christmas sausage, fully cooked whole turkeys, and
whole and half boneless and bone-in smoked hams, as well as a half spiral smoked ham. The sausages and cinnamon walnut coffee cakes are available separately, as well, and for those who like to give the gift of options, gift cards are available.
EXECUTIVE GIFTS
Rx Catering
Whatbetter way to show gratitude to employees than with a festive holiday party? Seasonal get-togethers not only show staff members their employers care but also provide a great way for teams to bond.
No party is complete without food, and Rx Catering in Little Rock is there to meet the need by offering a variety of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“We’ve got all kinds of things,” said Jay Ramsey, owner. “A lot of people do heavy appetizers, and we also have hot meals, turkey, ham. Brisket, pork tenderloins — things like that are real popular.”
While Rx Catering can provide for everything from office breakfasts to sit-down dinners, Ramsey said afternoon parties with hors d’oeuvres are his most frequent
holiday request. Party guests can sample scrumptious dishes such as pork tenderloin medallions, stuffed mushrooms, and sweet and sour meatballs.
Ordering some catered treats is also a great way to show appreciation for clients during the holiday season. Whether one serves up a party tray, a dessert tray or a range of appetizers, Rx Catering can help make bellies full and spirits bright this season.
As its name suggests, Rx Catering got its start catering to hospitals, clinics and medical sales reps. The company now provides for a range of clients in the Little Rock area and as far south as Hot Springs and Pine Bluff.
Full menus are available at the company website.
EXECUTIVE GIFTS
Sun Valley Distillery
Located in Idaho’s Sun Valley, Sun Valley Distillery, formerly Warfield Distillery, provides a memorable way for Arkansans to become familiar with the brand through bespoke experiences in the fabulous resort town.
At $25,000, the President package includes a flight to Sun Valley, a week-long stay at Limelight Hotel Ketchum, complementary dinner and drinks each night at
Warfield Restaurant, a shopping spree at a local outfitter, lift tickets and ski rental, a fly fishing excursion, and a private tour of the distillery that includes a personalized gift.
The package also includes a five-year membership to the Sun Valley Distillery 9150 Club, a oneyear subscription to the bottleof-the-month club, and a barrel of whiskey with naming rights, label design, bottling and up to seven years paid insurance and storage, or the option to buy the whiskey at market value instead of bottling.
Priced at $9,150, the Inner Circle Package includes a flight
drinkwarfield.com
to Sun Valley, a weekend stay at Limelight, fly fishing, a private distillery tour and a barrel of whiskey with all of the above services.
The $5,750 Diamond package includes the barrel of whisky and services, in addition to a one-year subscription to the bottle-of-themonth club, and the $2,015 Novice package includes just the barrel of whiskey and services.
In addition, Sun Valley Distillery provides an array of gift boxes sure to suit the tastes of most anyone on the corporate gift list. The gift boxes contain a variety of items such as spirits, beer, apparel, drinking glasses and playing cards.
armoneyandpolitics.com
AY Media Group
After 10 years in business, Arkansas Money & Politics has established a reputation for itself in the Arkansas media landscape — and a subscription to AMP can provide most anyone with the insight to help build their brands too.
Established in March 2014, the sister magazine to AY About You provides in-depth, thought-provoking coverage of business and political topics relevant to both elite and everyday Arkansans.
Notable Arkansans to have graced the cover of AMP include radio icon “Broadway”
Joe Booker, investment tycoon Warren Stephens, Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones and Bank OZK CEO George Gleason — and that is just in the past year.
In January, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appeared on the cover of the magazine and provided an exclusive interview about her first year in office. She was also on the cover in 2019, when she provided the publication with her first local print interview after returning to Arkansas as former White House press secretary.
Featuring the work of
award-winning writers and designers, AMP has grown tremendously over the past decade thanks to loyal readers and a dedicated staff. A subscription to AMP provides a thoughtful, unexpected gift for business associates.
This Christmas, AMP will offer a special one-year subscription deal of 12 issues for just $30. That’s $2.50 an is sue. The magazine will continue to distrib ute more than 20,000 cop ies through the state each month, but with maga zines flying off the newsracks, it helps to have a subscription.
GROWING WHERE IT IS PLANTED
Heifer International navigates changes
By Dwain Hebda
It is a surreal experience to gather multiple Heifer International employees in the same room. Doing so combines many notes of dialect from around the world, from Arkansas twang to British lilt to shades of Latin America and Asia. Listen to it long enough, and the accents combine in a sort of musicality, harmonizing across lines both geopolitical and experiential.
Nowhere in Arkansas business today — not even the state’s celebrated Fortune 100 companies J.B. Hunt and Walmart based in northwest Arkansas or the globally oriented University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock — does one find the breadth of diversity located in any given conference room on the Heifer International campus. Staffers and field agents hail from every corner of the atlas, traversing the globe as nonchalantly as a daily commute. Hang around long enough, and it feels as if everyone in Little Rock was in Nepal last week and is headed for Tanzania the next.
The only thing that Heifer International employees — represented by four members of leadership on a bright Arkansas fall afternoon — seem to hold in common is a well-deep commitment
to the mission of the 80-year-old nonprofit, even as time and circumstances have demanded it adapt its execution.
“Our mission has not changed,” said Surita Sandosham, who, in 2022, took over as president and CEO. “We’re addressing hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. That remains critical, and it remains something that we need to do. What has changed is the way that we’re doing it, recognizing that small farmers are still at the center, but we cannot do it by ourselves alone. We have to build partnerships, and we need to step back and look at how the world has changed.
“In the midst of all of that, we then have to say, how do we, as an organization, build our numbers, and how do we increase our impact? I believe the issue for us now is the way we execute and that we are clear that, for the future, we have to be locally led and globally connected.”
Few chapters of the organization’s history hold more promise — and more questions — than today for Heifer International. The organization was founded in 1944 by
Dan West, who is described by the Encyclopedia of Arkansas as “an Indiana farmer and peacemaker” who envisioned an intensely pragmatic approach to doing God’s work in service to others. West, who as a relief worker, handed out cups of powdered milk to refugee children during the Spanish-American War, developed a philosophy of giving people a cow instead of a cup, seeing more good in helping people be self-sustainable.
That vision led West to organize flotillas of volunteers and farm animals after World War II, delivering the livestock to people in the war-torn European countryside, which quickly became the calling card for Heifers for Relief, the nonprofit behind the effort. Four years after its founding, the group’s first American project happened with a gift of dairy cattle to 25 Arkansas families in Cotton Plant and Pine Bluff.
By 1971, the organization had established additional projects in South America and Africa, providing more and a wider variety of livestock, including pigs, chickens and goats. The donated animals had, to that point, been kept on a network of small farms prior to shipment, but size and scope led leadership to seek and purchase a central livestock center for breeding, raising and holding animals. The organization found it in a 1,200-acre farm in Perry County dubbed Heifer Ranch. Shortly thereafter, Heifer Project headquarters were set up in Little Rock, and in 1973, the organization changed its name to Heifer Project International.
By the early 1990s, Heifer Project International no longer shipped animals from the U.S., but the mission continued through
With a mission of combating poverty and food insecurity, Heifer International provides agricultural support to communities around the globe.
purchasing livestock from improved local or regional breeds.
In 2006, Heifer International christened a new world headquarters in downtown Little Rock, a modern 94,000-squarefoot building that personified sustainability and green construction, right down to the parking lot, which was constructed to collect water for man-made wetlands surrounding the office building.
Today, having assisted 53 million households worldwide over its 80 years, addressing world hunger and poverty in 20 countries across four continents, Heifer International is one of the most recognized charitable organizations on the planet, so when news broke in 2022 that the headquarters was for sale, many people found it cause for alarm.
When one potential buyer — Lyon College in Batesville, which planned to turn it into its Little Rock campus housing the forthcoming veterinary and dentistry schools — walked away from a purchase deal last year, many began to speculate as to the actual viability of the respected organization and its future plans to remain in Arkansas.
According to Marcia Rasmussen, chief financial officer, the sale of the iconic campus amounts to little more than recasting how company employees work and a desire to reduce operating costs.
“We have a large proportion of our U.S. staff who either works remotely or are not based in the Little Rock area,” she said. “Even those who are based in the Little Rock area, many of them continue to work from home. We have chosen to embrace that hybrid work environment, and toward that end, we did the renovations of the office space that we plan to occupy for the future, which are the third and fourth floors of our building.
“The campus is still for sale, and we are looking at all opportunities, whether selling the campus or leasing additional space. We’re just looking to make the best use of that asset and ensure that we are stewarding our donor dollars in the best way possible to increase our impact. We want to make sure that it’s being utilized and it’s honoring the spirit in which the campus was developed.”
As for the Lyon College deal falling apart, neither Rasmussen nor Sandosham would comment directly, saying it was a question better posed to the college.
“From our perspective, we had, potentially, a purchase agreement, and it fell through,” Sandosham said. “I think we need to, again, look at the external factors of real estate and financing, which were quite a big deal at the time.
Surita Sandosham
Marcia Rasmussen
A speaker in India conducts a presentation as part of Heifer International’s outreach.
There will be continued investment because what we want to do is be able to elevate the ranch more as part of our global strategy.
“What we’re going to be doing is continuing to find a buyer who’s willing to accept that our DNA is part of this building and that we’re going to occupy two floors as a lease back. We’re going to continue to be in the state.”
Sandosham said there is no stronger guarantee of Heifer’s commitment to Arkansas than Heifer Ranch, which the organization continues to invest in and improve to turn it into a learning center that demonstrates cutting-edge agricultural best practices for employees and guests from around the world.
“The fact of the matter is we’ve got this amazing ranch, this agricultural regenerative center, and we want to build that out as a global center for learning and understanding what it means to do regenerative agriculture,” Sandosham said.
Donna Kilpatrick, director of regeneration, heads Heifer Ranch as it continues to demonstrate the latest in agricultural technology and farming principles. One recent example of this is the ROVA|BARN by UKKÖ Robotics, a 750-bird robotic chicken house that moves around a field, providing fresh ground for pasture-raised chickens to feed without exposing them to predators while, at the same time, enriching the soil.
“What we’re trying to do is work to help, not to speak in a mechanical mindset, but in terms of efficiencies,” Kilpatrick said. “The ROI in farming is very, very thin. What we do at the ranch is take the burden of learning about technology and efficiencies off of the farmer who doesn’t have the capacity, either financially or with time, to do that.”
Live demonstrations of such tools, as well as conferences and presentations, are beamed out all over the world, another way
— Surita
Sandosham,
president and CEO
technology is helping Heifer execute its mission more efficiently. As Hilary Haddigan, chief of mission effectiveness, noted however, there is still plenty of work to do that relies more on relationships than robots.
“Increasing our reach in the world is about people who know people, people going to meetings where they are connecting with officials or with people in departments, and it grows over time,” she said. “Nigeria is our newest program or one of our newest, and we’ve looked at what the government’s priorities are there and connected with people who can position Heifer. We’ve updated our way of working in these very strategic forums, but that still starts by building relationships.”
All that said, none of the Heifer employees interviewed would say definitively whether the group was committed to operating intact in Arkansas for the long haul. Sandosham came closest, committing to making Heifer Ranch a one-of-a-kind living classroom for the world.
“There will be continued investment because what we want to do is be able to elevate the ranch more as part of our global strategy,” Sandosham said. “One thing I will say — we are not selling this ranch during my tenure. I can’t say what will happen in the future, but I want that on the record. It’s really important that we put that out there for the people who are thinking, ‘Oh gosh, is Heifer leaving? Are they going to sell the ranch?’ No, that’s not happening.”
Donna Kilpatrick
HiIary Haddigan
HEADER
DAME OF THE AD GAME ARKANSAS VISIONARY
Christy Vandergriff marks 25 years of bucking trends and breaking barriers
By Dwain Hebda
Ask many successful people how they got that way, and one of the more common answers will be “hard work.”
Christy Vandergriff, co-owner, president and creative director at Agency GWL in Little Rock, is no exception.
For the entirety of her 25 years in advertising, all of them spent with GWL, which she owns with fellow ad vet Julie Barnett, Vandergriff has been the poster child for outworking the competition. It was an attribute she mastered while attending Arkansas State University in Jonesboro but which was planted much earlier in her DNA by her parents, who set a high bar when it came to work ethic.
“My dad worked for the extension service. My mother was a teacher,” Vandergriff said. “They were 18 and 19 when they had me, so I kind of grew up with them. Dad was in the Marines for four years and then got out and went to Fayetteville on the GI Bill.
“My mom was also very driven to better herself, working and taking college courses to get her teaching degree. Hard work has always been really fundamental for me, to this day.”
Vandergriff shared the family stories as framed artwork and memorable ads stared out from one wall of a company conference room. It is the setting she likes best, that cocoon of creativity, even when she does something she likes least, such as interviews. In an industry where she has made a career out of crafting and shaping the message, a magazine article takes control out of her hands, a feeling she does not much like.
“I think I’ve been really good creative leader because I am a creative,” she said. “I always tell everybody, I’m like the mama bear when it comes to my creatives. We are passionate. We are procrastinators. We are not morning people. We are moody. Understanding that, I think I’m really good at getting the best out of my team.”
One senses in other company or under other circumstances, she is the cajoling mother hen she professes to be, but on the record, she is more guarded, tougher edged — so much so, in fact, that when one hears a big part of her collegiate experience was spent in sorority life, it takes a moment to sink in.
“I knew that I was going to have to make my own way after college, and I knew that I didn’t have connections,” she said. “When I had joined the sorority, it really helped me get my first job.”
After a quick pause, she said, “I also liked to have fun. I think I’m a bit more serious now than I was, obviously, when I was younger, and I really had fun.”
CHRISTY VANDERGRIFF ON STAFF DEVELOPMENT
“It always starts with X, like, I need a brand manager, but from there, we’re gonna see what their strength really is. I’m going to always keep an eye on that. I don’t ever want to stand in the way of anybody moving forward. I want to give everybody opportunities. Our director of photography started as an editor. He came to me and said, ‘Hey, I think I can do this. I want to do this,’ and I was like, ‘Prove it to me. Show me you can do it.’ Career paths are huge, but you have to make sure people understand where they can go and how they can get there.”
CHRISTY VANDERGRIFF ON TEAM BUILDING
“As a leader, you really have to set the proper expectations. GWL is not a place you can work if you want to work from home because we are a very collaborative environment. We have, like, 400 to 500 creative projects that come out of here a month. We are all within 20 feet of each other. That’s not going to be everybody’s cup of tea, and we say that on the front end: This is what we do here. They don’t all work out, and we understand that, but it’s very clear what is expected. Nothing is hidden here, right, nothing.”
Vandergriff’s sorority experience played out in ways familiar to many: As a driven student in high school, she came to ASU on a journalism scholarship and charged headlong into honors courses. The academic rigors combined with the social aspects of her first year proved to be more than she could effectively manage.
“College was a rude awakening,” she said. “I’d always been pretty smart, right, but nobody told me you’re not supposed to take honors your freshman year. Plus I was also pledging my sorority at the same time, so that became a bit of a challenge. When I did not keep my scholarship, my parents were like, ‘Now it’s on you.’”
The two things Vandergriff fell back on to regain momentum were the family work ethic and an equally unbending will to prove others wrong. Changing her major to broadcasting her sophomore year, she started pounding on doors, hustling her way into gigs with local TV stations.
“I knew getting out of college, nobody was going to look at my GPA and be like, ‘Oh, she’s a real winner,’” she said. “In marketing, nobody cares about that, but I knew I needed experience, so I started in the newsroom. I worked 3 to 11 four days a week and went to school full time. I kind of really fell in love with television, you know? The bug bit me.”
Vandergriff balanced her love for the business with a pragmatic streak, milking the college job for all of the experiences and skilled learning it was worth.
“The knowledge that I got at KAIT was a wonderful education. It was more valuable than my college degree by far,” she said. “I learned how to shoot, I learned how to edit, and I was the only female. This was very important; I was the only female in that troop of creative services, so I had to fight my way for every project.”
