Arkansas Money & Politics October 2023

OCTOBER 2023/armoneyandpolitics.com

NIL STATE’S SPORTS LAW ATTORNEYS NAVIGATE THE NEW WILD WEST

Judy Henry, WLJ Sports Law

INSIDE: Legal Elite | Top Professionals | Nonprofits $5 USD

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A HANDSHAKE As a firm built on relationships, our handshake matters. It means a warm greeting, the privilege of doing business together and knowing you can count on us. A handshake between two brothers, Witt and Jack Stephens, provided the foundation for a family-owned legacy that Jack’s son Warren upholds today. Under Warren’s leadership, Stephens continues to grow as one of America’s largest privately held independent financial services firms, with offices throughout the United States and in Europe. Our performance builds relationships with our clients, many of whom have become old friends. It’s why shaking hands with us means just a little bit more.

111 Center Street Little Rock, AR 72201 (800) 643-9691

@Stephens_Inc • Stephens.com

STEPHENS INC. • MEMBER NYSE, SIPC

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ELITE 2023

Crisp

Law Firm Hugh Crisp has been a trial lawyer for 38 years, but he still feels like he’s never worked a day in his life. Being a trial lawyer fulfills both a passion and a lifelong dream for Crisp.

“Things worked out perfectly for me,” he says.

From the firm’s office in downtown Little Rock, Crisp’s work includes an emphasis on medical malpractice and catastrophic injuries. These are some of the most difficult cases imaginable, navigating both the scales of justice and carrying a level of empathy and responsibility for his clients, many of whom and their families are dealing with some of the most traumatic events they’ll ever face.

Instances of medical malpractice are when a patient is harmed by the negligence, acts or omissions by a medical care provider.

Wrongful death in a medical malpractice case is a death caused by the negligent acts or omissions of medical care providers. Recent studies show that one of the leading causes of death in the United States is medical errors, accounting for 251,000 deaths annually.

“At the Crisp Law Firm, we have a personal relationship with each individual we represent and are committed to devoting the time and resources necessary to achieve the very best results for our clients,” he says.

Such a deep-hearted commitment to the client brings about peace of mind, in addition to his many distinguishing honors that identify him as one of the best in the legal profession. Crisp is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for an attorney practicing in the United States. He has been honored by numerous publications in Arkansas and around the South for his work in malpractice, as well as peer-reviewed associations such as being a Mid-South Super Lawyers honoree for many years, and Best Lawyers in America.

The accolades and accomplishments go on and on for Crisp, all of which are rewarding. But at the end of the day, it hasn’t moved the needle on the most important things in his mind — his clients, and helping them find justice.

221 W. 2nd Street • Little Rock • 501-376-6264 crisplawfirm.com

FEATURES OCTOBER 2023

40 THE LINCOLN LAWYERS Lincoln, as in, Lincoln County, Arkansas, where the father-and-daughter team of Alex and Vic Harper are bucking the trend of lawyers leaving small towns.

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84 HERE TO HELP

LONGTIME FIRMS

The Arkansas Community Foundation works to connect helpers to those who need the help. ACF is bringing out the inner philanthropist in Arkansans.

Arkansans who need a refresher course on state history need only visit some of the longstanding law firms that have played a role in the state’s growth.

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October 2023 PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER

Heather Baker | hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com

8 | Plugged In POLITICS 10 | Viewpoint The path 14 | Discovery Economics That Tim Griffin now finds himself the Arkansas attorney 116 | Arkansas Visionaries occupying general’s office is no surprise, given the political path he chose.

120 | Digs of the Deal TOP PROFESSIONALS 176 | The Last Word

112

123 Making it work

LEGAL

28 NIL

PRODUCTION MANAGER Mike Bedgood | mbedgood@armoneyandpolitics.com

FOOD

156 Power lunch

Upscale is fine, but sometimes deals need to be made over a plate of ribs, a greasy burger or piping hot meat loaf. Little Rock has just the places.

LEGAL 162

2023

ELITE

We asked, and Arkansas Money & Politics readers responded by sharing with us their favorite attorneys, from corporate law to public defenders.

2023

NONPROFITS

Maune mania

Arkansas native Jennifer Maune made a name for herself by advancing to the finals of MasterChef, and she plans to tale advantage.

170 Wrestling rising

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mary Funderburg | mary@armoneyandpolitics.com Colleen Gillespie | colleen@armoneyandpolitics.com Karen Holderfield | kholderfield@armoneyandpolitics.com Jona Parker | jona@armoneyandpolitics.com Dana Rodriquez | dana@armoneyandpolitics.com EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Jessica Everson | jeverson@armoneyandpolitics.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Bethany Yeager | ads@armoneyandpolitics.com CIRCULATION Ginger Roell | groell@armoneyandpolitics.com ADMINISTRATION billing@armoneyandpolitics.com

CEO | Vicki Vowell

TO SUBSCRIBE | 501-244-9700 ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Susan Alturi, Scott Hamilton, Tommy Keet, Bobby Martin, Shannon Newton

CONTRIBUTORS

Angela Forsyth, Becky Gillette, Jamie Lee, K.D. Reep, Andrew Balthrop, Steve Lewis, Jason Burt, Kenneth Heard, Patrick Schueck, Ron Standridge, Travis Tokar, Todd Traub, Brian Umberson

DEI

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SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Greg Churan | gchuran@armoneyandpolitics.com

call 501-244-9700 email hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com

While most folks might think of Goodwill as a low-priced thrift store or the final stop after a decluttering spree, the organization is much more than a donation-based retail chain.

DEI efforts are not just good for employees but also make good business sense.

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Lora Puls | lpuls@armoneyandpolitics.com Jenna Kelley | jkelley@armoneyandpolitics.com

TO ADVERTISE

SPORTS

90 More than thrift

100 Dividends

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Darlene Hebda | darlene@armoneyandpolitics.com

ONLINE WRITER Kilee Hall | khall@armoneyandpolitics.com

We love our CEOs, but AMP readers recognize that it takes More large companies in Arkansas everyone — small business are seeing the benefit of having owners, marketers, you name it their own in-house legal counsel to — to make Arkansas work. advise them on legal matters.

50 Legal Elite

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Sarah Coleman | scoleman@armoneyandpolitics.com Mak Millard | mmillard@armoneyandpolitics.com

MANAGING DIGITAL EDITOR Kellie McAnulty | kmcanulty@armoneyandpolitics.com

36 In-house counsel

Thomas Mars loves a good story and fortunately he’s got a million of ’em. The high-profile attorney swings from one fascinating tale to another with ease.

SENIOR EDITOR Mark Carter | mcarter@armoneyandpolitics.com

STAFF WRITERS John Callahan | jcallahan@armoneyandpolitics.com Sarah DeClerk | sdeclerk@armoneyandpolitics.com

Lawyers whose practices include sports law have plenty to consider now that NIL has changed college athletics and taken the nation by storm.

46 Gunslinger

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dwain Hebda | dwain@armoneyandpolitics.com

Thanks to Greg Hatcher and others, wrestling is a “thing” in Arkansas high schools and colleges, despite the sport’s late start in The Natural State.

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AMP magazine is published monthly, Volume VI, 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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AWA R D W I N N I N G WEBSITE DESIGN

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3948 Central Avenue | Suite D | Hot Springs (Dogwood Landing Shopping Center next to Starbucks) 501.282.3927

PLUGGED IN OCTOBER 2023/armoneyandpolitics.com

ON THE COV E R Photojournalist Steve Lewis photographed Judy Henry in the press box of War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock for the October cover. Henry is a sports law attorney with WLJ in Little Rock.

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NIL STATE’S SPORTS LAW ATTORNEYS NAVIGATE THE NEW WILD WEST

INSTAGRAM

Judy Henry, WLJ Sports Law

INSIDE: Legal Elite | Top Professionals | Nonprofits $5 USD

FEEDBACK ARKANSAS VISIONARY: CHARLES MORGAN, A BEAUTIFUL MIND “Very nice man.”

John Keeling ACHIEVERS IN THEIR FORTIES 2023 SPOTLIGHT • MORGAN BLAIR “There are several Businesses and people that NEVER let Women’s Own Worth down year after year, one of them is LKQ Corporation and Morgan Blair. I met Morgan the first year they moved to Bryant and I asked for their support and WOW they have been with us every year since. I think that’s going on eight years! You deserve this recognition, Morgan. We appreciate all you do for our community and survivors.”

Women’s Own Worth A NATURAL FIT: BATESVILLE’S FIRST COMMUNITY BANK CAME BY ITS NAME HONESTLY “I have been a client/costumer from the beginning. Great people!”

Sarah Moore

Acxiom recently appointed John Watkins as its new chief operating officer.

LITTLE ROCK TOUCHDOWN CLUB KEEPS RAISING THE BAR “Thanks for all you bring to Arkansas David. I enjoy it so much and the wonderful guest you bring.”

Jann Keesee ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE: COACH JORDYN WIEBER SETS THE BAR HIGH FOR THE GYMBACKS “She has brought amazing things to U of A! We love our Gymbacks!”

Laci Smead Spradlin CAYDEN PARKER AIMS TO BE THE FIRST OF MANY ELITE ARKANSAS MOUNTAIN BIKERS “Great race yesterday at Devils Den, congratulations Cayden!”

Scott Chapman

TOP ONLINE ARTICLES Sept. 5 - Oct. 2 1 Lithium Boom Headed Our Way 2 Tyson CTO Bischof-Forsyth Leaves Company 3 Achievers in Their Forties 2023 4 Best of AMP 2023 5 Summerwood Sports 6 In LR, Yurachek Updates on Naming Rights, BWA Expansion 7 2023 Women in Banking

Molly Rawn, CEO of Experience Fayetteville, will run for mayor of the city. She made the announcement on a website for her newly launched campaign.

8 Updated Renderings of $36M Artspace Windgate Campus 9 You Say You Want A Revolution: State Reps Look to Encourage More Women in Office 10 Wet? Dry? Sunday Sales? A Look at Arkansas’ Disparate Alcohol Laws OC TO B ER 2 02 3

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

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

By Mark Carter

REMAIN CALM; ALL IS WELL!

I

n one of the “early” episodes of The Simpsons — episode 354 or 687 or something — Homer rings a handbell and sports a placard that reads, “The End Is Near.” He’s figured out that the Apocalypse is just a week away, and well, people need to know. A local TV reporter gets an interview.

“Funny story, Kent,” Homer begins. “It’s the end of the world!”

Of course, things often take an apocalyptic bent in Homer’s Springfield. Lately, life seems to be imitating art — from angry weather to nutty politics. I can see it now — President Chauncey Gardiner.

It being the glorious month of October, the gridiron is our focus, and many college football fans are being fitted for those end-of-the-world placards. It’s one thing to imagine something like NIL dropping and sending shockwaves throughout the sport. But NIL and the transfer portal at essentially the same time? College football, at the highest level anyway, is living out a screenplay no studio would buy. It’s just too far-fetched. But here we are.

The road ahead likely leads to a new

Power 3 at the top of college football, the socalled conference of champions out west relegated to hospice and the ACC doing its best Kevin Bacon impersonation from Animal House: Remain calm; all is well!

That the SEC and Big Ten will eventually cherry-pick the most valuable brands from that league seems inevitable, grantof-rights notwithstanding. Such a bulwark could last only so long, anyway. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. An overused idiom, perhaps, but also one of the foundational truths of existence.

Ten years ago, I could’ve been convinced that the Power 5 would morph eventually into a Power 3 of relative super leagues.

But I couldn’t have even fathomed that the Big 12 without Texas and Oklahoma would be one of the last three standing.

Let’s say speculation comes to fruition and Florida State, Clemson, some combination of North Carolina schools, Miami and, say, Virginia Tech bite the GOR bullet and join the SEC. Maybe even Georgia Tech. (Duke or Tech would give Vandy someone to sit with at lunch finally.) And the Big Ten picks up Virginia, perhaps

Carolina and/or Duke. Maybe even the Ramblin’ Wreck. They join Notre Dame, forced at long last to ditch home school and join its classmates on campus.

The Big 12 picks up those brands left behind but too valuable not to make the top tier — Louisville, Pitt, N.C. State (if the SEC doesn’t bite) and maybe Syracuse. Maybe a San Diego State and/or SMU, for good measure (never underestimate the power of cold, hard cash or political connections). And then there’s Cal and Stanford, “slumming it” as future ACC members. But the Big 12? We’ll soon find out just how highly each school prioritizes sports.

Eventually, the top 60 to 72 schools will break away from the toothless NCAA, for football at least. The SEC and Big Ten will serve as college football’s NFC and AFC, with the Big 12 stuck with the buffet leftovers. (Pity poor Wazzu, Oregon State, Wake or BC, in whose collective future the buffet appears to be closed.)

Will this new power structure be any more motivated than the NCAA to monitor and regulate NIL and the portal?

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

F

By Heather Baker

FOOTBALL, FAVORITES AND FOOD

ootball is in full swing as we head into the holiday season. At the collegiate level, NIL and the transfer portal have changed the game. Whether or not they have for the better remains to be seen. But attorneys with sports-law practices are becoming even bigger players as they negotiate NIL deals for college athletes and guide them through the Wild West of today’s game. One of Arkansas’ most prominent sports-law attorneys dons our October cover. Judy Henry of Wright Lindsey Jennings needs no introduction for Hog fans. She’s the person behind Sam Pittman’s return to Arkansas, this time as head Hog. Inside, our annual October focus on the legal industry also looks at some of the state’s oldest and established law firms: we visit with legal gunslinger Tom Mars of Rogers, the lawyer who backed down the NCAA; feature some of the state’s top small-town lawyers; and run our annual list of Legal Elite attorneys as voted by AMP readers.

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October also brings Top Professionals as voted by readers, as well. We recognize that it takes more than the C-Suite to make business work, and this list recognizes those small-business owners, marketers, real estate agents and others who stand out in their fields.

We’ll also feature nonprofits and consider corporate cultures of giving and the reasons behind why people and businesses give back to their communities.

Plus, we’ll visit four of Little Rock’s iconic “power lunch” spots, shine a spotlight on the efforts of Arkansas companies to promote DEI, examine the rise of high school and college wrestling in Arkansas, and talk to the folks behind the pro soccer teams headed to Rogers in the next couple of years.

There’s a lot of meat in this issue. For dessert, how about a look at the business of MasterChef?

Thanks for reading. Hit me up with any comments or suggestions at HBaker@ ARMoneyandPolitics.com.

Heather Baker 9

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C VIEWPOINT

FIGHTING CARBON

with CARBON

How natural gas can help reduce the environmental impact of energy supply chains

By Andrew Balthrop and Travis Tokar

I

n the never-ending battle between progress and perfection, the status quo too often emerges victorious. So, for meaningful progress when it comes to the reduction of carbon emissions, perfection must make some short-term concessions to realistic environmental strategies and policies that include and make the best use of natural gas.

Some advocacy groups, such as the Natural Resource Defense Council, staunchly oppose any use of natural gas, much less investing deeper in its production and supply. Such resistance has led to underinvestment and over-regulation of the industry. That resistance can also hinder progress toward larger goals for protecting and sustaining the environment and inadvertently cripple the economy and quality of life in the United States and beyond.

The production and supply of natural gas is key in any coherent portfolio for achieving carbon emissions of net zero, let OC TO B ER 2 02 3

alone the more ambitious net negative.

A substantial energy transition is under way but faces significant obstacles.

Electricity from renewable sources like wind, water and solar increased nearly 7 percent in 2021, according to the International Energy Association, with wind and solar accounting for 90 percent of that record growth. But to meet goals for net zero emissions, the IEA estimates that growth rate needs to exceed 12 percent by 2030.

Enter the law of diminishing returns. Growing the capacity for renewable energy requires time, money and, most critically, space to build additional production facilities. A Bloomberg report states that a 200-megawatt wind farm “might require spreading (wind) turbines over 13 square miles,” while a “natural-gas power plant with the same generating capacity could fit onto a single city block.” Such land-use changes are already prompting pushback from 10

residents of the affected areas.

Since the wind doesn’t always blow and the sun sometimes doesn’t penetrate the clouds, the world needs a backup energy source just to ensure reliability of the power grid. Nuclear energy is one option, but significant regulatory restraints limit its ability to expand to meet the world’s growing energy needs. Meanwhile, the decline in carbon emissions in the U.S. over the last 15 years has resulted primarily from coal-fired power plants being converted to natural gas.

THE ENERGY SUPPLY CHAIN From a supply-chain perspective in the U.S., natural gas provides at least four notable advantages over other sources including renewable energies.

Natural gas is not zero carbon, but it’s lower. Natural gas emits roughly half the carbon as coal per unit of energy produced. Natural gas is predominantly methane, a potent greenhouse gas that

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creates concern for leaks during transport. Still, shifting away from coal and toward gas could have positive economic results for the U.S. and world.

It’s readily available. The United States is the world’s leading producer of natural gas, mining and refining it in 34 states. As of January 2021, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated the nation had about “445 trillion cubic feet of proved reserves and about 2,528 trillion cubic feet of unproved reserves of dry natural gas” — enough to last about 86 years at today’s usage rates and technology.

It should be noted that scientists, journalists and policymakers have warned since as early as 1909 that the U.S. would run out of petroleum. Advancements in technology have provided easier access to reserves and more efficient uses of existing supply. The same phenomenon will almost certainly hold true concerning any projections regarding natural gas.

It has a high ROI. Net energy return on energy invested allows for a direct comparison of end-to-end energy efficiencies for different energy sources. Fossil fuels are useful specifically because they are energy dense and release more than 25 times the energy invested. Renewable sources, except hydroelectric, have a much lower return. This means adding substantially more energy infrastructure —not an ideal option when trying to grow capacity.

It’s less dependent on materials. Renewable-energy plants don’t need fuel, but as the IEA pointed out, “They generally require more materials than fossil fuel-based counterparts for construction.” In essence, building more plants to replace traditional ones requires a complex supply chain that’s highly dependent on countries like South Africa (platinum), the Democratic Republic of Congo

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Andrew Balthrop

(cobalt) and China (rare earth elements).

While global trade is generally positive and desirable economically, many sources for essential materials raise unique concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the dangers of single sourcing, particularly from lockdown-prone China, and recent research has revealed the abusive labor conditions associated with cobalt mining.

MAKING THE INVESTMENT Energy use has grown globally for the past 200 years, and there’s no sign of a slowdown. Certainly, the U.S. needs to make smart policy decisions and investments regarding renewable energy, but it also needs to invest in natural gas.

The U.S. needs more, not less, natural gas — not only for domestic use, but for export to make other countries less reliant on other fossil fuels as well as less dependent on countries like Russia for their energy.

In addition to investments in production facilities, the U.S. benefits from prioritizing pipelines over other forms of transporting natural gas. Pipelines reduce environmental risks from leakage and not only move gas but store it, which helps smooth prices over time.

Reliability of the supply chain for natural gas also helps prevent the bullwhip effect — the lag between when demand

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Travis Tokar

increases and production begins. When a harsh winter strikes, prices go up and take consumer frustrations with them. This results in economic hardships for consumers as well as political damage to efforts to enact environmental policy changes.

A more deliberate approach to reducing carbon emissions would likely garner support from consumers by causing less disruption in the way they live and work.

It won’t produce immediate perfection for the environment, but incremental progress is far better than the status quo.

Andrew Balthrop (Ph.D., Georgia State University) is a research associate at the Supply Chain Management Research Center at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. His research focuses on the interaction between supply chains and public policy.

Travis Tokar (Ph.D., University of Arkansas) is a professor of supply chain management at the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University. His research focuses on issues of both managerial and consumer judgment and decision making in supply chains, with particular interest in demand planning activities such as forecasting and replenishment. He is also interested in the interface between supply-chain management and public policy. His work has been published in several leading supply chain management academic journals.

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VIEWPOINT

Lexicon CEO Patrick Schueck

I ATTRAC TING

and RETAINING a HIGH - CALIBER

WORKFORCE

By Patrick Schueck

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f you are a business owner or in a company leadership position, you know the negative impact employee turnover has on operations, culture and the bottom line. You also know how challenging it can be to attract — and retain — talented, dedicated employees in today’s labor market.

According to Forbes, around 38 percent of American employees leave their jobs within the first year and the average tenure is just four years. There are many potential reasons for this, but chief among them is employees not feeling appreciated and compensated. In fact, Forbes claims that employees who don’t receive recognition are two times more likely to seek employment elsewhere, and employees who don’t feel supported are three times more likely to leave.

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Another reason employees leave, Forbes says, is a lack of advancement options.

Employees want to know they can continue to learn and grow and that their employer supports them in their long-term career goals, even if that means they want to learn a new skill — or an entirely new job — at the company.

While these insights may be revelations to some employers, at Lexicon these findings are no surprise.

Our company culture is centered on supporting our nearly 2,000 team members in Arkansas and across the U.S. by prioritizing their career goals and well-being. These have been our values since my late father, Tom Schueck, founded the company in 1968, and they remain a priority under my leadership.

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: Even though we’re in the steel business, we’re also in the “people” business. Our people are our greatest asset, and we are absolutely nothing without them.

Each fall, we honor Lexicon employees who have dedicated 20 years of service to the company. During an annual reception at our Little Rock headquarters, we recognize 20-year employees in front of their colleagues, friends and families. In addition to receiving a steel I-beam trophy and public recognition, each 20-year employee is gifted with a $10,000 check, all taxes paid, in recognition of their service.

My dad, who believed in the importance of company loyalty and longevity, started this incentive in 2002, and it’s a program I am proud to continue. Over the past two decades, Lexicon has honARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

ored nearly 200 employees and gifted divisions, and includes a combination of nearly $3 million. Our employees give so on-the-job, classroom and online trainmuch to our company, and this is just one ing programs to meet employees where way we show our gratitude for their exthey are. The program also works with pertise and commitment. higher education partners to expand its As a company, we are thrilled to recogofferings; Lex U currently is offering a nize our 20-year employees each year and three-part series in maintenance mehand them chanics through a their trophies partnership with and checks.

Arkansas North“As a company, we are Pe r s o n a l l y, eastern College in thrilled to recognize our it’s my favorBlytheville. ite day of the Another con20-year employees each year because cern is easy access year and hand them their I get to honor to high-quality an impressive health care. When trophies and checks.” group of colyou’re working leagues who on the shop floor, are dedicated to Lexicon, to our industry sometimes it’s challenging to get away and to building America. for a doctor’s appointment. We value our While this could be considered our employees’ health, and we want them to most valuable program, it’s not the only prioritize it as well. We have an on-site one. health clinic at our Little Rock headI know we all have an innate need to quarters that provides in-person services feel safe. Timothy Clark, the founder and to local employees and telemedicine by CEO of LeaderFactor, says it best when licensed staff to employees outside of he states: “Psychological safety is a conthe area. Clinic staff also make wellness dition in which you feel (1) included, (2) visits to other locations regularly, includsafe to learn, (3) safe to contribute and ing Blytheville and Monroe, La. This has (4) safe to challenge the status quo — all helped us safeguard the health of our without fear of being embarrassed, marentire workforce, while also alleviating ginalized or punished in some way.” some of the physical and psychological As humans, the daily grind of our work stressors our employees face. can lead us to develop habits and shortWhile we are very proud of these procuts that hinder our psychological and grams that reward our people for their physical safety. To combat the impact this dedication and hard work, we are concan have in the workplace and push our stantly striving to identify new opportuteammates to prioritize their psychologinities to encourage the speak-up culture cal safety, Lexicon has launched several necessary to meet the ever-changing additional programs designed to attract needs of our team members. and retain a talented workforce and serve Every day, I wake up excited to improve our unique needs — programs I hope and ensure that Lexicon is the workplace also make our employees feel safe. of choice because people feel included, One of the needs we identified among safe to learn and contribute, and encourour workforce was the desire for continaged to challenge the status quo. ued education, to sharpen existing skills and to learn new ones. Earlier this year, we launched Lexicon University (Lex U), Patrick Schueck is CEO of Lexicon Inc., a workforce-development training prowhich is based in Little Rock. The Lexicon gram that provides additional tools for family of companies provides a wide range employees to improve in their current of services including construction manageroles, develop skills in another field and ment, steel fabrication, erection, mechanical build a career path to success for theminstallation and plant maintenance for heavy selves and their families. industrial, commercial and bridge projects, as Lex U is paid for by Lexicon, is availwell as a full spectrum of golf course construcable to all employees, companies and tion, renovation and management services.

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DISCOVERY ECONOMICS

THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM: Arkansas research seeks to eradicate post-cancer cardiac damage

I

By AMP Staff

magine surviving the rigors of cancer recovery — the days, months and weeks devoted to the fight of your life — only to be confronted with a new and unexpected challenge: heart damage. The condition is known as cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD), and it is most associated with a class of cancer drugs called anthracycline.

“As a cardiologist, I find it tragic to see a patient who had so bravely fought and defeated cancer only to be afflicted with a life-long struggle with heart damage,” said Dr. Edward Yeh, ARA Academy member and chairman of the department of internal medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

The problem intrigued Yeh so much that, in 2000, he founded the department of cardiology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and developed a new field of medicine

of Doxorubicin-related CTRCD are doserelated, but heart damage can occur at a lower dose.

Through his research, Yeh and his laboratory discovered the molecular basis of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.

“What we learned about Doxorubicin is that the drug can bind itself to a protein found in the heart that prevents heart Dr. Edward Yeh cells from reading DNA information,” he said. “From there, things can go haywire, sending the cell into a suicide cycle, which leads to heart damage. We also found that if this offending protein is removed from the cell, doxorubicin would not be able to cause heart damage. This can be accomplished by a drug, which is already approved by FDA.” Yeh said this is not a treatment for CRTCD — it is a prevention. With one injection of this FDA-approved drug before doxorubicin begins, the risk of heart damage can be prevented in animal models.

“We are currently testing the dose and timing of giving this drug to remove the offending protein from human volunteers,” he said. “This will be followed by a clinical trial in breast cancer patients.”

Yeh said patients should not have to exchange cancer for heart disease.

“Not only can we vastly improve the quality of life for these patients, but we can also eliminate the extraordinary cost and resources connected to treating the resulting heart damage,” he said.

A lifetime of heart damage can cost, on average, more than $100,000 dollars for patients. Yeh’s work continues at UAMS, where it is supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Arkansas Research Alliance Scholars Grant.

Yeh was recognized by, from left, ARA’s Jerry Adams, UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson and Gov. Asa Hutchinson when he was inducted into the ARA Academy in 2021.

called onco-cardiology or cardio-oncology. This field specializes in caring for cancer patients who developed heart problems caused by cancer therapy. In 2020, he decided that the best place to continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge in this area was at UAMS in Little Rock.

Yeh and his team focus on one chemotherapy treatment: Doxorubicin, a type of drug known as an anthracycline. It is used to treat soft tissue, bone sarcomas and cancers of the breast, as well as certain types of leukemia and lymphoma. The instances OC TO B ER 2 02 3

Discovery Economics is a monthly feature highlighting the work of the Arkansas Research Alliance Academy of Scholars and Fellows, a community of strategic research leaders who strive to maximize the value of discovery and progress in the state. ARA recruits, retains and focuses strategic research leaders to enhance the state’s competitiveness in the knowledge economy and the production of job-creating discoveries and innovation. Learn more at ARalliance.org.

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ENERGY | ANALYSIS

THE ARKANSAS

ADVANTAGE

By Brian Umberson

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ftentimes, we hear of great potential that never materializes, but regarding lithium development in Arkansas, this time appears to be different. The lithium opportunity in south Arkansas must be solid — ExxonMobil and Koch Industries do not make big investments in weak opportunities. Arkansas’ brinebased lithium resources, first-to-market capabilities and relatively minimal environmental impact represent legitimate opportunity.

Standard Lithium is ahead of the others in the Smackover formation with an exclusive lithium extraction process, permits, proven wells and drilling-distribution infrastructure. SLI’s relationship with Lanxess gives SLI an advantage in that the brine resource is well-understood, so SLI does not have to drill wells or define the resource. The field has been actively producing brine for the past 60 years.

This “brownfield advantage” reduces upfront costs that should provide a more competitive market position against other brine-based lithium-extraction companies. ExxonMobil, TETRA and any others need more time to catch up to the SLI-Lanxess relationship/model.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ExxonMobil is already in early-stage discussions with Tesla, Ford, Volkswagen and battery giants Samsung and SK to be a provider of lithium. In a conference call with investors, ExxonMobil’s CEO Darren Woods detailed the company’s interest in lithium extraction from brine wells.

“We can bring it on at a much lower cost, and I think, importantly, with much less environmental impact versus open mining that they’re doing in other parts of the world,” he said. “The processing of the brine and extracting the lithium is very consistent with a lot of the things that we do in our refineries and chemical plants and, in fact, in some of our upstream operations.”

SLI recently reported improved lithium extraction rates in south Arkansas of 437 mg/L. The higher extracted concentrations calculate to a new higher volume resource of 1.8 million tons of lithium. Parallel to the preliminary study, the SLI demonstration plant has processed approximately 14 million gallons of Smackover brine to date while successfully extracting lithium. SLI has proven its direct lithium extraction process and successfully converted its DLE product into battery-quality lithium carbonate. It is time to start scaling up for large volume production with a target start date as early as 2026.

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THE ARKANSAS ADVANTAGE Arkansas has become a unique player in the two largest-weight components (steel and batteries). Arkansas can be a unique leader in lithium, which is needed to make car batteries, residential power walls and manufacture EV cars. Arkansas can do more than provide the commodity of lithium because steel mills in Blytheville and Osceola comprise the largest steel-producing county in the nation. Materials are the core cost driver of any automotive assembly.

Steel represents the heaviest component and greatest freight cost of a car, so this is where Arkansas is a major player again.

The traditional vehicle is 65 percent steel, 13 percent aluminum and 4 percent magnesium. Arkansas’s steel zone (Mississippi County) is dominated by Nucor and U.S. Steel.

David Gohlke, an energy and environmental analyst at Argonne National Laboratory, told CNBC that steel makers are trying to reduce overall manufacturing costs.

“They have these relatively heavy batteries that they need to ship from the assembled-battery assembly location to their automotive assembly plant, and they need to make sure that they have the infrastructure around to do that,” he said.

The electric vehicle auto industry needs lightweight advanced high-strength steel to carry the heavy load of the batteries. The battery frames are comprised of AHSS so the frames can hold the weight, and the car frame is made with AHSS so the weight can be distributed properly. Arkansas is already a leader in the AHSS steel required in EV cars and enjoys unique proximity to the automotive production zones in Texas and the Interstate 65 automotive corridor.

UNIQUE STEEL Nucor’s cold mill expansion (a $230 million investment) will add a specialty cold-rolling complex to make AHSS products. Parent company U.S. Steel has built a new AHSS facility at Big River and has announced plans for another. Not all steel mills have advanced cold-milling capabilities, so this is unique for Arkansas to have two major players with three AHSS mills. This is what you would expect from the nation’s largest steel-producing county.

EVs are heavier than traditional vehicles because battery packs are typically heavier than traditional combustion engines. EVs require extra strength via AHSS to absorb more energy during a crash and protect the battery. AHSS enables designers to reduce the mass 16

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of the steel-protection-and-housing systems to allow more space to use larger batteries and increase range.

The dense weight of the battery pack requires designers to position the battery in the floor of the vehicle. The body structure must have the rigid strength of AHSS to match the handling performance of a traditional car with the weight of the battery pack.

New EV battery manufacturing plants will be close to EV assembly facilities as seen in the accompanying graphic.

The Systems Group in El Dorado is a global supplier to the steel industry for its patented electric arc furnace spray-cooled systems.

In the U.S., it also focuses on construction, maintenance and custom products entirely for the steel industry. The Systems Group enjoys a front-row seat to what appears to be coming for Arkansas.

Lee Morgan, the company’s president and CEO, works with both of Arkansas’ steel giants and with steel industry players worldwide.

He said he believes Arkansas enjoys a big advantage in its steel presence because of the lithium play in south Arkansas.

“Standard hot-rolled A36 steel has a tensile strength of 36,000 psi,” he said. “The new advanced high-strength steels have strengths up to 120,000 psi. This has all happened in the last 20 to 30 years. You can now get steel that is nearly four times as strong as historically available. This results in being able to use less steel and get cars lighter to improve fuel efficiency and strength at the same time. Northeast Arkansas has two steel mills, soon to be three, that produce AHSS. Combine this with the potential of lithium coming from the El Dorado area, and Arkansas should be poised to recruit EV battery plants and potential car manufacturing.”

Morgan said steel companies also are working on ultra-high strength steels and looking to create steel with strength beyond 200,000 psi tensile strength.

“This will further help cars’ fuel efficiency while protecting us in collisions,” he said. “Steel plants have figured out Arkansas is a great place to be, with our business-friendly climate, Mississippi River access and great work force. I really believe downstream manufacturing will figure it out too.”

SOLID DEMAND? Obviously, Arkansas has another unique advantage because of the specialty AHSS steel to make battery frames and the car structures combined with lithium. EV and hybrid cars both need batteries, along with residential energy storage that has just started to surge. Some companies are developing lithium battery recycling and reconditioning services that could benefit Arkansas.

Analysts think that EVs and hybrids will always sell well to commuter drivers in metropolitan areas. The U.S. automotive battery segment would look good even if current trends were cut in half.

Cox Automotive reported that global EV sales increased by 55 percent from 2021 to 2022. Just in the U.S., Cox reported a 48.4 percent sales increase from quarter 2 in 2022 to more than 300,000 EVs sold in the second quarter of this year.

Residential energy storage is a component of efficient solar storage and emergency backup power. According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory the U.S. market is dominated by two brands that combine for more than 90 percent of the market for lithium-ion ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

batteries — LG Chem and Tesla Powerwall. Tesla has more than 60 percent of the entire market share and has already installed more than 500,000 power walls worldwide. Tesla can produce 6,500 power walls a week at its Gigafactory Nevada, which represents a good volume of AHSS steel and lithium for only one company’s product.

There is not another state that has Arkansas’ efficient and environmentally friendly production models as well as unique steel for vertical integration. Arkansas has the best concentration of steel mills and creates AHSS close to the lithium supply. The state is between the auto production zones in Texas and the I-65 corridor. It stands to reason that Arkansas could be a prime location to serve both auto production zones with batteries.

There are numerous locations in south Arkansas that could support manufacturing batteries. It is very early in this battery-recycling opportunity, but river ports for barge transport are beneficial.

The EV auto assembly plants align with some large sites in Arkadelphia, Jonesboro, Walnut Ridge and West Memphis that come to mind. Jonesboro, Walnut Ridge and West Memphis are close to the steel mills, so those sites have higher value for auto assembly and steel fabrication.

The “Arkansas Advantage” gives Arkansas a very unique vertical integration that positions U.S. as a major player in EV assembly and energy storage for commercial use, in homes and cars. We must take advantage of this opportunity and not allow another FedEx to slip through our fingers.

Brian Umberson is a native Arkansan who has worked with startups in the fields of biotech diagnostics, foodborne pathogens, oil and gas microbes, medical devices and diagnostics, as well as the automotive, steel and aerospace segments. A National Science Foundation I-Corps mentor, he works with the Arkansas Association for Food Protection, the International Avian Influenza Summit and Bio+Nano+Ark. 17

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RESTAURANTS

TOP CHOP

Seasoned chef takes the cake at Red Oak

By Sarah DeClerk // Photos by Ryan Parker

H

aving worked at high-class restaurants such as the Capital One Eleven in Little Rock and Warren Stephens’ award-winning and exclusive Alotian Club in western Pulaski County, Matías de Matthaeis is definitely in his element as executive chef at Saracen Casino Resort’s Red Oak Steakhouse in Pine Bluff.

De Matthaeis has cooked professionally for more than 20 years, but his culinary journey began during his childhood in Argentina.

“My grandmother was always a great cook, and I was fat and hungry as a kid, so when food wasn’t ready at noon, I got upset,” he said. “She said it would go a little faster if you help me, so I started helping her.”

When de Matthaeis was a teenager, he began cooking for himself using his grandmother’s recipes. Some of those recipes have made it onto the menu at Red Oak. Those who order the beef empanadas or the chimichurri can taste de Matthaeis’ take on his grandmother’s dishes.

Although de Matthaeis enjoyed cooking from a young age, he went to college for political science in hopes of becoming a diplomat. After sampling both occupations for a while, he

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decided he would rather study the culinary arts.

“This was hard on my dad, who said I needed a college degree no matter what, and at that time, there were no culinary college degrees,” de Matthaeis said. “He accepted it over the years. When he accepted it, actually, he gave me a knife, and it was due to a TV show called Top Chef. He started watching it and said, ‘Oh, there’s a lot more to your profession than I thought.’”

Midway through his political science degree, de Matthaeis left the University of Buenos Aires to pursue his culinary dreams. He earned a culinary degree at the Argentine Institute of Gastronomy in Buenos Aires, then narrowed his focus to pastries and chocolate at Mausi Sebess in Buenos Aires. He then went on to be an instructor and earn an additional degree at the pastry school of the syndicate of pastry chefs in Buenos Aires.

“I loved everything, like savory, pastry, baking,” he said, “but they told me that because I was meticulous and I was obsessive, I was very good for pastry, so I got more opportunities in pastry.”

In 2014, a friend who was interning at the Capital Hotel put de Matthaeis in touch with Joel Antunes, who was the executive chef at that time. De Matthaeis worked at the Capital Hotel until 2015, then spent two years as a banquet chef and pastry 18

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chef at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock.

He returned to the Capital Hotel as an executive pastry chef, where he cooked for big names such as Gordon Ramsay and former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. In 2020, de Matthaeis was promoted to work on savory dishes under Chef Robert Newton.

“He saw something in me,” de Matthaeis said.

“I guess management also liked me for savory, and I got the chef-de-cuisine position for One Eleven.”

However, de Matthaeis never assumed the position because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, he began helping at the Alotian Club, where he worked as executive sous chef before joining the team at Red Oak. “I feel like Red Oak has an identity of its own,” he said. “It is both elegant and outrageous.”

Some of the best products he has ever worked with back up the refined dishes and bold flavors of Red Oak, he said, adding that he has put his signature style on the menu. In addition to the chimichurri and beef empanadas of de Matthaeis’ homeland, guests can enjoy a Puerto Rican dish called the pork kan kan chop.

De Matthaeis said the dish is “outrageous” and “a showstopper.” The massive cut is marinated and cooked sous vide style (rather than the traditional boiling — a de Matthaeis tweak) before it is deep fried.

“So we marinate it for seven hours, cook it to eat for seven hours, and then deep fry it for seven minutes,” de Matthaeis said. “That’s why on the menu we call it the 777, which just so happens to be a very important number for our players at the casino.”

Guests with a sweet tooth have plenty to choose from, including cheese cake, Frenchstyle apple tart, Red Oak’s take on strawberry shortcake and blueberry tart with lemon sorbet. The Black Forest chocolate cake is shaped like a mushroom and dusted with pistachio powder that resembles moss. Then there is the Dome — a fudgy concoction with raspberry sorbet that is as beautiful as it is delicious.

“It’s very eye-catching because it’s covered with a chocolate dome, and you put hot chocolate sauce, and you can see the dome melt and become the sauce of the dish,” he said. “It is 100 percent gluten free and dairy free, and it’s delicious. You would never know.”

He said one of his duties as a leader is to motivate the kitchen staff.

“I just try to set goals for the team, and I always mention how much I appreciate them and the work that they’re doing well,” he said. “I love to bring up whatever they’re doing right. If I promote somebody, I do that in front of everyone, and if I have something to correct or something is not right or an attitude to fix, I do it in private.”

He said three things he savors about his job are teaching, creating and learning. He makes it a point to sharpen his skills by reading or taking online classes every day. He also enjoys teaching his recipes to his team.

“It’s incredibly satisfying to watch them grow and see my creations in their hands,” he said. “Every so often, they start making it their own, not in a bad way, but in a good way, and that is just beautiful to watch.”

De Matthaeis said he earned one of his greatest accolades this year, when he became Chef of the Year for the American Culinary Federation Central Arkansas Chefs Association and Pastry Chef of the Year for the ACF Arkansas Delta Chefs Association.

In his quest to continue learning and growing as a professional chef, de Matthaeis spends his spare time fine-tuning various dishes.

“Last year, I was obsessed with viennoiserie, so all the layer doughs, croissants, and I used to cook that all the time. Then for a while, it was sourdough until I ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

19

perfected it. I still make sourdough once a week,” he said. “Right now, I am obsessed with pizza.”

De Matthaeis said he currently is on a quest to master every style of pizza — another dish he first cooked with his grandmother — and is currently on New York style, having conquered Neapolitan and artisan-style pies.

“I realized that I read about food all the time. My Instagram has pictures and recipes and trends all the time. I go to work, and I work with food all the time, and I talk about food all the time, but I don’t get hungry,” he said. “Now, when it comes to pizza, just saying the name or looking at it or smelling it — just the thought of it makes me hungry, always.”

Some of de Matthaeis’ role models include two-time world champion pastry chef Antonio Bachour, pastry chef and baker Francisco Migoya, and author and restaurateur Thomas Keller, who de Matthaeis sees as having a similar mindset to himself when it comes to the repetition involved in creating a stunning dish.

“There are some chefs that are more out there, and they cook by heart, and there’s nothing wrong with that — that’s just not me,” he said. “I’m more of a science person. Of course, there’s love when you cook. You have to love it when you make something that takes three days to make and takes 20 minutes to eat. You have to love it.”

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Lawyer Up...

It Will Be Worth It

H

ot take incoming: cheaper isn’t always better. It’s always great to save money when you can, but sometimes, you really are paying for quality. That rings especially true when it comes to establishing and running your business. The advent of artificial intelligence and do-it-yourself websites has led some business owners to believe that they can successfully establish and grow a business without needing to engage a qualified attorney. Unfortunately, this is a huge mistake. Make no mistake, an attorney is going to charge for their knowledge and experience, but that expertise is exactly what you need to properly build your business.

Your business needs an operating agreement or a set of bylaws. It needs contracts that adhere to your local laws. But most importantly, you need a relationship with an attorney who knows your business and who knows you as a business owner. That relationship will be critical to your success. They can advise you as you grow and add more employees, suppliers, customers or partners. They can make sure that you are in compliance with laws and regulations that you may not even be aware of, and trust me, ignorance isn’t a good defense when you have broken the law.

Your attorney is there to keep you out of hot water. You don’t have time to change processes on the fly because a government agency is upset with you. If you take the time to set things up properly at the front end, you can avoid the pitfalls that are going to drag down your less-careful competition.

After coming around to the importance of having a good attorney, the next step is finding one that fits. Believe it or not, attorneys can have a wide range of specializations and personality types — some of them may even have way too much personality! (You know who you are…) It is critical that you do your research and find someone whose knowledge, experience and resources are aligned with your business model, and whose personality is a good fit with yours.

Not all attorneys are created equal. Spend time with several, and don’t be afraid to tell them that you are shopping around for the best fit. Be honest with them about what your concerns are and listen to their response. Are they able to be frank with you in a way that you can receive? The line of communication between you and your attorney may be the most important piece of your business development. They are likely the first one who is going to see a big problem coming down the tracks,

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and they must be able to voice that without concern for your feelings. Their priorVictor Werley ity must be the health and welfare of your business, just as yours should be.

People have asked me if I have a preference between those attorneys who practice as a part of a large firm versus those who are more entrepreneurial, and the answer is the most lawyerly of them all: it depends. What I mean is that there are strengths and weaknesses to both structures. An attorney at a large firm may have more resources, or they may have partners whose areas of expertise will come in handy. On the other hand, an attorney at a smaller firm might have more flexibility in how they run their practice, or they might be more nimble in addressing issues. The key is to take your time finding a truly good match.

At the end of the day, having a good attorney can be one of those major decisions that affects everything else in your business development, so don’t cheap out. Saving a couple of bucks now is not worth the fees, fines and headache that taking a shortcut will cause you down the road. Do the research.

Put in the time and energy. Make a good decision. You and your bottom line will be glad that you did.

Victor Werley, CFP, ChFC, CDFA, CVA, MAFF, CFE, CEPA, is a financial consultant in Little Rock and the founder of Pinnacle Advisors. Werley has been practicing for more than 20 years and has managed hundreds of business transitions for himself and his clients.

He has spoken to numerous groups in the business and legal fields about business valuation, how to structure good business deals, and many other topics. He is passionate about small businesses and helping the economy of Arkansas.

LITTLE ROCK • CABOT www.pinnacleadvisor.net | (501) 327-6277 20

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LEGAL

T

wo of the world’s great thinkers, on the surface as disparate as they come but perhaps more alike than most realize, are credited with great quotes about the law.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle is said to have declared, “At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.”

And that great, American sage, Mae West, once quipped, “It ain’t no sin if you crack a few laws now and then, just so long as you don’t break any.”

AMP’s November issue focuses on the legal industry in Arkansas, on the attorneys who make it run and the issues of the day that make it uniquely challenging.

To the lawyers, paralegals, clerks and everyone who make the wheels of justice turn in Arkansas, our hat is tipped. We hope they’ll remember us kindly next time we “crack a few laws.”

