Arkansas Money and Politics October 2021

OCTOBER 2021/armoneyandpolitics.com

Tommy Smith

LONG RIDER

THE ‘OUTLAW’ CAPPING OFF ILLUSTRIOUS RADIO CAREER

By Kelley Bass/72

INSIDE: Petrino’s return | Legal Elite | Top Professionals $5 USD

Congratulations

Amy

Langston for being nominated as one of AMP’s 2021 Top Professionals!

INTELLEXTALENT.COM 10901 FINANCIAL CENTRE PKWY • LITTLE ROCK

Photo from December 2019

Equity and Excellence

501.234.2000 pcssd.org

CONGRATULATIONS

TO ARKANSAS'S TOP 100 PROFESSIONALS FROM PCSSD & STEPHENS INC.

Stephens Inc., Member NYSE, SIPC

Jessica Duff

PCSSD Exec. Dir. of Communications 2021 TOP 100 PROFESSIONAL

OCTOBER CONTENTS

6 | Plugged In 7 | Editor/Publisher letters 8 | Discovery Economics 10 | Viewpoint 128 | The Last Word 12 | Legal Elite

We asked AMP readers for the name of a lawyer. Well, around 100 of them, actually.

Inside, our 2021 Legal Elite.

35 | Top Professionals

Who’s the best at what they do in Arkansas?

We’re talking everything from business owners to fundraisers… AMP readers reveal their choices.

92 | Masking up

18 | THE AGE OF NIL College athletes have entered into a new era with the advent of NIL and so have the lawyers who represent them.

As they prepare to don Halloween masks, school children in many Arkansas communities continue to wear surgical masks for COVID.

102 | Employee benefits Q&A

With open enrollment season upon us, experts answer questions related to employee benefits and what employers should consider.

OCTOBER 2021/armoneyandpolitics.com

Tommy Smith

LONG RIDER

THE ‘OUTLAW’ CAPPING OFF ILLUSTRIOUS RADIO CAREER

By Kelley Bass/72

INSIDE: Petrino’s return | Legal Elite | Top Professionals $5 USD

ON THE COV E R 76 | STILL LOCAL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS Little Rock’s Signal Media, home to Central Arkansas radio juggernauts The Buzz 103.7 and The Point 94.1, has taken the less traveled road.

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The Outlaw himself, Tommy Smith, sat for our October cover shot in the KABZ studio. Photographed by Jamison Mosley, Smith visited with Kelley Bass to talk about his legendary radio career in Arkansas.

Page 72

ARMON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

OCTOBER CONTENTS PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER

Heather Baker | hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com EDITOR Mark Carter | mcarter@armoneyandpolitics.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Dustin Jayroe | djayroe@armoneyandpolitics.com COPY EDITOR Lisa Fischer | lfischer@armoneyandpolitics.com ONLINE EDITOR Lindsey Castrellon | lindsey@armoneyandpolitics.com STAFF WRITER Emily Beirne | ebeirne@armoneyandpolitics.com ART DIRECTOR Jamison Mosley | jmosley@armoneyandpolitics.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Rebecca Robertson | rrobertson@armoneyandpolitics.com

58 | NEW HEIGHTS The Thaden School’s Adora Curry, one of this year’s AMP Top Professionals, is helping lead the Bentonville school to new heights.

DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Kellie McAnulty | kmcanulty@armoneyandpolitics.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lora Puls | lpuls@armoneyandpolitics.com SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Greg Churan | gchuran@armoneyandpolitics.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Tonya Higginbotham | thigginbotham@armoneyandpolitics.com Mary Funderburg | mary@armoneyandpolitics.com Tonya Mead | tmead@armoneyandpolitics.com Shasta Ballard | sballard@armoneyandpolitics.com Amanda Moore | amoore@armoneyandpolitics.com ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Jessica Everson | jeverson@armoneyandpolitics.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jacob Carpenter | ads@armoneyandpolitics.com ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ginger Roell | groell@armoneyandpolitics.com ADMINISTRATION Casandra Moore | admin@armoneyandpolitics.com

CEO | Vicki Vowell TO ADVERTISE

call 501-244-9700 email hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com TO SUBSCRIBE | 501-244-9700

90 | PARDON OUR DUST

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Construction on Walmart’s new corporate campus in Bentonville rolls on, but the new Layout Center for merchandising is up and running.

Joyce Elliott, Arkansas State Senator; Gretchen Hall, CEO, Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau; Stacy Hurst, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism; Heather Larkin, CEO, Arkansas Community Foundation; Elizabeth Pulley, CEO, Children’s Advocacy Centers; Gina Radke, CEO, Galley Support Innovations; Steve Straessle, Principal, Little Rock Catholic High School; Kathy Webb, Representative, Little Rock City Board

EDITORIAL INTERN Kayla McCall

CONTRIBUTORS

Angela Forsyth, Becky Gillette, Katie Zakrzewski, Kelley Bass, Brent Birch, Kenneth Heard, Dwain Hebda, Carl Kozlowski

120 | THE RETURN OF BOBBY Bobby Petrino is returning to Fayetteville in 2022 as coach of the Missouri State Bears; he presumably will leave his bike at home.

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AMP magazine is published monthly, Volume IV, Issue 6 AMP magazine (ISSN 2162-7754) is published monthly by AY Media Group, 910 W. Second St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AMP, 910 W. Second St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $28 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 501-244-9700. The contents of AMP are copyrighted, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AMP should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AMP. Please recycle this magazine.

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PLUGGED IN

Carole Smith of Simmons Bank graced the cover of AMP’s September issue. Named one of Arkansas’ Power Women in Banking for 2021, Smith climbed the corporate ladder at Simmons by working hard and earning respect.

FEEDBACK ARKANSAS FINED $100K BY SEC AFTER FANS STORM THE FIELD “Have they set up a GoFundMe? I’d like to contribute. #HornsDown” Trey Millard

Carl Rosenbaum, 2021 Fribourgh Award recepient.

INSTAGRAM

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY: RESPECT, HARD WORK CLEAR PATH FOR SIMMONS BANK’S CAROLE SMITH “Carole is the bomb! I am proud to be on her team!”

Freddie Black AR SENATOR JOINS FIGHT AGAINST BIDEN PROPOSAL THAT ‘JEOPARDIZES SECURITY OF AMERICANS’ FINANCIAL INFO’ “As a liberal I think this is a bad idea. The Bush Patriot Act already gave them too much oversight imo. Obama didn’t stop it and now Joe is gonna make things worse with this. If you’re worried about tax avoidance, don’t worry about 600 dollar transactions. Worry about thousands or millions in offshore accounts, etc. Right now they record any over 10k, which for TAX evasion purposes I believe is ok. But the problem is how it can be abused, like the Patriot Act has been abused. This is a bi-partisan supported idea that imo is unnecessary and harmful.”

OneTrippyTurtle (Reddit) AMP 2021 POWER WOMEN IN BANKING “Honored to be included among this group of amazing women and fantastic Bankers!”

Lorrie Trogden

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas honored Arkansas native Gene Jones as the 2021 Arkansas Woman of Inspiration.

TOP ONLINE ARTICLES 1. Bass Pro Founder Shares Plans for Former Arkansas Theme Park ‘Dogpatch USA’ Location 2. 4th and 25: The Decided Advantage of Sam Pittman on the Sideline 3. Gulfside Partners with Five Arkansas Companies for River Valley Casino Resort 4. UAMS Research Team Finds Potential Cause of COVID-19 ‘Long-haulers’ 5. Simmons Bank Promotes Jason Culpepper, Reggie Rose 6. UA Little Rock Offers Freshman Half Off Tuition and Fees for Two Years 7. Rap Music Mogul ‘Master P’ and Son to Host Film Premiere Event in Downtown Little Rock 8. Major Housing Developments Announced for Fort Smith, Bringing $100M Economic Impact 9. Arkansas Fined 100k by SEC After Fans Storm the Field 10. CARTI Foundation Introduces New Board Members

The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) broke ground on a new solar array.

Rod Cross turned his mom’s Bundt cakes into his career reinvention.

CORRECTIONS Kelley Curtis Dunlap, CRPC®, with Stifel/The Curtis Team in Little Rock, and Kelly Journey, CFP, AAMS, CRPC®, CRPS and ADPA, of Edward Jones in Little Rock, were left off the Best Financial Advisors list that appeared in the September print issue.

Ipsen Advisor Group is not affiliated with Ameriprise, as was reported in the Best Financial Advisors list that appeared in the September print issue.

Charlotte Dollar, named to AMP’s Power Women in Banking list, is senior vice president for Abaca of North Little Rock. Her title was listed incorrectly in the September print issue.

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@AMPPOB ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

EDITOR’S LETTER

By Mark Carter

POPULATION SHIFTS PROVE PROPHETIC

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hen I was around 12, back in the olden days before the internet and even (gasp) basic cable, National Geographic ran a story on population growth projections across the country. One of its projected hotspots was right here at home.

By the year 2050, the model predicted, the northwest quadrant of Arkansas beginning at the River Valley — basically Russellville to Fort Smith to Fayetteville to Harrison — would surpass Central Arkansas in population, and by a lot.

At the time, the mere suggestion seemed preposterous.

Fayetteville, bigger than Little Rock? This was 1977 or thereabouts, and “Northwest Arkansas” wasn’t even yet a thing, really. But at the rate we’re going, Benton and Washington counties alone may be on track to beat that 2050 projection.

The 2020 U.S. Census figures released in August laid it out plainly — more explosive growth for NW Arkansas; growth, much slower but growth nonetheless, in Pulaski County; and a continued evaporation of people in rural Arkansas. The numbers are striking and worth another look: • More of the same in NWA: From 2010-2020, Benton County grew by 28.5 percent to 284,333 residents.

Wa s h i n g t o n County wasn’t far behind with 21.1 percent growth. Its 2020 population count came in at 245,871.

• Fayetteville is now the state’s secondlargest city with a population of 93,949, up 27.7 percent from 73,580 in 2010.

• Bentonville saw an eye-opening 53 percent growth from 2010 to 2020, growing from 35,301 people to 54,164.

Of note — Bentonville Chamber CEO Graham Cobb recently told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that more than 60 percent of Bentonville residents aren’t from Arkansas.

• Steady growth still for Central Arkansas: Little Rock proper topped 200,000 at 202,591, up 4.7 percent from 193,524 in 2010. Pulaski County as a whole saw 4.3 percent growth, from 382,748 to 399,125. The Little Rock metro overall grew 6.9 percent, up to 748,031. Of note — As of 2020, the Little Rock TV market ranks

By Heather Baker

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

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59th nationally (and the NWA-Fort Smith market 95th), according to MediaTracks.

• Saline County led the way in Central Arkansas with 15.2 percent growth over the past decade, from 107,118 residents to 123,416.

• Meanwhile, rural Arkansas continued to lose people, mirroring a national trend. Fifty-three of the state’s 75 counties experienced population declines, and parts of the Delta took the biggest hits. Pine Bluff’s population dipped 16 percent to 41,253, and Helena-West Helena’s population fell 22.5 percent to 9,519.

See LETTER, page 69

RECOGNIZING TOP PROFESSIONALS

e’re proud to recognize some of the state’s Top Professionals this month. We asked our readers to help us recognize some of the state’s top executives, doctors, lawyers, CEOs, business owners and more. And they are so recognized inside this month’s issue.

Their hard work helps make Arkansas run, and we’re proud to shine a light on their businesses and accomplishments.

Plus, we recognize our Legal Elite in October.

These leaders in the legal industry were nominated by readers and represent some of the top law firms and practices in Arkansas.

Inside, we also take a look at some of the market

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Heather Baker 7

disruptions faced by the legal industry since COVID-19 hit, and how NIL represents a new opportunity for many firms. Veteran Arkansas scribe Kelley Bass looks at the local Signal Radio in Little Rock and its unique approach to market-leading radio. And Kelley visits with the legendary Tommy Smith (seen on this month’s cover) as well.

Lots of good stuff inside. Thanks for joining us on our journey to shine a positive light on the best Arkansas has to offer in the worlds of money, politics, sports and more. Hit me up with story ideas at HBaker@ARMoneyandPolitics. com.

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DISCOVERY ECONOMICS

MERGING ONTO THE DATA-DRIVEN

Economic Highway: Dr. Justin Zhan,

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

By AMP Staff

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lobal commerce and corporate America are in a race to harness the power and meaning of data. Nearly every company in every industry is data-driven. The ones that propel the Arkansas economy are no exception: agriculture, aerospace, manufacturing, retail and logistics.

As big data gets even bigger, the ability to customize solutions to benefit individual organizations becomes an increasingly daunting challenge. The prospect of facing those challenges head-on with better computational tools and more highend talent motivates Dr. Justin Zhan, member of the ARA Academy of Scholars and Fellows and professor of data science at the University of Arkansas.

His lab and collaborators conduct research on artificial intelligence, machine learning, biomedical informatics and blockchain technologies to discover better ways to use big data to safeguard our health, protect our country and improve everyday lives.

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AMP: How is big data and machine learning impacting some of the pillars of our state’s commercial activity, such as agriculture, advanced manufacturing and transportation distribution and logistics?

Dr. Zhan: Traditionally, local industry did not rely heavily on real-time data for decision-making. For a time, many senior executives simply were not aware of the significance of big data on decisionmaking. Everyone’s data is different, and the knowledge hidden in the data is specific to the company, which makes it critical to develop a customized solution for each company. Today, everyone is aware of the importance of big data and potential impact for their company, but implementation remains challenging.

Can big data and machine learning impact the Arkansas industry? My answer is yes. I think that we need to design, develop and deploy precision data solutions for each type of industry or individual company to maximize the impact.

AMP: Where is Arkansas poised to make the deepest impact in data science?

Bioinformatics? Blockchain? Artificial Intelligence? Somewhere new all together?

Dr. Zhan: In Arkansas, the industryleading companies in agriculture and food, transportation, retail and manufacturing face practical problems, but sometimes need help sifting through the data to see patterns that can translate to solutions.

For instance, the next-generation technologies that we are developing include “blockchain explainable Artificial Intelligence” (BAI). Whereas traditional artificial intelligence/machine learning techniques identify the patterns of big data, which are critical for decision making, they do not explain why one pattern is learned over other patterns. In our new techniques, we are tackling these challenges and explaining the AI patterns learned using next generation blockchain technologies.

AMP: You recently received a $1.25 million grant from the Department of Defense (DOD) to develop novel algo-

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Zhan collaborates with other researchers from around the state and across the nation.

rithms to enhance the speed and efficiency of computational software that uses large amounts of streaming data. What will this research mean for the private sector?

Dr. Zhan: Our work overall — and this funding in particular — is building better-performing tools that can do things like find objects, identify materials and detect processes. Take brain imaging, for instance. Our collaborative research will provide more comprehensive and effective ways to measure brain activity, which lead to more precise diagnoses and treatments, saving time and lives. If it can be done with DOD-sized mountains of data, then think what these tools would mean for Arkansas-based companies. And we are very open to working with Arkansas companies!

One particular focus for the DOD project that would be of interest to corporate Arkansas has to do with security.

Due to the government’s hyper-strict security protocols, the data is often private and encrypted, and it can’t be disclosed to any third parties. The question is then, how can we still use the power of AI for such stakeholders? Our proposed technologies work directly with the encrypted data and don’t need access to the original, unencrypted information.

AMP: What would you do with more funding? And what difference would that make for Arkansas?

Dr. Zhan: We recently received an $11 million grant from the National In-

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stitutes for Health for data-driven metabolism research to improve human health outcomes. With large levels of funding such as this, we can further expand the focus from the technical challenges to include additional stakeholders from system and societal levels. We will bring experts from various domains (data science, computer science, mathematics, social science, economic science and public health) to work on the solutions for a particular problem, such as food safety. This provides a big solution for complex problems that results in outsized gains for all Arkansans.

AMP: How can we attract, retain, and develop talented and diverse people to research roles?

Dr. Zhan: The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) does amazing work in bringing people like me here and keeping us here. The ARA Scholars program is a large part of the recruitment effort that attracted me to the state.

It’s an opportunity to work with some of the world’s leading companies and researchers. One ongoing opportunity is developing ways to connect researchers with Arkansas companies. We’d like to understand what’s on their mind and see if we can combine our knowledge to create solutions together.

Discovery Economics features the The ARA Academy of Scholars and Fellows, a community of strategic research leaders who strive to maximize the value of discovery and progress in the state. Learn more at ARAlliance.org.

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VIEWPOINT

WHAT THE NEW FEDERAL COVID VACCINATION STANDARD MEANS FOR COVERED EMPLOYERS

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By Michelle Kaemmerling and Shelby Howlett

n Sept. 9, President Joe Biden’s administration outlined its biggest push yet to vaccinate the country’s workforce.

Biden announced forthcoming rules that will require many workers to be vaccinated or, in some cases, undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

In the case of federal workers, federal contractors/subcontractors and most health care workers, the administration is imposing a true vaccine mandate, without a testing alternative. Our focus in this article is Biden’s directive to the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to draft an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that requires certain private employers to require their employees to either get vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.

The rule also will require covered businesses to offer employees paid time off to get vaccinated and, if necessary, recover from any side effects experienced after being vaccinated. While OSHA has not yet released the ETS, covered employers should start considering what might be expected of them now so that they are well-positioned for compliance when the rule is released.

COVERED EMPLOYERS The proposed ETS will apply to all private employers with 100 or more workers. The employee count likely will be based upon a company-wide headcount rather than the number of employees working at a particular site.

Furthermore, consistent with determining coverage for other employment laws, employers will likely need to count all full-time, part-time and temporary employees. Independent contractors and leased employees probably will not be counted. Some employers with fewer than 100 employees may still be covered by the ETS under the integrated employer test — whereby two entities are legally considered to be one employer under a multifactor test.

State and municipal employees will not be subject to the rule, as OSHA does not have

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authority over state and local government workers.

TIMING OF THE ETS The ETS will presumably fill in many of the details when it is released, but when will that be? The Biden administration did not specify a timeline or deadline for OSHA to issue the ETS, however, it is evident that the administration is taking an aggressive approach when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations. The ETS could be released at any time, but it may take as long as another 30 or 60 days.

PREPARING FOR THE ETS For now, there are many unknowns regarding what will be required of employers under the new rule, which complicates companies’ efforts to prepare for compliance.

Still, employers can begin considering some likely or potential requirements.

One unknown is who will be responsible for paying for the weekly testing of unvaccinated workers. It is likely that employers will be required to foot the bill since testing will be a requirement of employment. Note that an Arkansas statute requires employers to pay for physical examinations, medical examinations and drug tests that are required as a condition of employment or continued employment, and it is likely that this extends to mandatory COVID-19 testing as well.

Other unknowns include what kind of records companies will have to maintain showing proof of vaccination and testing compliance, what type of test will be accepted, whether employers can administer the tests themselves, what obligation a company will have if an employee misses a weekly test and how long employers will have to come into compliance.

With the federal government now providing some cover, companies that were leaning towards mandating vaccines may decide to implement a mandate now, and may elect not to provide the testing alternative in light of the administrative burdens and costs of weekly testing. If employees are not given the option of weekly testing in lieu of vacci-

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Michelle Kaemmerling

Shelby Howlett

nation, it’s essential to develop a process for employees to request exemption for religious or medical reasons.

Companies that will require vaccination or weekly testing only when it’s federally mandated may prefer to wait until the ETS is rolled out before taking any action.

LIKELY LEGAL CHALLENGES OSHA oversees workplace safety, which the agency will presumably argue extends to vaccine mandates. The agency has the authority to issue Emergency Temporary Standards only if it can show both of the following: (1) employees are exposed to grave danger from the hazard, and (2) the ETS is necessary to protect employees from that danger.

Courts have been reluctant to uphold challenged ETSs in the past because they bypass the usual rulemaking process and public comment period. OSHA has only issued nine ETSs in its 30-year history. Six of the nine were challenged, and of those six, only one was allowed to go into effect.

While legal challenges to the ETS are likely, any changes or delays may come after the requirements go into effect and could take time to be resolved. Employers should stay abreast of any announcements from the Biden administration and OSHA relating to the ETS and should contact an attorney if they have questions about how to comply with the new rule and related employment laws, including the complicated subject of medical and religious exemptions.

Michelle Kaemmerling and Shelby Howlett are attorneys with the Little Rock law firm of Wright Lindsey Jennings.

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LEGAL

Arkansas Money & Politics needed a good lawyer — our readers came through. They gave us a lot more than one. We present the 2021 Legal Elite — 100 or so go-to attorneys representing the spectrum of specialties in Arkansas — as chosen by AMP readers.

MICHELE ALLGOOD, Mitchell Williams Michele Allgood has extensive experience in all areas of municipal and public finance in Arkansas, including bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, issuer’s counsel, trustee’s counsel, purchaser’s counsel and borrower’s counsel. She represents Arkansas state agencies, municipalities, counties, facility boards and commissions in matters of capital improvement and economic development projects. Allgood has experience in taxable, tax exempt, public and private municipal finance transactions and advises clients in general corporate law, business transactions and government relations.

DREW BENHAM, Gill Ragon Owen Drew Benham is a native of Conway. She graduated from Hendrix College and studied abroad at Oxford University in Oxford, England. After graduation, she attended the University of Arkansas Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Since 2014, Benham has primarily worked in the areas of probate, trusts and estates, real estate transactions and general and employment litigation. She has been recognized as one of Arkansas’ “Best Lawyers” by local publishing groups for employment and labor law as well as trusts and estates.

ROBYN ALLMENDINGER, Rose Law Firm

HON. TJUANA BIRD, Law Offices of Tjuana Bird Sixth Judicial Circuit Court

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TOMMY BENNETT, Bennett & Williams

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WILL BOND, McMath Woods Will Bond is a partner at McMath Woods P.A. His practice is concentrated on representing individuals on a contingency fee basis in any type of personal injury, wrongful death or insurance dispute, including car wrecks, 18-wheeler wrecks and medical negligence cases. He graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1995 after receiving his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt. He has previously served as an Arkansas state representative and state senator.

BEAU BRITTON, Schnipper Britton & Stobaugh Beau Britton is a partner at Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh, Arkansas’ second oldest law firm, founded in 1875. He received his undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Arkansas and his juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His ARMON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

practice primarily focuses on the areas of estate planning, probate, real estate, general business and civil litigation.

dreds of EEOC claims and successfully defended employment lawsuits throughout his career.

STEVE BROOKS, Eldridge Brooks Partners

KATHERINE BLACKMON CARROLL, Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon

JASON BROWNING, Wright Lindsey Jennings Jason Browning is a litigator with vast experience in insurance defense, serving as counsel for physicians, hospitals and medical clinics in medical negligence, and professional, medical and products liability. Additionally, he is a certified expert agent advisor with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and provides counsel to Major League Baseball players and player agents on all aspects of baseball.

MICHELLE BROWNING, Wright Lindsey Jennings Michelle Browning is a trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience defending claims of professional liability. Her clients include major health care systems (both for profit and nonprofit), health care providers, pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies and physicians in a wide range of specialties. She represents clients in litigated matters of all sizes, with an emphasis on catastrophic damages cases. She completed certification in health care compliance (CHC)® by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB)® in 2016.

PHIL CAMPBELL, Fuqua Campbell Phil Campbell was born and raised in Little Rock.

He attended the University of Arkansas and graduated from Duke University School of Law. He then clerked for Chief Judge G. Thomas Eisele, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas. He has practiced law in Central Arkansas since 1981. His primary areas of practice are employment law, business law, commercial litigation, insurance law and nursing home defense. He has handled hunARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

MEREDITH CAUSEY, Quattlebaum Grooms & Tull Meredith Causey’s practice focuses on electronic discovery and information governance, including the identification, preservation, collection, review and production of electronically stored information. Causey also provides counsel to clients on a variety of technology-related issues, including software licensing agreements, cloud computing and website privacy policies. Prior to joining the firm, Causey founded an electronic discovery company, where she counseled clients on electronic discovery best practices and provided guidance on the legal and strategic issues related to electronic discovery.

JOHN COLLINS, Collins Collins & Ray HUGH CRISP, Crisp Law Firm At his Little Rock practice, Hugh E. Crisp exclusively handles personal injury litigation with an emphasis on medical malpractice and catastrophic injuries in the Mid-South.

Crisp is rated AV Preeminent by MartindaleHubbell, the highest rating for an attorney practicing in the United States. He has been selected by his peers as a Mid-South Super Lawyers honoree for the past 10 years and is a fellow in Litigation Counsel of America.

ROBERT DANECKI, Danecki Law Firm SKIP DAVIDSON, Davidson Law Firm FRANK DUDECK, Dudeck Law Firm KHAYYAM M. EDDINGS, Friday Eldredge & Clark 13

LAUREN ELENBAAS, Shaw Firm PAM EPPERSON, Epperson Panasiuk Law BOB ESTES, Law Office of Bob Estes Bob Estes is an experienced Fayetteville attorney. He earned a BSBA, MBA and JD from the University of Arkansas. His practice is a combination of business, commercial litigation, domestic relations, probate and real estate with an emphasis on dispute resolution. Three times the governor has appointed Estes to serve as an Arkansas Supreme Court Special Justice. Este is Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ rated. He is a frequent speaker and contributor to legal publications.

CONNER ELDRIDGE, Eldridge Brooks Partners SHANE ETHRIDGE, Ethridge Law Firm JOHN P. FLETCHER, Kutak Rock JAMIE FUGITT, PPGMR Law DAVID FUQUA, Fuqua Campbell Born in Baton Rouge, La., David Fuqua was raised overseas but returned to the United States to finish his education. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1975 and graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1980.