By the time graduation neared, Vandergriff had seen enough of television to know that weekend broadcasts, long hours and crummy pay at the entry level were not going to cut it. A colleague suggested she take a meeting with Little Rock adman Gary Lay. Having already decided she was going to head to central Arkansas after college and in the midst of sending out resumes, she did just that, ultimately taking a job at GWL.
“It was a very small agency. Everything was very structured,” she said. “I was an assistant to the production manager. I had enough experience to realize within my first month that things weren’t being done as efficiently as they should have been, but I kept my mouth shut. You’re the new kid on the block, you know? Keep your head down and work.
“The production manager left a month after I was there, and Gary walked into my office and he goes, ‘Hey kid, think you can handle this?’ I think at the time, we had, like, 10 or 12 accounts, and I didn’t know any better, so I decided I was gonna fake it. I was like, “Sure, let’s go.’”
Cracking that door was all the daylight Vandergriff needed. GWL hung its sales hat mostly on automotive at the time, which she said was not that technically challenging but came with deadlines and expectations that routinely cut the weak and uncommitted from the herd. For Vandergriff, it was the ideal training ground.
“I always say that if you can do automotive advertising, you can do anything,” she said. “Automotive is, by nature, difficult because it’s immediate gratification. Everything’s about leads, so you’re only as good as the last month you did for them. Every other kind of advertising moves a lot slower by comparison.”
To improve the process, Vandergriff approached Lay about launching a production division instead of farming out work externally.
“The one thing I knew was video production, and I had worked with enough production houses to know it can be done better and it can be done cheaper,” she said. “I went to Gary, and I was like, ‘We can do this on our own’ because we’d worked in automotive, which was our primary client and
CHRISTY
VANDERGRIFF
ON THE VALUE OF MENTORS
“Gary Lay, who I’m very thankful for, was fundamental to my success. I don’t think I would’ve been able to do what I did at many other places. He recognized what drove me, and he just went, ‘OK, go,’ and it allowed me to grow at such a rate and in such a way that I had no restrictions whatsoever. When I said we needed to start our own production house, he said OK. When I said we needed more creatives than anybody else in the business, he said OK. At the same time, he did a really good job of dangling the carrot — he’s a salesman by nature — and I knew what was going on, but I bought it hook, line and sinker. He knew if you put something in front of me, I’m gonna go after it.”
which is a whole different beast.
“Our largest client was buying a ton of stores, and the more business we got, the faster we needed to turn things, and we needed to cut out a step, so [production capabilities] made a lot of sense.”
Vandergriff found a kindred spirit in Barnett, who joined the company 20 years ago.
“We outworked everyone else is what happened,” said Vandergriff.
Together they bought the agency from Lay on Halloween 2019 and set about diversifying the client list, a priority rammed home by the unprecedented market forces brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
CHRISTY VANDERGRIFF ON DETERMINATION
“Sometimes you have to just bug people for what you want. When I worked at KAIT, the creative services director was pretty young, and he had a group of four guys that worked for him, all of them in their 20s. I was basically seen as the secretary, but I said, ‘Hey, I want to work in this department. What can I do? I want to go on a shoot, I want to do this.’ I just bugged him until one day he goes, ‘I can’t pay you.’ I said, ‘I don’t care. You tell me where to be and when.’ I tagged along on a shoot for an appliance store commercial, and things just took off from there.”
“We had a long laundry list of things that we wanted to do,” Vandergriff said. “I don’t think anything about this journey has been normal. We were diversifying, but we had to diversify because when the pandemic hit, automotive accounts had very little inventory, and they didn’t have to advertise. Many of them were selling everything over MSRP. They didn’t have to carry a lot of the costs that they had before.”
GWL took its lumps approaching clients in other industries, until they got a “yes” from the decidedly non-automotive Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock. The agency’s success in managing the fair to four record-breaking turnouts got the attention of other clients from many other corners of the marketplace. Now boasting nearly 60 accounts in 18 states, GWL places more than $10 million in advertising annually. Notably, the agency continues to sign new clients at a time when competing firms are looking to merge, struggle with retention or have executed layoffs.
A big part of the company’s ability to grow even when others are struggling lies with the company’s 25 employees. Vandergriff said approaching personnel as more art than science has been an effective way to build a winning team despite differences in background, perspective and age.
“I see it a lot like being a parent, right?” she said. “Being a parent of teenagers is the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. It is frustrating, two and two do not add up to four, and yet you still have to be their soft place to land, to help them navigate the world and become productive, empathetic
individuals.
“I kind of view our team the same way. They’re young. Some need a leg up, and some need to be taken under your wing and shown the ropes. We have very little turnover in creative — very little — and that’s one of the biggest challenges in the agency world.”
Talking about her teams, Vandergriff displayed an emotional nuance that lies just beneath the veneer of toughness and bravado she puts on for the rest of the world, an introvert in wolf’s clothing. Among her people, the creative process still crackles among the talent that has been accumulated, collectively birthing new ideas and fresh concepts to help clients meet their objectives through the right image, brand and message. The last five years have taught her as much as the 20 before that, and she, like GWL itself, is just hitting stride.
“I’m lucky enough that I still get to do the things that I love every day,” she said. “Being a creative director is still one of my favorite things to do, putting a plan together and now showing the next generations how to take the lead here. Nothing’s ever going to be perfect. We’re always going to be refining processes. There’s always going to be a position that’s not quite right. You can’t expect perfection, but you can set a bar that is attainable.
“Now I want that bar to be taking GWL to the next level. I want to be more competitive in the marketplace. I want to continue to diversify, and I want to get some of those larger accounts. I want to shout from the rooftops that our creative is far and away the best in the region. I’ll put them up against anybody at any time. You know, for a long time, GWL flew under the radar. I don’t necessarily want to fly under the radar anymore.”
CHRISTY VANDERGRIFF ON SUCCESS MINDSET
“If you want bigger opportunities, you have to be goal oriented, and you have to believe they couldn’t stop you if they tried. People have always underestimated me, but I was raised in such a way that I was told I could do anything, I could be anything. That gave me the attitude where I love to buck a trend. I love to surprise people. I’ve constantly bucked authority, but I am loyal to a fault. I realized early on that I don’t really fit into a mold, and I didn’t want to, frankly. Your reputation is all you’ve got. People do business with people that they like and they know and they trust, and so you have to be authentic.”
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Mark Abernathy
Thriving in Retirement
By Becky Gillette
Mark Abernathy had a storied career as a restaurateur in Little Rock, including owning and operating two of Little Rock’s most popular restaurants, the Loca Luna bistro and the Red Door, before selling them in August. Previously, he owned Juanita’s, which was just entered into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame, and the nationally acclaimed Blue Mesa Grill, both in Little Rock.
After 55 years in the restaurant industry, Abernathy decided to hang up his chef hat and find out what life could be like in retirement.
“I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about retiring, and it did take at least five minutes to feel great about it,” Abernathy said. “It is so liberating. I feel I’m in college with money to spend. You have so much more bandwidth, so much more room up in your brain. I didn’t realize there was a big space taken up by stress, concern and responsibility, and that opened up.”
The restaurant industry is infamous for consuming a great deal of time and energy. Abernathy said he was fortunate to have great employees — many who had worked with him for 20 years — and found a good work-life balance until COVID-19 hit.
“We had lots of businesses, and we were very profitable,” Abernathy said. “I had built such a good organization that I didn’t have to be there as much. After COVID, everything changed. Manpower and the quality of employees were a concern. We went a year and a half without a full kitchen staff. If someone got sick, we had to close. Labor costs went up 25 percent, and we had 20 percent inflation in food costs. We found ourselves losing money for the first time in 20 years. We were struggling to survive. That takes the fun out of things. For the first time in my life, the restaurant business was not enjoyable for me. Without government help, the businesses wouldn’t have survived.”
After the pandemic, he decided it was time to start looking for the right buyers who would retain his employees at the same pay rate.
“That was critical for me,” he said. “I didn’t want to get a nice check and put 60 people out of work, including people who had worked so many years to make these restaurants successful. They not only got to keep their jobs when ownership changed; they will be able to be part of creating a future for Loca Luna and Red Door.”
Abernathy won a lot of awards — he was once named one of the top chefs in the U.S. — and achieved fame for promoting the culi-
nary offerings of Arkansas. While challenging, he also enjoyed it.
“It is hard, but if you do it right, it is so much fun,” he said. “I got to eat good food and hang out with people enjoying themselves. When I owned Juanita’s, I had a front-row seat to some of the best live music in the world for years, and I made a good living. I am happy and fortunate that I landed in the restaurant business. My degree was in banking and finance, but when I graduated in 1971 from the University of Arkansas, I had long hair and bad habits, so I didn’t really fit in the banking world.”
Abernathy advised prospective retirees to ask themselves if they can afford to retire.
“You have to determine what enough is,” Abernathy said. “Once you reach that point, you need to retire. In my case, I’m getting healthier physically and mentally. I still wake up sometimes at night and the squirrel cage gets running, but it is pretty rare because there is not so much that I worry about anymore.”
Abernathy and his wife, Lyne, have a large property in North Little Rock that requires a lot of upkeep. He is usually physically active all day long. The couple plans to start traveling more. They spend time on a houseboat on Lake Ouachita, and now that he is not tempted by the great food at his restaurants, where he would frequently eat a big lunch, Abernathy is eating less.
“I was borderline diabetic, and I don’t want to go on medicine unless I have to,” he said. “My goal is to survive. I want to stay around long enough to enjoy my retirement. Removing a lot of stress in life makes you healthier.”
The kitchen at home is his wife’s domain.
“Lyne is obsessed with cooking, and I think that is just fine,” he said. “I’ve done my share of cooking through the years, and I’m happy to just show up with a drink in my hand. She is an excellent cook. At the moment, I couldn’t be happier. I have a good partner. We are happily married, and that makes a difference.”
Susan Altrui TOP TEN x
Koala-fied to LEAD
By Lance Brownfield
Working at the Little Rock Zoo is a pretty wild way to spend a career, but that is exactly what Susan Altrui did. She started at the zoo in 2005 as a coordinator for marketing and development, working her way up to zoo director in 2016.
She is also responsible for launching the new Arkansas Zoological Foundation. Thanks to her time at the foundation, the zoo has a habitat for the African penguins that call the Little Rock Zoo home. Fundraisers such as Wild Wines and Zoo Brew help raise funds and awareness about the zoo.
“I was fortunate to work with a team of leaders at the city of Little Rock, the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, and other organizations, who mentored me to be the leader I am today,” Altrui said.
As director, her duties are broad and all encompassing. Altrui is responsible for the health and well-being of 400 animals who live at the zoo, as well as for leading the zoo’s conservation programs. It is her task to ensure the organization complies with all local, state and federal laws, in addition to upholding the standards of the AZA, the zoo’s accrediting organization.
Altrui works to ensure the 300,000 annual guests have an amazing, safe experience and leave with an inspiration to “value and conserve our natural world.” She also organizes events and fundraisers with a focus on community engagement, collects data and analysis to meet financial goals, oversees new construction and deferred maintenance projects, and keeps a safe, happy and equitable work environment for her employees to grow as professionals.
“I also oversee the zoo’s sustainability efforts to ensure that the zoo is doing everything it can to lessen our footprint on the earth and promote green practices,” she said. “Our actions directly impact the wild places where animals live. I’m also responsible for ensuring that the zoo is always looking forward to what’s next and planning for the future.”
Altrui said zoos accredited by AZA are more vital than ever because they promote conservation and “are important for the longterm survival of species.”
“There is a wide variety of knowledge gained by zoo professionals that has helped contribute to saving species in the wild, and this body of research and knowledge is called on frequently by organizations
doing conservation work in the wild,” Altrui said. “The Little Rock Zoo has worked with organizations in South Africa to save the African penguin, Namibia to save the cheetah, Sri Lanka and India to save the sloth bear, Malaysia to save the Malayan tiger, and is currently helping a cohort of organizations in Arkansas to help save the eastern collared lizard. In addition, the Little Rock Zoo works through our education department to educate the public about the future of wildlife and wild places and how each one of us can make a difference.”
Besides her heart for animals, Altrui has a passion for caring for all life.
“We are all connected, and this world is beautiful,” she said. She has many inspirations, including Betty Reid Soskin, who, at age 85, became a park ranger and is one of the only African American park rangers in the country. Recently retiring at the age of 100, she was the oldest living park ranger in the United States and “shows that you can start another career at any age,” Altrui said.
With more than a decade of experience at the zoo before taking the top spot, Altrui encouraged aspiring zoo directors to learn a wide variety of skills and disciplines, including business finance, hospitality management, retail and communication. Humility and knowing how to ask for help are also key to leadership, she said.
“That institutional knowledge has allowed me to work with our community, the city of Little Rock, our foundation and other stakeholders to craft a path forward that is innovative and informed,” Altrui said of her time honing her skills before taking the job as director. “I’m aware of what our zoo needs to grow and develop, and we are on a path forward.”
She said she plans to continue developing herself and the Little Rock Zoo, having recently completed a new facility master plan.
“The zoo should be a community resource and a place families can turn to for accessible, incredible experiences,” she said.
TEN x
Jeff Duncan
JACK of all TRADES
By Sarah DeClerk
Jeff Duncan has been many things throughout his life — farmer, blackjack aficionado and, most recently, inventor of the T-Pal, a post-driving guide — but he is most known for the 50 years he spent in the parking lot business in Little Rock.
“There was something exciting every day,” he said. “You got to meet just about anybody in town that was anybody, and people always wanted free parking.”
The now-retired former CEO of Best Park grew up in the Stuttgart area, where he drove tractors. He also worked at a sawmill that made railroad cross ties and had a lucrative side hustle hunting racoons.
“I was making some pretty good money,” he said. “I was making more money headlighting racoons at night than most of the grown men who were working all week long.”
He did not like farming, he added, so he dropped out of school in 12th grade, thinking he could beat his classmates to a job at the button factory in Clarendon or the shoe factory in Stuttgart. He ended up working at the shoe factory.
“Line work wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do,” he said. “That’s some tough work, so I ended up coming to Little Rock.”
He caught a Greyhound bus to the capital city with $70 in his pocket and a place to stay for two weeks, then walked the streets of downtown, looking for work. At a car wash on Broadway Street, someone suggested he try a nearby parking lot.
“I went in and talked to the guy, and he said, ‘Can you drive a stick shift?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, I can drive a stick shift. I can drive bulldozers and combines,’ and he said, ‘Well, we deal mostly in cars,’” Duncan said. “I said, ‘I can drive a car,’ so I went to work at National Garages.”
He worked there 12 years until its competitor, Allright Parking, made him a better offer. Allright later bought National Garages, and then Central Parking Systems bought Allright. When the company asked him to sign a noncompete agreement, rather than signing, Duncan decided to buy the business, starting Best Park in 2004.
When the day came to exchange the money, however, his loan was about $50,000 short. He was set to meet the seller at noon and would owe $50,000 if he did not hold up his end of the agreement.
“It’s 9 o’clock in the morning. I’m thinking this is going to have to be like a Jerry Lewis telethon,” he said. “I’m going to have to raise almost $20,000 an hour or I don’t have a job and I’ve lost $50,000, and I already had all my money in the pot, so I went to see a friend. I said, ‘Can you loan me $50,000 for 30 days?’ He said, ‘Sure.’”
At its peak, he said, Best Park had 105 parking lots and 10,000 parking spaces.
“Anytime you do any kind of deal, it’s got to be a good deal for you. It’s got to be a good deal for your client, and if it’s not, you don’t hold that relationship long,” he said. “I had people in the parking lot business I’d done business with for all 50 years that I was there.”
Now 73, Duncan said he is busier in retirement than ever before. He spends a good amount of time playing blackjack, a hobby he so thoroughly enjoys that he wrote the book Ask Dr. Blackjack under the pseudonym Sam Barrington in 2011.
“Friends of mine, they kept saying, ‘You need to write a book on that. You need to write a book on that,’ and I kept saying, ‘Oh, I don’t care about that. I don’t care about that.’ I was in bed one night, and I woke up, and I said, ‘Well, I think I can write that,’” he said. “It was, like, 2 o’clock in the morning, and I just went downstairs and got on my computer and started writing it, and I was through with it in, like, two weeks.”
He also invented a brand-new product, the T-Pal, which he developed while he was installing T-posts at his home in Cabot.