LEGAL

HISTORY

BRIEFS

Arkansas’ longstanding law firms tell story of state’s growth

By Mark Carter // Photos by Steve Lewis

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rkansans who need a refresher course on state history need only visit Paul Parnell at the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock.

His title reads firm member and CFO, but Parnell also serves in an unofficial capacity as firm historian. The Rose firm, established in 1820, is the oldest law firm in continuous practice west of the Mississippi and the oldest in Arkansas. Its history, like those of several longstanding firms in the state, is richly intertwined with Arkansas history.

George Watkins, the original firm’s third partner and the first chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, codified the old territorial law when Arkansas was granted statehood in 1836. That first codified set of state laws rests inside the law library at the Rose firm, currently home to 41 attorneys based out of offices in Little Rock and Rogers.

“Mr. Watkins was a key player in making sure we had laws in Arkansas,” Parnell said.

The firm’s founders, Robert Crittenden and Chester Ashley, played important roles in the state’s early history. Crittenden was appointed by President James Monroe in 1819 as secretary and first acting governor of the Arkansas Territory to be essentially responsible for its organization. Crittenden County in northeast Arkansas is named for him.

Ashley was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1844, served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and became the namesake of his own county, this one in southeast Arkansas. He was instrumental, Parnell said, in the development of downtown Little Rock. The firm also was home to the private practice of Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Arkansas First Lady, U.S. senator from New York and U.S. secretary of state during the Obama administration.

Little Rock’s Friday, Eldredge & Clark was founded in 1871. It currently has 90 attorneys and an office in Rogers. Friday attorneys were crucial to the OC TO B ER 2 02 3

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Paul Parnell serves as unofficial firm historian at the Rose firm (top); Price Gardner credits the foundation of the Friday firm to its strong leaders.

development of industrial bonds in the state. Herschel Friday was a noted bond lawyer and respected lobbyist throughout much of the 20th century, and despite his Democratic Party affiliation, was seriously considered as a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court

by President Richard Nixon in 1971.

“Mr. Friday was one of the forerunners of developing industrial bonds in Arkansas. He helped write the law,” said Price Gardner, who serves as the firm’s seventh managing partner and whose own practice focuses on bonds. “Our municipal finance department has grown into one of the preeminent firms in the country.

If you look at our market share, it’s 85 percent-plus of bond work in Arkansas coming through our firm.”

The firm’s lineage includes William Eldredge, a “world-class trial lawyer,” Gardner said, who helped build the firm’s medical malpractice side; labor lawyer Bill Clark; a tax department that traces its origins back to former partner Bill Bowen, whose name adorns the school of law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; and notable Arkansas legal names Buddy Sutton, Jim Simpson and Pat Mehaffy, appointed by President John F. Kennedy as circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

“The foundation of the firm is tied to really strong leaders,” Gardner said. “It’s a legacy, and we all stand on the shoulders of those who brought us in.”

The Hot Springs firm of Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh is a small firm with just four attorneys but with a continuous practice dating to 1875 and a proud legacy.

In the early to mid-20th century, it opposed the illegal gambling interests that provided the small resort city its notorious renown. The firm was not trying to attach judgment; it was simply opposed to the lawless nature of the gambling operations in town that made life in Hot Springs feel like the Wild West.

Decades later, it was instrumental in changing state law to allow for games of skill at Oaklawn, which led the way for legalized gambling in the state.

“The reason the firm has lasted so long is because of the inARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

tegrity of its members,” said partner Beau Britton. “It has always been community driven and active and always stood on the right side of things.”

Former SBS partner Ray Smith, who died in 2007, a longtime member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and a former speaker, was the lone representative in 1957 to vote against a bill that allowed then-Gov. Orval Faubus to close schools in Pulaski County to prevent integration.

“Our legacy is longstanding, and it’s because of the people [like Smith] who were here before us,” Britton said.

The Wright Lindsey Jennings firm started out in 1900 as the legal department for the old Rock Island railroad in Little Rock.

The firm now has 79 attorneys and, like many of its counterparts, an office in Northwest Arkansas.

“When the firm was first started, when a train hit a cow on the track or something, the attorneys would handle that,” said Stephen Lancaster, managing partner. The legal department soon morphed into its own independent firm but continued to do work for Rock Island until it went out of business in 1980. By then, the firm now known as WLJ was known throughout the region as a litigation firm.

“Throughout our history, we’ve been primarily a litigation firm,” Lancaster said. “We go to court, and we represent clients at 23

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SBS attorneys Scott Hickam, from left, John Stobaugh, Nicholas French and Beau Britton (top) work to carry on the firm’s legacy; WLJ’s Quinten Whiteside, left, and Stephen Lancaster lead a firm of 79 attorneys.

trial. That’s still primarily the case, but we try to be a full-service firm, as well. So we’ve got people who have never seen the inside of a courtroom and don’t want to see the inside of a courtroom, but they’re great at handling transactions or intellectual property or bankruptcy or any number of things that our clients need us to do. So we try to be able to serve whatever their needs are.”

In addition to a long list of state, federal and appellate court judges, WLJ counts former President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor among its alumni. Clinton practiced at the firm in between terms as Arkansas governor in the early 1980s.

Another area in which Lancaster believes the firm has distinguished itself and has been far ahead of the curve is in the hiring, support and promotion of women and minorities.

“It’s important because it’s the right thing to do, but also from a business perspective,” he said. “We were the first large firm in Arkansas to make a female a partner. We were the first to make a black man a partner. We’ve continued to encourage that, and it’s something I’m very proud of.”

Innovation also has been a cornerstone of business for WLJ, from tech law to the firm’s growing and prominent sports law practice and even medical marijuana.

“We want to be innovative and recognize where growth is going and where our clients are,” said Quinten Whiteside, partner and the firm’s COO. “We’ve been a big supporter of The Venture Center, and the firm made a conscious decision that we were going to support our attorneys who had a passion for that.”

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built by men like Don Schnipper, who practiced in Hot Springs for more than 50 years, and former longtime partner Philip Clay, both retired.

“When I was learning about the history of the firm, its legacy became important to me,” Britton said. “I wanted to be a part of the next generation to carry it forward.”

This applies to civic mindedness but also, simply, to the Golden Rule, Britton stressed.

“We’re not going to tell you what you want to hear. We’re going to tell you what you need to hear,” he said. “It’s hard to get into trouble if you’re communicating with your client. We strike a balance. Can we provide benefits to the client? If not, we’ll tell

has a voluntary remote working policy.

However, Gardner said the pendulum may be swinging back.

“I think what firms in the legal industry are finding is that if you go fully remote, you lose some of the training. You lose the culture. You’re not with the people you want to work with, learning more about them,” he said.

One of the advantages law firms have is strength in numbers.

“If you have a question or an issue, you’ve got somebody down the hall who knows how it’s done and can help you think through it,” he said. “That’s been a real strength here, the mentoring and training of our younger lawyers. It’s rewarding to see them turn the corner and start mentoring the next generation.”

Innovation also has been a cornerstone of business for WLJ, from tech law to the firm’s prominent sports law practice and even medical marijuana. you. In today’s world, you have to be flexible, and we try to be true to our legacy.”

As with any business, longstanding firms earn that moniker by being flexible. Though law schools are churning out roughly the same number of graduates, Gardner said they emerge from law school with much different expectations from their employers than graduates did when he entered the workforce in the late 1980s.

“They’re motivated differently; money’s not a motivator anymore,” he said. “With my generation, you just worked hard for what you got, but now they’re weighing the incremental benefit for the additional effort.”

A recent glance at a firm letterhead from 20 years ago made an impression on Gardner.

“As far as the people on that letterhead that are still with the firm or retired from it, the retention rate was astronomical, like 95 percent-plus,” he said. “Then, looking at the lawyers who have joined the firm over the last 20 years, the turnover rate there is going in the opposite direction, and that’s not just us.”

Gardner noted that members of his and previous generations mostly worked for the same employers their entire careers or rarely went to another employer unless for a promotion. Today, the average person is expected to work for different employers, changing jobs every four to five years, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

One of the biggest changes of the last two decades, of course, was wrought by pandemic. Many COVID adjustments have stuck, including meetings and court proceedings by Zoom or another video platform. Like other firms, the Friday firm still ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

Lancaster agreed that the next generation of lawyers is coming out of law school with different expectations.

“Like everyone else, we have seen people reevaluating what they want to do,” he said. “We have seen some difficulty in finding people who meet our needs. We’ve been able to do it, but it’s been a real struggle to find folks. Some find this is not what they want to do; it can be a stressful profession. There are demands on our time, whether it’s a trial or a closing, and we have to be here. I recognize that’s not for everybody, but thankfully, we’ve got a group of people who recognize and embrace that responsibility.”

Though rooted in history, the Rose firm also has adapted to the changing times.

“The No. 1 adjustment I see is the Zoom meetings, the prevalence of video conferencing,” Parnell said. “Five years ago, I had never done a video conference — maybe a Skype; it was so random. Now it’s a daily occurrence to have calendar invites sent through Teams. It’s just not going away.”

Demand for legal services increased dramatically after COVID hit, and though candidates may have emerged from law school with different expectations, Parnell said they were there for the taking. One expectation that will never change, he said, is the commitment of the firm’s attorneys to the legal profession.

“We saw that students were still going to law school, still interested in doing the type of work we’re doing,” Parnell said. “If anything, we are actually seeing better students and better candidates coming out of law school in the past five years than we did 10 years ago.”

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ASSOCIATION SPOTLIGHT

ATLA Exists to Support HOMETOWN HEROES

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rkansans are self-sufficient, salt-of-the-earth people. It’s a way of life in the Natural State to celebrate faith, love our families, serve our communities and treat others the way we want to be treated. From the sunrises of the Delta to an Ozark sunset, Arkansans have a rich reputation of caring for each other.

The sense of community and serving one another is deeply embedded into our very way of life, and upon close examination, this very quality is found at the heart of ATLA — the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.

The association’s members are the attorneys living in our 75 counties. They’re the hometown heroes who give back to their communities, serve in their churches, coach Little League and help make Arkansas a beautiful place. Countless studies show that these are the lawyers who studied law to help others, correct injustices and stand up for the disenfranchised, the mistreated or the voiceless – the little guy. Day in and day out, these attorneys meet with Arkansans facing the greatest tragedies they’ve ever known. Most Arkansans hope they never need an attorney, but when they or someone they love faces injustice or a tragedy, they turn to members of ATLA to find care and help. Every day, these are the attorneys fighting for Arkansans on the front lines of our communities.

Our members find themselves fighting for first responders such as our police and firefighters when an out-of-state trucking company breaks the law and causes them harm. They fight for the women trapped in sex trafficking. They take on nursing homes that wronged members of our Greatest Generation. They battle drunk drivers. They stand up for children who have been sexually abused.

These are real life examples of cases our members have fought and won in the last few years alone. Some think heroes wear capes, but we know they put on a tie or high heels and head to court to fight for hard-working families.

ATLA exists to support these attorneys and the Arkansans they serve. Through continuing education and mentorship programs, the association provides its members with indispensable training, assistance, networking and support for their efforts in the trenches.

Through conferences and smaller meetings across the state, ATLA is always working to serve its members through enhanced offerings in legal education. Each year, law changes and court decisions impact Arkansans in significant ways. ATLA works tirelessly to ensure its members are up on these changes, understand their implica-

tions and are able to continually serve their clients with excellence.

One of ATLA’s most critical roles is advocacy and government relations. Through its staff, team of lobbyists and active committee structure, the organization closely tracks legislation, assists members of the Arkansas General Assembly in legislative drafting, lobbies to ensure legislation protects each Arkansans’ right to a trial by jury, secures the sacred value of human life and protects hard working Arkansans. It’s critical that legislation never tips the scales in favor of the powerful over the interests of the people. A nonpartisan organization, ATLA’s greatest allegiance is to the people of Arkansas, its members and our constitution. Protecting the constitutional rights of all Arkansas citizens ensures that each Arkansan can find remedy when they’ve been wronged or mistreated.

“As a former legislator, I understand the challenges of lawmaking,” said Stephanie Malone, executive director of ATLA and a former Republican legislator from Fort Smith.

“Our legislators are generally wonderful people who love our state and are working hard to make it a better place. Their job is tough. Long hours are spent reading bills, thinking through unintended consequences, negotiating out details and trying to do right by everyone.

“One of the things I love most about our association is the opportunity we have to serve these legislators with legal opinions, testimony and bill drafting. Every time we get to help with the legislative process, I feel like we’ve done right by the great people of our state. It’s very rewarding.”

The association is always looking forward. To this end, it has worked hard to cultivate a helpful mentoring program for young attorneys. Recognizing the breadth of new talent and the new generation of leaders serving Arkansas in every sector also means each organization must invest in our collective tomorrow by supporting these new leaders.

Attorneys understand that the work is never completely done. Challenges will continue to arise, and it will be critical that well-prepared and thoughtful leaders are ready to rise to those challenges. As they serve in their communities, ATLA will work hard every day to support their efforts.

Stephanie Malone

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A legal organization serving Arkansas attorneys through education, networking, and advocacy.

We support our members as they fight for everyday Arkansans.

PROBLEM SOLVERS—COMMUNITY SERVANTS “Our members are pillars in their communities, supporting projects, serving in their schools, churches, and local organizations, and helping Arkansans when they face life’s greatest challenges.”

– Stephanie Malone, CEO

501-376-2852 • arktla@arktla.org • 1401 W Capitol Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201

LEGAL/SPORTS

Neww Ne

WHOLE B A LL GA ME NIL keeping states-sports law attorneys busy

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By Mark Carter

elegated to the vaults of history are the days when a college football fan didn’t need a program to identify players from his favorite team, save maybe for the rare impact freshmen or two.

Once freshmen became eligible to participate in varsity collegiate sports, fans could usually track players by the following well-worn path: He arrives on campus and, if not redshirted, rarely sees the field, if at all.

By the time he’s a sophomore, the player is ready to start contributing; maybe just on special teams, but he’s seeing the field. By his junior year, our player is familiar to fans who’ve followed his number for the past two years.

He may even be ready to start. By his senior year, he’s either a multi-year starter or regular contributor and ready to cap off his four-year college career in style.

Of course, the term “four-year college career,” at least when applied to today’s student athletes, was already antiquated before “name, image and likeness,” the transfer portal and realignment fell onto the scene like a runaway meteor. Their impact on the college game has been like that of the meteor scientists say led to the extinction of dinosaurs.

All this recent upheaval to college sports has made fans of a certain age, feel like dinosaurs.

NIL, especially, has changed the landscape of big-time college ball. While compensating athletes for the use of their names, images and likenesses was the right thing to do on paper, the lack of uniform regulation has led to what most observers consider the new Wild West.

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Several Arkansas attorneys represent college athletes collecting NIL deals, including Judy Henry, a partner with the Little Rock law firm of Wright Lindsey Jennings. Henry leads the firm’s robust sports-law practice. She has closed more than 60 deals for businesses and student athletes since the NCAA lifted its rightto-work ban, thus introducing the NIL age in July of 2021.

NIL is “regulated” by individual state laws, which supersede any regulations the NCAA might have imposed, and most tend to focus on making sure college athletes will retain their amateur status by accepting NIL money. They mostly ignore the original intention of NIL, which was to allow athletes to accept compensation for allowing entities to use their names, images or likenesses to endorse a product or service.

In an unregulated NIL environment, Power 5 boosters and their agents no longer need to deliver McDonald’s bags filled with cash to prized recruits under the table. Cash deals can be made right out in the open under the pretext of NIL, which technically remains illegal under NCAA rules, if practically unenforceable.

“When the NCAA changed its stance on student athletes working, it did not change the restriction on illegal inducements to recruit a new athlete or pay one to stay,” Henry said.

Nonetheless, schools are bidding on prized recruits and transfers, and the best of these, naturally, are going with the highest bidder. For attorneys like Henry whose practices include sports law, and there are plenty of them in Arkansas, their job is simple, in theory — to look out for the best interests of their clients.

Most “players” within college athletics — as opposed to the athletes themselves — believe the current model to be unsustainable. Henry said the spirit of NIL is being outright ignored by many of them, and self-policing is not an option.

On paper, NIL attempts to right a wrong — college athletes not being compensated for the use of their names, images and likenesses. In Arkansas, think ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

Judy Henry, who leads the sports-law practice at Wright Lindsey Jennings in Little Rock, has closed more than 60 NIL deals. (Photo by Steve Lewis)

Darren McFadden and all the Razorback No. 5 jerseys sold in Arkansas since the late 2000s. That the University of Arkansas chose a generic No. 5 jersey to promote was no coincidence.

The intent of NIL, of course, was to allow players like McFadden, one of the most popular Razorbacks of all time, the opportunity to endorse a product or a social media post and receive financial compensation or to benefit from the use of their jerseys being sold in team stores or nameless images used in video games. Instead, players got nil, lower-case n-i-l, free education notwithstanding.

With no uniform regulation to act as a deterrent, though, bad actors use the promise of NIL money to lure high school recruits and even players from other teams into the transfer portal with no expectation of any services being rendered. They do it because, within current NCAA rules, they can.

“The NCAA had an opportunity to stop this NIL freight train,” said sports-law attorney and agent J.R. Carroll of Kutak Rock’s Rogers office. “It chose not to. Now everyone has to deal with the consequences of those decisions.”

Lawmakers in states where college sports are popular were quick to enact legislation in 2021 allowing athletes to benefit financially from NIL and retain their amateur 29

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LEGAL/SPORTS status. But the disparate state laws that resulted from the nation’s knee-jerk reacbility in jeopardy. Wouldn’t it be awful for the tion to NIL would supersede any NCAA legislation, and most state laws don’t adparties involved — team, school, coach — if dress intent. your business contract caused a student athWith no enforcement on the horizon, the bidding process will continue. lete’s eligibility to be questioned?”

Many college officials, including Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek, Carroll said he doesn’t want his players have lobbied Congress to enact federal legislation to provide a blanket blueprint doing any in-season NIL deals or activities so for NIL and regulate how much athletes can accept. they can focus on the team and school. Plus, From the perspective of those who cling to the notion of amateur collegiate part of his job is to advise players on taking sports, NIL left the kids in charge, and slices of pizza are flying from the ceiling fan. deals that seem good and deliver an immedi“Federal legislation is desperately needed to regulate NIL deals,” Henry said. ate bang — to a player and an agent — but “The disparity in state laws is enormous and growing, making the need for consisaren’t so good in the long run. tency at the federal level even more important. So far, Congress has not seen fit to “We don’t trip over dollars chasing penpass legislation to right this ship.” nies,” he said.

Hot Springs attorney Chris Turnage, whose United Athlete Sports Agency inHenry also questioned whether NIL has cludes five agent/attorneys spread from Provo to Wilmington, deals mostly with enabled some player representatives to pracpro athletes but also represents college tice law without a license. coaches and some college athletes. He “In Arkansas, you must be a lirepresents several NFL athletes with censed attorney to practice law,” she Arkansas ties, including former Hogs said. “I’ve wondered why the ArkanDeatrich Wise Jr. of the Patriots and Dre sas NIL statute allows a student athGreenlaw of the 49ers. lete to be represented in NIL transHe supports the NIL ideal but thinks it actions by an ‘agent’ not licensed to has evolved into outright pay-to-play. practice law in Arkansas. Isn’t that “It’s good that these players get some the unauthorized practice of law? money for themselves and their famiEven worse, in this arrangement, is lies,” he said, “but I wish it were a true the student athlete getting the best NIL opportunity and not a chance for representation possible?” schools to get recruits to campus.”

Henry’s points showcase the Still, NIL gives schools like Arkansas roughshod nature of NIL’s evoluan opening when recruiting against the tion, in which the priority seems to blue bloods. have shifted from athletes’ rights to “I think it’s helped schools like Arkanwhat others can get out of it.

Jerseys like this replica Darren McFadden sas,” Turnage said. “They were losing reAnother consideration is the taxNo. 5 from the 2000s were big sellers in cruiting battles to the Alabamas anyway es owed on all this NIL income.

Arkansas. (Photo provided) before NIL. This gives ‘em a chance.”

“Taxes are always a discussion But just a chance. Arkansas is a “have” with the client when a WLJ attorin the overall picture of college athletics, but some “haves” have more than others. ney is involved in a NIL transaction,” Henry “Having no standard regulation of NIL means nobody plays on the same, level said. “Someone has to pay the taxes, and it is playing field,” Turnage said. typically the student athlete working as an Another issue for those involved in NIL is the lack of agent regulation. independent contractor. So taxes should be a “There are no continuing education requirements or anything,” Turnage said. consideration so there is no surprise on the “You pay the fee, which is $300 to $500, fill out some paperwork, and you’re an backend of a deal.”

NIL agent.”

Carroll said he makes all his players sit Turnage remembers an athlete who essentially signed away his lifetime rights to down with a CPA, who explains everything to benefit off of NIL for $500. them pertaining to the taxes applied to their Henry said athletes and businesses not working with legal counsel on NIL deals NIL payments. are taking a big risk.

“Most of these guys are good guys from “Many student athletes either have no representation in negotiating, assuming good families, but when we were in college, there is actually any give and take, or documenting NIL agreements,” she said. “Athdid we understand the full gravity of the U.S. letes often engage a marketing consultant not licensed to practice law, or a marketgovernment?” ing firm, rather than a law firm — and importunely, some attorneys in this practice Turnage wonders if the return on invesarea have little experience in negotiating and documenting contracts. Every word ment on NIL deals — or eventual lack thereof of a contract has meaning, and without an experienced business attorney involved, — will play a role. the student athlete risks inadequate terms or even those that put the athlete’s eligi“In three years, these businesses will stop OC TO B ER 2 02 3

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paying if players don’t deliver on the field,” he said. “The question is, if they don’t, do businesses keep pumping money into NIL?” For Carroll, NIL has evolved pretty much as he thought it would. He’s signed many NIL deals for current Razorbacks KJ Jefferson, Raheim Sanders, Beaux Limmer, Chris Paul Jr., Isaiah Sategna, Isaac TeSlaa, Dwight McGlothern and Jacolby Criswell and also represents pro Hogs like Treylon Burks of the Titans.

Carroll said NIL’s evolution has shifted the focus from a player’s market value to collectives, the school-specific pools into which donors and boosters drop money to create NIL opportunities. Officially, the opportunities are for existing athletes on campus to capitalize on NIL, but in practice, collectives are used to help lure high-value recruits and transfer targets. NIL collectives now are found at virtually every Power 5 school. Three collectives work NIL opportunities for Razorback athletes — the ONEArkansas fund, the Hunt family’s Athlete Advocate Consortium and the 4th and 25 Fund, the latter two of which focus on connecting Hog players with local nonprofits and philanthropic causes.

Carroll thinks the chain of falling dominos set off by NIL is far from done. Expect major changes in the next three to five years to the way college sports is structured, he said.

“There will be a clear delineation between ‘feeder schools’ and the Power 5, almost like Minor League Baseball and the Major Leagues,” he said.

With the end of the Pac 12 after this academic year and SEC and Big Ten expected to pick off the most valuable brands from the ACC, the Power 5 is expected to settle into a Power 2 or 3. Carroll thinks the “Power” schools, however many they might number in three years, could break away from the NCAA, at least for football.

“The conference commissioners have basically called the NCAA’s bluff and shown it has no power whatsoever outside of running March Madness,” he said. “They will listen to the NCAA as long as the NCAA doesn’t make a decision they don’t like.”

Carroll estimated that 80 percent to 90 percent of college athletes don’t have NIL deals, but said athletes understand that they’ll naturally go to the star players. He called the notion that NIL has created dissention in locker ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

Chris Turnage

J.R. Carroll

K.J. Jefferson, shown earlier this year at LSU, is one of the Razorback athletes represented by Carroll. (Photo courtesy of Arkansas Athletics)

Carroll said Arkansas’ NIL game is top 20, “maybe even in the 7 to 15 range.” rooms a “myth.”

He named Georgia, Texas A&M and (incoming member) Texas as the top NIL players in SEC football and said Arkansas holds its own NIL-wise in each of the three top sports. He said Arkansas’ NIL game is equally effective for football, basketball and baseball, though, in baseball, it may have more of an advantage relative to other college baseball programs. He said the overall NIL game at Arkansas is top 20, “maybe even in the 7 to 15 range.”

As for federal legislation reigning in NIL, Carroll doesn’t see it. States won’t sit back and accept a federal regulation that could end up harming their big colleges by placing limits on NIL payments, he said.

“They’ve let Pandora out of the box,” he said, “and you can’t get it back in.”

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L O C A L C O M M U N I T I E S A R E O U R F O U N D AT I O N The Foundation has a vision for communities in Arkansas – to become the places your kids will want to raise their kids. By strategically funding a variety of local nonprofits we provide not only resources, insights and inspiration but also statewide impact to build better communities.

Find your local affiliate at arcf.org.

LEGAL

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LEGAL

THE BLIND EYES OF JUSTICE Legal Aid fosters equality, addresses roots of social struggles

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By Sarah DeClerk

he law is a powerful, unwieldy beast, and for those who do not have adequate legal representation, a day in court can be life-altering. Legal Aid of Arkansas helps underserved clients understand and protect their rights while navigating civil cases in what can be a complex and confusing justice system.

“The most humble among us should be the peer of the most affluent when seeking access to justice,” said Lee Richardson, executive director, who added that indigent individuals have no right to counsel in civil cases except in very limited circumstances.

“Equality under the law, the rule of law, is the cornerstone of our country,” he said. “Justice enjoyed only by those of means and rationed for those with limited ability to pay ultimately leads to a breakdown in confidence and a marginalized population without confidence in the system.”

Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families who cannot afford to pay an attorney. With a focus on protection from domestic violence, access to safe and affordable housing, consumer protection, and economic justice, including access to public benefits, Legal Aid provides advice, limited services and extended services, including full representation in court, depending on the circumstances of each case and Legal Aid’s capacity.

Legal Aid also engages in community outreach and education and hosts a score of legal clinics annually on topics such as sealing criminal records, estate planning, and name and gender changes.

The organization also provides legal information and self-help forms at arlawhelp.org.

“In many situations, it is hard for a lay person or community agency serving that person to identify when an attorney is needed

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or if a situation might be one that ultimately has a legal solution that needs the involvement of a lawyer,” Richardson said. “When in doubt, the individual should contact us and let us determine if there is a legal solution or the need for intervention by counsel.”

Legal Aid generally serves those with a household income at or below 125 percent of the poverty line, but Richardson said many funding streams are available for those at 200 percent and higher.

In addition, several grants do not require a means test, including the Fair Housing Project grant funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and grants funded by Victims of Crime Act and Older Americans Act funding.

Case priorities are set by Legal Aid’s board of directors, which includes 12 attorneys and six client-eligible individuals from the 31-county service area. The primary factors involved in case acceptance and the level of services provided include the likelihood of legal success, the resources required, capacity, the vulnerability of the client, alternative resources, the long-term benefit of representation to the client and the community, and the seriousness of the legal matter, including its impact on the client and whether the issue is common or systemic.

“We regularly do a legal-needs assessment in the community, engaging clients, other organizations serving clients, judges, attorneys, public officials and available statistics,” Richardson said.

“Each of our substantive groups closely reviews priorities in that area annually to present to the board for approval.”

Since 2018, Legal Aid has operated the HUD-funded Fair Housing Project, which represents victims of housing discrimination by helping clients bring affirmative and defensive discrimination cases to state and federal court and by providing representation 34

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in administrative cases before HUD and the Arkansas Fair Houspartner to address the social and legal needs of a patient or their ing Commission. The program also helps clients obtain relief such family that may have a negative impact on their health,” Richardas reasonable accommodations and modifications for individuals son said. “Working together, we are able to improve health outwith disabilities. comes for patients, including reducing hospital readmissions. This Legal Aid also uses the grant funds to conduct systemic inalso saves money for health care providers.” vestigations to ensure housing providers comply with state and In 2022, Legal Aid closed more than 7,000 cases that benefitted federal civil rights laws and to provide education and outreach nearly 18,000 household members, including more than 8,000 chilto individuals, community organizations, landlords, tenants and dren. Domestic violence was present in about 2,200 of those cases, housing professionals. and substance abuse was present in about 1,300.

Another program, the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, provides Legal Aid helped with more than 70 types of legal issues that year, free representation to Arkansas regarding income-tax controverthe top five being divorce, orders of protection, landlord-tenant relasies with the IRS and the Arkansas Department of Finance and tionships, criminal record sealing, and custody or visitation rights, Administration. The clinic works with the IRS to generate accurate and obtained more than 400 orders of protection. The organization tax assessments while fostering consistent tax-filing compliance also saved or recovered more than $3.5 million for clients.

by Arkansas taxpayers. The clinic includes an ongoing education Major victories accomplished over the past several years incampaign that explains common tax principles and promotes Volclude preventing a landlord from systematically evicting all the unteer Income Tax Assistance sites.

Marshallese tenants in an apart“Through grant and donor fundment complex, preventing the state Legal Aid provides free civil legal ing, Legal Aid of Arkansas secures from cutting people off Medicaid via millions of dollars in refunds for requirements, elimiservices to low-income individuals and work-reporting taxpayers who cannot navigate the nating an algorithm that cut the federal and state tax rules on their in-home care of disabled or elderly families who cannot afford to pay an own,” Richardson said. “We also Arkansans, improving the appeals attorney and focuses on protection lower their tax liabilities in audits, process for people facing Medicaid identity-protection procedures and from domestic violence, access to safe cuts, and making sure eligible peocollection cases, and other matters.” ple secured unemployment benefits and affordable housing, consumer One statewide project led by Leduring the COVID-19 pandemic, gal Aid and the Center for Arkansas Richardson said. protection, and economic justice.

Legal Services is Beyond Opioids, Throughout the years, Legal Aid which focuses on providing free atstaff have learned that there will fortorneys to individuals and families of individuals struggling with ever be an endless line of clients seeking help and that the world opioid-use and substance-use disorders. The goal of the project will never give the organization the resources to do what it is asked is to address the social determinants of recovery and help clients or expected to do, he said. With that in mind, the organization shiftachieve financial stability, safe and affordable housing, consumer ed to an upstream model of delivery about 10 years ago. protections, and stable lives free of family violence.

“Instead of trying to save all the babies floating down the river Richardson said Legal Aid has assisted about 5,000 clients since — invariably we will not get to all of them, and some will be lost — the project started in September 2021. we have pivoted to working upstream, looking for the ogre tossing ”The biggest hurdle was overcoming the stigma surrounding this the babies into the stream, then working at the source to defeat the issue. We had to first work internally, then in the legal community problem, all the while, still working downstream to save as many and judicial system, and finally externally to achieve acceptance babies as we can,” he said. “This upstream work has been impactful for and excitement about this highly successful project,” he added. on several fronts. We will continue to use this mix of strategies to “We have since made many presentations about this concept on the maximize our services.” national level, and the project is being replicated in other states.”

Legal Aid constantly evolves the services it offers and works Legal Aid partners with dozens of public and private organizato stay on the cutting edge of new technologies and ideas, Richtions locally, statewide and nationally, including domestic violence ardson said, adding that the organization was able to seamlessly shelters, homeless shelters and organizations that assist victims of transition from the office to remote work without any service disdisasters, victims of human trafficking, people recovering from subruptions during the pandemic. In the future, Legal Aid may incorstance abuse, people reentering from prison and members of the porate artificial intelligence into its day-to-day operations someLGBTQ community. how, he added.

In addition, Legal Aid has several medical-legal partnerships “Orthodoxy is the enemy of nonprofits in general and Legal with organizations such as Arkansas Children’s, Boston MounAid programs in particular,” he said. “We will continue to gauge tain Rural Health Center, Mid-Delta Health Systems and Veterans the legal needs of the communities we serve and be mindful, Healthcare System of the Ozarks. thoughtful and deliberate in how we deploy the meager resources “An MLP is a collaboration between Legal Aid and a health care the world provides us with to have the greatest impact.”

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CORPORATIONS RELYING ON IN-HOUSE COUNSEL

By Kenneth Heard

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t’s a practice corporations and large companies have used for decades, and now more businesses are now using inhouse legal counsel rather than hiring outside attorneys.

The practice is both a cost-saving and time-preserving move, officials say, because attorneys can deal with the corporations’ legal issues on a full-time basis.

“Basically, the [legal] advice comes from inside the company,” said Maxine Greenwood, spokesperson for Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. “They have the understanding of what we do and how we do it. They have so much more knowledge than any outside counsel.”

With about 3,000 employees, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the largest health care provider in the state.

Arkansas Blue Cross has used in-house counsel for at least

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70 years. The insurance company first used four attorneys.

Now, Greenwood said, there are 50 attorneys on staff.

“We are such a highly regulated industry,” she said. “We have state insurance laws, federal laws and HIPPA laws. We need specialized experts in this business.”

Greenwood said attorneys expect increases in insurance regulations, and the company is anticipating “dozens of new laws” at the state level by the next General Assembly.

“Federal [insurance] will always see new laws put into place. Insurance is very complex. We’d have to spend a lot of time and money to get private attorneys up to date on all those changes.”

Arkansas Blue Cross still hires attorneys from private firms for various tasks for the firm, but prefers most work

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With all the regulations put on health insurers, I only see a need for in-house legal staffs.

I can’t think of anything I do without consulting with our legal team.”

every decision made should create sustainable value for all stakeholders — customers, employees, communities and owners.

“Rather than relying heavily on outside law firms to provide costly counsel and support, having an in-house legal team provides benefits to all our stakeholders,” he said. “By employing an in-house legal team that lives and works in the region we serve, our lawyers have a deep understanding of our customers and communities and the opportunities and challenges they face.”

— Maxine Greenwood Last year, Entergy’s in-house team hosted legal clinics, supported community organizations and handled individual legal needs such as adoptions, divorces and veterans issues. done in-house, she said.

In all, the team contributed 5,800 hours of community ser“We’d have to spend a substantial amount of time with vice. Since 2012, it has given more than 20,000 hours of pro them,” Greenwood said of private attorneys. “They’re not bono service — equivalent, Brown noted, to a $5.6 million inengaged in this type of business all the time. By keeping it kind donation to communities. inside, it’s less expensive.”

Before joining Entergy in 1995, Brown was an attorney Attorneys hired from private firms would have to charge for a private firm in New Orleans. In 2020, Financial Times by the hour while they learned the business, she added. named him one of the top in-house legal counsels for comThe company’s in-house counsel deals with state laws, panies worldwide. His pro-bono legal assistance program Medicare and Medicaid claims, ARISA, filings, and appeals. was a first among Fortune 500 companies, and he received Plus, there are litigations for interpretations of state and fedthe 2020 Exemplar Award by the National Legal Aid & Deeral statutes, insurance payments and provider contracts. fender Association.

Greenwood said attorneys are needed even more after an “We empower our [in-house] team to become subjectincrease in media focus on insurance companies. The focus matter experts and encourage them to take a proactive step is based, in part, on filmmaker Michael Moore’s 2007 movie, to advise the company in key areas of interest,” he said.

Sicko, that skewers the health care industry and large companies’ denials of insurance claims, she said.

“I can’t imagine seeing any need to decrease the [in-house] legal team, at least in our industry,” Greenwood said. “With all the regulations put on health insurers, I only see a need for in-house legal staffs.

I can’t think of anything I do without consulting with our legal team.”

Entergy Corporation, the parent company of Entergy Arkansas, also uses in-house legal counsel.

The company, headquartered in New Orleans, provides electricity to 3 million customers in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. It employs about 12,000 people.

Marcus Brown, executive vice president — Marcus Brown and general counsel, said Entergy’s business strategy is built on the concept that

“Rather than relying heavily on outside law firms to provide costly counsel and support, having an in-house legal team provides benefits to all our stakeholders.”

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LINCOLN LAWYERS

Vic Harper and his daughter, Alex, of Harper Law Office in Star City are dedicated to providing residents of Lincoln County and rural south Arkansas with legal options.

Small town attorneys hydrate ‘legal deserts’

By Dwain Hebda | Photography by Julia Tipton

S

tar City sits broad and flat, a rivet in the hard, fertile Arkansas Delta. Besieged on all sides by galloping acres of cropland, the Lincoln County seat goes about life one gear slower than most places. If any of the 2,500 souls who live here know you, chances are they knew your daddy and his daddy before him. It’s the kind of town where life revolves around cheering the Bulldogs and news of the world shared over home-cooked daily specials at the local cafe.

Harper Law Office mirrors its homespun surroundings, a fixture in the community ever since Vic Harper hung his shingle 40 years ago. Specializing in family law, real estate law, wills, trusts, estates and some miscellaneous legal services, the office is a well-recognized service provider to the area. Truth be told, it’s a quiet little firm in a quiet little town, which is just how Vic likes it.

“There’s a lot of people that you actually get to help, and you get to see it happen,” Vic said in a soft molasses drawl. “You do adoptions, get kids out of bad situations, you help people with their elderly parents, and you get to see the results. Also, you make friends with these folks. You make friends with law enforcement and things like that.

“I think one of the big advantages is in these smaller towns you can get things done faster. If I need something, I know who the surveyor is, I know who, the insurance agent is. I can call them and get it done.”

Over the past decade Vic, 65, has been joined in the firm by his daughter Alex, who like her father, left Star City just long enough to complete her degrees and figure out life in a big firm in the big city wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

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“I considered other options as I was going through law school, and I was always led back here,” she said. “I would look at other types of law, and I just didn’t gravitate to those. It just wasn’t my niche. It would come back over and over through skills courses that I was meant for the blessing and the curse that is family law.

“I’m also very close to my family; my older sibling is here, and my nephews were a very, very big pull to coming back. And I wanted to have children, and I would much prefer them to go to school here versus Little Rock or Sherwood, where I was living at one time.”

If such commingling of generational fortunes as Vic and Alex’s doesn’t seem particularly noteworthy, it isn’t — at least not in a hundred other towns and a thousand other family practices. In fact, it’s not particularly unusual in these parts either, where kids still grow up to do what their parents did, albeit in fewer numbers than they used to.

But mix the specific elements of place and profession, and Star City is something truly remarkable in the state — a rural community that’s managed to attract and retain resident legal firms comprised of multiple generations, the Harpers being exhibit A. That might not sound like something a community would hang its hat on, but it’s what the state’s bar association and law colleges are desperate to replicate and something other rural counties in Arkansas would kill for.

“We have a legal desert in many areas of our state, and it’s a significant problem,” said Margaret Dobson, president of the Arkansas Bar Association, who has her own small-town practice in Sheridan. “This topic is really near and dear to my heart and something I’ve been preaching about for a number of years. If you don’t have a lawyer in the community, people can’t stop in and ask their questions. By the time it’s important enough for them to go to the big city to ask a lawyer, it’s not a little problem anymore. Now it’s a big problem, and it ends up feeling like the legal system hasn’t been fair to them.

“It’s part of the continuing divide in our country between the haves and the have-nots.

As lawyers, we’re the voice for the person who needs a voice in a courtroom, and in many places, people don’t have access to justice because they don’t have access to an expert who can help figure out an answer.”

There is no clearer symptom of the slow death of small communities, save perhaps for OC TOB E R 2023

LEGAL lack of medical professionals, than the bone-deep shortage of as it is a host of things for a number of people,” Dobson said. “A attorneys in rural Arkansas. In its 2020 Profile of the Legal Prolot of them want to stay in more metropolitan areas. They want fession, the American Bar Association spotlighted the problem social opportunities and marriage opportunities. I also think in of legal deserts and found the Natural State to be in good comterms of opening your own practice, it’s a little scary. pany. The report noted that, of the more than 3,100 counties and “Law school does an amazing job of teaching how to spot iscounty equivalents in the United States, about 1,300 (40 percent) sues and how to think and how to analyze and how to research, had less than one lawyer per 1,000 residents, and 182 had only but you physically cannot pack into three years how to actuone or two resident attorally practice law. Opening neys. Most sobering of all, your own office, you are 52 U.S. counties had no your own human resource resident attorneys located manager, your own acwithin their borders. countant, your own everyArkansas had 6,299 thing. If you go to work at lawyers per the 2020 rea firm, there’s a safety net. port, which worked out You have all those experts to 2.1 lawyers per 1,000 around you to help you people. This tied it for last with those things. It’s a in the nation with Arisofter landing.” zona and South Carolina, Vic said while the curstates with roughly twice rent shortage is more to two-and-a-half times pronounced than it used the population base. Arto be, rural communities kansas also had the dubihave always been chalous distinction of having lenged when it comes one of the 52 counties, to attracting legal firms.

Cleveland County, with Even among those lawzero resident lawyers. yers who do come out of Seven counties registered law school intending to go less than five attorneys, back home, turnover can including Calhoun (two), be high given the hustle Lafayette (two), Montgomrequired to pay the bills. ery (three), Fulton (four), Harper Law Office casts a Newton (four), Scott (four) wide net to keep the lights and Pike (four), while 12 on, serving essentially more had between six and all of southeast Arkansas nine lawyers. across 12 counties, plus seIn the 2022 version of lected cases in central and the report, Arkansas imeven north-central Arkanproved slightly and tied sas that make sense. It’s a for 45th in the nation at highly relational business Alex Harper said she had other options but was 2.3 lawyers per 1,000 resiwhere familiarity with loalways drawn back home. dents with Indiana, Iowa, cal dynamics and a sound Mississippi and South Dakota. South Carolina, North Dakota, professional reputation with judges are key factors to long-term Idaho and Arizona rounded out the bottom four states with success.

South Carolina, again last at 2.1 attorneys per 1,000 residents.

“I think when Alex started, I had four friends that either had At face value, the cause of the drought shares a familiar rekids or close relatives that went into the practice with them but frain with many other professions — baby boomers are hanging Alex is the only one left,” Vic said. “There was a group of five it up, and not enough Gen X’s and younger are there to step into that started about the same time she did in South Arkansas their place. Why the younger set isn’t stepping in is a more nuand she’s the last one. They’ve all moved on; most of them anced question. After all, bringing an in-demand skillset into an don’t even practice law anymore.” underserved area with virtually no competition and low over“A ton of people I graduated law school with started practichead is usually seen as a golden opportunity. Not so in the curing and quickly said, ‘Oh no. This [expletive] is terrible,’” Alex rent legal profession. said. “They started doing finance or literally anything else oth“If I knew the exact problem, I would wave a magic wand and er than this.” fix it. I don’t know that it’s one thing for every person as much Research from the University of California Davis School OC TO B ER 2 02 3

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of Law released in 2015 sought to discover how Arkansas law students felt about legal careers in rural areas and why. It surveyed students at the state’s two law schools — the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law — and found the leading discouraging factors were a perceived lack of earning power in a rural practice and a general shortage of career and professional opportunities, attitudes Alex has witnessed among her own peers.

“I think there’s a misconception because the population is smaller that there’s not going to be a heavy enough caseload,” she said. “I have an acquaintance in Memphis about to finish up. She’s close to taking the bar, and her husband is somewhat local to here, and they’re tossing around the idea of coming back. She will, I think, be a brilliant attorney. She’s working for fairly large firms there in northeast Arkansas. She talked to me about her fears in coming here because she is not from here. Is there going to be a high enough case load? Am I needed there? Will I be able to support a family if I am there?”

Students in the UC Davis study echoed these sentiments, concerns that appeared to stem largely from perceptions based on life experiences that provided limited, if any, exposure to rural areas. With said exposure, the report found, perceptions changed dramatically.

Only about 5.5 percent of students in the study had grown up in a county with less than 15,000 residents, but an average of about 15.5 percent of them reported having spent a year in such a county at some point. Of those who’d spent a year in rural areas, 75 percent of Fayetteville law students and 85 percent of Little Rock law school students would seriously consider working in a county of less than 15,000 people.

Kelly Terry, associate dean for experiential learning and clinical programs with the Bowen School of Law, said the law school provides real-world opportunities for students to impart just this type of professional exposure outside the state’s metro areas.

“Experiential learning is basically where we put students in roles as attorneys to really focus on the day-to-day work that attorneys perform,” she said. “In our upper-level experiential learning, students can participate in a clinic or an externship.

Our Delta Divorce Clinic is probably the one where we have the most impact.

“That clinic focuses on what you might consider the more traditional counties of the Delta, like Woodruff and Lee counties in the eastern part of the state. Students in that clinic go to that part of the state on a regular basis — they’re meeting people there; they’re seeing the cities and towns. That clinic has also done some work in Jefferson County and Lincoln County, and now they’ve broadened their reach, and they’re focusing on northeast Arkansas outside of Jonesboro, giving students exposure to those other parts of the state.”

Suzanne Penn is the director of the Delta Divorce Clinic. She said the impact of the program lies not only in the services it provides but in giving students an eye-opening look at the level of need that exists within these areas. The hope is at least a few will be moved enough by the pressing cause of providing equal justice for all to set up shop in an underserved area.

“There is clearly a need, and the reason for that need is not just because of no private attorneys in rural counties. It’s also because existing legal services just don’t have the capacity to serve every low-income Arkansan in this state,” she said. “These are people who have fallen through the cracks in our civil justice system because local attorneys simply can’t take on that many pro bono cases if they’re trying to make ends meet to make their practice work.

“Among the people I have met was a gentleman down in southeast Arkansas who had been separated from his spouse for 40 years and had not been able to obtain a divorce until our clinic came down to Chicot County to help him. There are easily five to 10 people I’ve met who’ve been separated 30 years in the eight years we’ve been doing this, and a very good number have been separated 20 years.”