He has practiced in Little Rock ever since.

His practice includes general litigation, commercial law, personal injury defense, employment and civil rights defense, employment law and agricultural and commodities law.

KAREY GARDNER, Mallard Gardner Karey W. Gardner, a founding member of Mallard Gardner PLLC in Little Rock, has been engaged

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exclusively in the private practice of health law since 2005. She represents individual providers, clinics, hospitals and hospices on a wide scope of health care issues, such as contracting, bylaws and rules, employment, peer review, accreditation and licensing issues. She also has substantial experience in regulatory and compliance issues pertaining to HIPAA, EMTALA, Stark Law, the federal Anti-Kickback and False Claim Acts.

PRICE GARDNER, Friday Eldredge & Clark DAVID GERSHNER, Davidson Law Firm JENNIFER GLOVER, Natural State Law MAYA S. GOREE, Cross Gunter Witherspoon & Galchus JULIE DEWOODY GREATHOUSE, PPGMR Law GARY GREEN, Law Offices of Gary Green KAYCE GREEN, Law Offices of Gary Green HARRY HAMLIN, Mitchell Williams Harry Hamlin has more than 20 years of experience advising numerous financial institutions, business entities, REITs and individual clients in all aspects of commercial transactions, including complex lending and contractual matters as well as the conveyance, purchase, development and leasing of real property. He also counsels clients on municipal finance, tax exempt, tax credit and 1031 transactions.

His expertise in securing liquor permits from the Alcohol Beverage Control division is invaluable to numerous locally and nationally owned restaurants, retailers and hotels.

MEGAN HARGRAVES, Mitchell Williams Law Firm Megan Hargraves is a health care lawyer who OC TO B ER 2 02 1

provides clients with strategic counsel on health care regulatory, compliance and legislative matters along with public policy and implementation issues. She advises hospitals and other health care clients on issues related to risk management, quality assurance and regulatory and operational compliance. She also advises and represents clients on matters related to the Arkansas Peer Review Fairness Act, the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA), Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the False Claims Act, the Stark Act and anti-kickback statutes and other state and federal statutes.

ALEXANDRA A. IFRAH, Friday Eldredge & Clark

RAYMON HARVEY, Raymon B. Harvey Law Firm

JONATHAN JONES, Jonathan D. Jones Attorney at Law Jonathan Jones runs a boutique law firm in Hot Springs focusing on divorce, child custody and other family law matters. Jones has also worked in civil litigation, personal injury litigation and property and real estate law with a focus on wills and trusts. He graduated from Hendrix College in 1998 with a degree in political science and from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 2001.

BRAD HENDRICKS, Brad Hendricks Law Firm

CODY KEES, Bequette Billingsley & Kees

JUDY HENRY, Wright Lindsey Jennings Judy Simmons Henry has been engaged in an active business litigation practice for 33 years and serves in management of WLJ as its business litigation chair. She has deep experience with complex litigation, including fiduciary and trust matters, banking, class actions and bankruptcy work. Henry has served as a National Football League Players Association Certified Contract Advisor and is the firm’s sports law group leader, representing D-1 coaches, student athletes and, previously, the NCAA. Most recently, Henry has led the charge for Name-Image-Likeness/Publicity Rights representation of businesses and athletes in Arkansas and regionally.

TAYLOR KING, Taylor King Law TRE KITCHENS, Brad Hendricks Law Firm MICHAEL KNOLLMEYER, Knollmeyer Law Office KRISTEN KOMANDER, Bogart Small & Associates MOLLY LUCAS, Lucas Law

GREGORY M. HOPKINS, Hopkins Caststeel

GABRIEL MALLARD, Mallard Gardner Gabriel D. Mallard, a founding member of Mallard Gardner PLLC, advises health care providers, including hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgery centers and physicians on licensing issues, medical staff bylaws and rules, credentialing, employment matters, physician’s contracts, administrative appeals, arbitration and insurance disputes. He assists facilities of all sizes with corporate governance, including the drafting and implementation of compliance programs, corporate and medical staff bylaws and compliance with HIPAA, Medicare and Medicaid regulations.

ASHLEY WELCH HUDSON, Kutak Rock

JESSICA VIRDEN MALLETT, Law Offices of Peter Miller

SAM HILBURN, Hilburn & Harper SCOTT HILBURN, Hilburn & Harper HADLEY HINDMARSH, Hindmarsh Law Firm

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H.C. “JAY” MARTIN, Wallace Martin Duke & Russell Martin started with James R. Wallace & Associates in 1997 and became president of the firm in 2006.

His principal areas of practice are civil and criminal litigation, constitutional issues, wills, trusts and estates, and business formation. Martin leads an inner-city church, Metro Worship Center, that grew out of a ministry he founded in 1997. He served two terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2003 through 2007, representing North Little Rock and Sherwood, and was the Majority Leader in the 85th General Assembly.

SKYE MARTIN, Office of Chief Counsel, Arkansas Department of Human Services CHARLES D. MCDANIEL, Eichenbaum Liles WALTER MAY, Mitchell Williams Law Firm Walter May has broad experience helping clients from startup ventures to Fortune 500 companies complete the transactions critical to their success. He focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, having participated recently in several bank mergers (including the largest in Arkansas history), an electric cooperative’s acquisition of a major gas-fired generating plant and a transportation company’s purchase of towing, barge and terminal operations on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. May also regularly represents borrowers in public and private financing transactions.

ABTIN MEHDIZADEGAN, Cross Gunter Witherspoon & Galchus GEORGE “BIRC” MORLEDGE IV, Morledge Law Firm

JIMMY MORRIS, Morris Law Firm Little Rock’s Jimmy Morris specializes in criminal trial work and civil litigation with an emphasis on civil rights and personal injury law. He graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 2006 and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2000. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, eastern and western districts of Arkansas.

MIKE MUNNERLYN, Mike Munnerlyn P.A. KELLY McNULTY, Gill Ragon Owen Since 2005, Kelly McNulty has represented businesses, individuals, creditors and insurance companies in a wide variety of legal disputes. McNulty is experienced in all phases of civil and commercial litigation including trial and appellate practice in state and federal courts. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of corporate/business disputes as well as in litigation involving claims of breach of contract, fraud, real estate litigation and the representation of creditors in foreclosures, collections and bankruptcy.

ASHLEY NARAMORE, Baim Reagler & Naramore WADE NARAMORE, Baim Reagler & Naramore GREGORY J. NORTHEN, Cross Gunter Witherspoon & Galchus SACH OLIVER, Bailey & Oliver Law Firm MELODY PIAZZA, Trammell Piazza Law Firm CHARLIE PEARCE, Bailey & Oliver Law Firm JOHN PEISERICH, PPGMR Law G. ALAN PERKINS, PPGMR Law

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BETHANY PIKE, Elrod Firm TROY PRICE, Wright Lindsey Jennings A former clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis, Troy Price is considered one of Arkansas’ most highly regarded appellate lawyers. Price has handled more than 50 appeals in state and federal courts and has presented oral arguments more than 15 times in appeals before the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.

STEVEN QUATTLEBAUM, Quattlebaum Grooms & Tull Steve Quattlebaum’s primary areas of practice are complex business, toxic tort and products liability litigation. He has served as lead trial counsel in over 100 trials, including numerous toxic tort, products liability, breach of contract, intellectual property, environmental litigation, securities fraud, franchise disputes, trade secrets, personal injury and commercial matters. His clients include chemical, pharmaceutical and automobile manufacturers; wood treatment companies; investment banking institutions; energy companies; major retailers; and medical device companies. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trial Lawyers.

HEARTSILL RAGON III, Gill Ragon Owen Heartsill Ragon is a shareholder and director of Gill Ragon Owen, P.A. His practice focuses on the structure and documentation of sophisticated business transactions, commercial real estate transactions and lending transactions; real estate and business ventures; the formation and administration of business entities; private equity and real es OC TOB E R 2021

tate transactions; the drafting of private placement memoranda related to securities offerings; and the representation of the issuers and purchasers of tax-exempt municipal bonds. He also represents Qualified Opportunity Fund managers, investors, businesses and developers involved in the Qualified Opportunity Zone program.

MIKE RAINWATER, Rainwater, Holt & Sexton JAMES D. RANKIN III, PPGMR Law SYDNEY RASCH, Turner & Rasch Attorneys BRIAN RAY, Collins Collins & Ray KAREN REAGLER, Baim Reagler & Naramore

was elected to become a Member of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation.

CHAD TRAMMELL, Trammell Piazza Law Firm

MICHAEL SHANNON, Quattlebaum Grooms & Tull Mike Shannon is a managing member of the law firm and has more than 25 years of experience in commercial and other litigation. His practice focuses primarily on complex commercial litigation, class action defense, products liability, ediscovery issues, toxic tort litigation, medical practice defense, eminent domain, bid protests and issues affecting the outdoor advertising industry. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is admitted to practice in Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri.

TIFFANY TUCKER, Farrar & Williams

FRANK SHAW, Shaw Firm

BRIAN ROSENTHAL, Rose Law Firm

CHARLCEE SMALL, Bogart Small & Associates

LUCAS ROWAN, Dodds Kidd Ryan & Rowan Lucas Rowan earned his juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 2008. He earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Central Arkansas in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Rowan’s practice areas include domestic law, personal injury, civil litigation, real estate and social security. He is a member of the Pulaski County Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

DERRICK SMITH, Mitchell Williams Law Firm Derrick Smith is an experienced strategic advisor and advocate, assisting national and regional clients in insurance regulatory law, compliance, and investigative and legislative matters.

He represents insurance clients in their interactions with state insurance departments throughout the United States, providing counsel on insurance law and regulatory compliance. He has substantial experience representing regulated businesses and entities in all aspects of government relations including legislative and regulatory solutions and contracting and procurement to maximize business opportunities.

CATHERINE RYAN, Dodds Kidd Ryan & Rowan Little Rock native Catherine Ryan joined Dodds, Kidd, Ryan & Rowan in 2016 after 14 years representing injured parties as a trial lawyer in Boston, Mass. She practices in all areas of civil litigation with an emphasis in tort and product liability and appeals. She has successfully appealed both civil and criminal matters to the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Catherine OC TO B ER 2 02 1

MICHAEL SMITH, Dover Smith Horne THOMAS SMITH, Thomas Smith Law Firm KEVIN J. STATEN, Laser Law Firm MARK STODOLA, Barber Law Firm 16

PRESLEY TURNER, Turner & Rasch Attorneys JOHN DEWEY WATSON, John Dewey Watson P.A. PAUL WHITE, Law Office of Paul White REBA M. WINGFIELD, Wingfield & Corry RICHARD WILLIAMS, Mitchell Williams (Of Counsel) Richard Williams is an Of Counsel member of the Business Practice Group at Mitchell Williams. He has represented sellers of large corporations in several of the largest actions of their type ever to occur in Arkansas and is among a select group of attorneys to have lectured at the NYU Federal Tax Institute, the most prestigious tax program in America. Williams has also lectured in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and written articles for all the major national tax journals.

PATRICK WILSON, Wright Lindsey Jennings A Jacksonville native, Patrick Wilson has a practice centered around construction, banking, contract matters and other commercial disputes, and he also assists clients in the defense of design professional claims, general negligence, real estate and other litigated disputes. Wilson regularly assists large and small material suppliers and professionals with filing and foreclosing on materialmen’s liens and represents owners of construction projects and contractors in attempting to defeat lien claims. Wilson was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 edition in the field of Construction Law. ARMON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

“Thank you for voting me as one of AMP’s 2021 Legal Elite!”

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www.hotspringsarklaw.com 123 Market Street • Hot Springs, AR

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SPORTS LAW

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COLLEGE

SPORTS and NIL:

A Whole New Ball Game

By Dwain Hebda

T

om Mars is one of the most powerful men in collegiate sports, but he’s never caught a screen pass, coached a Final Four squad or sat at the head of a super conference. Still, journalists have dubbed the hard-charging Northwest Arkansas attorney, “the most impactful man in a suit in college football” and “the de facto commissioner of the new [college football] culture.”

Mars never met a marketing opportunity he didn’t like and while he admits the quotes are somewhat over the top, he isn’t exactly demanding retractions, either. In college sports, where the landscape has been turned on its head over the past couple of seasons, fortune favors the bold. Mars, whose entire career has been in trial law, is just that, suing conferences, representing high-profile coaches and advancing the cause of student-athletes he sees as being bullied by college athletics.

All this despite, by his own admission, a prior understanding of college sports that was rudimentary at best.

“I guess I’ve made a little bit of a name for myself,” he said in mammoth

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“I THOUGHT IF

IT COULD HELP THESE KIDS, WHY NOT?” Tom Mars

understatement. “I’ve learned a lot. I used to say that you can take everything I know about college football and put it on a 3x5 card. Now you can say I can fill out the back, too.”

Mars is one of a growing list of legal superstars who are finding ample opportunity in the field of college sports these days. It’s been a scant seven years since a group of Northwestern University football players scored a landmark court victory that wobbled the status quo of players competing solely for the glory of the school, receiving in return a free, first-class education (some of them) and the chance at a career in the pros (even fewer of them). All the while college athletics programs, conferences and coaches got obscenely wealthy off their efforts.

The Northwestern court decision greased the slope for other changes to help athletes gain more say in their college careers, as well as cash-in on their accomplishments while still in school. The transfer portal, which

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came along in 2019, and 2020’s NIL (for name, image and likeness, which athletes can now market), cut wide swaths down the middle of the college sports landscape.

Of the two, Mars became notable in the area of athletes’ right to transfer in the preportal era. In 2017, Hugh Freeze resigned in disgrace from Ole Miss, a career derailment that began with a defamation lawsuit brought by former Arkansas and Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, represented by Mars, against Freeze, the school and the athletic director. Collateral damage were the players that Freeze recruited and who, per NCAA regulations, couldn’t transfer without sitting out a year or gaining a waiver to that rule, which was hard to get.

“They lied to all of these players,” Mars said. “Those kids were the real victims. About two months after the Houston Nutt case, I get a call from one of the parents of players who was lied to and signed up there. At the time,

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I didn’t even know there was the rule where if you transferred you had to sit out a year. I didn’t know what a waiver was. But I had a lot of information [from the lawsuit] and I thought if it could help these kids, why not?”

After successfully gaining the Ole Miss athletes their waivers, Mars scored another high-profile win, gaining Justin Fields an exit from the University of Georgia to join Ohio State University’s program. There, Fields would become a Heisman finalist, play in the 2020 national championship game and is now the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears.

Mars’ skillful use of trial lawyer tactics — including liberal use of the Freedom of Information Act, healthy relationships with the press and heavily leveraging social media — are likely to become more common in sports law.

“When the Big Ten announced it was cancelling college football in 2020, I got calls from Big Ten players and parents, and I became their player-parent-lawyer spokesperson to get the Big Ten to reverse its decision,” he said. “I FOI’d the hell out of the school and that was also the first time I became really active on Twitter. I’ve realized this is another weapon of lawyers in this space and like every dangerous weapon, if it’s not used carefully it can backfire on you.”

Outside of direct legal action, challenges to the NCAA’s authority and the drive for athlete’s pay and career autonomy were ef-

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fectively quashed for decades leading up to the Northwestern decision finally kicking down the door. With NIL, college athletes can market their name, image and likeness to companies for pay and still retain their eligibility to compete. After so many years in the making, the change came suddenly, causing schools and legal firms wishing to compete in the wild blue yonder of college athletics to scramble.

“We’ve only been living under new NIL rules and regulations for about two and a half months, so it’s a little difficult to assess the new norm for being able to work with student athletes.” said Judy Henry of Little Rock’s Wright Lindsey Jennings. “In Arkansas, we have a law that was enacted by the legislature that does not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2022. When Arkansas’ law goes into effect, attorneys like me will have to work under three sets of regulations — the NCAA, schools and state law.”

Henry, whose firm represents among others Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, has lost no time signing up notable Arkansas athletes including Hogs hoopster Davonte “Devo” Davis and UA quarterback K.J. Jefferson. She admits it can sometimes feel strange to be negotiating NIL deals with players who would have been kicked

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Trey Knox and Grant Morgan are among the Razorback athletes who have signed NIL deals.

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Star athletes like Treylon Burks are benefiting from the new NIL legislation.

“WHEN ARKANSAS LAW GOES INTO EFFECT, ATTORNEYS LIKE ME WILL HAVE TO WORK UNDER THREE SETS OF REGULATIONS — THE NCAA, SCHOOLS AND STATE LAW.”

Judy Henry

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out of the collegiate game for doing the exact same thing just six months ago.

“I think some of our colleges and universities have done and are trying to do a good job educating the students,” Henry said. “Everybody got caught a little bit off-guard, at least in Arkansas. I think the schools in our state would tell you that they were looking for this to happen next year. And it happened on about a week’s notice. I think that has been problematic for students and it caught, I think, our educational institutions off guard, caught all of us off guard.

“In terms of how it’s working, I think a challenge has been that there are people working in this space of NIL that are either not lawyers or they don’t have a background in working with athletes and negotiating these kinds of contracts.”

Many decry the new normal as the death of amateurism but in truth, many big-time college sports programs have been amateur in word only for decades. Luring star prospects with under-the-table cash and gifts has been going on as long as the rules prohibiting it have been on the books. In the center of this melee sat the NCAA, with the power to levy major sanctions against the egregious (Uni-

22

versity of Oklahoma, 1989; Penn State, 2012); the greedy (SMU, 1987; college basketball coaches’ ‘Adidas Gate’ 2017); the incorrigible (University of Miami 1955, 1981, 1995, 2013); and the defiant (UNLV, 1992, 2000).

Sometimes sanctions have nothing to do with paying players — Penn State received its penalty in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal, for example, and seven schools were pinched for an infamous point-shaving scandal affecting 86 games in 1950-51. But the bulk of the NCAA compliance department’s targets involved perks for players.

Over the years, the vagaries of the NCAA’s regulations often made it a laughingstock (then-University of Utah basketball coach Rick Majerus got in hot water in 2001 for buying pizza for players during film sessions; South Carolina self-reported improper icing on cookie cakes given to recruits in 2013). Still, the governing body’s power to levy sanctions to the point of crippling programs held universities’ attention.

NIL aims to solve much of this, with restrictions: athletes still can’t take money directly from schools or agents, for instance, and all NIL deals must be reported. Even so, there’s no question the new landscape is un-

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charted territory.

“The NCAA hasn’t come in and set a lot of rules. They’ve set no rules, really,” said Natalie Shock, associate athletic director for compliance with the University of Central Arkansas. “It’s all based on your state. The only thing the NCAA has said is you can’t represent alcohol, tobacco or gambling because those are the three big no-nos. And that’s all they’ve said. Everything else is strictly your state law and all state laws are different.

“The Arkansas state law basically says that you cannot use [the school’s] facilities, logos, anything along those lines. You can’t be in uniform. And some states don’t have that law. ” NIL also gives athletes, at last, a small taste of the billions college sports enjoy in combined television revenue, game-day sales, booster contributions and untold numbers of jerseys and other licensed gear. And it comes closest to defining college athletes as employees of their respective college or university. In fact, this September the National Labor Relations Board’s top lawyer threatened action against schools, conferences and the NCAA if they continue to use the term “studentathlete” to describe players. NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo said the term student-athlete was created to disguise the employment relationship with college athletes and discourage them from pursuing rights as employees.

“The market for NIL transactions is being created; right now, it’s what a business needs and what they’re willing to pay for,” Henry said. “That’s the same thing that a head football coach or any coach would do. The difference is, the market for coaches is more established than the brand-new NIL market. I don’t fault individuals for knowing the market or not knowing the market, because there’s no precedent out there to guide them.”

For as much as the moves are celebrated as victories for athletes’ rights, there are still issues to be dealt with. The transfer portal eliminates much of what brought these situa-

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tions to court, but it’s hardly a perfect system.

While college coaches are not allowed to recruit players from other programs, Shock said it’s becoming more common for programs to reach players through emissaries and encourage them to enter the portal, which the incumbent school cannot impede.

“We’ve got athletes here that could probably be at the next level; they were just overlooked in the recruiting process, and now they’re here, and they’re doing great,” she said. “Who’s to say that there’s not people out there with feelers out? It’s technically not the coach, not a Nick Saban or somebody like that, but somebody backing them to put out those feelers. I mean it’s out there. It’s happening and it’s hard to prove. We’re seeing it now.”

Shock said UCA takes steps to educate athletes on both the NIL and transfer portal program guidelines to help them understand their rights and keep them in good standing.

But, she said, there are bound to be many asyet-unforeseen issues to come.

“We try to answer as many questions as possible,” she said. “We’ve had to send a lot of our international students to our international engagement program because if they’re signing an NIL, how is that going to affect their student visa because they’re making money? Could it make them where they’re not eligible for a student visa anymore? I was meeting with the men’s golf team, and I started going over NIL stuff, and they immediately piped up and said we can’t participate in that because we would no longer be eligible for the U.S. Amateur golf tournament.

“I can’t imagine what it’s been like at the Power 5 level. Some of the things you think about is, let’s say you’ve got that quarterback out there who’s made millions already and what if I’m that lineman that’s got nothing?

I’m supposed to be protecting his blindside; what am I going to do? I’m not saying that’s going to happen, but who’s to say it’s not going to happen? It’s a new ball game.”

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“THE ONLY THING THE NCAA HAS SAID IS YOU CAN’T REPRESENT ALCOHOL, TOBACCO OR GAMBLING BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE THREE BIG NO-NOS.”

Natalie Shock

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u o y k n a h T Bob

Estes

for your leadership and commitment to the Arkansas legal profession.

Bob Estes of Fayetteville is the 124th President of the Arkansas Bar Association.

Bob leads the Arkansas Bar Association to accomplish its mission to support attorneys; advance the practice of law; advocate for the legal profession; foster professionalism, civility, and integrity; and protect the rule of law.

Bond. Will Bond.

Congratulations to our favorite agent of justice!

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LEGAL

TECHNOLOGY, COVID LIKELY to SHAPE LAW PROFESSION FOR YEARS to COME O

By Dwain Hebda

f all the industries impacted by the encroachment of technology and the creep of COVID-19, law firms aren’t the first to spring to many people’s attention. But that’s exactly what’s happening in legal firms and courtrooms all over the country, and Arkansas legal experts say, for better or worse, it’s likely to continue.

“I’ve been forced to become what I call a COVID lawyer the last year and a half,” said Mike Moore, partner with Friday, Eldredge & Clark in Little Rock. “That’s been really good in some ways and really frustrating in others. But it seems to be all I talk about, at this point.

“The great thing about COVID is it has taught us that we do have the ability to work remotely. The problem is finding that balance and being able to serve the client in a way that the client both deserves and expects.”

Moore’s observations are consistent with what’s happening in the profession nationwide. He said from extending a firm’s marketing and recruitment reach to simply serving underserved areas, technology holds great potential, particularly in states like Arkansas

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Andrew King

Mike Moore

Margaret Sova McCabe

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increase efficiencies and continue to deliver that have traditionally struggled to bring legal quality legal services are mounting, while at the expertise within reach of rural and small-town same time lawyers and alternative service proresidents. viders are confronted with the difficult realities “I believe that what we are finding out about of (often) working remotely, managing home our use of technology will help overall,” Moore responsibilities and remaining vigilant about said. “I will tell you that we can follow up with physical and emotional health. Legal technolclients in a way that we simply weren’t able to ogy can and should play a critical role in this before, and all they have to do is have a smarttransformation.” phone. We’re able to answer questions and At the same time, technology has been shown talk to them in a productive manner as a result. to be less than a panacea, counters the AmeriI think there are a ton of positives in the legal can Bar Association. In February, the ABA precommunity that can come from this.” sented results from a survey of 4,400 members Andrew King, partner with Kutak Rock in Litthat showed while myriad of tools are at many tle Rock, agreed, saying the legal profession has barristers’ disposal, such lagged other industries for tools did not solve fundatoo long when it comes to NATIONALLY, mental issues surrounding harnessing data to achieve their professional lives. better outcomes more effiTECHNOLOGY AND “Many members feel ciently, thereby serving the client better.

COVID HAVE COMBINED completely overwhelmed with all they have to do,” “More and more data has TO ACCELERATE A said Stephanie Scharf of become available for lawthe Chicago-based Red yers, and it has to do with SEISMIC SHIFT IN THE Bee Group, which dethe automation of the court INDUSTRY OVER THE signed and managed the system and electronic filsurvey. She noted further ing,” King said. “The probPAST 18 MONTHS. that issues surrounding lem we’ve always had in the employer support, client law practice is that while OPINIONS ON THE access, developing busicourt records are public BALANCE OF THESE ness and meeting billable records, for a long time, hour requirements were they were hard to gather CHANGES BEING FOR causing significant stress, and obtain because you’d THE INDUSTRY’S GOOD especially among womhave to go to the clerk’s ofwith young children. fice, you’d have to pay for OR TO ITS DETRIMENT en These lawyers often felt copies. You’d have to make overlooked and were cona specific request for what ABOUND. cerned employers viewed you want. them as not as committed “Electronic filing makes to their work, leading many to consider leaving it possible for third-party companies to pull that the profession altogether. information and create databases and to gather “The data is very sobering,” said co-presenter information. It makes all the sense in the world Roberta Liebenberg of the Red Bee Group. “It is for lawyers to use and understand this data in incumbent on legal employers to remain laserhow they handle litigation. The best lawyers will focused on the strategies necessary to develop a find ways to use that to their advantage.” diverse group of lawyers and to reexamine and Nationally, technology and COVID have revamp their culture, policies and practices.” combined to accelerate a seismic shift in the inMargaret Sova McCabe, dean of the Univerdustry over the past 18 months. Opinions on the sity of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, balance of these changes being for the industry’s said the prolonged impact of technology on the good or to its detriment abound. legal profession reaches every element of the As Jenn Betts wrote in a May 2020 op-ed on attorney-client experience, to say nothing of Law.com, “Enormous pressures to control cost,

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emerging legal specialties.