“There’s not always somebody else around there to help you,” he said. “I found out that T-Pal would hold my post as long as I wanted him to, and he was there in rain or sunny, didn’t want to go anywhere, didn’t have to go home to feed the cats or anything, so it worked out good for me.”
Lee Hatcher
Not Just Horsing Around
By KD Reep
Lee Hatcher was not quite born with horse reins in her hands, but by the time she could take a few steps on her own, her love of horses was permanent. Today, Hatcher, the wife of Little Rock businessman Greg Hatcher, owns Pinnacle Valley Farm, Little Rock’s premiere equine boarding and training facility, which encompasses 150 acres and offers full-care, regular and pasture boarding. She also owns Finish Line RV Park in Hot Springs, the city’s newest state-of-the-art park, which offers free Wi-Fi, bathrooms and showers, electricity hook-ups, an on-site laundry, firepits, a dog park, and a gated entrance, among other amenities.
Oddly enough, Hatcher’s horse farm has its roots in soccer.
“Greg and I bought property from Rush and Linda Harding around 1999,” she said. “Greg wanted to put in some soccer fields because our older kids were having trouble finding places to practice. That is what led to the Mighty Bluebird youth sports program, and while that was growing, I asked him, ‘Well, can we build a horse barn?’ So we built a smaller barn, where I kept my horses for years. The Hardings decided to sell the rest of their property, so we bought it and expanded into a much bigger barn, which is now Pinnacle Valley.”
Hatcher’s boarding business includes 13 paddocks, four barns, two outdoor arenas, an indoor arena, and an exerciser.
“We also have different trainers who teach a variety of equestrian skills and disciplines,” she said.
Her RV park, which just opened within the past year, is about as close to Oaklawn as one can get without being on the track. Hatcher said tourists can park their “home away from home” within walking distance of the track, Hot Springs National Park and Bathhouse Row.
“It was important that our guests had access to everything Hot Springs has to offer, including lakes Hamilton, Catherine and Ouachita; Garvan Woodland Gardens; Hot Springs Country Club; Magic Springs Theme and Water Park, Mid-America Science Museum; and Hot Springs Mountain Tower,” she said. “When you are
in the very center of the city, you have access to everything.”
Growing up in Little Rock, Hatcher was introduced to horses through her father, a retired hematologist and oncologist who was raised in Wilson.
“Dad is retired and lives with us on the property,” she said. “He grew up in a farming family, so I think I just always had the horse bug. It becomes part of your life. My husband, Greg, is always telling our son to never marry a horse woman. You don’t know expenses until you have horses.
“You know, you’re on the road, but there’s people from all over the country, from all different walks of life that we’ve had the opportunity to meet, which is really fun. In the English-riding world that I ride, horse shows are expensive, and it’s a lot of time and money. When [daughter] Mattie was really little, I started her out riding Western, and she used to run barrels and poles on Saturday night shows. She evolved in her riding and switched to hunter/jumper, but it’s all a fun hobby we’ve thoroughly enjoyed over the years.”
Regardless of the time, effort and money invested in horses, Hatcher maintains that the beauty of being in nature with animals is the true value of her love of horses and all things equestrian.
“To me, just being outdoors, being in nature and with your animals, whether it’s a dog or a horse, and enjoying that relationship teaches people to care beyond themselves,” she said. “To have to care for another animal, another being, is a really important lesson.”
She said her children were able to learn some hard life lessons through their affinity for horses.
“In racing and hunter/jumper, sometimes accidents happen and horses die,” Hatcher said. “It’s a difficult thing to understand and accept, regardless of how old you are. They have also learned about breeding horses because I do a little bit of breeding here and there.”
Hatcher said her farm artificially inseminates mares from specific stallions, usually in Europe. Sometimes, that mare carries to term, and other times, the embryos are removed and placed in recipient mares until the foal is birthed.
“It’s an interesting process with a lot of science and medicine involved,” she said. “It’s interesting for me to learn, and it taught our children about the fundamentals of life.”
TEN x
Curtis Jeffries
Company Man
By Sarah Coleman
Curtis Jeffries is a lifelong Arkansan, hailing from Helena. As a longtime Little Rock resident, he is passionate about the Natural State. Jeffries has been with Little Rock’s Stephens for 38 years, and he currently serves as senior vice president and director of sports marketing.
In 1987, Jeffries began his career with Stephens as part of the financial services group team. Throughout his time with the company, Jeffries has seen first-hand the company’s rapid and continued growth and expansion.
“Stephens is an incredible and dynamic company. We’ve grown tremendously in the time I’ve been here,” he said. “We had one office at 14 E. Capital in Little Rock, and we were doing business all over the country.”
Jeffries said Stephens’ culture is largely centered around relationships, both with clients and the community, internally across departments.
“Stephens plays an instrumental role in the growth of our state. People look to Stehens for leadership, and they know that we are an active participant in the growth of our great state,” he said. “Stephens could be anywhere if we wanted to be, but the family has dedicated themselves to being right here.”
Throughout his career, Jeffries has been inspired by and looks up to so many people he works with and for. This includes the talented, smart individuals who work in Arkansas and in the company’s offices across the country and beyond.
Jeffries also looks up to Chenoa Taitt, executive vice president and head of marketing and communications, who works out of the company’s New York office. He credits her leadership for the department’s success.
“We have a saying around here that this is the last business card that people will have, and our turnover is very low and our average tenure for officers is well into the double digits,” Jeffries said, adding that that is true regardless of the department.
For young professionals seeking to go down a similar path as Jeffries, he offers the following sage wisdom: Be a team player, be known for your integrity, and understand the title and the position comes from the hard work put in.
“Warren Stephens is a tremendous man. He’s an incredible, remarkable leader, and he works harder than anybody in the company. He’s working before people come to work, and he’s here long after people leave and go home,” Jeffries said. “His work ethic is second to none, his business sense is common sense, and he has the great ability to see a problem or an opportunity.”
Through working alongside his team, Jeffries has been able to help bring many sports-centric ideas to life. This includes Stephens’ work in sponsoring touring professionals on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and the Champions Tour, being the presenting sponsor for the Simmons Bank Championship, the Jackson T. Stephens Cup, which was created in 2021 by Warren to honor his father, and the firm becoming the official investment banking partner of Williams Racing in the United Kingdom.
Those partnerships and sponsorships have created unique opportunities for the community, most recently in sponsoring the inaugural Simmons Bank Championship and in partnering with Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts to bring Beyond the F1 Circuit: Artistry and Speed with Williams Racing to Little Rock.
Outside of the office, Jeffries has volunteered with several nonprofits throughout the years, including Economics Arkansas. He also enjoys horse racing, Razorback football and basketball, gardening and spending time with his family.
Errin Stanger
No Place Like HOME
By Lance Brownfield and Dwain Hebda
Describing Errin Stanger as an accomplished person is an understatement, given her successful career with the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub in North Little Rock and as a serial volunteer with organizations such as the Argenta Contemporary Theatre in North Little Rock, Make-A-Wish Mid-South in Little Rock, Arkansas Children’s and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, to name a few.
To that list of accomplishments, one can now add “developer” as the inspiration and drive behind Providence Park in Little Rock, a first-in-Arkansas village designed to help people experiencing homelessness get on their feet and move their life in a positive direction.
“Throughout my life, I’ve always sought out opportunities to try and serve,” said the Little Rock native and Mount St. Mary Academy graduate, “but God’s plan is always bigger.”
Stanger’s professional life led her to the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub in North Little Rock, where she steadily worked her way into the role of director in 2021. Coming to work every day, she passed homeless people, and it began to tug at her brain what could be done to help them in a lasting way. The tug grew stronger as she researched the issue of homelessness, an issue that soon consumed virtually all of her free time.
“I really started to become much more in tune, after studying this issue for a while, with what existed here, what is the landscape like and, also, what didn’t exist,” Stanger said. “The search was to find something that provided long-term care opportunities. I was focusing on the chronically homeless.”
Through her research, she eventually stumbled across Community First! Village in Austin, Texas, an organization founded by Alan Graham, who had been on a mission to serve the homeless for a quarter century. Community First! Village, a 51-acre master-planned community that provides permanent housing for people who are chronically homeless, was the culmination of that lifelong work. Upon seeing it, Stanger was enthralled.
“I knew the minute I got out of my car, I was somewhere special,” Stanger said.
Determined to replicate the concept in Little Rock, Stanger began to drum up support for what ultimately manifested as Providence Park, a neighborhood of tiny homes on a 50-acre lot off of Chicot Road.
Stanger noted there will ultimately be three sizes of homes available: micro, micro-plus and a park home, from smallest to largest. Each floor plan varies in layout and amenities. The micro-
plus and park models offer plumbing, while residents in the micro model access shared bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities. Each home comes with a porch, encouraging conversations with neighbors in the fresh air.
The village will ultimately feature wraparound care via an on-site medical clinic featuring a trained medical staff that will focus on physical, mental and dental health. A fabrication lab and an art hub are planned, allowing neighbors to build things and learn crafts and trades to earn money.
“We want to be able to provide the work opportunities on-site because these individuals have been through so much trauma that they might not be able to handle a basic job,” Stanger said. “They’ve just been through too much.”
Harmony Hall, the 11,750-square-foot community center, will host events and feature a convenience store — Nilu’s Nook — as well as a gift shop where neighbors will sell what they have created. There are also plans to add a garden later on for neighbors to tend and harvest produce, which could help rebuild the residents’ relationship with food.
Stanger hopes to one day have completed 400 homes on the property, changing 400 lives forever. As evidenced by the cooperation she has found working with city and county offices, the idea is a welcomed one that could help individuals regain dignity and sufficiency in a place that is their permanent home at last.
“For our residents, it’s really about becoming whole again, but the impact of this work and what we’re actually doing in the community we’re serving, I mean, it impacts all of us,” she said. “It’s thrilling to see what God has been doing. He’s just opened so many doors that have made it possible for this dream to come alive. I’m so excited about the future of this.”
Anthony Valinoti
The MAESTRO of MOZZ
By Mak Millard and Dwain Hebda
When Deluca’s Pizza opened its doors in Little Rock last month, it was a dream come true for those who had grown to love Anthony Valinoti’s sensational pies, as well as the charismatic owner behind them. Lines were long, tributes poured in, and media outlets elbowed for room on the evening news.
Valinoti had a quintessential upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, and found success on Wall Street as an adult. His start in the restaurant business was the stuff of opera; his parents died 48 hours apart, and in his grief, he walked away from everything he knew to immerse himself in something completely different — making pizza for a living.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done anything ‘right’ here,” he told AY About You in 2023. “I think I’ve learned through a series of incredibly bad mistakes. The only thing I was smart enough to realize was that the mistake I made wasn’t a mistake I was going to make again.”
He moved to Naples, where, by happenstance, he crossed paths with a woman who was a cooking instructor at the University of Naples. While living under her roof for a couple of months, she shared both recipes and techniques with the eager New Yorker, who started with zero cooking experience as raw dough that would rise into the star he is today.
Arkansas was not part of the original plan, of course. Valinoti envisioned a restaurant in California, but that deal fell through, leaving him frustrated. He went to Las Vegas to blow off some steam. There, the famous story goes, he met up with an acquaintance who told him, “If it wasn’t for my ex-wife, I would live in Hot Springs, Arkansas.”
For Valinoti, the statement was too preposterous not to explore. He flew straight to Arkansas, walked onto the streets of Hot Springs and immediately knew he was home.
“I came down the next day, and I fell in love with the city,” Valinoti told AY. “I told everyone I was moving here. They all thought I was crazy. My eyes saw everything I needed to see in one day. I went, ‘This is my place.’”
The original Deluca’s was launched in a shabby-cool space on the fringe of downtown where Valinoti put his vision and newfound culinary skills to the test. Despite having a product that was otherworldly compared to native pizza restaurants — from the style of pie to the fact of life that when the day’s dough is gone, it is gone — Deluca’s hit a nerve. Before long, the restaurant knocked down a wall to an adjoining space for more seating to keep up with demand. Valinoti moved the original to its current spot — the bustling 833 Central Ave., in 2018.
Valinoti himself is part of the appeal, emerging from the kitchen
every night to greet guests, many of whom have evolved past being regulars to becoming fast friends.
“How do you take four walls and make them talk?” he said. “That was always the thing. I never really thought about it because it just kind of happened. [The restaurant] was always different from anything, really, you can find here in the South.
“I think people have kind of accepted that notion, that this is kind of fun. Maybe it’s crazy, how dark it is and how loud it is. Hey, I lived in Vegas for 13 years, you know? I like dark and loud. It may even match my personality. It definitely matches my personality.”
His convivial nature and fun-loving spirit have made Valinoti popular in the community, as well. In 2018, he was conferred the ultimate civilian honor of king of the World’s Shortest St Patrick’s Day Parade, for which he was paired with Rose Schweikhart, owner of the equally celebrated Superior Bathhouse Brewery. Publications throughout Arkansas have regularly proclaimed his product the Natural State’s best, and national media soon followed suit.
The crowning achievement came when Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, reviewed Deluca’s for his viral One Bite Pizza Reviews. Portnoy called the pie “spectacular” and “the real deal” and scored it an amazing 8.7 out of 10. That doubled Deluca’s business overnight as pizza enthusiasts from across the U.S. and around the world poured in.
Now featuring Italian delicacies and, of all things, a cheeseburger that is gaining notoriety on par with the pizza, Valinoti remains grateful and somewhat shell-shocked by all that has come his way.
“This is not a business based on money. It’s a business based on being excellent, on providing people something that they absolutely love and want to speak about as highly as they do,” he told AY last year.
“How much more lucky can I be to have what I have? I am thrilled to open the doors up every day. It’s a great joy. This isn’t work. This is coming in and doing something fun every day.”
Susanna Watt TOP TEN x
Presidential Epiphany
By Mark Carter
Susanna Watt was newly minted into the U.S. Navy, 18 and just out of high school, when her career path suddenly forked after meeting former President George H. W. Bush.
“I met President Bush, and it hit me — he’s just a regular guy who puts his pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us,” Watt said. “He was down to earth, nice and didn’t seem all that intimidating. That moment sparked something in me. I realized, ‘Hey, if he can do this, maybe I can too.’ From that point on, my goals shifted toward politics, and my future career path was pretty much born. It was like an aha moment, except with a president.”
Following an honorable discharge from the Navy, Watt, president and founder of Anchor Strategies, hit the ground running with internships at the Arkansas House of Representatives and the governor’s office while earning a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government and then a law degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
She spent four years as legislative director at Brent Stevenson Associates, an association management firm in Little Rock, and then six years as director of client services for JCD Consulting, also in Little Rock.
the complex world of legislation and policy.”
Watt said the team at Anchor believes in the power of informed advocacy.
“We are committed to providing our clients with the tools and knowledge they need to effectively engage with policymakers and stakeholders,” she said. “Our approach is rooted in collaboration, transparency and a deep understanding of the issues at hand.”
Anchor Strategies, she said, was born from a desire to have greater autonomy in her professional life.
“After spending years working at some of the most influential and impactful lobbying firms, I gained invaluable experience and insights into the intricacies of the legislative process and the art of advocacy,” she said. “However, I realized that to truly make a difference and align my work with my personal values, I needed to take the wheel and drive my own path.”
This March, Watt took a leap of faith and launched Anchor Strategies in the Argenta district of North Little Rock. Hanging her own shingle combines her experience and passion with a “touch of rebellious spirit,” Watt said.
“The decision to start Anchor Strategies was fueled by a desire for freedom — the freedom to choose the clients I work with, the causes I support and the methods I employ,” she said. “I wanted to create a space where I could approach each project with a fresh perspective, tailoring strategies to meet the unique needs of each client while staying true to my vision of ethical and effective advocacy.
“The journey has been both challenging and rewarding, as I’ve had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to nonprofit organizations, helping them navigate
Watt’s clients tend to skew conservative, which tracks with her experience advocating for conservative causes. Since earning her degrees from UA Little Rock, Watt has served as chairman of the Central Arkansas Young Republicans, southern regional director of the Young Republican National Federation and as national committee member at Arkansas Young Republicans. Currently, Watt serves as vice president of the Arkansas Society of Professional Lobbyists.