One important finding of the UC Davis study was the impact that incentives could have on the situation. Loan repayment assistance was one potential motivator named by a majority of respondents, who said they would seriously consider a rural practice in exchange for loan repayment of between $5,000 and $10,000 per year. While such incentive programs are already in place in many states for medical professionals, including in Arkansas, such programs for new lawyers are virtually nonexistent nationwide.

It’s not just financial incentives that could potentially move the needle, either. The UC Davis study also showed mentorship

The leading discouraging factors were a perceived lack of earning power in a rural practice and a general shortage of career and professional opportunities, attitudes Alex has witnessed among her own peers.

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LEGAL could be an equally powerful draw. About 64 percent of students and speaks its own language. He’s judiciously turned down surveyed said they would be interested to very interested in taksome local cases in his career, knowing how easily small-town ing over a retiring lawyer’s practice if the retiree would agree feuds can start and how long they can simmer. These and other to provide mentoring for a certain period of time. The Bowen unique elements of client relationships and court etiquette are School of Law has built on this desire among law students, crelessons he’s tried to pass on to his daughter. ating a legal practice incubator for students with any interest at “I’ve always told Alex, ‘Don’t have harsh words with other atall in practicing rurally to help get their venture off the ground. torneys. Some of them you’re going to see twice, but some of them “The committee reviews their application, their business you’re going to see a hundred times, so don’t burn bridges unless plan, their goals. Then we you have to,’” he said. select ones that we think “Sometimes when we have a good plan,” Dobhave attorneys from out of son said. “We help them town, their dialogue will define their plan a little start off very aggressive,” better, and then we proAlex said. “I would say vide them a lot of support nine times out of 10, by the in their first year or two time we’re in court we’re out in the practice. We try good because they realize to pull resources together we can do just as good of from as many different ara job without being an ass. eas as possible, providing Now, sometimes I’m going them with mentors they to give you the energy you can talk to, providing them give me, but in general, with services and supplies I think we’re just nicer and education and prodown here.” grams and software. We This aside, there’s no also provide a little bit of denying what time has money to help pay rent brought to the practice of or to help with that initial law and the many ways the setup cost.” new generation thinks and Alex knows firsthand does things differently, both the fears of the new attorattorney and client alike. ney in practice, which is That’s where Vic has seen why she said she’s grateAlex step into her own. ful for having joined the “We have a lot of peofirm with her dad to help ple, more what I call the the breaking-in process go younger crowd, that call more smoothly. and ask for Alex now, no “I think it was a huge doubt,” he said. “She can factor in me ending up relate really well to them.” here because I could not “I think we have, over have had a better teacher,” the years, developed a reVic Harper said the current shortage of attorneys in rural she said. “At the beginlationship where we know communities is more pronounced than ever. ning, you’re not experiour strengths,” Alex said. enced. To be honest, if I’m “His strengths are those going to get a lawyer, I’m going to get the lawyer that’s been pracreal estate things, not the talking to people every day and let-meticing for 30 years, not two. So, they would come in for [Vic], and be-your-therapist things. Then there are certain types of cases I I would sort of ride his coattails, which you may not get to do at don’t touch; I don’t know what I’m doing, and I don’t pretend to. a larger firm. That’s how I learned. Then I started developing Those are the things that he’s wonderful at. those relationships.

“Do we disagree? Absolutely. But with our dynamic, I always “I think it was weirder 10 years ago than now, but it still is knew that it was a safe space for disagreement. Sometimes I will weird for me to have a 70-year-old client. I struggle not to say ‘yes die on that rock, and this just happened the other day, — I had ma’am, no ma’am’ and to be in that authoritative role. I want an to come back in and go, ‘Yep, you were right.’ This is his ship, but attorney who’s strong and is able to direct me as the client, and I know if I disagree with him when I think we should do someI try to be that.” thing, I know I can say, ‘Hey, we need to do this; here’s why,’ and Vic noted that small-town law often moves at its own pace if it makes a lick of sense, he’s going to listen to that.”

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The

GUNSLINGER ‘When you have Tom Mars on the other sideline, you better buckle up’

By Dwain Hebda Photo provided

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T

homas Mars loves a good story, and fortunately, he’s got a million of ’em. Arguably the state’s most high-profile attorney, Mars swings easily from one fascinating tale to another with ease.

There’s the one about his childhood friend who grew up to carry a black passport and run counterterrorism ops in the Middle East.

“We grew up in Bethesda, Md., and we would hang out behind the Safeway at night because they had lights, and we’d play baseball with tennis balls and ride bicycles and just be degenerate, aimless, mindless teenagers,” Mars said. “I worked at his dad’s gas station throughout high school.”

There’s the one about his first apartment after moving to Arkansas to attend school, owned by the county coroner.

“He approached me and said, ‘Hey, I’ll make you a deal. You can live in this apartment for free and all you have to do is run the ambulance calls at night.’ It was either five or six nights a week,” Mars said. “This place that I lived in was a one-room place with a bed and a little kitchen, and the door was about six feet away from the embalming room. I lived in a funeral home, basically. Needless to say, my social life was not very memorable.”

Then there’s the one about meeting Houston Nutt, former head football coach at Arkansas and Ole Miss.

Nutt hired Mars after deciding he’d had enough of the Rebels splashing accusations of NCAA recruiting violations all over his good name to cover the tracks of Nutt’s successor, Hugh Freeze.

“When I first met Houston down in Dallas, he said, ‘Hey, weren’t you that guy who used to live next door to us at the end of Sassafras Lane?’ I said, ‘Yeah,’” Mars said. “He said, ‘How come we never met?’ I said, ‘Well, I didn’t care anything about college football, and I’m sure you were busy, and I was busy suing people, I guess. I don’t know.’ I’d only been to maybe three Razorback games in my life.”

The more Mars talks, in fact, the more streamingworthy tales fall out of his mouth. How any of these ready-made scripts haven’t been made into a TV series defies understanding except perhaps for the fact thatsome might not believe they actually happened. Students who hate law school don’t go on to make millions as an attorney. People with only a working knowledge

of college sports don’t bring the NCAA to its knees. Opposing counsels don’t win multi-million-dollar judgements against corporate behemoths only to then be pursued and hired by said behemoth.

Unless, of course, you’re Thomas Mars.

“I don’t say things unless I know what I’m talking about. I try not to be mean-spirited, but sometimes I fail, and I try to be better about that,” he said. As if realizing that doesn’t quite square things, he took another run at it.

“Nobody could make this stuff up,” he said. “And not all of it makes me look good, but it’s still kind of funny.”

Mars started his professional life as a police officer in Virigina with an eye on one day making the FBI. A middling student, he graduated from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, where his father had been dean for a time, then took the LSAT and started applying to law schools back on the east coast.

“I graduated from Arkansas State with a 3.3 grade point average, and my score on the LSAT was better than horrible,” he said. “I don’t remember how many law schools there are in Virginia, but I think it’s six. I applied to all of them; sadly, I was rejected by all of them.”

Mars’ father, who’d relocated to an out-of-state job by this time, had few contacts in Arkansas, but one was Jim Miller, now senior associate dean of students with the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville. Mars called Miller, who apparently liked what he heard enough to make a proposition.

“He said, ‘I keep a couple of spots every year for people like you. I’ll let you in, but you’ve got to make me two promises,’” Mars said. “‘One, you’ll work hard. Two, you won’t quit.’ I’m like, ‘Sure. Deal.’”

Mars regretted getting his break almost immediately and hated every aspect of law school. After bombing some early exams, he started looking for other lines of work.

“I didn’t know at the time there was this psychological trick they pulled,” Mars said. “They had these practice exams around October in the first semester of law school; at least they did at Arkansas. Basically, most everybody gets a D or C-. I can’t remember what I got, but I did horribly. That was it for me. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

I said, ‘I’m out of here.’”

With his law enforcement background, Mars had no trouble finding a job with the Little Rock Police Department but wasn’t due to start work until January. He’d planned to deliver the news of his dropping out to Miller’s secretary, but his mentor overheard and ordered him into his office.

I have this passion for being relentless, focused and driven.

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LEGAL “Jim read me the riot act,” he said. “‘Why do you have to quit?! Your new job doesn’t start until January. At least be a man and stay until the end of the semester. That’s the least you can do, not that that would be very honorable.’ He just shamed me into staying.”

Mars rode it out, then packed up for Little Rock.

He’d only been in town a short time when Miller ordered him back to Northwest Arkansas. It was a Saturday.

“I walked in, and he said, ‘Have you looked at your grades?’ I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Well, I have, and you’re first in your class,’” Mars said. “I’m like, ‘No, that can’t be,’ and he said, ‘I didn’t believe it either. I talked to everybody. I don’t know how this could have happened.’

He sat me down and became as paternalistic as anybody could be. Went from being this gruff guy to explaining to me that my life could be vastly different, even if I graduated in the top 20 percent of my class. I mean, he changed my life.

“I’ve talked a few times on this, and the point I try to make is if you place too much emphasis on what statistics tell you about whether a person is going to be successful or not, you might miss out on some pretty good people. I don’t know how else to explain it. I wasn’t supposed to do well at all.”

Mars might have gotten with the academic program, but his subsequent career was anything but conformist. His style melded Southern gentility, Midwestern work ethic and Eastern Seaboard brass knuckles as the situation required. Of politics he was largely agnostic; he started out at the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, where he reported directly to former First Lady Hillary Clinton and Vince Foster, former deputy White House counsel, and later represented former Gov. Mike Huckabee and served as Huckabee’s director of the Arkansas State Police.

High profile cases weren’t all he did, but he had more than his share which accelerated his reputation and put him on the side of, or across from, some of the most high-powered companies and individuals the state has ever produced. He crossed swords with business magnate and former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Mack McLarty, whom Mars describes as “for years on my short list of the men I admire most.”

Billionaire and longtime NFL owner Jerry Jones was another to run up against Mars and after licking his wounds, Jones invited opposing counsel onto the field for a Dallas Cowboys game.

“I didn’t like any part of that case, Tom,” Jones is said to have told him, “but you did a hell of a job.”

“I always tried to conduct myself in litigation in a way that was respectful,” Mars said. “I’ll be the first to admit that I have been and will continue to be aggres-

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sive, sometimes very aggressive if it’s necessary, if the other side isn’t being honest or isn’t being realistic about the legal situation they’ve found themselves in.”

The Mars brand of lawyering was devastatingly effective in court, so much so that many defendants couldn’t help but hire him as their counsel just after he’d just taken them to the cleaners.

“Decades ago, there was a massive snowstorm in Northwest Arkansas.

It was late in the season, like March, and it collapsed a bunch of chicken houses,” Mars said. “I was hired by a guy named Gary Cox, who owned some of these chicken houses, to sue the manufacturer, a company called LATCO, owned by Dick Latta, who passed away recently.

“It was a typical commercial lawsuit, but I sued LATCO for punitive damages for knowing that these chicken houses would be prone to collapse. I remember I had Dick Latta on the stand, who cried when I was cross-examining him. It wasn’t maybe a month later, right after the papers had been signed and check cut and all that, Dick called me and asked me out to his place in Washington County and asked me to be his lawyer. I was his lawyer for years and years after that. We became super good friends.”

Mars would pull the same maneuver on the ultimate whale, Walmart, in a case that started as a routine breach of contract lawsuit that turned so ugly Mars wasn’t even allowed inside Walmart Headquarters at one point.

“As a courtesy, I took a copy of the amended complaint up to Bentonville to the home office,” he said. “I was greeted outside by the in-house lawyer on the case. I opened the envelope and said, ‘I’m going to file this tomorrow morning. I just wanted to give you guys a heads-up.’ He threw the paper in my face and called me a snake in the grass. I said something inappropriate and left.

“The next morning, I was pulling into my office, and there was a black Jaguar, which I happened to know was owned by Robert Rhoads, the general counsel at Walmart, and he was parked in my parking space. After getting out of my pickup truck and telling him to get out of my parking space, I invited him inside. We settled the case for $22.5 million.”

In 2002, Mars’ phone rang, and Rhoads suggested he make a career change to join Walmart’s in-house legal team. The offer was lucrative enough to pique Mars’ interest but still less than what he was making in private practice He turned it down.

“Robert, I swear, said, ‘Well, I’m not surprised. Ever since I nominated you to the CEO, I told him right up front, a guy with an ego as big as Mars has, he might be afraid to do something he might not succeed at,”’ Mars said. “Then he closed by saying, ‘Hey, it’s late Friday. I know you’re not going to change your mind, but if you happen to, I’m not going to say anything until Monday.’”

Mars wasn’t about to be roped in by pride but thought he’d check his decision against people he trusted. He met the next day with then-Gov. Mike Huckabee on other business and mentioned the exchange in passing, to which the state’s former chief executive replied, “You need to see a psychiatrist.” Driving back home, he stopped on a whim at a BMW dealership, where he happened to cross paths with Warren Stephens of Stephens Inc. Stephens’ assessment of his decision to decline ran along the lines of “you’re making one of the biggest mistakes of your life.”

On that advice, Mars reversed field and took the job as Walmart’s U.S. litigation chief. Four months later, he was appointed to head Walmart’s global legal team and later chief administration officer. The story could

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have ended there, with Mars earning a king’s ransom seated near the head of power in one of the most dominant companies on the planet, but new challenges were just over the horizon.

In 2012, Walmart paid a $282 million settlement to the federal government amid accusations the company was paying bribes in overseas markets to grease the skids on construction projects. That situation, Mars would tell the Wall Street Journal in 2020, unfairly associated him with wrongdoing and “tarnished my reputation in a way that I couldn’t do anything about.” He took his severance and returned to private practice where, soon, he’d get the chance to help someone else in a similar situation gain redemption.

“I know what it’s like to be in Houston Nutt’s shoes,” he said in the article, referencing Nutt’s lawsuit against Ole Miss, which Nutt alleged ran a smear campaign against him.

Of all the stories in his catalogue, the one that comes closest to Mars not believing himself is that all he initially asked of Ole Miss was an apology to their former coach, and a private one at that. In a colossal miscalculation, the school refused, and everyone who knew Mars, friend or foe, took a collective gasp.

As Nutt would later tell the Wall Street Journal, “When you have Tom Mars on the other sideline, you better buckle up.”

The defamation lawsuit was filed in July 2017. During the course of investigative work, Mars found Freeze and others helped create a false narrative among the local media that cast Nutt as the source of the NCAA violations. As an unexpected bonus, Freeze’s phone records also showed calls to an escort service. Publicly disgraced, he resigned shortly after the lawsuit was filed, and by October, Nutt would have his engraved apology wrapped in an undisclosed settlement.

Unsurprisingly, Mars incurred the wrath of Oxford, but, in an odd twist, was soon hired by parents of some Ole Miss players to sue for the right of the athletes to transfer and be immediately eligible, claiming they were misled by Freeze that the violations were Nutt’s doing. Mars again bested Ole Miss in court, and

the floodgates opened for dozens of other players, headlined by touted Georgia-turned-Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, who sought similar transfer help.

Between 2018 and 2021, the last vestiges of NCAA’s feudal system crumbled into the era of name image and likeness and the transfer portal, in part thanks to the battering ram wielded by a man who didn’t even follow college football.

“I have this passion for being relentless, focused and driven,” Mars said.

“As one of my favorite clients, Jim Harbaugh, is known to say, and his dad coined the phrase, ‘Attack every day with enthusiasm unknown to mankind.’ I get enthusiastically involved in these things, and it makes me willing to work harder than the next guy.”

Today, Mars finds himself in the rare and enviable position to pick and choose the kind of legal work he does. He’s continued his string of strange bedfellows, joining the NCAA’s Complex Case Unit while representing a stable of football and basketball coaches, as well as one of the largest NIL collectives in the nation, the Tennessee Collective. He still finds time to connect with his former colleagues at Walmart (in this case, “connect” means participate in a two-week jury trial in May that returned a $19.3 million verdict against the retailer) while representing the Walton Family Foundation.

Time will tell what awaits in life to feed the legal brawler in him, although his latest headlines suggest holding government officials’ feet to the fire may be a big part of it. But one thing is for certain; love him or hate him (and he cares not which) Thomas Mars isn’t going anywhere.

“I know that the large part of whatever success I’ve had is a result of the law enforcement experience I’ve had,” he said. “There’s a mindset about finding things and how you find things and as you start to look at everything you look at it through the lens of human nature.

Investigators sit back and think ‘What would I do if I were trying to conceal this?’ I’m not the smartest guy in the room, but when I take on something I’m passionate about it.

“I’ll be the first to admit there were cases where virtually every experienced lawyer in Northwest Arkansas would have told me it was a real mistake to take this case or that case, if I’d asked, but I was determined.

I’ve slept in my office many a night. I borrowed more money than I could afford to pay back at times — and I’m not recommending anyone doing that, by the way — where if I lost that case I guess I would have had to file bankruptcy. It just kind of goes back to being willing to do more and work harder than the next guy. There’s a saying that goes ‘When you’re asleep your opponent is out there training.’ That’s kind of the way I see it.”

The more you talk to Mars, in fact, the more streaming-worthy tales fall out of his mouth. How any of these ready-made scripts haven’t been made into a TV series defies understanding except perhaps for the fact no one would believe they actually happened.

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LARGEST ARKANSAS LAW FIRMS NUMBER OF ARKANSAS ATTORNEYS

LOCATIONS

Friday, Eldredge & Clark

90

Little Rock, Rogers

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard

85

Little Rock; Rogers; Jonesboro; Austin, Texas

Wright Lindsey Jennings

79

Little Rock, Rogers

Kutak Rock

53

Little Rock, Rogers, Fayetteville (based in Omaha)

Rose Law Firm

41

Little Rock, Fayetteville

Rainwater Holton & Sexton

39

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

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull

38

Little Rock, Springdale

Barber Law Firm

27

Little Rock, Bentonville

Gill Ragon Owen

27

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, Tx

Conner & Winters

15

Fayetteville (based in Oklahoma City)

Roberts Law Firm

15

Little Rock

Hilburn & Harper

14

North Little Rock

Caddell Reynolds Law Firm

13

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

Taylor Law Partners

13

Fayetteville

Matthew, Campbell, Rhoads, McClure & Thompson

12

Rogers

Munson, Rowlett, Moore & Boone

12

Little Rock

PPGMR Law

12

Little Rock

Waddell, Cole & Jones

10

Jonesboro

Carney Bates & Pulliam

9

Little Rock

The Brad Hendricks Law Firm

9

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

Ramsay, Bridgforth, Robinson and Raley

8

Pine Bluff

Womack Phelps Puryear Mayfield & McNeil

6

Jonesboro

FIRM NAME

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LEGAL

2023

ELITE

Thank you!

2023

The Law Offices of Katherine Blackmon is honored to be recognized for their dedication to their clients. With an emphasis on a team approach, Katherine Blackmon Carroll, Jalen Toms, and Lydia H. Hamlet are trauma-informed attorneys focused on providing empathy and support to the people who trust them with their family law matters, while also bringing zealous advocacy and strong litigation skills to the courtroom. The firm is grateful for this honor and will continue its commitment to providing the highest level of representation to Arkansans facing family law challenges.

KATHERINE BLACKMON CARROLL

JALEN TOMS

LYDIA H. HAMLET

212 Center Street | 11th Floor | Centre Place | Little Rock 501.372.7636 |

KEBlackmon

2023 LEGAL ELITE

LEGAL

2023

ELITE

Arkansas Money & Politics needed a good lawyer — our readers came through.

They gave us a lot more than one. We present the 2023 Legal Elite, go-to attorneys representing the spectrum of specialties in Arkansas, as chosen by AMP readers.

VANESSA CASH ADAMS AR Law Partners

2023

Vanessa Cash Adams graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 2007. She was admitted to the Arkansas Bar in 2007 and is licensed to practice in the eastern and western districts of Arkansas. Adams has been in private practice for 16 years, focusing primarily on consumer and business transactions, negotiations and bankruptcy. She services clients in the entire state and divides her time between her firm’s offices in Fayetteville and Little Rock. In 2020, Adams cofounded AR Law Partners alongside her talented partners, Charlie Cunningham, Dustin Duke and Katie Freeman. Adams currently serves as president of the Arkansas Association of Women lawyers and president-elect of the Debtor-Creditor Bar of Central Arkansas and is past-president of the Arkansas Bar Association’s DebtorCreditor section.

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JUSTIN ALLEN

Wright Lindsey Jennings

Justin Allen leads Wright Lindsey Jennings’ government relations practice group and assists clients in working with state and local government on matters of policy, regulation and legislation. Allen previously served the Arkansas Attorney General’s office as chief deputy attorney general, where he gained considerable experience in government relations matters, was responsible for all legal departments within the office and handled legal issues faced by the state. Allen has been named to the “40 Under 40” and “Arkansas 250” lists

by Arkansas Business, and he is a graduate of Leadership Arkansas. Allen is recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers and the Best Lawyers in America. He represents clients from numerous industries, including health care, banking, broadband, forestry, gaming and alcohol, to name a few. Allen actively serves on the Arkansas State University Three Rivers Board of Visitors and on the Board of Directors for the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and 52

Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the Sheridan Parks & Recreation Board in his hometown.

MARK H. ALLISON Wright Lindsey Jennings

Mark Allison is highly regarded as one of the leading environmental lawyers in Arkansas.

Companies large and small turn to Allison to help navigate regulatory issues. For more than 35 years, Allison has represented clients in a range of environmental, energy and other regulatory and administrative matters, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Superfund litigation, contract negotiation and litigation, permit assistance and appeals, and regulatory analyses. From steel to paper products, organic farming to food production and processing, and renewable energy to farm lending, Allison uses his in-depth knowledge and ability to successfully represent his clients’ interests, whether in the boardroom, at a legislative or in regulatory agency, or the courts. He is recognized for his work by Mid-South Super Lawyers and ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

Elite on Repeat for Clients Since 1953

Charles D. Harrison

James Bruce McMath

Neil Chamberlin

Sarah C. Jewell

Will Bond

Samuel E. Ledbetter

Congratulations to Charles, Bruce, Neil, Sarah, Will, and Sam on being listed in AMP’s 2023 Legal Elite!

mcmathlaw.com | 501.396.5400

Personal Attention, Proven Results Since 1953 | 711 W. 3rd Street, Little Rock, AR 72201 | 525 S. School Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72701

James D. Bornhoft is Honored to be selected AMP’s 2023 Top Professionals and Legal Elite!

LEGAL

2023

ELITE

Call 501-501-LAWS When2023 it Matters Most.

501.501.LAWS | Bornhoftlaw.com 340 Ouachita Avenue, 2-G | Hot Springs Personal Injury – Family Law – Estate Planning – Criminal Defense ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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2023 LEGAL ELITE the Best Lawyers in America. Allison has served the Centers For Youth & Families as a board member since 2015, including a term as board chair, and is immediate past president of the Board of the Arkansas Environmental Federation.

ROBYN ALLMENDINGER Rose Law Firm

BETSY BAKER Rose Law Firm

WILL BOND McMath Woods

Will Bond is an injury and wrongful death lawyer who handles all types of car and truck wreck cases, hospital and medical negligence cases, and insurance disputes. Bond has previously served as an Arkansas State Representative and state senator. He has been selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America publication from 2016 to the present as a plaintiffs personal injury attorney, including being recognized by the publication as Lawyer of the Year for plaintiffs personal injury for 2023 in the Little Rock area. Bond has been selected for inclusion in the Mid-South Super Lawyers publication as a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney from 2006 to the present.

He currently serves on the Central Arkansas Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors.

JAMES BORNHOFT Bornhoft Law

A tour de force in Arkansas’s legal arena, James Bornhoft boasts more than 70 jury trials and more than 10,000 hours in the courtroom.

As the founder of Bornhoft Law, he is rooted in Hot Springs, and he is a 3rd generation Arkansan. His commitment to justice traces back to his tenure as the lead human trafficking prosecutor and member of the Special Victims Unit in Colorado’s largest judicial district. There, he managed landmark felony cases, from human trafficking to murder, collaborating closely with major agencies like the FBI and Homeland Security. In his private practice, Bornhoft is not confined to the criminal sphere. He has championed hundreds of personal injury and automobile accident cases, navigating the intricate pathways of family law, estate planning and probate litigation. Bornhoft’s mantra, “when it matters most,” encapsulates his dedication to his OC TO B E R 2 02 3

clients, prioritizing compassion, transparency and tenacity in every legal pursuit.

ROBERT G. BRIDEWELL SR. Robert G. Bridewell Attorney

Robert G. Bridewell Sr. graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 1980. He has been in practice in Lake Village for the past 43 years . He represents Arkansans in personal injury, wrongful death and criminal law.

Bridewell serves on the board of governors of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, the board of trustees of the Arkansas Bar Association, and the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct.

BEAU BRITTON Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh

Beau Britton is a partner at Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh. He received his undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and his juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. His practice primarily focuses on the areas of estate planning, probate, real estate, business and commercial cases, and civil litigation. He is a past president of the Garland County Bar Association and is very active in the Hot Springs community.

BRIAN BROWN Laser Law Firm

Brian Brown is a native of Little Rock. After graduating from Pulaski Academy in 1980, he then attended Rhodes College, then known as Southwestern at Memphis. After graduating from Rhodes, he studied law at the University of Little University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Brown joined the Laser Law Firm as an associate in 1988 and has been a partner since 1999.

He specializes in insurance coverage issues, appellate practice, and judicial approval of minor’s and decedent’s settlements. Brown is also an avid history buff with a particular interest in the Civil War; he has published a book on Civil-War-related genealogical research.

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RANDY BYNUM Wright Lindsey Jennings

Randy Bynum’s practice focuses on renewable energy, utility, telecom and transportation regulation. He shepherds clients through compliance and regulatory processes, skillfully anticipating legal issues that could derail their goals. His expertise in this area is complemented by his four-year tenure on the Arkansas Public Service Commission.

Bynum offers clients extensive experience and comprehensive knowledge of issues faced in both the public and private sectors.

His unique perspectives were shaped by working at a family business, training as a certified public accountant, holding public office, building a successful private practice, and serving as a Special Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court. His combination of business and legal acumen affords him an in-depth, firsthand understanding of the needs of his clients. Bynum is recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers, and he is an active member of the Arkansas bar Associations serving on its Board of Trustees, as well as the board of directors of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

PAUL BYRD Paul Byrd Law Firm

Paul Byrd has been representing deserving injury victims for 30 years. After serving as a clerk for a trial court, Byrd went into private practice in 1988. Byrd’s practice has focused on civil litigation with an emphasis on representing consumers in product liability actions and personal injury cases. He is a past chair of the American Association for Justice Product sLiability Section and on the board of governors of AAJ. He has spoken on how to talk to conservatives all over the United States and has a current video on the topic published by Trial Guides. Byrd has represented farmers in agricultural litigation regarding genetically modified crop contamination that had global as well as national and local implications. He works on productsfailure cases, tractor-trailer truck crashes, industrial injuries and automobile crashes.

He is a past president of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. In 2012, Byrd was a co-recipient of the Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.

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

LEGAL

2023

ELITE

Congratulations to all those honored in the 2023 Legal Elite.

Conner & Winters is proud to celebrate our own John Elrod & John Scott for being recognized this year.

Empowering growth

For over 90 years, Conner & Winters has been a trusted resource for helping companies across Arkansas reach new heights. With top legal talent that consistently provides exceptional counsel, Conner & Winters delivers a client experience that’s a step above the rest.

TU L SA

O K L AH O MA C I T Y

N O RT H W E S T A R K A N S A S

D A L LA S

JOHN ELROD

JOHN SCOTT

cwlaw.com H O U S T ON

WA S HI N GT O N , D .C.

A R K A N S A S L AW FIRM WITH N AT I O N A L R E AC H Congratulations to Dustin McDaniel, Vince Ward, Rufus Wolff and Bart Calhoun for being named in Arkansas’s Legal Elite by Arkansas Money & Politics!

McDaniel Wolff, PLLC offers a top-tier business practice with expertise in tax, estate planning, corporate law, real estate, administrative law, mergers and acquisitions, government relations and litigation.

Our firm combines diverse experience and decades of success into premium legal services in Arkansas and beyond.

Visit our website to learn how we can assist you.

MCDANIEL WOLFF

2023

1307 W. 4th Street, Little Rock, AR 72201 501.954.8000 | www.McDanielWolff.com

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2023 LEGAL ELITE ANDY L. CALDWELL Caldwell Law Firm

Andy L. Caldwell is the principal attorney at the Caldwell Law Firm. His primary focus and area of practice is workers compensation. Caldwell has lectured for Fortune 500 companies, insurance carriers and members of the bar on the topics of workers’ compensation, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and legal ethics. He is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and the Pulaski County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association as well as the American Association.

Caldwell was admitted to practice in 1999 in all Arkansas state and federal courts. He received his juris doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 1999, and his bachelor’s degree in political science from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia in 1995.

BART CALHOUN McDaniel Wolff

Bart Calhoun is one of McDaniel Wolff’s founding partners and helps lead the firm’s litigation department. Calhoun’s practice includes business litigation, debt collections, probate litigation, family law and much more. Additionally, Calhoun regularly provides legal- and government-relations services to clients engaged in highly regulated industries such as those in the fields of agriculture, construction, healthcare, medical marijuana, casino gaming and banking.

PHIL CAMPBELL Fuqua Campbell

KATHERINE BLACKMON CARROLL Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon

Katherine Blackmon Carroll is the owner and managing attorney of the Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon, a trauma-informed family law firm with an emphasis on helping clients navigate difficult times with empathy and expertise. Carroll earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in Texas and her juris doctorate from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. After Carroll passed OC TO B E R 2 02 3

the bar exam and received her license to practice, she began renting a one-room office in the Centre Place building in downtown Little Rock in 1997. She now owns the 11th floor of the building and has expanded from a solo practice to a boutique firm of like-minded attorneys and legal support staff. The firm’s goals are to walk clients through difficult domestic situations and to provide representation tailored for each individual client. Carroll’s firm serves the unique needs of each client and works toward fair resolutions while vigorously protecting its clients’ rights and needs. Under her leadership, Carroll’s team continues to fight aggressively for clients and, just as frequently, talks clients through the emotions that go hand-in-hand with experiencing a divorce or custody matter. The Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon has been voted Best Law Firm in the state of Arkansas in 2021, 2022, and 2023 in AY Magazine.

NEIL CHAMBERLIN McMath Woods

Neil Chamberlin handles injury, death, and medical malpractice cases at McMath Woods in Little Rock. He graduated from Hendrix College in Conway in 1989 and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 1993. He has served on the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors (2002-2012) and the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Civil Jury Instructions (2014-2020).

SUZANNE G. CLARK Clark Law Firm

Prior to founding the Clark Law Firm, Suzanne G. Clark was an attorney at the largest national law firm in the state, where she gained significant experience in a wide range of civil litigation. She handles complex business, construction and civil cases with a deep sense of commitment and skill, having special corporate experience to assist in commercial litigation cases. Clark received her Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut and was awarded her juris doctor summa cum laude by the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 2008.

She teaches “Legal Aspects of Construction” in the University of Arkansas Master’s program in civil engineering. Prior to her legal 56

career, she worked in the semiconductor industry as a process engineer and then in senior management. Admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Arkansas, Clark is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Clark has been very active the in the Arkansas Bar Association and was elected by its state-wide membership to serve as its president for 2018-2019, after having served in its house of delegates and the board of governors.

BRANDI COLLINS Collins, Collins & Ray

JOHN COLLINS Collins, Collins & Ray

CADE L. COX Cox, Sterling, Vandiver, & Botteicher

HUGH E. 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 Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for an attorney practicing in the United States.

He has been selected by his peers as a MidSouth Super Lawyers honoree for the past 10 years and is a fellow in Litigation Counsel of America.

MICHAEL CROWE The Crowe Firm

TIM CULLEN Cullen & Co.

SKIP DAVIDSON Davidson Law Firm

Skip Davidson is an Arkansas native from Lake Village, where he grew up on a farm and worked in the construction industry before attending college. He established Davidson Law Firm in 1973 as a full-service firm with an emphasis on business transactions and business litigation. Today, the firm has expanded to several locations, serving hundreds of clients all around the state. Davidson fully embraces the motto “work hard, play hard.” He believes being a successful attorney means more than working hard from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week.

AMBER DAVIS Arkansas Court of Appeals ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

ANNIE DEPPER

PAMELA EPPERSON

LYDIA HICKS HAMLET

Fuqua Campbell

Epperson Panasiuk Law

Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon

CHRISTINE DILLARD Southwest Power Pool

JOSH DRAKE Drake & Street

BETH ECHOLS Gill Ragon Owen

Beth Echols graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 2002.

She served as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Benton and Pulaski counties before entering private practice. She has been a shareholder and director with Gill Ragon Owen, since 2014. Her practice focuses on domestic relations and probate litigation. Echols appears in circuit courts throughout Arkansas to represent the interests of parents and children in crisis. Echols has been recognized in Best Lawyers for the last several years for excellence in family law.

JOHN ELROD Connor & Winters

John Elrod has practiced law in Northwest Arkansas since returning home from Georgetown Law School in 1971.

He focuses on litigation but has a varied practice – for instance, he formed the Northwest Arkansas National Airport and has represented it for 30 years. Outside the practice he enjoys family, friends, travel, good music, good food, his mountain bike, and his motorcycle. He has completed the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race and the Minnesota Border to Border. The collegiality of the practice of law is important to him. He has been accused of treating lawsuits like a crusade, an attitude he says is good for the client but disruptive to one’s mental health.

Elrod is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from his alma mater, Westminster College.

With more than 20 years of experience in the courtroom, Pamela Epperson goes the extra mile to fight for her clients. She provides aggressive, thorough and personalized representation to each and everyone of her clients – whether they are charged with a misdemeanor or felony. Epperson’s strong work ethic and drive to aggressively represent her clients allows her to get great results. As the attorney/owner of Epperson Panasiuk Law, she practices state and federal criminal defense.

In addition to practicing law, Epperson holds active memberships in the Arkansas Bar Association, Pulaski County Bar Association, Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (for which she served as President from June 2022-June 2023), Arkansas Women Lawyer’s Association and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Epperson is also a member of the National College for DUI Defense. In addition to being a member of this elite legal organization, she currently serves as the organization’s only Arkansas State Delegate.

ELIZABETH FLETCHER Munson, Rowlett, Moore & Boone

DAVID FUQUA Fuqua Campbell

STEPHEN L. GERSHNER Davidson Law Firm

Stephen L. Gershner is an Arkansas native and finds helping clients solve legal issues and problems particularly rewarding.

Gershner has been in practice since 1978 and has represented thousands of clients from lenders, borrowers, creditors, debtors, farmers, ranchers, automobile and farm implement dealers to clients within the general public. Gershner enjoys advocating for each of his clients and understands the meaning of hard work.

JULIE DEWOODY GREATHOUSE PPGMR Law

ERIC GRIBBLE Fuqua Campbell

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Lydia Hicks Hamlet, an associate attorney at the Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon, has extensive trial experience and is a dedicated advocate for her clients. A Little Rock native, Hamlet obtained her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Hendrix College in Conway and her Master of Arts in applied psychology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock before going on to complete her juris doctorate at the Mississippi College School of Law in 2010. Hamlet is a second-generation family-law attorney who grew up watching her attorney mother change the lives of people most in need of guidance and help. This firsthand education is evidenced by her keen eye for detail and ability to navigate complex legal situations, all while guiding her clients with compassion, integrity and empathy.

CHARLES HARRISON McMath Woods

Charles Harrison is a partner at McMath Woods in Little Rock. He joined McMath Woods in 2000 after serving as senior law clerk to United States District Judge Elsijane Roy for 14 years. Harrison graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 1979 after obtaining his undergraduate degree in Fayetteville in 1976. His law practice is focused primarily on representing clients who have been injured or killed in matters involving car or big-rig wrecks, premises liability, and medical negligence. Harrison grew up and attended public school in North Little Rock, where he was imbued with a healthy dose of common sense and a scintilla of skepticism.

J. BLAKE HENDRICKS Fuqua Campbell

JUDY SIMMONS HENRY Wright Lindsey Jennings

Judy Simmons Henry has been engaged in an active business litigation practice for 30plus years and serves in management at Wright Lindsey Jennings as the business litigation chair.

Her practice centers on complex litigation, including fiduciary and OC TOB E R 2023

2023 LEGAL ELITE trust matters, corporate reorganizations, banking and class-action litigation, and sports and entertainment law. Henry has served as a National Football League Players Association Certified Contract Advisor and is the firm’s sports law group leader, representing Division 1 coaches and student athletes. Henry is listed among the Best Lawyers in America, Mid-South Super Lawyers and Chambers USA Leaders in their Field. Super Lawyers has recognized Henry as a Top 50 Arkansas Lawyer since 2006 and as an Outstanding Mid-South Female Business Litigation Lawyer since 2012.

In the community, Henry recently completed two consecutive terms as chair for the Baptist Health Board of Trustees, and she is an active member of the American, Arkansas and Pulaski County bar associations.

D. SCOTT HICKAM Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh

D. Scott Hickam joined Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh in April, 2022 after practicing law independently or in association with other attorneys for 43 years.

Hickam has spent most of his career in general practice representing individuals, families, businesses, schools and local government in a wide array of matters in state and federal courts. His practice has been litigation intensive, and he has tried almost 100 jury trials. Hickam previously tried a personal injury claim and received a $3 million verdict, a record in the Garland County Circuit Court. He has also appeared before more than 40 agencies and commissions. He has been a MartindaleHubbell AV-rated attorney for 25 years.

He is a former Garland County Bar Association President and was appointed by the Arkansas Supreme Court to serve on both its civil and criminal-law jury instruction committee.

SAM HILBURN Hilburn & Harper

Sam Hilburn was born and raised in Walnut Ridge. He attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he was a scholarship football player, the president of the student body and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of OC TO B E R 2 02 3

Law. While at law school, he was a charter member and president of the Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity Robinson Chapter. Hilburn is a founding and senior partner at Hilburn & Harper, and has been with the firm since 1971. His past work experience includes being the city attorney of North Little Rock and serving as municipal judge of the North Little Rock Municipal Court following an appointment by former Gov. Mike Huckabee. Additionally, Hilburn previously served on the board of trustees at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville following an appointment by Huckabee.

SCOTT HILBURN Hilburn & Harper

Scott Hilburn was born and raised in North Little Rock. He attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he was a walk-on for the Razorback football team for two years and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He then attended the University of Arkansas School of Law where he earned his juris doctorate. While in law school, Hilburn was a clerk for Ken Shemin and Judge Elizabeth Storey Bryan, as well as for Hilburn & Harper, during the summer breaks. Upon passing the Arkansas Bar Exam, Hilburn became an associate attorney at Hilburn & Harper and eventually made partner in 2016. He also holds a real estate sales license with Mid-Ark Properties — where he specializes in helping clients buy and sell agricultural and recreational real estate — and he is a certified domestic relations mediator.

STUART JACKSON Wright Lindsey Jennings

Stuart Jackson is one of the most highly regarded employment attorneys in Arkansas, and his focus as of late has been on managing medical marijuana in the Arkansas workplace, assisting clients with compliance issues surrounding the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and defending collective and class actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act. Practicing in the employment-law field for more than 30 years, Jackson also advises employers on dayto-day compliance with the various civil rights laws, develops personnel policies and handbooks, and crafts employment and severance agreements. Jackson is rec58

ognized by Chambers USA, Mid-South Super Lawyers and the Best Lawyers in America, having been named Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year in Little Rock four times in the last five years in various employment-law categories. He is a frequent speaker and writer on employment law topics for human-resources-focused groups around the state.

SARAH C. JEWELL McMath Woods

Sarah C. Jewell is an injury and wrongful-death attorney who handles cases throughout Arkansas that involve car and truck wrecks, premises liability, medical negligence, and defective drugs and medical devices. Annually since 2018, Jewell has been selected as a Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star. Jewell was named the 2019 Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association Outstanding Young Lawyer and received the Judith Ryan Gray Young Lawyer Service Award (2018), Frank C. Elcan II Leadership Award (2018), and Golden Gavel Awards (2020, 2021, 2023) from the Arkansas Bar Association for exemplary service to the legal profession. Jewell serves on the Arkansas Bar Association Board of Trustees and the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Board of Governors, and she is past chair of the young lawyers sections for both organizations. Prior to graduating from University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 2015, Jewell earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English and taught college writing courses.

JAMIE HUFFMAN JONES Friday Eldredge & Clark

JONATHAN D. JONES Jonathan D. Jones, Attorney at Law

Jonathan D. Jones runs a boutique law firm in Hot Springs that focuses on divorce, child custody and other familylaw matters. His practice also includes adoption and guardianship cases.

Jones graduated from Hendrix College in Conway 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. Jones was named to AMP’s Legal Elite in 2021 and 2022, as well as AY’s Best Lawyers for 2023.

JUDSON KIDD Dodds, Kidd, Ryan & Rowan ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

LEGAL

2023

ELITE

Kevin Staten and Brian Brown have each been partners at 2023 Laser Law Firm PA, in Little Rock, for over thirty years.

The Laser Law Firm has been engaged in civil defense, specializing in all areas of insurance defense litigation, for more than sixty years.

LASER LAW FIRM, P.A.

415 N. McKINLEY STREET, SUITE 760 LITTLE ROCK

501-376-2981

laserlawfirm.com 2023

We believe in raising the bar in our profession - just like you.

Congratulations to all the honorees, including WLJ's own:

Experienced2023 Litigators. Aggressive Strategies. Effective Results.

E L I T E for family law, Your local advocate probate and estate planning.

LEGAL

Justin Allen Mark Allison Randy Bynum Judy Henry Stuart Jackson

2023

425 w. Capital Avenue | Suite 3550 | Little Rock 501.537. 4640 | robertson-law-firm.com ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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2023 LEGAL ELITE JENNIFER LANCASTER Lancaster Law Firm

SAMUEL E. LEDBETTER McMath Woods

Since 1985, environmental law has been the primary focus of Sam Ledbetter’s law practice. For nearly 40 years, Sam has represented individuals, communities, environmental organizations and companies in a variety of environmental cases. Ledbetter’s environmental practice includes air, surface water and groundwater pollution cases; protecting Arkansas’ free-flowing rivers and streams; holding upstream property owners accountable for damages caused by irresponsible development; challenging permits to new facilities that threaten to harm the environment; and defending companies in pollution cases. Ledbetter served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and served on the Arkansas State Board of Education from 2008 to 2015. In recognition of his environmental practice, Sam has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America since 1998 and was recognized on numerous occasions as Arkansas’ “Lawyer of the Year” for environmental law.

JASON A. LEE Gill Ragon Owen

Jason A. Lee has been a shareholder at Gill Ragon Owen since 2013, where he leads the firm’s insurance defense section. He began practicing in 2002 with Munson, Rowlett, Moore & Boone, where he was a shareholder from 2010 to 2013. Lee has tried more than 20 jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts. He has prepared appellate briefs in the Arkansas Supreme Court and Arkansas Court of Appeals. His trial experience includes successful defense of complex civil matters involving personal injury, premises liability, product liability, insurance claims and commercial-business disputes. Lee achieved the AV Preeminent designation from Martindale-Hubbell based on his reputation with lawyers throughout Arkansas and is recognized by Best Lawyers in the area of personal injury defense. Lee is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the International Association of Defense Counsel and Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel. Lee is a board member for North Little Rock Young OC TO B E R 2 02 3

Life and previously served on the board for The One, a local nonprofit organization.

ANGELA MANN Mann & Kemp

THOMAS H. MARS Mars Law Firm

JONATHAN MARTIN Turner, Rasch, & Martin

A Miami native, Jonathan Martin graduated from Florida International University with a bachelor of business administration degree in 2011. He then spent a year studying international law at the University of Essex in Colchester, England. Martin studied law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, where he obtained his juris doctor.

While in law school, Martin served as both vice president and treasurer of the Hispanic Law Students Association. In 2015, Martin won alumni of the year for his work with HLSA. His first job after graduation was general counsel and senior human resources manager of a small restaurant chain in Arkansas. He has also taught business-law classes at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and UA Little Rock. In 2016, Martin joined the Monterrey Law Firm as an immigration attorney. As a bilingual son of immigrants, he felt like immigration law was his calling. After forming Turner, Rasch, & Martin in 2022, Martin has continued to practice immigration law but has turned his focus to family law and employment law, as well as civil matters.

DUSTIN MCDANIEL McDaniel Wolff

Dustin McDaniel is an attorney and founding partner of McDaniel Wolff, in Little Rock.

McDaniel served two terms as Arkansas’s 55th Attorney General and today represents companies and individuals in Arkansas and around the United States in their dealings with state governments and state attorneys general. McDaniel’s practice includes litigation, appellate work, administrative law and public policy. In 2023, McDaniel was named in Best Lawyers in America for Government Relations law. McDaniel currently serves as the co-chair of the Society of Attorneys General Emeritus, on the board of trustees of the Central Arkansas Library System and 60

as an adjunct law professor at the University of Arkansas at Little RockWilliam H. Bowen School of Law. JAMES BRUCE MCMATH McMath Woods

James Bruce McMath is a trial attorney, legal community leader, lecturer and advocate of the civil justice system.