“It’s an open question how much COVID will have a long-term influence on remote work for lawyers. But early trends are there is much more of an interest through a forced experiment,” she said. “Some firms had tremendous success, and some firms see perhaps their talent pools as wider than they did before.

“But there is also a substantive impact on the law. Data privacy law, privacy law and intellectual property were all pretty hot topics before the pandemic and are even hotter now in terms of more use of online and digital ways of communicating.”

McCabe also expects to see COVID at the center of emerging legal issues as debate continues to rage on the civil rights front. Where racial and gender equality issues headlined last summer, forthcoming cases will likely be argued in matters concerning mandatory vaccines and

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right to work.

“I think we’ll see a continuum on the intersection of individual rights and public health,” she said. “Keep in mind, our tradition in the U.S. has often been to require certain kinds of vaccinations, and that obviously has an established safety record. So, we do have that history, in part.

“At the same time, we don’t have a lot of examples like employment being front and center in a vaccine mandate, right? It’s all brand new.

So, I think that goes beyond individual rights and public health and into employment law.

What can an employer mandate that their employees do in the workplace that they must do or lose their jobs?

“It really has caused an interesting revisiting of that intersection, again, between individual rights and public health mandates and where the right balance is.”

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LARGEST ARKANSAS LAW FIRMS FIRM NAME

NUMBER OF ARKANSAS ATTORNEYS

LOCATIONS

Friday Eldredge & Clark

90

Little Rock, Rogers

Mitchell Williams Selig Gates & Woodyard

87

Little Rock; Rogers; Jonesboro; Austin, Texas

Wright Lindsey Jennings

67

Little Rock, Rogers

Kutak Rock

56

Little Rock, Rogers, Fayetteville (based in Omaha)

Rainwater Holton & Sexton

33

Little Rock, Fayetteville, Hot Springs, Bryant, Conway, Memphis

Quattlebaum Grooms & Tull

32

Little Rock, Springdale

Rose Law Firm

31

Little Rock, Fayetteville

Barber Law Firm

29

Little Rock, Bentonville

Gill Ragon Owen

26

Little Rock

Cross Gunter Witherspoon & Galchus

24

Little Rock, Fayetteville

The Wilson Law Group

23

Little Rock; Fayetteville; Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn.; Jackson, Miss.

Taylor King Law

22

Little Rock, Springdale, Arkadelphia, Jonesboro, Fort Smith, Conway, Texarkana (Texas side)

Dover Dixon Horne

21

Little Rock

Hilburn Calhoon Harper Pruniski & Calhoun

15

North Little Rock

Matthew Campbell Rhoads McClure & Thompson

15

Rogers

PPGMR Law

15

Little Rock

Taylor Law Partners

14

Fayetteville

Conner & Winters

13

Fayetteville (based in Oklahoma City)

Roberts Law Firm

12

Little Rock

Munson Rowlett Moore Boone

12

Little Rock

Caddell Reynolds Law Firm

12

Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Rogers, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Little Rock

Waddell Cole & Jones

10

Jonesboro

Carney Bates & Pulliam

10

Little Rock

The Brad Hendricks Law Firm

9

Little Rock, Conway, Fayetteville, Texarkana, Jonesboro, Fort Smith

Womack Phelps Puryear Mayfield & McNeil

8

Jonesboro

Ramsay Bridgforth Robinson and Raley

8

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Pine Bluff 30

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Hugh E. Crisp exclusively handles personal injury litigation, with an emphasis on medical malpractice and catastrophic injuries in the Mid-South.

Hugh E. Crisp, Attorney 221 W. 2nd St., #8G Little Rock crisplawfirm.com P: (501) 376:6264

Mr. Crisp is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for an attorney practicing in the United States and selected by his peers for the highest level of professional excellence for his legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. Mr. Crisp has been recognized on numerous occasions by the Arkansas Times as “One of the Best Lawyers in Arkansas” in the field of medical malpractice. He has been selected by his peers as a Mid-South Super Lawyers honoree for the past 10 years.

Mr. Crisp has been selected to the Top 100 High Stakes Litigators in Arkansas by the peer-review process of America’s High Stakes Litigators and named by AY Magazine as one of the top personal injury lawyers in Arkansas. Mr. Crisp has also been selected

by Best Lawyers® peer review process as well as being selected as a Fellow with Litigation Counsel of America.

NIL Changes the Game

Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) has changed the

landscape of college athletics. Whether you are a student athlete looking to take advantage of this new marketplace or a business owner seeking endorsement opportunities, WLJ Sports Law has your roadmap. Our experience includes: • FTC guidelines for influencer advertising • Trademark considerations for new brands • Sound player contracts and negotiations for students and businesses • NCAA and higher education compliance A L L S P O R T S .

O N E F I R M .

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Congratulations Catherine Ryan & Lucas Rowan

Named to AMP’s 2021 Legal Elite

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C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S

Gill Ragon Owen, P.A. attorneys recognized by AMP’s as Arkansas’ Legal Elite Lawyers

Drew C. Benham

Heartsill Ragon III

Kelly W. McNulty

Gill Ragon Owen, P.A. is a general practice law firm that emphasizes complex and general litigation, business transactions, taxation and estate planning, privacy and data governance law, family law, and employment law.

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fc-lawyers.com

3700 Cantrell Rd. • Little Rock • 501-374-0200

Phil Campbell

David Fuqua

THANK YOU

for recognizing us as one of AMP’s 2021 Legal Elite!

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WMDRlaw.com

Thank you for recognizing me as one of AMP’s Legal Elite.

212 Center Street, Ste. 100 • Little Rock • 501-375-5545

AT T O R N E Y S AT L AW Health Law • Employment Law • Corporate Law • Licensing/Accreditation Business Organization • Educational Services Thank you for voting Mallard Gardner as on of AMP’s 2021 Legal Elite! With more than 30 years of providing representation to healthcare clients, the attorneys of Mallard Gardner are uniquely positioned to assist those involved in the healthcare industry today. Having represented clients ranging from the solo practitioner to large hospital systems, the attorneys of Mallard Gardner have experience with clients of all sizes.

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You don’t have to be a CEO, baby, to be in our show. The executives are great, but Arkansas Money & Politics readers recognize that it takes everyone — small business owners, marketers, nurses, real estate agents and more to make Arkansas work. We asked readers to help us recognize some of the professionals in Arkansas who stand out in their fields.

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Thank you

for recognizing me as one of AMP’s Top Professionals!

Call Elder Independence at (501) 847-6102 today for a complimentary consultation.

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Kim Clatworthy, Owner | info@elderindependence.com 36 Online at: ElderIndependence.com

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5105 McClanahan Drive Suite J-3, North Little Rock / nsgdv.com 37 OC TOB E R 2021

BRANDON ADAMS, Nursing homes owner/ Banded Brands JORDAN ADDISON, Stone Creek Solar DENNIS ADKINS, iRealty Arkansas Dennis Adkins started his real estate career in 1972 at McKay, Askew, Shearin & Associates.

He and two other partners opened Adkins, McNeill, Smith & Associates in 1987. In a 2018 merger, the company name changed to iRealty Arkansas. iRealty is one of the leading companies in the Little Rock housing market with 51 active agents and nine other locations. Adkins is a founding, charter and life member of the Million Dollar Club and a member of the Little Rock Executive Association.

JIMMY ANTHONY, Delta Dental of Arkansas Jimmy Anthony joined Delta Dental in 2007 as an underwriter and within a few years, created and managed the underwriting and business analytics department. He has served as vice president of operations since 2019. In 2017, Anthony led an effort to win the bid for and implement the Arkansas Medicaid dental program with Delta Dental. He serves on the board of the Medicaid and Medicare State Dental Association.

STEVE ARRISON, Hot Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau AARON BALDWIN, MD Arkansas Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons BILL BARNES, Mountain Harbor Resort OC TOB ER 2 02 1

MERISSA BEARD, Beard Chiropractic CHRIS BEATY, TeleComp BOBBY BEMBERG, Bemberg Iron Works MARK BENNETT, Brown Rogers & Co. JASON BERMINGHAM, Arkansas Luxury Lawns and Greens Jason Bermingham, a sports enthusiast with more than 25 years of experience in the landscaping industry, founded Arkansas Luxury Lawns and Greens in 2018. Bermingham was born and raised in Canada and played professional hockey for 11 years, and hockey is what brought him to Arkansas. With his depth of knowledge in the landscaping industry, Bermingham realized how well synthetic grass compliments the perfect yard.

MIKE BOSCHETTI, Strategic Merger & Acquisition Advisors DANNY BRADLEY, Crystal Ridge Distillery JIM CAMP, C & C Commercial Cleaner MARK CAMP, Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission Mark Camp is the executive director of Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, a part of Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Camp spent more than 30 years in municipal finance, with over 28 of those 38

years as the general market municipal bond trader at Crews & Associates, one of the top Investment banking firms in the South. Camp is also president and managing partner of the 1836 Club in Little Rock.

DANIEL CATE, Market Place Pharmacy KIM CLATWORTHY, Elder Independence Raised in Hot Springs, Kim Clatworthy grew up with her two sisters on a lake resort owned by her parents.

Having been in the hospitality industry her entire life, she appreciates the personal joy found in caring for others’ needs. Growing up, Clatworthy saw true care and compassion firsthand when her elderly grandmother came to live with the family. Clatworthy realized that she a deep connection to the elderly as well as those in need of care.

ANDREW CLYDE, Murphy USA JESSICA COKER, W UAMS BECKY CRANFORD, The Bug Man CODY CRAWFORD, C.R. Crawford Construction ADORA CURRY, Thaden School Adora Curry is the Director of Institutional Advancement at Thaden School in Bentonville. She brings 18 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in both higher education and private foundations. Curry has a bachelor’s degree in radio, television, and film from Howard University and a master’s degree in rhetoric and professional writing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

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TODD DENTON, Dairy Queen/Peds Plus SANDY DOWNS, Don’s Supply JEFF DUNCAN, Best Park SCOT DAVIS, CMPE, Arkansas Urology Scot Davis joined Arkansas Urology as CEO in May 2013. With more than 20 years in physician practice management serving in a variety of executive roles, he has developed an expertise in physician recruitment, joint-venture arrangements, compensation modeling and operational efficiency.

Before moving to Little Rock, Davis was CFO at Baptist Medical Group in Memphis. Prior to that, he was CFO at Northeast Arkansas Clinic in Jonesboro, also serving in an interim COO capacity. Davis is a member of the Arkansas Medical Group Management Association and the American Medical Group Association.

BRYAN DAY, Little Rock Port Authority TAYLOR DENNISTON, Fort Thompson Sporting Goods JESSICA DUFF Pulaski County Special School District Jessica Duff is Executive Director of Communications for the Pulaski County Special School District and has led communications for the district since October 2018. In her role, she handles internal and external communication, marketing and public relations for the school district’s central office as well as the 26 schools within the district.

Duff spent five years in digital marketing and nearly a decade in TV (as a reporter and producer) which helped prepare her ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

current role with PCSSD. KELLEY CURTIS DUNLAP, CRPC®, Stifel/The Curtis Team With more than 20 years in the financial industry, Kelley Dunlap has been a partner of The Curtis Team at Stifel since 2011. Devoting her time to a select client base consisting of affluent families and successful businesses, she focuses on mitigating risk and pursuing growth of her clients’ wealth with an emphasis on holistic planning and risk management strategies. She utilizes her Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM (CRPC®) by assisting business owners in developing a retirement plan tailored to their needs.

RODERICK EDWARDS, Triple-S Alarm Little Rock native Roderick Edwards has worked at Triple-S Alarm for more than 20 years. Having grown up in the family business, Edwards has always been involved in the company’s growth and all the industry has to offer. He is a 1992 graduate of Catholic High and a 1997 graduate of Ouachita Baptist University.

From sales, operations, security, sound, to life safety technologies and even sports simulators, he has years of experience and expertise. Edwards is on the board for the Young Presidents Organization, Arkansas Chapter, and is president of the Little Rock Executive Association.

JIM ENGELHORN, Sissy’s Log Cabin Jim Engelhorn was born and raised in Bloomington, Ill., where he started in the jewelry business at age 15. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana/ Champaign. After a lengthy career in management and consulting, he moved to Little Rock in 2017. He was general manager of another local jeweler before going to work 39

for Sissy’s Log Cabin and is helping the company enjoy record growth the last four years.

CHRIS ENGLEBY, Grapevine Wine & Spirits SANDY FERGUSON, Generations Bank Sandy Ferguson, board member and CFO at Generations Bank, began her banking career in 1981 on the frontlines as a teller. This year, she will celebrate her 40th anniversary with the bank, which underwent a rebranding in 2016 to pay homage to the generational leadership in the bank. Ferguson is a strong example of that having worked with four generations of the Harrell family. She has played a pivotal role in the bank’s growth, working in every department throughout her career.

DR. PHIL FLETCHER, City of Hope Outreach RYAN FLYNN, Network Services Group Ryan Flynn was named president of Network Services Group in late 2013. Network Services Group provides IT support and voiceover IP telephony solutions for many businesses across the state. Under his leadership, NSG has grown from 11 employees and a single location in North Little Rock to 65 employees and three locations in Arkansas. Flynn also has served as president of the Cabot Rotary Club, two terms on the city council of Cabot, on the Cabot Parks and Recreation Commission and on the Lonoke County Election Commission.

JENNIFER GABBARD, Shewmake Plastic Surgery

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REGAN GALLAHER, MD Conway Regional Dr. Regan Gallaher is a board-certified neurosurgeon with the Conway Regional Neuroscience Center. Gallaher holds a medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and completed a residency in neurosurgery from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

He also has a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College. Gallaher has been in practice for more than 20 years, specializing in surgical and non-surgical treatment of spinal illness and trauma.

WILL GLADDEN, Signature Bank ELIZABETH GLASSBRENNER, Smiley Technologies

KALENE GRIFFITH, Visit Bentonville

STEVE GRAY, Premium Refreshments KIMBERLY HILL GREGORY, R&N Hydraulics Since 1979, R&N Hydraulics has been the leader in hydraulic cylinder repair and manufacturing in the state of Arkansas. She has been an integral part of that longterm success and remains active in the day-to-day operations. She has been the sole owner and operator since the passing of her late husband, Ronnie Hill, in 2009. Today, R&N employs 26 individuals and fosters a culture of hard work, dedication and family values. She credits her employees at R&N Hydraulics, calling them “the heart of the business.”

In addition, she remains forever grateful for the continued support of her valued customers.

Kalene Griffith is the president of Visit Bentonville. Since starting in 2005, her goal has been to share her enthusiasm and experiences to create an environment to foster tourism and support our community. Griffith was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas State Parks and Tourism Commission in 2016 and currently is the chairperson. She is a board member of the Arkansas Hospitality Association Travel Council, Arkansas Association of Convention Visitors Bureau, Bentonville Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Bentonville Inc., Bentonville Public Arts Advisory Board, Bentonville History Museum, Amazeum Children’s Museum and Dress For Success.

Congratulations to our very own Kelley Curtis Dunlap, CRPC® First Vice President/Investments

for being named to Arkansas Money and Politics 100 Top Professionals of 2021 and

Best Financial Advisors of 2021

Pictured left to right: Robin Goff, Registered Client Service Associate; Kelley Curtis Dunlap, CRPC®, First Vice President/Investments; Dennis (DJ) Curtis, Jr., CRPC®, First Vice President/Investments, Branch Manager; Denise Williams; Registered Client Service Associate

The Curtis Team Serving successful families and business owners across generations www.thecurtisteam.net | thecurtisteam@stifel.com (501) 821-3680 | 11300 Cantrell Road, Suite 103 | Little Rock, Arkansas 72212 Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com

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SPENCER GRIFFITH, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Spencer Griffith is a conservation and outdoor recreation marketer from Arkansas.

He has served as the marketing manager for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for the past five years. He helps lead the agency’s efforts to recruit, retain and reactivate hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists and improve the agency’s consumer-facing services. Prior to joining AGFC, Spencer was a senior brand manager and strategist for Stone Ward Advertising, where he planned and executed multi-channel marketing promotions in the outdoor, health care, economic development and energy sectors.

DR. JEREMY HARWOOD, CHI St. Vincent RIMSHA HASAN, MD Conway Regional Dr. Rimsha Hasan joined the Conway Regional Cardiovascular Clinic in 2020. She completed a residency in internal medicine at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. From there, she completed fellowship training in interventional cardiology and general cardiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock. As an interventional cardiologist, she specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

GLENN GRIMES, Capital Glass ROB GUNTHER, Frost Inc.

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RJ HAWK, Clark & Co. Realty/ 103.7 The Buzz Originally from Athens, Texas, RJ Hawk has called Arkansas home for the last 17 years. He is one of the Top 30 REALTORs in the South Central Arkansas Realtors Association and has helped families all over Central Arkansas with the buying and selling of their homes. For the past 13 years, Hawk could be heard on 103.7 The Buzz weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. with Tommy Smith, David Bazzel and Roger Scott.

MICHAEL HENDERSON, Today’s Power Inc. Michael W. Henderson is president of Today’s Power Inc. (TPI). He has more than 40 years of experience in the energy industry and previously served as the executive vice president and chief financial officer of

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Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp.

(AECC) and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. (AECI). Before joining AECC, he worked for Associated Natural Gas Co. and the Arkansas Public Service Commission.

BRAM KEAHEY, Taggart Architects

KYLE KING, KARK/KLRT

CRYSTAL KEMP, Conway Corporation

BOBBY LAMB, Good Shepherd Nursing & Rehabilitation

KRISTEN KENNON, iRealty of Arkansas

MISTIE HILL, Staffmark DON HOUFF, Don Houff Plumbing PAUL JAMES, Advanced Electrical Supply JOHN JAYROE, MD Little Rock Family Practice PHILLIP JETT, Encore Bank HAROLD JOYNER, Fence World

Kristen Kennon is a Realtor and the CEO of iRealty Arkansas.

She has sold more than $100 million in her eight years as a Realtor, and her company has sold more than $1.5 billion in Central Arkansas.

Servant leadership starts at the top, and Kennon believes that is what sets iRealty Arkansas apart, believing Realtors are experts who guide clients through the process while making the experience awesome.

ANDREW KING, Complete Payroll Services

ALYSSA LAMBERT, DDS Smile Arkansas CHRIS LANE, Cantina Laredo AMY LANGSTON, Intellex Talent As Managing Director for Intellex, Amy Langston oversees recruiting, hiring and onboarding for professional positions including executivelevel, administrative, clerical and strategic consultants. She will now assume a

Come see us in

Hot Springs for a drink and dinner at

The Rooftop Bar The Waters Hotel

Mary & Robert Zunick

340 Central Avenue • Hot Springs • (501) 321-0001 thewatershs.com/amenities/the-rooftop-bar

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leadership position with Intellex Talent, a sister company focused on the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) and food industries. Intellex provides flexible talent solutions through a global community of on-demand innovation experts, helping clients accelerate speed-to-market in a highly competitive business environment. In January, Langston was appointed chair of the American Staffing Association’s Office-Administrative Section Council.

BROOKSHIELD LAURENT, DO NYITCOM Dr. Brookshield Laurent is the chair of clinical medicine for NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University and the executive director of the Delta Population Health Institute, NYITCOM’s community engagement arm. The DPHI works to leverage resources in education, research, policy, and community engage-

ment to bring about changes that will create a culture of health in the Delta.

Laurent is a practicing family physician and is devoted to training future doctors that will make a difference through medicine.

ANDREA MABRY, MD Pinnacle Dermatology Dr. Andrea Mabry is a Mississippi native who has now made Arkansas her home. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi and received her medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where she graduated magna cum laude. She completed her medical internship and dermatology residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she served as chief resident during her final year of training.

JUREK MAKOWSKI, Install AV ERIC MANGHAM, Arkansas Federal Credit Union Eric Mangham is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Arkansas Federal Credit Union. Prior to joining Arkansas Federal, he was a credit union examiner with the National Credit Union Administration. Eric serves on the boards of Ronald McDonald House, the Better Business Bureau of Arkansas and the NAFCU CFO Steering Committee. He received his bachelor’s and MBA in finance from Lamar University.

SHEA MATHEWS, Maple Leaf Canvas EVAN MATTHEWS, National Custom Hollow Metal

FEARLESS PROFESSIONAL Whether she’s tackling a trail on her mountain bike or helping protect health data for millions of members, Kathy Ryan is fearless.

As executive vice president and chief administrative officer, Kathy knows the importance of making information and security perform in perfect harmony.

We are happy to have her at the Blue and pleased to know her as a 2021 Top Professional.

00273.01.01-0921

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BRIAN McGEE, MD Arkansas Diagnostics ALEX MCINTOSH, Mac Evaluations Group SANDY MIDDLETON MARSHALL, Middleton Heat & Air/Coastal Partners Sandy Middleton Marshall is one of those Middletons, a member of the family who founded Middleton Heat & Air in 1976.

She remains a co-owner of the business, one of Central Arkansas’ more iconic, with her siblings, Larry and Mark. Marshall also is a co-owner in the national real-estate development firm, Coastal Partners, and is one of the region’s most notable philanthropists.

ELIZABETH MICHAEL, Marian Consulting/ Bark Bar/ Bud Agency Elizabeth Michael, MBA, hails from Lake Village, where she worked for her family business, the Paul Michael Company, before joining Little Rock ad agency CJRW. From there, she founded a corporate social-media consultancy firm, Marian, and a cannabis-focused ad firm, Bud Agency, with industry veteran Martin Thoma. Along the way, she opened a dog park and bar, Bark Bar, with her ad agency operating from the second floor.

Client meetings can be distracting but always cute.

CHARLES MORGAN, First Orion Charles Morgan founded First Orion, which provides call transparency with in-network call control, in 2008 in Little Rock. Morgan has extensive experience managing and investing in private and public companies, including Acxiom, the information services company based in Conway that he founded and grew to $1.4 billion in annual revenue with 7,000 employees worldwide. Morgan served as Acxiom board chair for 30 years when he also held various leadership roles with the Direct Marketing Association (DMA).

BILL MILLER, Refrigeration & Electric Supply Co.

Congratulations

ALLEN WILLIAMS ALLEN WILLIAMS

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CHRIS MOSES, Newmark Moses Tucker Partners Chris Moses is the president and CEO of Newmark Moses Tucker Partners. He oversees the strategic direction of the Little Rock-based commercial real estate and development company throughout the state of Arkansas. Moses focuses on build-to-suit development for a variety of national realtors such as Slim Chickens, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Circle K and others.

He has a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and received his master’s from the Real Estate Development Program (MRED) at Clemson University.

JOE MURDAUGH, Joe Murdaugh Masonry KEVIN NEWTON, CBM Construction

JOEY NICHOLS, Friday Eldredge & Clark MATTHEW NICOLO, Arkansas Industrial Roofing Matthew Nicolo, general manager and lead roofing consultant for Arkansas Industrial Roofing, was born in North Little Rock and is a long-time resident of Little Rock. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, real estate emphasis, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He joined Arkansas Industrial Roofing in 2004, after six years in real estate and commercial real estate management. He believes that a company is nothing without impeccable customer service.

Bill Parkinson established Parkinson Building Group in 1999 when his home builder went bankrupt in the middle of his new construction. He used his dedication and business expertise to complete his home to his high standards. As a result, he discovered a new passion for building custom homes and Parkinson Building Group was born. Over the past 20 years, Parkinson Building Group has been dedicated to building the best custom homes in Little Rock.

JIM PENDER, First National Title LANCE PENFIELD, Baxley Penfield Moudy Real Estate

BEN NOBLE, Riceland

Call me today to get a FREE report detailing what your home is worth

BILL PARKINSON, Parkinson Building Group

RJ HAWK 501.269.7522

Find out why 100’s of Central Arkansas residents are choosing me to buy and sell their next home www.ClarkCoRealty.com ARM O NE YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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MICHAEL PETTY, The Ohio Club TODD PITARD, Lauray’s HOYT PLUNKETT, Jackpot Interactive DARON PRAETZEL, DMD Arkansas Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons SUSIE REED, Taylor Plastic Surgery DAN RICHARDS, Richards Honda Yamaha JONATHAN ROGERS, Arnold & Blevins Electric

BRETT RUSSELL, Russell Chevrolet Brett Russell runs the show at Russell Chevrolet in Sherwood, one of the 200 largest Chevy dealers in the United States. He took over from his father, Bob Russell, who carried on the family business from his dad, John Russell, who launched the dealership in 1963.

After John’s retirement, Bob took over the Chevrolet dealership, and his brother Rick assumed control of the Honda dealership. The third generation of Russells runs the family dealerships today.

KATHY RYAN, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield As Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Kathy Ryan currently has executive responsibility for internal

operations, enterprise business intelligence, information systems and information technology infrastructure for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

She joined ABCBS in 1982 as senior programmer for Medicare Part B Systems.