“While I may not always advocate for every issue I believe in, I am dedicated to empowering others to make their voices heard,” Watt said. “By choosing the clients and projects that resonate with me, I can focus on delivering meaningful results and fostering positive change. Anchor Strategies is here to guide you through the twists and turns of legislation with dedication, expertise and a commitment to your success.”
Watt said Anchor Strategies strives to provide “informed advocacy.” Her experiences opened her eyes to the power of policy in shaping communities, she added, and validated her decision to take that fork in the road.
“Politics felt like a giant game of chess, and I’ve always loved the strategy and foresight it requires,” she said. “There’s something thrilling about planning your moves, anticipating your opponent’s strategy and knowing you can help shape the rules everyone has to follow. I thought, ‘Why just be a pawn when I can be the one moving the pieces?’
“I had this moment of, ‘Yep, I could do this.’ Plus, it seemed like a good career where I could still wear heels and drink way too much coffee — because let’s be honest, politics is one of the few fields where you can justify your caffeine addiction as a professional necessity. So here I am, ready to dive into the political arena, armed with a love for strategy, a penchant for coffee and the occasional pair of fabulous heels.”
TOP TEN x
Quinten Whiteside
Natural Fit
By Mak Millard
Before he arrived at the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, Quinten Whiteside cut his teeth at the nation’s capital. He got the “bug for politics” as an undergrad, he said, after serving as president of the associated student government at UA.
He spent five years in Washington, D.C., working as a legislative aide for former U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, during which time he witnessed the passage of landmark legislation such as the Affordable Care Act. That stint impressed an important set of values onto Whiteside, who went on to become partner and chief operating officer at the historic Arkansas law firm Wright Lindsey Jennings.
“I quickly learned the leaders I hoped to emulate were selfless, dedicated civil servants,” Whiteside said. “I saw [Pryor] put Arkansans first in every decision. I’ve done my best to take that same approach in my legal career — serving those around me by enabling them to be their best, most productive selves.”
Whiteside’s legal career seemed to be a natural fit from the beginning. Ever the mediator, he even found himself settling disputes between friends as a child. A professor at UA, William Schreckhise, introduced Whiteside to administrative law, an area to which Whiteside was drawn because of its place at the intersection of government and business. He joined Wright Lindsey Jennings in 2015, and his practice now focuses on transportation, personal injury defense, premises liability and administrative law.
“A civil litigator is typically the last line of defense before a judge or jury rules in favor of one party over another,” he said. “Litigation is high stakes and deadline driven. You have to navigate court requirements, internal client deadlines and deadlines with other attorneys on the case. Being organized is the only way to survive.”
At almost 125 years old, Wright Lindsey Jennings has shaped the legal profession in Arkansas and amassed a deep bench of attorneys recognized as leaders in their areas of practice. Whiteside, who made partner in 2021 and was named chief operating officer in 2023, takes his contribution to that legacy seriously. He ought to, since the firm has always been uncompromising in the level of quality it demands of its people.
“I remember my first week of work,” Whiteside said. “My assistant looked at a memo I prepared. She said, ‘This is not up to WLJ standards. Try again.’ It showed me on day one that WLJ wants every person to take pride in our collective work.”
Striving towards the good of individuals and communities alongside a talented, hardworking team is one of Whiteside’s favorite parts of the job, right up there with finding swift, amenable resolutions for
his clients. He has benefitted from numerous mentors who have facilitated his growth by involving him in trials, depositions and other work, and he aims to pass those lessons on by doing the same for younger attorneys. The strength of the firm’s culture is reflected in the longevity of its workforce, Whiteside said.
“WLJ has an open-door policy, and I feel fortunate to walk into any room anytime and ask questions,” he said. “Our managing partner, Steve Lancaster, has been instrumental in my leadership development. He’s thoughtful and resolute yet always willing to grow and adapt.”
While Whiteside learned a lot from both his legal coursework and time on Capitol Hill, there are some things that only the courtroom can teach. The difference between understanding the law and practicing it comes down to how comfortable one is in the people business, Whiteside said, adding that he learns something new about people every time he walks into a deposition or hearing.
“At WLJ, I’ve been fortunate to learn from experienced, respected attorneys who showed me that putting in the hard work on the front end — studying the law, reviewing the pleadings, talking with seasoned attorneys or third-party experts — equips you with flexibility and fortitude to deal with the unexpected,” he said.
Another central pillar in the Wright Lindsey Jenning name is its community involvement across a variety of causes, missions and organizations. It is a commitment Whiteside proudly brings into his personal life, as well. A dedicated National Public Radio listener, he served on the Friends of KLRE/KUAR board for six years, and now his wife, Lucy — founder of LSW Strategic Communications — does the same. Whiteside is also chair of the ACCESS Cup, the annual golf tournament supporting the nonprofit’s work for individuals with special needs. He is the chair-elect for the board of First Tee-Central Arkansas and serves as marketing chair for the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission, in addition to a number of other organizations he and his family support.
x
Ron Witherspoon
Digging in for DOWNTOWN
By Matt Smithmeier
The lesson about digging in and committing to an effort? That one, Ron Witherspoon said, came straight from his dad.
“I can always remember him encouraging me not necessarily to follow his path but to go to college, get an education and then find a good company,” he said. “‘Don’t necessarily be someone who hops and skips and jumps around. Find a great company, and if you want to succeed in that organization … do it there.’ It was something that always stuck with me.”
Whether it is his work as the president of the central Arkansas market for Arvest Bank or his passion for revitalizing Little Rock’s downtown, Witherspoon is not afraid to put in the hard work. Of course, banking was never a predetermined destiny for him.
“I can’t sit here and tell you I ever graduated from college thinking I was going to go into banking, but I knew Arvest was a great company,” he said.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Witherspoon graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a marketing management degree and made his first career stop at Dillard’s. That role took him from northwest Arkansas back to Oklahoma, which is when he began contemplating a change away from retail.
Established in 1961, Arvest Bank was still relatively new to the banking scene, and Witherspoon wanted to be a part of what came next.
“I felt like it was a ground-floor opportunity because, at the time, Arvest was still very small,” he said. “I was thinking about the opportunity for growth and expansion and being a part of something that’s still fairly young.”
In 1997, he started as a teller but also spent time in the call center and in various branches, all just “trying to be a sponge” to learn not only about banking and customer service but also the culture. He even flexed his degree by working briefly in a marketing and advertising role for the bank. After four years in Tulsa, he was able to move back to Arkansas to tackle a sales manager role in what was then a new market for Arvest.
“It was an exciting time because we were seeing a lot of mergers and acquisitions in our industry,” he said. “Arvest was going through a bit of a growth phase, as well. I knew, at least in my head, we’d have an opportunity to either build additional branches, or maybe some acquisitions might come along. We were actually able to do both.”
The subsequent years were indeed expansive and included the acquisition of Superior Bank in 2003 and the National Bank
of Arkansas in 2013. Through those years, Witherspoon stayed true to his father’s advice and committed even further to the bank, serving as executive vice president and sales manager in Little Rock for 12 years, followed by eight years as the CEO and local bank president in Oklahoma City. In 2022, however, he decided he wanted to settle once and for all in Little Rock.
Now, along with occasional golf and visits to the races at Oaklawn (and, of course, easier access to Razorback football), Witherspoon has also dedicated a good portion of his time and energy to injecting new energy and resources into what he saw was missing in Little Rock when he moved back.
“The downtown I left seemed to have lots of energy and momentum and a buzz. The one I came back to was nothing like that. Nothing,” he said.
He referenced the city’s 3.8 percent dip in job growth downtown between 2010 and 2018 — and that was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I know COVID was bad for a lot of cities, but it seems like it was exceptionally bad for our downtown,” he said. “It looks old. It looks tired. It looks dated. I know Little Rock’s an old city, but it doesn’t have to look old.”
Witherspoon has been a big supporter of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership and the “Results for the Rock” 1 percent sales-tax initiative that appeared on the Nov. 5 ballot, but he sees the long-term solution through programs such as the Metropolitan Area Projects improvement plan, the transformational initiative he said “literally changed” Oklahoma City for the better over the past couple of decades.
“Whatever our downtown is dealing with and going through, it’s not sustainable,” he said. “It’s great that other areas of the city are doing well, but downtown is still the heartbeat of any city, and eventually, it can get even worse. The downtown area is one we’ve got to invest in.
“It won’t be anything we fix overnight, but it’s about having a vision. Doing nothing is not an option.”
With over a decade of experience as a contract lobbyist, Susanna Watt provides expert legislative solutions through Anchor Strategies, specializing in government relations, legislative affairs, and public policy advocacy. Let us help you navigate the legislative landscape. Contact us at Susanna@anchorstrategies.net or
LABOR of LOVE
High school football officials take one for the game
A stressed-out referee goes to see a psychologist. He complains of feeling depressed and loathed. He is concerned about always disappointing somebody, no matter what he does.
The doctor is highly sympathetic, and assures the down-and-out official that he can help. Then he writes something down on his prescription pad and hands it to the referee.
The note reads, “Go to this address, and tell the optometrist I sent you.”
By Mark Carter
In a sports-obsessed world where fans’ weekly dispositions — and sometimes even livelihoods — are subject to the bounce of a ball, game officials make for easy targets. Fans and coaches will remember a call in the fourth quarter that went against their football team before they will consider their team’s multiple turnovers, missed tackles or drops that were the actual primary contributors to the final outcome.
Officials are easy targets, indeed. Referee jokes such as the one above are as common as quips about lawyers and politicians. As another fall of football finishes up in high school stadiums across the state, prep officials say they don the stripes on Friday nights for one main reason: Doing so keeps them connected to a game they love.
Without officials, there simply is no game, and it is doubtful many fans would ever volunteer to take an official’s place. The term “no-win situation” applies to game officials as much as it does to any one demographic group, but officials show up anyway on Friday nights, working for little pay in what can sometimes be considered a hostile working environment.
some high school games.”
Hill worked his way up to the SEC and is a regular for many of the league’s biggest matchups each weekend in the fall. In addition to the pressure cookers that are the Iron Bowl, Egg Bowl and World’s Largest Cocktail Party, Hill has worked two SEC championship games and been assigned to several bowl games, including the Cotton and Fiesta.
The best officials — the ones who earn assignments to league championship games, bowl games and, now, playoff games — enjoy a certain anonymity. After all, there are names attached to certain former Southwest Conference and SEC officials that are well known to Razorback fans for all the wrong reasons. (Fans may forgive, but they sure never forget.)
Without officials, it’s just recess.
— Kristy Clark, Arkansas High School Activities Association
Most say the pay basically covers their expenses. Because they do show up, however, high school football remains an integral weave in the fabric of American communities. ******************
Dax Hill of Conway is working his 13th season as a back judge in the Southeastern Conference, the college football gold standard. Only the National Football League delivers as much pressure or as many eyeballs. Like many who embrace the labor of love represented by officiating, Hill followed his father’s path, which began under the Friday night lights.
“My dad was a high school football official, and the crews in the Conway area were looking to add more officials,” he said. “I started with seventh grade and junior high games, in addition to working
For those who make the calls — whether it’s a line judge ruling a sideline catch inbounds, an umpire giving the pitcher a close strike or a baseline official calling a charge in the lane — officiating is a true labor of love. It represents a service for which one can generally hope for positive reviews from half the customer base at best.
Though the pay and benefits increase in value as one ascends through the ranks, high school officials — who have day jobs — are not there for the pay.
“For a high school game, the average fee is around $150 an official with no travel stipends, so when you look at the hours involved with travel and the time of the game, it does not translate into a large amount of pay,” Hill said.
The reward, he added, comes in knowing that dedication to the craft helps assure the continuation of one of America’s favorite sports — no refs, no sports. Plus, officiating allows those involved to remain connected to a sport they love.
“Many other sports can be played as an adult, but football is not one of them,” he said. “Officiating keeps [us] connected to the
game. Officials are people looking for a challenge and [who] enjoy the process of making a contribution to the game.”
Hill spent 27 years as a science teacher in Conway public schools before working in the hematology lab at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock for a year. His love of the classroom led to his return to teaching. This month, Hill begins his first year on the faculty at Vilonia High School.
Football crews, perhaps, are immune to some of the craziness experienced by their counterparts in other sports, those who are working much closer to fans and therefore more likely to hear “suggestions” in real time. Nevertheless, high up on the Mount Rushmore of thankless jobs sits football official, flanked by tax collector and telemarketer.
Though Hill moved up to the college stage, he remains involved with high school officiating in his home state as one of the leaders of the Arkansas Association of High School Officials.
“We assign officials to work games, but the main purpose is to recruit and train high school football officials while also creating more professionalism and credibility for high school football in Arkansas,” he said.
The AAHSO was the brainchild of Walt Coleman, 72, the retired Little Rock dairy producer and former NFL head referee who serves as the unofficial patron saint of Arkansas football officials. Generations of Arkansans grew up drinking milk from his family’s iconic Coleman Dairy, which was started in the 1860s and sold to Hiland Dairy in 2007, but Coleman carved out his own “celebrity” over the course of an NFL officiating career that ran from 1989 to 2018. Coleman was a line judge for his first six seasons in the league before his promotion to referee, and he was the ref for the infamous tuck rule game in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the 2001 AFC divisional playoff game that Patriots fans believe launched the Belichick-Brady dynasty in New England.
Many football fans in Arkansas likely recall glowing commentary about Coleman from then-Fox broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman and their playful teasing about his distinct Southern accent when he announced a call.
Like others who got into officiating, Coleman grew up with a football official father. Walt “Buddy” Coleman II ran the state’s largest dairy during the week, but on Friday nights and, eventually, Saturday afternoons, he donned the stripes. Buddy was a longtime, respected line judge in the old Southwest Conference — Walt said he never wanted to be the referee — and his love of the game has been passed down through two generations. Following in his generational footsteps, Walt Coleman IV debuted as an NFL official in 2015.
Coleman, the one who made the correct call that fateful snowy afternoon in Foxborough (Hate the rule, not the call), began his officiating career in 1974 with junior high and high school games. Having a prominent SWC official as your dad at the time was an advantage, Coleman said. He eventually moved up to Southland Conference games, like his father before him, and eventually got
the goalline) at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field; Little Rock’s Walt Coleman spent almost 30 years as an NFL official. (Photos provided)
the call to join Buddy in officiating SWC games.
The draw of officiating naturally boils down to competition. While officiating with his dad in the SWC is something he cherishes, Coleman said most officials are former athletes themselves who want to see the game they love flourish.
“You want to stay involved when you can’t play anymore,” Coleman said. “It’s a competitive deal. You’re trying to be the best you can be because without officials, you couldn’t have high school sports. You could say officials are a necessary evil. These guys who go out on Thursday [junior high] and Friday night, you’ve got to have them.”
******************
The paths established in the Coleman and Hill households are the exception; most officials are content to answer the Friday night siren call and remain at the local level. Those who answer the call must go through Kristy Clark, Arkansas Officials Association secretary for the Arkansas High School Activities Association.
Clark registers officials in all sports for AHSAA member schools at all levels. The only requirements necessary to don the stripes are registration with the AHSAA, joining the AOA and passing a background check. Clinics and other resources are available to the newbies, but entry into the striped arena can be harder in football at the high school level, Clark said, because the crews of four have usually known each other for a long time and generally stick together.
“Football is a little harder to get into,” she said. “You can’t just register and get out there and call a ball game; you need four other people with you. Most crews have worked together for years, so adding people or starting your own can be a struggle.”
AAA-member schools in Arkansas are required to use AOA officials for varsity games in eight sports — football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, wrestling, softball, soccer and track. Clark said the AAA always needs more officials in all sports and even has female officials calling high school games. She estimated there is between five and 10 female football officials across the state. The AAA is not facing a shortage yet, but Clark said it would love to see more
Clockwise from top: SEC official Dax Hill of Conway listens to former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn; Hill (standing on
people interested in becoming game officials. The only problem? Officiating is still looked upon as a no-win proposition.
“Feedback suggests a lot of that is due to the hostile work environment that comes with officiating,” Clark said. “COVID[-19] certainly didn’t help either. We are slowly back to our pre-COVID numbers here in Arkansas, but again, we always need officials. Our biggest area of need is probably the spring sports, particularly baseball, softball and soccer.”