He specializes in personal-injury matters, especially those relating to product defects, dangerous pharmaceuticals, toxic substances, medical negligence, pollution and pesticide-related damages and injuries, and motor vehicle accident cases relating to passenger restraint system failures and highway construction accidents. He serves on the American Board of Trial Advocates and is a lecturer at numerous organizations and colleges, including the Hastings College of Advocacy and Hastings Law School. Currently, McMath serves as of counsel of the firm.

KERA MIKLES Munson, Rowlett, Moore & Boone

DAVID MITCHELL JR. Rose Law Firm

SARACATE MOERY Hilburn & Harper

SaraCate Moery was born and raised in Forrest City. After high school, she attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations. Moery obtained her law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Upon passing the Arkansas bar, she began her career as an attorney, primarily practicing family law, estate planning and probate administration. She is also an attorney ad litem, which brings her great joy. She is also actively involved with Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Pulaski County and Arkansas bar associations, and she is on the guardians board for Easterseals Arkansas.

MICHAEL S. MOORE Friday Eldredge & Clark

MIKE MUNNERLYN Mike Munnerlyn, P.A. ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

Thank You for recognizing LEGAL me E Las I Tone E of AMP’s Legal Elite 2023

2023

Andy L. Caldwell Attorney at Law

Caldwell Law Firm, P.A. 25 Rahling Circle, Suite C • Little Rock 501.500.5512 Main Line • 501.500-5513 Direct Line 855.535-8485 Facsimile • caldwellfirm.org

Congratulations on Being Voted Among the Best Lawyers in Arkansas!

Sam Hilburn

Paula Storeygard

Family Law

Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions

LEGAL

2023

ELITE

Gary B. Rogers Family Law

Scott Hilburn

Alternative Dispute Resolution Litigation

SaraCate Moery Estate Planning Family Law

1 Riverfront Place, 8th Floor North Little Rock, Arkansas 501.372.0110 hilburnlawfirm.com

ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

2023

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2023 LEGAL ELITE BRUCE MUNSON

STEVE QUATTLEBAUM

Munson, Rowlett, Moore & Boone

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull

BRIANNA SPINKS NONY Robertson, Oswalt, Nony

Brianna Nony is a partner at Robertson, Oswalt, Nony, one of the state’s premiere law firms specializing only in family law. Nony’s legal practice is specifically focused on litigation in the area of domestic law. Nony is an Arkansas native and has practiced law in the state since 2000. She has unique skill in the family and domestic law based on her years of specialized experience in and out of the courtroom. Nony is also a long-time certified attorney ad litem and is frequently appointed by courts around the state to represent the interests of children in high conflict court cases.

DOUG NORWOOD Norwood & Norwood

SACH OLIVER Bailey & Oliver

CHRIS OSWALT Robertson, Oswalt, Nony

Chris Oswalt is a partner at Robertson, Oswalt, Nony where he practices family law, probate law and estate planning.

Oswalt is an Arkansas native and has practiced exclusively in Arkansas. He works daily with people who are facing potentially life-altering challenges such as divorce and probating estates of loved ones. He uses his extensive litigation experience both in and out of the courtroom to help navigate his clients through these difficult times, and he has represented his clients in landmark appellate cases concerning custody, visitation and guardianships. In his estate-planning practice, he assists his clients in creating an estate plan that ensures their assets are distributed by the method they desire and to the people they choose.

DAVID W. PARKER Dodds, Kidd, Ryan & Rowan

PAUL PARNELL Rose Law Firm

G. ALAN PERKINS PPGMR Law

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Steven Quattlebaum is a founding and managing member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull practicing primarily in the areas of complex business, toxic tort and products-liability litigation. He has served as lead trial counsel in more than 100 trials, including several multi-district bellwether trials involving toxic tort, products liability, breach of contract, intellectual property, environmental litigation, securities fraud, franchise disputes, trade secrets, personal injury and commercial matters. Some of his corporate clients include chemical, pharmaceutical and automobile manufacturers, investment banking institutions, energy and utility companies, major retailers, and medical- device companies. Quattlebaum currently serves as national president of the American Board of Trial Advocates, is a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trial Lawyers, and was inducted into the Lawdragon 500 Hall of Fame in 2021 after being named to the Lawdragon 500 List for more than eight years.

BRIAN H. RADCLIFF PPGMR Law

JAMES D. RANKIN III PPGMR Law

Media Group and was awarded Alumnus of the Year by New Leaders Council Arkansas in 2022. Rasch has also served as a commissioner on the Pulaski County Board of Election Commissioners since May 2022.

BRIAN RAY Collins, Collins & Ray

JOSEPH D. REECE RMP Law

BONNIE ROBERTSON Robertson, Oswalt, Nony

Bonnie Robertson founded Robertson Law Firm in 2001, directly out of law school. Over the years, she worked to build the firm to include associate attorneys and to diversify its fields of practice. She has focused her own practice on almost exclusively family law, where she has been able to use her litigation skills as well as her compassion for people experiencing the difficulties of divorce or otherwise changing family dynamics. She was eventually fortunate enough to have brought in a dream team of attorneys who ultimately became her law partners. The three partners’ total combined years of experience, coupled with each of their individual and complementary skills and strengths in managing a firm, have created a fierce and top-notch law firm: Robertson Oswalt, Nony.

GARY B. ROGERS

SYDNEY RASCH Turner, Rasch, & Martin

Sydney Rasch was born and raised in central Arkansas. An active member of the community, Rasch has served as a board member for several local nonprofits, including Pulaski County Court Appointed Special Advocates, Arkansas Appleseed Legal Justice Center, Opera in the Rock, Arkansas United Action, and North Little Rock Friends of Animals, and volunteers with many others. Rasch was a legal assistant for 11 years prior to becoming an attorney, and in law school, she earned the Dean’s Certificate of Distinguished Public Service, the Emerging Leader Award, top paper awards in bankruptcy and contracts, and the Certificate of Excellence in bankruptcy from the American Bankruptcy Institute, and she participated in the American College of Bankruptcy’s Distinguished Law Student program. Rasch was named a member of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Legal Elite by AY 62

Hilburn & Harper

Gary B. Rogers was born and raised in Hazen. He obtained an accounting degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway before completing his juris doctor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Rogers has successfully represented clients in a wide variety of family law and general litigation matters since 1982. He regularly appears in Arkansas state and federal courts, where he has been lead counsel on numerous bench and jury trials throughout his career. Rogers has served as a special justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court and often sits for circuit court judges in Pulaski County. He has been a featured speaker at numerous continuing legal education seminars/classes for both the Arkansas Bar Association and Pulaski County Bar Association and has authored a division in the Family Law section of the Arkansas Form ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

Book. Additionally, Gary served as a Prairie County District Court Judge for 21 years.

BRIAN ROSENTHAL Rose Law Firm

LUCAS Z. ROWAN Dodds, Kidd, Ryan & Rowan

ABBEY DECKER RUCKER Fuqua Campbell, P.A.

EMILY RUNYON Munson, Rowlett, Moore & Boone

JOHN M. SCOTT Connor & Winters

For 26 years, John Scott has represented clients in commercial matters.

Primarily focused on litigating construction and complex commercial disputes, he provides counsel to construction contractors, developers, and owners; wholesalers and retailers; telecommunications providers; and other industries. Scott has extensive state, federal, and arbitration trial experience—having represented clients in payment disputes, defective or delayed construction work, condemnation actions, intellectual property and unfair competition, and breach of con-

ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

tract cases, among others. John is also a certified AAA arbitrator and inactive certified public accountant. Since 2006, he has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Law, Litigation-Construction, and Commercial Litigation, being designated “Lawyer of the Year” for Fayetteville, Arkansas in Litigation-Construction and Construction Law since 2020. He’s been listed as a Mid-South Super Lawyer since 2018 and is a Fellow in the Construction Law Society of America. He also served as President for the William Putman Inns of Court.

MOLLY S. SHEPARD PPGMR Law

PATRICK SPIVEY Fuqua Campbell

KEVIN J. STATEN Laser Law Firm

Kevin J. Staten graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a degree in finance and banking. He was president of Blue Key and chosen Who’s Who Among American College Students. He attended the University of Arkansas School

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of Law, where he graduated in 1985. He also passed the bar and started practicing law at Laser Law Firm in 1985 at the age of 24.

Staten has been a trial lawyer for numerous insurance companies and their insureds his entire career. He has tried more than 400 jury trials in more than 40 counties. He has possessed the highest possible rating of AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell for more than 15 years. He has been selected by his peers as a Mid-South Super Lawyer in the area of insurance defense on 12 occasions. Staten is currently the managing partner at Laser Law Firm.

JOHN STOBAUGH Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh

John Stobaugh graduated from McGehee High School before earning a degree from Texas A&M University. In 2013, he earned his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and was admitted to practice that same year. He then joined Bell & Boyd as an associate attorney in 2013 and deputy city attorney of Magnolia. He is the past president of the Columbia County Bar As-

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2023 LEGAL ELITE sociation and served on various community boards during his time in Magnolia. Stobaugh also served as an adjunct professor at Southern Arkansas University. He joined Schnipper, Britton & Stobaugh as an associate attorney in 2017 and was named partner in 2019. He focuses primarily on family law, criminal defense, personal injury and civil litigation. Stobaugh is the current president of the Garland County Bar Association, a member of the Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club and a founding member of the Sunshine Therapeutic Riding Center.

TAYLOR A. STOCKEMER Friday Eldredge & Clark

PAULA JAMELL STOREYGARD Hilburn & Harper

Paula Jamell Storeygard was born and raised in Russellville. After obtaining bachelor’s degrees from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, she attended Duke University School of Law in North Carolina. During her 39 years with the firm, Storeygard has assisted numerous clients in real estate transactions, commercial and real estate lending, business acquisitions, business structures, government finance, probate matters, and the negotiation and drafting of contracts in a variety of matters.

Storeygard has previously served as a special justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court and has served as a member of the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions — Civil. She is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of North Little Rock, where she also formerly served as assistant district governor, and has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow on multiple occasions. She is currently on the Huntington’s Disease Advisory Board for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and previously served on the boards of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Ouachita Girl Scout Council and Hearts & Hooves.

SARAH PAGE TACKER PPGMR Law

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JALEN TOMS

TAB TURNER

Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon

Turner & Associates

After graduating at the top of her class from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 2019, Jalen Toms joined the Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon. With her trademark tenacity and strong work ethic, Toms worked her way up to become the senior associate attorney at the family law firm. Prior to attending law school, Toms earned her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Louisiana State University. Toms’ decision to practice family law reflects the soft spot she has for those most in need of guidance and support. She believes her clients are often going through what could be considered the most emotionally fraught situations they have ever experienced. A combination of empathy, fierce litigation skills and a mind for research make Toms an ideal advocate for those in need.

AMY TRACEY Munson, Rowlett, Moore & Boone

PRESLEY TURNER Turner, Rasch, & Martin

A licensed social worker, attorney and committed member of the community, Presley is actively involved in the Junior League of Little Rock and is on the board of the Arkansas Crisis Center. Presley is a certified trauma specialist and founded the Center for Advocacy and Awareness, an organization committed to educating attorneys and other professionals on the effects of trauma in the public health and social justice arenas. In law school, Presley earned the Dean’s Certificate of Distinguished Public Service, the Certificate of Public Service, and was editor-in-chief of the Arkansas Journal of Social Change and Public Service.

Presley was also a representative for Equal Justice Works National Advisory Committee and now hosts continuing legal-education courses on emotional abuse and trauma. She travels across the country to train others on various professional development curriculums. Presley practices in the areas of family and probate law, including child custody and support, divorce, adoption, child welfare, and child maltreatment.

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BRIAN A. VANDIVER Cox, Sterling, Vandiver, & Botteicher

VINCE WARD McDaniel Wolff

Vince Ward is managing partner and co-leads the tax- and corporate- law practice at McDaniel Wolff. Ward’s practice focuses on a wide range of taxation and business law matters that involve a diverse group of industries and regularly provides counsel to multi-state retailers, manufacturers, logistics companies, commercial real estate developers, regulated lenders and many others. A native of Fayetteville, Ward moved to Little Rock after obtaining his Master of Law in taxation from Southern Methodist University in Texas.

DAVID H. WILLIAMS Law Offices of David H. Williams

RUFUS WOLFF McDaniel Wolff

Rufus Wolff is a founding partner and co-leads the tax and corporate law practice at McDaniel Wolff. His practice focuses on a wide range of taxation and business-law matters, and he regularly counsels private individuals, emerging-technology companies, real estate developers, oil and gas companies, securities firms, and many other types of entrepreneurs whose needs require a creative yet practical approach to their complex legal matters. He is also a certified public accountant (inactive), and has served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law where he taught corporate income taxation from 1989 to 1996. He has been actively involved in the PEO industry since 1987, representing numerous PEOs throughout the country.

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

Honoring women leaders who make a difference Women in executive roles are a fundamental part of what drives success for U.S. Bank. We’re proud to honor Cassandra Kidd as part of the Arkansas Money & Politics’ 2023 Women in Banking list.

U.S. bank applauds fellow honorees for their hard work and dedication in the banking and finance industry in Arkansas.

Scan the QR code to make an appointment with Cassandra and build a custom growth plan for your small business.

Member FDIC. ©2023 U.S. Bank ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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Personal Pep Rally MISSION:

To be an empathic support system that provides encouragement, resources and real-life application for those who are facing life battles that are not of their choosing; to be a teammate and help others learn to sit, stand or sprint.

Headquarters: Stuttgart Year founded: 2017

CEO: Misti Coker Founders: Marc Stringer; Lauren Moore; Misti Coker

ABOUT PERSONAL PEP RALLY:

Personal Pep Rally was inspired by the cancer battle of co-founder Marc Stringer. During the tough rounds of treatment, Stringer’s wife, Lauren Moore, and mother-in-law, Misti Coker, came up with the idea of “Joy Mail” — care packages meant to uplift and encourage cancer patients and their families. Since its founding in 2017, the organization has grown tremendously, with Joy Mail packages landing on doorsteps in more than 100 Arkansas cities, 37 states and even Canada. The boxes are packaged by a group called the Chemosabe Sisters and include a handwritten note to each patient. Personal Pep Rally also gives scholarships to high school seniors impacted by cancer, and the group has awarded 52 Arkansas students to date.

Moore and Coker have become beacons for the fight against cancer in Arkansas as they carry on in Stringer’s memory. Through her participation in the Best Dressed Little Rock fundraiser, Moore helped raise more than $200,000 for transportation and lodging for cancer patients in Arkansas. Coker is an Envoy Ambassador for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, serves on the boards of the CARTI Foundation and American Cancer Society Board of Arkansas, and was selected to represent Arkansas in Washington, D.C., at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s Lights of Hope event. The pair were also honored at the American Cancer Society’s 2022 Cattle Baron’s Ball.

Areas served: Multi-state

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES Donations: The organization’s goal is to continue expanding in order to spread joy to more patients and their families.

In addition to one-time or recurring giving options, a $250 donation allows givers to sponsor a patient for the entire year. Donate online or with Venmo: Personal-Pep-Rally.

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Fundraisers: Fundraisers are the main source of support for Personal Pep Rally’s work. The 5K obstacle race, Endure the Dirt, is one of the most popular races in the Grand Prairie region of Arkansas and is the group’s primary fundraiser.

For those less keen on getting dirty, there is also the Pounding the Pavement race, as well as a Mini Mudder for children. Sign up at runsignup.com.

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Volunteers: Those who would rather help at one of the group’s fundraisers than run in them can sign up to be a part of the “hype squad” to motivate and encourage participants. There is no shortage of other volunteer opportunities as well; email personalpeprally@gmail. com or visit personalpeprally.org to get involved.

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

NONPROFITS

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his month, AMP takes a look at nonprofits and the culture of giving back to the community.

Nonprofits work tirelessly to help those in the community who need it most, and many philanthropic corporations due their part as well. Their work is appreciated, and Arkansas Money & Politics highlights some of it in this month’s issue.

NONPROFIT

CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY JUST WHAT MOTIVATES BUSINESSES TO GIVE BACK?

By Becky Gillette

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he need for charitable giving is great in Arkansas, but how to inspire people to be generous?

Make it as fun as possible and provide opportunities for personal connections, said Jim Engelhorn, Little Rock store manager for Sissy’s Log Cabin.

Sissy’s has been heavily involved in providing jewelry donations worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to charitable organizations during the past 10 years alone, Engelhorn said.

“We are very proud of the brand we have built over the past 64 years of business. People know they are getting a true value when they bid on one of our pieces at a charity auction. We tell them the retail value and often get retail and sometimes more. People are getting a nice, nice piece and doing super charitable giving at the same time.”

Sissy’s, which has five stores in Arkansas and one in Memphis, operates on the philosophy that a healthy community is the best place to do business. The business owners recognize that nonprofits struggle and have a hard time finding a consistent area of support.

“They know they can count on Sissy’s and have for decades,” Engelhorn said. “The publicity we get is secondary, but it is incredibly important. When people looking at a significant jewelry purchase know that we stand behind the community the way we do, they feel better about their purchase.”

Sissy’s was founded in Pine Bluff by the Jones family. Pine Bluff has experienced a few hard decades due to a downturn in its economy.

“As Pine Bluff has struggled, the Jones family has

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never abandoned it,” Engelhorn said. “For example, Sissy’s is a very big supporter of the food bank in Pine Bluff.”

One of the largest nonprofit events in the state is the Ronald McDonald House Chocolate Fantasy Ball. Thousands of pieces of gourmet chocolates are donated for the event. Sissy’s is the jewelry- auction sponsor for the event. Another big event Sissy’s contributes to is the Opus Ball for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

Engelhorn is on the board of the Wolfe Street Foundation, which provides assistance to individuals battling alcoholism and drug addiction and is one of the largest organizations of its type in the country. The many other organizations Sissy’s support include the American Heart Association through its Heart Ball & Women and Children First, a children’s advocacy center that combats spousal abuse. Sissy’s also supports many local schools in the communities it serves.

“It is hard to throw a dart in the world of nonprofits and not find an organization we have supported,” Engelhorn said. “We have been engaged in hundreds of events.”

It also helps when he or another representative of the company speaks at the events, he added. That makes it more personal and brings in more money for the nonprofit.

A Healing Ministry As a nonprofit health care system, all surplus funds from Baptist Health are reinvested back into the community through needs-based services, new equipment and technology and free outreach clinics as well as a college of nursing and allied health professions that is a major expenditure to help build the area’s health care workforce of tomorrow.

“As a healing ministry, our business is serving people and communities,” said Troy Wells, president and CEO. “Baptist 68

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Health’s primary charitable impact is promoting community health through our nonprofit hospitals and clinics, which includes serving the health needs of those who are uninsured, underinsured and under resourced. Consistent with its nonprofit status, Baptist Health provides care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Charity care — which includes providing financial assistance to patients, discounts to the uninsured, covering bad debt from unpaid balances and making up for patient care costs not adequately reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid — is by far the largest component of Baptist Health’s charitable activities.”

Baptist Health helps people in ways beyond the walls of its health care facilities primarily through two entities, Baptist Health Community Outreach and the Baptist Health Foundation. Community Outreach provides a diverse and lengthy list of free health care services, health education and awareness programs, risk-factor identification and screenings, healthy-living activities and nutrition for students, and collaboration with many organizations and worthwhile causes.

“One of the community outreach team’s most noble efforts is reaching the needs of the homeless population in central Arkansas,” Wells said. “Community outreach offers help to this underserved population through monthly clinics at multiple community wellness centers in partnership with local churches. Additionally, every Christmas, we provide a backpack to the homeless population that contains blankets, socks and other important care items. This does not help our bottom line, but it is consistent with our charitable mission to respond to the health needs of our community with Christian compassion and personal concern.”

Another of community outreach’s initiatives is the back-toschool immunization program. It provides free shots to kids in need to improve the overall health of children in the community and aids families with primary and secondary immunization requirements to decrease exposure to disease and school expulsion rates due to noncompliance. During the annual immunization program completed this fall, students were also provided with a backpack filled with school supplies.

Baptist Health also holds free community vaccination clinics, prenatal and child education programs, nutrition programs, disease-management programs and other initiatives.

“Arkansas is a state with many health needs, consistently ranking in the bottom five in overall health status and with a high proportion of underserved individuals,” Wells said. “The Baptist Health community wellness centers are one part of a strategy to improve the state’s health by offering free health screenings, immunizations, care coordination, prenatal care, health education and more to people in communities that may be underserved. These wellness centers are typically a partnership with churches and community organizations that host the location. While some people come into a wellness center simply for a check of blood pressure or blood sugar, others have comARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

Baptist Health offers free community vaccination clinics.

(Photos provided)

plex chronic diseases such as diabetes and congestive heart failure. On many occasions over the years, a visit to a wellness center has resulted in lifesaving care.”

Arkansas has one of the highest percentages of people facing food insecurity, which is defined as not having reliable access to enough food. It is a determinant of poorer health outcomes and an increase in chronic conditions as well as added health care costs. Wells said hospitals and health care providers have a unique opportunity and responsibility to address food insecurity to improve patient and population health.

“On any given day, there is a significant number of patients in Baptist Health hospitals and clinics who are in need of food and will return to a problem of food insecurity when they are discharged to their home,” Wells said. “Many of these patients leave Baptist Health armed with instructions and medication as part of their re69

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covery but at the same time are not sure where their next meal will come from. Coordinated by the system’s community outreach team, Baptist Health has set out to make an impact in the lives of these Baptist Health patients and contribute to better health for the state with our Food Rx program.”

The Chaplain’s Emergency Fund is administered through the Baptist Health Foundation and is specifically meant to serve Baptist Health employees who need assistance. The Baptist Health Foundation’s Heart of Faith Fund supports patients in need of life-extending cardiac care. As the only adult heart transplant center in Arkansas, Baptist Health heart patients come from all over the state and some areas of bordering states. Many times, it’s difficult for some of them to travel to and from their appointments.

“For many patients, their medical conditions are also a huge financial challenge,” Wells said. “This

fund helps to ease their burdens by covering travel and hotel expenses, equipment vital to their treatment, prescriptions and other medical needs and other costs that help to better serve our patients.”

A Culture of Giving Across the spectrum of industry, employees want to work for companies that give back to the community, but how does a business encourage charitable giving among its employees? One way is by setting a good example and making it easy for employees to contribute through a payroll deduction from United Way. Mollie Palmer, vice president of communication and engagement for Heart of Arkansas United Way in Little Rock, said her team worked with a team from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service to explore what corporate social responsibility looks like in the community.

“What they found is consistent with national trends: that employees want to work for companies that are connected to their

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better address the needs of people in the community and interested in giving back.” community.

Palmer said there are a ton of options These days, inflation is a big concern for how a company can create a culture of and could impact employees’ ability to giving. Corporate volunteerism is a great give. Palmer said United Way addresses example of how creating that culture prothis issue by working to help people unvides multiple benefits to a company. Not derstand the connection between the only does corporate volunteerism demway people have onstrate a compaseen their own ny’s commitment “WHAT THEY FOUND expenses increase to the community and the experiand build employIS CONSISTENT WITH ence of others. ee morale, but it NATIONAL TRENDS: THAT “In Arkanallows employees EMPLOYEES WANT TO sas, 16 percent of to team build and WORK FOR COMPANIES households live get to know each THAT ARE CONNECTED TO in poverty and other better in a an additional 31 different environTHEIR COMMUNITY AND percent live above ment. Individual INTERESTED IN GIVING the federal povgiving opportuniBACK.” erty line but still ties and corporate - MOLLIE PALMER, UNITED WAY have income that giving and spondoesn’t meet a sorships that inbasic cost-of-living budget,” Palmer said. volve employees are also great options.

“We find that donors can make the con“Payroll deduction definitely makes nection between their own experience at giving easy,” Palmer said. “Just like a dethe grocery store or the gas station to the duction for Social Security or health inexperience of those who have even greatsurance, the donation is deducted directer needs, and they want to give, even in a ly from an employee’s paycheck. It allows time when their own disposable income is donors to give at a level that’s comfortable lower than usual.” to them on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to Most nonprofit leaders know well that make a gift that adds up to something reface-to-face interaction is vital to buildally meaningful to our work.” ing relationships and trust, she added.

Payroll deductions can be spread out “Trust is key to ensuring that a donor between many different nonprofits, or knows that their gift will be well spent employees can choose a favorite nonprofand invested toward making our commuit, perhaps one that has helped a family nity stronger. Face-to-face interaction is member or one at which an employee one of the best ways to build that trust, volunteers. but COVID created a barrier to many of “We’re happy to be able to distribthe face-to-face opportunities that we’ve ute designated gifts in cases like those,” had in the past.”

Palmer said. “We also know that when The good news? While Arkansas has donors give directly to United Way withthe fourth lowest per-capita income in out a designation, we’re allowing donors the country, Arkansans rank second in who care about a variety of community the percentage of income given to chariconcerns to invest in a broad range of soties, according to Aspire Arkansas. lutions through our work and the work of our partners.”

Treating Volunteers Like Staff A cornerstone of United Way’s work Another way a nonprofit can help is the belief that no one can solve comattract and keep volunteers is by treatmunity problems alone. In addition to ing them as members of the team and funding multiple nonprofit partners, not distinguishing between the volunUnited Way convenes groups of nonteers and paid staff, said Amy Schmidt, profit organizations to explore how to ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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administrative director of the Northeast Arkansas Humane Society in Jonesboro.

“A lot of regular volunteers or donors are just part of the family,” Schmidt said. “They are part of the fabric of the group; they are how we get through the day by us including them in all aspects of what is going on: the good, the bad or ugly. People buy in when they are a part of it, not just in an auxiliary dispensable role.”

Another tip is being specific about the donations needed instead of being vague. An example is posting a request on Facebook for plastic kiddie pools that can be used to cool off pets.

The shelter was inundated with kiddie pools including new pools people had purchased.

“If we ask for dog bones, we can get more dog bones than you can count,” Schmidt said.

“The other thing is we live in such a divisive political climate, but not many people Jim Englehorn have a disagreement about the need to take care of animals. I really think caring for animals, ensuring their health and safety and loving on them too, brings out the best in Mollie Palmer people. Sometimes we have bad days, and seeing the best in people brought out in crisis moments, that is what keeps us going.”

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Five Oaks Agriculture Research & Education Center Headquarters: Humphrey Year founded: 2020 Founder: George H. Dunklin Jr.

Director: Ryan Askren, Ph.D.

Chief Operating Officer: Stewart Hornor Areas served: The Mississippi Delta region

ABOUT FIVE OAKS:

Five Oaks Agriculture Research & Education Center is a nonprofit agricultural research and education organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment by sustaining and increasing forest ecosystems. Five Oaks encompasses more than 6,000 acres of bottomland oak forests, waterways and rice fields located in the heart of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

Five Oaks is uniquely positioned to provide the knowledge and train the personnel necessary to ensure healthy waterfowl and wetlands in Arkansas and beyond. The nonprofit and its partners are working to manage and protect thousands of acres to provide wildlife habitat, clean water, healthy soils and human health.

Although Five Oaks is nearing its 40th anniversary, the focus on education and research is new. Five Oaks Agriculture Research & Education Center has already made a significant impact by developing and implementing research-based programs. The nonprofit is also training the next generation of conservation professionals through its graduate certificate program in waterfowl and wetland management in partnership with the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Donations: A one-time or recurring gift helps sustain the important work of Five Oaks as it preserves and protects the environment in Arkansas and beyond.

Volunteers: Elementary educators can sign up to volunteer in support of Five Oaks’ on-site Kid’s Camp program and encourage future generations of outdoor advocates.

Outreach: Five Oaks appreciates visitors and loves to share what researchers are learning with landowners and outdoors people across the country. Learn more at fiveoaksrec.org.

Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation

Headquarters: Little Rock Year founded: 1982

President: Deke Whitbeck

For more than a century, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has stood the post to protect and preserve the outdoors for millions to enjoy. For more than 40 years, the nonprofit Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation has been right alongside the AGFC, raising money and awareness to improve habitats, educate Arkansas youth and fulfill the legacy of the Arkansas outdoors for all ages.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission nature centers have attracted more than 300,000 visitors in 2023, and the AGFF is a strong supporter of commission education initiatives — especially those aimed to get young people unplugged and engaged in Arkansas’ outdoors. Since 2018, AGFF partner organization the Arkansas Outdoor Society has worked to connect young adults

who are passionate about hunting and fishing with their peers through mentored events.

The foundation’s board of directors is made up of 50 leaders from across the state who are committed to enhancing the AGFC’s projects and programs. The funding they acquire provides vital support for conservation programs, wildlife habitat, and land for game and fish management programs through gifts, donations, bequests and grants.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Impact Fund: AGFF’s new impact fund helps to support critical conservation initiatives and habitat projects across Arkansas that are eligible to utilize matching dollars — many times at a 3:1 ratio or higher.

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Leaving a Legacy Program: Planned giving through the Leaving a Legacy program allows donors to make significant, enduring contributions that impact future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. Various planned gift options to align with donors’ interests and resources.

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Connect: So far in 2023, Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation has raised more than $1.4 million dollars at special events and fundraisers across the state. That equates to $8 dollars for every dollar spent. Learn more about upcoming events and ways to get involved at agff.org.

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CareLink MISSION: Headquarters: North Little Rock Year founded: 1979 Area served: Central Arkansas

CEO: Luke Mattingly

To connect older people and their families with resources to meet the opportunities and challenges of aging.

ABOUT CARELINK: For 44 years, CareLink has offered a wide range of services designed to help homebound seniors remain independent and in their own homes as long as possible; help active older people remain fit, healthy and involved; and help family caregivers navigate the maze of available resources.

As a resource for aging in central Arkansas, the nonprofit is dedicated to helping seniors in central Arkansas live healthy, happy and at home. Each year, CareLink supports thousands of central Arkansas seniors through services such Meals on Wheels, urgent needs, transportation, family caregiver support, home care, fitness and wellness programs, and information and assistance.

CareLink currently serves daily meals to more than 1,200 seniors, providing vital nutrients and important socialization to the aging population. In the last fiscal year, the nonprofit has provided more than 276,000 hours of in-home care and more than 30,000 one-way trips and helped about 11,500 older adults and their family members determine the best course of action for their unique situations.

With more than 12,000 people turning 65 in the U.S. each day, many of those in Arkansas, it is vital that the state’s support systems have the capacity to meet increasing demand over the next two decades. Often, a few hours a week makes all the difference in a senior’s ability to remain at home. Whether it is taking care of light housekeeping or medication reminders, trips to the pharmacy and senior centers, Medicaid applications, or so much more, CareLink is committed to helping more seniors stay connected to their community while retaining their independence.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Donations: A $30 donation to Meals on Wheels provides someone with lunch for a week.

Donate to the program of your choice at carelink.org/give.

Volunteering: CareLink’s many dedicated volunteers add meaning to their lives and brighten the lives of others. They help deliver meals, volunteer at senior centers, provide companionship to isolated older people and visit long-term care facilities.

Connect: CareLink is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Community Kitchen and Peggy and Joe Hastings Respite Center with At the Table, an intimate and unique dinner that offers guests a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Meals on Wheels program. Join CareLink on Nov. 4 for this special event, and find more ways to get involved at carelink.org.

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Passionate

GIVERS

Causes may vary, but motivation behind them the same

By Kenneth Heard

It seems that those who have the most to do end up doing the most.

Three Arkansans are exemplifying this while they balance their busy lives against donating their time, efforts and money to help others with various causes. One person is working toward stopping human trafficking in the state. Another hopes to raise $1 million this fall for the American Cancer Society, and a third wants to ensure that habitats for ducks are sustained in Arkansas for generations to come.

The three are varied in their careers and endeavors, but they all exhibit the drive necessary to help with important causes.

A NEW PATH Carolyn Boshears was an interior designer in Little Rock who made jewelry and dabbled in antiques when she heard Louise Allison speak at Fellowship Bible Church in west Little Rock 11 years ago.

Allison talked about a new organization called Partners Against Trafficking Humans. PATH, which began operations in 2011, was the first anti-trafficking agency in the state. After hearing some of the horrendous stories about children and women forced and sold into the sex trade, Boshears was hooked and wanted to help.

She made bracelets, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry and sold them at boutiques to raise funds for the organization.

“It was a nightmare,” she said of the amount of work put into that first fundraising event, “but it was fun.”

She has volunteered with PATH ever since, helping it grow

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“I think, without a doubt, that God put me here to help.” into an organization that opened a transitional home for trafficking victims, developed a day center for sexual abuse survivors — the first of its kind in the nation — and worked with the Arkansas General Assembly to change and establish new laws about trafficking.

Boshears said she does not remember how much that boutique sale raised. but even if she did, she would probably not reveal the amount. She is very humble about her involvement with PATH and diverts attention to Allison and others.

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“It wasn’t a tremendous amount,” she said, “but it was fun, and it was a start. I was on the fundraising committee after that. I’m the only one left [after 11 years on the committee] still working with PATH.” Like others when they first hear about trafficking in Arkansas, Boshears said she could not comprehend that it was actually happening in the state.

“You just don’t believe people can do that,” she said. “Not in Arkansas.”

She learned that Interstates 30 and 40, which cut through the state, provide a trafficking pipeline between the west coast and east coast of the U.S. and is a link to Mexico, where much of the trafficking also occurs.

“I think of retiring from this sometime,” said Boshears, 82, “but sometimes I see some of the girls who come through and I talk with them. I’m grandmotherly toward them. I hear their stories and I think, ‘I can’t quit yet.’ It just breaks my heart.

“If we can save just one, it’s all been worth it,” she said.

Boshears and other members of PATH have helped rescue young girls and provide them with simple skills. Some are as young as 8, 10 and 12 years old.

“Some don’t even know how to brush their hair,” she said.

“We do take care of the girls.”

PATH also provides a safe house at a secret location and gives rescued survivors access to health care and psychologists.

“I’ve often asked God why he put me here,” Boshears said. “This would not be a choice thing to do. But I have a heart for these girls.

I think, without a doubt, that God put me here to help.”

“This has always been my main cause. I don’t think anyone doesn’t know someone who’s dealt with cancer. It’s easily relatable.”

Danyelle Musselman

It’s easily relatable.”

Musselman’s mother had breast cancer. A neighbor of hers was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Suits and Sneakers is a creative event that is so fun it draws people back yearly, Musselman said, adding “It’s such a fun event. As soon as we hold it, people say they want to come back the next year.”

It is a tough venture for her to manage. The event comes just as college basketball season is nearing the beginning of the season. There are kids in school and events she attends.

“We work from a calendar week-to-week during the season,” she said.

But it is not an unfamiliar pace for her.

She worked as a national sports broadcaster for a decade between 2004 and 2013 at a time when female sportscasters were viewed as a rarity. She first worked at Metro Sports in Kansas City, where she covered the NFL’s Chiefs before going on to ESPN. She moved to Fox Sports Net, where she anchored the Final Score program. Then was an update anchor for the NFL Network.

Now she supports her husband, spend time with her family and work on her charities.

Last year, Musselman was awarded the St. George National Award by the American Cancer Society for her work. The award was given to 12 people across the United States.

“I was super honored by that,” Musselman said of the recognition. She’s also active in the Make-A-Wish Foundation and works with Waiters for Wishes, an event held in September with Arkansas Razorback basketball players serving as the celebrity wait staff.

DRIVING THE MUSS BUS Being the wife of the University of Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman is a task in itself for Danyelle Sargent Musselman.

There is the traveling with the team for games and being a driving force behind the coach. She has a daughter in school and, as a former sports reporter for ESPN, Fox Sports Net, Yahoo Sports and the NFL Network, she travels to colleges and universities to talk to aspiring broadcasters.

One of her main focuses lies with the American Cancer Society. For three years now, she has hosted the state’s Suits and Sneakers Gala as part of a nationwide fundraising event involving basketball coaches.

For this year’s event, scheduled for the Fayetteville Town Center on Oct. 13, Musselman’s goal is to raise $1 million.

“This has always been my main cause,” she said. “I don’t think anyone doesn’t know someone who’s dealt with cancer.

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She also serves on the board for New Beginnings, a program aimed at helping homeless transition.

“I’m a worker,” she said. “I’m not one who sits at home.

I’m constantly working on projects, but I won’t take on anything that will overload me.”

THE NATURAL George Dunklin Jr., the owner of Five Oaks Duck Lodge in Humphrey on the Arkansas-Jefferson county line, joined Ducks Unlimited half a century ago when he was 16 years old. He has been there ever since and served as its president from 2013 to 2015. He was on its board of directors from 2015 to 2017 and is now the organization’s chairman of public policy.

Recently, he took a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with other board members and then returned home on a late night flight.

“I joined for the cause,” he said of joining Ducks Unlimited in 1976. “I stayed for the people. You meet people with the same passion. One of my best friends is from Wisconsin, who I met [through DU].”

Since then, Dunklin has become one of the main forces behind preserving wetlands and waterfowl habitat in Arkansas.

He has also established a research program at the University of Arkansas at Monticello that allows students to live on his land near Stuttgart and work during the semester on conservation efforts.

The program costs about $750,000 and gives five students scholarships to participate. Students learn about land management, preservation of wetlands and the business of running the Five Oaks Duck Lodge, which is on land his grandfather, Lester A. Black, acquired in 1907.

Students even learn about hospitality by working at the lodge and meeting the hunters who visit.

Dunklin was born in 1956 and raised near DeWitt. He grew up in areas where ducks were plentiful, and he reaped the rewards of good wetlands and habitats.

He went to college at the University of Memphis in 1980 and there met his wife-to-be, Livia. The two seemed to be from different worlds. He from the duck fields of the eastern Arkansas prairie while she, a business major, grew up in the urban sprawl of New York.

When he graduated college, he returned to his land and began conservation practices to improve the habitat for his beloved ducks.

“It was my passion,” he said.

Dunklin merged his other passion and married Livia in 1987. She moved to his Humphrey home, and they have three

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George Dunklin Jr.

“I joined for the cause. I stayed for the people. You meet people with the same passion.” daughters.

Livia Dunklin is also giving. On the night George flew home from Washington, D.C., his wife was volunteering in the pediatric unit at Arkansas Children’s in Little Rock.

“She loves holding those babies,” he said.

Dunklin is motivated in part by what happened to quail in his area. Because of changes in land, construction, farming and failure to preserve habitat, the quail that once thrived there have all but disappeared.

“That can happen with ducks, too, if we’re not careful,” he said. “You have to have quality habitat. We’re part of the Mississippi flyway. It needs to be a safe place where ducks can meet their mates. Some places can get worse, and habitat can change.”

Dunklin said he plans to continue to develop his property, work with Ducks Unlimited and, most importantly, fund his scholarship program.

“I’m not retiring anytime soon,” he said. “I want to teach [students] about all the mistakes I’ve made so they can bypass that and continue to build on our successes. There’s a lot of work left to do.”

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Arkansas Foodbank MISSION AND VISION: Headquarters: Little Rock Year founded: 1984

The Arkansas Foodbank is the foundation in the fight against hunger, finding pathways to connect people, as well as resources and food to reach those in need, providing dignity, hope and a brighter future for all Arkansans.

ABOUT ARKANSAS FOODBANK:

CEO: Brian Burton Board of Directors: • Anton Janik - President • Joe Copeland - Vice President • D. Trent Roberts Treasurer • Ashley Wimberley Secretary • Cliff McKinney Parlimentarian • ShaRhonda Love Member at Large

More than 515,000 children, seniors, and families in Arkansas do not know where their next meal will come from.

The Arkansas Foodbank’s goal is to create a stronger community where these hunger needs are met with sufficient access to nutritious food.

The Arkansas Foodbank was created on January 17, 1984 as a nonprofit organization to serve several central south Arkansas counties by providing an affordable and credible food source for local agencies serving hungry people in the state. By 1986 the Arkansas Foodbank had its first year of distributing 1 million pounds of food. In the 1989 the Foodbank became a member of the Feeding America national network and gained more assistance for acquiring and distributing food. In 2016, the Arkansas Foodbank merged with another hunger relief organization in Arkansas, the Arkansas Rice Depot, to create a stronger organization better positioned to serve those in need.

Arkansas Foodbank provides food to 280,000 Arkansans each year through 400 local partners including schools, community based pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and child and senior programs in their 33-county service area in central, eastern, and southern Arkansas.

In 2022 the Arkansas Foodbank distributed over 40.2 million pounds of food, which equated to over 33.4 million meals. This includes over 10 million pounds of fresh produce.

Next year, the organization will celebrate its 40th anniversary - four decades of commitment, resilience, and community.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Volunteer: In addition to serving at the Volunteer Operations Center, holding a food drive is a great way to partner with Arkansas Foodbank.

Fundraisers: Consider creating a personal fundraiser to celebrate a birthday, wedding or other special occasion, and encourage others to help you provide food and hope for your neighbors in need.

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Donations: Donors’ support puts nutritious food on the tables of Arkansans facing hunger.

Every dollar given provides enough food for five meals.

For more information on ways to get involved, visit arkansasfoodbank.org

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Junior Achievement of Arkansas MISSION: Headquarters: Little Rock Year founded: 1987

Founder: Sheffield Nelson

To inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

ABOUT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF ARKANSAS:

Since 1987, Junior Achievement has prepared the most vulnerable Arkansas students for successful adulthood by teaching them the skills, knowledge and behaviors to land high-wage jobs and to manage their money effectively to live the life they want.

Given the lingering effects of the pandemic on education, the need for this enrichment has never been greater for students, and JA plays a key role in bridging the gap for scores of Arkansas youth. JA’s programming correlates to state standards and helps reinforce the curriculum that teachers are teaching in the classroom, connecting the dots to real-world understanding.

The impactful work Junior Achievement accomplishes around the state would not be possible without volunteers, including those in the classroom, the board of directors, educator partners and company sponsors who work together to make JA’s mission a reality.

WAYS TO HELP: Donations: A one-time investment or monthly gift will accelerate JA’s ability to bring proven programming to the students who need it most.

Volunteers: JA is committed to reaching a diverse student population supported by diverse volunteers and partners.This includes diversity in areas such as race, ethnicity, culture, gender/gender identity, economic backgrounds, education, language, physical and mental ability, and more.

Become a volunteer at arkansas.ja.org/volunteer/volunteer-now.

President/CEO: Tonya Villines Areas served: Statewide

Connect: Junior Achievement Hall of Fame Gala honors business leaders from across the state for their unique contributions to Arkansas’ business landscape, for being agents of positive change, for their leadership, and for being sources of inspiration to the leaders of tomorrow. For more information on the event, contact Tonya Villines at tvillines@jaark.org.

proJect8 MISSION:

ProJect8 will be the helping hands of Jesus Christ, providing love, encouragement and essential items for homeless, transient and displaced individuals within the community.

Headquarters: Cabot Year founded: 2022

Founder: Emily Allen Areas served: Central AR, parts of Louisiana and Texas Leadership: Ashley Ruffin (Vice President); Brooke Hayes (Co-Vice President/ Events Coordinator); Mandy Pitts (Treasurer); Kelly Pittman (Secretary): Elizabeth Garrett (Social Media/ Website Manager)

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ABOUT PROJECT8:

Through proJect8, founder Emily Allen has turned tragedy into triumph. Allen was moved to start the nonprofit in honor of her late son, Jarrett. Profoundly compassionate at just 7 years old, Jarrett gave Allen eight dollars to give to someone in need shortly before his passing. Since its inception in 2022, proJect8 has provided over 1,000 “blessing bags” of essentials to unhoused members of the community across central Arkansas.

“We are turning our tragic story into a testimony that glorifies our Lord and Savior and hopefully brings others to know or draw closer to Jesus,” Allen said. “The story behind Jarrett’s proJect8 is so special, and I hope that through our heartache, our non-profit will only gain momentum from the community and grow like a wildfire.”

ProJect8 is currently working towards acquiring a permanent headquarters, in addition to obtaining a mobile van to house goods and reach more people.

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WAYS TO HELP: Donations: Buy items off of proJect8’s Amazon wishlist to help pack more blessing bags. One-time and recurring donations can also be set up on the nonprofit’s website.

Volunteers: Email proJect8 at jarrettsproject8@gmail.com to get involved, whether through packing bags or participating in upcoming events.

Connect: Follow proJect8 on Facebook and Instagram, and visit online at jarrettsproject8.org.

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Women’s Own Worth ABOUT WOMEN’S OWN WORTH:

Headquarters: Little Rock Year founded: 2012

Women’s Own Worth empowers victims of violence, allowing women and their families to regain their self-worth by enabling them to sustain an independent life after suffering the effects of trauma.

Relying solely on volunteer time and donor contributions, WOW aids survivors through a wide range of services, including therapy, food, clothing and transportation.

Founder Jajuan Archer, herself a survivor of domestic violence, underscored the importance of community support, emphasizing that WOW’s impactful work is made possible through the collective efforts of compassionate individuals dedicated to helping survivors recover and rebuild their lives.

FOUNDER: Jajuan Archer Area served: Statewide Board Members: Rep. Charlene Fite; Kellee McCoy, MS, LPC, LMFT

“We have no paid employees. The only people that our funds go to are the victims and service providers such as therapists, and for the cost of the homes we build,” Archer said. “People have continued to help victims recover — I don’t do anything by myself.”