She has served in numerous capacities and was promoted to her current position in 2019. A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Ryan received her bachelor’s degree from Queens College in Charlotte, N.C., and is a graduate of America’s Health Insurance Plans Foundation’s Executive Leadership Program.

CARLTON SAFFA, Saracen Casino Resort Carlton Saffa is the Chief Market Officer for Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff.

The Oklahoma native and University of Arkansas graduate is a former staff member for Gov. Asa Hutchinson, for whom

Congrats to our CEO E. Scot Davis on being selected among AMP’s top 100 Professionals!

“Great leaders surround themselves with great people, I am blessed to have an outstanding team here at Arkansas Urology.”

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he worked from 2015 to 2019. That summer, he left to become Saracen’s first official employee; today the organization employs nearly a thousand Arkansans.

Saffa helped oversee the licensure, construction and opening of the casino resort’s first phase in October 2020 and its second phase, in progress, that includes a 300-room hotel. In addition to the Saracen property, Saffa serves in a number of roles including leadership within the United Way, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and as an appointee to Arkansas Supreme Court’s Office of Professional Conduct.

BRENT SCHMIEGELOW, Arkansas Concrete Concepts

PATRICK SCHROEDER, Baldwin & Shell Patrick Schroeder, Central Arkansas president for Baldwin & Shell, began his career in commercial construction more than 20 years ago. His projects have varied over the years from tenant finish work of $100,000 or less to hospitality projects in excess of $1.1 billion. His experience includes oversight of all preconstruction activities such as estimating, value engineering and contract/subcontract negotiations.

CLIFF SEBRING, Sharp Image Painting

BARRY SIMON, Datamax Barry Simon is a native of Chicago. He graduated from Southern Illinois University with a B.S. in business. In 1985, he moved to Little Rock to become president of what was then Datamax Office Systems and is now Datamax Inc. He has served as board member of numerous organizations including Riverfest, Centers for Youth and Families, Sales & Marketing Executives Association, past chair of the Better Business Bureau, past president of the Copier Dealers Association and is a former board member of Rotary Club 99.

CHARLENE SIMON, Eilo Oil MARIA BUNTING SMEDLEY, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation

THANK YOU FOR BEING INVALUABLE

Congratulations, Christina Trimble, for being named one of Arkansas Money & Politics Top 100 Professionals!

At USAble Life, we believe in the power of partnership — with our customers and our teammates — to open up possibilities and deliver on value.

USAble Life is proud of Christina for helping to carry out our mission to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our customers through partnership and service.

USAbleLife.com

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21C-CM-0829-AD-OCT. AMP AD-CHRISTINA TRIMBLE-TOP 100 PROFESSIONALS 2021-FINAL.indd 1

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TODD SMITH, Park Hill Collection CHRISTINA TRIMBLE, USAble Life Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development Christina Trimble leads the marketing efforts for the life, disability and supplemental lines of business at USAble Life, which serves more than 1 million people and approximately 27,000 employer groups. She leads the co-branding strategy in seven large markets in collaboration with one of the country’s largest health insurers. Before joining USAble Life, Trimble led numerous initiatives to grow programs during her 18-year tenure at UAMS. She holds a master’s degree in applied communications from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

PHIL WATSON, Bernhard TME

MATT TROUP, Conway Regional Matt Troup has more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in the health care industry, serving in various administrative roles in hospitals in Texas, Oklahoma and Florida. He came to Arkansas in 2014 as vice president of ancillary and support services at CHI St. Vincent and was named president and CEO of Conway Regional Health System within one year. Troup is an energetic leader whose five-year tenure has seen historic growth in net revenue and substantial increases in employee and physician engagement.

LEWIS VAN NESS, Meridian Investment Advisors

Phil Watson, principal and project manager at Bernhard TME in Little Rock, is an experienced director and mechanical engineer specializing in complex new construction and renovation projects. He oversees a multidisciplinary team of engineers and is a technical expert in mechanical systems design. He and his team seek the best possible solution to serve the long-term needs of a building and enable effective operations. He is passionate about promoting STEM education.

KEITH WEEKS, Gary Houston Electric Keith Weeks is president of Gary Houston Electric in Little Rock. For more than 35 years, the company has served Central Arkansas with affordable, quality and timely commercial and residential electrical contracting services with a strong emphasis

Congratulations Dennis Adkins for your outstanding leadership and for being one of Arkansas Money & Politics Top Professionals for 2021 11621 Rainwood Road #4 Little Rock, AR 72212 501.224.3900 irealtyarkansas.com

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on customer service. Its area of expertise includes, but is not limited to, homes, retail spaces, restaurants, offices and warehouses.

Gary Houston services both new construction and existing structures needing electrical repair or being remodeled.

KEVIN WINGFIELD, River Rock Builders ALLEN WILLIAMS, First Community Bank Allen Williams is the market president for the Jonesboro region of First Community Bank. Williams has more than 30 years of banking expertise, and he came to First Community Bank in 2013. In his current position, Williams oversees and manages the entirety of the Jonesboro area market which includes branches in Lepanto, Bay and the newest branch in Brookland.

DARRIN WILLIAMS, Southern Bancorp

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KIRBY WILLIAMS, Stone Bank A Harrison native, Kirby Williams has served as marketing director or consultant to regional banks in Arkansas since 1977. For the past six years as EVP for marketing and retail banking, he has helped Stone Bank establish a Top 100 national brand in the government-guaranteed lending field while the bank’s assets have grown from $90 million to more than $560 million.

TIM ZIMMERMAN, First Choice Drug Testing MARY ZUNICK, Visit Hot Springs Mary Zunick, Honorary Consul of Japan for the State of Arkansas, is the Cultural Affairs Manager for Visit Hot Springs. She works with the local arts

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community and as executive director of the Sister City program has received multiple awards and commendations. Under her leadership the Arts & the Park festival, the Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival and multiple downtown murals were created. She is also on the board of Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and Hot Springs Chamber.

ROBERT ZUNICK, The Waters From the music industry in Dallas, Robert Zunick moved to Hot Springs in 1983 out of a love of nature and downtown architecture. That led to a career as a financial advisor that continues today; Zunick has been named to the Forbes Best in State list the past four years. Always active in the community, he founded or served on many nonprofit boards. In 2013, he invested in the historic Thompson Building and built The Waters Hotel & Rooftop Bar.

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Congratulations

Sandy Middleton Marshall on being recognized as an Arkansas Money & Politics 2021 Top Professional.

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Congratulations Spencer Griffith!

On your well earned recognition among your peers and industry professionals. We are proud of your impact which has advanced partnerships, creative solutions and modernized our communications and marketing efforts to inspire Arkansans all across the Natural State to encounter all the Great Outdoors has to offer. Proud of how well you represent the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission team.

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Congratulations

Andrea Mabry on being recognized as one of AMP’s Top Professionals!

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CONGRATULATIONS

Sandy Ferguson FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS A TOP 100 PROFESSIONAL Sandy began her career with Generations Bank 40 years ago on the front lines as a teller. She has played a pivotal role throughout the years, working in nearly every department of the bank. We are so grateful for her leadership and continued commitment to our team members, customers, and communities!

Adora Curry

Congratulations Adora Curry on being recognized as an Arkansas Money & Politics 2021 Top Professionals.

Thaden School is proud to have you on our leadership team!

800 SE C St, Bentonville, AR 72712 / (479) 268-5321 / https://thadenschool.org/

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TOP PROFESSIONALS

On a MISSION

Thaden School’s award-winning Bike Barn. (Photos provided)

At Thaden School, Adora Curry helps bring diverse groups together

L

By Angela Forsyth

ocated in Northwest Arkansas, Thaden School spans 30 acres and features several sleek modern classroom buildings with large green spaces in between for students to lounge and learn. It looks more like a small college than the private middle and high school it actually is.

Despite its large campus and striking architecture, the 4-year-old academy is quietly tucked away behind downtown Bentonville’s popular main streets. The plan is for Thaden to become more well-known in the coming years, not just in Bentonville, but across the state, throughout the United States and even beyond.

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The woman who plans to do it is Director of Institutional Advancement Adora Curry.

She is one of Thaden’s newest additions. Barely two months in, she’s already dreaming of making the school a household name across the nation.

“Goal one is to build a robust advancement department here,” she said. “I want the community to want to be engaged and to become engaged with Thaden School. There are so many businesses here that could serve many important purposes.”

Some of Curry’s ideas include students shadowing local professionals at work, classroom guest speakers from the community and school events hosted by outside businesses. She wants to start with Bentonville and then gradually reach out further to other communities.

“I want people to say, ‘What’s happening there? What makes that school so special?’”

Curry noted that Thaden is special because everyone at the school is invested in the success of its students. She plans on showing the school’s uniqueness through various community events in which the school can interact with the outside public. This involves getting to know the interests of people in the area and coming up with activities centered on those interests. One idea is a skeet shooting tournament that (weather permitting) will be held in January 2022.

Curry also plans to continue leaning into Thaden’s signature programs: Meals, Reels and Wheels. The three intensives provide independent and community-based learning in culinary, performing arts and bicycle engineering. She wants to continue promoting events that highlight these features.

In the spring, Thaden will host a culinary event focused on the culinary program. Curry

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Adora Curry

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Thaden School incorporates non-traditional methods into its curriculum such as culinary arts, urban gardening and planting with a focus on inclusiveness.

is hoping to partner with local chefs and bring the public in to eat and appreciate food prepared by students with ingredients from the campus garden — perhaps something like the TV show Chopped where student teams would compete against each other.

“Community is a large focus for us,” Curry emphasized. “We want to extend that to the entire Bentonville community and then hopefully even broaden our reach nationally and be one of those independent schools that the rest of the nation is looking at and wanting to follow our model.”

Curry arrived at her job at Thaden with a long list of diverse credentials. Her 18 years of experience in the nonprofit sector includes being an event planner, marketer, motivational speaker, recruiter and a “champion for the marginalized” —– all of which fall perfectly into place in her new role. Advocating for marginalized individuals is a particular passion for Curry.

Growing up in Colorado, Curry was often one of only three or four black students in her communities.

She was bullied in middle school and later ended up in a domestic situation that turned violent in her young adult years. She is also a single mother.

“I know what it feels like to not have a voice and feel powerless and to feel like you don’t matter,” she said.

“So, when I have been able to bounce back from my experiences, I have looked back at others who are living through it, and I share what I went through as a source of encouragement and empowerment for them.”

Her experiences make her an ideal leader at Thaden. Between growing up in Colorado and her years spent living in Little Rock and Washington, D.C., Curry has met people from all walks of life. Some of them have needed financial help and encouragement.

Others have been in positions to impact and empower

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others. Curry’s talent lies in bringing the two groups together.

“It’s a perfect fit for me here at Thaden because our youth today have a lot to deal with,” she said, noting that some of those challenges include cyberbullying, mental health issues, economic adversity, lack of parental involvement and more. She enjoys having the opportunity to hear about students’ interests and aspirations and then talking to instructors and the head of the school to make those experiences a reality.

Language studies at Thaden, for example, go a step beyond the traditional foreign language requirement.

Thaden not only offers Latin and Mandarin, but it also offers partnerships with other countries around the world for students to immerse themselves in speaking with foreign families or visiting them on exchange programs.

“I think that’s what makes a difference and gives people a better quality of life,” Curry said. “I think back to when I was bullied in 7th grade. These experiences can change a person from being a victim into an empowered person who is focused on better things.

The student sizes here are small, and you’re truly surrounded by people who accept you for you — exactly as you are. That’s what attracts me to working here.

As a society, we put labels on people, but don’t all kids need to be empowered?”

Thaden School operates on an indexed scale that puts tuition within reach for families of various economic backgrounds.

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“I like that their approach to it is not that anybody is wrong but that everybody should listen.”

“There’s a lot going on in the world. There’s a lot of divisiveness, and I feel that Thaden is really doing its part to be a remedy to that, and I like that their approach to it is not that anybody is wrong but that everybody should listen,” she said. “That’s what gives me pride in working here and what makes me want to make sure that this department succeeds and that this school is not a school where the best two get to go. Everybody gets to go.”

Curry moved from Little Rock to Northwest Arkansas just days before her first day of work. She is enjoying exploring the area with her two sons. As a self-

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described “big foodie,” she likes taking her boys to try new eateries throughout the region. One of their favorite quick stops has become Fruitealicious in Bentonville. They’ve made it a family tradition to grab a drink and then drive an hour or two exploring the outskirts.

Along the way they’ve visited new restaurants, farmers markets and have even tried ramen at a co-op during one of their adventures.

“I love that everybody is really friendly here.” Curry noted. “I love how big but small it is. There’s a lot to do, and there’s a lot going on. I love that it’s quaint, but at the same time, it’s diverse.”

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CONGRATULATIONS Thank you Eric, for leading with purpose and integrity while making a difference for your team and community.

Eric Mangham SVP/Chief Financial Officer 2021

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CONGRATULATIONS AMP’S TOP 100 PROFESSIONALS FOR 2021

Patrick Schroeder is one of Arkansas Money and Politics magazine Top Professionals of 2021.

We are proud of his accomplishments and thank him for the excellent leadership that he provides as President of Central Arkansas for Baldwin & Shell Construction Company.

deltadentalar.com

Thank You for naming me one of

AMP’s Top Professionals.

Jimmy Anthony Vice President, Operations ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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TOP PROFESSIONALS

IN CASE OF JEWELRY

EMERGENCIES,

CALL JIM ENGELHORN

By Kenneth Heard

Jim Engelhorn has been with Sissy’s since 2017.

D

espite being the sales manager of the largest independently owned jewelry store in the country, Jim Engelhorn has his cell phone number posted on the exterior door of Sissy’s Log Cabin in Little Rock.

“In case of jewelry emergencies,” the sign reads. It lists the telephone numbers of Engelhorn and store owner Bill Jones and urges customers, or “guests” as Engelhorn prefers, to call them after hours if they need anything.

It’s that kind of service that has made Engelhorn, 54, a leader in his field and one who other jewelers across the country contact when seeking information and advice.

And to think, it wouldn’t have happened had it not been for a snowy sidewalk at the home of a Bloomington, Ill., jeweler.

Engelhorn, who grew up in the central Illinois town, used to mow yards and shovel snow off walks for spending money when he was a teenager. The jeweler hired Engelhorn when he was 15 to work in his store.

His aunt had given him a mineral collection that set his career, well, in stone.

“It conjured up a great interest,” Engelhorn said. “I always associated the start of my career with that collection.”

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When Engelhorn graduated high school, the store owner told him to earn a college degree and he’d hold his job for him in Bloomington. Engelhorn went to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign from 1985 to 1989 and earned a degree in industrial organizational psychology.

He focused his degree on marketing and buying behavior.

“I tailored my degree to managing a team of people in business,” he said. “I guess now you’d call it a degree in human resources.”

He returned to the Bloomington jewelry store and then moved to Valparaiso, Ind., where he managed a jewelry store.

Meanwhile, Sissy and Bill Jones were developing their own store, Sissy’s Log Cabin. Sissy Jones saw a log cabin for sale while driving along U.S. 79 in Pine Bluff in 1970. An avid antiques collector, she rented the cabin for $50 a month, and she sold her wares there. She discovered she sold a lot of jewelry on consignment and from estate sales.

She and Bill eventually opened Sissy’s Log Cabin jewelry store in Pine Bluff and opened other stores in Little Rock, Conway, Jonesboro and Memphis.

“It was a legend of best laid plans,” Engelhorn said of the Joneses’ business.

The store also embraces the strong concept of customer service. A sign on the door of each store reads, “Rule Number One: The customer is always right. Rule Number Two: Refer back to Rule Number One.” Engelhorn left the cold climes of Indiana, tiring of the “lake-effect snows” there in the winter, and moved to Little Rock in 2017 and began working for Sissy’s Log Cabin. He now manages 33 people in the 12,000-square foot showroom and considers Arkansas a “paradise” and a “best-kept secret.”

Later, he earned diplomas from the Gemological Institute of America and did residence training, specializing in diamonds, at Santa Monica, Calif.

It’s the reactions of customers that make his job special, Engelhorn said.

“That’s the entire gig of this job for me,” he said. “People walk into our store at the

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happiest times of their lives. This takes our job to a new level. We listen to what they want.

“If they leave in a bad mood, we didn’t fulfill what they wanted. We have the opportunity to fix it. We generally don’t have bad days here. Everyone is in a good mood.”

Engelhorn’s favorite book, and one he constantly refers to, is Hiring Squirrels: 12 Essential Interview Questions to Uncover Great Retail Sales Talent, by British sociologist Peter Smith. It’s a book about making businesses thrive by hiring a quality sales team.

“It’s a go-to book,” he said. “People are wired to be salespeople.”

Engelhorn regrets that as a sales manager, he doesn’t get to work with his “guests” as he used to. Still, he said, there is the satisfaction of selling the perfect ring or watch to someone.

“It’s not just sticking a rock on a finger,” he said. “It is satisfying a customer.”

He does still spend some of his time on the same side of the display case as his customers. Recently, he sold a large ring to a woman. “It’s perfect,” she said. And she gave him a hug.

“It comes down to that,” Engelhorn said.

He’s also quick to give jewelry advice to celebrities. When singer Gwen Stefani wore the engagement ring singer Blake Shelton gave her while on the television show, The Voice, where both are talent judges, people noticed.

Engelhorn tweeted while the show aired on Nov. 30, 2020, “As a jeweler, I strongly recommend you not clap with a ring on your right hand with that platinum sparkler on your left.”

Ashley Linden, the owner of Linden’s Custom Jewelry and Diamond in Bentonville and the president of the Arkansas Jewelers Association, said she appreciates his help and guidance with others. Engelhorn is an association board member. “[Engelhorn] is always professional and forthright in his opinions regarding the affairs of the Arkansas Jewelers Association,” she said. “Additionally, he is free with advice to fellow jewelers in regards to

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For Engelhorn, his job comes down to “not just sticking a rock on a finger,” but making sure a customer is satisfied.

recommendations of who can assist them for various needs within our industry.”

Engelhorn said his store has set sales records for eight of the nine months so far this year. Part, he said, may be commerce returning from the quarantining periods created by COVID-19 last year.

But, more so, he added, people just want to feel good and have an experience when buying jewelry.

“Bill Jones is the most innovative person I’ve ever met,” Engelhorn said. “We’re helping people find solutions.

“If we didn’t believe in what we do, we wouldn’t put our phone numbers on the door.”

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HERE’S TO A MAN WHO SHINES AS BRIGHTLY AS A DIAMOND.

Congratulations to

Jim Engelhorn on being named as a Top 100 Professional.

JIM ENGELHORN LITTLE ROCK STORE MANAGER SISSY’S LOG CABIN

Congrats, Dr. Laurent!

Congratulations to Dr. Brookshield Laurent, NYITCOM’s Chair of Clinical Medicine and Executive Director of the Delta Population Health Institute, on being recognized as one of AMP’s 2021 Top Professionals!

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) at Arkansas State University is committed to training talented physicians who aspire to become servant leaders that positively impact their communities.

Dr. Laurent is passionately devoted to making a difference through health care, and we are so grateful for all you do in our medical school, in our community and throughout our region!

Training Physicians In Arkansas, For Arkansas ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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2021 DIAMOND JOURNALISM AWARDS

AY Media Group is proud of those staff members recognized in the 2021 Society of Professional Journalists Diamond Journalism Awards, which honor the South’s top journalists.

Heather Baker

Special Section, Print/Online Second Place, Arkansas Mental Health Guide Judges’ comments: “This topic may not be front and center for many, but COVID-19 has brought the issue to a wider audience. These well-written stories document journeys that others may have had. Plus, there is a full listing of resources and help for anyone seeking aid. Good job.”

Dustin Jayroe

Winner, Outstanding New Journalist Judges’ comments: “The mark of a good writer and storyteller is when the reader can glide through a story without stopping. That’s what you get from Dustin Jayroe. The research is spot-on, the writing is conversational. From topic to topic his work stands out. It’s hard to believe he’s only been in the profession for fewer than five years. Congratulations.”

Editorials, Magazines First Place, Editor’s Letter, Arkansas Mental Health Guide Commentary, Print/Online Second Place, Deserts for Trees column, Arkansas Money & Politics Health, Science & Environment Writing, Print/Online Second Place, Pandemic reporting, AY, About You Ongoing Coverage, Magazines Third Place, Substance Use reporting, AY, About You *Shared with Dwain Hebda

Mark Carter

Editorials, Magazines Second Place, Editor’s Letters, Arkansas Money & Politics Sports, Magazines Second Place, “Enjoying the Ride,” Arkansas Money & Politics Judges’ comments: “The pandemic has given thousands of people the chance to explore the world of road biking and mountain biking. This story puts that into perspective to show how the activity is growing by leaps and bounds.

And, it’s important to the state’s economy. A good piece. A good read.”

Business Writing, Print/Online Second Place, Pandemic and business reporting, Arkansas Money & Politics

Rebecca Robertson

Magazine Design First Place, Food and Home series, AY, About You Judges’ comments: “This submission truly reflects the elements of modern magazine design. Large, beautifully composed and well-lit photographs are accompanied by nice page layouts and a combination of fonts and color palettes that fit the mood and theme of the stories, amplifying their messaging and overall storytelling power.”

Magazine Design Second Place, Business series, Arkansas Money & Politics

Jamison Mosleey

Photo Spread/Essay Second Place, A Fight to End the Fight, AY, About You *Shared with Ebony Blevins and Ian Lyle.

Judges’ comments: “Dramatic black and white photo spread of a protest of mostly black young people. The eight pictures showed a lot of emotion. Special use of color in the flag draped around one young man’s shoulders really popped.”

Lora Puls

Special Section, Print/Online Second Place, Arkansas Mental Health Guide Judges’ comments: “This topic may not be front and center for many, but COVID-19 has brought the issue to a wider audience. These well-written stories document journeys that others may have had. Plus, there is a full listing of resources and help for anyone seeking aid. Good job.”

aymag.com

LETTER

Continued from page 7 In 1980, Arkansas had just four cities with populations of more than 50,000 — Little Rock, Fort Smith, North Little Rock and Pine Bluff. According to the 2020 census, the state’s 10 largest cities now include nine that exceed 50k. Counting Fort Smith, five of the state’s 10 largest cities are in Northwest Arkansas. And don’t sleep on Bella Vista, that little “retirement community” now boasting a population of more than 30,000.

As hard as it is for a boomer to fathom, I think Nat Geo may have nailed it. *** The aftermath of Norm Macdonald’s passing revealed something to me that shouldn’t have been a bit surprising, really. Though he told friend and SNL compatriot Dennis Miller on the latter’s radio show that he was unabashedly pro-life, and his work had concrete conservative undertones, Macdonald was not overtly political.

What I failed to fully glean was that murmurs of Christian apologia (there’s our word of the month) flowed through his work as well.

From Matthew Walther’s guest essay in the New York Times: “By the end of his life, Mr. Macdonald seemed to have abandoned even his well-known animus against O.J. Simpson. “All he’s guilty of to me,” he said on a Comedy Central program in 2019, was of being “the greatest rusher in the history of the NFL Maybe I was the greatest rusher — to judgment. ...But occasionally he was less oblique about his commitments, which he seemed to have worked out with a great deal of fear and trembling. In a set from 2009 that began with a dismissive reference to the comedian and atheist Bill Maher, Mr. Macdonald asked the audience to consider the question of life after death. What followed was a kind of postmodern restatement of Pascal’s wager. Mr. Macdonald said: “There’s only two things.

You’ve got to look at the evidence that God exists. None. That’s not good. Then you go, ‘What’s the evidence God does not exist?’ None.

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So, they’re equal. One of them is for sure right.”

Norm, may he rest in peace. Here’s hoping he was ready to find out. *** Speaking of words of the month, it seems I owe this space a couple. So, here you go. By way of the great Charles C.W. Cooke, mendacity — the art of not telling the truth. From the Latin mendacitas, it seems to be particularly in vogue, not that it was ever out of fashion. (Or perhaps what afflicts many these days is simple 69

delusion.) Its usage, on the other hand, was in vogue in the late 18th century, according to Oxford Languages. Plus, courtesy of our own freelancing Brent Holloway, stolid — calm or dependable. Derived also from Latin roots, its usage peaked in the late 19th century, but has seen an uptick this past decade. *** As always, thanks for reading. Let us know how we’re doing, good or bad. I’m always open at MCarter@ ARMoneyandPolitics.com.

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Thinking

Outside

the Box E

lizabeth Michael says she completed a culture index that determined she was “the epitome of thinking outside the box. There is no box.” And, that explains much of how her career came to be. Part dog-park-bar owner, part ad agency exec, Michael has crafted her career to fit her passions.

Michael comes from a long line of entrepreneurs, with her great grandparents starting a department store in Lake Village after moving from Lebanon. Her father kept up the entrepreneurial streak, first selling jewelry to department stores before founding the eponymous Paul Michael Company.

After graduating from Villanova University, she began her career at the family business and saw it through multi-state expansions. Michael moved to Little Rock and led CJRW’s content and social strategy team while getting her M.B.A. During this time, she also opened Bark Bar, Arkansas’s first dog park and bar, in downtown Little Rock.

“Work on your passions, and it will all make sense.”

Michael currently operates her social media firm Marian from the second floor of Bark Bar. Marian specializes in training corporations to build world class social media departments from within. She also co-founded Bud Agency with Martin Thoma, which services the legal cannabis industry nationwide. She is a member of Facebook’s Leaders Network, has published research on parasocial relationships, won several industry awards and speaks about social media nationwide.