To get started as a high school football official in Arkansas, a candidate can be asked to replace a member of an existing crew, or a candidate can assemble a new crew. Hill said the state is managing “OK” with its current number of high school football officials, “but it is a yearly challenge.”
Once a crew is in, he said, comradery usually keeps the group together.
“One of the positives of high school football officiating is the chance to travel and work as a crew. It develops friendships, so guys are very hesitant to change or move to other crews,” Hill said. “Every year, though, officials will be lost for a number of reasons, and those officials need to be replaced. One of the goals of our association is to recruit new officials. Many guys become an official because they were encouraged by a friend or someone else. They don’t just decide on their own to become an official.”
That is just how Ron Standridge of Russellville got into officiating in 1988. Now the car rental manager at Cogswell Motors in Russellville, Standridge was playing and umpiring softball when a friend asked him to start officiating football.
“I played football in high school and wanted to be involved in the game,” he said.
Standridge retired from refereeing in 2021 but still fills in on
I still watch the game from an official’s perspective. That’s the team I’m always rooting for, those guys in the striped shirts.
— Walt Coleman, former NFL official
crews as time permits, he said. He also assists with replays for all state championship games. In 2009, he began calling games on the NCAA Division II level for the Gulf South Conference and then in 2011 for the Arkansas-based Great American Conference. He still works as an observer for the league and is a replay communicator for NCAA football at the FCS level.
Standridge said officiating has become a year-round hobby and requires real commitment.
Part of a football official’s job is to listen while coaches ask questions or even vent their frustration.
“Camps and clinics are available throughout the year,” he said. “You have to love it to be successful.”
Plus, Friday night’s men in stripes shoulder a lot of pressure, especially considering the pay and time away from families. Coleman said the pay ends up amounting to less than minimum wage when considering the time commitment. “The higher you go, obviously, the better the pay is, and in college, conferences pay for travel expenses,” he said.
Still, Arkansans keep signing up to stay connected to a game they love. Clark said the AHSAA averages around 2,600 individual officials per year in all sports.
“I’d estimate around half of them work at least two sports,” she said. “We had over 800 football officials last year, but that’s the highest it’s been since 2020. We are hoping to have even more this year. One of my favorite sayings is, ‘Without officials, it’s just recess.’”
Hill said the AAHSO was formed purposefully to improve high school football officiating in Arkansas. Coleman was familiar with Texas high school football officiating and the training provided there and wanted to provide Arkansas officials with the same opportunity, he said.
The organization has proven to be a valuable advocate for high school officials in the state.
“The AAHSO assigns crews to games, but we also work to recruit new officials, train all officials with rules questions and mechanics and try to add professionalism to the game,” Hill said. “I believe our organization is well respected across Arkansas, and the officials have earned a lot of credibility within the coaching ranks. I have personally tried to give back and pass on things I have learned because at my roots, I am a high school official. High school officiating is where I started, learned, struggled and improved. I would not be where I am today without my time as an Arkansas high school official.”
******************
John Duncan followed his kids into officiating, or rather, they led him to it. When his boys started playing youth football and baseball, Duncan said he volunteered to be an umpire for baseball and work the chain crew for football and eventually decided to give high school officiating a try.
“On the baseball side, I really enjoyed calling Little League games and sought out the local assigner for high school games, then got started with him,” he said. “Football much the same way. I asked one of the on-field officials one night how to get started, and
he advised me to find a local referee, which I did. I started calling some junior high games with him and it just led to more and more. I am now in my 23rd year in both sports and enjoy it as much today as when I started.”
During the day, Duncan is the director of business development at the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. By night come fall, the striped crusader and 23-year officiating veteran from Benton is calling football games, and he still calls baseball games in the spring.
Duncan wears the white hat of the head referee, who serves as crew chief. What keeps him coming back, despite the breakeven pay or the occasional grief from coaches and/or fans, is simply being a part of the game, he said.
“I’m very fortunate to have had the same four gentlemen with me for 10 years now,” he said of his crew. “On Friday nights, we will call anywhere we are assigned in the state, and on Monday and Thursday [for junior high and junior varsity games], I stay close to home.”
He cited the friendships made with coaches and other officials, as well as the brother-like relationship he shares with his crewmates as the biggest rewards he takes from officiating. The flip side? The hunt for the fan or coach who thinks his team ever deserved a flag would deliver similar results to the search for Bigfoot.
“The players are great and most of the coaches too, but the toughest part of the job is a few of the coaches who see us as the enemy and the lack of respect the fans show us,” Duncan said.
Fans and coaches do sometimes cross the line, he added, but such behavior is not common, and while coaches do sometimes hold a grudge for a previous call, Duncan said things rarely get personal. Still, most fans do not fully appreciate an official’s job, he said.
“They think the job is easy, [that] we just show up 10 minutes before the kick and wander around making things up,” he said. “Nothing could be further from the truth. The pay might cover the expenses, but on an average game week between travel, preparation and game time, I spend 20-plus hours on football. It is truly done for the friendships and the love of the game.”
******************
Despite what some fans, and possibly even coaches, believe, officials do not have an agenda, nor do they try and impact the outcome of a game, Coleman said. In fact, that is the very thing they try not to do. Though he grew up a Razorbacks fan, Coleman said he left behind allegiance to anything but the game itself once he donned the stripes.
“I still watch the game from an official’s perspective,” he said. “That’s the team I’m always rooting for, those guys in the striped shirts.”
Duncan said he has no regrets about becoming an official and would answer the siren call of Friday night all over again if he could.
“I enjoy it as much today as when I started,” he said. “At 61, my time on the field is closer to the end than the beginning, and that makes me a little sad.”
REFS DISH ON FANS, COACHES
Do fans fully appreciate game officials and the role they play, or even realize the sacrifices they make? For two Arkansas high school football officials, the answer is an unequivocal no — and no replay is needed.
John Duncan, a 23year officiating veteran from Benton, said the job is not an easy one, despite what some might think. He said his side gig sometimes requires more than 20 hours a week and the pay might cover expenses only.
He said players and most coaches are respectful to officials, but admitted that a few coaches seem to see officials as the enemy. Fans and coaches do sometimes cross the line, he added, but such behavior is not common, and while coaches do sometimes hold a grudge for a previous call, Duncan said things rarely get personal.
Ron Standridge called Arkansas high school games for more than 30 years before retiring from field work in 2021. He said fans “absolutely do not” appreciate what goes into officiating but was quick to add, “That’s OK.”
“Fans are fans. I’ve been called anything and everything imaginable,” he said. “Most are humorous. Some are even creative. As long as they are not overly obnoxious or threatening physical harm, it’s business as usual. There’s a saying in officiating: ‘If you want a friend, you better bring one.’ Fans are easy to ignore. Coaches not so much, but incidents are very rare. I have always enjoyed the interactions with the coaches.”
Standridge said some coaches probably do hold grudges over previous calls, but “other than a very few coaches, most know we are imperfect people working an imperfect game.”
Ultimately, all officials must learn to exist on an island and tune out the fan reactions, advised Arkansas’ patron saint of football officials, former prep, college and NFL referee Walt Coleman of Little Rock. He said high school football officials absolutely hear complaints from fans who disagree with a call, but “it’s not that bad in football, not like basketball.”
“We’re harder on ourselves individually than the fans are,” he said. “You may not remember the right calls, but I can sure remember all the times I screwed up.”
As reliable sources of critique, coaches sometimes play mind games with officials, Coleman admitted. When fans see coaches berating an official for a seemingly noncontroversial call, there is a method to the madness.
“They can get in your head,” he said. “I’ve had coaches tell me, ‘I thought your dad was bad, but you’re even worse.’”
Coleman said he learned to diffuse a confrontational coach by simply stepping back out onto the field.
“As an official, you have to remember, you’re not out there just to throw your flag,” he said. “You’re just out there to manage the game and make sure it is played fairly. We’re human, though.”
Walt Coleman
EXPECTATIONS AND CAVEATS FROM CAL’S DEBUT
By Andrew Hutchinson
As good as Arkansas played against Kansas on Oct.25, it comes with some notable caveats.
Not only was the No. 16 Razorbacks’ convincing 85-69 win an exhibition that is ineligible for counting toward the record books or an NCAA Tournament resume, but the No. 1 Jayhawks were down three key players compared to the Hogs’ one.
You also don’t even have to go back very far to find an example of an Arkansas exhibition not being indicative of the season that follows.
There is a reason hall of famer and coach John Calipari quickly shut down the “overrated” chant from students during the closing minutes of the game and cautioned against doing “triple backflips” over the result during his postgame press conference.
Still, it would be hard to argue that it was not an ideal unofficial Arkansas basketball debut for Calipari, who had received a resounding ovation during pre-game introductions.
“I’m not going to leave out of here happy by any stretch,” Self said, “but I won’t leave out of here discouraged because I know that’s not who we are and that’s not what our team is.”
There is a good chance the game would have looked much different with those players in the mix, although there was still a lot to like with the way Arkansas played — but don’t take our word for it.
Perhaps no one, especially outside of the SEC, knows Calipari better than Self. Since meeting at the 2012 National Championship, those two have squared off nine times over the past 10 years, with Calipari’s Kentucky teams winning only three of them.
“I actually think this team is better than some of the ones he’s had at Kentucky,” Self said. “There were a couple of teams that were elite, elite, elite. This team, to me, has a chance to be terrific and maybe more talented than some of the teams he’s had at Kentucky — not all of them, but some of them. I think they have a real chance.”
“I’m happy we played the way we did,” Calipari said. “Did we look organized? Did we look like we really tried to play hard and defend? We’ve only been together a short time, so I’m happy because I wanted people to leave and say, ‘That was fun to watch.’”
For those wearing red, it certainly was. The Razorbacks led by double digits for the final 22-plus minutes of the game and were never really in danger. They trailed for all of 19 seconds at the very beginning of the game only to answer with a 3-pointer and never look back.
“They just hit us in the mouth,” Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. said. “They were more athletic tonight. They were the better team tonight.”
It was less pleasant for the visitors in blue, but Bill Self — a hall of famer in his own right — is not hitting the panic button. He was without preseason Big 12 Player of the Year and two-time all-American center Hunter Dickinson and two key guards in Shakeel Moore and Rylan Griffen.
The stars of the exhibition were freshman Boogie Fland and sophomore D.J. Wagner. The former five-star recruits combined for 46 points on an efficient 16 of 27 shooting.
Throw in veteran Johnell Davis, who was clearly rusty after dealing with a wrist injury for a few weeks, and the Razorbacks have a solid group of guards who will run the show this season.
“That’ll be the best trio of guards we play against this year,” Self said. “There won’t be anybody better that we play against.”
It could just be coach speak, but if Self is serious, it is a pretty lofty statement considering Kansas plays in a loaded Big 12 that features four other preseason top-10 teams — not to mention the Jayhawks’ salty non-conference slate that includes No. 7 Duke, No. 9 North Carolina, No. 15 Creighton and a few other high majors.
Andrew Hutchinson is managing editor at Best of Arkansas Sports. The preceding is an excerpt from a column that first appeared at bestofarkansassports.com.
Coach Cal debuted in Bud Walton Arena and Slobber Hog returned to midcourt on Oct. 25 in the Kansas exhibition.
(Photo courtesy of Arkansas Athletics)
DESIGN AWARDS | 2024
DESIGN AWARD CHAIR
KATIE SINGLETON, AIA, NCARB
Katie is a project architect with a strong interest in continuous methods of improving the built environment through both adaptive reuse and new construction projects. With 8 years of experience in the field, Katie has successfully led and collaborated with multiple disciplines to design various scales of entertainment, hospitality, education, and civic projects across the U.S. She is an adept manager and architect, bringing meticulousness to her work that is invaluable to collaborators and clients.
Dedicated to pushing the boundaries of design and growing the field of architecture, Katie continuously explores new technologies and materials to craft spaces that inspire and endure. She applies this knowledge to each of her various roles within the profession, which include leadership and support roles within the office, the AIA, NCARB, and a number of local community organizations.
RICH BRYA, AIA PRESIDENT, AIA ARKANSAS
2024 | FROM THE PRESIDENT
As the 2024 President of AIA Arkansas, I’m honored to present to you this year’s AIA Design Awards publication highlighting our chapter’s achievements through our Design Awards Program and our Chapter Awards. These individuals and projects represent the accomplishments of our state’s architects, consultants, contractors, building owners, and clients. We are very proud of the high quality of work the state of Arkansas is able to produce yearly.
These awards were recently highlighted in our chapter’s state convention in Ft. Smith in early October. Architects, design professionals, allied members, clients, and friends joined in the celebration of these accomplishments.
36 entries were submitted by member firms in the Design Awards Program. We are grateful for the time and effort of our wonderful jury. The jurors, from New York / New Jersey, included Carisma Koenig AIA – Principal of Perkins Eastman, Associate Professor and Director of Practice of the Graduate Architecture and Urban Design Program in the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute, Andrew Thompson, AIA, NOMAC, LEED AP BD+C – County Architect for Passaic County in New Jersey, Fahir Burak Unel, RA, AIA, NCARB – New York City based designer and technologist, and Deborah Verne, AIA, Senior project manager FCA. Of the 36 entries, 12 were selected as finalists, and 9 of those were selected as Award winners. The submissions can be found throughout this publication. We thank all our entrants for their work and look forward to seeing next year’s submissions.
In addition to jury selected recipients, our Chapter honors two additional recipients through the Member’s Choice Award and the People’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice Award is an award that allows the public to view all entries and choose their favorite project.
The cover of this year’s publication highlights the 2023 Member’s Choice Award winner, Little Rock Police Department Headquarters designed by WDD Architects in Little Rock, AR. Selected for this honor by AIA Arkansas attendees at last year’s convention.
This year’s chapter awards are as follow:
The Fay Jones Gold Medal Award is the highest award AIA Arkansas can bestow on one of our members. The Fay Jones Gold Medal recognizes an individual architect who has demonstrated touchstones of excellence through artistic vision and design, leadership and service to the State of Arkansas and the AIA Arkansas Chapter. Excellence is measured not only by the mark of architectural and individual achievement, but through the esteem and regard held for the architect by professional practitioners and the community as a whole. This year’s recipient is Galen Hunter, AIA. Galen has been an invaluable asset to AIA Arkansas. His leadership within the organization has been marked by a dedication to advancing the profession and fostering collaboration among architects and allied partners. His mentorship of emerging professionals and his willingness to give back to the architectural community through volunteer efforts are an example of how his servant attitude stands out in everything that he does.
The Michael LeJong Leadership Award was established to recognize a member of AIA Arkansas who illustrates outstanding efforts to contribute to the success of AIA Arkansas through their leadership and mentoring. This year’s recipient is Chris East, AIA. Beyond his leadership at Cromwell, Chris actively works to further the profession of architecture in Arkansas and cultivate better spaces in our community. Chris has been a member of the Architecture and Design Network (ADN), the Downtown Little Rock Partnership (DLRP) Board, an AIA Merge mentor, one of the founding members and a past president of studioMAIN, and he continuously commits himself to AIA Arkansas initiatives, contributing to the organization’s success.
The Dick Savage Memorial Award is AIA Arkansas’s recognition of a member who has made notable significant contributions to the chapter and the profession. This year’s award goes to Lori Yazwinski Santa-Rita, AIA. Lori has represented AIA Arkansas at all levels of leadership, served the organization on many committees and continues to further our profession and the advocacy of our membership through joint committees and outreach programs.
The Award of Merit is AIA Arkansas’s recognition of an individual, public official, member of any allied profession, public agency, or company that through interest, activity, and concern with the profession of architecture, shall have advanced the cause of good planning and design and/or contributed to the dignity and value of the architecture profession. This year’s recipients are Preserve Arkansas and Talicia Richardson of 64.6 Downtown. Preserve Arkansas is a nonprofit organization that works statewide to build communities through shared architectural history while regularly supporting education and recognition of successful preservation projects, often highlighting those by AIA members. Talicia Richardson is best known for her role as the former Executive Director of 64.6 Downtown, a nonprofit organization committed to creating vibrant spaces in downtown Fort Smith. Her focus on business development, arts and culture, special events, projects, and the promotion of attractive amenities has led to increased investment from both public and private sources.