Women’s Own Worth partnered with state Rep. Charlene Fite to create a law in Arkansas that mandates cosmetology students to receive training on domestic violence and sexual assault awareness. This training enables cosmetologists to identify individuals who may need help. Women’s Own Worth, in collaboration with Fite, also played a role in passing a law that safeguards the personal information of survivors. Furthermore, Women’s Own Worth played a significant role in creating another law that necessitates the perpetrator’s presence in the courtroom when the victims’ families deliver their impact statements. Archer supported Brandi Strickland and state Rep. Brian Evans in making this vital law a reality.

One of WOW’s most ambitious projects is the construction of transition homes for survivors in Saline County. These homes aim to provide a safe and supportive environment for families affected by domestic abuse and violent crimes, and they offer survivors a chance to rebuild their lives and find hope.

WOW’s work underscores the importance of community organizations in addressing critical issues domestic violence and violent crime survivors need.

WOW’s dedication to renewing hope and providing tangible assistance makes a lasting impact on the lives of those WOW serves.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Donations: WOW relies entirely on donations and its annual fundraiser, WOWapalooza. As the demand for WOW’s services continues to grow, financial contributions, large and small, are essential to the group’s work.

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Volunteers: Volunteers are the heart and soul of Women’s Own Worth. They are instrumental in providing survivors with emotional support, mentorship and a sense of community. Building a robust volunteer network ensures that survivors receive the individualized care and attention they deserve.

Donated Services: WOW requires specialized expertise in legal, dental, medical, therapy and various other fields to provide comprehensive support to survivors. The group also seeks the help of those in the construction industry as it works on building new homes for families in need.

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(Jamison Mosley)

(Photo Provided)

BOTTOM S LINE: Companies benefit from giving back

By Becky Gillette

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upporting charitable endeavors and encouraging employees to participate in volunteer activities is not just good for the communities in which businesses operate; doing so is good for the bottom line, as well.

“Supporting these organizations enhances lives and builds stronger and more vibrant communities,” said Mary Michaels, chief human resources officer at Windstream. “It also fosters employee camaraderie and helps make Windstream attractive to job seekers.”

An offshoot of Alltel, Windstream is a telecommunications company headquartered in Little Rock that has about 1,000 Arkansas employees and another 10,000 nationwide.

It provides high-speed broadband internet, phone service and digital TV packages to residential customers as well as services for businesses and government agencies.

Michaels said Windstream encourages employees to participate in volunteer opportunities because the company understands the important role it has in society.

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to their community,” she said. “Another way employees are able to give back in a systematic way is through participation in our employee resource groups. For example, our Women of Windstream group recently volunteered at the Arkansas Foodbank and our WINVets group organizes donation drives and volunteer opportunities with St. Francis House annually.

“Windstream has also long been supportive of employees serving on nonprofit organization boards and chairing events.”

Windstream is one of many Arkansas companies and businesses committed to serving the communities where its team members and customers live and work. The company supports numerous charitable causes, including hunger relief, domestic violence awareness, breast cancer research and STEM initiatives.

It has sponsorships and partnerships with local and national organizations, including Junior Achievement, Home for Healing, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas, EAST Initiative, Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, St. Francis House, Arkansas Foodbank and Arkansas Children’s, among others.

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Another company known for its numerous charitable programs in Arkansas is Marco’s Pizza.

Travis Worley, who coowns 13 of the 18 Marco’s Pizza restaurants in Arkansas, said all of the owners and general managers of (Jamie Lee) Marco’s outlets know that nonprofits are a big part of their business.

“Yes, we are a company and we need to make money,” Worley said. “The more important thing is what we give back. Sometimes we give money, but we also donate time, energy and ideas for fundraisers. A lot of my general managers go to some of the events and communicate with the kids. You build this culture by example. My managers know that I’m right there with them.”

Kids need to eat, and pizza is nearly always a hit. It also lends itself well to convenience. In addition to donating pizzas to charity events, Marco’s Pizza participates nationally in the No Kid Hungry campaign.

“We build from the top all the way down,” Worley said. “We all have the same message.”

The company’s involvement goes beyond food. Marco’s works with Junior Achievement programs in the state that teach entrepreneurship in schools year-round. JA hosts multiple classes on topics such as why to have a credit card, when to use a credit card, how to balance a checkbook, how to write a check and how to run a business.

“It is a great organization,” Worley said. “My wife does the books for the Arkansas JA. We help them with fundraisers. We sponsor some 81

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events with them.”

What does Worley get out of it? He particularly loves it when he sees kids using the skills they were taught in real life. There is excitement when you see a kid smile and say, “I taught my mom how to balance her checkbook.”

“JA promotes values like honesty, integrity and loyalty and has programs to help fund our future, meaning our children,” Worley said. “We are giving kids an introduction into what it takes if you want to be an entrepreneur later in life. You make a product, run a business, do marketing, staff it, educate people on your product — how you are selling it and what you are doing it for. It gives them a taste of owning a business before they put their own money up.”

Worley also volunteers at his church, where he runs the men’s group and works with young members.

“The only real way to grow your church and grow your base is to work with your youth,” he said. “It is feeding the souls of our members and students.”

No matter which nonprofit is being helped, Worley said it is about relationships.

“I build relationships with the people in the groups I get involved with,” Worley said.

“For me, it is not just a phone call or email.

For example, I know the staff and board members of JA. It is building those relationships that is important to me. We work with a lot of churches and schools.”

CHI St. Vincent, one of the largest health care providers in Arkansas at about 4,500 employees, is also known as one of the more charitable companies in the state.

Kathy Taylor, market vice president for philanthropy at CHI St. Vincent and head of the CHI St. Vincent Foundation, said the health system works hard to be involved in the communities it serves.

“We take part in numerous charitable opportunities such as the THV Summer Cereal Drive with Arkansas Foodbank, Pet Adoption Day, various back-to-school community events. We also have several free blood pressure screening machines throughout central and south Arkansas. In 82

addition to these efforts, CHI St. Vincent sponsors numerous community events. Our goal is to educate the people of Arkansas about ways they can monitor and be more proactive about their health and wellness.”

CHI St. Vincent’s regional health network includes four main hospitals and a multispecialty network of medical group clinics as well as the CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute, CHI St. Vincent Arkansas Neuroscience Institute and CHI St. Vincent Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic. CHI St. Vincent’s four primary hospitals include CHI St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock, CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, CHI St. Vincent North in Sherwood and CHI St. Vincent Morrilton.

Because of the company’s broad coverage in the state, combined with a large employee base, annual campaigns that promote charitable causes have a big impact.

One CHI St. Vincent program helps employees with scholarships to upgrade their professional designations. Workers are encouraged to apply for scholarships that will enrich their health care opportunities. These are offered at each of CHI’s Arkansas hospitals.

This year, 44 employees were awarded scholarships totaling $113,000. The scholarships also help assure that CHI has adequate staffing.

“We also have a Pathways program that works with local colleges in awarding scholarships to nursing students in hopes that they will join the CHI St. Vincent ministry,” Taylor said.

Another notable program is Danny’s Gift, named for a former patient who died after being found unresponsive on Sept. 19, 2012.

“For 10 days under the amazing care of CHI St. Vincent North and the neurosurgery intensive care unit staff, his family and friends had time to gather, celebrate a life well-lived and say goodbye,” Taylor said. “He was 27 years old. He was taken off life support on Sept. 29. No family should ever have to worry about the cost of food or a place to stay when caring for a loved one in the neurosurgery intensive care unit. That’s why Danny’s Gift was created. These donations directly help families who are in need of financial support during a time of crisis at CHI St. Vincent North.”

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Perfectly Loved MISSION: Headquarters: Morrilton Year founded: 2023 Executive Director: Mary Sponer Area served: Central Arkansas Board of Directors: Scott Watkins (Chairman); Anita Watkins (Secretary); JT Compton (CFO); Melissa Dabar Founding Pillars: • Serving in love • Better together • Building lives you can love

Perfectly Loved was founded this year to serve an area of intense need in the state. While the national opioid crisis continues to upend lives, the demand for drug-free transitional housing and support will only increase. Women remain an underserved part of the recovery community, however, and men’s programs are three times more prevalent than women’s. As the only program of its kind in the area, Perfectly Loved is focused on building and maintaining relationships that will help women in recovery reenter society with a sustainable, independent and drug-free lifestyle founded on spiritual principles.

Committed to raising the bar for transitional services in Arkansas, Perfectly Loved follows best practices guidelines set by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for recovery housing. The faith-based program also utilizes peer recovery, a model that allows those with firsthand experience in recovery to help guide others on their own journey. The group’s 4,500-squarefoot facility is opening this month, and the Perfectly Loved program will include job placement, financial planning and life skills training, as well as a variety of recovery classes.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Donations and Membership: Donations allow the nonprofit to offer deposit assistance for residents who graduate from the program, getting more women in recovery off the streets and into homes. Purchasing a membership for $25 a month is the best way to become part of Perfectly Loved’s mission. The nonprofit will be hosting a monthly open house for members where they will have the chance to come out and fellowship with the people for whom they are making a difference.

Volunteers: Women in active long-term recovery can consider setting aside a few hours each week to become sponsors. Sponsors mentor residents and help them as they complete the program, but most of all, theyl contribute to a growing support community that is essential to helping more people achieve long-term recovery.

“Serving in Love” Outreach: Perfectly Loved is part of the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership Naloxone Hero program, which allows the group to provide training on the proper use of the opioid overdose treatment, Narcan. Individuals can help more people obtain this potentially life-saving skill by hosting Perfectly Loved for a training session in their communities. Perfectly Loved also welcomes invitations for its residents to visit churches and various programs.

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CHARITABLE MATCHMAKER ARKANSAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MAKES PHILANTHROPY ACCESSIBLE

By Kelli Reep

T

he word “philanthropist” conjures certain images in a to travel, and we can impact every part of our communities. We person’s head — someone wearing couture suits and are headquartered in Little Rock, and we now have a satellite fine jewelry, being driven to their next high-profile office in Rogers. We also have 29 local offices around the state.” charitable event. However, the Arkansas Community The foundation is dedicated to helping individuals, famiFoundation is bringing out the inner philanthropist lies, civic groups and businesses financially support charitable in all Arkansans as it closes in on 50 years of making causes. In fact, its sole reason for being is for charitable, benevocommunities better places to live. lent, scientific, religious and educational purposes to benefit the Heather Larkin, president and CEO of ARCF, said people of Arkansas. While one of more than 700 community it all started with a $258,000 grant from the Winthrop foundations nationwide, ARCF is the only foundation in ArRockefeller Foundation in 1976. Founded by Mary kansas through which individuals and corporations can create McLeod, who served as endowment funds for the puban advisor to Gov. Winlic benefit of the entire state and throp Rockefeller, ARCF “ANY ARKANSAN CAN CREATE A FUND. its communities. ARCF has proIT DOES NOT MATTER WHO YOU ARE. vided more than $600 million came to fruition after McLeod developed a in grants since 1976, and it is the OUR FUNDHOLDERS RANGE FROM steering committee of largest grant maker in terms of PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN INTEREST local leaders from across the number of grants awarded IN HELPING PETS, ESTABLISHING the state to steer its viin the state.

ART PROGRAMS, FUNDING FEEDING sion and mission.

What makes ARCF most INITIATIVES TO WHATEVER YOU CAN “It was important to unique, however, is making Mary and the commitphilanthropists out of everyday THINK OF.” tee members that this be citizens.

— HEATHER LARKIN, a statewide community “Any Arkansan can create a PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ARCF foundation serving all fund,” Larkin said. “It does not 75 counties,” Larkin said. matter who you are. Our fund“They were all in agreement it didn’t need to be a holders range from people who have an interest in helping pets, Little Rock foundation or one for northwest Arkansas establishing art programs, funding feeding initiatives to whator the Delta only. If that had been the case, the rest ever you can think of. If what a funder wants is for a legitimate of the state would not have had access to community charitable purpose, we will help match them with others in our funding. They wanted this to be statewide because we community who needs funds to accomplish their shared goals.” are a fairly small, relatively poor state, which is easy ARCF invests funds from donors — individuals, families,

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One of the beneficiaries of Arkansas Community Foundation’s work is Urban Patchwork, a nonprofit network of farmers and backyard gardeners such as Gabe Brand, who work to increase access to fresh food in urban areas. (Photos provided)

nonprofits and businesses — in endowments and uses the income, or in some cases the income and a portion of the principal, for grants that serve charitable causes throughout the state.

By spending only the income from these investments, ARCF ensures these funds will be available to support important needs in Arkansas permanently.

“We believe the best way to bring about positive change is on the local level, and from the beginning, we set out to establish local affiliate offices back in the 1980s,” Larkin said. “This allows the people living in the community to fund projects they know will make a difference. This can be for immediate needs as well as for solutions to long-term problems like food insecurity and illiteracy.”

According to Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States, more than 467,000 Arkansans are facing hunger, and of them, almost 135,000 are children. This means one in five children in the state face food insecurity daily. The ramifications of hunger — from the physical, mental and emotional havoc wrecked on a child to the stigmatization of not having enough to adequately care for

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that child — do not just impact the family, but on the community, city, county and state overall.

“Hunger and illiteracy are two of the biggest challenges we face in this state,” Larkin said. “At ARCF, we have four pillars in which we focus: health, education, families and community. Hunger and illiteracy are in each of these. If you are a child who does not have enough to eat or who worries if they are going to get to eat, you cannot focus at school. This has a negative impact on your studies, and if you don’t learn to read, that impacts your future in the kinds of decisions you make, the types of jobs you can get, the way you live the rest of your life.

“Those decisions impact your existing and future family as well as the community as a whole. Third grade, believe

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it or not, is where a child is moving from learning to read to reading to learn. That’s the most crucial time in his education. If we, as a state, can’t feed our kids so they can focus at school to learn and make the most of themselves, we can’t improve.”

What ARCF wants to do, Larkin said, is match donors who have specific interests with grantees sharing those same interests.

“We consider ourselves matchmakers in the sense that a donor may want to direct funds to food insecurity, but she may not know there is a project in another county that can utilize those charitable funds to help more children. The nonprofit seeking the funds may be an organization of only one or a few, and they may not know there is a funder available who shares their vision. That’s where we come in, and it’s an incredible thing when it happens.”

One of the ways ARCF does this matchmaking is through its Aspire Arkansas online database, AspireArkansas. org. Pulling data from sources such as the United States Census Bureau, the Arkansas Department of Education, the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services and more, Aspire Arkansas is “a yardstick to measure where our state currently stands, and a compass to help Arkansans determine where we should go,” the website states.

Jessica Ford, chief communications officer at ARCF, said family conditions in Arkansas are improving in many ways.

Teen births and child abuse are declining, unemployment is low and housing is affordable, she said.

“Other indicators are headed in the wrong direction,” she said. “Child poverty is increasing, income levels haven’t kept pace with inflation, and the state’s incarceration rate is high and still rising.

In addition, many conditions are dramatically worse for African American and Hispanic individuals and families.”

By reviewing data for specific indicators such as children living in poverty, the Aspire Arkansas database pulls an aggregate of statistics into an overall picture. For example, 24 percent of children in Arkansas were living in poverty OC TO B ER 2 02 3

from 2015 to 2019, a figure which is increasing year over year; the median household income for a family in the state was $47,597 for the same time frame and remained steady; and 6.1 percent of the labor force in 2020 experienced unemployment, which also continues to increase. These numbers tell a story, which ARCF refers to as “data stories,” that are hard to ignore.

“Arkansas nonprofits can use this information to make a compelling case for their initiatives,” Ford said. “We at ARCF understand the landscape of nonprofits within the state, but we don’t always know how a project or ministry or initiative can help improve our communities. That’s where Aspire Arkansas comes in and can be a versatile tool when making a request for funding.”

“HUNGER AND ILLITERACY ARE TWO OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE FACE IN THIS STATE. AT ARCF, WE HAVE FOUR PILLARS IN WHICH WE FOCUS: HEALTH, EDUCATION, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY.” — HEATHER LARKIN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ARCF Larkin said any nonprofit looking for funding should call ARCF for guidance and sign up for its e-newsletter, which includes funding opportunities available through the foundation and other sources.

“After we talk, we forward your request to our donor services team to see if we can find a donor match for your initiative,” Larkin said. “It may not be next week when you see results or even in the next months, but a match can come.”

Another way ARCF helps nonprofit organizations is through gift-in-kind matchmaking.

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want to provide it to an organization in the community who can use it,” Ford said. “While we don’t pick up and store these items, we do work through our nonprofit network to see who can utilize this gift. Many times, Habitat for Humanity can accept it for their ReStore outlets, or new nonprofits can use desks, printers and other things to furnish their first office. Regardless, it’s community helping community, and we want to help make those connections between the two.”

Making those connections is what has kept ARCF in the business of uplifting communities for almost 50 years. In fact, it works hand-in-hand with professional advisors such as financial planners, lawyers, estate planners and accountants to help Arkansans decide how they would like to direct their money to achieve charitable goals.

“Once, we had a lady who was putting together her estate, and because she was a single woman with no children, she was struggling with what to do with her money after her passing,” Larkin said. “Her attorney told her, ‘I will handle all the legal aspects of this.

I want you to go talk with the Arkansas Community Foundation about what you want your money to do for the community.’ She decided, because she was a pet lover, to set up a fund to help animal rescues in the state, and she was able to make decisions on the initiatives we were able to match her with, and she had a wonderful experience.

“That’s why when we say anyone can be a philanthropist, we mean it. It doesn’t matter who you are or how much money you have, you can make a difference in your state, and we can help you do it.”

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Headquarters: Little Rock Year founded: 2011

Founder: Louise Allison

Partners Against Trafficking Humans MISSION: Centered in Christ, the focus at Partners Against Trafficking Humans is to deliver hope for healing, personal growth and future success.

The organization’s mission is to provide a program of restoration and community reintegration for rescued victims through a variety of programs and services. Besides providing therapeutic services and a safe place for survivors, PATH provides education to all ages in Arkansas and surrounding states about prevention, awareness and intervention.

ABOUT PATH: PATH provides a variety of victim services for survivors of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

PATH is one of few resources for survivors of sexual abuse in Arkansas, and a lack of resources can be devastating for those seeking escape from sexual trafficking. PATH provides a day center and more for survivors of sex trafficking, sexual abuse and sexual assault.

PATH’s goal is to provide a safe place where survivors can find physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

Whether survivors need a safe place to stay, parenting classes or intensive therapy to battle PTSD, the PATH case managers and therapeutic treatment team can help. Through life skills, creative activities and recreation, PATH helps survivors face traumas, learn ways to cope and gain skills needed to successfully reintegrate into the community. PATH also provides community awareness, victim-services training, and outreach and education. In addition, the organization works closely with legislators to tighten human trafficking laws in Arkansas.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Donations: Donations provide essential resources for PATH to continue providing for victims of trafficking by guiding them from crisis to complete freedom and independence. To donate online, visit pathsaves.org/support/donate.

Volunteers: PATH has many ways to volunteer and support survivors of sex trafficking and sexual abuse.

Volunteers can staff the helpline, mentor survivors, staff events and more. More information is available at pathsaves.org/support/volunteer.

Fundraisers: PATH’s yearly fundraiser, Light the PATH, will occur from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 26 at Chenal Event Venue in Little Rock. The event will feature a meal, live music and live and silent auctions. For more information, visit pathsaves.org/events.

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Project Zero ABOUT PROJECT ZERO:

MISSION AND VISION:

The mission of Project Zero is to diligently and enthusiastically promote adoption through the foster care system with the ultimate goal of finding a forever family for every child who is waiting.

Headquarters: Little Rock; northwest Arkansas Year founded: 2012

Founder: Christie Erwin

Pulaski County Adoption Coalition, better known as Project Zero, has ambitious goals. Even one child or teen waiting in foster care to be adopted is too many. Project Zero works tirelessly to connect every waiting child in Arkansas with a loving forever family. The nonprofit gives children in foster care a face and a voice, ensuring that they are seen, heard, valued and treasured. Over the past 12 years, Project Zero has been honored to connect over 1,300 children and teens with their forever families through connection events, the Heart Gallery and short films, and through a close partnership with the Arkansas Department of Children and Family Services. Each connection is a life and a future changed.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Donations: In addition to one-time and monthly giving, be on the lookout during the holiday season for the chance to adopt a waiting child’s Christmas wish list.

Volunteers:Volunteering at Project Zero’s monthly connection events is a great way to help more children find their forever families.

Events and Awareness: Project Zero is hosting two fundraisers in November for National Adoption Month. Learn more about these and other events at theprojectzero.org.

Arkansas Zoological Foundation MISSION:

Areas served: Statewide

The Arkansas Zoological Foundation raises funds for the growth and development of the Little Rock Zoo. Its support aids the Little Rock Zoo in its mission to inspire people to value and conserve the natural world.

ABOUT THE ARKANSAS ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION:

Board Chair: Lisa Buehler

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The Little Rock Zoo is the only zoo in the state accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, and the Arkansas Zoological Foundation (AZF) is a crucial funding component of the Zoo’s development and growth. As one of the state’s most visited attractions at more than 300,000 guests annually, the Zoo brings people to central Arkansas from all over the region, allowing families to experience conservation education in a living classroom.

The AZF’s board is a dynamic group of volunteers committed to raising funds for new capital projects, conservation learning programs and other initiatives, all with the goal of helping the Zoo inspire more people to contribute to the protection of the planet and its wildlife.

As the Zoo prepares for its centennial celebration in 2026, now is the perfect time to get involved and support this important mission.

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GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Donations: Signing up for an annual Zoo membership is one of the most impactful ways to support the Little Rock Zoo and its conservation efforts both locally and globally.

Membership also comes with a variety of benefits year-round.

Volunteers: The Zoo is always looking for good volunteers to help put on programs and engage with guests. Learn more about volunteering at littlerockzoo.com/learn/volunteer.

Events: Participation in the variety of fun events the Zoo puts on throughout the year is not only a great time, but helps support the Zoo’s operations, as well. Little Rock Zoo’s annual holiday lantern event, GloWild, returns for its third year from Nov. 16 to Jan. 7.

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Headquarters: Little Rock Year founded: 1888

CHI St. Vincent Foundation MISSION STATEMENT: To make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.

ABOUT CHI ST. VINCENT FOUNDATION:

CEO: Chad Aduddell Area served: Statewide Board of Directors: • Chad Aduddell (Chief Executive Officer, CHI St. Vincent) • Allison Anthony • Rick Blank (Chair) • Susan Blair (Treasurer) • Meghan Collins • Ray Dillon • Elizabeth Farris • Rick Fleetwood • Eliza Gaines • Jack Grobmyer • Denise Hanson • Frank Kumpuris • George Makris III • Michael Millard (Market Director Mission, CHI St. Vincent) • Barrett Norton • Wendy Saer • Robert Seay • Josh Szostek (CFO, CHI St. Vincent) • John Wade • Kirby Williams

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CHI St. Vincent is a part of CommonSpirit Health, a Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people and one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the country. In keeping with its mission, CHI St. Vincent Foundation is committed to creating healthier communities, delivering exceptional patient care and ensuring every person has access to quality health care.

The health network serves more than 1 million individuals every year with primary care and specialty provider visits, as well as providing nearly $1 million annually in free or discounted health services to people who cannot afford them. The group’s network includes primary care, specialty clinics, urgent care, hospitals, home health, rehabilitation and surgery centers.

Everything CHI St. Vincent does is to further its vision of a healthier future for all, inspired by faith, driven by innovation and powered by humanity. The group is at the forefront of training the next generation of health care leaders, partnering with nursing programs at local universities and colleges, and the health network is also working diligently to expand health care access in rural communities.

CHI St. Vincent has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its high performance across a number of treatment areas, including heart attack, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, heart valve surgery, heart failure, diabetes, hip replacement surgery, colon cancer surgery and kidney failure.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Membership: In addition to one-time gifts, joining Community 1888 with an annual gift is an impactful way to support educational opportunities for CHI St. Vincent’s front-line nurses.

Volunteers: CHI St. Vincent is always looking for volunteers who are willing to help at its facilities and make a direct, positive impact in the lives of patients.

Events: CHI St. Vincent’s 20th annual Golf Classic will take place on Oct. 16 this year, with proceeds benefiting the establishment of a transfer acceptance center. To find out more about this and other upcoming events, visit chistvincent.com/giving.

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NONPROFITS Jamie Gregrich (left) poses with Tina Cumbie, who completed Goodwill’s reentry program.

(Photos provided)

MORE THAN A THRIFT STORE T

Gala for Good to highlight Goodwill’s service to state

By Sarah Declerk

he inaugural Gala for Good takes place this year as the signature event for Goodwill Industries of Arkansas. While most folks might think of Goodwill as a low-priced thrift store or the final stop after a decluttering spree, the organization is much more than a donation-based retail chain.

“Everything that we do serves the state of Arkansas. Any money that we bring in, we put it back into the state of Arkansas,” said Shannon Boshears, senior vice president of development. “Everybody knows Goodwill as a retail store where people take their goods and they’re sold at an inexpensive price back to the public, but all those donations that we get, the money that comes off that goes to support these mission services that we offer.”

Goodwill of Arkansas started in 1927, she said. At that time, the organization provided education and training to individuals with developmental disabilities. Since then, Goodwill has expanded its services while maintaining its focus on education, employment and training.

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“If you can empower somebody with education and training in order to learn how to make a living, take care of themselves, take care of their families, it directly impacts the community, as well, and makes our state even stronger,” Boshears said. “Education really addresses the root of poverty.”

To help educate the community, Goodwill has a GTEC campus in Little Rock, and it opened a GTEC campus in Springdale in July. Both include the Excel Center and the Academy at Goodwill.

The Excel Center is the only high school in Arkansas that allows adults 19 and older to earn a high school diploma, Boshears added. The center is free to attend, and Boshears said there are about 180 students enrolled in Excel at the two campuses.

“We have people up in their 70s who are attending that never received their diploma that just want to come back to school and accomplish that,” she added. “We kind of meet people where they’re at. Some people, they’ve attended a couple years worth of high school. They don’t need to attend that long, so they might get out in a few weeks. Some people, it might take 90

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them a couple of years to get all the education they need in order to get the diploma.”

Providing that education can inspire generations to pursue schooling, she added.

“Educational becomes generational,” she said. “The kids of these parents that might be in this school, they get to see their parent going and getting a high school diploma. It makes them want to succeed and learn in education.”

For children of students, the center provides a free drop-in center that uses iPads and other tools to teach children while their parents earn their diplomas, she added.

“When that parent graduates, that child graduates with them and walks across the stage in their own cap and gown and gets their own little diploma,” she said.

The Academy at Goodwill provides certifications and job training, including Google certifications and training in plumbing, construction, welding and electrical work.

“We kind of run the gamut,” Boshears said. “If people need to get certified or skilled in a trade to get into the workforce, we can offer that, so we’re naturally a great pipeline for people entering the workforce. To me, we’re kind of a hidden gem right now because a lot of people don’t know what Goodwill does.”

In addition, Goodwill provides reentry services for people who are leaving incarceration or have been otherwise involved in the criminal justice system. The program includes 16 weeks of on-thejob training in which participants are paid to learn skills.

“A lot of times, we hire those individuals into our organization to take different roles,” Boshears said. “Some of those people have come up in the ranks and are now even directors in our organization.”

Goodwill also offers a career-services office at most retail stores where anybody can learn soft skills such as resume-building and interviewing.

“We always look at doing whatever we can to help the community. Our mission is ‘changing lives through education, training and employment,’” Boshears said. “That kind of runs the gamut and allows us to offer a lot of different programs to people.”

There are also some programs geared toward children. Books 4 Kids provides donated books to the community, and the organization has also partnered with Little Rock Bright Futures to help provide resources to students of the Little Rock Shannon Boshears School District.

“We’re very nimble in a lot of ways,” Boshears said. “If something makes sense for us to get involved with and help the community, we take that on.”

For example, Goodwill provided assistance in central Arkansas and Wynne after the March 31 tornados.

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Elba Romero graduates from the Excel Center.

help, and that was running transportation and logistics and moving donations from center to center,” she said, adding that the organization stored and distributed massive amounts of donations. “We spent a good two months using a lot of our workforce and our trucks and helping out logistically because that’s really what we’re good at, and the city was in desperate need for that.”

Goodwill also gave away $100,000 in vouchers for tornado victims to use at its stores.

“It was a great opportunity for us to partner with people and show people how much we care about the community and give back,” she said. “There’s lots of things that we can do, and if it makes sense, we really want to do it.”

She added that the Gala for Good will allow the public to learn about Goodwill’s work beyond its retail outlets.

“One of the things that we’re trying to do here is be more philanthropic and be part of the community,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know that they can support Goodwill financially, so one of the things that I wanted to do was do a very public-facing event so that anybody that wants to come can come to it.”

AY Media Group will sponsor the gala, which will feature a plated dinner, signature cocktails, beer and wine, live and silent auctions, and a performance by the Ultimate Prince Tribute Band. Jay Chesshir, president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber, will serve as keynote speaker.

Goodwill will present awards such as Achiever of the Year, Graduate of the Year, Employer of the Year and Community Partner of the Year at the event.

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awards and learn about how our mission services really do change lives and affect those people here in Arkansas,” Boshears said.

She added that the first Community Partner of the Year award will be presented to the Dorcas House in Little Rock.

“We’ve had a great partnership with them throughout the past few years, and it’s a really great opportunity to honor them,” she said. “So many of our services overlap with other nonprofit services in the state, and I think the more we can all partner together, the more we can have more impact on people here.”

The highlight of the gala will be the presentation of the Spirit of Goodwill Award, which will honor an individual Troy Wells who has devoted time, talent and effort to advocate and promote Goodwill’s mission. This year’s recipient will be Troy Wells, president and CEO of Baptist Health.

Boshears said this year is a fitting time to honor Wells because he will be ending his two-year stint as board chair this term.

“We felt like we wanted to honor him with this first award as somebody who really embodies the Spirit of Goodwill,” she said.

“He’s done such a great job leading this board the past couple of years, and he really has that heart for what we do and knows how important that workforce is to the economy of Arkansas and all the organizations that are desperate for hiring that workforce.”

Wells said that there are plenty of other people besides him who are deserving of the award.

“It’s really humbling, and I’m extremely honored that they would think of me for this occasion and this recognition,” he said.

“I really give credit to the long-standing board members who have been through all the years with Goodwill of Arkansas.”

He added that the board is remarkable for having dedicated, long-standing members.

“I realized pretty quickly that people that have served on that board have done so for a very long time and, through both difficult times and successful times, have guided and steered that organization well,” he said. “Some of the board members, they’ve had multiple generations of family members serve on that board, so there’s a lot of history, a lot of care and concern for this organization that does so many great things throughout our state.”

Wells said that when he started getting to know Goodwill staff about 10 years ago, he was most impressed by the mission behind the sticks-and-bricks retail stores.

“What intrigued me about Goodwill was when I learned about what they’re really all about,” he said. “All these programs and things that help lift people up and give them opportunities is really what motivated me to get more involved, and that ultimately led to me being asked to serve on the board.”

He said helping adults earn their high school diplomas is one of his proudest accomplishments as a board member.

“That’s a big deal for so many people and really can be a OC TO B ER 2 02 3

Priscilla Luke completes a welding course at the Academy at Goodwill.

launching point for a different life once they’ve done that and accomplished that,” he said. “I’m really proud of that because it’s so unique. It’s the only place in Arkansas that people can do that.”

He added that he is also proud of the way the organization has expanded over the years.

“Our footprint’s gotten bigger,” he said. “We’ve gotten into different parts of the state and grown the organization. It just drives more opportunities for more people, so it’s not just having more retail stores; it’s driving people to be engaged in Goodwill, giving other people opportunities to improve their lives through the work that Goodwill does and creates jobs.”

He credited Brian Marsh, president and CEO of Goodwill, with building a talented leadership team that helped grow the organization and said he will remain on the board to support Miguel Lopez when he becomes the new board chair.

Wells said he supports Goodwill both personally and through his work at Baptist Health.

“We have a partnership with Goodwill,” he said. “One of the training proCathy Tuggle grams is for the health care setting, so we’ll continue to support that and be involved there.”

For the program that trains environmental services technicians, Baptist built hospital rooms at the Goodwill campus where students are trained for two or three weeks before being hired by the health care system, Wells added.

“It helps Baptist because it creates a talent pool,” he said.

“When they come to us, they’re ready to go. We don’t have to do more training and on-boarding and all that. It’s basically been done by Goodwill, so it’s a great, great partnership.”

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Chandler Dickson trains in computer hardware at the Academy at Goodwill.

Her son became a certified welder through Goodwill, she said, adding that they were looking at trade schools throughout the state, but Goodwill was, “right here under our nose.” The Gala will help spread the word about those trade services to potential employers who might not be aware of the programs, she said.

“I think a lot of different organizations and companies within the state of Arkansas that are in need of hiring those different people or trades, they’ll be able to contact Goodwill and fill those positions,” she added. “I think it will help the workforce throughout the state.”

Presented by Bank OZK, the Gala for Good will begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Venue at Westwind in North Little Rock. More information is available at GoodwillAR.org/gala.

“If you can come to the Gala, it’s going to be a great opportunity to see what we do. The more you look into Goodwill, the more you find all the good that we do here in Arkansas,” Boshears said. “If you’re in another organization that wants to partner with us, let’s talk. If you’re somebody that needs help in any way and any of our services can help, we’re here to do that, so the more people we can partner with, the more people we can help.”

He said he hopes the organization will continue to expand and that the public will become more aware of Goodwill’s nonprofit model and the work that it does beyond the retail operation.

The gala will provide an opportunity to show appreciation for the Goodwill team, he added.

“I’m looking forward to another opportunity to celebrate Goodwill and the work that it does and to thank all the people there who support Goodwill in many, many ways and to recognize the staff and the team,” he said. “Every time we get together, we like to do that, and I’m just really looking forward to being with the Goodwill family and having a celebration.”

Cathy Tuggle, event chair, said she has known Wells for many years and served with him on boards such as the Little Rock Regional Chamber.

“He is probably the most giving and just a wonderful, wonderful man that is definitely deserving of this award,” she said. “He’s got a heart of gold. He’s just a really, really good person. He would give the shirt off his back for anybody.”

She said the event will provide some 600 attendees with the opportunity to learn about Goodwill’s work in education, training and employment.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of people in the room who are going to hear so many different stories from all walks of life of different people that have been touched by Goodwill and have received these certifications,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a very inspirational evening.”

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Goodness Village MISSION:

Goodness Village provides affordable apartment housing in Little Rock for patients and their families who require outpatient medical treatment.

Headquarters: Little Rock Year founded: 1995

Executive Director: Kim Burket Board Chairman: Ben Parkinson Areas served: Nationwide

ABOUT GOODNESS VILLAGE:

For nearly three decades, Goodness Village has played a crucial role in supporting patients and their families while they seek treatment in the capital city. Goodness Village provides safe and comfortable housing for as many nights as the family needs to stay, alleviating an additional point of stress and improving access to health care for people all over the state and nationwide.

Goodness Village currently manages 22 fully furnished apartment homes and has plans for further expansion to meet growing demand. In 2022, the nonprofit welcomed guests from 19 different states and three foreign countries. The organization’s volunteers and apartmentcare team take the time to get to know each family. This personalized approach allows them to provide additional support, navigate families to other services and help meet specific needs within the Little Rock community.

Goodness Village takes care of all the details so that patients and their families can focus on what is most important — getting well.

WAYS TO HELP: Donations: In addition to maintaining and expanding services, a one-time or monthly donation allows the organization to provide deeper discounts to its nightly rates for families with financial needs.

Volunteers: In 2022, volunteers contributed nearly 4,370 hours of community service and provided families with homemade meals, quilts, handwritten cards, holiday baskets, gift cards and extra cleaning services to make each stay more comfortable and stress-free.

Connect: Sharing Goodness Village’s mission and stories helps the group connect with potential volunteers, donors and families in need. Visit Goodness Village on Facebook, Instagram and at goodnessvillage.org.

Saving Grace NWA MISSION:

Saving Grace offers hope and transformation to young women through relationships, coaching and opportunities that empower generational change while trusting God with the outcome.

Headquarters: Centerton Year founded: 2009

ABOUT SAVING GRACE NWA:

Saving Grace provides a safe and stable home for young women ages 18 to 25 who have aged out of foster care or who are seeking an alternative to an unstable living situation. In the eyes of society, “Grace” — the young women in the Saving Grace program — is an adult. However, because of past trauma, abuse, poverty and neglect, “Grace” is often mentally and emotionally much younger.

Since 2010, more than 200 young women have called Saving Grace home, empowering them to break the cycle of poverty. The nonprofit currently serves 10 to 12 girls at a time, reducing northwest Arkansas’ potential homeless population Executive Director: Becky Shaffer by 3 percent. Upon graduation, most program alumni make northwest Areas served: Nationwide Arkansas their home, investing back into the community that believed in their redemptive journey.

Saving Grace NWA receives more than 150 applications every year. In order to serve the growing need for its life-changing services, the group purchased Grace Farms, a 50-acre campus in Centerton that is being renovated to serve 50 women at a time. Phase I was completed this year, and the nonprofit is currently fundraising for Phases II and III. OC TO B ER 2 02 3

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WAYS TO HELP: Donations: A gift of $37 provides one day of basic support for a young woman.

Volunteers: Saving Grace’s work is powered by an incredible community of volunteers who serve, mentor and stand in the gap for “Grace.” Visit savinggracenwa.org/serve to learn more.

Connect: Mark your calendar for the Uptown Hoedown Fall Fundraiser on Nov. 9 and the Butterflies & Blooms Luncheon on April 18. To find out more about these and other events, visit savinggracenwa.org.

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas Headquarters: Little Rock Year founded: 1999

Executive Director: Elizabeth Pulley Areas served: Statewide

ABOUT CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS OF ARKANSAS: The CAC model has emerged in the last 30 years as the nationally preferred response to child abuse.

Child advocacy centers provide vital services free of charge to help children find hope and heal from trauma caused by abuse. CACar’s purpose is to promote, assist and support the development, growth and continuation of CACs in Arkansas so every child victim has access to services provided by a CAC. With access to a CAC, the child is brought to a safe, child-focused environment.

A team of professionals makes decisions together about how to help the child.

CACs offer a wide range of services, including therapy, medical exams, victim advocacy, and forensic interviews.

CACs statewide serve more than 10,000 children annually.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Fundraisers: The Woman of Inspiration dinner is CACar’s largest annual fundraising event. This year’s event will take place on October 23; for more information, visit arwomanofinspiration.org.

Volunteers: CACar has 30 locations around the state dedicated to serving children and families. Contact a local CAC to learn about volunteer opportunities in each area.

Awareness: CACs offer prevention education to schools, organizations and community groups free of charge. Those interested in scheduling a training can find a local CAC at cacarkansas.org/find.

Colonel Daniel Cook, USAF and Travis Worley are Developers and Franchisees of Marco’s Pizza for the state of Arkansas.

They will be opening their 18th store in October of 2023 located at 19426 Cantrell Rd., Little Rock.

With 25 years of experience owning, operating and developing franchisee’s, they are always looking for the next owner/operator to welcome to their Marco’s Pizza family.

Founded in 1978 by Pasquale Giammarco, Marco’s Pizza strives to continue with Pasquale Italian inspired recipes.

NOW OPEN

your new neighbor makes the best pizza

If you haven’t tried their local delight Pepperoni Magnifico, log into marcos.com and find your nearest location.

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LITTLE ROCK, AR 19426 Cantrell Road 501-588-4111 Satisfy your cravings with 25% off your first menu-price order with code PIZZA25 CONTACT-FREE DELIVERY OR CARRYOUT  ORDER WITH OUR APP OR AT MARCOS.COM Price & participation may vary. May not be valid with other offers or $ or % off discounts. Order must include all required items. Delivery fee/tax extra (varies by store). Delivery orders must meet stated minimum.

No cash value. Restrictions may apply – see store for details. Prices subject to change. ®/© 2023 MP Marks, LLC. All rights reserved. 15122-923

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LOCATIONS IN ARKANSAS

franchising opportunities in Hot Springs, Arkadelphia, ElDorado, Pine Bluff, Benton, Siloam Springs, Fort Smith 1-877-784-1484  MARCOS.COM/FRANCHISING

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SMALL BUSINESS

FINALISTS PITCH IT OUT IN CABOT SHARK TANK

By AMP Staff

F

inalists in Cabot’s Shark Tank Pitch Competition, part of its Small Business Bootcamp, will get their chance to win $75,000 in funding, advertising and services on Oct. 24 at the C&C by the Lake events venue on U.S. 89.

The city is sponsoring the Shark Tank final alongside Arkansas Money & Politics and Pinnacle Advisors. The grand prize includes a $36,000 CFO service package from Pinnacle, a $25,000 feature package from AMP, a $10,000 cash prize and a $4,000 legal package.

Judging the competition will be Cabot Mayor Ken Kincade; Victor Werley, partner at Pinnacle Advisors; Marshall Butler, an investment advisor at Paladin Investment Advisors; David Hazeslip, vice president and senior commercial loan officer at First Arkansas Bank & Trust; and special guest judge Heather Baker, president and publisher of AY Media Group, which includes AMP and AY magazines.

The finalists and the businesses and services they will be pitching are:

• Adrian Bond — vintage clothing/bar

• Vivian Brittenum — employment/staffing agency

• Hope Conley— birthday parties and special events • Yolanda Cook — treatment center for women

• Shayla Dixon and Alex Burgess — indoor soccer center

• Chip Dunlap — utility/ broadband construction and support • Melissa Fureigh — co-working space

• Petrice Hameth — natural skincare line

• Meosha Yosh Howard — aesthetics supply company • Kovie D. Jackson — mobile barbershop

• Mary Kastner — micro-event planning and rental company • Mary Beth Kelloms — the Squib Bird Box

• Tanya and Stuart Lauderdale — food truck • Curtis O’Hare — mobile Nerf battlefield

• Amy Patterson — event planning and rentals • Riley Reed — auto detailing business

• Kim, Chris, Lindsey and Erick Robbins — brewery • Katie Robinson — indoor play facility • A’Ja Rolfe — food truck

• Sarah Shelton — herbal tea business

• Amy Thomson — gift store specializing in tea and treats (opened July 1) • Gabrielle Wilkerson — nonprofit

• Patrick Williams — aquarium/tropical fish store The free six-week bootcamp that led to the Shark Tank final was held by the city of Cabot in collaboration with AMP, Pinnacle Advisors and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.

Sessions held at Veterans Park Event Center in Cabot covered the topics of strategic planning and research; funding and finance; organization and creation; laws, licenses and legal pitfalls; and management and marketing.

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Saturday, October 28 6 pm - 10 pm

Presented By DI AMOND SPO N S O R

T HE V E N U E AT W E STW IN D | N ORTH LIT T LE R OCK PLATINUM SPONSORS

Join us as we showcase the amazing achievements of our program participants, graduates and community partners.

Featuring DI NNE R WI T H S I G N AT URE CO CKTA I L S , B E E R & WINE L I VE & S I L E N T A U C T I O NS KE YNO T E A D D R E S S B Y J AY C H E S S H I R , P R E S I D E N T & CEO, LITTE ROCK REGIONAL CHAMBER A L I VE P E R F O R M A N C E BY T H E U LT I M AT E P R I N C E TRIBUTE BAND AND MORE!

ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR

Cathy Tuggle

2023 Gala for Good Event Chair

Cathy Tuggle is a long-time supporter and friend to Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and will serve as the inaugural Gala for Good Event chair.

G OL D SPONS O R S

Troy Wells

P R E SIDE NT & C EO O F BA P T I S T H EA LT H

2023 Spirit of Goodwill Award Recipient

The Spirit of Goodwill Award is an accolade that recognizes an individual who has devoted their time, talent and effort to advocate and promote Goodwill’s mission.

SI LV E R S PON S O R S

FOR TICKETS OR SPONSORSHIP INFO, SCAN OR VISIT

THEGAL AFORGOOD.ORG ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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DIVERSITY

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

I

t’s our differences that make us unique, and this uniqueness makes us stronger.

This month, Arkansas Money & Politics is recognizing those companies that have embraced diversity in their workplace. This diversity takes many forms, from skin color to sexual orientation, but also includes the disabled, veterans and more.

AMP readers nominated companies across Arkansas who have taken up the mantle of diversity in their workplaces and strive to make their workplace a more inclusive one. These don’t represent all the companies in Arkansas who make diversity a priority, but just a sampling from our readers.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

DEI

Dividends Businesses say programs help retain, recruit employees

By Becky Gillette

D

iversity, equity and inclusion efforts are not just good for employees, but also make good business sense, said Michelle Harding, USAble Life’s chief legal and people officer and co-lead of the company’s inclusion council.

“Through our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, we are working to create a workforce where all our employees feel they can be themselves at work, feel safe talking about their differences and feel valued for the experiences they bring into the workforce,” Harding said. “The DEI projects we undertake help all our employees, allowing the company to support our customers and partners better. When a company is committed to diversity and inclusion, such commitment allows for diverse ideas and approaches to our day-to-day business.

When employees feel they can be themselves, they are more open to the work community around them, Harding said.

“We feel that it makes us a better employer, an employer our partners want to work with. Combined, these efforts allow us to provide better service to our customers.”