“When I first went to college, my father’s advice was to take classes I liked and it would fall into place. That advice led to me graduating with four liberal arts degrees and no clear career path. But, that advice is also something I think of daily,” says Michael. “Work on your passions, and it will all make sense.”

1201 SOUTH SPRING STREET • LITTLE ROCK • (501) 295-3989 • BARKBAR.COM

CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS, MICHAEL! MICHAEL!

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TOMMY SMITH

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. . . r e d i R g n o L o i d Ra ography by

By Kelley Bass | Phot

Jamison Mosley

Tommy Smith Capping Off

ILLUSTRIOUS RADIO CAREER opportunity I had. We were only 10,000 watts so nobody much could hear us, but I could do whatever I wanted. I’d play the Osmonds, and then I’d play Led Zeppelin. But I was getting a check.” (Smith had learned the basics of the radio business at a vo-tech school.)

“Then my father-in-law bought a station in Salina, Kansas, and asked if I wanted to come. I was working midnight to 6 a.m., and after about eight months I wanted to come home and try to get a job in radio here, but my father-in-law suggested I go to the Army. I told him I wanted to be in radio, and he said that would take care of itself.”

And, yes, in the military Smith indeed was “in radio” as in “working on radios … and tanks” at Fort Carson in Colorado. After he got out, Smith went to KKFM in Colorado Springs, doing the midday shift. But his bosses said they’d have to move him back to nights when fewer people would hear him. “They told me I said y’all and

ommy Smith is famous. And he’s infamous, which only makes sense for a radio personality who for much of his career was called “Outlaw.”

When you hear the story of Smith’s radio career, it’s easy to conclude that he beat the odds — that he overachieved. And he’d be the first to tell you that very thing.

But that conclusion overlooks a couple of unavoidable truths. Tommy Smith does great radio. He’s funny, he’s engaging, he’s irreverent, and doggone it, people like him. And they also give him second chances. Even third chances.

It was 1974 when Smith first hit the airwaves, a chance he earned the old-fashioned way: he married into it.

“It was KEWP, 1380 AM, and it was on Main Street in Little Rock, catty-corner from the Band Box,” Smith says of the legendary burger joint at 17th and Main that since has rebranded as The Box and relocated to Seventh Street. “I was marrying the new owner’s daughter, and what an

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TOm WOOD that the rumor is Tommy is going to KKYK, and I’d get a raise,” he remembered. “And then Tom said, ‘How about if we move you to the mornings?’ Think about who else was on the mornings — Bob Robbins, Craig O’Neill, Ray Lincoln, the Uglees.

Once I got into that water, I realized that it’s a lot deeper. The pressure is on in the mornings.”

Outlaw Tommy Smith didn’t just survive — he thrived. “For a 10-year period, it was solid gold. I did no show prep. I’d go on and start talking.” And people listened in droves. Smith took the show in a somewhat raunchy direction, something his male-dominated audience obviously loved.

His “Flash Me Fridays” were infamous, women coming by the studio on Main Street in North Little Rock and making sure Tommy saw their breasts through the window. (As an occasional guest on the show, I can vouch that the flashing was fast and furious on Friday mornings.)

darling too much.’ There was nothing left for me there. My wife had left me, I couldn’t see my son, so I went home. I painted houses the summer of 1980 — do you remember how hot it was in the summer of 1980? And then Magic 105 came on the air.

“I called [program director] Tom Wood about two or three times a day, bugging him for a job, and finally in August, I was hired, doing night-time radio at a rock ’n’ roll station.”

And while no one then could have predicted it — plenty of local stations had tried a rock format and failed — Magic 105 would become super popular. And it definitely was quirky, broadcasting out of a tiny building on a large hill outside Mayflower. It was a radio team for the ages, including Smith on afternoons and Wood in the morning drive time.

Smith credits Paul Johnson, media columnist at the Arkansas Gazette at the time, for helping his career. “Paul would write

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pointed to one diagnosis — ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

“I started thinking, ‘Who are going to be my pallbearers?’ But then I got diagnosed with myasthenia gravis,” not good news but also not a death sentence like ALS. Smith has good days and has bad days, but for the most part he’s been able to carry on as the co-host of an intensive fourhour morning radio talk show.

And then COVID-19 hit, his brother died, a friend committed suicide, and his myasthenia gravis “was really taking its toll. It was during the [mid-February] snowstorm. I was staying at [Frank] Fletcher’s hotel [the Wyndham in downtown North Little Rock]. The second or third night I started rationalizing. I had lost a brother, a friend committed suicide; I thought, ‘You’re 66, you can have a beer.’ There was so much going on. So, I walked to a convenience store and bought some beer. I thought I could drink one or two, but five weeks later I knew I was going the wrong way.”

The Buzz management “said I could tell people I’m taking vacation. But I’ve always told [listeners] the truth. I went on the radio and said, ‘The wolf got me. I’m ashamed. Some people might think I’m less than a man for admitting this, but I’ve always told you the truth.’” Bazzel was by his side as he issued his heartfelt on-air confession. “Bazzel is my on-air rock,” Smith said, “and my wife is my off-air rock.”

So, it was back to Betty Ford for what Smith said the people there called a tune-up. “I’d been sober for nine years, and I’d been drinking for six weeks. They told me, ‘You have nipped this in the bud.’”

How much longer Tommy Smith will be a force in the local radio world remains to be seen. He has announced that he plans to leave the Buzz in April 2022. And the reasons why keep becoming more obvious to him.

“In the last week, we’ve [taken the show to] Pickles Gap, Morrilton, Arkadelphia and Stuttgart. On one of those trips, I almost hit a deer. I’m 67 years old, which is how old [legendary KATV sportscaster] Paul Eells was when he died in his car. I don’t need to be making 60-mile drives at 5 in the morning. My reflexes aren’t what they used to be. This business has been so good to me since 1974, but it’s time to pass the torch. I can’t relate to 25-year-olds anymore. Now 50-to70-year-olds? I’ve got ’em!”

Smith said while he loves what he, Bazzel and others have built at The Buzz, he misses playing rock ’n’ roll music on the radio and can envision trying that again — sometime, somewhere.

“On a good day, I’d play a song, then talk, play a song, then talk,” he says. “On a bad day, I’d play four or five songs, then talk, play four or five songs, then talk.”

So, after he leaves The Buzz and the fame in which he has bathed through his Magic 105 and Buzz careers, will we have heard the last of Tommy Smith?

Stay tuned.

For 10 years, it was solid gold. I d i d n o s h o w p r e p.

I’d go on anD s ta r t ta l k i n g .

And then things changed. Magic 105 had been purchased

by Clear Channel, the corporate media behemoth, and there was Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” during the Super Bowl halftime on Feb. 1, 2004.

“The FCC ruled that you couldn’t say ‘titty’ on the air anymore,” Smith said. And encouraging women to show theirs was frowned on in corporate radio America. Before the end of the year, frustrated with his new shackles, Smith had had his fill of Clear Channel — and vice versa. But as soon as he was gone from Magic 105, Smith was at the Buzz 103.7, thanks to Phillip Jonsson.

With former Razorback great and ubiquitous marketing guru and award/mascot inventor David Bazzel as his co-star, Smith launched “The Show with No Name,” where he’s been ever since. At least most of the time.

Smith’s drinking habit finally got the better of him in 2012, and after a couple of embarrassing episodes, he left for the Betty Ford Clinic with Jonsson’s blessing.

“He knew what was going on,” Smith said. “He said, ‘Go do it. Go get fixed. Everyone has issues, and you’ve worked in rock ’n’ roll radio a long time. So go do it, and then we’ll welcome you back.”

He went back on the air at The Buzz, and for years all was good and right with Tommy Smith and his radio career. Until it wasn’t.

“I could tell something was wrong, and then [wife] Karen asked me, ‘What’s wrong with your speech? You aren’t drinking again, are you?’ But I could tell something was wrong.”

Smith started researching his symptoms and everything

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For radio veterans at The Buzz, there’s...

NO SCHOOL LIKE THE

OLD SCHOOL

By Kelley Bass | Photography by Jamison Mosley

T

he burdens of working in the world of corporate radio are heavy — no control over programming, being held to unrealistic ad revenue expectations, and being second-guessed at every turn by corporate “suits” and consultants. But those are mere inconveniences compared to the ultimate corporate radio indignity — losing your job for no good reason other than improving the station’s bottom-line profit.

Some of the Central Arkansas radio market’s most popular personalities have suffered those inconvenient fates, up to and including termination. Others have sucked it up, survived under the massive iHeartRadio (formerly Clear Channel) and Cumulus corporate radio umbrellas. (iHeart operates 860 radio stations, including 12 in Arkansas.

Cumulus owns 428 stations, with 16 of those in Arkansas.)

Still others have gone in different directions – including Lisa Fischer, long a popular radio and TV personality who today is a copy editor for Arkansas Money and Politics as well as AY and the (locally owned!) company’s other print products.

And then there are those who’ve either never experienced the indignities of corporate radio or long ago were hired at stations with complete local control and none of the typical corporate radio headaches.

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Smith remembered: “I’d had it with Clear Channel [which had bought the beloved Magic 105 in 1996]. After my show one day, Tom [Wood, another Magic 105 legend] said, ‘They want to see you, and they are going to make a mistake.’ I walk in, and there’s this guy in a lime green T-shirt, a lime green suit, loafers and no socks. He fires me and says, ‘When you leave this room, you leave this building.’”

Considering Smith is the undeniable star of a stable of strong performers at The Buzz, and has been for almost 17 years, the decision to fire him has to be one of the lowlights among many corporate radio decisions that had a major impact in the Little Rock market. Another one came 14 years later when Wood was

Tommy Smith, Randy Rainwater and Justin Acri are just three of the well-known veteran broadcasters who’ve long thrived in the relatively non-threatening environment at “103.7 The Buzz,” more formally known as KABZ-FM. Their long tenures and the relative calm in which they work owe to more than local ownership. The Buzz fills a critical programming niche — local sports talk radio — and consistently generates solid ratings in terms of listenership, particularly in key male demographic segments.

Success provides significant cover from potentially overbearing bosses, no matter what industry you work in.

Acri is the station’s general manager, having been elevated to that position from program director. And he reports to CEO Terri Mahan, promoted from CFO after the retirement of Steve Jonsson, son of Philip Jonsson, the original owner of the Signal Media family of radio stations.

Signal’s stations also notably include The Point 94.1 (KKPT), another longtime force on the local scene. It is also filled with well-known radio veterans, from program director Mike Kennedy to DJ Jeff Allen.

Rainwater for more than 30 years has been the host of “Drivetime Sports,” which The Buzz rightfully touts as the most popular sports talk radio show in Arkansas history. Smith is the only one of the three who was put through the corporate radio wringer, having been unceremoniously dumped from Magic 105 by a Clear Channel vice-president from Memphis in late 2004.

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That’s what’s worked well.

We have been hyper local.

All the charity things that we do, helping people recover after a tornado.

— Justin Acri also dumped from his role, in his case as iHeartMedia’s local public affairs director.

Fischer has clear memories of the difference in working for locally owned stations (she started at KARN, 920 AM, when it was local) vs. a corporate one.

“I remember being challenged by a muckety-muck at Cumulus radio, which owns B98.5 and several other stations in Little

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I’m not against criticism, but if you leave me alone and I get the job done, that should be the bottom line.

— Randy Rainwater Rock,” Fischer said. “He was trying to make the case that the listeners to B98.5 weren’t likely familiar with me and then asked, ‘How long have you been here?’

I stammered when I asked, ‘Here at B98.5? Or here in Little Rock media?’ He replied, ‘Oh, you’ve been in radio besides B98.5?’ I laughed when I told him that I had been on just about every radio station, every TV station and even written for the statewide daily paper since around the time he graduated high school.

“I realized then that he didn’t do his homework. He should have known a tiny bit about the very person who was on the morning show on one of his heritage radio stations. But that’s the problem with corporate radio; it is nearly impossible to do all the homework on all the radio stations they own. Unlike the Buzz, where the general manager knows the birthday of the guy who runs the board on the weekends, I bet.”

That last sentence from Fischer gets at the heart of what makes the true difference in local radio. When you talk to Tommy Smith or Randy Rainwater, both of whom were hired by Signal Media patriarch Philip Jonsson, the love and respect flow freely.

“I called Philip ‘Pop,’” Rainwater said. “I probably put my career on the table the day I told Philip, ‘Pop, leave me alone, let me do my thing. If I mess up and things aren’t going well, I will gladly accept any guidance or direction.’ And we had a wonderful working relationship. Tommy and I have had as unique a situation as you can have in radio. We didn’t report to a program director or a GM. We reported to Pop… I’m not against criticism, but if you leave me alone and I get the job done, that should be the bottom line. Pop Jonsson was that way. I could never thank him enough.”

After he was fired by Clear Channel, Smith “called Phillip Jonsson and he hired me. He and Tom Wood — without those two guys, I would be nothing.”

Acri has heard about the horrors of the corporate radio world from Smith and others he knows in the radio world. He’s just never lived it.

“I really don’t have anything to compare it to,” he said. “The TV station I interned at was No. 1 in northern Minnesota. When I worked at [KATV] Channel 7, it was owned by Albritton, and they were in D.C., but it was a family business. It all goes back to great leader

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Rainwater started working for Jonsson at what is now KABZ in 1990 after “the program director decided he didn’t want to pay for Rush Limbaugh. Philip Jonsson asked if I could come up with programming that could make money and replace lost revenue from Rush.” The program that today is “Drivetime Sports” started as a Saturday morning, one-hour show that became two hours a day — 4-6 p.m. — weekdays (now 4-7 p.m.). Rainwater had co-hosts, but soon “I was handed the keys.”

Jonsson bought the stations that became the Buzz and the Point, and after doing reports from Charlotte on the Razorbacks’ run to the Final Four on a rock ’n’ roll station, “we transitioned over to talk” on the Buzz.

Years ago, speaking to a group in Searcy, Rainwater was asked what kind of goals he had.

“I said, let me think about that, and then said ‘I want to be on the air in the Little Rock market for 20 consecutive years.’ I don’t remember how close I was at the time. I think you can count on one hand the number of personalities who have been at the same station that long. Maybe The Point’s Jeff Allen Jim Elder, Brother Hal. If I were asked that later I might have said, ‘Make it 30.’ If someone ship — and private ownership.” The Buzz was asked me now, I don’t know what I’d answer. always “hyper local with Mr. Jonsson. He took I’ve got a kid in college, so at least four more a hands-on approach, and we had that local, diyears, so let’s make it 35.” rect connection to decision making. He underSmith joined The Buzz in late 2004, and stood what’s important. That’s what’s worked Acri started as a show host in 2003 before well. We have been hyper local. All the charity coming on full time in 2006. All three have things that we do, helping people recover after been major forces ever since, the sort of contia tornado. Celebrity karaoke.”

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nuity and consistency that’s not a hallmark of corporately owned radio stations. Those three have been the foundation for more than a decade and a half, but plenty of the supporting cast has been just as critical to The Buzz listener experience, from David Bazzel and Roger Scott, Smith’s cohosts on “The Show With No Name,” and former University of Arkansas sports information director Rick Schaeffer, Rainwater’s “Drive-Time Sports” sidekick for 19 years. Not to mention the relationships all these gentlemen have forged with listeners over the years, including the “long-time listener, first-time caller” who quickly says he’ll “just hang up and listen” on Rainwater’s/Schaeffer’s show.

“That’s what we old-school radio people miss about radio from the good ol’ days,” Fischer said. “Relationships — authentic relationships.”

Corporate radio casualty Wood, who for the last couple of years has led the team at Arkansas Rocks, a network of “deep tracks” classic rock stations best accessed at ArkansasRocks.com, has this perspective: “The Buzz is such a great radio station,” he said. “They are the definition of local,

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Lisa Fischer from her B98.5 days.

(Photo provided)

and when it comes to sports, there’s no doubt that they are lucky to do business in a state that has rabid support for their flagship team. But … unless you do it well like they do, you can still screw it up, and they never do. They are very good at what they do.

“I’ve seen lots of friends who were part of the amazing things we did at Magic 105 end up soured on radio, but when I think about the success and happiness Tommy and Jeff Allen at The Point have enjoyed, I’m so very happy for them.”

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MEDIA

JONESBORO’S KJNB

By Kenneth Heard | Photos by Jamison Mosley

DESPITE SALE, UNIQUE COMMUNITY MODEL REMAINS AT NEA’S FOX/CBS AFFILIATE OC TOB ER 2 02 1

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W

hen Bill Christian and Mike Reed were setting up a television station in Jackson, Tenn., in 2015, they decided to look further west to Jonesboro to see if the town merited a second affiliate.

KAIT, an ABC affiliate in the Craighead County seat, signed on the air in 1963 and had no local competition for half a century.

Christian and Reed were busy in Jackson, so they sent Christian’s father to “do reconnaissance” in Jonesboro.

“He went to look at Jonesboro and drove around,” Christian said of his father’s venture. “He visited the chamber of commerce and Arkansas State University and some of the businesses.”

They later met in Memphis, the halfway point between Jackson, Tenn., and Jonesboro.

“He said, ‘Compared to Jackson, you’ve not seen anything yet,’” Christian said of his father’s assessment of Jonesboro.

The die was cast, and in June 2015, KJNB began as a dual FOX/CBS-affiliate station featuring the slogan, “This is Home,” airing advertisements promoting the station as the hometown choice and running weekly community calendar spots.

In 2017, the station launched nightly news reports with a slant toward more good news.

But don’t be fooled by the quaint, folksy charm of happy news and dad reports. Christian and Reed have built several stations from scratch, using their personalized approach to broadcasting to create their savvy media empire.

Recently, the two announced the sale of their Waypoint Media, which includes stations in Jonesboro; Lafayette, Ind.; and Jackson, to Standard Media for $39.9 million. The deal should close by the end of the year, Christian said.

“This is a bittersweet moment,” Reed said in a news release announcing the sale. “I love this business that has been so much fun and so kind over a lifetime career in television.”

He added that he and Christian feel they are turning their stations over to a company that will “continue to expand on our mission to serve our local communities by paying it forward while providing a great environment for our dedicated staff.”

At a time when most media outlets are owned by large conglomerates, Christian and Reed have seen success in their privately owned business.

“I love this business that has been so much fun and so kind over a lifetime career in television.”

The Standard Media studio in west Little Rock.

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MEDIA Two years after signing on, KJNB launched its news Christian, 61, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, Fla., operations, presenting newscasts under the name of started his television career at 16 at television station Northeast Arkansas News.

WYOU in Scranton, Pa. The newscast features local news but is produced in “I was a janitor, cameraman and producer there,” he Waypoint Media’s Little Rock studio. The studio also said. does newscasts for its stations in Tennessee and LouiHe also did freelance work for Major League Basesiana. It’s a unique concept: Local reporters send their ball and served as the technical director for the Olymvideo feeds to the studio where anchors run them in a pic Games in Seoul, Korea, and a director for the 30-minute broadcast. The anchors there produce severOlympics in Barcelona, Spain, both for NBC. He’s won al nightly newscasts, tailoring each one to their specific four Emmy Awards during his television career. stations.

Reed has 35 years of television and media experiIt’s a way to hire more experienced on-air talent, ence. He’s served as the chief revenue and promotion Christian said. officer for Communications Corporation of America Anchors Anne Imanuel and Scott Beadle are from and as vice president and general manager of KEYE in Florida and Montana, respectively. Meteorologist Kris Austin, Texas.

Sommers hails from Iowa.

“I’ve done television in big markets and small markets,” “We’ve got bigChristian said. “I time talent who’ve like the small-town had experience in thing because we markets like Atget a feel for the lanta and Dallas,” community.”

Christian said.

When Chris“You can’t get taltian and Reed ent like that in began KJNB in small towns. The Jonesboro, they small market talset up an endowents are bad in the ment with ASU beginning, and to create internif they get better, ships for broadboom, they’re gone cast journalism to bigger markets.” students.

The newscasts Like Christian’s present local news, father, they also vissent in by reportited the Jonesboro ers who live in the Regional Chamber towns they cover. of Commerce.

But they also air “They welsyndicated nacomed us with tional stories with open arms,” he a more “positive” said. slant, Christian KJNB’s FOX said. affiliate signed “We are aware on the air June 1, 2015. Prior to that, News anchor Scott Beadle brodacasts in front of a green screen. of the fact that there’s too much northeast Arbad news,” he said. kansas television “We do air important stories, but we also want to have viewers could only access FOX programming from some uplifting stories too. Bigger corporations that own WHBQ-TV in Memphis. On Aug. 1, 2015, KJNB signed big stations have a hard time worrying what is aired at on with its CBS channel. KTHV-TV in Little Rock and each of their stations. With our stations, if that concept WREG-TV in Memphis were the only previous CBS fails, we fail.” providers to viewers in the northeast corner of the Christian said the sale of his stations should close in state.

December.

Waypoint Media also operates the Jonesboro mar“We started all these from scratch,” he said of his staket’s MeTV affiliate and carries programming from tions. “[Standard Media] has every intention to increase MyNetworkTV, both available on cable and from offwhat we’ve done here.” air antennas.

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COMMERCIAL TV STATIONS IN ARKANSAS PRIMARY DIGITAL

CALL SIGN

CITY OF LICENSE

CHANNEL

NETWORK

NETWORK(S)

OWNERSHIP

KAFT

Fayetteville

13

PBS

Create, PBS Kids, World

Arkansas Educational Television Network

KAIT

Jonesboro

8

ABC

NBC, CW

Gray Television

KARK-TV

Little Rock

4

NBC

Laff, Grit, Antenna TV

Nexstar Media Group

KARZ-TV

Little Rock

42

MyNet

Bounce, Ion

Nexstar Media Group

KASN

Pine Bluff

38

CW

KATV

Little Rock

7

ABC

Comet, Charge!, TBD Network

Sinclair Broadcast Group

KEMV

Mountain View

6

PBS

Create, PBS Kids, World

Arkansas Educational Television Network

KETG

Arkadelphia

9

PBS

Create, PBS Kids, World (satellite of KETS)

Arkansas Educational Television Network

KETS

Little Rock

2

PBS

Create, PBS Kids, World

Arkansas Educational Television Network

KETZ

El Dorado

12

PBS

Create, PBS Kids, World (satellite of KETS)

Arkansas Educational Television Network

KFSM-TV

Fort Smith

5

CBS

True Crime Network, Antenna TV, Quest

Tegna Inc.

KFTA-TV

Fort Smith

24

Fox

NBC, Court TV Mystery, Bounce, MyNet

Nexstar Media Group

KHBS

Fort Smith

40

ABC

CW

Hearst Television (Hearst Communications)

KHOG-TV

Fayetteville

29

ABC

CW, MeTV

Hearst Television (Hearst Communications)

KJNB-LD

Jonesboro

39

Fox

CBS, MeTV/MyNet

Waypoint Media, LLC.

KKAP

Little Rock

36

Daystar

KLRT-TV

Little Rock

16

Fox

Court TV Mystery

Mission Broadcasting

KMYA-DT

Camden

49

MeTV

Soul of the South, H&I, Start TV

LR Telecasting, LLC.

KNWA-TV

Rogers

51

NBC

Fox, Laff, Grit

Nexstar Media Group

KTEJ

Jonesboro

19

PBS

Create, PBS Kids, World

Arkansas Educational Television Network

KTHV

Little Rock

11

CBS

Court TV, True Crime Network, Quest, Circle

Tegna Inc.

KTVE

El Dorado

10

NBC

Fox, Laff, Court TV Mystery

Mission Broadcasting; Nexstar Media Group

KVTH-DT

Hot Springs

26

VTN

Victory Television Network, Inc.

KVTJ-DT

Jonesboro

48

VTN

Victory Television Network, Inc.

KVTN-DT

Pine Bluff

25

VTN

Victory Television Network, Inc.