The Emerging Professional Award is intended to recognize a young professional, practicing for 10 years or less, who has expanded the role of the architect through civic participation and professional mentorship. This year’s recipient is Timothy Varner, AIA. Active in local and state professional organizations, Tim has served as a director for both the Fort Smith Section of AIA Arkansas and on the State Board of AIA Arkansas. Serving also on various AIA Arkansas committees including the Emerging Professionals/Young Architects Committee, Legislative Committee, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Tim has been dedicated to practice, service to the profession and community.
AIA Arkansas’ Diversity Award recognizes an individual, public agency, organization or company for exemplary commitment and contributions to inclusiveness within the architectural profession and education in the state of Arkansas. This year’s recipient is Ernest Banks, Assoc. AIA. Ernest is the founder, visionary and driving force behind studioMAIN’s RISE program. RISE stands for Reinvest in Students Everywhere, and is a scholarship program for underrepresented students from all over Arkansas that want to pursue a career in architecture. Through Ernest’s leadership, outreach, coordination, and immense personal effort - the RISE program has already awarded thousands of dollars in architecture scholarships to deserving students that are likeminded in their efforts to design with community and diversity at the forefront of their schoolwork. Ernest exemplifies the qualities that are at the heart of the Diversity Award and his contributions have been notable and significant to our Chapter and will continue to inspire and motivate future generations of leaders of our profession and organization.
I hope everyone enjoys this publication; it does a wonderful job showcasing the amazing talent in our AIA chapter, and the thoughtful and inspirational projects we produce here in Arkansas and around the country. Congratulations to all the award winners! I appreciate you taking the time to celebrate with us.
HONOR AWARD |
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY COURTHOUSE REHABILITATION AND ADDITION
FIRM: REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE, INC.
ADDITIONAL FIRM: CROMWELL
CONTRACTOR: CNI -CONSTRUCTION NETWORK, INC.
LOCATION: BLYTHEVILLE, AR
OWNER/CLIENT: MISSISSIPPI COUNTY
PROJECT TEAM:
AARON RUBY, AIA
KRISTI ANGYL, AIA
LAWRENCE ANGYL, AIA
WILLIAM LAMAR, AIA
AMANDA BENHAM, ASID
CONSULTANTS:
CROMWELL MEP & INTERIORS
KIP A. MOORE & ASSOCIATES
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, INC.
DAVID COX CONSULTANTS
The Mississippi County Courthouse in Blytheville was originally constructed between 1919-21 in the colonial revival style at approximately 18,000 square feet, 3.5 stories, clad with brick and cut limestone. It was listed on the National Register in 1996.
In 2014, a proposition was made to replace the two older courthouses (one in Osceola and one in Bly¬theville, as Mississippi County is one of ten counties in Arkansas with dual county seats) with one new courthouse. After years of deliberation, along with the successful campaign of County Judge John Alan Nelson, who ran on a platform promising to keep the historic courthouses, in February 2019, through his leadership, voters approved the extension of an existing tax and bond issue to fund the renovation of the courthouses, with the Blytheville courthouse receiving the first major renovation and addition to what we see today. The plan was to not only repair the interior and exterior of the original courthouse, but to construct an addition that would double the size of the facility allowing for the growing needs of the County, and provide enhanced security for the public and staff.
Problems with the courthouse were long, including heavily damaged plaster walls and ceilings, nonADA restrooms, outdated wiring and lighting, poor connectivity and no separation between judges, public and prisoners. The roof was in terrible condition and leaking.
The new 18,000 square foot addition was designed to complement the original structure. It is shorter and it does not extend out past the outer edges of the original courthouse. The addition was blended by using similar building materials of brick and limestone, picking up on horizontal lines and window proportions. The new curtain wall on the east side of the building allows natural light to fill the public stairwell and introduces a sense of transparency-important in public buildings today. The deeply set glass of the curtain wall, separated by vertically oriented trim, speaks to similarly deeply set old wood casement windows. The new steel staircase and exposed steel beams showcase one of the County’s most successful industries. The addition houses a new large court room with a double barrel-vaulted ceiling utilizing acoustical plaster, significantly controlling echo. New offices for circuit judges, staff and jury rooms, and a sallyport as a dedicated entry for detainees, along with a secure elevator to holding cells, dramatically improves safety for the public and staff.
A major challenge was site restrictions of city streets, a railroad crossing and high voltage overhead pow¬er lines. In order to accommodate the sallyport, dedicated prisoner transport entry, secure parking for judges and additional parking spaces for the public, one street was closed and major power lines were moved. Landscaping around the courthouse was significantly improved, including access to the grave of Blytheville’s WWII Medal of Honor recipient, Edgar H. Lloyd. An exhibit in the new lobby displays the actual Medal.
Improving energy efficiency in the historic building was important. The older wood windows were kept and new storm windows utilizing low-e technology were added-reducing heat gain and noise from nearby trains. A highly efficient HVAC system known as Variable Refrigerant Flow was installed throughout the project. LED lighting and occupancy sensors were provided, including restoring origi¬nal light fixtures in the marble lobby and public corridors.
PHOTOGRAPHER KEN WEST
HONOR AWARD | LEDGER
FIRM:
MARLON BLACKWELL ARCHITECTS
ADDITIONAL FIRMS:
MICHEL ROJKIND
CALLAGHAN HORIUCHI
CONTRACTOR:
NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION LOCATION:
BENTONVILLE, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
CENTER CITY, LLC
PROJECT TEAM:
MARLON BLACKWELL, FAIA
MERYATI JOHARI BLACKWELL, AIA
RYAN CAMP, AIA
ETHAN KAPLAN, AIA
JUSTIN HERSHBERGER, AIA
WILLIAM BURKS
SCOTT KERVIN
ARI SOGIN
PAUL MOSLEY
COLBY RITTER
DAVID SWEERE
SPENCER CURTIS
CONSULTANTS:
HFA
ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, INC.
STUDIO NYL
TAYLOR & MILLER
DESMAN
The Ledger is a new 230,000 square foot mixed-use co-working office building in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A new kind of workplace experience, the Ledger offers diverse amenities in addition to office space including retail, restaurant, and event spaces, all connected to an extensive network of pedestrian trails, redefining what it means to “bike to work”. Blurring the lines of where the sidewalk ends and the building begins, ramps ascend the east facade along Main Street, inviting the public to bike up the as¬cending terraces that scale the building to its context. Ledger is complemented by an adjacent, detached 500-space parking garage that includes a climbing wall and surfaces for large-scale public art. A large entry portal aligns with the intersection of Main Street and 4th Street, connecting a generous sidewalk along Main Street to a new public park to the west and leading to a generous public lobby and circulation spaces inside.
The material palette for the Ledger is kept deliberately simple, clad predominantly in copper and glass except for service areas on the ground floor wrapped in black, box rib metal panels. A mechanical court on the roof is wrapped with a copper screen to help shield the adjacent roof terrace from intense sun. With auditorium seating overlooking the downtown square sunsets, the roof terrace has become a desti¬nation for viewing sunsets, wedding receptions, and other big events, offering a reward for the six-story journey up the ramps. By rethinking the nature of public space, a completely new kind of experience has emerged that, as Treehugger magazine noted, “shows a glimpse of the future in how buildings, people, and the environment should seamlessly interlace.”
With a patina that gradually turns a soft purple and brown, the copper is warm and inviting, tracing the faceted edges of each ramp and floor. Following the ramps, the continuous glass storefront ensures every office and workspace has a street-front presence and access. Along the narrower north and south ends, al¬ternate floors are extended to create covered outdoor areas that are often directly connected to the ramps.
Inside, the design focuses on common circulation and collaboration spaces that often connect more than one floor level. The majority of the interior are “white box” tenant spaces that are finished out by various businesses and organizations, but generous public and common areas are designed and detailed with a simple material palette that is consistent with the exterior strategy. Polished concrete floors and reflective metal ceilings help bring light deep into the building along with extensive interior glass framed in white oak, which also wraps the open stairs and floor edges. Large custom wood benches wrap planters in the lobby spaces and integral seating along the ramps offer places to sit and work or just relax.
The overall effect is a building with a “work hard, play hard” attitude that weaves together the pervasive cycling culture in Northwest Arkansas and the flow of business life.
PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY HURSLEY
HONOR AWARD | NEGOTIATION ROOM
FIRM:
URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
CONTRACTOR:
URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
LOCATION: ROME, ITALY
OWNER/CLIENT:
I.I.S LUIGI EINAUDI SCHOOL
PROJECT TEAM:
JOHN FOLAN, AIA, UDBS DIRECTOR
MARY BETH BARR, ASSOC. AIA, UDBS FELLOW
FRANCESCO BEDESCHI
MARIA AZZOLINI
SIMONE ROSSI
DAVID KENNEDY
AUSTIN PHILLIPS
ZACK KRESS
CLAYTON ROBERSON
CONSULTANTS:
RUBNER TIMBER ENGINEERING
The Negotiation Room provides a space for two actors to take a risk and begin a dialogue. It is a space of optimism that finds its form by positioning actors in close proximity. The mass timber structure demonstrably points to a sustainable future while shaping space for discourse of mutual benefit – socially, environmentally, and personally.
PHOTOGRAPHER URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
MERIT AWARD | LA DAVIS STUDENT UNION RENOVATION
FIRM:
AMR ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR:
CDI CONTRACTORS
LOCATION: PINE BLUFF, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF
PROJECT TEAM:
HEATHER DAVIS, AIA
ADAM DAY, AIA
KYLE HEFLIN, ASSOC. AIA
KATE EAST
CAROLINE HEFLIN
CONSULTANTS:
CRAFTON TULL
ECI
PETTIT & PETTIT
The 1950s Student Union at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a beloved campus landmark, has undergone a transformative interior renovation to enhance functionality, accessibility, and the overall user experience after the exterior envelope was renovated in 2019. The design team made the bold de¬cision to relocate the building’s core from its deep, central location to a position just inside the facade, visible from the exterior. This strategic move dramatically improves navigation and clarity of space, al¬lowing natural light to penetrate deeper into the building. The introduction of the building’s first elevator ensures that all students, faculty, and visitors can easily access every level of the Student Union.
The second floor has been reimagined as an open, vibrant student hub, encouraging community in¬teraction and collaboration. The design team remained committed to celebrating the Student Union’s mid-century modern architectural heritage by restoring key elements, such as the exposed concrete ceil¬ing structure, while seamlessly integrating modern upgrades and amenities.
This transformative renovation creates a space that fosters a strong sense of community, encourages ac-ademic and personal growth, and serves as a source of pride for students, alumni, and the wider com¬munity. As the Student Union enters this new chapter, it is poised to remain a vital hub of campus life, honoring its rich past while embracing its bright future and securing its position as an enduring symbol of the university’s commitment to its students and legacy.
PHOTOGRAPHER RETT PEEK
MERIT AWARD | MARYGROVE EARLY EDUCATION CENTER
FIRM:
MARLON BLACKWELL
ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR:
BARTON MALOW BUILDERS
LOCATION: DETROIT, MI
OWNER/CLIENT:
MARYGROVE CONSERVANCY
PROJECT TEAM:
MARLON BLACKWELL, FAIA
MERYATI JOHARI BLACKWELL, AIA
JUSTIN HERSHBERGER, AIA
MARI MCLEOD, AIA
STEPHEN REYENGA
COLBY RITTER
CALLIE KESEL
LEONARDO LIEVA RIVERA
CONSULTANTS:
PETER BASSO ASSOCIATES
SDI STRUCTURES
GIFFELS WEBSTER
HEIDRUN HOPPE ASSOCIATES
MARGIE RUDDICK LANDSCAPE
TM LIG
The Marygrove Early Education Center (Marygrove EEC) is a state-of-the-art early childhood education center located on the campus of Marygrove College in the Livernois-McNichols district of northwest Detroit. Marygrove EEC supports 150 students up to five years of age from local neighborhoods, which reflects the diversity of the community. The Marygrove EEC extends the legacy of Marygrove as a beacon of education and contributes to its ongoing efforts to revitalize the surrounding neighborhood.
Set just east of the flagship building on the Marygrove campus, Marygrove EEC, the four-story Tudor Gothic Liberal Arts building from 1927, is both resonant and deferential, clad in terra-cotta within a low but distinct profile. Referring to the detail and heft of materials used in the Marygrove EEC’s neighbors and the broader memory of historic masonry structures in Detroit, the facade represents a progressive twenty-first-century application of a traditional building material. Colorful highlights are interspersed throughout the facade, providing a second layer of articulation that reflects the vibrancy of the children inside and the diversity of the surrounding community.
Three courtyards bring abundant natural light inside and highlight the journey from the entrance to the classrooms. Adjacent to the building entrance are resources for families and the community of caregivers within the neighborhood, including a Parent Lounge, Community Room, and the Flex Space. At the heart of the building, beside the central courtyard, is an informal community gathering space for school performances, meetings, and events. Each classroom has a view to the landscape, and south-facing rooms open directly onto a grove of trees that is now a large natural play space.
Through careful design and planning, the Marygrove EEC serves families and provides a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment for children to grow socially, physically, and intellectually. The Marygrove EEC offers a place for children to experience the rhythm of the days and seasons, inspiring their imaginations, empowering them to learn through play and creativity. It imparts dignity, grace, and joy to the children, families, and community members that the center serves.
PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY HURSLEY
MERIT AWARD | ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
FIRM:
POLK STANLEY WILCOX ARCHITECTS
ADDITIONAL FIRM:
STUDIO GANG, CHICAGO
CONTRACTOR:
NABHOLZ, PEPPER, DOYNE
LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
PROJECT TEAM:
POLK STANLEY WILCOX PROJECT TEAM:
CINDY PRUITT, AIA
DAVID PORTER, AIA
WENDELL KINZLER, AIA
LAURA HENDRIX, ASID
DIAN BARTLETT, AIA
DAVID ROGERS, AIA
STUDIO GANG PROJECT TEAM:
JEANNE GANG, FAIA
JULIANE WOLF, AIA
MARGARET CAVENAGH, AIA
ANGELA PECKHAM
PAIGE ADAMS, NCIDQ
JILL DORAN
EMILY LICHT
AJ ROSALES, AIA
STANLEY SCHULTZ
DAVID SWAIN, AIA
ROLF TEMESVARI
PETER YI
WEN ZHOU.
CONSULTANTS:
SCAPE
THORNTON TOMASETT
MCCLELLAND CONSULTING ENGINEERS
DBHMS
ARUP
VENUE CONSULTING
LICHT KUNST LICHT
BROWNLEE AND MANN CONSULTING
Bringing together people, art, and nature, the design for the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) establishes a vibrant destination for culture and community in Little Rock. The reimag¬ined AMFA renews and reuses as many of the Museum’s existing buildings as possible, bringing them together as a harmonious whole. A new, connective space, running axially through the en¬tire building like a graceful stem, unifies and reorganizes the Museum’s functions and programs, and supports a seamless flow across the site. At each end, the stem blossoms outward, creating distinctive entrances and social spaces that embrace the revitalized landscape and city beyond.
While already a well-loved institution within Little Rock, the Museum had become a victim of its own success: seven additions had resulted in a fortress-like facility with inefficient circulation and a lack of connection to its surroundings. The client’s goal was to improve visitor experience and staff operations, open the building up to the surrounding park and city, and create a bold new visual identity, while also creating a sustainable building that could support a wider range of educational and public programs.
Constructed with a folded-plate, cast-in-place concrete roof that provides both visual interest and structural integrity, the new central addition unifies the eight existing structures and creates an intuitive organization for the Museum’s different functions and programs – including its galleries, art school, and theater, which were substantially renovated and reimagined.
With distinctive new entrances, the design addresses one of the project’s most significant chal¬lenges: opening the building up to its surroundings. Visitors arriving from the north are greeted by a new community gathering space, the Cultural Living Room. With its transparent facade and bold, uplifted form, the inviting space is conceived as a beacon that welcomes everyone inside.