USAble launched the inclusion council in 2020 to develop initiatives that advance diversity and inclusion, ensure a safe space and a sense of belonging, and challenge the norms and practices that create barriers to inclusion. Harding said cultivating a culture of equity empowers employees to be open, innovative, curious and collaborative.

“When everyone is seen, heard, valued and empowered to succeed, the company succeeds,” she said. “The mission of the USAble Life Inclusion Council is to champion a diverse workforce and foster an inclusive corporate culture that makes a meaningful difference for our employees, partners and customers. When employees feel included, they are more likely to col-

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laborate, communicate and work effectively as a team, which can contribute to a more cohesive workforce.

The initiatives we launch through DEI work to benefit all our employees.”

Coming out of the pandemic, USAble found that employees are looking for employers who focus on the “whole employee.” Harding said its DEI initiatives do just that, and they have proven to be not only an effective strategy for retaining employees but also a powerful recruiting tool.

“We are able to build loyalty and improve innovation,” Harding said. “At USAble Life, we understand that DEI initiatives must be a part of the company culture, rather than reacting to the job market. That is why they are at the core of who we are as a company.”

Employee resource groups allow USAble Life to benefit from a valuable asset — its employees — and serve as a resource for them by providing activities, information and awareness around promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, support the organization’s commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in a safe space, and promote employees’ professional development, Harding said.

“ERGs are essential in helping to drive transformative change and engaging many different perspectives to support the business,” Harding said. “The key role of an ERG is to set and work toward goals that align with the company’s mission, vision, values and business objectives.”

USAble Life, based in Little Rock with 610 full-time employees, is committed to providing a work environment free of unlawful discrimination and harassment, Harding said. Actions, words, jokes or comments based on an individual’s race, color, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, or genetic information are examples of discrimination ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

and harassment that will not be tolerated.

“We have a strong anti-harassment policy and a robust training curriculum,” Harding said. “Employees involved in or witness to discrimination or harassment can report any issue they have to their direct supervisor, any member of management and/ or human resources. In those instances where they are not comfortable reporting the matter directly to their supervisor, they can use a toll-free compliance hotline to report incidents. Employees can use either process without fear of reprisal, and all complaints are investigated thoroughly by our human resources department.”

DEFINING LEADERSHIP Cinthya Allen, Arvest Bank’s diversity, equity and inclusion officer, said DEI principles are not just what Arvest does but define the bank and how it leads.

“In 2019, Arvest senior leadership chose to make a significant investment in our DEI efforts by creating a formal department,” Allen said. “This team helps ensure Arvest is the most diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace it can be by driving accountability, spearheading collaboration across the enterprise and engaging our communities. By focusing on the growth and development of our people, we are better positioned to make a more rewarding experience for our customers.”

The Arvest program consists of three DEI pillars to help the bank lead with a proactive people-first approach. Allen said these three pillars — community, associates and business — help employees think ahead to address needs and develop programming that resonates with the communities served.

“To execute this, we use a multiprong approach which includes the development of our workforce through specific training, leadership and exposure opportunities, as well as the critical work of our eight associate impact groups,” Allen said. “These groups focus on specific, diversity-niche segments to drive community impact, share bank product awareness and provide a safe space for learning about one another’s cultural or community experience.”

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“When everyone is seen, heard, valued and empowered to succeed, the company succeeds.”

— Michelle Harding, USAble Life Allen said the more understanding such groups can create, the better employees can support each other and the communities they serve. She sees that as even more critical with associates and a customer base spread throughout the region.

“We believe in the value diversity provides and the innovation that inclusion creates,” Allen said. “We embrace diversity and are committed to making it a celebrated and valued element of our associate and community landscape.”

Allen said there are many ways a DEI program can positively impact workplace culture. “When employees feel respected for having individuality and diversity of thought, opinions and beliefs, they’re more Michelle Harding likely to be engaged, creative and loyal,” she said. “Equity is essential in driving innovation and engagement, which in turn creates a competitive advantage and equips people to achieve their highest potential.”

Allen said the growth of the associate impact groups, which were formed in 2020, tells bank leaders that associates want opportunities to network with other associates.

“These groups are made up of Arvest associates and directly support underrepresented communities, giving associates and allies an outlet for learning more about Cinthya Allen various cultures, backgrounds and differing experiences,” Allen said. “AIGs provide a safe space to grow professionally and give back to the business by influencing direct business opportunities and partnering with leaders to drive business outcomes — and they create an immense impact that improves workplace productivity, company culture and employee retention, among many other value-adds.”

Another external measure of the success of the AIGs can be seen with the launch of Arvest’s 16 DEI-themed debit cards in 2021.

The cards were envisioned and designed in part by each group to promote diversity, Katie Swearingen 101

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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION equity and inclusion throughout Arvest and the more than 110 communities it serves. The cards also represent Arvest’s efforts to intentionally integrate diversity, equity and inclusion as part of the bank’s ongoing transformation in terms of its people, processes and technology.

Since the launch of the DEI-themed debit cards, more than 74,000 have been issued to customers, which indicates that the bank’s message is reaching beyond Arvest associates into the communities served.

According to Benevity’s “State of the Workplace DEI” published in April 2023, 87 percent of employees who responded said they would feel more loyal to a company with a track record of prioritizing DEI, and 62 percent believe employers should dedicate more effort to DEI given the current period of economic uncertainty.

“These numbers confirm what we already know and what we believe will continue to be important as new generations of employees enter the workforce,” Allen said. “Having a people-focused culture and being willing to adapt and innovate can be seen in other areas of our organization, including our extensive benefits package, open-door policy and opportunities for associatefocused discussions around social matters to drive understanding.”

Communication is one of the most important leadership and workforce elements for any organization.

Allen said Arvest focuses on a people-first approach by creating inclusive spaces where associates and customers are heard.

“This level of communication, even in the most difficult situations, leads to a greater understanding, relationship-building and trust,” Allen said. “We believe in an open-door policy and are proud to intentionally support inclusive spaces where communication is welcome. Our business model of operating as 14 separate community-focused banks across our four-state footprint allows each market to have its own management team and local board. A unifying value across all our banks is the commitment to a people-first approach.”

It boils down to this, Allen said: Arvest seeks to build genuine relationships and connections with its diverse communities.

“When there’s a more diverse workforce and leadership team, the more likely they will have a better understanding of our customer base and their needs,” she said.

“This allows our associates to connect on a deeper level and provide an exceptional customer experience.”

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grams that help people learn how to interact with fellow employees and the public in a way that is respectful and cooperative.

“We will always need DEI training as long as we are helping people,” said Katie Swearingen, organizational development advisor with CARTI’s human resources team. “People are complex. We serve a diverse population with team members and patients.”

Swearingen said CARTI’s program focuses on recognition, development and access. Team members should feel like there is equity in recognition, that their opinions count, and that there is equal access to development opportunities across all locations.

Swearingen said the Little Rock-based cancer care provider has learned that when taking care of team members from a DEI perspective, engagement goes up.

Employees perform better, job performances improve, and patients benefit.

“We know inclusion increases engagement,” she said. “When people feel included in an organization, they are able to maximize their talents and energy instead of worrying they aren’t going to be accepted.”

CARTI’s DEI program launched in April 2022. Swearingen said she had never seen employees so passionate about joining an internal team.

“These were people from different job roles, different levels of leadership, different leadership, genders, ethnicities and life experiences,” she said. “They were just bringing their hearts to this work. We have 18 members, and we also asked the executive team to join the council.”

CARTI conducted a baseline survey of employees when the program officially launched last year and a follow-up survey earlier this year. The second survey showed that perceptions around DEI were getting better.

“The survey data is telling us we are moving in the right direction,” Swearingen said. “This is not a sprint.

This is a marathon. Even as a council, we are spending some time educating ourselves around the inclusion process from generational, gender, racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The team members’ experience and the patient experience areas are deeply connected.

Oftentimes, those things mirror each other. Looking at DEI, taking care of team members with that lens, it directly relates to the patient experience.”

Swearingen said people’s identities are shaped by so many things, including how and where people grew up, their peer groups, the culture, and what people chose to read, listen to or watch.

“It really does take an intentional effort to be aware of biases,” she said. “Bias is not always negative, but it can be limiting. Being really mindful of biases can help us be more welcoming and inclusive. We want to open up that potential. That takes some very intentional actions.”

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James A. Rogers Excavating was started in the early 60’s and in 2016 Chris Meyer, Mr. Rogers grandson, was asked if he wanted to take over the company. Essentially becoming Mr. Rogers Retirement.

Since 2016 the company has grown in revenue, employees, community involvement, but most importantly our mentality has stayed the same. Chris has understood that it really takes a village to accomplish his goals.

Bringing people together for a common goal is not for the faint at heart! This industry has always been mostly men but not at James A. Rogers Exc. Jar’s work force is 15% women!

We hope to grow this number to 25% by the end of 2024.

INTEGRITY | OWNERSHIP | PROFESSIONAL | COMMITMENT | ADAPTABILITY | PRIDE | TRUSTOWRTHY | RESPONSIBLE | TEAMWORK | SKILLED 16800 West Baseline Rd. Little Rock, AR 72210 (501) 455-2439 (501) 455-4125 info@jamesarogersexc.com

We believe in the power of diversity.

Our commitment to inclusivity isn’t just a choice, it’s our strength. We’re proud to embrace a workforce as diverse as the communities we serve. Our unique differences are all part of a radiant mosaic that sparks innovation, drives creativity, and fosters a culture of belonging. It is the fuel that ignites our mission - working together to responsibly and economically keep the lights on today and in the future.

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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

MEGA COMPANY (1,000-PLUS EMPLOYEES) Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

FIS Global is committed to empowering every individual with the ability to plug into technology, manage their finances and better their quality of life.

Founded in 1948, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest health insurer in Arkansas. Arkansas Blue Cross and its family of affiliated companies have more than 3,200 employees. For more than 70 years, Arkansas Blue Cross has been trusted by Arkansans for affordable, reliable insurance plans.

With over 1,000 employees, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield works to create and maintain an environment where all employees feel welcome, valued and can thrive through monthly employee-led councils

Tyson Foods

Arvest Bank

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock is the only health-sciences university in the state of Arkansas. UAMS is the state’s largest public employer, with more than 10,000 employees in 73 of Arkansas’ 75 counties. In their commitment to diversity, UAMS has created a plethora of diversity committees and student groups that span races, ethnicities, genders and beliefs. UAMS also holds diverse and immerse cultural opportunities, such as International Fest.

Headquartered in Bentonville, Arvest Bank has grown since the 1960s into one of the largest banking branches in Arkansas and its neighboring states.

Arvest’s mission is to help people find financial solutions for life, and that means all people. Arvest is committed to fostering an environment of diverse thoughts and ideas where everyone feels included, respected and heard.

Acxiom

Founded in Conway in 1969, Acxiom is one of the world’s best marketing agencies, with a knack for data-driven, personalized and intelligent solutions to deliver better experiences for people everywhere. Acxiom takes diversity, equity and inclusion seriously, with over 40 external and internal DEI events every year and with quarterly surveys sent to employees to measure their progress.

Conway Regional Health System

Tyson Foods is a modern, multi-national, protein-focused food company producing approximately 20 percent of the beef, pork and chicken in the United States, in addition to a portfolio of foods under the Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, BallPark, Wright, Aidell’s and State Fair brands. Tyson Foods celebrates the diversity of team members, whether that is diversity in race, ethnicity, religion or none of the above. Tyson’s unique chaplaincy programs span a diversity of faiths and provide a listening ear for Tyson employees.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Walmart

Walmart aims to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within the company and society. It is focused on creating a more diverse, inclusive team at every level and fostering a culture where all associates are engaged to achieve their potential and deliver on its customer mission. It also strives to use its business and philanthropic resources to assess drivers of systemic disparities in society, seeking to contribute to a collective movement to advance equity for all

Conway Regional Health System believes that every employee’s unique perspective and experiences are necessary to create and maintain an inclusive workplace that values individual differences. Its commitment is to an inclusive healthcare setting where everyone is treated fairly, acknowledged for their uniqueness, promoted by merit and pushed to their utmost potential. Conway Regional actively supports this ethos through initiatives such as inclusive paid parental leave for childbirth, adoption, fostering and bonding periods to support families of all kinds, tuition assistance for staff and their dependents and volunteer time off which frequently benefits organizations that serve marginalized groups.

Winrock International

FIS Global

Arkansas Heart Hospital has provided more than a decade of leadership in heart treatment technologies, with recognition as a leading provider of quality heart care.

The hospital is a nationally recognized and award-winning hospital dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

AHH patients have access to advanced technology and surgical techniques in a hospital specially designed for their treatment and recovery. Diversity, equity and inclusion are integral to Arkansas

Since 1968, FIS Global has been pushing the limits and strengths of financial technology from Wall Street to Silicon Valley.

The folks at FIS make sure that everyone is able to access banking and payment information while developing cutting-edge and innovative technology. There are more than 65,000 people at FIS, each representing a unique combination of age, gender, ability, race, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, beliefs, thinking styles, education, work and life experiences.

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Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that implements a portfolio of more than 100 agriculture, environment and social development projects in over 40 countries. Winrock combines technical expertise with entrepreneurial innovation to improve lives around the globe. Winrock International’s commitment to diversity consists of a plan to recruit, hire, retain and develop a workforce with diverse perspectives and initiatives.

LARGE COMPANY (251 to 1,000 EMPLOYEES) Arkansas Heart Hospital

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DO YOU WISH YOU COULD JUST BE YOU? AT USABLE LIFE, THE POWER OF DIVERSITY IS ACHIEVABLE. We believe in making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. By fostering a workplace culture that promotes diversity and inclusion, we’re able to better serve our customers while being a team that’s unstoppable.

2023

2023

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Learn more about us at USAbleLife.com USAble LifeSM is used with the consent of USAble Mutual Insurance Company. © 2023 Life & Specialty Ventures, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION Heart Hospital’s mission to provide care in a welcoming environment and create an inclusive work environment where differences are valued, allowing individuals to achieve and contribute to their fullest potential. This commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is woven into the fabric of Arkansas Heart Hospital.

Arkansas State Parks

Arkansas State Parks enhance the quality of life through exceptional outdoor experiences, connections to Arkansas heritage and sound resource management. The goal of Arkansas State Parks is for Arkansans to experience excellent hospitality and to form a personal connection to the parks. Arkansas State Parks is committed to diversity by honoring tradition while seeking innovation and inclusion, aiming for experiences to be treasured by all Arkansans and relevant for generations to come.

CARTI

CARTI’s workforce is united by the mission of making trusted cancer care accessible to every patient it serves through compassion, innovation and purpose. Its nearly 1,000-person team recognizes that embracing diversity is critical to achieving its goal. The not-for-profit provider is executing strategic, sustainable efforts, including launching an inclusion council to identify potential areas of improvement. Leveraging internal feedback as a guide, CARTI implements initiatives that foster engagement, celebrate team contributions, and ultimately boost productivity and performance.

With each, CARTI is building a culture that intentionally values the uniqueness of its employees and those it serves.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Camden Operations

Lockheed Martin believes that all employees should have a safe and inclusive work environment — one in which everyone is treated fairly, with the highest standards of professionalism, ethical conduct and full compliance with the law. The company believes it is the collective voices of its workforce that allows it to continue innovating a vision for a better tomorrow. LM values its employees’ unique backgrounds, their desire for career growth and their urge to solve some of the world’s most complex problems.

Southern Bancorp

Thirty years ago, some of rural America’s most underserved and distressed communities gained an economic development partner when visionaries such as Bill Clinton, Rob Walton, Mack McLarty, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and others formed the Southern Development Bank Corporation, today known as Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is devoted to ensuring that all Arkansans are able to have economic opportunity. One of Southern Bancorp’s founding pillars was to have a focus on building wealth in communities of color, and the organization has maintained and grown that commitment ever since.

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Southwest Power Pool

Southwest Power Pool continuously strives to cultivate a diverse employee population where everyone feels a sense of belonging and is appreciated for being their true selves. Doing so is directly tied to SPP’s mission, vision and core values. Research shows organizations that commit to developing and supporting DEI are more successful, better able to provide higher levels of service, more capable of satisfying the needs of a diverse group of stakeholder and better at enabling their employees to be effective ambassadors of their brand.

United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas

United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas is a nonprofit organization based in Little Rock and was incorporated in 1957 for parents of children with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities who could not find assistance. UCP of Arkansas was founded with the acute awareness of the inequality that differences can cause when not enough people establish pathways for equity. Since its inception, UCP Arkansas has been committed to diversity and ensuring that all Arkansans live fulfilling lives.

USAble Life

USAble Life believes in making a meaningful difference in the lives of their customers and employees. They know they are only as strong as their teammates — a wonderfully diverse group. USAble celebrates that diversity and the value it brings to their organization. They want all employees to have a seat at the table to create an inclusive workplace for all. USAble is making extensive strides in their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by establishing an inclusion council — co-chaired by Jim Casey, CEO — that is cross-functional, crosslocation, cross- generational and multicultural.

MEDIUM COMPANY (51 to 250 EMPLOYEES) Arkansas Myriad

Arkansas Myriad opened for business in 2003, performing specialty process and utility piping work specifically for the industrial market.

Based in Fayetteville, the familyowned business gained a positive reputation locally, which has grown the company nationally. Arkansas Myriad grew from the bottom up, thanks to a diverse community. Arkansas Myriad is dedicated to diversity and inclusion in its community and at the office for the betterment of the company and all of Arkansans.

Apptegy

Apptegy is a revolutionary company that helps design digital programs for schools.

Apptegy has boomed in success since its inception and continues to work for the good of all schools. Apptegy is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion by serving a diverse community of teachers and by ensuring that all Arkansas students have the digital tools and experience needed to make a difference.

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Fostering a values-driven culture.

At Arvest, we believe in the value diversity provides and the innovation that inclusion creates.

We work alongside our associates to help shape our culture through transformative initiatives that embody our core values: Strive for Excellence, Communicate Openly and Drive Change. These core values fuel our commitment to provide solutions that embrace change and move us forward as a society.

Member FDIC

Arvest diversity, equity and inclusion by the numbers.

8

Number of Associate Impact Groups made up of Arvest associates and directly support underrepresented communities.

49%

Percentage of diverse interns who participated in the summer 2023 internship program.

21%

Percentage of diverse associates who are in the 2023 leadership program.

Looking for a company with a values-driven culture?

Learn more about our career opportunities at arvest.com/careers.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Aromatique

RPM Group

Abilities Unlimited

Signature Bank of Arkansas

Aromatique, the creator of Decorative Fragrance, is situated in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains between the sparkling waters of Greers Ferry Lake and the Little Red River. It is born from a single inspired idea of Aromatique’s founder, Patti Upton. In its purest form, her vision was to combine the senses of sight and smell to make great fragrances beautiful. Aromatique has turned houses into homes through its divine scents for years. This means that everyone is a neighbor for Aromatique, and the best neighborhoods care for and help their neighbors. Aromatique is committed to making sure that all Arkansans can feel more at home and included.

Abilities Unlimited is a center-based program that serves people with developmental disabilities. The nonprofit organization was established in 1961 in Hot Springs to train and seek employment opportunities for those it serves. Abilities Unlimited is acutely aware that inequality can hinder one’s quality of life. That is why it is committed to ensuring that every Arkansan, regardless of race, ethnicity, belief or ability, is able to make the most of life and live out their dreams.

Central Arkansas Library System

The Central Arkansas Library System provides resources and services to help residents reach their full potential and to inspire discovery, learning and cultural expression. CALS is recognized as a leading community institution that improves literacy, the exchange of ideas, workforce development and social engagement. Among the Central Arkansas Library System’s core values is a commitment to respecting different perspectives and providing access to information and services to all. To that end, the CALS Board of Trustees has signed the Urban Libraries Council’s Statement on Race and Social Equity. This statement serves as a baseline upon which libraries can build policies and actions that make their communities more inclusive and just. CALS believes that libraries are trusted, venerable and enduring institutions, central to their communities and an essential participant in the movement for racial and social equity.

Conway Area Chamber of Commerce

The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce leads its community toward sustainable economic growth, advocates a pro-business climate for members, builds upon Conway’s educational foundations, and establishes and executes the community’s vision, all with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. The chamber works to ensure that its membership, board, staff, committees and programming represent the diversity within the Conway business community.

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The RPM Group is a full-service Arkansas-based real estate firm that provides expertise in commercial and investment real estate, property management, residential rentals, and residential sales. Founded in 1955 by Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Inductee Billy F. Rector and partners Byron Morse and Fe Phillips, Rector Phillips Morse recently celebrated its 60th year in business by updating the name of the firm to recognize substantial growth and a much larger operating footprint. RPM Group has its roots in community and knows first-hand that diverse perspectives strengthen one’s foundation. That’s why RPM Group is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in the community and in the cubicle.

Signature Bank of Arkansas was established in 2005 by a team of well-respected and experienced local bankers who had the dream of building a bank where decisions were made locally and in the best interests of not only the bank, but customers and team members, as well. In recent years, Signature Bank of Arkansas has spearheaded initiatives to diversify staff, boards and partnerships in order to better grow its knowledge and equipment for the region.

Thaden School

Thaden school is named in honor of Iris Louise McPhetridge Thaden (1905-1979).

Born and raised in Bentonville, she was a proud Arkansan and one of the greatest aviators of her time. Her childhood home (McPhetridge House), which originally stood on West Central Avenue in downtown Bentonville, was saved from demolition in 2017 and now serves as the Thaden School Office of Admissions. Since its founding in 2017, Thaden School has advanced its mission to foster the civil exchange of ideas in the center of the country. By inviting and engaging many perspectives, Thaden School enlarges its students’ capacity for understanding and prepares them for responsible citizenship and leadership in a pluralistic and multicultural republic.

SMALL COMPANIES (LESS THAN 50 EMPLOYEES) Arkansas AARP

Arkansas AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. This means empowering all Arkansans, regardless of race and ethnicity, and acknowledging the challenges that each aging Arkansan faces. Arkansas AARP also works closely with diverse community projects by awarding grants.

Beyond Sports Lab

The Beyond Sports Lab is the first minorityowned indoor baseball facility in Arkansas. The folks at Beyond Sports Lab have committed themselves to reviving minority baseball to give kids a fun, safe extracurricular activity. Beyond Sports Lab has been pivotal in giving minority baseball in Arkansas a shot in the arm, spurring more game opportunities, team growth and tournaments.

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Recognized for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Conway Regional has been the community’s hospital for more than 100 years, providing high-quality, compassionate care. Recently honored with AMP’s distinguished DEI recognition, we are committed to ensuring our team represents the richness of perspectives and backgrounds that our communities have to offer.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

City Year Little Rock

Inclusion and belonging are foundational values for City Year and the heart of its continued work to advance educational equity in central Arkansas schools. With the support of its AmeriCorps members, the nonprofit is equipping local students with academic, emotional and social skills for long-term success. Both in and out of the classroom, the organization provides equitable opportunities and a safe, welcoming space for team engagement, continued learning, and personal and professional development. Whether for its full-time staff or AmeriCorps members, City Year is focused on building and sustaining a diverse workforce.

The Design Group

The Design Group is more than a mere creative boutique. It is a full-service, multicultural communications firm with expertise in segmented and experiential marketing. The Design Group is home to the designers and architects behind communication platforms that bridge the gap between brands and the nation’s ever growing ethnic-consumer segments. Led

by Myron Jackson, The Design Group is committed to marketing communications that are authentic and culturally relevant, as well as intellectually and emotionally engaging. The Design Group has raised the bar with its lifestyle and life-stage consumer segmentation approach. Every day, it validates the idea that being African American is more than skin color. It is about a mindset, one that evolves as one penetrates deeper and deeper within the subsets that exist within the African American consumer segment. The Design Group was founded in September 2007 with the sole purpose of filling a marketplace void: to tell the stories of people of color in an authentic way. At the heart of the Design Group, there is a team of talented individuals dedicated to giving a voice to Arkansans of color.

Nelson Intelligence Solutions

Nelson Intelligence Solutions was formed as a service-disabled veteran-owned business in 2016, with offices located in Stafford, Va., and Little Rock. As a defense, information and intelligence firm with an emphasis on federal government opportunities in support of the Department of Defense, intelligence community and state and local government.

Nelson Intelligence Solutions knows first-hand the inequality that can be caused by exclusivity. It is for this reason that Nelson Intelligence Solutions strives to serve the community to the fullest, and to create a better America for tomorrow.

James A. Rogers Excavating

Fast, efficient and honest, James A. Rogers Excavating, Inc. has become a reputable and well-known service provider since its creation in 1962.

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the community and diverse initiatives. The folks at James A. Rogers Excavating break ground, move mountains, and make new paths on site and in the office.

Sierra Group & Associates Construction

Sierra Group & Associates Construction is an award-winning roofing contractor specializing in commercial, multi-family, and residential roof replacement and storm restoration. In seven years, the folks at Sierra Group & Associates have built themselves into leaders in their field. A Latinoowned company, staff members know that while they focus on the roof, the foundation of every good house is diversity and inclusivity.

It is the conviction of owner Marcos U. Sierra that integrity starts from the owner to the newly hired employee. This is what has made Sierra Group & Associates Construction one of the fastest-growing companies in northeast Arkansas.

Think Rubix

Think Rubix is a culture-first public affairs firm that practices social innovation and drives change. Think Rubix brings together expertise in equity innovation, public engagement and storytelling to help clients do their best work. Think Rubix’s work goes hand in hand with racial equity and diversity by growing black businesses, creating jobs and giving back to communities in need. Think Rubix emphasizes that diversity is not enough: Companies have to aim for deep connections and relationships.

United Systems of Arkansas

United Systems of Arkansas delivers more than 30 years of experience to meet clients’ printing and mailing goals. At United System of Arkansas, a team supplies Certified Mail solutions for customers seeking rapid mail processing, document imaging and custom inserting. With expertise in Certified Mail processing and a patented system for protecting private data, United Systems of Arkansas is the 100-percent solution for Certified Mail services. The folks at United Systems know that “united” means everyone. That is why at United Systems, there is a team of folks dedicated to a diverse and inclusive environment.

The Venture Center

The Venture Center focuses on education, collaboration and acceleration within the startup ecosystem. To fuel innovation, the center partners with entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, government agencies, nonprofits, venture funds, service providers, program alumni and other organizations in the community. The Venture Center knows that the cornerstone of any successful venture is education. That is why it has committed to a deeper understanding and education of diversity, equity and inclusion for the betterment of all Arkansans.

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IT Support You Can Trust

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POLITICS

D A O AR Y L R A E CL D E K R MA S C I T I L O P O T H T A SP ’ N I F T F I R R A TIM G T S M O FR T N E R APPA

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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin (Photos provided)

F

or most of his life, Tim Griffin has followed a natural trajectory of law, military and political service. His current position as the state’s attorney general is the culmination of life choices and experiences that led him into politics.

Griffin has served as Arkansas AG since November 2023, acting as the state’s chief legal advisor for state agencies and state legislature. Before his current position, he served as the state’s lieutenant governor for two terms, holding the seat from 2014 to 2022. Prior to that, he served as a state representative for the 2nd District from 2011 to 2015 and as a U.S. attorney for the eastern district from 2006 to 2007 during the George W. Bush administration.

The son of a minister and a teacher, Griffin grew up in Magnolia. After high school, he was off to Hendrix College in Conway and then law school at Tulane University in New Orleans, followed by graduate school at the University of Oxford in England.

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As a child, he was fascinated by history and the military.

So, it was no surprise that he would serve as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and Judge Advocate General’s Corps for 26 years. He currently holds the rank of colonel. In 2005, Griffin was mobilized to active duty as an Army prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Ky., and served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Mosul, Iraq, for which he was awarded the Combat Action Badge.

Though he was born in North Carolina, Griffin said growing up in Magnolia was “idyllic.” The town of 10,000 people was so safe, most people kept their doors unlocked.

“I don’t know how many miles I put on my bicycle riding all over town to see friends,” Griffin said. Magnolia had one main public school. Everyone knew each other, and even though the town was small, it was alive — especially with youth events like church dances. In fact, most events in Magnolia centered around the school and church.

Griffin said he and his brother were raised in a “very faith- and Christ-centered home with a loving family.”

They spent most of their free time outside all day, playing or riding around without anyone worrying about where they were and taking their bikes down trails and creeks.

“At that time, there was a park in Magnolia, Eastside Park, with a big swimming pool,” he said. “Lots of people went to the public swimming pool; it was a big social center.” He fondly recalled the Cameo Theatre, which at that time only had one screen. Eventually, it grew to have three.

Because their father was a pastor, the two brothers spent plenty of time at church. “That was great because a lot of my friends, even some of my friends today here in Little Rock, grew up going to church there.”

Even as a boy, Griffin was able to appreciate the novelty of a town like Magnolia. He traveled a lot with his parents and said it gave him the opportunity to see that not every place was like his hometown.

“Magnolia was special, particularly because my grandmother lived on a farm just outside of town,” he said.

The farm was on a large parcel of land, a wooded area with cattle and a pond. There were endless opportunities to hunt, fish and ride motorcycles. Looking back at the small-town rural life he experienced, Griffin knows he was “fortunate to have grown up in a small town in Arkansas in the 1980s.”

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POLITICS For Griffin, his interest in politics came at an ear- a U.S. Marine officer who gained renown in World War ly age. He vividly remembers the Carter-Ford race II and the Korean War, and Gen. Alexander Vandergrift, of 1976, the rise of Reagan and his local state sena- who led the 1st Marine Division to victory in the WWII tor, Bill “Friendly” Henley. In fact, Griffin paged for Battle of Guadalcanal and later received the Medal of Henley twice, first in 1983 and then in 1985. Both Honor for his actions in the Solomon Islands Campaign. times, he met former Gov. Bill Clinton. When GrifToday, in his role as state attorney general, Griffin said fin later presided for eight years as lieutenant gov- he strives to bring about that same sense of safety he exernor, he did so in the same chamber in which he perienced growing up in Magnolia. He sees safety as “the had paged. most fundamental role of government and one of the key “I think there were signs from an early age that I reasons governments were formed in the first place.” was interested in politics, but it’s derivative of my in“Bike paths are great, but that’s not why our ancestors terest in history, government, the Revolutionary War, formed governments,” he said. “It’s for safety and stability. the Civil War and early American history,” he said.

If government can’t keep its citizens safe, then it’s failed in Griffin attributed his deep love of history to its most fundamental responsibility.” family trips to significant historical sites such as One of the issues Griffin focused on before being electWilliamsburg, Jamestown, Philadelphia, New York ed was calling for legislation to “get rid of parole and have and Boston. The visits had an enormous impact some honesty” in sentencing. He said his goal is to incaron him. Griffin also credited cerate individuals who are danger“great teachers” for this love. ous while distinguishing them from Among them was “Ms. Johnthose who don’t want to harm others GRIFFIN SEES SAFETY son,” his fifth grade teacher but have made some mistakes.

AS “THE MOST and a “Colonial American “For those people, we should work FUNDAMENTAL ROLE history fanatic,” who took her to help them get their lives back on OF GOVERNMENT students on field trips to Wiltrack so they can be productive and AND ONE OF THE liamsburg, Jamestown and thriving citizens who are rowing in KEY REASONS Old Salem in Virginia. the same direction with all of us.”

GOVERNMENTS WERE “She gave us the opportuGriffin said that was his motivaFORMED IN THE FIRST nity to enjoy early American tion for working with Gov. Sarah PLACE.” history, and I took to that like Sanders and Republicans in the a duck to water,” Griffin said. state legislature, including Sen. Ben “History, government and Gilmore and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway, politics are all intertwined for me, and of course the to pass the Protect Arkansas Act. law is related to that as well, and eventually that all In addition to enforcing legislation, Griffin focuses came together in my career.” much of his attention on establishing a strong sense of His love of history naturally extended to a fasci- customer service and judicious spending within his office nation for all things military, as well. and moving his team to the Boyle Building checks both of “You can’t study history without studying the mil- those boxes, he said. The attorney general recently entered itary, particularly if you’re studying the beginning of a 20-year lease with an option to buy the historic Little this country or the Civil War,” he said. Griffin said Rock building after five years. he treasures relics his grandfather left behind after “We’re going to save taxpayer dollars instead of rentserving in France during World War I, including his ing for decade after decade after decade,” he said. Griffin dog tags, a Book of Prayer and a framed note from said his team also wants to add accountability to the way it President Lyndon B. Johnson. These war mementos spends settlement funds and continue to look for ways to activated his love for collecting military relics. Grif- save money throughout the office’s budget. That includes fin’s prized collection now includes signed autobi- navigating a competitive marketplace for lawyers and leographies of Gen. Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller, gal professionals. “We’ve got to make sure we’re getting OC TO B ER 2 02 3

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the best, not just the people willing to work for the lowest wage,” he said.

Regarding public policy, Griffin said he focuses on crime, particularly protecting the most vulnerable such as the elderly, and noted that the consumer protection division “is very aggressive in leaning forward and supporting the public.”

Since taking office, Griffin also has worked to prioritize and fully staff the attorney general’s opinions division. It serves to impart official opinions to the public on important legal issues, which is important to lawyers, and anyone, who counts on the office’s direction and guidance.

Griffin said his close relationships with legislators in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle have helped make it easier to work on rewriting laws where necessary.

“Make no mistake. [It’s] about relationships with legislators and respecting the role that each plays,” he said. “Ultimately, they’re going to pass the laws, the governor is going to sign them and then I have to defend them. So it’s in my interest, the state’s interest and everybody’s interest to ensure that the laws they pass can all stand up to legal scrutiny in courts — and it’s important our laws are understandable.

“That’s the least we can do, is to write laws that people who have to obey them can read and understand without having to seek the advice of a lawyer.”

Griffin offered gun laws as an example of poorly worded laws that are difficult to decipher. He said state law includes good protections of Second Amendment rights, but the language is so complicated that many people must seek official opinions from his ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

office or hire their own lawyer to decipher the intent.

Griffin said he has a responsibility to protect and support the constitution — state and federal — and takes to heart the oath he swore when he took office.

“That’s not a passive oath; that’s an active oath. I need to lean into that,” he said. “When you support and defend and protect something, you don’t wait idly by for something to happen. You lean in. You’re aggressive. Like parents caring for their young, you lean in and protect that document and that important foundation of our government.”

Griffin’s passion is apparent, and his team seems to have found its stride. According to the attorney general, each day he sees them getting better and better. He said he’s proud of the excellent work they’re doing — not just in the courtroom but also with opinions, consumer protection, criminal appeals, the legislative team, state agencies and general counsel.

Griffin’s family and faith help keep him grounded. His wife of 18 years, Elizabeth, is from his neck of the woods, Camden. With their three children, they enjoy traveling and have even made a few RV trips.

Griffin conceded, though, that as the kids grow older and less enthusiastic about long trips in confined spaces 115

Griffin said his family helps keep him grounded.

with the parents, those RV trips may come less often.

“My career in politics doesn’t always make it easy to spend time with my family the way I want to, but it has also afforded us unique opportunities to see and do things that many families don’t get to see and do,” he said. “Elizabeth and I have made a point to capitalize on those opportunities.”

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ARKANSAS VISIONARIES MIKE RAINWATER AND BOB SEXTON: What you see is what you get

By Dwain Hebda

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here’s an old joke that reads, “The key to success is sincerity; once you can fake that, you’ve got it made.”

To law partners Bob Sexton and Mike Rainwater, authenticity is no mere marketing schtick or easy tagline. Whether meeting clients, in the courtroom or across the bargaining table, what you see of the duo is exactly what you get.

For the duo, pride of place, care for their fellow man and a thirst to set things right are more ethos than strategy, permeating every office Rainwater, Holt & Sexton has grown into over the years. Dealing as they do in personal injury, the partners and their vast team of attorneys use an approach akin to neighbors helping neighbors to conduct their work of helping people who have been harmed.

“We like Arkansas, and we like Arkansans,” Rainwater said. “We are very closely connected in Arkansas where you better not just say it, you better live it, and you better demonstrate to people that you really

Arkansas and Memphis and dozMIKE RAINWATER ON TEAMWORK ens of attorneys, every client is We don’t just hire good people and then given the same unique brand of trust them to use their good minds to come legal attention in which personal up with a good format. We hire good people, empathy is just as important as and then we marry that with a good system. legal expertise.

We hunt as a pack, working together and “The reality is a really big case collaborating, trying to solve a problem for us means something really bad has happened to somebody,” and trying to figure out the best solution Sexton said. “Sometimes it’s an isfrom various scenarios. Once we solve one sue where a child has been killed problem, that solution goes into the system or the wage earner in the family and is now in there for all subsequent cases. is killed or somebody’s got a lifeWorking together, we’re able to manage time worth of medical expenses. more work and we’re able to manage it in a On those types of cases, you have way that we know the level of service is as to have that relationship where high as we can possibly get it systematically. the client trusts you to help navigate all these issues and walk them down this legal path trying North Little Rock, the son of a data processto put them in the best possible position in ing manager. Sexton grew up the son of a a bad situation.

Lonoke printer. Neither got into law for the “We’ve also learned that a lot of the money. In fact, neither even considered law people we represent are hiring us off of TV, as a career until that career was upon them. which means they probably don’t know a Rainwater started his professional life

BOB SEXTON ON SETBACKS

You learn more from your losses than you do your wins. I have won jury trials where you feel great, but you didn’t necessarily learn anything.

I’ve had jury trials that I’ve lost where I’d go home and spend a lot of time thinking about what to change so it doesn’t happen again. Losing hurts, but you can’t sit around thinking about that. So many people get trapped in ‘I’m doing this and it’s working out OK, and I’m not really winning, but I’m not really losing.’ You have to get out there and try some stuff and take a few risks to really succeed, and if you lose on a risk, at least you’ve learned from that, and you can go in a different direction. The enemy of great is good. Nobody’s perfect at any job; it’s how you deal with it that matters. are what you say you are. Bob and I, internally and externally, try to do that. We just try to be ourselves. We try to treat people with kindness, and we truly enjoy representing the clients we have. It is fun and we just enjoy helping them.”

As jaded as society has become, it’s hard to manufacture believability, so the partners do not even try. They let their performance do the talking instead. Even as the firm has grown to include eight offices in

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lawyer personally, or they would have hired him. A lot of them are working folks, just regular Arkansans around the state, and they have to have someone that they can communicate with.”

Even in passing, both men take a protective tone when talking about the people they serve, members of the village from which they sprang and fellows with whom they feel most in common. Neither attorney came from privilege. Rainwater grew up in

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as a computer programmer and systems analyst and quickly realized he spent more time with machines than talking to people.

The social unrest of the late 1960s led him to seek something more out of his life at work, and he entered law school at night while working full time during the day.

Early on, Sexton’s vision of what would become his life’s work was similarly hazy.

“In small-town Arkansas, when I was in seventh grade, you had to take a careers class, and they gave you an aptitude test.

Mine said doctor or lawyer,” he said. “I didn’t know a lawyer. I’d never met a lawyer, even up through high school. Maybe I met a lawyer one time, but I thought lawyer sounded cooler than doctor. By the time I got to college and they asked me what I wanted to major in, I’d already told so many people I wanted to be a lawyer. I said, ‘I guess law. What do you do for that?’”

Both men found their way into their particular legal specialty through a desire to stick up for the underdogs who’d suffered at the callousness of big business or the carelessness of another. In addition to being

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of people couldn’t. Not being too religious to their way of thinking. moved by social issues, Rainwater worked with you, but I was probably led over into “We decided we were not going to be too in corporate America, where he saw decithis path.” aggressive in our advertising. We were gosions made without regard for the impact The triumvirate partnership behind ing to try to put out there who we were just on the lives of employees. After graduating Rainwater Holt & Sexton also grew out regular people wanting to work on good from South Texas College of Law in Housof the purpose-driven mentality that has cases,” Sexton said. “We got some really ton, he moved back to Arkansas with his become the firm’s calling card. In 1996, good cases off some of our first advertising. wife to practice law and start a family. After Rainwater hired his former law clerk, SteThen after a while, it became the tail waggaining experience as a deputy prosecuting phen Holt, as the first associate of his priging the dog, as Mike would say. It really attorney and through private practice, he vate practice, and three years later, Sexton struck a chord in Arkansas.” opened his own personal injury firm with joined the team.

Today, it is hard to imagine anyone in Little Rock attorney Phillip Duncan in 1993.

“We’d all known each other through the Natural State within earshot of a radio “We live in a world where bad things hapchurch,” Sexton said. “Arkansas is a small or within sight of a television not knowing pen to both good and bad people,” Rainwalegal community, and then when you get the name Rainwater Holt & Sexton. The ter said. “I tell people often, ‘I don’t want to inside Little Rock, that’s even smaller. Then ultimate irony of it all is Rainwater, as the be your lawyer, and I don’t want you to be if you’re going to the exact same church, it’s face and voice of most ads, is a natural, posmy client, because that means somebody got a pretty small circle.” sessed of an easy delivery both relatable injured.’ We’re here to do the very best we All three men clicked on common values and likeable as he urges injured parties to can to help them, the best we can to come as much as on ambition, a potent formula seek legal help to gain just compensation out with the best outcome that we can put in place, all things considered. That’s why attorneys MIKE RAINWATER ON PERSEVERANCE are called counselors. We’re both.”

If somebody’s in a spot where things aren’t going right, one of the things I always like Sexton started out repre- to tell my boys is, ‘Whose fault is this?’ If something’s going wrong and it’s my fault, I need senting insurance compato fix it. If it’s not my fault, there must be a blessing in there somewhere, and I just need nies and quickly found out to find it. In business, and especially the lawyer business, you can be really high, and then his future was on the other something happens the next day, and you hit a bottom. You just have to keep your eye side of the docket. focused. Kind of like plowing, you’ve got to look all the way down at the end of the row to “I forget exactly how this stay straight. If you look at what’s right in front of you, you end up with a crooked row. quote went, but to be really good at representing people, you have to have some sort to which the growth over the next 20 years and finishing each with a famous tagline: of personal tragedy. You have to be able to would attest. Tragically, Holt’s story was cut “Let us help you weather the storm. Anyempathize, not sympathize, with people,” short when he died of ALS in 2014. His name where in the state, just dial 8. 888-8888.” he said. “When I got out of law school and remains above the door as tribute.

“For years and years, I really didn’t want I was in the insurance area, I was against “Stephen was a big part of the good to do [the ads], truthfully, but it finally the guy who was asking for money or makthat happened to us. We knew each other got to the point where I felt like the maring a claim. Then, when I moved over with and knew we were kind of philosophically ketplace was saying it’s time,” Rainwater Mike and started doing the other side of wired the same way, with basically the shrugged. “One reason it works, though, is the fence, I noticed I was really good at consame values. It was a natural fit,” Rainwater authenticity. We can’t pretend to be somenecting with people. said. “Stephen was just a fine guy, great lawthing we’re not. If we do that, people are “A lot of it was because of the way I was yer. He was right-thinking, loved his family. very perceptive. They’re intuitive, and they brought up. My family worked for a living.

He’s just the kind of guy you want there as will see through that. So we try to be what I had a sister who died in a car wreck when an attorney coming along beside you.” we present ourselves as and we try to presI was very young, and that was always over One turning point in the growth of the ent ourselves as what we really are.” our household. Then my dad died in a car firm was the decision to engage in advertisSuccess has meant more offices, more wreck when I was in sixth grade, which ing. Ubiquitous today, legal ads were once employees and more opportunities for the kind of went from a stable household to a considered unseemly to the point of taboo. foundational elements of the firm’s success not-stable household. I found pretty quickYet Holt and Sexton could see the direction to get watered down if not lost altogether in ly I could sit down with a family where a the legal industry was headed and after the avalanche of new faces trying more caschild was injured or a husband was killed much persuasion, brought Rainwater over es. For that reason, the partners have been and connect with them on a level that a lot

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Today, it is hard to imagine anyone in the Natural State within earshot of a radio or within sight of a television not knowing the name Rainwater Holt & Sexton.

exceptionally careful in hiring, exacting in training and diligent in oversight to help ensure each office runs like the original.

“We’ve got more lawyers at this firm doing plaintiff’s work than any firm in the state.

I would imagine we’ve got more lawsuits filed by this firm in state courts all around Arkansas of different types of cases than any firm in the state,” Sexton said. “So we’re not just out there trying to church up work; we’re also trying to make sure the work is really, really good. It’s kind of like having a restaurant; you serve a few bad meals, people stop coming. We have to make sure our quality is there so the courts will respect us and the clients will respect us.

“In any business, you don’t need to do what is expedient; you need to be looking a little bit down the line. You might be doing things that don’t really benefit the bottom line right now, so you learn how to do things that will benefit the bottom line

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later. I tell people all the time, I’m not just looking for that case; I’m looking for the next case. I want the guy that we represented to tell his cousin who was in an accident that we are who he needs to hire because of what we did for him.”

Asked the why behind the firm’s longevity, Rainwater shared a quick smile with his longtime legal partners, both the one to his left and the one perched silently on their shoulders.

“We kind of alluded to this earlier.

It goes back to our philosophical bend and the commonality of how we view the world,” he said. “I think you have to have a sense of calling, and I think when you get off the track in life, you have to go back to that. You know, ‘Wait a minute. Am I still doing what I’m called to do?’ I think Bob and I both still feel a strong sense of calling to do what we’re doing.”