KWBM

Harrison

31

Independent

Daystar

KWOG

Springdale

57

Daystar

Daystar

KXNW

Eureka Springs

34

MyNet

Nexstar Media Group

SOURCE: NEILSEN

Nexstar Media Group

Community Television Educators

NEILSEN RATINGS FOR CENTRAL ARKANSAS RADIO, SPRING 2021 STATION

FORMAT

CHANNEL

CALL NAME

CITY OF LICENSE

OWNER

SPRING 2021 %

1. KIPR - FM

Urban

92.3

Power 92 Jams

Pine Bluff

Cumulus Media

9.9

2. KKPT - FM

Classic Rock

94.1

The Point

Little Rock

Signal Media

7.1

3. KLAL - FM

CHR

107.7

Alice 107.7

Wrightsville

Cumulus Media

6.2

4. KOKY - FM

Urban AC

102.1

Little Rock's Adult Choice

Sherwood

The Last Bastion Station Trust As Trust

6.2

5. KSSN - FM

Country

96.5

KSSN96

Little Rock

iHeartMedia

6

6. KMJX - FM

Country

105.1

105.1 The Wolf

Conway

iHeartMedia

5.4

7. KUAR - FM

News/Talk

89.1

NPR

Little Rock

UA System Board of Trustees

5

8. KURB - FM

AC

98.5

AC

Little Rock

Cumulus Media

4.5

9. KABZ - FM

All Sports

103.7

The Buzz

Little Rock

Signal Media

4

News/Talk

102.9

KARN News Radio

Sheridan

Cumulus Media

3.3

11. KDJE - FM

Rock

101.5

The Edge

Jacksonville

iHeartwMedia

3.3

12. KPZK - FM

Inspirational

102.5

Praise Radio

Cabot

The Last Bastion Station Trust As Trust

3.1

13. KHKN - FM

Rhythmic CHR

94.9

Maumelle

iHeartMedia

1.4

14. KLRE - FM

Classical

90.5

Little Rock

UA System Board of Trustees

0.9

15. KLAZ - FM

Hot AC

105.9

Hot Springs

US Stations

0.5

10. KARN - FM

Hot 94.9 - All the Hits Classical Music News Arkansas' Hit Music Station

NEILSEN RATINGS FOR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS RADIO, SPRING 2021 1. KLRC - FM

Christian

90.9

2. KKIX - FM

Country

103.9

3. KIGL - FM

Classic Rock

93.3

4. KAMO - FM

Classic Country

5. KEZA - FM

The Positive Difference Northwest Arkansas' Country

Talequah, OK

John Brown University

9.4

Fayetteville

iHeartMedia

8.8

The Eagle

Seligman, MO

iHeartMedia

6.1

94.3

Nash Icon

Rogers

Cumulus Media

5.8

AC

107.9

Magic 107.9

Fayetteville

iHeartMedia

5

6. KMCK - FM

CHR

105.7

Power 105.7

Prarie Grove

Cumulus Media

5

7. KMXF - FM

CHR

101.9

Hot 101.9

Lowell

iHeartMedia

4.7

8. KUAF - FM

News/Talk

91.3

NPR 91.3

Fayetteville

UA System Board of Trustees

4.4

9. KBVA - FM

Nostalgia

106.5

Lite 106.5

Bella Vista

Hog Radio Inc.

3.6

10. KXNA - FM

Alternative

104.9

New Rock 1049

Springdale

Elizabeth Marquis

2.8

11. KFAY - AM

News/Talk

1030 AM

NEWS TALK 1030

Fayetteville

Cumulus Media

2.5

12. KKEG - FM

Rock

98.3

The Keg 98.3

Bentonville

Cumulus Media

2.2

13. KQSM - FM

All Sports

92.1

921 The Ticket

Fayetteville

Cumulus Media

1.9

14. KXRD - FM

Country

96.7

Red Dirt Country

Fayetteville

Rox Radio Group

1.9

15. KRMW - FM

Alternative

94.9

Radio Jon Deek

Cedarville

Cumulus Media

1.4

89

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CONSTRUCTION

Walmart’s new campus will consolidate its Bentonville corporate workforce into a cohesive neighborhood setting. (Renderings courtesy of Walmart)

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW WALMART CAMPUS MARCHES ON

Merchandising team’s ‘Layout Center’ already up and running

A

s any Bentonville visitor could see, Walmart has broken ground on its new corporate office space in the heart of town. Rather than the traditional skyscraper model, Arkansas’ homegrown, billion-dollar company is adapting to changes in how and where employees work and structuring the new space into a corporate campus model.

The full, new campus is not expected to be complete for four more years, but part of it is up and running. Completed in late 2020, Walmart’s Layout Center now is operational. Here, associates can configure in-store displays and get merchandise ready to roll out into Sam’s Clubs, Neighborhood Markets and Supercenters worldwide.

Corporate spokesperson Tara House said the Walmart merchandising team is OC TOB ER 2 02 1

By Kayla McCall

loving the new space.

“The Walmart Layout Center is ground zero for our merchandising team. It’s where we test new concepts, prepare our store assortment, organize categories and items — all with the goal of serving customers and making Walmart their first choice for shopping,” she said.

At more than 100,000 square feet, the Layout Center is designed like a Supercenter and includes tech-enabled meeting space and more.

“I’m excited and grateful we have an industry-leading center that positions us now and in the future for us to do what they do best — getting customers amazing products at our ‘Every Day Low Prices,’” House said. “Here, we will develop innovations beyond store shelves into the shelves of e-commerce, social commerce 90

and whatever comes next.”

Despite COVID, the project as a whole remains on schedule with the expectation of opening in phases through 2025. The campus will occupy 350 acres of land on J Street between Central Avenue and Highway 102. When complete, it will entail 12 office buildings organized in a “cohesive” neighborhood setting with plenty of amenities for in-office associates such as workout facilities, walking and biking trails, even an on-campus hotel.

Corporate associates and visitors will also have access to food truck plazas, coffee bars and other dining options in each “neighborhood.” The plan is to seamlessly incorporate the campus into the larger Bentonville urban development plan.

Emphasis is being placed on environmental sustainability and minimizing enARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

vironmental impact. The company is partnering with Structurlam Mass Timber Corp.’s Conway plant, which is exclusively sourcing southern yellow pine from south Arkansas for construction.

Company officials remain mum on the cost of the project but from the beginning have vowed that it will remain true to Walmart’s “Every Day Low Prices” roots.

House said company officials have long considered the move and see it as a winning strategy. They believe the new facilities will not only increase efficiency but spark interest for the next generation of future employees and ensure the company’s continued ability to compete for talent.

As recently as a couple of years ago, many college graduates were struggling to find jobs after graduation. Then came the pandemic, which made it difficult for young professionals to meet new colleagues and network when the world went into quarantine mode in March of 2020.

But House said the company is not expecting any big changes post-COVID in how it manages its workplace design.

“As time goes on, we’ve learned we will always have the need for office space, and our associates need the ability to connect,” she said. “The overall approach to the campus design is very flexible, so it can accommodate our future workspace and technology needs. We’re at the phase in our design planning that gives us plenty of opportunities to learn and adjust as needed.”

Large functional campuses that meet a variety of needs and incorporate lifestyle amenities are part of a growing corporate trend. Companies are trading in cubicles for campus experiences. House said Walmart officials hope the new campus inspires its associates and prospective employees as well as visitors to Northwest Arkansas.

The influence of Walmart and the Walton family on the local economy, of course, is substantial.

The city of Bentonville registered a total of 2,341 businesses, employing 58,374 workers, in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to Invest Bentonville. And the city estimates that roughly 30,000 employees drive into town for their day jobs from ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

other cities.

Walmart itself employs around 10,000 associates in NWA, 2.3 million worldwide.

The world’s No. 1 retailer services roughly 220 million customers each week. Other Walmart corporate campuses such as the ecommerce operations in San Bruno, Calif., and Hoboken, N.J., will not be impacted by the changes in Bentonville.

Most home office associates in NWA will be moved to the new campus with the

exception of employees at the Sam’s Club support office and Springdale call center, and no decisions have been made regarding Walmart’s existing corporate offices, built in 1971, House noted.

The corporate campus construction marches on, even as a pandemic led to quarantine and ultimate run on essential items like toilet paper. House said Walmart will keep providing those “Every Day Low Prices,” one restock at a time.

The new campus is being designed to seamlessly flow into the surrounding community.

The new Layout Center, where merchandising team members can work on store design, is operational. (Photo provided)

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HEALTH CARE/EDUCATION

Students masked up in class at Pine Forest Elementary School in Maumelle.

(Photo courtesy of PCSSD)

To or A NOT to MASK? At schools across Arkansas, that is the question

By Becky Gillette

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s school resumed recently during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most hotly debated issues has been whether schools should require masks for students and staff to help prevent spread of the disease that in Arkansas has infected 487,000 as of Oct. 1 and been attributed to 7,499 deaths as of mid-September.

Those opposed to mask mandates say they are ineffective and hinder communication, while those in favor of the mandates argue that they are saving lives and preventing illnesses, hospitalizations and quarantining that can disrupt learning.

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Sen. Trent Garner (R-El Dorado) was a leading proponent of legislation passed to ban schools from requiring a mask mandate.

“There are various studies showing that cloth masks are very ineffective,” Garner said.

“The data from 70 percent of the schools recently showed only a 0.2 percent difference in transmission between masked and unmasked schools. If you talk to school teachers and parents, you see why. It is almost impossible to get kids to wear a mask all day.”

Garner said there are psychological and other damages from wearing masks.

“A woman called me whose child is deaf and communicates by seeing facial expressions,” he said. “Now she is unable to communicate with classmates. There are negative impacts beyond comfort that we seem to forget when we make these big government mandates.”

Garner said for the past 18 months, the state did what health officials recommended.

Schools and businesses were shuttered early in the pandemic, and there was a statewide mask mandate — yet Arkansas’ worst surge occurred during the winter months.

He says, “Now with the delta surge, they are pushing the failed ideas again. It should be the parents’ choice if they want to have their children masked or not. Any big government mandate that takes that power from them is wrong.”

Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock, which has 715 students, has a mask mandate. Principal Steve Straessle said the school decided to go that route in support of families with children still too young to receive the vaccine.

“We have defaulted to the CDC and the Arkansas Department of Health in terms of mitigation efforts relative to COVID-19 spread, so we plan to keep the mask mandate in place at least until the younger kids have the opportunity for full vaccination,” Straessle said. “Our families, students and

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staff have been overwhelmingly supportive.

While no one wishes to wear a mask, our desire to be on campus and enjoy all of our important cultural milestones far outweighs the discomfort of a mask. Wearing a mask is a nuisance. Missing out on the important highschool moments is intolerable.”

Catholic High had only three positive COVID cases in the first five weeks of school, and Straessle believes wearing masks alongside the high student-body vaccination rate (more than 70 percent) has contributed positively to this.

“The bottom line is that our students and our staff will do what it takes to avoid going virtual again,” he said. “They’ll do what it takes to enjoy a healthy and safe learning environment.”

On Sept. 14, the Springdale School District board voted to allow a temporary face covering policy for grades K-7 to expire, making face coverings optional for all students and staff. Jared Cleveland, superintendent, said the district has experienced low COVID student positivity numbers from K-12, and wants to minimize quarantines as much as possible.

“To date, we believe our district staff is 85 percent to 90 percent vaccinated,” Cleveland said. “We hope these numbers increase and that vaccines will soon become available for all ages.”

Cleveland said while the mask mandate for K-7 is gone, the district continues to welcome protections such as hand sanitizing, continued voluntary face coverings, vaccinations and appropriate social distancing.

An ADH report indicates that the Springdale district, which has 23,250 students, has the most COVID cases of any public school in the state. According to ADH, from Aug. 1 to Sept. 22, Springdale schools had 665 cases of COVID including 90 among staff members and 443 among students. It was estimated 94 cases were active as of Sept. 22.

With nearly 12,000 students, the Pulaski

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“Schools also need to be looking at ventilation, social distancing and good hygiene. But schools can only do their part. We need to make sure that parents safeguard their kids after school and on weekends.”

Biology class at Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood.

(Photo courtesy of PCSSD)

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County Special School District instituted a 60-day mask mandate on Aug. 10.

The mandate was on the agenda for the scheduled Oct. 12 board meeting. Jessica Duff, executive director of communications, said the district has received some complaints about the policy, but nothing extreme like protests or blatant noncompliance.

“Our students are doing a fantastic job wearing masks all day,” Duff said. “We attribute that in part to them seeing staff wearing them all day and having worn masks last year. We believe there is a strong correlation between students and staff wearing masks each day to the lower number of positive COVID-19 cases in

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the district.”

In mid-September, the district saw the lowest number of positive cases and quarantines seen since school started.

The district had 30 active cases with a total of 219 COVID cases as of the ADH report on Sept. 20.

Dr. Joe Thompson, president and CEO of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, believes there is no debate among health professionals that masks prevent transmission of COVID and other respiratory viruses.

“Masks are important but are not the only strategy to protect our kids,” Thompson said. “Schools also need to be looking at ventilation, social distancing and good hygiene. But schools can only do their part. We need to make sure that parents safeguard their kids after school and on weekends. And vaccination of children who are eligible is the best path for protecting them. Currently vaccines are only approved for children ages 12 to 18, but approval of vaccines for those ages 5 to 11 is expected by the end of October.”

Thompson said Arkansas is headed in the right direction with new cases of COVID declining. But it will take everyone — schools, workplaces, families and faith communities — working together to break transmission of the virus, he added.

“Obviously, there is potential for new variants, but I hope that doesn’t happen.

The more people we get vaccinated and protected, the quicker we will be able to get back to normal.”

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DIGS OF THE DEAL

FORT SMITH’S

Clayton’s House: Some Are Dead and Some Are Living

By Katie Zakrzewski

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hen it comes to law and order, the legend of Judge Isaac Charles Parker — “The Hanging Judge” — put Fort Smith on the map. Parker’s quest for justice was greatly aided by Prosecutor William Henry Harrison Clayton, who was just as determined to end the lawlessness that pervaded the western Arkansas frontier in the late 1800s.

Clayton’s home, located downtown on North Sixth Street and known today as the Clayton House, served as a Union hospital during the Civil War, then as a boarding house, and today, it’s a museum. But many of the historians at the Clayton House are adamant that some of the home’s residents never left.

*** The Clayton House was built by a Mr. Sutton, whose first name has been lost to history, in 1852. Sutton abandoned the home during the Civil War and fled to Texas, while the house

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The Clayton House in Fort Smith was built in 1852.

(Photos courtesy of Mila Masur)

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what is now known as the Clayton House, and renovated it. This renovation consisted of doubling the size of the house and converting it into the Victorian Gothic Italianate style. Clayton, his wife and seven children lived in the home from 1882 to 1897, and hosted many prominent guests in the district.

Clayton and Parker, meanwhile, shared the same goals for the district and set to work. Mila Masur, executive director of the Clayton House, said both men (and their wives) were very active in the community, and their impact on the region’s crime rate was great.

By the late 1970s, the Clayton House had fallen into disrepair.

“Clayton and Judge Parker set about cleaning up corrupwas seized by Union troops. For the duration tion and lawlessness and tried around 10,000 of the war, the house served as a Union hoscases,” she said. “Clayton’s record for murder pital and was witness to many amputations, convictions is a record that still stands today.” gruesome injuries and violent deaths.

Out of those 10,000 cases, 160 people were After the Civil War, lawlessness and corhanged at the gallows in Fort Smith. ruption ran rampant across western Arkansas, Clayton served two terms as a prosecutor as outlaw bands and crooks laid claim to anyand worked alongside Parker for 14 years. His thing that they could touch. President Ulysses family was very influential in Arkansas poliS. Grant was determined to clean up the city tics and as a result, the Clayton House hosted and started by appointing William Henry many important political and social events.

Harrison Clayton to the district attorney poClayton’s brother, Powell Clayton, served as sition for the Western District of Arkansas in the ninth governor of Arkansas, while his twin 1874. Grant then nominated Parker as Arkanbrother, John K. Clayton, was a U.S. senator sas’ Western District Judge in 1875. from the state. John K. Clayton would go on Clayton, born in Pennsylvania, was a Union to be mysteriously assassinated after losing an soldier who settled in Arkansas after the war election. before receiving his prestigious appointment.

Masur said once the Clayton family moved His focus was enriching education in the reout of the home in 1897, the building served as gion, and he opened several public schools a boarding house until the 1960s. before becoming a lawyer.

“Plenty of people would have been born After the appointment, Clayton purchased here and died here, between all of the func-

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An 1897 photo of the Clayton family in the front yard of the house.

“WE HAVE AT LEAST THREE RESIDENT GHOSTS HERE IN THE HOUSE: A CAT, A TALL MAN IN BOOTS AND A WOMAN IN A BROWN DRESS.” tions that this house has had,” Masur said.

In the late 1970s, Fort Smith scheduled the house for demolition. But a group of concerned citizens “literally blocked the wrecking ball,” according to Masur, and saved the property. The Clayton House was soon restored to its former glory and has been operating as a museum since 1977.

But with such a tumultuous history, the Clayton House has provided visitors with its share of eerie experiences.

“We have at least three resident ghosts here in the house: a cat, a tall man in boots and a woman in a brown dress,” Masur said. “Wil-

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Some see a ghostly figure in this photo of a side window on the first floor of the house.

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“AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, LAWLESSNESS AND CORRUPTION RAN RAMPANT ACROSS WESTERN ARKANSAS.” liam’s older brother, Powell, played a strategic role in getting the Crescent Hotel [in Eureka Springs] opened, and that hotel is also haunted. One of the ghosts that haunt the Crescent Hotel is also a cat.

“The woman in the brown dress is believed to be Florence, Clayton’s wife. We had a paranormal investigation crew come through, and they concluded that the tall man was Powell Clayton, but that seems unlikely.”

Masur explained that the tall man is often described as being angry, but Masur believes that’s a misconception.

“If it is Powell, we know that he was a big man and had a heavy footfall. People call him the angry man, but I don’t think he is.”

Masur said she and others have tried to debunk some of the other paranormal phenomena alleged to have taken place inside the Clayton House.

“We had a movie crew here one evening filming a local movie. I was helping the sound guy look for ways to film upstairs. The large door upstairs slammed shut 180 degrees. When it’s open, it rests against the wall behind it due to gravity. We tried to recreate [the slam] and couldn’t do it. After 4 p.m., there’s rarely any-

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body in the house. Whoever was lurking there was unhappy that we had visitors after hours,” Masur guessed. “We also have porcelain dolls in locked display cases that tend to move and turn towards each other. Another lady who works here has heard the cat and felt it rub against her legs. The cat plays with the curtains and moves them around, as there are no air vents there.”

*** It’s apparent that several legendary figures in history were responsible for Fort Smith’s conversion from a town of lawlessness into the city that it is today. Even more apparent is the importance of the role that the Clayton House has played in the shaping of Fort Smith for residents in this life, and possibly even the next.

Portraits hang in the parlor of William Henry Harrison Clayton and his wife, Florence.

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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Q&A

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: How Employers Are Fortifying Their Safety Nets to Adapt to Employees’ Rapidly Changing Needs Employee benefits have always been crucial. However, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that thanks to the pandemic, taking care of employees is now more important than ever.

Workers have had to completely reevaluate whether their jobs and careers are actually providing them with a good way of life. Job seekers are looking for more incentives to join companies, and established employees are looking for more incentives to stay put.

If workers, and companies, have learned one thing over the past year and a half, it’s that working isn’t just about making money anymore. Employees need to know that the company they work for is there to support them through good times and bad. And comprehensive employee benefits packages are one of the most effective ways a company can say to its employees, “You are here for us. And we are here for you.”

Arkansas Money & Politics recently checked in with the experts at four Arkansas companies that deal with benefits in one way or another to see what post-pandemic employee benefit plans are looking like now, ahead of what is sure to be an interesting open-enrollment season.

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Robbi Davis, The Robbi Davis Agency Robbi Davis is president and CEO of The Robbi Davis Agency in Little Rock, an independent, full-service insurance agency specializing in employee benefits, Medicare supplement/drug plans and individual health insurance. Davis and her staff provide a full market evaluation unique to individuals’ needs or employees’ needs, as well as the best recommendations.

AMP: Given recent circumstances, are more employers looking at adding Employee Assistance Programs (EAP’s)?

Davis: Our agency has had an influx of employers over the past few months inquiring about employee assistance programs. The majority of the inquiries have

come from smaller employers with fewer than than 50 employees that traditionally have not offered EAP’s. COVID-19 fatigue is a real thing. We serve as the broker for a dental clinic that had a long-term employee resign recently because she just couldn’t continue with the stress of the ongoing COVID-19 protocols required in her office.

AMP: Will open enrollment look the same this year?

Davis: Open enrollment looked different for us last year. We had to quickly implement new protocols, and we will continue with those changes for this upcoming open enrollment season.

We are conducting the majority of our renewal consultations with employers via Zoom calls and will conduct open enrollment for the employees via a web-based enrollment portal that includes a recorded educational video tailored to each employer group. The ability to attach a recorded video to the enrollment portal is vital since employees need to be fully educated on their employee benefits. We also schedule interactive Zoom calls for employees to join so they can get their questions answered.

Stephen Bankson, USAble Life Stephen Bankson is Vice President of Life, Disability, and Supplemental Underwriting, Product and Commissions at USAble Life in Little Rock.

USAble offers a wide range of benefits including dental, life, accident, disability and more.

The organization works closely with leading health insur-

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ers across the United States to deliver a suite of products and services that meet the health and financial wellness needs of customers.

AMP: Is life insurance a necessary component to a competitive benefits package?

Bankson: Employers are increasingly looking at benefits such as life insurance to be competitive in attracting and keeping employees. The pandemic has brought a heightened aware-

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ness of life insurance benefits and employees recognize the value, which makes it a vital benefit for employers to offer. More employees, particularly those under 40, are opting in or selecting higher amounts during annual enrollments.

AMP: Are more employers including ancillary benefits in their overall benefits packages?

Bankson: The top three supplemental health benefits employees are interested in signing up for (if offered) are life, accident and critical illness. Life insurance is one of the lower-cost benefits and is easier to administer than some of the other ancillary insurance benefits. A $50,000 benefit often costs fewer than $10 per employee per month. Due to its low cost and ease of implementation, life insurance is often the first benefit a new or small firm implements.

Eric Eidson, Arvest Wealth Management Eric Eidson is a vice president and Senior Retirement Plan Relationship Manager with Arvest Wealth Management, serving the Little Rock and Fort Smith markets. He works closely with retirement plan sponsors to assist with fiduciary and compliance responsibilities, investment selection and monitoring and a customized education plan for participants.

AMP: Is a retirement plan a necessary component to a competitive benefits package?

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Eidson: In today’s labor market, a competitive retirement plan is an absolute prerequisite. This includes both 401(k)s in the for-profit market and 403(b)s for nonprofit employers (sometimes a Cash Balance Pension plan or 457 Deferred Compensation plan is paired with the primary plan). With that said, it takes more than simply offering a plan or adding a match to make a retirement plan competitive: Employees need to understand the benefits to make it truly beneficial.

I always enjoy meeting with a first-time saver to help them understand the differences between pre-tax and Roth contributions, or the basics of investing. I often hear, “No one ever took the time to explain this to me.” When I do, it’s a win-win situation for the employee and the employer.

The employee is bettering themselves for the future, and

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the employer has a grateful employee.

AMP: How important is life and disability coverage?

Eidson: Life and disability insurance are also key components to most benefits packages, and they’re often even more overlooked than retirement plans. Amer-

icans are chronically under-insured, and many times their only life and/or disability insurance coverage is through their employer-sponsored group plans. This means that a carefully crafted insurance plan can provide employees a needed benefit, and may even spur some employees to seek additional insurance outside of their employer-sponsored plan.

David Todd, Sunstar Insurance of Arkansas David Todd is COO/President of Benefits at Sunstar Insurance of Arkansas, headquartered in Little Rock. After 20 years in the business, he and his team at the Todd Agency merged with Sunstar in May 2019.

He is licensed in life and health, as well as property and casualty.

AMP: In what ways have benefits evolved over the last decade? How have employers’ and employees’ priorities changed over time?

Todd: Many organizations understand that they have to offer attractive and flexible benefits to attract and keep the best candidates, and that requires continually looking at ways to improve benefit packages.

Benefit packages need to be looked at not only as just medical or dental insurance, but as a whole for happy

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and productive employees. These benefits can certainly be insurance products like medical, dental, life and disability, but they should also now include items like wellness benefits, telecommuting and professional development opportunities that provide and improve work/life balance.

AMP: Given what recent circumstances have taught us, is the traditional employer health coverage model still viable?

Todd: Absolutely. As reported by both the Kaiser Foundation and the U.S. Census Bureau, employer health coverage is by far the most prevalent option for more than half of the U.S. population. Employerbased coverage is far from perfect and needs to continue to adapt and to improve; however, it still provides more options and better cost controls than any other forms of health coverage.

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ENERGY

NOT Blowing in theWind

POTENTIAL FIRST WIND FARM IN ARKANSAS ON HOLD

By Becky Gillette

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here has been barely a whisper of information in Carroll County about plans by a Colorado company, Scout Clean Energy, to build the first wind farm to generate electricity in Arkansas.

“The 180 MW Nimbus project is estimated to expand over approximately 9,000 acres of rural Arkansas hill country,” states the company’s website. “Nimbus could potentially be the first wind project in Arkansas.”

The company said the project will produce 180 megawatts of power, offset 540,000 tons of carbon dioxide and employ 200 people during development and construction. The Scout Clean Energy website also contains information on 20 solar or wind projects it says are either planned or in operation across the country.

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The project could be very significant if it proves wind power could be economical in Arkansas, and it could have a major beneficial impact on tax revenues for the county. However, Arkansas has not been considered a state suitable for efficient wind production.

“It seems like an unusual place to develop wind,” said Glen Hooks, director of Arkansas Sierra Club, which has been involved in successful lawsuits to close coal-fired power plants in the state. “Arkansas’ solar potential is well documented, and that industry is growing quickly, but we’ve generally been thought of as less than ideal for wind. I’ll be very interested to see details on projected wind energy potential in Carroll County.”

A representative of the company said the project is very preliminary, and Scout is not ready to release more information.

The spokesperson said the company hopes to use the project to answer a request for proposals from Entergy Arkansas, which is seeking to add 500 megawatts of green power in Arkansas by 2026.

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality Stormwater Pollution Preven-

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The proposed Nimbus site is just beyond this ridge north of Highway 103 in Carroll County.

(Google Maps)

One size does not fit all.

It is critically important that site-specific geologic investigations are performed. tion permits for Scout Clean Energy state that the excavation of pits, 60x60 feet and 7 feet deep, for wind turbine foundations occurred beginning in December 2016 on two separate private properties located about 2 miles apart just off Sims Point near Green Forest. Two foundations were dug on the eastern location on an unnamed dirt road 1.6 miles from the southern end of County Road 906.