At the south end, the building’s central stem emerges outward to form another entrance, orient¬ed toward MacArthur Park. More informal than its counterpart to the north, the Park Entrance steps down in height, along with the site’s topography, to meet visitors. The deep overhangs of the folded-plate roof create a sheltered dining terrace for the new indoor-outdoor restaurant, where people can socialize, relax, and enjoy the revitalized landscape and Sculpture Garden beyond.
Building on the project’s environmental stewardship, the design also ensured that the most car¬bon-intensive elements of the Museum’s existing additions were reused and renewed: the original structure and foundations, which are made of concrete and steel. Together with other sustainable strategies, such as the self-shading roof, efficient radiant heating and cooling system, and inno¬vative rainwater recycling system, the project is on track to achieve LEED Silver certification, an impressive achievement for an adaptive reuse project in the hot climate of the American South.
PHOTOGRAPHER IWAN BAAN
MERIT AWARD | SENSING THE FOREST
FIRM:
URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
CONTRACTOR:
NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION AND URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
LOCATION: HOT SPRINGS, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
GARVAN WOODLAND GARDENS
PROJECT TEAM:
JOHN FOLAN AIA, UDBS DIRECTOR
DAVID KENNEDY, AIA
MARY BETH BARR, ASSOC. AIA
ETHAN THOMAS
THOMAS ROHRBACH
JUSTIN TUCKER
COREY BOOTH
ANGELA CARPENTER
SALLY SENN
GAVIN CLARK
NATHANIEL IZARD
MAX HOLT
JAKE COCKE
SARAH MYANE
CONSULTANTS:
TATUM SMITH WELCHER
Sensing the Forest is a pilot project employing mass timber and structural strategies that will be incorporated into the Whipple Family Forest Education Center. The installation is constructed from a series of nail-laminated timber columns, beams, and baffles. Elements on the exterior are protected with a mirror finish stainless steel rain screen, reflecting its surroundings to dematerialize the formal qualities of the installation. Interior elements are finished with regionally sourced cypress that has been treated using the traditional Japanese method of shou-sugi ban (yakisugi), a natural process that protects the material from insects, rot, and elements. The charred space created inside ‘Sensing the Forest’ provides a focused experience for visitors in contrast to the exterior that is similar to that of occupying a hollowed-out tree. The duality of material juxtapositions between interior to exterior is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s fictional character Alice Pleasance Liddell peering into and making her way “through the looking-glass.”
PHOTOGRAPHER URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
MERIT AWARD | MOORE HOUSE
FIRM:
SKILES ARCHITECT PA
CONTRACTOR: ELY CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
HEATHER AND BOBBY MOORE
PROJECT TEAM:
LISA K. SKILES, AIA
ALBERT B. SKILES
The Moore House, with its inward focused plan, seamlessly blends with the landscape and ensures privacy, while also achieving a balance between design and affordability. Designed for a family of four, the home sits on a small corner lot at the base of hill in an established and eclectic neighborhood in the heart of Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The compact home reflects a collaboration that prioritized minimal, well-composed, and functional spaces. Despite challenges like a steep site and tight budget, the architecture embraces the family’s lifestyle with minimalist detailing and graceful transitions from inside to outside. Inside, flooded with daylight and featuring vaulted ceilings, the home offers a spacious and serene retreat. A cohesive material palette of exposed concrete floors, laminated pine beams with white and maple cabinets adds to the tranquil atmosphere. Complemented by exterior cedar rain screen and a central tall porch, the design fosters a harmonious connection with the surrounding landscape and sky.
A simple plan and singular shed roof, wrapped in dark metal skin, serves as a backdrop to the regionally sourced cedar elements and is balanced with the bright interior. Carefully placed windows and a central porch enhance day lighting and framed views, while the cascading floor plan seamlessly integrates with its site. Fabricating the architectural design, the homeowner constructed front steps as an ode to his skill in metal fabrication and shared passion for precise detailing. The efficient building footprint incorporates flexible spaces, including an art-making niche within the open living plan. The Moore House provides its family with a modern and serene retreat in the heart of the city.
PHOTOGRAPHER DANIEL MOODY PHOTOS
2023 MEMBERS’ CHOICE AWARD | LITTLE ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
FIRM: WDD ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR:
BALDWIN & SHELL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
PROJECT TEAM:
CHAD YOUNG, AIA
EARNEST DUCKERY, ASSOC. AIA
GORDON DUCKWORTH, AIA
MEGAN DYKMA
Little Rock Police Department is a glass and steel addition and renovation to the 1921 brick and concrete structure of the McFadden Building across the street from the previous headquarters. Designed to conveny a modern police force image, the goal was to distinctively layer the façade to provide openness and natural lighting from the glass, but with a perforated metal cladding and sunshades that give a distinctive “amorred” look.
MERIT AWARD | JUSTICE BUILDING ADDITION & RENOVATION
FIRM: AMR ARCHITECTS
ADDITIONAL FIRM: BRACKETT KRENNERICH
CONTRACTOR: WAGNER GENERAL CONTRACTORS
LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS & TSS-DIVISION OF BUILDING AUTHORITY
PROJECT TEAM:
HEATHER DAVIS, AIA
JONATHAN OPITZ, AIA
KYLE HEFLIN, AIA
KATE EAST
JAMES SULLIVAN, AIA
KYLE COOK, AIA
TODD WELCH, AIA
STEVE SCHOETTLE
CAROLINE HEFLIN
CONSULTANTS:
PETTIT & PETTIT
ECI
CRAFTON TULL
SPLITROCK STUDIOS
The Justice Building Addition exemplifies the principles of transparency and the vital connection between the judiciary and the other branches of government. The architecture serves as a symbol, reinforcing the importance of the judicial arm in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all. The new north and south wings seamlessly integrate with the original 1958 mid-century structure, elegantly framing the iconic 1976 glass-enclosed rotunda.
The strategic placement of the eastern fins, echoing the number of supreme court justices, opens the eastern facade to offer direct views of the Capitol while creating a dynamic experience of shadow and light from both interior and exterior. This visual connection serves as a poignant reminder of the interdependence and checks and balances between the judicial and legislative branches.
A new public entrance welcomes visitors to the learning center, where carefully crafted layered views through the museum and meeting areas draw the eye towards the capitol building. The addition creates a space that serves the functional needs of the judiciary while also inspiring and educating the public about the critical role of the judicial system in our democracy.
PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY HURSLEY
FINALIST | PS1200
FIRM:
MARLON BLACKWELL ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: PGP CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION:
FORT WORTH, TX
OWNER/CLIENT:
KAFKA PROPERTIES & PRINCE CONCEPTS
PROJECT TEAM:
MARLON BLACKWELL, FAIA
MERYATI JOHARI BLACKWELL, AIA
CONSULTANTS:
ROOT ENGINEERING SERVICES
DATUM ENGINEERS
THE SADLER GROUP
SALCEDO GROUP, INC.
D.I.R.T. STUDIO
STUDIO OUTSIDE
PS1200 embodies the vibrant, eclectic nature of Magnolia Village, a centrally located, mixed use neigh¬borhood in Fort Worth, Texas. Slowly brought back to life over the last 30 years, Magnolia Village has a small-town Main Street appeal with a wide range of dining, retail, and other businesses that contribute to a thriving community now recognized as one of the ‘Great Places in America’ by the American Planning Association.
Where so many new developments fill their entire site, PS1200 is restrained, turning nearly half of the busy corner site over to public space that is generously filled with an array of native tree species, especially Pond Cypress. Providing shade throughout the plaza that connects the restaurant, gallery and retail at the ground level, trees fill in the gaps between locally sourced stone paving that has a decidedly ancient char¬acter. Evocative of the ancient geology of the site, the ground is porous, carefully collecting and returning rainwater to the aquifer and the watershed of the Trinity River nearby.
Building on several of Prince Concepts’ past projects, PS1200 uses the venerable Quonset hut whose struc¬ture and strength comes from the corrugation of its metal skin. The potential and beauty of these simple structures has often been overlooked, relegated to industrial use, but through deliberate care and design, an inspiring new life and dignity is introduced, elevating something prosaic and humble into something noble.
The public face of PS1200 includes a new restaurant in one freestanding building and grab and go café and exhibit gallery in another. As a generous single story, these spaces are wrapped with the same corru¬gated ‘galvalume’ metal skin of the live work units but turned on its side. Deep overhangs provide gen¬erous entries and protection from the often-intense Texas climate. The durable, industrial character is softened and complemented by gently curved corners and banks of glass that face into the tree-filled park.
Behind the restaurant and gallery, the live work units rise to a generous three stories, the rolling rhythm of the roofline evoking the shape of the Kimbell Art Museum nearby in Fort Worth. The central space of the plaza expands into a pedestrian alley leading to office and retail bays, each separated by stone walls. With discreet entries from the west, the apartments all overlook the tree-filled public park to the east. Abundant daylight fills the vaulted space of the lofts, each two and a half stories with custom plywood enclosures for the kitchen, restroom, and storage. The combination of ancient and modern materials gives PS1200 a timeless character, one that remembers a powerful past and imagines an exciting future.
PS1200 embodies the benefits of contemporary city life — working, living, and relaxing in one beauti¬ful, convenient, and central location. At once exuberant and restrained, PS1200 is a generous addition to the already vivid fabric and of Magnolia Village. Serving an intensely diverse and growing community through its inventive approach to balancing public and private, PS1200 is a prototype for thoughtful and inclusive development nationally.
PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY HURSLEY
FINALIST | STERLING MARKET
FIRM: CROMWELL ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS
CONTRACTOR: CANYON
CONSTRUCTION GROUP
LOCATION:
LITTLE ROCK, AR
OWNER/CLIENT: FIDEL SAMOUR
PROJECT TEAM:
COREY EDWARDS, AIA
JOANN WICKES, ASID
CONSULTANTS:
CROMWELL ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS
Sterling Market revitalizes a historic 4,256 SF space. The restaurant offers diverse dining options, including individual stations, a grab-and-go section, and traditional seating, catering to various customer needs.
A key feature of Sterling Market is the thoughtful integration of historical elements. The building’s legacy as Sterling Paint is honored through various design choices, such as the paint can wall above the banquettes, which features rotating paint cans as a nod to the building’s past. The restaurant logo, bar front tile, and dynamic space angles also reference the Sterling star, subtly blending history with modern design. These elements ensure that the building’s story remains a central part of the new restaurant’s identity.
The exterior of the restaurant features a new, dynamic awning that enhances street presence and invites customers into the space. The awning connects the two distinct parts of the restaurant (market hall and beer garden). The original loading dock roof was replaced with this architectural element to activate the street and draw attention to the new eatery. The resulting patio is equipped with heaters, fans, outdoor furniture, and screens for year-round dining. The modern beer hall is a multi-purpose space that accommodates live music performances, casual seating arrangements, screens for event viewing - all under an operable glass roof system that makes the space all-season. While enjoying the local outdoor music and entertainment scene, visitors have access to a quick service outdoor bar that features soft lighting, modern design, and sleek lines accentuating the buildings history. Inside, the market hall, accommodates various dining experiences, from intimate tables to a lively custom designed community table. This walnut table spans nearly 20 linear feetsupported by a steel beam between two existing concrete columns.
The market hall booths offer custom design vignettes- each customized for the type of fare created there. For instance, the butcher shop features all of the facilities to cut, season, and dry-age locally sourced meat products in house. The design team worked collaboratively from the project’s inception to refine the initial space plan, developed the station organization, and coordinated millwork and equipment.
PHOTOGRAPHER
FINALIST | PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER
FIRM:
POLK STANLEY WILCOX ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR:
CDI CONTRACTORS
LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
ARKANSAS STATE PARKS
PROJECT TEAM:
REESE ROWLAND, FAIA
AMANDA STURGELL, AIA
WENDELL KINZLER, AIA
DIAN BARTLETT, AIA
DAVID ROGERS, AIA
ALEX WARD,ASID NCIDQ
JIM THACKER
CONSULTANTS:
MCCLELLAND CONSULTING ENGINEERS INC.
ECOLOGICAL DESIGN GROUP
ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS INC.
PETTIT AND PETTIT CONSULTING ENGINEERS INC.
Of the 52 State Parks that grace the state of Arkansas, Pinnacle Mountain State Park is unique in that it sits adjacent to the capital city of Little Rock, which has grown to border the park. With over 750,000 people living in the metro area, Pinnacle Mountain may be for many their only experience with visiting a State Park; 600,000 people visit this park each year. While the park offers geographic characteristics found in the state from steep cliffs to wetlands, the park’s most prominent feature, and one of the state’s as well, is the mountain itself. Climbing to the summit is a rite of passage for many children with their parents, and its trails are covered with people each day.
While other state parks in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains have a variety of historic lodges and structures from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) period that set their architectural style, Pinnacle Mountain did not have a precedent; its urban connection, and the younger city patrons that canoe, kayak, hike, climb and bike the mountain said it should connect in a different way. State Parks desired a building that fit seamlessly with the mountain, as part of the mountain. For those that have not ventured past this park, this Visitor Center needed to be not only a gateway to Pinnacle, but to all of State Parks.
In studying the site as long time patrons, the most striking feature is a vein of rocks that runs from the peak down the mountain to a clearing that became the perfect location for access to trails, lower park amenities, and highway 300. The design solution creates three rock “outcroppings” of functional spaces spread along the grade at this vein, all under one undulating roof canopy that reacts to the terrain and weaves through the actual tree canopy. Under that roof canopy, two buildings form a gateway for the trail opening to the mountain and the lobby. Reception, gifts, and exhibits all view the mountain through a continuous glass wall enclosure where education occurs inside/out to connect visitors visually, physically, and spiritually to the mountain. The Loblolly Outpost sits free under the canopy, offering visitors an outdoor café setting to celebrate conquering the summit. The roof is lifted to match the mountain’s slope to open the view up, direct water to the downward slope, and limit the view of the roof from above and below the mountain. Glass reflects nature by day but creates a dynamic open pavilion at night for returning hikers. The glulam beams structural bracing pattern at the roof emulates the organic order seen in nature.
The Pinnacle Mountain Visitor Center blends perfectly into the mountain as both gateway and destination with a progressive language that bridges the urban and natural environments.
PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY HURSLEY
2024 | CHAPTER AWARDS
PRESERVE ARKANSAS |
AWARD
OF MERIT
The Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas – now known as Preserve Arkansas – was founded in 1981 by a group of people who believed in the importance of saving our state’s historic places in order to preserve our rich heritage and to enhance our quality of life. The organization aimed to promote historic preservation across the state, coordinate the efforts of local preservation groups, and provide educational opportunities. Preserve Arkansas continues this work today and remains the only statewide nonprofit advocate for historic preservation.
More than just saving old buildings, historic preservation offers unique economic, environmental, and quality of life benefits to Arkansas communities. Preserve Arkansas works to build stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places.
With the support of our membership, Preserve Arkansas works to improve the State and Federal Historic Tax Credit incentives, save endangered places, provide resources for property owners and community leaders, and secure additional funding for critical preservation programs at all levels of government. Through its Cy Sutherland and Charles and Becky Witsell Endowments, Preserve Arkansas supports scholarships for architecture students interested in historic preservation and for people pursuing continuing education in preservation and historic trades. The organization also offers a wide variety of educational programs and events, including the Arkansas Preservation Awards, Behind the Big House, Dollars and Sense of Historic Preservation, Mid Mod Arkansas, Preservation Crustaceans, Preservation Ramble, and Women in Preservation. Learn more and support Preserve Arkansas by visiting PreserveArkansas.org.
TALICIA RICHARDSON | AWARD OF MERIT
Talicia is the former Executive Director of 64.6 Downtown, a non-profit organization specializing in creative placement in downtown Fort Smith. Under her leadership, she led the effort to rebranding 64.6 Downtown as Main Street Fort Smith, increased the activation of Riverfront Park with the Levitt AMP Fort Smith Music Series, built community awareness of arts and cultural impact of various communities through Black, Asian Pacific Islander, and Hispanic-Latino Heritage Months, and obtained National Main Street accreditation. In addition, her tenure was launched when the Arkansas Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) granted the Achievement in Comprehensive Plan Development Award to the Propelling Downtown Forward Plan.