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MIKE RAINWATER ON EXCELLENCE

You’ve got to be good at your craft, No. 1. You can’t pretend to be doing this stuff; you’ve really got to dedicate yourself to the task. No. 2, you’ve got to be a person of integrity. You’ve got to be authentic with people. And third, you’ve got to run your business like a business. At the end of the day, you have to make more money than you spend. You have to figure out some way to get this complicated job done inside that income statement where it makes sense. It’s a balancing act; in business and in life, you can’t always see going forward how the pieces fit together, but when you turn around and look backwards, it’s amazing how all the pieces fit together.

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DIGS OF THE DEAL

NEW LEASE ON LIFE Hot Springs developer plans to bring iconic buildings back to life

By Kenneth Heard

H

e refers to it as the “mini-Empire State Building,” but by next year, Hot Springs hotelier Parth Patel hopes to call the Medical Arts Building – the 16-story, near-centuryold art-deco monolith rising above the Spa City’s downtown – an Aloft Hotel by Marriott.

Patel, owner of VIPA Hospitality in Hot Springs, purchased all but the top floor of the abandoned structure in 2021. The building once housed scores of medical professionals. Doctors, lab technicians, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists all plied their trades there at 236 Central Avenue.

Patel negotiated with four owners of the building which, in 2012, was listed by the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas as one of the state’s most endangered places. He was able to reach agreements with three owners for a selling price of $1.8 million. The fourth owner kept the 16th floor, presumably to refurbish it as a residence.

VIPA Hospitality also bought the Hotel Frederica in downtown Little Rock in 2020 for $1.7 million, again with the intent of restoring it back into a hotel.

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The Medical Arts Building in downtown Hot Springs. (Photos provided)

The Frederica, also known as the Hotel Sam Peck, at 625 W. Capitol Ave. opened in 1914 and was first named after the wife of Little Rock businessman Fred W. Allsopp, who was part owner of the Arkansas Gazette.

Both the hotel and the Medical Arts Building have vast histories, and that is what drew Patel and his company to buy them.

“I’m a history buff,” Patel said. “I love the history and stories of these buildings.”

Patel’s VIPA Hospitality owns six hotels in central Arkansas.

The company’s name is a merger of the names of Patel and his father, Vijah. It was formed in 1992 in Little Rock by Patel’s father and relatives and moved to Hot Springs five years later.

Patel earned a degree in business management and a minor in finance at Purdue University in Indiana in 2004. A year later, he moved to Hot Springs for what he thought was a brief stop to manage the Country Inn & Suites.

He has been there since.

“I thought it was a year gig,” he said, “but here I am still.”

VIPA Hospitality tried to buy both structures a few years

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before the deal was completed. It was difficult to secure financing, Patel said. The COVID-19 pandemic was raging and interest rates kept fluctuating.

“Banks find hospitality ventures risky businesses because of all the construction involved,” he said. “It’s been a big challenge.

I didn’t foresee it taking this long to secure financing.”

He just recently obtained the financing necessary to do renovations on his Little Rock hotel project. Patel hopes to open the hotels by the second quarter of 2024.

There will be a lot of work involved. Both sites have been victims of rampant vandalism. The gutted inside of the Medical Arts Building is ravaged. Graffiti and gang symbols are spray painted on walls and windows are broken.

Still, Patel sees the potential and the beauty of the buildings. He also realizes Arkansas’ Parth Patel wants to restore the old Hotel Frederica/Hotel Sam Peck in economy thrives on tourism and creating Little Rock to past glory. hotels in two destination sites in the state is lucrative. desegregation of the Little Rock School District also stayed “We looked at the Medical Arts Building for years,” he said. there in 1957.

“We tried to purchase it in 2015, but it didn’t work out. We felt the Peck died in 1967, and his wife and son ran the hotel for five best use of it was for a hotel. Hot Springs is such a tourist destinayears before selling. Since then, it has had several owners and tion. This would be a nice addition to the downtown.” was the Radisson Legacy Hotel and the Legacy Hotel until it The Medical Arts Building opened in 1930 and was the closed and was boarded up in 1998. state’s tallest building until 1960 when the Tower Building in Patel will open the Little Rock hotel as a Fairfield Inn by Little Rock topped it. The building, which does look a lot like Marriott. a small Empire State Building, features bronze grillwork above Along with his recent financing, Patel learned he qualifies its entrances. It was designed by the Little Rock architecturfor state and federal historic tax credits for both his projects. al firm Almand & Stuck, which also built Little Rock Central Because of each project’s historic architecture, he has to reHigh School. It is considered one of the top art-deco skyscraptain much of the buildings’ integrity and is limited in what he ers in the southern U.S. can do inside each structure. Because of his love of history, PaTall ceilings were made to help cool the building in the tel sees this as more of a challenge than a constraint. summers. Uniformed operators ran the structure’s two brassThe building plans are going a bit slowly too, he said. The trimmed elevators, and they were equipped with telephones Marriott corporation requires builders of their hotels to presthat could be used while the elevators were moving. ent detailed plans and drawings of construction projects at The 180-foot-tall building was placed on the National Regis10-percent, 30-percent, 50-percent and beyond. ter of Historic Places on Nov 30, 1978. Because of the building’s “It’s a long, painstaking process,” Patel said. narrow footprint, Patel’s hotel will have only 100 rooms. It will In the eight years he, his wife and daughter have lived in also feature a large lobby bar.

Hot Springs, Patel said he has come to love the Garland CounThe Hotel Frederica — originally styled as Hotel Freiderica ty town. Patel is on the board of directors of the Greater Hot — was known by several names over its history. Henryetta and Springs Chamber of Commerce and is a Rotarian.

Sam Peck moved to Little Rock from Fayetteville in 1935 and “I’m not from here, but I am firmly rooted in Hot Springs,” bought the hotel, changing its name to the Hotel Sam Peck. he said. “I think the Medical Arts Building will be important to Winthrop Rockefeller lived in the hotel while he built his downtown Hot Springs. This will keep the downtown vitalized. ranch home atop Petit Jean Mountain and often stayed there The Frederica is important, too. We’re taking 100-year-old buildwhen he was the state’s governor. Journalists who covered the ings and turning them into something for today’s world.”

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2023 Arkansas Money & Politics

PROFESSIONALS Arkansas Money & Politics recognizes Top Professionals in the October issue, as voted by AMP readers.

Professionals were recognized in categories that span the spectrum of industry in Arkansas, from banking to real estate, from manufacturing to nonprofits.

In addition to the 2022 AMP Top Professionals list, we include feature stories on four of these Arkansas leaders voted to the list: Stan Jones of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, David Bush of Encore Bank, Chris White of Simmons Bank and Steve Grandfield of Lexicon.

We’re proud to recognize these hard workers who help drive the state’s economic engine.

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By Mark Carter

DAVID BUSH: THE PERFECT FIT

E

ncore Bank’s concierge approach to banking was an ideal fit for David Bush, its market president for Central Arkansas.

Bush, a veteran banker in the Little Rock market, has been with Encore since it emerged from the rebranding of Little Rock’s Capital Bank in 2019. Encore now has locations in 21 markets across eight states. Those markets stretch from Colorado to North Carolina and as far south as Tampa. In Arkansas, Encore has offices in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Rogers and Jonesboro.

“Our growth has been fast but deliberate, and that’s by design,” Bush said.

“We carefully consider the potential of each market and won’t pull the trigger until we find the right leader who can build a high-performing team, raise capital and build the Encore brand.”

The former Capital Bank had just one location in west Little Rock and assets of $161 million before new leadership came in. Three aggressive capital raises later, Encore boasts assets of $1.4 billion inside Arkansas and $566 million in outside markets, per the latest FDIC numbers.

Bush said virtually 100 percent of Encore employees are part owner/investors, a testament to their confidence in the bank’s mission.

“Culture is huge here,” Bush said. “We’re all a huge team. Everybody does their part for the overall good. We all help each other. One of the luxuries I have is that I can walk down the hall and talk to any number or people about a deal I’m working on. Nobody hides behind their office door.”

Encore’s approach is relationship driven, and that is where Bush excels.

Chris Roberts, Encore’s chairman and CEO, has been with Bush for much of his professional journey, and Bush considers him a mentor. Roberts hired the freshly minted University of Arkansas business graduate to his team at OneBanc almost 30 years ago, and later worked with him at other banks in the market.

“David is really so well respected by his peers,” Roberts said. “He’s just a great leader. He’s well respected, trustworthy and loyal. You couldn’t ask for a better partner, and it’s been fun to watch him evolve into such a great leader.”

As head of the Central Arkansas market, Bush oversees $540 million in market assets and $392 million in market loans. He directly supervises a team of 20 from Encore’s corporate headquarters, located at the strategic corner of Rahling and Kirk roads in west Little Rock. Including the three employees who manage a small branch in the Heights, Encore employs 48 in Little Rock.

There is not an Encore branch at every busy intersection, and that is by design.

“Our model is a little different,” Bush said. “We’re not a traditional brick-and-mortar bank. In fact, we own zero real estate. We really lean in on tech in each of the markets we’re in, and we have just one office in each 1 24

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market. Making sure it’s the right fit is at the forefront of every decision when we’re looking at a market for possible expansion.”

Bush worked as a credit analyst when he joined Roberts at OneBanc before moving over to lending at Centennial Bank and the former Delta Trust & Bank. From there, he moved to Bancorp South as vice president of commercial lending. Bush said he didn’t foresee the leap of faith represented by Encore, but always hoped he’d end up working with Roberts again. He didn’t have to wait long.

Roberts and fellow banking executives Phillip Jett and Burt Hicks indeed pulled a new bank out of their collective hat in March 2019 with the announcement of Capital Bank’s restructure and rebrand, and Roberts’ old colleague was among his first calls.

Bush said he showed up for his first day of work at the former Capital location on Chenal Parkway, a small building with seven or eight employees, ready to leave behind the red tape of traditional banking. He admitted to thinking, “What do we do now?”

The answer, Bush and his new colleague found out was, simply, grow.

“And it grew pretty quick too,” he said. “We’ve been off to the races ever since.”

Roberts attributes much of the (Photo by Jason Burt) bank’s growth to Bush and his skill sets.

“When we first started this venture, there was a comfort in knowing that you’re embarking on building something special and different with someone you trust and respect,” he said. “If you build a good culture from the start, it really helps you get to where you want to be a lot quicker. David has been a huge part of that culture.”

On Roberts’ desk sits a mousepad designed with all the characteristics and attributes the Encore team strives to achieve. Terms and phrases like “driven,” “goal-oriented,” “transparent,” “inclusive,” “collaborative,” “empower each other,” “leave your ego at the door,” “work hard play hard” and “be kind” are designed around a bank logo that proclaims, “This is how we Encore.”

For Roberts, Bush represents the spirit of Encore as shown on that mousepad. “David embodies all of those attributes,” he said.

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“Culture is huge here. We’re all a huge team. Everybody does their part for the overall good.”

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First Orion is proud to work with TWO Top Professionals Ted Womble

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TOP PROFESSIONALS

By Ron Standridge

STEVE GRANDFIELD: OPEN TO POSSIBILITIES

S

pin the globe, and one might understandably assume that Australia and Arkansas are half a world apart, but looks can be deceiving. While the geographical distance between them might suggest otherwise, the two locales have more in common than one might think.

“I felt quite at home when I first arrived in Arkansas,” said Steve Grandfield, chief operating officer at Lexicon, the global steel construction and fabrication conglomerate based in Little Rock.

Grandfield, a native Australian from Tasmania, is now an adopted Arkansan by virtue of calling the Natural State — and Lexicon — home for the past two decades.

“The area of Australia I’m from has a lot of what Arkansas has here,” he said. “In (Photo provided) Tasmania, we have a lot of trees and lush greenery and mountains and lakes and rivers, very similar terrain. In fact, Arkansas reminds me a lot of Australia.”

Scenery aside, Grandfield also found familiarity within the neighborly Southern hospitality that also reminded him of his homeland.

“I guess I might be considered a bit ‘old school’ for saying so, but I genuinely value developing long-lasting relationships,” he said. “I still believe in the power of a handshake and being true to your word. I guess that’s just how I was raised.”

Grandfield said the best advice he ever received in business is the same advice he now finds himself offering others.

“Be prepared to be open to possibilities,” he said. “Always be willing to keep an open mind, and be prepared to be a good listener. It can sometimes be hard to go into a conversation without a preconceived notion of what you think someone wants you to say or do, but if you can remain open, you can allow yourself to arrive at mutual understanding or approach.”

Being open to possibilities is what led him from his home in Australia to follow career opportunities in the United States and, ultimately, Arkansas.

A 1995 graduate of the University of Tasmania, Grandfield earned a bachelor of engineering degree in civil/structural engineering. After working at two Australian companies during the first seven years of his career, Grandfield became aware of an interesting job in the United States with Prospect Steel, a division of Lexicon, and decided to explore the opportunity.

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Granfield arrived at Lexicon in 2003 and began his Arkansas adventure as a project manager at Prospect Steel. Soon, his professional success allowed him to rise through the ranks and become company president in 2019. By 2021, Grandfield was promoted to president of Lexicon Fabrication Group.

Earlier this year, Grandfield was promoted once again to his current chief operating officer post at Lexicon.

“I enjoy providing positive interactions with customers and clients,” he said, reflecting on a passion for fabrication and engineering that has served him well in his career. “No two projects are ever the same. Each comes with its own unique needs and challenges, and I enjoy the problem-solving and the team building involved in formulating a plan that best suits a customer’s needs and requirements.”

His enthusiasm for his work translates well into his leadership style.

“I believe in team building, so I try to develop a team by giving them opportunities to grow, sometimes beyond even what they themselves may have thought they could achieve,” Grandfield said. “I look for employees who are compassionate, curious and open-minded, and I try to be a good listener so that I can position my people to do and be the best they can be.”

Over the years, Grandfield said he has witnessed many changes in the industry as a result of technological advancements. Some of those changes, however, brought new challenges, not the least of which was an aging workforce in welding that resulted in a labor shortage.

Lexicon answered the challenge by implementing the use of robotics that helped the company all but revolutionize its productivity.

“Robotics helped to supplement, not replace, labor,” Grandfield said. “Many people may have assumed robotics would eliminate jobs, but in this case, robotics more than tripled our production capabilities. As a result, we had to hire and train more people to support the growth.”

Grandfield points to labor shortages as a continuing concern among the challenges currently facing the construction industry. While admittedly not a new problem, Grandfield said Lexicon has developed its own unique solution.

“We hope to create strong and lasting employee relationships while also meeting the needs of our company,” he said. “So we have developed a workforce-advancement program with local high schools and technical colleges called Lexicon University — Lex U — designed to invest in and foster potential employees by providing them with advanceable career paths.”

Paid for entirely by Lexicon, Lex U is open to all employees across all its internal companies and divisions. Instruction is offered at employee convenience in a combination of on-thejob, classroom and/or online training programs in professional, management or trade curricula areas.

Launched earlier this year, Lex U has partnered with Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville to offer a millwright meARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

“I still believe in the power of a handshake and being true to your word. I guess that’s just how I was raised.” chanic-training program that has so far trained 49 employees across four level 1 courses. Thirty-one employees registered for two level 2 courses that debuted in July.

“Lexicon is a family-owned company,” Grandfield said. “That’s why as it has grown. It has always been important to corporate leadership that Lexicon maintain that family feel.”

Boasting an origin story Hollywood might envy, Schueck Steel Products, the company that would grow to become Lexicon, was founded in 1968 in the converted garage of Tom Schueck’s Little Rock home with a total of two employees — Schueck and his pregnant wife, Marge.

More than a half century later, Lexicon has erected buildings and structures across the globe. Headquartered in Little Rock, the Lexicon brand is comprised of a family of full-service construction and fabrication companies that includes Lexicon Industrial Constructors, Lexicon Industrial Maintenance, Lexicon Energy Services, Custom Metals, Prospect Steel, Steel Fabricators of Monroe, Universal and Heritage Links, a specialized golf course, and a sports-field-construction division.

“We genuinely care about our people, and we want them to be happy about coming to work each day,” Grandfield said. “We want them to feel proud of the work we do, the work they do. We want them to know we value the contributions they make in bringing our products and services to market.”

One of the ways Lexicon demonstrates its appreciation to workers is by annually honoring 20-year employees with special I-beam trophies and all-taxes-paid checks of $10,000 each. Since implementing the appreciation program in 2006, Lexicon has presented awards and checks to more than 200 employees.

Currently celebrating his 20th anniversary with Lexicon, Grandfield will be recognized in October, along with about a dozen other colleagues representing Lexicon Industrial Constructors, Lexicon Industrial Maintenance, Lexicon Energy Services, Prospect Steel and Steel Fabricators of Monroe, at a special awards luncheon at Lexicon headquarters in Little Rock.

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Congratulations to Deke Whitbeck,

President of The Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation.

Thank you for your tireless dedication to our organization and the fulfillment of our mission.

This honor is well deserved.

From - The Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Board of Directors and Your Staff.

Congratulations

on being named one of AMP’s Top 100 Professionals!

Shannon Boshears Senior Vice President of Development

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Congratulations Dr. Brian L. McGee for being chosen as Top 100 Professionals in the state of Arkansas!

Dr. McGee You’ve clearly worked hard and your dedication has paid off. It’s a testament to your skills, knowledge, and expertise in your field of Gastroenterology.

You should be incredibly proud of this achievement. Keep up the excellent work and continue to inspire others with your exceptional professionalism.

Well done!

Favorite poem: “If” by Rudyard Kipling

501.468.0059 IG@brianlmcgeemd www.drbrianmcgee.com

Double Board Certified Gastroenterologist | Arkansas State Medical Board Member

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By John Callahan

STAN JONES:

DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY

W

hat do a small-town farmer, a businessman with international clients and a statewide leader of conservation have in common?

They’re all the same man: Stan Jones, chairman of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. His success story is as classically American as they come and proves that there’s still no replacement for hard work.

Jones was born and raised in Clover Bend, an unincorporated community not far from Jonesboro where his family has lived since the time of his great– great–grandfather.

“We lived in the country,” Jones said. “My dad worked in a factory, and I grew up picking cotton, chopping wood, mowing yards, whatever I could do to make a little money. We grew up pretty poor, but there was nothing wrong with that. Everybody else was the same. We didn’t know any different.”

From an early age, Jones understood that education was the key to success.

He was determined to go to college, and so transferred to Walnut Ridge High School to play football and get a scholarship. Though he ended up receiving several football scholarship offers, he chose to accept an academic scholarship at Rhodes College in Memphis. After a year of missing football, however, he accepted an athletic scholarship at Arkansas State University, where he graduated in 1973 with a business degree.

Jones took a job at a bank in Little Rock and had plans to attend law school, but while visiting home, a farmer asked him if he would be interested in buying the farmer’s equipment and farming the land for him.

“Really, farming was probably the last thing I was willing to do, because I grew up doing it and knew it was hard work,” Jones said, “but I could make more money farming in six months than I could have made working 12 months at the bank. So I ended up [getting] a loan, buying his equipment and farming his ground.”

Within three years, Jones had purchased the farmer’s land, and before long he began to expand it. His steadily growing farm gave new opportunities for one of his great passions in life: hunting.

Jones began duck hunting at the age of 7 and started guiding people on hunts when he was in high school to make extra money. Using his expertise as a farmer and a hunter, he cultivated his land into prime duck habitat for his guided hunts. That labor of love eventually culminated in the Stan Jones Mallard Lodge, which draws clients from across the world to hunt not only ducks, but also pheasant, chukar and quail on more than 7,000 acres of land.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson came to the lodge several times and grew to know Jones personally. In 2017, when time came for the governor

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to appoint a new commissioner to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, one of the state’s most respected institutions, Hutchinson picked Jones. Because Jones is in the seventh year of a commissioner’s eight-year term, he now serves as chairman of the AGFC, making him one of the foremost conservation leaders in the state.

“It has to do with everything and almost everybody in the state of Arkansas,” Jones said of the AGFC’s work. “Because most everybody hunts or fishes or boats and gets out on the rivers and streams. We’re stewards and take care of our state; we set the rules, regulations and limits to take care of our wildlife and natural resources.

You can make a rule and a few people will like it and a few people won’t like it. It’s hard to please everyone, but at the end of the day, we want what’s best for our wildlife.

“The AGFC is in pretty good shape. We’ve worked hard these past six years and we’ve gotten a lot of things done. We’ve got the boat headed in the right direction, and my fellow commissioners are all on board. Hopefully, I’m going to leave it better than I found it.”

Jones said there is no “10-step program or getrich-quick scheme” to achieve the kind of success he has experienced throughout in his career.

Rather, it’s a steady process of doing the right thing the right way that gets results, the kind of year-in-year-out work that turns a patch of land into a thriving and productive farm.

“My dad was really poor, but what he gave me was, ‘This is right. This is wrong. This is good. This is bad. You can do this. You cannot do this.’ That value system has stayed with me my whole life, and I’m thankful for that,” Jones said.

Responsibility and accountability are the most important qualities for a successful leader, he added.

“You’ve got to have a good work ethic to get up and go to work every day and be responsible and accountable to both yourself and your family. You have to make good choices and pay attention to what you’re doing. You don’t just get up and go out there and hope or think about luck.

You have to make a plan to put the narrative that you want to happen into place, and you need common sense.”

It’s the kind of advice that many people have heard from their own fathers, as Jones heard it from his — and for good reason. As fast as the world changes these days, hard work, good planning and responsibility are just as essential as they always have been.

ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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(Photo provided)

“My dad was really poor, but what he gave me was, ‘This is right. This is wrong. This is good.

This is bad. You can do this. You cannot do this.’”

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CONGRATULATIONS,

Dorcas Prince for being recognized among AMP’s Top 100 Professionals

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Brinkley, Arkansas Please call 870.734.3244 and visit lowsbridal.com OC TO B ER 2 02 3

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PRAIRIE AG SERVICE Providing complete agricultural aviation services in Prairie, White and Woodruff counties as well as the Arkansas River Valley.

JACOB TIDWELL & SETH SPEIGHT, Owner/Operators

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Thank You, Arkansas for recognizing me as one of AMP’s Top 100 Professionals

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TOP PROFESSIONALS

By Ron Standridge

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CHRIS WHITE: IT’S ABOUT PEOPLE, PROCESSES

C

hris White is not a man comfortable talking about himself. It is not that he can not or that he will not. It is just that he would much rather be talking about his team and the work they do together at Simmons Bank.

“I don’t take credit for anything I do,” White said with a self-deprecating grin. “I don’t pretend to be the smartest person in the room. Never have, never will. But I do pride myself on being able to outwork anyone.”

That self-knowing drive and determination, along with his understanding of how the sum of all parts (Photo provided) equals a greater whole, serves him well in his relatively new role as executive vice president and chief community banking officer at Simmons Bank. Promoted in April of this year, it is the latest progressive leadership role White has stepped into as he celebrates a 20-year career working at Simmons.

Growing up in small-town Arkansas, White understands the importance of community and the role it can play in the banking industry.

“I guess I could be called old school, but I come from a generation and a place where a deal can still be made with a handshake,” he said.

A native Arkansan, White grew up and graduated high school in England before attending the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural business.

“I sold pharmaceuticals for about three years before reaching a place where I decided I was looking more for a career than just a job,” he said.

That’s when Tommy May — a family friend and former Simmons Bank chairman and CEO — suggested White consider undergoing management training at the bank. Coming from a sales background, White found the transition to 13 6

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“For me, it really is about building relationships.” banking to be relatively seamless.

“For me, it really is about building relationships,” said White, who joined Simmons Bank in 2004 and has contributed to its growth from what was then $2.4 billion in assets to current estimates of approximately $28 billion.

Upon completion of the Simmons management training program, it was apparent White had found the career for which he had been searching. Soon after, he took his first steps on a professional path that ultimately encompassed all aspects of the business — everything from local commercial banking, credit, mergers and acquisitions, and FDIC — before being brought into the Little Rock market to help ease the transitional acquisitions of Metropolitan National Bank and Delta Trust & Bank into the Simmons brand.

His continued success resulted in inevitable growth into increasingly important executive roles responsible for Simmons’ statewide and regional community divisions.

“Aggressive,” he said, laughing, when asked for one word his team members might use to describe him, but if one accepts “aggressive” as a synonym for “enthusiastic,” then there may be more than a kernel of truth to be found in his humor.

Leadership not only comes natural to White, but in many regards, it is one of his favorite parts of the job.

An alumnus of the Louisiana State University banking school, White is also a graduate of Leadership Fayetteville, Leadership Hot Springs, Leadership Greater Little Rock and Leadership Arkansas. He also serves on the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors.

“As I see it, I am responsible for recruiting people who want to be here, people who are happy to be here,” he said. “I am also charged with mentoring them to recognize and realize their capabilities and their potential, and I do that by coaching them to stretch their limits and achieve their goals. Like any coach, it’s up to me to give them the encouragement and the tools to succeed.

“I’m not a micro-manager by any means. If anything, I probably give people more rope than they need to wrangle the projects they are working on.”

Managing five divisions across Simmons’ six-state service area and with 11 employees directly reporting to him, it is a leadership style that seems to work well for him.

“I have always believed that if I hire the right people and provide them with the support they need to do the jobs they are hired to do, my job becomes more about managing expectations, both theirs and mine,” White said.

ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

Simmons Bank is a homegrown Arkansas institution. Founded in 1903 in Pine Bluff, the once modest small-town bank has grown to become the largest publicly traded financial holding company headquartered in Arkansas. Simmons currently employs more than 3,200 associates in its 230 financial centers network across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. During the past year, Forbes magazine has named Simmons twice consecutively to its list of “America’s Best Banks” and three times consecutively to its list of “World’s Best Banks.”

In 2022, the American Bankers Association Foundation presented Simmons with its Community Commitment Award designated to honor banks that embody the ideals of corporate social responsibility.

In a competitive marketplace with multiple banking options available to customers, White said he believes the products and services offered by Simmons Bank, in combination with its commitment to community presence and development, are among the factors that attract account holders.

“We believe it’s important to listen to our customers in order to learn what they value when it comes to their banking experience,” he said. “That’s why transparency, visibility and efficiency are key objectives in all of our interactions.”

Getting to the customer quicker — or “de-layering,” as it is referred to in Simmons’ internal jargon — is one way Simmons is attempting to improve the banking experience, White said.

“We try to assess our policies and procedures to identify where we can streamline our processes in order to eliminate unnecessary or incidental stumbling blocks between us and the customer,” he explained.

“For example, if you are calling with a question that requires the approval or guidance of a particular person, why not get you to that particular person immediately instead of having to put you through five or six other people — or layers — before actually getting to the one who can ultimately help you?”

According to White, simplicity and consistency are hallmarks Simmons strives to provide its customers — that and being able to offer big banking advantages with service rooted in and reflective of its small-town origins.

“At the end of the day, whether it’s a good situation or bad, it’s, “How do they feel when they walk away from you?” So what can we do to be a better bank?

People and processes,” he said. “It’s all about people and processes.”

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The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/ Associated Industries of Arkansas congratulates RANDY ZOOK P r e s i d e n t /C E O

on being selected as one of AMP’s 2023 Top 100 Professionals.

arkansasstatechamber.com

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Congratulations Staci Medlock

for being named one of AMP’s 2023 Top Professionals!

RE/MAX ELITE

Whether you are looking to BUY OR SELL OR BUILD, give me a call. I can help.

501.944.8687 2411 McCain Blvd., Suite 4, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116

/ stacimedlock.com

TOP PROFESSIONALS ANDREW ADKINS American Abstract Title Company

DENNIS ADKINS Adkins & Associates Real Estate

LOUISE ALLISON Partners Against Trafficking Humans

Louise Allison is the executive director of the nonprofit Partners Against Trafficking Humans. The state’s first anti-trafficking agency, PATH has worked since 2011 to bring awareness to the issue of trafficking and support survivors in their journeys to recovery. The nonprofit’s multifaceted approach includes rescue, restoration, prevention and education. In addition to rescuing survivors and attempting to restore their sense of normalcy following a traumatic experience, PATH also prioritizes community education and outreach to help prevent incidents of sex trafficking before they happen.

HANNAH CHAMBERS ASHLEY Smith Family Funeral Homes

Hannah Chambers Ashley, funeral director and assistant manager, joined Smith Family Funeral Homes in 2017. Shortly thereafter, she began working toward her funeral directors license, which she received in 2020. Ashley is a National Funeral Directors Association Meet the Mentors graduate and attended the International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association University in 2023. Her purpose as a funeral director is to provide compassionate and dignified end-of-life services with unwavering integrity. Through her work, Ashley strives to offer solace and support to grieving families, honoring their loved ones’ lives while helping them navigate this difficult journey. Ashley is a native of North Little Rock and attended North Little Rock High School.

DR. BRYAN AUSTIN Austin Family Dentistry

HUNTER BALE Bale Chevrolet

JESSICA BAXTER Jess Baxter Design

KATIE BECK Arkansas Hospitality Association

MATT BELL Origami Sake

LARRY BILLING Shadrachs Coffee Roasting Company

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JAMES D. BORNHOFT

DAVID BREWER

Bornhoft Law

Wilson Auctioneers

James D. Bornhoft, an eminent figure in Arkansas’ legal sphere, stands as the visionary behind Bornhoft Law. With an impressive record of over 70 jury trials and over 10,000 hours in the courtroom, Bornhoft’s prowess and experience is unparalleled for attorneys twice his age. Bornhoft began his career as a prosecutor and was the youngest attorney at the time selected to be the sole human trafficking prosecutor and member of the special victims unit in Colorado’s largest judicial district. Now rooted in Hot Springs, where his family’s legacy spans three generations, Bornhoft’s practice focuses on personal injury, family law, criminal defense and estate planning. Bornhoft has revolutionized his practice by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology, setting him apart from traditional attorneys. This tech-forward approach has dramatically enhanced efficiency, enabling swift case management and bolstered client communication, positioning Bornhoft Law at the vanguard of modern legal service delivery.

SHANNON BOSHEARS Goodwill of Arkansas

Shannon Boshears joined Goodwill Industries of Arkansas as senior vice president of development in 2022. She launched the organization’s Look for the Good marketing campaign and is spearheading the fundraising efforts of the Goodwill of Arkansas Foundation. Before joining Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, Boshears was the vice president and chief philanthropy officer at Arkansas Hospice. She has practiced marketing, public relations and fundraising for more than 25 years, including her role as vice chancellor of advancement at the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock, while also serving as executive director of the UA-PTC Foundation.

Boshears is a Certified Fundraising Executive, a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Arkansas Chapter and also serves on the AFP Global Marketing and Communications Committee. In 2021, she was a finalist for Professional Fundraiser of the Year for AFP Arkansas and a finalist as Non-Profit Executive of the Year for the Arkansas Business of the Year Awards.

DEANA BRASSFIELD Jonesboro Cycle & ATV

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KEVIN BROOKS Advantage Service Company

Kevin Brooks has served as Advantage Service Company’s general manager since 2017. With the broad scope of services (heat-airplumbing and electrical) offered to both residential and commercial customers, it is obvious Brooks wears many hats.

Brooks also serves on the Parkway Place Church Food Pantry leadership team and is President of Baptist Preparatory School Booster Club. With a customer-first company culture, Brooks and his management team work hard to provide an exceptional work environment for their staff. While Brooks enjoys fostering employees to help them build stable careers, he also finds himself learning from them at the same time, and he truly enjoys what he does.

JEREMY BROWN Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Jeremy Brown leads the retail sales and operations for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s southcentral region headquartered in Hot Springs. With more than 27 years in the insurance industry, Brown has held various roles, including director of technology services for a company that was instrumental in moving group benefit enrollments from paper to computer; founder and owner of his own insurance agency; and district manager for a company where he recruited and trained new agents to grow their agencies and provide high-quality customer service after the sale. Brown holds a master’s degree in leadership and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from John Brown University in Siloam Springs.

He serves on the board of directors for the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership Hot Springs board of directors as the 2023-2025 board chair, and ambassador for the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Brown serves the residents of Garland County as a Justice of the Peace on the Garland County Quorum Court.

JOSHUA BROWN, CCIM Haag Brown Commercial Real Estate & Development

JENNIFER OWENS BUIE Arkansas Hunger Alliance ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AN EXTRAORDINARY HONOR

Congratulations to

WILLIAM JONES on being named to the AMP Top 100 Professionals list.

WILLIAM JONES COO, Sissy’s Log Cabin

Congratulations to Ben Wingfield for being honored as one of AMP’s Top 100 Professionals!

Thank you for being a Champion for Children.

Ben Wingfield

Director of Supply Chain Operations Arkansas Children’s

archildrens.org ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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TOP PROFESSIONALS DAVID BUSH Bank Encore

SANDRA BYRD Arkansas Electric Cooperatives

BRET CARROLL Conway Corporation

HANNAH CEARNAL U-Storage

JAMES CHAVEZ Encompass Financial Partners

TAVEKIA COOK The Haywood El Dorado

RYAN DANIEL Priority Wire & Cable

JOHN M. DOWNES, M.D. Levi Hospital

John Downes, M.D., is the medical director of Levi Hospital in Hot Springs. As the on-staff psychiatrist at Levi, he oversees the inpatient psychiatric unit and transitions outpatient behavioral health. A graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Downes went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps. His specialty is psychiatry, general adult and adolescent with a secondary specialty in forensic psychiatry. Over the course of his career, Downes has served as chief, mental health services; chief, aerospace medicine; psyciatric consultant; been in private practice; and medical director all at various locations. His vast experience and knowledge of psychiatry has made him one of the tops in his field. Downes has been with Levi Hospital for the past 13 years. He continues to work with patients to help them reach their greatest potential both mentally and physically. He is well respected by his peers, staff and patients.

JESSICA DUFF Pulaski County Special School District

Jessica Duff currently holds the title of executive director of communications for the Pulaski County Special School District.

In her role, she handles internal and external communication, marketing and public relations for the district, which encompasses 26 schools. Duff’s previous tenure in digital marketing and TV helped prepare her for this job at PCSSD. Prior to working at PCSSD, Duff was the director of TraDigital Strategy at Team SI, a digital marketing agency in Little Rock. During her five OC TO B ER 2 02 3

years at Team SI, Duff managed various client’s marketing needs. Before Team SI, Duff worked nearly a decade in the TV and radio business. Her experience in the fast-paced, always-changing news world adequately prepared her for the innovative, intense atmosphere that is school public relations.

CJ DUVALL JR. Westrock Coffee Co.

C.J. Duvall Jr. serves as the executive vice president of human resources for Westrock Coffee Co. Duvall has long been associated with serving community efforts across a wide spectrum of interests, from local community gardening in support of teaching students in the field of biological sciences to creating scholarship endowments to prepare students to be teachers, scientists, business leaders and humanitarian leaders all with a focus of giving back to their community. Prior to joining Westrock Coffee, he served as a human capital business consultant to CEOs in different industries. Duvall’s corporate background includes more than 25-years in human resource management for companies such as software services company, Systematics, Alltel Information Services, and Alltel Corporation.

JOHN EICHLER Windstream

ALLEN ENGSTROM CFO Network

Allen Engstrom is owner and managing director of CFO Network. CFO has 45 employees with locations in Little Rock and northwest Arkansas and provides consulting, finance and accounting services to businesses in Arkansas and nationwide.

Prior to founding the company in 2004, Engstrom worked in strategic finance doing mergers and acquisitions at Intel Capital. Engstrom was born and raised in North Little Rock and received his MBA at the University of Texas at Austin. After majoring in finance and entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado, Engstrom worked in logistics for the world’s largest steamship company, Maersk-Sealand, which involved spending a year working at the company’s offices in Japan.

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ROB FINLEY Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Cranor’s White River Lodge

Rob Finley was appointed to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission by thenGovernor Asa Hutchinson in 2020, replacing former commissioner Ken Reeves. Finley graduated from Cotter High School in Baxter County and followed in his father’s footsteps to join the U.S. Air Force. After his service, he returned to Mountain Home, where he worked in the banking industry and developed a credit-insurance program for financial institutions. He and his wife, Nicki, own Route 66 Warranty in Mountain Home and Cranor’s White River Lodge in Cotter.

WILLIAM FLETCHER Kinco Constructors

William Fletcher began his construction career as a summer intern for Kinco Constructors while he was a construction management student at Auburn University. He worked under a young superintendent named Doug Wasson. Fast forward to today, and Fletcher has his hands on all aspects of the company as the executive vice president/chief operating officer, working with Wasson, who now is the Kinco president/CEO. As EVP/COO, Fletcher oversees the company’s finances and workforce on a daily basis, while working with the leadership team of Kinco to achieve the company’s long-term vision and mission. Kinco Constructors is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, and Kinco would not be where it is today without the contributions of Fletcher, who encompasses the company’s tagline of building excellence.

JEREMY FLYNN JF Media+Marketing

Jeremy Flynn is a marketing expert in demand across the country for his creativity and results.

Flynn brings more than 13 years of marketing experience to his full-time role as the senior director of live event marketing for the Professional Bull Riders, where he oversees marketing efforts for more than 125 events spanning 50+ markets yearly. In 2020, he launched JF Media+Marketing, a fractional marketing company that provides high-level marketARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

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s n o i t a l u Congrat Ryan Flynn President

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In the very small community of Clover Bend, Arkansas, lies one of the premier duck lodges in the world. The Stan Jones Mallard Lodge, on the banks of the Black River, is in the middle of one of the highest concentrations of waterfowl flyways in the United States! Thousands of ducks and geese make way to our waterfowl paradise each year! With 52 different hunting sites on 11,000 acres, the SJML Lodge offers guided hunts in pits, blinds, and timber.

In addition to our world-class duck hunting, we also host corporate meetings, weddings, dinner parties, family reunions, concerts, and church retreats. Come see us, we would love to get to know you!

Congratulations Stan Jones for being named one of AMP’s 2023 Top Professionals!

1185 Lawrence Road 547, Alicia, AR 72410 | (870) 886-3000 | stanjonesmallardlodge.com OC TO B ER 2 02 3

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TOP PROFESSIONALS ing services to businesses in need of a seasoned marketing director at a fraction of the cost. In a short time, he has worked with more than 50 businesses in Arkansas and surrounding states. Prior to PBR, he was the marketing manager at Simmons Bank Arena and the director of marketing and events at 103.7 The Buzz and The Point 94.1. Flynn has a MBA from the University of Central Arkansas.

RYAN FLYNN Network Services Group

Ryan Flynn was named president of Network Services Group in late 2013.

Network Services Group provides IT support and voice-over IP telephone solutions for many businesses across the state. Under Flynn’s leadership, NSG has grown from 11 employees and a single location in North Little Rock to more than 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.

ROBERTA GONZALES Tyson Foods

STEVE GRANDFIELD Lexicon

Steven Grandfield, chief operating officer at Lexicon, has been a valued member of the Lexicon team for 20 years. Prior to his appointment as COO in January, Grandfield served as president of Lexicon Fabrication Group, which includes Prospect Steel, Custom Metals and Steel Fabricators of Monroe. From the company’s headquarters in Little Rock, as COO, Grandfield oversees all of Lexicon’s daily operations, reviews the efficiency of current business functions and collaborates with executive management to set and meet business objectives.

In his nearly 20 years of service with Lexicon, Grandfield has been part of numerous key projects, including the recent Tesla Assembly building in Austin, Texas, and many Amazon facilities across the country. Before joining the company, he served as a structural engineer at SEMF Holdings Consulting Engineers and Pitt & Sherry Consulting Engineers in Australia. Grandfield is an honors graduate from the University of Tasmania in Australia with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

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JAMES GRIFFIN

AMBER HENSON

Edward Jones

Urban Living & Development

TIM GROOMS Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull

Tim W. Grooms is a founding and managing member of Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull He represents banks, health care managers, real estate developers, real estate brokers and other clients in a variety of transactional matters. He has substantial experience in real estate and general commercial lending transactions and has negotiated hundreds of retail, office and commercial space leases on behalf of major national retailers and numerous developers, landlords and tenants throughout Arkansas and the Mid-South. Grooms serves as counsel to numerous banking and real estate industry groups, including the Arkansas Community Bankers, Arkansas Rural Rental Housing Association, Arkansas REALTORS Association (including numerous local REALTOR boards), and the state chapter of the Building and Office Management Association. Licensed to practice in Arkansas and New York, Grooms is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and a fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys.

WOODY HARRELSON The Hatcher Agency

TAMMY HARVEY-STAUBER American Taekwondo Association

Tammy Harvey-Stauber is chief ambassador for ATA International, the director of the H.U. Foundation, and office manager at Arkansas Home Service West. At just 16 years old, Harvey-Stauber became the American Taekwondo Assocation’s youngest certified taekwondo instructor, and at 17, she opened her first taekwondo school in Benton. Harvey-Stauber has trained in the art of taekwondo for more than five decades, demonstrating leadership and active involvement within the organization, an exhibition of ethical conduct and contribution to the growth of Songahm Taekwondo. Now a ninth degree black belt and the highest-ranking female within ATA International, Harvey-Stauber will become ATA International’s first female Grand Master in 2024.

KOREY HENDRIX

CHRIS HO Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

Chris Ho has lived in Arkansas since 1989 and serves as the vice president of marketing at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs. He started his career in 1995 as a graphics and website designer. His advertising and marketing experience led him to CJRW in 2017, where he worked with the Oaklawn account for five years. In his current position, Ho manages all things marketing for racing, casino, hotel, event center, spa and the many restaurants on property. He serves on the board of directors at the Mid-America Science Museum in the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute and the Diamond Lakes Travel Association.

LARRY JACKSON ARMI Contractors

MICHAELA JOHNSON CARTI

COLBIE JONES Keep Arkansas Beautiful

JACOB JONES Jones & Son Diamond & Bridal Fine Jewelry

RANDY JONES First Community Bank

STAN JONES Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Stan Jones Mallard Lodge

Stan Jones was born and raised in Clover Bend, where he and his family have been farming for over five generations.

Jones is an owner of Banded outdoor sporting apparel, Avery Outdoors and the Stan Jones Mallard Lodge. In 2017, Jones was handpicked by former Gov. Asa Hutchinson to be a member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commision. In June, Jones succeeded former commissioner Bobby Martin as AGFC chairman following the expiration of his term. He is a graduate of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and serves on the Chancellor’s Cabinet. He also serves on the Red Wolves Foundation 500 Club and the Clover Bend Historical Society.

McGraw Realtors

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Advantage Service Company provides installation, maintenance and 24-hour repair HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, refrigeration, and restaurant equipment service. Advantage Service Company has over 75 years of combined experience in the service industry. With a team of over 50 specialized service technicians, Advantage Service Company provides quality service to both residential and commercial customers across the Central Arkansas area.

Thank you for honoring

Kevin Brooks

in AMP’s Ranking of AR’s Top 100 Professionals.

Providing Quality HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing Service to Arkansas Homes and Businesses for over 40 years and accredited with the Better Business Bureau.

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1797 N. Cypress St. North Little Rock, AR 72114 501-ONE-CALL | 501-663-2255 | www.advantageserviceco.com

s n o i t a l u t a Congr ASHLEY MOSLEY

for being named one of AMP’s 2023 Top Professionals!

(501) 223 2688 14309 Kanis Rd., Little Rock, AR 72223 Info@chenalpetpalace.com ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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TOP PROFESSIONALS WILLIAM JONES IV

RON MCCARTY

Sissy’s Log Cabin

Powers of Arkansas

AN EXTRAORDINARY Son of Bill and Sharri

Ron McCarty is the execuHONOR Jones, William Jones IV tive vice president of Powis chief operations officer ers of Arkansas. He joined and a member of the Sisthe company in 2012 as the Congratulations to sy’s Log Cabin executive director of sales before beboard of directors. Jones is coming the vice president on of being the third generation thenamed to the of controls in 2016. McCarTop 100 family to makeAMP a career at Professionals list. ty previously served as the the company founded by his grandmother, senior director of operations and controller Sissy Jones, in 1970. Jones is a 2012 gradu- at Charles River Laboratories and the asate of the University of Central Arkansas in sistant director of laboratory operations for Conway, and he became a graduate gemolo- Primedica, formerly Argus Research Labogist in 2013JONES after attending the Gemological ratories. McCarty received his bachelor’s deWILLIAM Institute America. gree in animal science and husbandry from COO, Sissy’sofLog Cabin Delaware Valley University, and he obtained SUMMER KHAIRI a Masters of Business Administration from UAMS the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

McCarty has served on the advisory comMERRY KLINE mittee for the White Hall School District Belle & Blush since 2010.

DR. CARMELLA KNOERNSCHILD BRIAN MCGEE, M.D.

WILLIAM JONES

Dr. Carmella Knoernschild Orthodontic Clinic

DIANNE LAFOLLETTE Mid-America Science Museum

JENNIFER LANCASTER Lancaster Law Firm

FRANK LAWRENCE The Athletic Clubs

RICK LEASURE ARMI Manufacturing

BRAYDEN MALLETT Arvest Bank

Brayden is a client advisor for Arvest Wealth Management. He is a graduate from University of Central Arkansas in Conway with a bachelor’s degree in finance and minor in management and a master’s degree in business administration. Mallett provides his clients a positive experience by confidently and proactively assisting them with their financial planning, retirement, insurance and wealth management strategies needs. Prior to joining Arvest, he worked in the banking and financial services industry since 2014.