One excavation was done at the western location on County Road 905, about 3.5 miles from the intersection of Arkansas 103 and County Road 905. The com-

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pany said construction work has stopped, and any further work at the site will be performed under a new permit.

Dane Schumacher, a clean-water advocate who lives in southwestern Carroll County, said a review of the stormwater permit issued caused some concerns for him including using a runoff coefficient factor (used to convert rainfall amounts to runoff) for the city of Bentonville.

“I question the [its] use of the runoff coefficient ... as most of Northwest Arkansas is in a highly karst region,” Schumacher said. A karst region is one made

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up of limestone in which rainwater seeps into the rock, eroding it.

“There is a high degree of variability from one site to the next,” he continued.

“In other words, one size does not fit all.

It is critically important that site-specific geologic investigations are performed and karst features, including losing streams, are identified prior to construction.”

An excerpt from the 2014 NWA Stormwater Manual illustrates his point: “Northwest Arkansas is in a highly karst region that has known environmentally sensitive habitats, so subgrade conditions should be carefully reviewed and be suspected as highly varied throughout an entire development of any significant size (over 1.00 acre). Soil and subgrade boring and/or testing would be methods for checking subgrade conditions.

“Because Northwest Arkansas has large areas of very ‘flat’ terrain as well as very large areas of extreme slopes, the lo-

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cation of each development site cannot always be approached with a ‘one size fits all’ attitude. Not reviewing the difficulties of pre-developed and adjoining terrains, runoff drainage ways, and how underconstruction and the post-developed site will change both of these can have significant impacts on the life-expectancy and maintenance schedule of any Best Management Practices attempted to be used.”

Lin Welford of Carroll County was prominent in the successful efforts to shut down a confined animal feeding operation for hogs in the Buffalo National River watershed. She is concerned that the proposed wind farm — like the hog factory — would be sited in a karst area unsuited to this type of development.

“This scheme would cause unforeseen damage in an area of karst substrate, as it is too easy to disrupt subterranean water transmission, altering springs and caves, as well as impacting

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the beauty of our rural county,” Welford said. “The Ozarks do not need this kind of high-profile development.”

Recently, two people were convicted on charges of wire fraud and money laundering connected with a failed wind farm in Elm Springs (Washington County). That proposal had strong local opposition from people who were concerned about noise, vibrations, impacts to birds, and the potential need for construction of new high-voltage transmission lines.

Some green energy advocates prefer smaller, more efficient renewable power-generation systems instead of massive facilities requiring high-voltage transmission lines. Huge projects need to transport generated kilowatts long distances from where they are generated. Faith Shah of rural Carroll County, who was involved in opposing the Elm Springs wind farm, said it’s an inefficient model and has dramatic impacts on the

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tree canopy and water systems, especially in rural areas.

“It is oxymoronic to take out thousands of acres of trees to put in a highvoltage transmission line for green energy,” Shah said. “Trees are one of our best ways to combat climate change. They eat the carbon dioxide and give us back the oxygen that we breathe. Trees and water pollution are considered collateral damage to transmission lines.”

Shah was also involved in a successful citizen effort to prevent a proposed AEPSWEPCO high-voltage transmission line in Northwest Arkansas, which would have destroyed more than 800 acres of trees. She and her husband have planted thousands of trees and installed solar panels that produce more electricity than they use for 10 months of the year.

“Decentralized power production including small, community-sized solar arrays ... are the future,” Shah said.

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MANUFACTURING

A Delicious

INSTITUTION THOUGH NO LONGER LOCALLY OWNED, YARNELL’S STILL PART OF THE SEARCY FABRIC

By Carl Kozlowski

Despite being sold in 2011, Yarnell’s remains a Searcy institution.

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ome businesses are so entrenched in their communities that they serve as a symbol of the city in which they’re based.

With a long history stretching back to the Great Depression, Yarnell’s has become exactly that kind of institution in Searcy.

Started by Ray Yarnell in 1932, the ice cream giant lasted through four generations of family ownership before a bankruptcy filing prompted its sale to the Chicago-based food conglomerate Schulze & Burch in 2011. When the plant reopened in 2012, its 200-member workforce was trimmed to about 40 plant employees.

Yet Yarnell’s maintained its flavorful formulas and branding under the new owners, and nearly a decade later, is thriving again, said Mitch Evans, who has risen to the title of vice president of sales and marketing in his 39 years with the company.

“We service Arkansas, southern Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and parts of Oklahoma,” he said. “We basically cater to the Southern palate.

Ice cream is very volatile and has to be handled correctly. We work with partners that allow us to do that and keep our quality in there. And then we make sure customers get a quality product.”

Yarnell’s currently produces 22 flavors, with its classic Premium Red signature flavors ranging from Ozark Black Walnut and Death By Chocolate to its Homemade Vanilla, Homemade Strawberry and Homemade Chocolate variations.

It also has limited-time seasonal flavors, including the current Lemon Ice Box Pie and the upcoming return of its holidayseason Peppermint flavor.

The company also makes two “Guilt Free,” low-calorie flavors — Homemade Vanilla and Classic Chocolate — that have no added sugars and just 100 calories per serving. Rounding out their offerings are three types of low-fat yogurts: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry cheesecake.

“Homemade Vanilla is the most classic Southern-type ice cream we make and is our top-seller,” said Evans, who spent his first decade with the company as a route salesman before rising through the ex-

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“I’ve never heard a person say they don’t like Yarnell’s ice cream.” ecutive ranks. “In some areas, they wouldn’t consider it because they would be more towards a creamy blend, while our Homemade Vanilla is richer.”

The company’s biggest challenge came amid the Great Recession of 2008 and the tumultuous years that followed.

“Basically you had the recession affect consumer spending, and then increased costs jumped in there and caused the cash flow to be in bad shape,” Evans recalled.

“Schulze & Burch had a lot of experience in the food industry, and this was their big move into the ice cream market. But they specialize in creating the products that other brand names market as their Mitch Evans says own, and they agreed to keep our Homemade Vanilla products exactly as our customers remains the top-seller. loved them.”

In 2020, another merger occurred when Turkey Hill LLC of president/CEO of the Searcy Chamber Lancaster, Pa., bought Yarnell’s main of Commerce. Noting that Ray Yarnell 100,000-square-foot plant facility. The 18 launched the brand when he bought months of negotiations culminated in an the town’s ice cream plant to save his job agreement that Turkey Hill would guarand those of his friends when the Great antee Yarnell’s the “line time” needed to Depression threatened to force its shutproduce its products on the assembly down, Layne spoke highly of the compaline. ny’s nine-decade history.

That big move came at a good time, “They are the oldest manufacturing because the COVID-19 era and its negacompany in Searcy, and after Ray retive drain on nearly every aspect of the tired, his descendants Albert, Rogers and economy came soon after, and the new Christina ran it for three generations afpartnership provided much needed terward,” Layne explained. “At one time, support.

Yarnell’s had several hundred employees “A lot of changes have happened since and their own fleet of red and yellow deCOVID, as our sales in the grocery induslivery trucks, plus a fleet of 18-wheelers. try really increased,” Evans said. “Howev“When they went bankrupt, they sold er, our food service business in schools, the fleet, but they’ve been a great correstaurants and colleges had a rough porate citizen and a major employer for time last year. But it’s getting better. It years,” he added. “They’re a staple in our seems like there’s more home eating now community, and I’ve never heard a perand less going out.” son say they don’t like Yarnell’s ice cream.

One man who’s been especially happy People love the product and are proud it’s to see Yarnell’s survive is Buck Layne, the in Searcy.”

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POLITICS

ARKANSAS 2022 ELECTION

PREVIEW

By Katie Zakrzewski

In 2022, many political offices in The Natural State will become the stage for political showdowns. With the Democratic and Republican primaries set for the spring, Arkansas Money & Politics provides this primer on the candidates and their positions going into the political season next fall.

As of Oct. 1, several executive positions in Arkansas are up for grabs, although many candidates are running unopposed. Republicans are predicted to sweep the board this election cycle. U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R) is expected to be reelected, and Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders is expected to win the gubernatorial race to replace the term-limited Republican Asa Hutchinson.

GOVERNOR Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) The frontrunner, Huckabee Sanders served as the press secretary in the administration of former President Donald Trump. Additionally, she is the daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Huckabee Sanders is the founding partner of Second Street Strategies in Little Rock, founding partner which consults on national political campaigns and campaigns for federal office in Arkansas.

Leslie Rutledge (R) Rutledge is the current attorney general of Arkansas. A seventh-generation Arkansan, Rutledge was raised on a cattle farm in Independence County by her mother, an elementary school teacher, and her father, a lawyer. Rutledge started her legal career in the Arkansas Court of Appeals, clerking for Judge Josephine Hart. She is licensed to practice law in Arkansas, in Washington, D.C., and before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. (L) Harrington originally is from Marshall, Texas, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Harding University in May 2012.

Harrington entered the Arkansas political scene when he ran against Sen. Tom Cotton (R) in 2020. His professional experience is broad and includes working in the oil and gas industries, as a crisis prevention technician at a psychiatric hospital, as a missionary and in the correctional system.

Dr. Chris Jones (D) Jones grew up in Pine Bluff and attended Morehouse College on a NASA Scholarship for physics and math. He went on to study at MIT, becoming a nuclear engineer and earning a Ph.D. in urban planning. After becoming ordained as a minARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

ister, Jones returned home to Arkansas and led the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. Dr. Anthony Bland (D) An Arkansas native, Bland graduated from J.A. Fair High School in Little Rock before receiving a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Arkansas Baptist College.

Bland went on to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Phoenix. At the age of 17, he was ordained as a Baptist minister. Bland has worked with organizations such as the Arkansas Foodbank, the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Additionally, Bland is the co-founder and CEO of the Dr. Anthony D. Bland Foundation Inc. (Dr. ADB Foundation). This organization assists in areas of education, performing arts, cancer research and literacy. Bland is a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Phi Beta Lambda chapter of Future Business Leaders of America.

James “Rus” Russell (D) Russell has lived in the Central Arkansas area since 1997. A former premed biology and philosophy major, Russell previously worked for the Arkansas State Medical Board before moving to Arkansas Children’s Hospital as a medical staff coordinator.

Russell and his wife are the owners of New Dawn Counseling, an outpatient mental health clinic in Little Rock. He has family roots in small town Arkansas with relatives from Lewisville and Stephens.

Supha XayprasithMays (D) At the age of 6, Xayprasith-Mays arrived in Northwest Arkansas from Southeast Asia with her family, as her widowed mother and three sisters had fled Communist oppression in their home country of Laos. Her mother took a job in the assembly lines at Tyson Foods to support her family.

Xayprasith-Mays’ business career led her 113

to the Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, where she eventually managed and supervised store operations. She began a career as an entrepreneur in multiple business sectors, such as publishing, business consulting, retail, restaurants, television networks, oil exploration in North Dakota and career empowerment seminars among several other business interests.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR Dr. Greg Bledsoe (R) A fourth-generation Arkansan who grew up in Rogers, Bledsoe has served as the state’s surgeon general since 2015 when Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed him. As a physician still practicing in an emergency department, Bledsoe brings his clinical experience to advocate on behalf of patients and those who care for them. Twelve years ago, Bledsoe founded a small medical-education company called ExpedMed and has traveled internationally teaching expedition medicine.

Additionally, Bledsoe has worked since 2018 as a strategic advisor to New Road Capital Partners in Northwest Arkansas, and in 2021 graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Sloan School of Management at MIT. Jason Rapert (R) Rapert is a member of the Arkansas State Senate, representing District 35, where he assumed office in 2011. Rapert earned his bachelor’s in political science and sociology from the University of Central Arkansas in 1994. He has worked as president and founder of Holy Ghost Ministries Inc. Doyle Webb (R) Webb is the former chair of the Republican Party of Arkansas. He was elected justice of the peace in Saline County in 1986 and served for three terms.

Then in 1994, Webb was elected to the Arkansas State Senate as the representative for Saline and Perry counties. In the state Senate, Webb served as chair of the Joint OC TOB E R 2021

Energy Committee and vice-chair of the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee. In 2002, Webb accepted a position as chief of staff to former Lt. Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller. While Webb was the chair of the RPA, the state changed affiliation from blue to red for the first time in 140 years.

Joseph Wood (R) Adopted from an orphanage and raised in a rough neighborhood in Chicago, Wood moved with his family to Washington County in 1997. He was elected the first Black Republican county judge in the state, and he is currently serving his second term as county judge in Washington County. Wood has also served as the Deputy Secretary of State for Business and Commercial Services and Education Divisions. Additionally, he was also the head of international recruiting and staffing at Walmart, as well as the district human resources director for Home Depot. He launched his own small business, a career consulting firm. Wood wrote the foreword to America’s 20/20 Vision: The Plan and authored two children’s books, Saving Joey and Adopting Joey, based on his true life story.

Chris Bequette (R) Originally from Missouri, Bequette attended the University of Arkansas, where he played football and attended law school before graduating in 1989. He worked as an attorney in Little Rock before entering the financial services industry. Bequette is a financial advisor with 13 years of experience and has a license to practice law in Arkansas and Missouri. He is the uncle of Jake Bequette, who is running for U.S. Senate.

ATTORNEY GENERAL Tim Griffin (R) Griffin is the current lieutenant governor of Arkansas. Before assuming the office, he served two terms as a Republican member of the U.S. House, representing Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional DisOC TO B ER 2 02 1

trict from 2011-2015. During this time, he served as an assistant whip and deputy whip for the Republican majority. Before his stint in Congress, Griffin was a U.S. Attorney and served in the administration of President George W. Bush.

Jesse Gibson (D) Gibson is a lifelong Arkansan and the son of two teachers. Born and raised in Lead Hill, Gibson earned his bachelor’s in business administration, cum laude, from the University of Arkansas, where he was a member and president of the Alpha Omicron Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order. Gibson earned his J.D. with honors in 1999 from the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. Gibson is licensed to practice law in Arkansas as well as U.S. Federal Courts. He founded The Gibson Law Firm, PLLC, which focuses primarily on personal injury, medical negligence and general civil litigation.

Leon Jones Jr. (R) Jones was born and raised in Pine Bluff, where he taught high school before completing his law degree and opening his legal practice. Jones was the director of the Arkansas Department of Labor and served as a board member for the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission, the Arkansas Housing Trust Fund and the Fayetteville Housing Authority. Additionally, Jones worked on the 2014 campaign for Asa Hutchinson as the minority outreach coordinator.

U.S. SENATOR

the Senate in 2010. Before his political career, Boozman worked as an optometrist.

He is the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Jake Bequette (R) Bequette is a graduate of Catholic High School in Little Rock and graduated from the University of Arkansas. There, he was a defensive end for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team. After graduating, Bequette joined the U.S. Army and became an Army Ranger, serving in Iraq to support Operation Inherent Resolve. Bequette’s candidacy for Senate is his debut in politics.

Jan Morgan (R) Morgan is a national conservative commentator and an NRA, USCCA and State Police Certified Firearms Instructor. She entered the political scene in her gubernatorial race against Gov. Asa Hutchinson last cycle. Morgan and her husband own an indoor gun range/firearms training facility in Hot Springs. Since 2016, Morgan has served as the National Spokesperson of Citizens for Trump, one of the largest grassroots organizations in America supporting the former president. For 27 years, Morgan was an investigative TV journalist, working for several network affiliates, specializing in exposing waste, fraud and abuse in government. Morgan is the national founder of 2AWomen, a national organization of women dedicated to grassroots level efforts to confront and defeat any state-level attempt to restrict gun rights.

Dr. Heath Loftis (R)

John Boozman (R) Incumbent Boozman was elected to a second term in the 2016 U.S. Senate election with 59.8 percent of the vote. In the general election, his opponents were Democrat Conner Eldridge, Libertarian Frank Gilbert and write-in candidate Jason Tate. Boozman began his political career in the U.S. House when he won a special election in 2001. He served in that position until he was elected to 114

Loftis was born in Little Rock. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in 2006 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2011 to 2017.

Loftis earned a master’s degree from Central Arkansas Baptist Bible Institute in 2015 before receiving a doctorate from Slidell Baptist Seminary in 2020. Loftis’ career experience includes working as a pastor at Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. This is his first foray into ArkanARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

sas politics.

Michael Deel (R) Deel has lived in Arkansas since 2006. A 38-year-old corporate analyst and political columnist originally from Virginia, Deel’s career experience includes working at ArcBest Corporation. He also worked as an operations manager for USA Truck Inc. from 2014 to 2016. If elected, Deel will be the first openly gay Republican Senator.

Deel lives in Fort Smith with his husband.

Natalie James (D) James grew up in Little Rock, raised by her mother, a school teacher, and her father, a small businessman and preacher. In 2015, James began her career as a Realtor.

In 2020, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott appointed her to the city of Little Rock’s Land Bank Commission. During the summer of 2020, Natalie played an active role in bridging the gap of communication between communities of color and local elected leaders. In 2021, the president of the Little Rock Branch of the NAACP appointed James to serve as chair of the Branch Political Action Committee.

Dan Whitfield (D) Originally from California, Whitfield moved to Louisiana to work in the oilfields as an instrumentation technician before moving to Arkansas for a new career. An employee of J.B. Hunt, Whitfield is furthering his education at the University of Arkansas. Whitfield ran against incumbent U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton as an independent candidate in 2020 but did not meet the signature requirement to qualify for the ballot.

SECRETARY OF STATE John Thurston (R) Before seeking elected office, the incumbent Thurston worked as a certified religious assistant in the Arkansas state prison system and on the staff of Agape Church in west Little Rock for 13 years. Thurston ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

was the first Republican to be elected Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands since the position was made electable in 1874, and he is the current Secretary of State. He was also elected vice president of the Western States Land Commissioners Association in 2013.

Mark Lowery (R) Lowery is serving his fifth term in the Arkansas House. He represents District 39 which includes a portion of Pulaski County. For the 93rd General Assembly, Lowery served as chairperson of the House Insurance & Commerce Committee. He also serves on the Arkansas Legislative Council, the Joint Performance Review Committee and the House Education Committee.

Josh Price (D) Price, a seventh-generation Arkansan, was born in southwest Arkansas to a small business owner and a nurse. He grew up watching his cousin, Gus Wingfield, serve Arkansas for more than 25 years as a state representative, state auditor and state treasurer. Price served as the sole Democrat election commissioner for Pulaski County, helping oversee elections in Arkansas’ largest county. In this role, Price expanded voter access by opening additional early voting locations, replaced 20-year-old voting machines and recruited and trained hundreds of poll workers during the pandemic.

Eddie J. Williams (R) Williams was first elected to the Arkansas Senate in 2010 and became the first elected GOP majority leader since Reconstruction. Williams served as chairman of the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs. An Army and Air National Guard veteran, Williams sponsored legislation to construct a monument to Gold Star families on the State Capitol lawn.

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TREASURER Mathew Pitsch (R) Pitsch serves as a state senator representing District 8. He was appointed Senate Majority Whip in 2020. Pitsch is the vice chair for the Senate’s Transportation, Technology, and Legislative Affairs Committee. In addition, he sits on the ALCJBC Special Language committee, the Insurance and Commerce Committee, the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee and the Senate Efficiency committee.

Elected to the state Senate in 2018, Pitsch previously served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2015 to 2018.

AUDITOR Dennis Milligan (R) Milligan currently serves as Arkansas State Treasurer. He was first elected to the role in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018. In addition, he is serving as the national chair for the State Financial Officers Foundation in 2020-21. Milligan previously served as Saline County Circuit Clerk from 2011-2015. He is a successful small business owner who started his company, Water Treatment Services (WTS), in 1985. WTS expanded from Central Arkansas to serving customers in 17 states. Milligan is also a real estate developer and home builder.

PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSIONER Tommy Land (R) Land and his wife, Judy, raised their two children on a small family cattle farm in Heber Springs during Land’s 30-year career with Southwestern Bell. After retiring in 2004, Land established Heber Springs Communications, a small telecommunications business. In 2018, he was elected to his first term in office. Land now devotes his full attention to his duties as Commissioner of State Lands.

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HEALTH CARE/NONPROFITS

C h a r i ta b l e C l i n i c s

Fill Vital Need

By Emily Beirne

rkansas currently ranks 46th in poverty rates with 18.1 percent of the population living in poverty compared to the national average of 14.6 percent. According to a study conducted by Welfare Info, this means that one out of every five residents in Arkansas lives below the poverty line, or 524,21l individuals out of the approximate 2,899,095 population.

Individuals living in poverty are limited to opportunities and resources to assist in getting back on their feet.

However, through the work of community members and volunteer physicians, health care is accessible for individuals unable to afford medical care or insurance.

Free and charitable health clinics are nonprofit organizations serving families and individuals living in low-income households or poverty.

Britney Gulley, director of development for WelcomeHealth in Fayetteville, explained how her clinic was started.

“In 1986, there was a group of concerned citizens that wanted to take care of their less fortunate neighbors and provide them with health care because many were lowincome and of course, uninsured,” she said. “It kind of started as a small little venture in the southern part of Fayetteville, and quickly they realized there was a huge demand for services. It provided free medical care, and people would come from all over Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding areas.”

WelcomeHealth is entering its 35th year as a free health and dental clinic, and it’s one of many clinics in the state that started out with a group of community members seeing a need and wanting to fix it.

Interfaith, a charitable health clinic in El Dorado, has been around since 1995 serving people in south Arkansas.

“There was a group of clergy and doctors who saw a need for

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people’s medical care that were uninsured. They got together and created what’s now Interfaith Clinic,” said Jill Temple, executive director of Interfaith. “They were operating out of the basement of a library with volunteer doctors. They had one patient the first night.”

As needs evolved, the clinic partnered with the Share Foundation to help with overhead costs and growth. The clinic grew walk-in only to appointments-based with volunteers and paid providers.

“We provide just primary medical care, and then we’re also able to do lab work through grants for the patient,” Temple said. “We try to piece together all those parts for our patients so they don’t have to choose between groceries, diapers and health care.”

In total, there are around 20 free and charitable health clinics scattered across the state. Patti Kimbrough, executive director of the Good Samaritan Clinic in Fort Smith, said most of the state is facing similar issues regarding low income. “[Fort Smith] has a homeless popuJill Temple lation, as do most cities, and there is also the working poor — I hate to use that term, but that’s what is loosely used,” she said. “It’s the uninsured and the underinsured in our community, the hard-working people that just simply can’t afford the insurance that their employers offer. They’re doing their best to provide for their families and make ends meet.

“Nine times out of 10, they put their own personal health care off because of the needs of their family, and we’re simply giving them the option so they don’t have to push off their own needs.”

WelcomeHealth along with others in the state are free clinics, meaning they do not charge for any visits or situations, are entirely donation-based or sponsored by organizations.

“There’s a misconception that because [WelcomeHealth] is a

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free clinic, it must be funded by the government, state or federal.

That is definitely not the case,” Gulley shared. “We receive a few grants that we apply for and it covers about 14 percent of our overall budget. Above that is strictly donations from companies, other foundations, civic groups and churches. We have some very loyal individual donors that have been with us for years.”

Interfaith, Good Samaritan and others in the state see patients based on a few criteria concerning household income, age and other factors, but the situation is rare that any clinic turns away a patient.

“We ask for an $8 fee, but we have never sent anyone home for not being able to pay,” Temple said.

“It’s very much like a sliding scale with household income and the number in the household as two major, compelling components,” Kimbrough said. “The majority of our patients are new patients from the hospital systems. An emergency patient will go to the ER, and they may end up having to stay at the hospital. The hospital or case worker will then reach out to us because of the close relationship [Good Samaritan] has with the hospitals. We all have the patients’ best interests in mind, so the hospital will make sure that the individual can receive continued care at the clinic with our physicians. This really is a community partnership.”

The physicians at free and charitable clinics often work at the clinics as volunteers. Retired nurses and physicians will volunteer their free time to help, and residents from nearby offices and hospitals will work at the clinics to gain experience. “[WelcomeHealth] has an army of professional volunteers that we can count on, and we would not be the clinic that we are if we did not have them,” Gulley said. “We have pre-med and predental students from the University of Arkansas who volunteer.

This gives them a feel of what it’s really like and if this field is something they want to continue to pursue. We’ve had several regional students that have gone on to dental school and then, as a big compliment to us, they come back as professionals to volunteer again.”

Kimbrough said patients and volunteers alike glean something from the experience at Good Samaritan.

“We have a retired RN who comes in, and she absolutely loves it. All of our volunteers are so helpful in putting files together, calling patients to remind them of their appointments. The physicians are amazing, and I cannot say enough about the volunteer nursing staff.”

Another essential volunteer position is that of translator or those physicians who are bilingual.

“Our Hispanic patient base has grown exponentially since I have been at Good Samaritan, and it’s important that they feel comfortable,” Kimbrough said. “We’re really invested in making our Hispanic community members feel welcome, and that starts

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with having people that can translate for them.”

Community outreach for each clinic is largely based on word-of-mouth from volunteers and patients. Prior to COVID-19, many clinics relied on community events to spread the word about what free and charitable clinics offer. Likewise, the clinics face difficulties relatBrittany Gulley ed to funding or fast growth.

Temple noted that Interfaith is hosting an event for doctors and nurse practitioners to raise awareness and hopefully bring in more volunteers. “Our goal is to increase our number of professionals working at the clinic,” Temple said.

Those who have worked or volunteered at a free or Patti Kimbrough charitable clinic will attest to the emotional experiences they had inside those walls as people receive the care they were not able to get elsewhere.