Talicia understands business and the keys to success in the workplace and marketplace. She has acquired a wealth of knowledge crossing multiple business disciplines possessing over 20 years of experience in operations, quality control, and counseling in the industries of hospitality and health care. Her experience and infectious enthusiasm engages all levels of an organization, from CEO to line employees. She is committed to passing the knowledge she has attained over the years to others. A graduate of a private historically black all-female institution, Spelman College, majoring in Sociology, Talicia attained a Master’s of Science from the University of Arkansas in Counseling. Talicia holds a Professional Community Economic Developer Certification and recently expanded her journey into the private practice setting of mental health therapy and business consulting.
Her love for Fort Smith and downtown is known across the State and beyond. She has shared the story of Fort Smith in North Little Rock’s Argenta, Vancouver, Canada, Boston, and Tampa. In 2023, Talicia was named one of the Top 100 Women of Impact in Arkansas by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, Little Rock Soiree and Arkansas Business Publishing Group.
Talicia is serving her third term on the Fort Smith School Board, an advisory board member with the UCA Community Development Institute, Arkansans for the Arts, former Advertising & Promotion commissioner, DEI committee member with Fort Kids Museum, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Her philosophy simply stated is “how can we work together with kindness and respect while sustaining a greater a place for all to coexist.” Talicia resides in Fort Smith with her husband of 30 years, State Representative Jay Richardson. They have two children, Yuri and Jag.
LORI YAZWINSKI SANTA-RITA, AIA | DICK SAVAGE AWARD
Lori has been a partner at Jennings+Santa-Rita Architects in Fayetteville since 2015. She served as the 2019 AIA Arkansas President, is a founding member of Women in Architecture Arkansas, and was a member of the AIA National Strategic Council as the Arkansas representative from 2021-2023. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas in 2005, Lori was appointed to the City of Fayetteville Environmental Action Committee and, over the years, has been involved in vari¬ous nonprofits throughout the state. Lori’s dedication to the profession of architecture and community service was recognized by the AIA Arkansas 2018 Emerging Professional Award, as well as a FJSOA+D alumni award in 2022. She was included in the Northwest Arkansas Business Journals 40 under 40 in 2015 and featured in the Women Make Arkansas publication by Et Alia Press in 2019. She is currently in¬volved in Theatre Squared as the secretary of the Corporate Council Steering Committee in addition to teaching Professional Practice at the FJSOA+D. Lori enjoys being involved in various outreach initiatives using her craft to engage with others on the subjects of architecture and equity.
ERNEST BANKS, ASSOC. AIA | DIVERSITY AWARD
Driven by a commitment to inclusivity in design, Ernest has dedicated his career to empowering underrepresented students to pursue architecture. Born in Little Rock, he recognized early on the need for greater diversity in the field and uses this awareness to create spaces and opportunities that reflect the rich diversity of his community.
While studying at the Fay Jones School of Architecture, Ernest became actively involved with his NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects) Chapter. Through NOMA, he worked to raise awareness about issues of inclusion, opportunity, and equity within the broader architecture profession and their im¬pact on communities. This experience fueled his desire to return to his hometown and engage with local government through architectural advocacy, ultimately leading him to found RISE (Reinvest in Students Everywhere). This non-profit scholarship program is aimed at inspiring underserved students to pursue careers in architecture.
Since its launch, RISE has made a significant impact by providing scholarships and opportunities outside the classroom to more than 70 students. Through RISE, Ernest continues to demonstrate that architecture can be a powerful tool for community empowerment and development. He remains committed to shaping the future of Arkansas by encouraging young people to actively participate in the design and development of their communities.
TIMOTHY VARNER, AIA | EMERGING PROFESSIONALS
Tim has been actively involved in leadership positions within AIA Arkansas at both the State and Section levels since 2017. In addition to his devotion to the craft of Architecture, Tim has been involved with introducing local students to the profession and advocating for them to pursue a career in Architecture. Tim regularly takes time to host job shadows and visit local schools to engage and provide advice to students.
A graduate of Leadership Fort Smith Class of 2023, Tim chairs the Future Fort Smith Committee which is responsible for implementation of the City’s 10-year Strategic Plan. Tim also spearheaded a very successful tactical urbanism project to test out revitalization ideas in Downtown Van Buren and recently worked with the City of Fort Smith’s CBID developing ways to improve connection and safety in the downtown area.
While serving many leadership roles within AIA Arkansas. Tim is probably best known to many of you for his role in the Virtual Speaker programs of 2020 and 2021. Tim’s interviews with speakers after lectures kept members engaged and speakers appreciative of the opportunity to further discuss their work here in Arkansas.
Tim has also served as Graphics Chair and Design Awards Chair for the AIA Arkansas Convention, but more importantly, he has remained a driving force in the Fort Smith Section serving as both Section Chair and Program Chair. Tim knows the value of strong and trusted relationships in a community and never misses a chance to include AIA Arkansas Allied Members or engage community partners in the profession of Architecture.
CHRIS EAST, AIA | MICHAEL LEJONG LEADERSHIP AWARD
Chris East is a principal at Cromwell and a licensed architect with over 20 years of experience. He is a grad¬uate of the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas and is an Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP).
Chris has been actively involved in leading design-related community issues including the recent Down¬town Little Rock Masterplan’s Development, Density, and Urban Design Task Force. He has also co-chaired the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce’s Think Big program, Little Rock War Memorial Park taskforce, and studioMAIN’s advocacy efforts to improve the I-30 corridor project, 30 Crossing. Chris has worked closely with the city of Little Rock to change the municipal code to be more walkable, dense, and streamline the planning, development and approval process.
Chris is a founding member of StudioMain whose mission is to Educate, Collaborate, Advocate and Chal¬lenge Convention. In 2012, Chris led the very first PopUp in the Rock (PopUp Main St. at the time) which re-imagined South Main Street (SOMA) and installed temporary shops, bike lanes, and urban street ame¬nities. It was such a success the City of Little Rock made it permanent, and it was an early contributor to SOMA’s revitalization.
Chris has been involved in various roles within AIA Arkansas since 2008 when he was the Central Section Chair. He is currently serving as the Treasurer. He is grateful to donate his time to an organization that promotes critical design thinking when not just planning buildings, but how it affects our cities, environ¬ment, and society.
GALEN HUNTER, AIA | FAY JONES GOLD MEDAL
Galen Hunter is a Principal at MAHG Architecture in Fort Smith where he was one of the founding part¬ners in the firm after merging his predecessor firm, Anderson Hunter Architects, with longtime Fort Smith architecture firm Mott Mobley McGowan & Griffin. He has been engaged in architectural practice for more than four decades. He received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arkansas School of Architecture in 1983 where he was awarded the Tau Sigma Delta Bronze Medal for Design and Leadership.
Upon beginning practice in Fort Smith, Hunter focused predominantly on medical and residential design before beginning to design newspaper plants for the Donrey Media Group. These projects were located across the country with a focus on the West Coast and Hawaii. This relationship with the Donrey Me¬dia Group took a turn when Anderson Hunter Architects began to work on projects at what was then known as Westark College. This combination of client relationships resulted in Donrey funding the Cross Campus Mall/Campus Green and Belltower, which became the first project ever funded by what became known as the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The Reynolds Foundation went on to fund many projects across the country.
After merging his firm in 1994, Hunter’s focus began to shift to publicly funded projects including higher education, K-12 education, libraries, and planning. These planning projects allowed Hunter to focus on how communities and campuses could transform the built environment by engaging and incorporating the ideas and dreams of stakeholders. When downtown Fort Smith was struck by a tornado in 1996, he was chosen to work with the community to develop a master plan for the development of Fort Smith’s River¬front. This led Hunter to be on the team that negotiated with the Kansas City Southern Railroad to donate property for the first 6 miles of the River Trail along the Arkansas River. He also was a key advocate for the passage of a ½ cent sales tax to fund the implementation of the master plan.
While continuing to grow his practice, Hunter was encouraged to become active in AIA Arkansas by part¬ner Larry McGowan. Based on this encouragement, Hunter has gone on to serve as Fort Smith Section President, AIA Arkansas Convention Chair, AIA Arkansas Design Awards Chair, AIA Arkansas Chapter President, and currently serves as AIA Arkansas Senior Board Member.
His involvement in the community includes Co-Chair of the inaugural Future Fort Smith Committee, Co-Chair of the City of Fort Smith Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, Chair of the Community Development Advisory Committee, and Chair of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority Real Estate Committee. He has served as an instructor for the Women In Construction Constructions Basics Course at Westark College and been a repeat guest lecturer on construction delivery at the UA School of Engi¬neering.
Galen is an accomplished watercolor artist and urban sketcher and has studied under Stephanie Bower in Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy, and Rovinj Croatia, James Richards in Lucca, Italy, Rita Sabler in Pau, France, and has studied the buildings of Palladio in northern Italy with Australian architect and artist Liz Steele. Galen and his wife Risa reside in Fort Smith and have a daughter Carson and a son Marshall.
2024 | REMAINING PROJECTS
PROJECT: 600 MAIN
FIRM: TAGGART ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: NABHOLZ
LOCATION: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
PROJECT: ARGENTA PARKLETS
FIRM: AMR ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: ALESSI KEYES
LOCATION: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
PROJECT: PROJECT B.O.B.
FIRM: POLK STANLEY WILCOX ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: BENTONVILLE, AR
PROJECT: AIRSHIP COFFEE
FIRM: JENNINGS + SANTA-RITA ARCHITECTS, PLLC
CONTRACTOR: MILESTONE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LLC
LOCATION: BENTONVILLE, AR
PROJECT: ARGENTA PLAZA
FIRM: TAGGART ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: ALESSI KEYES
LOCATION: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
PROJECT: BIG ROCK QUARRY PARK
FIRM: TAGGART ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: N/A
LOCATION: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
2024 | REMAINING PROJECTS
PROJECT: CENTENNIAL PARK PAVILION
FIRM: MODUS STUDIO
CONTRACTOR: CROSSLAND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
PROJECT: EDEN’S BLUFF
FIRM: JENNINGS + SANTA-RITA ARCHITECTS, PLLC
CONTRACTOR: STRONGHOLD, LLC
LOCATION: LOWELL, AR
PROJECT: KIDS SPOT THERAPY CLINIC
FIRM: SCM ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: CDI CONTRACTORS
LOCATION: SPRINGDALE, AR
PROJECT: CORDIA HARRINGTON CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE
FIRM: CORE ARCHITECTS INC.
CONTRACTOR: VCC
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
PROJECT: GREENLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
FIRM: MODUS STUDIO
CONTRACTOR: KINCO CONSTRUCTORS
LOCATION: GREENLAND, AR
PROJECT: MOUNTAIN HOME HIGH SCHOOL
FIRM: MODUS STUDIO
CONTRACTOR: N/A
LOCATION: MOUNTAIN HOME, AR
2024 | REMAINING PROJECTS
PROJECT: MUSSER HOME
FIRM: STOKE ARCHITECTURE
CONTRACTOR: STONE HARBOR CUSTOM HOMES
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
PROJECT: SIMMONS BANKING PAVILION
FIRM: POLK STANLEY WILCOX ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: FLYNCO, INC.
LOCATION: WHITE HALL, AR
PROJECT: SRYGLEY RESIDENCE
FIRM: MARLON BLACKWELL ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: NEAL HEFNER CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
PROJECT: NEW HOPE THERAPY CLINIC
FIRM: TAYLOR KEMPKES ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: HARRISON CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: HOT SPRINGS, AR
PROJECT: SOUTH ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER ADDITION
FIRM: MICHAEL ROGERS DESIGNS LLC
CONTRACTOR: IDEAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
LOCATION: EL DORADO, AR
PROJECT: THE GARDENS OF SOMERSET, A P. ALLEN SMITH INSPIRED LIVING COMMUNITY
J.S. HELD CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS – COMPLETION CONTRACTOR
LOCATION: MONROE, LA
2024 | REMAINING PROJECTS
PROJECT: THE ORTHOPAEDIC & SPINE HOSPITAL AT UAMS HEALTH
FIRM: CROMWELL ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS
CONTRACTOR: NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION
LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR
PROJECT: UNITY HEALTH JACKSONVILLE
FIRM: TAGGART ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: DAVID PAUL BUILDERS
LOCATION: JACKSONVILLE, AR
PROJECT: WOLFE RESIDENCE
FIRM: DEMX ARCHITECTURE
CONTRACTOR:GB GROUP CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
PROJECT: UAMS RADIOLOGY ONCOLOGY CENTER
FIRM: WDD ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: KINCO CONSTRUCTORS
LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR
PROJECT: WINDGATE CENTER FOR FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
FIRM: WER ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: BALDWIN & SHELL
LOCATION: CONWAY, AR
PROJECT: THE HOWARD FIRM: HUFFT
CONTRACTOR: DAVE GRUNDFEST COMPANY
LOCATION: BENTONVILLE, AR
2024 | AIA AWARD JUDGES
CARISIMA KOENIG, AIA | PERKINS EASTMAN
As a College and University Practice Leader and Partner at Perkins Eastman, Carisima leads dynamic teams of strategists, architects, and planners focused on transforming the campus experience through the built environment. She works with college and university leadership, planning and designing spaces which address the many and often shifting needs of academic institutions.
In addition to her work in practice, she is an Adjunct Associate Professor and Director of Practice of the Graduate Architecture and Urban Design Program in the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute where she develops curriculum, mentors students and works with academic and campus leadership. Her practice and teaching examines the mutually forming relationships within and across design, practice, and the built environment.
Current research explores the complex forces, including public understanding, of bringing a built work of architecture into the world. This evolving body of knowledge is interested in creating conversations around the multiple possibilities for the future of architectural practice. Carisima has been asked to speak locally and nationally from the Columbia University to University of Massachusetts - Amherst.
ANDREW THOMPSON, AIA, NOMAC, LEED AP BD+C | PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ ARCHITECT
Mr. Thompson is the Passaic County Architect in New Jersey. Projects range from historic restoration projects, courthouse renovations and building infrastructure improvements. He served as the Director of Campus Operations for the former New Community College (now Charles and Stella Guttman Community College) at the City University of New York (CUNY), was the Chief Architect for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on airport improvements and transportation systems at JFK and Newark airports.
Mr. Thompson is currently the President-Elect for AIA New Jersey. Andrew serves as a member of the NOMA Council and was a past President of NYCOBA-NOMA. He was a Visiting Professor at Pratt Institute’s Undergraduate School of Architecture. He has a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Pratt Institute and a Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University.
FAHIR BURAK UNEL, RA, AIA, NCARB | CANNONDESIGN
F. Burak Unel, RA, AIA, NCARB, is an architect, educator, and computational technologist licensed in New York and California with over a decade of experience practicing internationally, and a volunteer consultant for NGOs that empower disenfranchised communities through design and advocacy.
Currently based in New York City, Burak holds a B.Arch. degree from Syracuse University, an M. Arch. II in advanced building technologies from Cornell University, and a portfolio that spans institutional, commercial office, mixed-use, cultural, and healthcare projects across multiple US and global markets.
Burak further dedicates his time to mentorship programs at the national level, and works in collaboration with organizations like NCARB to tackle issues of education and licensure in architecture, while contributing think-pieces to architectural publications like Metropolis magazine. He is Co-chair of the Emerging New York Architects (ENYA) Committee at AIA New York, a member of the Civic Leadership Program (CLP) Advisory Taskforce, and a member of the TORCH Executive Committee.
DEBORAH VERNE, AIA, LEED BD&C | FCARCHITECTS
With over 30 years of experience in project design and delivery, Deborah is a seasoned professional who brings a comprehensive suite of management skills to every endeavor. Her portfolio spans a variety of project and building types, including healthcare, behavioral health, transit, and corporate interiors, with a particular emphasis on higher education and science & technology projects.
Deborah has collaborated with prestigious institutions such as Pace University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, the New York Institute of Technology, and several campuses within the SUNY system. Her expertise ranges from the meticulous renovation of historic university buildings to the development of new children’s behavioral health campuses. Deborah’s deep understanding of the multifaceted elements that contribute to a successful project, combined with her passion for close collaboration, enables her to create beautiful, functional, and cost-effective spaces that align with her clients’ strategic goals.