“Truly, [free and charitable clinics] are a place where you see tiny miracles every single day. I could tell you story after story that would just warm your heart,” Kimbrough said. “A former patient, who got a job and good insurance, came in one afternoon and threw a lot of cash on the counter. I’m like, “Whoa, whoa, whoa!

What are you doing?’ She said, ‘You helped me, and now I’ll help you help someone else.’ I told her ‘no,’ that this was what we were here for and to take her money back, but she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. She was going to do it no matter what.”

Gulley stressed, “You’re going to be treated with respect and dignity here. We have a nice, bright state-of-the-art facility with everything in working order. You might even say it’s nicer than a regular doctor’s office.”

Each clinic is unique, but all have one mission in mind: to serve the community and help relieve a few burdens weighing some Arkansans down.

“The beauty of charitable clinics is that the patients don’t stay your patients forever. They either get their stuff back in order, get Medicaid or age into Medicare, or more times than not, they get well, and they get to a good place where they can get a better job that has insurance,” Kimbrough shared. “I think that’s the amazing part of it, but there’s always a need, and the need is great.”

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SPORTS

CHEERS or JEERS? BOBBY PETRINO IS RETURNING TO RAZORBACK STADIUM TO COACH AGAINST THE HOGS

By Brent Birch

T

Former head Hog Bobby Petrino

he Arkansas Razorbacks released their 2022 football schedule, and to no one’s surprise, it is once again brutal.

The toughness of the conference schedule is what it is. Top 25 teams abound in this league (with a subset taking up residence in the top 10) and those on the outside looking in have rosters littered with top talent and name brand coaches. The premier conference in college football will invariably present a challenging schedule, so such is life.

The 2022 nonconference schedule has some fresh faces on it with three teams the Hogs have never played before. The Hogs open with Cincinnati, which has been one of the best Group of Five teams the last few seasons under Luke Fickell. BYU is always respectable and currently really good, and former Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze brings his faster-than-fast offensive wizardry into town in November with Liberty.

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On Sept. 17, a very familiar face will be storming the opposing sideline, as the enigmatic Bobby Petrino returns to Fayetteville with his Missouri State Bears of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. Petrino got the Razorback

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football program to a level Coach Sam Pittman and Hog football fans would love to achieve in the next few years.

But then it all came crashing down (or crashing sideways for the motorcycle riders out there) in the spring of 2012 with the infamous wreck involving a much younger female football staffer.

Depending on who you ask, some wish Petrino would never have been fired, while others see his missteps as unforgivable.

Whichever side of the fence you stand on regarding Bobby Petrino, one fact that is hard to argue is the dude can flat coach offensive football. And because of that, Western Kentucky, Louisville and now Missouri State all gave him another chance.

Petrino went 8-4 in his one season at WKU, then had things rolling during his second stint at Louisville with Heisman trophy winner and current NFL star Lamar Jackson at the controls of his fun-and-gun offense. The leash ended up being especially short at Louisville, as the Cardinals had dipped to 2-8 in 2018 when Petrino was fired.

That team lost seven games in a row prior to his termination, and blame was placed on a locker room explosion after a close loss to Florida State where it is believed Petrino created an unfixable divide between himself and the team.

That Louisville exit is very believable as anybody paying attention to Razorback football during his era should remember his sideline tirades.

Intense? Just not a nice guy? Or both? Hard to tell with Petrino, as he lacked the charisma of a Houston Nutt and the genuineness of a Sam Pittman or even the cockiness of Bret Bielema (who is 1-3 in his first year at Illinois with a win over pitiful Nebraska).

MORAL SLIP-UPS OR NOT, I SUSPECT ARKANSAS FANS WILL WELCOME PETRINO BACK TO TOWN.

BOBBY PETRINO AGAINST THE RAZORBACKS The game should be a runaway for the Hogs.

Petrino is building a solid program up in Spring-

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field, but the Bears should not present much of a challenge. The outcome isn’t the intrigue here but rather how Petrino will be received when he runs out of the tunnel at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and throughout the game?

Cheers? Or jeers?

Taking a quick pulse of social media when the schedule was announced and talking with Razorback fan buddies of mine, I suspect the boo birds will be minimal.

Petrino won a lot of football games at the University of Arkansas, and a lot of time has passed since the crash and poorly attempted cover-up.

Moral slip-ups or not, I suspect Arkansas fans will welcome Petrino back to town. They certainly did a couple summers ago when giving him a standing ovation at the Little Rock Touchdown Club.

There was even a decent contingency that wanted to see him return after Bielema left, and again when the Chad Morris era mercifully ended. Indeed, a petition to bring him back after Morris’ firing got more than 10,000 signatures.

Anything, anybody who could get the program out of the cellar of the SEC — and then notch eight wins over Top 20 teams — will make the win-hungry masses forget about one’s transgressions. Admittedly, the fans were that desperate as the once proud program took a nosedive at the end of Bielema and picked up downhill speed under Morris.

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REALISTIC CEILING FOR RAZORBACKS’ SUCCESS? But those lovers of Petrino-era Razorback football need to go ahead and square off that Sam Pittman is the right guy at the right time. Can he win 10-11 games like Bobby? Maybe once a decade if the conference remains as strong as it is now. The league is top to bottom better than it was in Petrino’s time in Fayetteville, so that might be tough.

After all we’ve been through since he left, consistently winning seven or eight games would do me just fine.

Without question, Petrino’s inability to ride a motorcycle with a longlegged blonde on the back who was not his wife pulled the proverbial rug out from under the staff, players, recruits and the fan base.

Should he have been fired? Due to how it all unfolded, yes. The trunk of the trust tree cracked beyond repair with the affair involving a staffer coupled with a cover-up. Very hard to have someone be the leader of young men or to go into a recruit’s house and convince the family or the kid that he’s a guy you can trust after all that.

Wins aren’t everything, although as bad as things have been around the football program, plenty of fans were willing to look the other way out of desperation to return to those high-flying days.

Petrino had numerous other issues that made and still make him a member of the “do not touch” list by Power Five schools: • Track record of always looking for the next best gig, typically under the cover of darkness; • Inability to put a dependable defense out on the field, as his entire focus is clearly on offense; • His poor rapport with players and fans.

Petrino at the now infamous post-ride press conference in April 2012.

And speaking of booing…

If the man who fired Bobby Petrino somehow wandered into the stadium, I would hope the boo birds would crank it up for former Athletic Director Jeff Long.

But that’s another story for another day.

This piece first appeared on BestofArkansasSports. com.

ARKANSAS 2022 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sept. 3 – Cincinnati Sept. 10 – South Carolina Sept. 17 – Missouri State Sept. 24 – vs. Texas A&M (Arlington, Texas) Oct. 1 – Alabama Oct. 8 – at Mississippi State Oct. 15 – at BYU Oct. 22 – OPEN Oct. 29 – at Auburn Nov. 5 – Liberty Nov. 12 – LSU Nov. 19 – Ole Miss Nov. 26 – at Missouri

Maybe someday, someone desperate gives him another crack at big-time college football. At the same time, maybe he doesn’t want it and is perfectly fine doing his thing at Missouri State.

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SPORTS

The BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ‘OLD-SCHOOL’ APPROACHES OF

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SAM PITTMAN

CHAD MORRIS

By Jim Harris

The hire of Sam Pittman has turned out well for Arkansas.

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Hiring Sam Pittman to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks — was it an amazing stroke of genius by Razorbacks athletics director Hunter Yurachek? Is it the best hire seen in the college football in years?

Allow us to be a little leery jumping to such quick conclusions, especially concerning coaching hires within the dog-eatdog Southeastern Conference. You’re gold one day, and lead at the bottom of the pond the next.

Does the name Gene Chizik ring a bell? A national title in year 2, fired after year 4. Or his successor, Gus Malzahn? A national title game appearance in Year 1, and couldn’t be ushered out of Auburn fast enough in most of the subsequent years.

Consider, however, that Sam Pittman jumped aboard what appeared to be the Titanic, sheered in half and in a sudden plunge into the icy Atlantic. He has turned the Razorbacks football program around in 14 games, which makes Pittman’s job seem incomparable to any in college football coaching in recent years.

Two Different Approaches to Razorbacks Football

Certain parts of Sam Pittman’s coaching style can be perceived as “old-school,” given that he’s deeply familiar with legendary Razorback coaches of the past like Frank Broyles and Lou Holtz and the way he publicly preaches the process of training well and with intensity over schematics (fortunately, he has two great coordinators who can do the heavy lifting there).

Pittman also has shown an amazing, if paradoxical, ability to both forswear trendy buzz phrases and catchphrases while at the same time embrace his own little signature slogans with “Yessirrr!” and “Turn up that damn jukebox!” — phrases that in themselves have an old-school feel to them.

In some ways, though, Pittman is the very essence of an effective modern coach — warm and personal with players for the most part, but able to light into them when need be. He and his staff build schemes and game plans to meet their players at their appropriate level of development, then work to motivate them to meet the (realistic) standards set.

For all the schadenfreude sent the way of Sam Pittman’s predecessor, and the rolling of eyes that ensue whenever Chad Morris’ slick talk of “Full Tilt Boogie” is brought up, it’s often lost that Morris was in some ways a more old-school coach than Pittman.

Not that it translated into most conventional definitions of success, mind you.

For instance, in the locker room the custom under Chad Morris was for coaches and players to refer to themselves by their last names. Under Pittman, Razorbacks are back to using first names, the father of current Razorback Zach Williams said.

Zach Williams’ father, Rickey, also pointed out this critical difference between the locker rooms under the two coaches: “In the past they wanted to get out of their locker room as fast as they could and get back to their places and get away from the team. Now they’re hanging out in the locker rooms, work-

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Chad Morris (above) and Sam Pittman have taken different approaches to applying ‘old school’ coaching methods.

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ing together after practice on different techniques and different skills.”

The reason, of course, goes deeper than using last names over first names.

When Chad Morris took over the Razorbacks program from Bret Bielema in December 2017, it appears he came in with a “my way or the highway” approach that might have worked decades ago when players had limited options for leaving but proved to be cyanide in the modern college-football climate.

Morris, in short, preferred cleaning house to see how he could accommodate what he had inherited. He demanded things his way, but most Bielema holdovers didn’t understand his way to begin with. They quit on him, twice in two seasons. Culture, as it were, bottomed.

Everyone realized there’s more to football than putting away the soft drinks, phones and planting your feet on the floor in meetings with the coach.

Culture Change Under Sam Pittman

Pittman, in contrast, gave everybody a fair shake when he took over in December 2019. He showed a capacity for patience that Morris — in his over-caffeinated zeal for turning Arkansas into Clemson 2.0 — seemed to lack. Pittman’s style coming in was not to show the no-counts the door. Players could stay, or they could hit the transfer portal; it was up to them, as he told R.J. Young in recent interview.

The rules were laid down for everyone. They were easily understandable.

Pittman and his staff hit the portal for immediate help, and Arkansas’s three wins last year might not have been possible without Florida quarterback Felipe Franks finishing his college career at Fayetteville. Franks gave the offense a far better chance than it ever showed under Morris and his crew.

Franks’ tutelage of his backup, KJ Jefferson, is also showing up now.

This year, the transfer portal has made its biggest difference for Arkansas in the defensive line. End Tre Williams and tackle Markell Utsey, who played for Hogs defensive coordinator Barry Odom when he was head coach at Missouri, came south for their final seasons.

Massive John Ridgeway, who developed at Illinois State, is proving there are FCS-level players quite capable of making the jump to Power 5; Ridgeway has been wrecking offensive lines since week 2 against Texas, when he took the field just two weeks removed from an appendectomy.

Odom’s starting linebacker crew is made up of super seniors Grant Morgan and Hayden Henry, both originally walk-ons, and

fourth-year senior Bumper Pool. The experience obviously matters – try to recall the struggles these veterans had as youngsters in the Morris years. Then again, don’t. Enjoy what’s happening today.

Having talented players matters, and Arkansas has some talent and a whole lot of heart and want-to among this squad, and they’ve fully bought in to Pittman’s way. Pittman’s easy yet-attimes-demanding demeanor seemingly has brought everything possible out of the Hogs through last season’s growing pains and this year’s first four games.

Even with the way the Razorbacks are rapidly improving, finishing with more than 8 wins this season will be a very tall task.

Consider the No. 8 Hogs face nearly a weekly murderers’ row of powerhouse programs: then-No. 7 Texas A&M; at No. 2 Georgia, followed by a trip No. 17 Ole Miss…

When the Hogs finally get home for the first time this month, it’s to play ranked Auburn on Oct. 16. Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State and Missouri are on the other side of a late October open date. Only a Little Rock matchup with UAPB on Oct. 23 seems like a sure thing. Depth has always been an issue for Arkansas, even among its greatest teams, dating back to a breakthrough year in the 1950s under Bowden Wyatt.

It will matter again, even more so, against this high level of competition.

Fortunately, Morris recruited a lot better than Bielema in his last years. Give the man some credit for that.

Today’s Razorback secondary is full of his recruits. Walkons early in his program are now upper-class leaders. Center Ricky Stromberg, lightly recruited out of Tulsa, was a Morris find who leads the offensive line, along with left tackle Myron Cunningham.

Wide receiver Treylon Burks signed with Morris, but most would say he was always destined to be a Hog. Trelon Smith, the senior leader of the four-headed running back attack, transferred in under Morris’ staff.

Jefferson was promised the quarterback job at Arkansas by Morris when every other team was recruiting him out of north Mississippi as an athlete, and probably headed to defense. Morris saw something that reminded him of Deshaun Watson, his recruit at Clemson who went on to greatness.

This talent gave Pittman a bit of running start that he has taken full advantage of. They don’t hand out the national Coach of the Year trophy after week 4 in the season. But Sam Pittman would be a runaway winner if they did.

Note that more than a handful of national commentators on radio and TV have already said this week that Pittman and Arkansas have the two best wins of any college team so far this

SOMETIMES IT ALL COMES TOGETHER FOR A NEW COACH RIGHT OFF THE BAT, AND IT HAS AT ARKANSAS.

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season.

Most of them had conceded those games as losses when September started.

Most weren’t even noticing Arkansas. They are now.

Sam Pittman Part of Bigger Cycle in Razorbacks History

What Pittman has going in Year 2 isn’t foreign to the Razorback football program.

Go back to the early 1950s and a previous generation of Razorback fans had their very own version of Chad Morris: Otis Douglas.

Douglas went 2-8, 5-5 and 2-8 in three seasons. His hiring was one of the biggest mistakes by former Razorback athletic director John Barnhill, even though — like Morris — he did recruit OK (one recruit, Lamar McHan, was taken No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft).

In 1953, Barnhill hired Bowden Wyatt to replace Douglas. Wyatt had been a the Tennessee Vols star and Gen. Bob Neyland protégé who had at least coached briefly at Wyoming.

Hiring Wyatt was nothing for the football experts to sneeze at. He was already building a successful head coaching resume. He had a pedigree. As Arkansas fans would find out a few years afterward, though, he was simply taking the training wheels off at Arkansas before Neyland would hand over the reins at Knoxville.

But, in his first year at Fayetteville, Wyatt had to instill a new culture in Fayetteville. Some simply refer to “culture” as winning, but it’s more than that. It’s always more than that. It’s accountability. It’s toughness. It’s the belief you can depend on the man next to you, and vice versa, and that you can believe in your position coach and the head coach that he has your best interests at heart and will have you in position to succeed. After that, it’s still up to what’s inside you.

Bear Bryant notoriously ran off more than 100 Aggies in 1954 preseason practices at Junction, Texas, a story that’s been the focus of books and ESPN specials. Wyatt had his own “Junction,” just on campus rather than a day’s bus drive away under a hot sun in drought-ravaged farmland. Wyatt ran off enough players who weren’t committed to be Razorbacks that the move created the locally famed “25 Little Pigs.” Outside of “The Razorbacks”

by Orville Henry and Jim Bailey, there hasn’t been near enough written or said about them, but it’s certainly its own good story.

Wyatt’s first team went 3-7 (ahem). The next one would go 7-3 in the regular season, before losing to powerhouse Georgia Tech in the Cotton Bowl. Arkansas fans went wild that fall. Old Gazette articles kept on microfilm are fun to review now.

A victory by the No. 7-ranked Hogs in Little Rock over No. 5-ranked Ole Miss, 6-0 on a surprise pass from Buddy Bob Benson to Preston Carpenter (another future NFL star), shook the nation about the way Arkansas’ win over Texas did on Sept. 11.

It appears that Hog team went as far as it could go before fading at the finish, even losing to a weak LSU squad 7-6 in Shreveport and not having enough to match Georgia Tech.

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After a tough rebuilding first season, the Hogs under Bret Bielema (top) showed brief promise before late collapses in 2014. Under Danny Ford (above), the Hogs toughened up and won the SEC West in 1995.

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But it was THE year that first created the Razorbacks as we know them and led to Frank Broyles coming as head coach four years later, and all that history put Arkansas on the national college football map and made it WHY it’s still important today, even if Arkansas has mostly struggled for nearly a decade.

It’s why the 4-0 start had all of Hog Nation excited again.

Without that era, Wyatt followed by Broyles, Arkansas might be playing alongside the dregs, relegated to whatever is left of the Big 12 in the coming years, rather than competing in the best conference in America and raking in big money each year.

Broyles, by the way, started his first season (he had replaced Jack Mitchell, Wyatt’s successor, who could manage only 6-4 three straight years before deciding his odds were better returning to Kansas) with six straight losses. He wondered aloud to chief assistant, Little Rock’s Wilson Matthews, if Arkansas could ever win games in Texas.

Plus, he had Ole Miss, a national powerhouse at the time, on the schedule right after the Texas game. And Texas was just becoming the powerhouse Texas we know now, thanks to Darrell Royal.

But Broyles won his last four games in 1958, then 9 of 11 games in 1959, including the Gator Bowl over his alma mater, Georgia Tech (an SEC title contender throughout that decade). So, like Wyatt, he broke through in his second year, when his great freshman class became eligible as sophomores and provided star power and depth to the good upper class led by Wayne “The Hammer” Harris and runner Jim Moody.

Sometimes it all comes together for a new coach right off the bat, and it has at Arkansas. You can bet the cupboard wasn’t bare, though, and the culture wasn’t in the pits. Lou Holtz did not inherit a bare or even half-filled cupboard in 1977 when he took over from Broyles. He had speed and size, a lot of it recruited by Broyles assistant Jimmy Johnson, and his offensive acumen blended perfectly with the defensive genius of coordinator Monte Kiffin in one of Arkansas’s greatest seasons ever in 1977.

When Ken Hatfield replaced Holtz in 1984, the talent level of the late 1970s and early ‘80s had fallen off somewhat and there were some attitudes in need of adjustment or a new home, but Hatfield’s conservative approach on both sides of the ball, and the uncannily abilities of quarterback Brad Taylor that season, resulted in a surprising, fun 7-4-1 season.

Even Jack Crowe, who is generally maligned by fans when they talk Hog history, showed vast improvement in his team from year one (a shocking 3-8 after Hatfield’s back-to-back SWC titles) to year two (6-6, and a 9-point loss to Georgia in the Poulan Weed Eater Independence Bowl).

Unfortunately starting year three with a 10-3 loss to The Citadel ended Crowe’s Arkansas career. Danny Ford, though, coming aboard to help interim coach Joe Kines in 1992, had a competitive if not great first two years as head coach, then broke through with a SEC West Division championship that stunned the rest of the league, and he recruited well off that success, too.

The talent influx didn’t immediately help him in 1996-97, and Broyles as AD saw little hope that it would improve fast enough

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Native son Houston Nutt excelled in his first year as head Hog.

to appease the fan base, so he dumped Ford for Houston Nutt.

Nutt, the Arkansas native who had spent just one year as a Division 1 coach at Boise State after major success at 1-AA Murray State, didn’t need two or three years to build things. The talent and toughness Ford left jelled under Nutt’s enthusiasm and again shocked the rest of the SEC with a tie for the West title in 1998, which also included a heart-breaking loss to eventual national champion Tennessee. In fact, by Nutt’s third year, it appeared the talent and the program were back to mediocrity, but a guy named Matt Jones and a few other future NFL players would change that over 2001-03.

Petrino’s first team went just 5-7 but improved mightily through the last half of the season, then won 9 games in year 2, before the great run of 2010-11. After the motorcycle fiasco, Petrino’s firing and John L. Smith’s smiling through his interim 4-win year of 2012, Bret Bielema had a rough first year in a rebuilding position, losing every SEC game. But the squad also was playing very hard by the finish, and in 2014 had a 7-6 breakthrough that for all the world looked like a possible 9- or 10-win season that was left on the field with heartbreak in three games (including a 14-13 loss to Alabama and overtime loss to A&M).

In fact, it was yet another promising second year in a rebuilding job, one that led to a big raise and extension and …. Well, let’s skip the next three seasons, those jaw-dropping losses to the likes of Toledo, or the blown losses to Missouri and Virginia Tech in ’16 that began the end for Bielema, or the joke of the next two seasons with Morris.

This piece first appeared on BestofArkansasSports.com. ,

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THE LAST WORD

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

I

n a letter to Robert Hooke in 1675, Isaac Newton made his famous statement, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”

This is now often used as a way of acknowledging those who contributed to progress, and ultimately helped pave the way for future accomplishments. Newton, the man who discovered the laws of gravity and motion, attributed his success to the great minds who came before him, whose ideas and research guided him along his journey. This is an example of humility if ever there was one.

So, why is it that every subject of the modern-day success story is now deemed to be “self-made?”

A few years ago, a Hollywood socialite whose family has managed to take being famous to impressive new levels for no discernible reason, made the cover of an issue of Forbes that celebrated America’s richest women. The magazine tweeted, “At 21, Kylie Jenner becomes the youngest self-made billionaire ever.”

And everyone collectively said, “Hold up.”

What gave readers pause likely wasn’t the fact that out of the 60 women featured in the issue, Forbes consciously chose to spotlight the one who likely hadn’t worked a day in her life. It was the fact that someone was actually bold enough to claim that this billionaire was “self-made.”

First of all, without going too far into her backstory, it must be noted that Jenner comes from one of the most privileged families in modern history. Secondly: No one actually is ever self-made.

To use the term “self-made” in the context of personal achievement is ultimately dishonest and

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By Lindsey Castrellon meaningless at best. At the risk of pedantic digression, I will just say that unless the person was raised by wolves, it’s simply not possible. Even then, thanks be to the wolves.

Speaking in terms of professional growth and achievement alone, every success story has someone or something along the way that helped make that success possible.

A merciful professor rounded up the average so one could pass; a manager decided to take a chance even though “five years of customer service experience” was actually just nine months as a barista; whatever the case, the stars aligned and by the grace of God, an ultimately successful person caught a break. And those little breaks were laid out like stepping stones, guiding them on their path to success.

I could easily fabricate the story of my own success to fit the mold of “self-made.” It would be about overcoming adversity and something about bootstraps, and it would inspire women everywhere.

But I could also tell the truth and say that while I have worked tirelessly over the years and overcome certainly unfavorable odds, much of my success can be attributed to being in the right place at the right time… and the kindness of others. I graduated high school without any realistic goals and enrolled in community college because I had a full-paid scholarship, thanks to my penchant for Trivial Pursuit (shout out to the Manila High School Quiz Bowl team). I decided to keep working toward a bachelor’s degree at a university, despite starting out with an “undeclared” major.

I simply loved learning and al-

ways had a knack for writing, so I took as many literature classes as I could manage.

That’s how I met the woman who would become my favorite professor and my mentor.

Dr. Frances Hunter was my world lit professor, and from the first lecture, I knew that I wanted to be exactly like her. She was intense and refined, and dressed in a way that made me wonder where she shopped, because every item of clothing seemed custom-made and couldn’t be found on the rack in any Forever 21 that I frequented.

She carried herself with the confidence that can only be found in a woman who was once told she couldn’t do something.

She always read between the lines and could turn a fiscal report into Paradise Lost. One day, she complimented one of my essays and suggested I enroll in one of her creative writing courses, which met in her home on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Without revealing too much, I’ll note that I didn’t have the most stable home life at the time — one evening as everyone was packing up after class, she nonchalantly let me know that she had a spare bedroom that she had rented out to a student or two in the past, and that if I needed a home, I had one.

I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in English a year later, and not much had changed for me back home. Dr. Hunter sensed that I was uncertain of what the next chapter of my life would hold. So, she once again, unassumingly,

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encouraged me to move forward and pursue a graduate degree, because I was a good writer. For the first time in my life, someone saw something in me that I didn’t see myself. I went on to earn my master’s degree, teach college classes and eventually became a professional editor. And because I endured 20 years of school and now have a job that I love, I consider my journey to be a successful one.

Because I did the work and applied myself, I suppose I could claim to be “self-made.” But, that would be a lie. And it would be a disservice to one of the most extraordinary people I’ve ever met.

Everyone wants to stand on the podium and make it look like he or she alone accomplished the impossible. But few are humble enough to applaud the crew that helped make it all possible.

Because that would mean that they weren’t “special,” and under the right circumstances and with a little help, any ordinary person could do what they did, too.

But, that’s the truth. The “selfmade” success is a myth. And the sooner you realize that, the sooner you open yourself to all of the opportunities that exist for us ordinary people.

So, the next time you come across a “self-made” success story, remember that it doesn’t actually mean anything at all and that every person who achieved greatness, did so by “standing on the shoulders of Giants.”

Lindsey Castrellon is the online editor for Arkansas Money & Politics.

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