DR. CARLA MARTIN Go Forward Pine Bluff

PEGGY MCCALL Miracle League of Arkansas

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Arkansas Diagnostic Center

Brian McGee, M.D., is the medical director for the Digestive Disease Specialists of Central Arkansas in Little Rock. He is dual board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine. He is an honor graduate from Xavier University of Louisiana and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where he also completed his residency and fellowship training. McGee has received numerous accolades and awards for his patient care and dedication to educating all on proper digestive health. He is the founder and president of C.H.A.D. (Colorectal Health Advocates & Doctors), a nonprofit with a singular mission to “X out” or eradicate colorectal cancer. These efforts have been recognized by the American College of Gastroenterology, culminating in McGee being awarded an international award for his efforts regarding Colorectal Cancer Awareness.

JAY MEADOR First Horizon

Jay Meador is president of First Horizon’s central Arkansas market, where he is honored to lead all facets of the bank’s business in this area. He started with the bank in 2008, working on both the private client and commercial banking teams, and began in his current role in 2019. Meador is currently a board member of Goodwill Industries of Arkansas (treasurer), Economics Ar148

kansas, Junior Achievement and Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is a native of Little Rock and graduated from Pulaski Academy. He received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and his MBA from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

BRAD MEDLOCK Medlock Construction

STACI MEDLOCK RE/MAX Elite

Staci Medlock is consistently one of the top-performing real estate agents in the central Arkansas area, carrying almost 20 years of experience under her belt. A native of the area, she caters to a wide range of clients in cities across the region, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Maumelle, Jacksonville, Cabot, Searcy and Beebe. While Medlock’s abilities as a Realtor are across-the-board, she has extensive experience in new construction, custom home building and working with first-time homebuyers. Medlock has also served as justice of the peace for Pulaski County’s 15th district since 2013.

MEGAN MILLER The Bridgeway

JOHN MORRIS ARcare

PAM NELSON NWA Land Trust

DENVER PEACOCK The Peacock Group

JULIA PONDER Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Association

DR. DARON PRAETZEL Arkansas Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons

DORCAS PRINCE Low’s Bridal

Dorcas Prince is the owner of Low’s Bridal. She attributes the success of the business to working hard each day, week, and year to ensure brides have an amazing experience on their journey to find the perfect wedding dress. Low’s offers a large, diverse selection of wedding gowns in sizes 0-34 at great prices. Each bride works one on one with her own personal consultant in order to provide the best possible experience.

One of the things that makes Low’s unique is the number of gowns available in every size that can be taken home that day, whether ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

Congratulations, Chris White.

Join us in commending Chris White on being named a Top Professional by Arkansas Money and Politics. As part of the next generation of leaders, Chris is dedicated to shaping the future of our great state.

AdvisorHub THE SECOND ANNUAL ADVISORS TO WATCH RANKING

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MAGAZINE | JUNE 2023

Itzel Velazquez

WealthPath would like to congratulate Scott W. Daniel , for being recognized as one of AdvisorHub’s Top Advisors to watch in the nation in 2022 and 2023.

Kiva Hub Capital Access Manager

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Where there’s a dream, there’s a way.

You had the will to make it happen. But, before your determination, it was just a dream.

At First Horizon, we’re proud to support the spirit of entrepreneurs through every phase of business development. From imagination to operation to innovation, we’re always ready to help you take the next step.

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Levi Hospital would like to congratulate Dr. John Downes on being voted Best of Psychiatry in Central Arkansas.

CARE. From first light, to long into the night. Our team is here doing what we do best, providing you with quality care.

• Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Care • Transitions Behavioral Health Services

Levi Hospital, 300 Prospect Ave. Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901 Levi Hospital – Healing Mind & Body Since 1914 Levi Hospital is a 501 (C) - (3) non-profit organization. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

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Congratulations

TAMMY HARVEY-STAUBER for being named one of AMP’s 2023 Top Professionals!

ATA International (ATA) recently announced Chief Master Tammy Harvey-Stauber of Little Rock has earned her ninth degree black belt, making her the highest ranking female within the global organization.

A ninth degree black belt is the highest level of rank achievement within the ATA. Chief Master Stauber has trained in the art of taekwondo for over 51 years, demonstrating leadership and active involvement within the organization, exhibition of ethical conduct, and contribution to the growth of Songahm Taekwondo. Following her newly earned rank, she will enter a one-year intensive training program to pursue the Grand Master title in 2024.

www.atamartialarts.com

1800 Riverfront Drive Little Rock, AR 72202 501 621-9100 501 568-2821

TOP PROFESSIONALS the wedding is in one month or a year away.

Since Low’s Bridal opened in 1977, it has been a labor of love, and Prince considers it a blessing to be a part of the memories and upcoming new chapter of life for each bride and her family.

MIKE RAINWATER Rainwater Holt & Sexton

DUSTIN RALSTON

BLAKE RICKMAN

JIM SMITH

UAFS

Conner & Winters

TERISA RILEY

SETH SPEIGHT

UAFS

Prairie Ag Service

GUNEEV SHARMA National Park Foundation

DR. KRIS SHEWMAKE Shewmake Plastic Surgery

Greystone Country Club

Seth Speight is a lifelong resident of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, and his entire professional career has been dedicated to agriculture. Speight graduated with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural business from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 2008. Speight and best friend Jacob Tidwell were presented with the opportunity to start their own agricultural aviation business; the pair have since built their entire business around customer service, pilot safety and timely and professional applications. They are both still actively involved in the day to day operations of Tidwell Flying Service in Lonoke County, which is owned by Tidwell’s father, Jeff, who has been a mentor to both men.

Combined, Speight and Tidwell operate seven agricultural aircraft that serve a wide swath of farmland in east central Arkansas.

The business is an active member in the Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association and the National Agricultural Aviation Association.

LINDSEY SPENCER In-between Designs

ROGER SUNDERMEIER First Arkansas Bank & Trust

MICHELLE TOWNE Inviting Arkansas

ASHLEY TRENTHAM Chenal Pet Palace

Ashley Trentham is the coowner of Chenal Pet Palace and Arkansas Pet Resort.

Since 2005, this familyowned business has been taking care of Arkansas’s four-legged friends. Furry, feathery, scaled, or bald, Trentham has always felt compassion for all little creatures. It was only inevitable that Trentham would one day make caring for animals her career. For 18 years, she has been a partner at Chenal Pet Palace and Arkansas Pet Resort. They are a day-care, boarding and grooming business for dogs and cats. As a family-owned business in Arkansas, Trentham is most thankful for the continual support of their customers. Trentham attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she obtained a Bachelor of Art in art history.

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TIFFANY TUCKER

ITZEL VELAZQUEZ

MIKE WATSON

Farrar & Williams

Kiva Hub Capital Access Manager

State Farm

MISSY WARD

FORV/S

JEFF TURNBOW Jeff Turnbow Agency

Jeff Turnbow of Conway often appears in the media as an expert at growing small to medium businesses. His experience spans two decades in marketing and business development. He has extended his expertise to more than 3,000 businesses in over 200 unique categories. He is also a best-selling author, honored with the Editor’s Choice Award for Mastering the Art of Success, a collaborative work with renowned figure Jack Canfield. In his role as Fractional CMO, he provides strategic guidance for up to ten companies annually, while also spearheading WINNING LOCAL, a leading digital marketing agency. He has become a most requested speaker at DigiMarCon, the world’s largest digital marketing conference series. His recent book, Winning Local: How to Build Your Brand and Dominate Your Target Market, has already been met with acclaim.

He’s a recognized thought leader in the field, making appearances on many outlets, including major networks such as Fox, CNN and MSNBC.

Itzel Velazquez is dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurship and fostering community growth.

As the Little Rock Kiva Hub Capital Access Manager for Forge Fund, she helps local entrepreneurs access capital through 0 percent interest, crowdfunded Kiva loans.

She also works with Conexion de Negocios Latinos as the events coordinator, where she provides support to Latino business owners. Velazquez holds a master’s degree in higher education from Loyola University Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in international studies and political science from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

She is a member of Junior League of Little Rock, serves as a board member for Create Little Rock and serves on the Minority Business Accelerator Committee and the Next Gen(eration) Humanities Conference Committee.

Mallard Ready Mix

Mike Watson is a State Farm agent serving Sharp, Izard, Fulton, Stone, Lawrence and Independence Counties. Since opening his first office in Highland in 2011, and adding a location in Melbourne soon after, Watson has been serving the people of north-central Arkansas with the coverage they need to protect what matters most.

The success of his agency has earned Watson inclusion in both the Lifetime Presidents Club and the Million Dollar Round Table. Before entering the insurance industry, Watson spent 12 years as the athletic director at Melbourne High School, his alma mater, where he coached basketball and softball. Watson is heavily involved in his community; he is a member of the Northeast Arkansas Intermodal Authority and is a trustee of Ozarka College.

MICHAEL WESTERFIELD BUD WHETSTONE Whetsone Law Firm

STOP SELLING. START STORYTELLING. JFMEDIAANDMARKETING.COM

Jeremy Flynn ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

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TOP PROFESSIONALS DEKE WHITBECK

JOSH WHITEHURST

TED WOMBLE

Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation

First Orion

First Orion

As a loving family man, Little Rock native Deke Whitbeck enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters, Cate and Charley, developing in his children the same appreciation for the state’s woods, waters and plains he developed growing up in the Natural State.

As president of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, a job Whitbeck has held since 2016, the goal is much the same: to provide native Arkansans and guests access to quality outdoor experiences through education, conservation and preservation.

Leading AGFF, the fundraising arm of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Whitbeck has brought the organization to new heights, raising millions of dollars in support of AGFC initiatives and AGFF programs including maintaining nature centers, funding youth shooting programs and investing in wildlife conservation. In so doing, Whitbeck has mustered support and inspired grassroots activism from every corner of the state to preserve myriad outdoor ecosystems for future generations of outdoor enthusiasts.

As the company’s senior director of product management, Josh Whitehurst is instrumental in developing and overseeing the direction of products that continue to position First Orion as the leader in the highly competitive and emerging branded communication industry. In the past year alone, First Orion has experienced a 165 percent increase in revenue from its branded communication products. This increase stems from the drastic growth in enterprises adopting the technologies at a rapid pace, primarily due to Whitehurst’s ability to identify and develop solutions needed in the marketplace before others. Leading a tech company’s product management organization requires an innovative mindset and entrepreneurial spirit, which Whitehurst has showcased throughout his career.

Before joining First Orion, he co-founded a telemedicine startup and a marketing consulting firm. Whitehurst received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, where he was a founding father for the UCA chapter of Phi Gamma Delta International Fraternity.

CHRIS WHITE

CANDICE WHITLOCK

Simmons Bank

Signature Premier Properties

Chris White serves as executive vice president and chief community banking officer for Simmons Bank. In this role, White oversees all community banking activities with responsibility for driving strategy, business development and delivery of core banking services across Simmons’ six-state footprint. Since joining Simmons Bank in 2004, White has seen the company grow from $2.4 billion in assets to its current size of approximately $28 billion. During this time of evolution and consolidation in the banking industry, he has served in a variety of leadership roles across Simmons’ home state, most recently as executive vice president of metro market development. White is a graduate of Louisiana State University Banking School, Leadership Fayetteville, Leadership Hot Springs, Leadership Greater Little Rock and Leadership Arkansas. He also serves on the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Board.

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WENDY WILLIAMS Fyzical Therapy

BEN WINGFIELD Arkansas Children’s

As director of supply chain operations at Arkansas Children’s, Ben Wingfield guides strategic and operational aspects of the health care system’s supply chain.

Over five years of leadership, Wingfield has improved operating efficiencies by controlling and reducing supply costs, developed a supply chain diversity program and is committed to peer and partner collaboration through improving communication and access between the supply chain and clinical departments.

With over a decade of health care experience, including navigating Arkansas Children’s supply-chain challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Wingfield has positioned Arkansas Children’s for future success through cost savings, strategic partnerships and inventory management.

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Ted Womble is the director of business development at First Orion. Womble has been with First Orion since 2015, when he started as a sales associate. He previously worked as an account executive at Crews & Associates, and he holds Series 7 and Series 63 licenses from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Womble attended Southern Methodist University in Texas and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy.

CANDACE WOODRUFF Performance Tax Group

JACKIE WORLEY Junior Achievement

Jackie Worley, business manager for Junior Achievement of Arkansas joined the team seven years ago. She is responsible for the day to day accounting, organizes their events, assists the president and CEO, Tonya Villines. Worley grew up in Sandusky, Ohio, where she began her bookkeeping and office manager duties. She excels in customer service and says she owes it all to waitressing at Applebee’s, where she met her husband, Travis Worley. The couple started their journey in entrepreneurship when moving to Arkansas in 2016, partnering with Dan Cook in ownership of Marco’s Pizza.

RANDY ZOOK Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce

Randy Zook is the president and chief executive officer of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas.

Prior to taking the helm of the State Chamber and AIA, Randy was the deputy director of administration and finance for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. For 34 years, he worked for Atlantic Envelope Company, a $250-million manufacturer of custom-printed envelopes and business products, serving as president and CEO of the company from 1989 to 2004. He is currently serving on the boards of Arkansas Public School Resource Center, the executive board for the Quapaw Area Council for

By Scouts of America, Economics Arkansas and McGehee Farm & Real Estate Co. ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

There’s A Better Choice.

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RESTAURANTS

At lunchtime, down-home spots deliver the goods

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By Mark Carter

usiness lunches often take place in fancy dining rooms with dark walls and soft lighting, white cloth napkins folded nicely upon white tablecloth and the cushioned seats made from poplar. Starting off with a round of Old Fashioneds, the menus offer field greens and pimento cheese followed by blackened salmon, a taco salad or maybe a chicken caprese sandwich.

Such upscale settings have always been popular spots for business lunches, and downtown Little Rock is filled with some excellent ones — Capital Bar & Grill, Samantha’s Tap Room & Wood Grill, and Cache Restaurant, to name just a few. They offer some comfort food, as well — this being Arkansas, after all — but the menus at these spots trend more Peter Millar than Carharrt, the settings more Mad Men than Mayberry.

Business deals, however, are made just as often in places where one might expect to bump into Andy and Barney — places where business gets done over plates of chicken fried steak, burgers or ribs, where those glorious hard-plastic red cups of Coke, or maybe even a Sam Pittman-style “col’ beer,” leave rings on the vinyl tabletop or

checkerboard tablecloth.

Little Rock has plenty of these spots as well, and they too draw the Mad Men set. Inside them, diners are as likely to encounter a CEO as you are the cable guy, the next governor or the county sheriff.

Whether the business discussed takes place inside the Arkansas State Capitol, at a corner office, on a job site or in the middle of a rice field, establishments like Doe’s Eat Place, Homer’s East, Cotham’s in the City and Capitol Smokehouse & Grill provide the suits and the 9-to-5’ers alike a chance to fill up at lunch, bond over bread pudding and perhaps pound a suddenly much-needed 5-hour Energy on the way back to the office, whatever shape or form it may take.

The fare found at these spots represents the staples, the stick-toyour-ribs classics that define Southern appetites. Meat and taters, for sure, but there is plenty to appease the “healthier” palate — you know, turnip greens and the like. But the tamales, the catfish, the meat loaf — that is what drives these power lunch spots. These are the tried-and-true classics.

With all due respect to upscale dining and the talented chefs whose artistry and creativity tap new realms of flavor, it is doubtful

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gluten-free scallops ever turned a mouth to water. The tamales at Doe’s, the plate lunches at Homer’s and Cotham’s, or the meat loaf at Capitol Smokehouse, on the other hand?

The iconic establishments featured on the pages that follow became that way for one reason — the food is good. Simple and good. And hard-working men and women work up an appetite by lunchtime that requires more than soup or fish (unless the latter is of the fried cat variety, of course).

We salute them all — The Mad Men lunch spots and the Mayberry diners. Power lunches can be had over appetizers of cheese dip, fried okra, red pepper hummus or avocado toast, and the “see-and-be-seen” crowd is satiated either way.

Little Rock is an underrated food town, and whether one’s tastes lean trendy or greasy, the food is exceptional across the spectrum.

But this day, we honor the greasy. Adipe carpe!

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We have really good home-cooked meals like Mama used to cook.

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Capitol Smokehouse & Grill

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andy Wilkerson’s Capitol Smokehouse & Grill is a John Daly drive from the steps of the Capitol, and the noon breeze often carries the aroma of tender, moist pork, cooked low and slow, across the upper Capitol Avenue corridor.

Wilkerson bought what became the Smokehouse in 2008 with her late husband, Doug. They had owned the popular Lucky 7 restaurant near McArthur Park for about a dozen years before spending another 10 in the school catering business. When the former Mr. Mason’s Pit Bar-B-Q on Capitol was put on the market in 2008, the Wilkersons decided it was time to get back in the restaurant business.

When they bought Mr. Mason’s, the purchase included the barbecue recipes, which the couple tweaked and enhanced.

To the delight of their former customers from Lucky 7, the Wilkersons brought back the plate lunches that had made their previous restaurant such a hit.

“We have really good home-cooked

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meals like Mama used to cook,” Candy Wilkerson said.

Though known for its barbecue, the restaurant’s best-selling lunch dish is meat loaf. It is so popular, meat loaf is on the menu Monday through Friday as one of the daily specials alongside classics like chicken and dressing, fried chicken breast, chicken fried steak, chicken spaghetti, pot roast and catfish.

The list of sides reads like the menu for Thanksgiving in Heaven — mashed potatoes, turnip greens, squash casserole, green beans, baked potato salad, baked beans and cole slaw.

The barbecue at the Smokehouse has been written up and praised by national food bloggers. In 2010, it was even featured in Maxim, which rated it “one of the 10 best temples to ‘cue in the world.”

As Doug Wilkerson told Sync Weekly 158

that same year, the secret to the ‘cue at Capitol Smokehouse is a combination of pecan and hickory for smoking, not using wet or green wood for the fire, and most importantly, make that fire cook meat low and slow.

Doug passed away in 2016, but his wife carries on the Capitol Smokehouse way with a focus on customers and making them feel welcome. Candy said good food is most important but happy customers who can get in and out quickly when needed is a close second.

As for the latter, that can be a challenge when the legislature is in session and lawmakers make the short walk. The Smokehouse’s proximity to the Capitol comes in handy.

“During the legislative session, it’s a huge advantage,” Wilkerson said. “We’re within walking distance from the Capitol and the federal building, as well as many state agencies.”

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Know your customers and their needs. Get their order, and then don’t interrupt.

Watch them closely in case they need anything.

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he tale of Doe’s Eat Place is a familiar one to Little Rock foodies. Delta restaurateur and pilot George Eldridge had been flying clients and friends to the original Doe’s in Greenville, Miss., for years. Eventually, he bought the right to bring the name and menu to Little Rock and in 1988, opened Doe’s Eat Place Little Rock.

Other independent Doe’s have since sprung up, but Doe’s Little Rock stayed true to the original’s no-frills tradition in its “decidedly downscale” location at the corner of West Markham and Ringo streets in a back corner of downtown Little Rock.

Like its Greenville counterpart, Doe’s Little Rock is known for its steaks and tamales, and its renown went national during Bill Clinton’s presidential run in 1992. Doe’s was a favorite of then-Gov. Clinton, and it became a hangout of Clinton campaign staffers. Clinton was even interviewed and photographed for the cover of Rolling Stone at Doe’s.

The January following the ’92 election, Eldridge and former Doe’s chef Lucille Robinson were guests at Clinton’s inaugural ball.

Since then, Doe’s has served as a bucket list lo- Katherine Eldridge cation for musicians, politicians, athletes and oth- and former President er celebrities visiting Little Rock. The restaurant Bill Clinton has been written up in other national publications, including People, and was the subject of AMP’s “Digs of the Deal” series.

Katherine Eldridge took over ownership of Doe’s Little Rock from her father in 2012, and the restaurant carries on the tradition as prime business lunch spot. Eldridge said the three different dining rooms are ideal for business lunches.

“It’s easy to find a spot that is private enough to talk business,” she said.

Though steaks are on the lunch menu too, Eldridge said the restaurant’s acclaimed cheeseburgers and hot tamales are the most popular items at lunch. Also popular? The spaghetti with chicken or meatballs. The spaghetti, burgers and steaks have all received glowing reviews from food critics and bloggers.

The Eat Your Way Across the USA blog called Doe’s steaks gorgeous and up to “three pounds of pillowy porterhouse, sirloin or T-bone.” The blog even called the ambience delicious, a “sort of pool-hall chic with a worn linoleum floor, pictures of Delta bluesmen on the wall, and waitresses in blue jean cut-offs and sneakers.

Over the years, Eldridge learned just how to accommodate the lunch rush that provides such an eclectic atmosphere.

“Know your customers and their needs,” she said. “Get their order, and then don’t interrupt. Watch them closely in case they need anything.”

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Doe’s Eat Place Little Rock

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Homer’s East

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ormer Gov. Frank White appreciated a good meal as much as the next executive, and he is credited with calling Homer’s the lunch spot where “the elite meet to eat.”

Of course, it has also been said, likely by many lawmakers who have cleaned a plate at Homer’s, the unassuming little diner in an industrial area near Clinton National Airport, that more bills have been passed on the floor at Homer’s than on the Senate floor.

Opened in 1986, Homer’s — now referred to Homer’s East since expansion out west about a de-

cade ago — sits unassumingly on Little Rock’s Roosevelt Road, a quick taxi from the airport. Owner Katrina Vaughn makes sure the original is the same greasy spoon that attracts business suits and line workers alike.

“I personally think the key to our success has been good food and good people,” she said. “On any given day, you can find construction workers, attorneys, teachers, business owners, families and even politicians in the dining room. We aren’t fancy, but we pride ourselves on good food and great customer service.

At Homer’s, we want you to feel like you are home.”

The daily plate lunch specials do a good job of doing just that, and Vaughn said they remain the diner’s best sellers.

The top tastes are the country-fried steak, meat loaf, and chicken and d re s s i n g , she said.

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our entrees are served with two vegetable sides and a delicious yeast roll, the type of meal I grew up on for family dinner.”

Homer’s industrial location suits its blue-collar menu. It is not a far drive from downtown but is most definitely off the beaten business path. Still, Vaughn said Homer’s East attracts diners from all over the city.

“Our location isn’t fancy, but we do everything we can to provide a delicious home-cooked meal and friendly place to dine,” she said.

Those home-cooked meals extend to breakfast as, well, and include staples like biscuits and gravy and the Homer’s special — two eggs (any style), two hotcakes, hash browns, and a choice of sausage or bacon.

Weekly lunch specials include meat loaf, chicken-fried chicken, oven-baked chicken, country-fried steak, chicken and dumplings, chicken and dressing, a catfish dinner, a Mexican plate, and even grilled salmon and a veggie plate (large or small), and Homer’s is known for its burgers too.

Vaughn insists that the recipe for longstanding success is simple: good food, great service.

Work and life can be difficult at times,” she said. “So it’s nice to have a place for lunch that makes you feel the comforts of home.”

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Cotham’s in the City

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f the Capitol Smokehouse is only a Daly swing from the Capitol, then Cotham’s in the City is but a KJ Jefferson deep shot to Luke Hasz from the halls of government.

After all, as they say in real estate, it is all about location, location, location.

Owner Jon Griffin said the restaurant’s prominent spot at the corner of West Third and Victory streets, right where downtown starts to take form and just two blocks from the Capitol building, serves it well.

Like Doe’s, Cotham’s bills itself as the place where “the elite meet to eat.”

“We are a perfect spot for folks handling business or politics to drop in for a quick, home-cooked bite,” he said, adding that “we are walking distance from several surrounding businesses.”

Griffin said the location is a great advantage, especially when the legislature is in session.

“We love that time of year when legislators, lobbyists and our non-political regulars all rub shoulders together,” he said.

Oct. 1 marked the 24th anniversary of the opening of Cotham’s in the City, an offshoot of the former Cotham’s Mercantile in Scott. The original, built in 1912, became known as a hangout for prominent state politicians (think Bill Clinton, David Pryor) for its bayou setting and delicious comfort food like the famous “Hupcap Burger” and Mississippi Mud pie.

When the city cousin opened in 1999, all but the bayou setting was replicated in downtown Little Rock, and dealmakers who do not have time to make the 30-minute drive to the western reaches of the Delta had an option.

The original mercantile burned down in 2017, but its spirit lives on at Cotham’s in the City. Griffin said the most popular menu items, as expected, are the cheeseburger and the daily plate lunches, which include a half-pound hamburger steak, chicken and dumplings, chicken-fried steak, fried chicken, and fried pork chops.

The Hubcap Burger has always held a spot inside the pantheon of central Arkansas burgers, and its name was born of its size. In 2009, the burger was featured on the popular TV show, Man v. Food. Cotham’s even has an entry in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, the online database of all things Arkansas run by the Central Arkansas Library System.

The restaurant is as iconic as any in Arkansas.

“Cotham’s has been ingrained in this community for years,” Griffin said. “We have learned over time that it’s really just about good food and good people. Our customers know that we are as invested in them as they are in us.”

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We are a perfect spot for folks handling business or politics to drop in for a quick, home-cooked bite.

We are walking distance from several surrounding businesses.

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MEDIA

JENNIFER MAUNE: The Business of MasterChef

By Sarah Coleman

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ollowing her performance on MasterChef: United Tastes of America in September, Little Rock’s Jennifer Maune is a nationally recognizable name. The chef, decor maven and lifestyle blogger finished as a season 13 finalist on Gordon Ramsay’s hit cooking-competition show.

Now, still aglow in the aftermath of her performance, the graduate of the University of ArkansasPulaski Technical College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute is cooking up a few new endeavors. These include a potential television show, her own seasoning blends, the creation of “culinary experiences,” a holiday cookbook, and maybe even a restaurant or two.

“It was a very exhilarating and thrilling experience to spend eight weeks doing what I love, cooking, under the guidance and mentorship of Gordon Ramsay,” Maune said, “I have so much respect for him not only as a chef, but for everything he’s built through his TV shows and his restaurants across the country and the world.”

Maune said her experience competing against thousands of chefs was a humbling one and opened her eyes to the community of cooking. For that, she is grateful.

“I was definitely counting my blessings being there, and it was an honor to make it to the finale,” Maune said. “After MasterChef, I am finding how important it is to find the right balance of things in life again. For all business owners who are also moms, it can be easy to focus on all the different responsibilities you have at home or with your children, and it’s easy to forget to pour into yourself. The best way for me to pour into myself has been through improving my chef skills.”

Following her run on the show, Maune signed with a talent agency out of Los Angeles. She now has a team consisting of a publicist, a literary agent,

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a brand agent and an attorney, each working to help her embark on her new journey.

“I have a great team of people now and I believe you’re only ever as good as your team. They are helping me to develop various aspects of my brand, and I’m grateful for that,” Maune said.

Maune said her seasoning brand, Heritage Taste, will be the first of her projects to launch, and as an expression of her gratitude to those who supported her journey to the MasterChef finale, she is releasing her own seasoning blend, full of her favorite spices and herbs.

“This is one of the quickest ways I can grow my brand and bring a little bit of my own cooking style to people all over the country,” Maune said.

Heritage Taste will be blended by an Arkansasbased blending company, HNO Blending Solutions in Fordyce. Maune said she wants to support as many local Arkansas companies as possible.

“My inspiration behind creating my own seasoning blend was through looking at the spices I would use often, together, in a variety of ways,” she said. “I realized the ones that were my go-to spices were not already in a blend together, so I wanted to create my own blend.”

Her new seasoning brand will ship in the coming weeks and is completely organic and crafted, blended and packaged in Arkansas. Maune noted that the blend was created in her own kitchen, making it a completely Arkansas-made product.

The details of the restaurants are still fuzzy, but Maune said opening them is her biggest dream and her reason for competing on MasterChef in the first place. Like many chefs and culinary experts, owning a restaurant has always been at the forefront of Maune’s mind.

“This concept would be completely farm-to-table and would likely serve as a breakfast, lunch and

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brunch spot, with an elevated pastry shop included in the space,” she said of planned restaurants in Benton and Little Rock.

Even with restaurants still in the planning phase, Maune is already feeding people in central Arkansas. Passionate about the work of local nonprofits, she has donated dinners to her favorite charitable organizations.

“I work very hard, but I feel so blessed to be able to give back a little in this way,” Maune said.

Maune also has been busy creating her own holiday cookbook. The holiday season, with its food and decorations, has always been special to her, she said, and the first cookbook will be published and ready for the 2025 holiday season. Maune noted her grandmother’s attention to detail in decorations, activities for children, gifts and menus, all of which made an impression on her.

“My most popular blog posts are always Christmas brunch menus, with hundreds of thousands of people clicking on them every year,” she said. “Holidays have always been big in my home, as my grandmother always made them big in her home. This cookbook will help introduce my brand on a national level and not just include the holiday menus I love, but also how to decorate for Christmas, cute ways to set your table and more.”

As if Maune did not already have enough irons in the fire, she is looking forward to one day hosting her own culinary experiences, which will range from how-to style cooking classes, immersive chef experiences and more.

“These experiences would include coming to a class to learn how to make a really good meal, and then enjoying that meal over a great glass of wine,” Maune said. “The classes would also serve to teach the community more about the art of cooking in general.”

A successful lifestyle blogger for years, Maune also has a great interest in home decor and hopes to one day open a store in Benton or Little Rock, but for now, there are other priorities.

Maune said more details on her next endeavors will be revealed over time on her website, JenniferMaune.com.

Her new seasoning brand will ship in the coming weeks and is completely organic and crafted, blended and packaged in Arkansas.

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TECHNOLOGY

PINNACLE IT: Still Climbing

By Mak Millard

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ith a success story like that of Pinnacle IT — growing from a side hustle in 1992 to become the preferred technology-solutions firm for businesses across the state in just three decades — one might think that CEO Chris Bates always had his sights set on a career in technology. In reality, his entry into the industry was a case of one door closing and a window opening in its stead.

“I am old enough that computers were not in every household when I was in school, and I was poor enough that even if there were, we wouldn’t have had one,” Bates said. “I did not grow up as a computer IT person. I actually went to college at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and was going to be a pharmacist.”

Bates had the grades and test scores for pharmacy school, but a long waitlist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and steep out-of-state tuition sent him in search of a new major. While he was still settling on a new direction, a techsavvy roommate introduced him to bulletin board systems, online community spaces that dominated before the rise of the internet.

Bates was “bit by the bug,” he said, and soon changed his major to computer information systems.

After completing his degree, Bates bounced between computer support roles before becoming IT manager at the now-closed law firm of Williams & Anderson. All the while, he was expanding his network, making connections and taking on side gigs under the name, “The Computer Hut.” “While growing that, the law firm introduced me to people at Metropolitan [National] Bank, who ultimately popped the $20,000 question — ‘Hey, could we outsource our IT to you?’ — knowing I had a full-time job,” Bates said. “I guess [I was] smart enough at the time to say yes, and I had no idea how to price it, but we ran with it. The rest is history.”

The Metropolitan partnership proved a pivotal moment not only for the budding IT firm, but for Bates as a small-business owner. On top of leading his team of techs, he would spend his nights taking care of the business side of the operation, including quoting, accounting and all manner of paperwork. The bank grew at a strong clip throughout the 2000s, and the IT firm had several other clients by that point, as well. Eventually, Bates needed OC TO B ER 2 02 3

to recalibrate, moving away from direct service and leaning into his leadership role.

“Probably the best thing I ever did was join a peer group early on,” he said. “In essence, it was a dozen like-minded IT business owners in non-competing geographies who gathered once a quarter to just try to learn how to run a business better.”

Armed with the business knowledge to match his technical know-how, Bates committed himself to growing the firm. Unfortunately, that was the early 2010s, and in just a few years, Metropolitan would be acquired by Simmons Bank. Bates estimated that the bank made up around 35 percent to 40 percent of the firm’s business at that point and described it as a devastating loss.

Still, he would not be deterred.

“We rebounded, and within 18 months, we had replaced the Metropolitan business and had grown by probably 20 or 30 percent,” Bates said. “Then it was kind of off to the races.”

Having already expanded into northwest Arkansas, the firm acquired other groups to open locations in Texarkana, Jonesboro and Fort Smith in the years that followed. Just in the last 12 months, Bates estimated that the company added around 20 percent to the team, and he expects continued growth within Pinnacle IT’s existing offices.

“From a revenue standpoint, we’ve almost grown three [times] in seven years,” he said. “We have [had] very high double-digit growth year-in and year-out — some of that, obviously, through acquisition.”

One key development from the Fort Smith acquisition, finalized in 2021, is that it included the name Pinnacle IT. This allowed the company to do business under a more up-to-date moniker than the “very ’80s” Computer Hut following a rebrand this year.

“The connotation of ‘hut’ and just ‘computer’ was something that was a little bit hard to overcome, with regular consumers thinking all we do is work on computers,” added Brian Thomas, director of sales. “It helps out a lot to know that we do much more and in other spaces.”

Thomas, for his part, joined the team in 2020. He met Bates while covering the Computer Hut account as a sales rep for Verizon, and the success of that relationship made working 164

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together an easy choice. Now, with the exception of an open spot in Texarkana, Thomas oversees sales reps in each of Pinnacle IT’s five locations.

“I was always a salesperson in college. I didn’t come from an upbringing with a lot of finances, so I had to find ways to provide while in school,” he said. “I sold cellphones while on campus to students and any adult that would allow me to have time to speak with them.”

Out of college, Thomas jumped into management at Foot Locker before moving to a financial-services role at Alltel. From there, he continued to hone his skills as he moved from an instore position at Alltel to roles with Hewlett Packard, CDW, Verizon, Sprint and Windstream. He worked as a cloud specialist for Ritter Communications before finally landing in his current position. That breadth of experience has proven especially useful given the wide variety of clientele Pinnacle IT serves.

“We have multiple verticals that we work with — educational, financial, construction, health care, real estate,” Thomas said.

“We’ve got the government vertical, and then we have our manufacturing vertical. Ultimately, we want to be able to service those within the work hours that we have to accommodate for good staffing and the operation of that staffing.”

Thomas’ previous work included a specific focus on disaster recovery, which also gives him insight into the increasing pressure companies face from cybersecurity threats.

“Back when I was working for HP, it seemed to be more of, ‘You need to have this in place just in case it happens,’” he said. “Now it’s more like, ‘You should have had this in place because it happened.’ Unfortunately, the threats and the malice and things that are going on really have spiked a lot more.”

Bates echoed this sentiment, adding that companies often fail to get serious about protecting their data and systems until disaster strikes. Complicating matters further is the fact that once a company is ready to tighten up its security, it is usually a game of “hurry up and wait.”

“If you called up any reputable IT firm in Arkansas and they had the ability to do an Office 365 cloud migration starting tomorrow, then there’s probably something wrong with that IT firm,” Bates said. “It takes time to do these projects. There’s usually a backlog, and a lot of people just don’t understand why the security is important until they get scared or until something bad happens.”

Management of that workload is top-of-mind for Director of Operations De’Andre Jackson, who joined Pinnacle IT six years ago after a stint at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. With no signs of a slowdown in demand for the firm’s services anytime soon, Jackson has to be proactive when it comes to managing his teams and keeping Pinnacle IT’s clients protected.

“We have client road maps that we discuss with them to make sure they are set up to have the proper technology in place to run their business effectively and continually,” Jackson said. “We want to make sure we are helping them set their technology strategy and have the proper solutions in place to handle their business needs as they grow or change.”

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IT requires every tech to obtain at least one technical certification per year, Jackson added. The firm also sees to it that clients themselves are up to date with cybersecurity training and workshops designed to improve “cyber hygiene” and make sure that the nuts and bolts of their data protection are not undone by human error.

“In the world of cybersecurity, we are playing catch-up to some degree,” Bates said. “We’ve got tools that will occasionally let us get ahead of things, but generally you are playing defense. That’s where the organizations that do not invest in the tools and invest in the security get caught flat-footed.”

Of course, the firm cannot help everyone, and Pinnacle IT is careful to work with clients that it can most effectively serve. Bates explained that after acquiring the firm in Fort Smith, there was an extended period of “right-sizing.”

“We went through and probably lost two-thirds of the client base in Fort Smith on purpose,” he said. “Now we have a far healthier client base. The clients we do have, we can take far better care of, and the former clients are able to seek help that more aligns with what they want to pay for. It was very time-intensive to go through, but it was a great process to get to the other side of.”

No matter the clientele, the industry or its size, Bates emphasized the tenet that has guided the company since the beginning: service excellence.

“In our world, we just happen to service and provide services around technology,” he said.

“When it really gets down to it, Chris Bates we are problem-solvers. We’re enabling people to run their businesses through the use of technology. It’s amazing. We have clients from pretty much every corner of the state and in every type of vertical you can imagine. In Jonesboro, we have a lot of agri-related businesses. The Lowell area [is] very Walmart-vendor-centric. So even just in the state of Arkansas, Brian Thomas there’s all these different subspecialties that you help people with.

“I harp on service excellence, but that’s really what, for us, it’s all about. Ultimately, if your goal is to deliver service excellence, then it doesn’t really matter what the problem is or what the vertical is. That’s going to lead you down the path to taking care of the business, and they, generally, will be grateful for De’Andre Jackson that and great partners.”

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BUSINESS SERVICES

CUBICLES ARE FOR SQUARES: The Office Revolution

By John Callahan

The Simmons Tower coworking space overlooks downtown Little Rock.

(Photos provided)

T

he stereotypical image of an office is bland and boring, with its gray cubicles, fluorescent lights and walls unadorned save for motivational posters. It’s no surprise that so many people leapt at the opportunity created by the pandemic to leave the office and work from home, but many others were just as eager to return, having found home offices full of distractions.

These experiences, along with the rise of startup entrepreneurs and changing attitudes about how work can be done, have had a profound impact on the places we work. If the first image of an office that comes to mind is that bleak cubicle, then perhaps it’s time to take a look at what the modern office has to offer.

When it comes to office buildings in Arkansas, there are none more iconic than Simmons Bank Tower. The tallest building in the state at 547 feet and the centerpiece of the Little Rock skyline, the tower has 40 floors containing some 623,000 square feet of rentable space, which is managed and leased by OC TO B ER 2 02 3

Kelley Commercial Partners.

“Entergy is really our anchor tenant here in the building,” said Brandon Sheard, commercial real estate agent at KCP. “They are the majority owner of the building and actually occupy over a quarter of it. Beyond that, we have tenants in the building ranging from 200 square feet up to 60,000 square feet, so we have a variety of spaces from one- or two-employee businesses up to 500-employee businesses.”

With more than 100 properties under its management in Arkansas and nearby states, KCP is intimately familiar with what it takes to keep a traditional office competitive in today’s market.

“Office buildings, particularly those that kept their head above water over the last decade, the buildings that have done well have been able to provide amenities for their tenants,” Sheard said.

Simmons Tower, for example, provides far more to its tenants than a water cooler and a coffee pot. The lower floors of 166

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the building include restaurants, a cafe, a bank, a barber shop and a free gym for tenants. An employee can grab a coffee, work off some energy, socialize with coworkers outside the workspace and even handle some of their financial needs, all with just a quick elevator ride — a remarkably quick one at that. The tower compensates for being the tallest in the state by having what may be one of the fastest elevators in Arkansas.

Many other companies and office buildings have recognized the need for greater amenities in order to coax employees back from their home offices, whether that be retail options like those at Simmons Tower or something as simple as an expanded break room and recreational opportunities such as ping-pong tables.

“I think some businesses just realized that they operate best and most efficiently when they have employees in the office,” Sheard said. “Ultimately, I see the office market being very similar to what brick-and-mortar retail has gone through over the past two decades. Fifteen years ago, when e-commerce started to become a big thing, everybody thought it would be the death of brick-andmortar retail. It’s definitely been impacted by e-commerce, but it hasn’t been ended by it.

“As a matter of fact, a lot of brick-and-mortar retailers that have learned to evolve with e-commerce and work with it have continued to thrive. I think office buildings are going to be very similar. A decade ago, a lot of folks thought that office buildings would eventually just become empty and obsolete, and that has happened to a lot of buildings around the country, but many of them have continued to do well. Simmons Tower has maintained an office occupancy between 82 percent and 92 percent since prior to the pandemic, so we’ve done really well in terms of keeping our tenants happy and keeping the employees of our tenants happy.”

Those businesses that find they function best in the office are often those that require a healthy amount of collaboration between employees, he said, and their workspaces are shifting to better accommodate and encourage collaboration. Many such companies have moved away from “cube farms,” where employees are packed in with minimal room, to more spacious and open areas ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

that still allow each employee to have their own space. Others have transitioned to larger collaborative areas with a number of offices or desks assigned to no one in particular, but open to whoever may need them.

Businesses for whom a traditional office building may still be the best choice include “any businesses that rely on collaborative team effort on a day-to-day basis. Businesses that meet face-to-face with clients and need a space where they can sit down for consultation or appointments,” Sheard said. “Some businesses may not need a traditional retail space, but they need office space to show off equipment, so we have a lot of tenants that may only have two or three offices in their space, and the rest of it is an open floor plan that they use as a showroom.

“Also, regional businesses and national businesses where you’ve got folks in offices around the country, particularly with territory managers or regional managers who travel on a regular basis and need an office to sit down and work when they’re in a local market.

So you may only have 20 employees locally, but if you’ve got three or four folks traveling in once a month, it’s nice for them to be able to come into an office where they can see their teams. They’re obviously not going to go to people’s homes to sit down and work.”

In addition to the significant changes that many traditional office buildings have undergone, a relatively new option has Brandon Sheard been swiftly growing in popularity and availability: coworking spaces, in which an office is shared among workers from different companies. Even before the pandemic, Simmons Tower was home to two “executive floors” composed entirely of such coworking spaces, where smaller businesses are able to lease an area as small as 300 square feet rather than a 1,200-square-foot traditional office.

“The location is great,” said Brooke Sunwall, who works on one of the executive floors as an agency business consultant in the office of Ronald Hendrix with Farmers Insurance. “It also makes a very good appearance when we have visitors or meetings. The amenities are great and very convenient when it comes to parking, the ability to reserve large conference rooms and support from the management company when needed.”

Another major office building that has gone for a hybrid approach to traditional and coworking options is Ledger in Bentonville. Opened in late 2022, Ledger has staked its claim by bringing to northwest Arkansas a singular suite of amenities, the most visible and unique of which is its status as the only bikeable office building in the world. An employee who works at Ledger can stop by the bike-thru window of the coffee shop on the first floor, then ride their bike to their upper floor office.

Only the first two floors of the building are open so far, with the first floor dedicated to amenities, bookable space and meeting rooms. The second floor is split between standard offices and coworking areas. This model has proven highly successful, with the second floor reaching 100 percent occupancy just three months after opening.

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The Ledger in Bentonville (left) and The Nest in Little Rock were designed to fit specific needs.

The building’s third floor is set to open in January 2024 with a 50-50 split between traditional offices and shorter-term coworking offices, as well as two podcast rooms. The fourth floor will be a full tenant, and the fifth floor is planned to be either another 50-50 split or closer to 70-30, as the situation demands. This floor will also include a greater number of meeting rooms, since the Ledger has seen a need for even more than the 31 bookable meeting rooms it has already.

“What we offer the home office worker is a respite or retreat from their day-to-day space. We offer day passes and meeting rooms that they can book on demand, so there doesn’t need to be any plan involved,” said Mary Best, Ledger’s director of operations. “They Mary Best can show up any day on a whim and get to work here. The coworking office is on our second floor, and when we say coworking, we are really meaning flexible. While we do offer the product line of people sharing workspace, with over 200,000 square feet in our building, it’s hard to say that you’re really sharing too much space. It’s strategically placed in phone booths (small individual booths with noise canceling), banquettes, hot-desk work zones and dedicated desks, so you really don’t feel like you have to tag in and tag out. You’re never competing for space here.”

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What makes the coworking spaces at Ledger so flexible is the commitment model. Rather than signing a five-to-10 year lease for a traditional office, a small business owner who doesn’t know where their business will be in the next five years can make a much shorter commitment of up to a year.

“We had been situated in the same location for over a decade, and I could see that both the team and I would benefit from a change of scenery,” said Troy O’Neill, team lead for the Walmart and Sam’s Club management team for Reser’s Fine Foods.

“After considering what might be deemed ‘traditional’ office spaces, it struck me: I needed to break away from my comfort zone and start thinking how I could assist the company in positioning itself and our team locally for the future.”

He settled on a totally open collaborative space at Ledger with no individual offices, and his team unanimously agreed to the change.

“Here we are, approaching one year later, and what a fantastic decision it has been,” O’Neill said. “The workspace itself, despite being a modest 600 square feet with an open concept, required some adjustment.

However, I believe this change has brought our group closer and enhanced our connections in every aspect. It’s been a somewhat humbling experience for me. I had thought I knew a lot, but I’ve come to realize that I’ve learned more by simply listening to conversations about the business than I ever could have imagined.”

Numerous other offices have invested 168

solely into coworking and often bring with them a particular niche. One such case is The Nest in the SoMa neighborhood of downtown Little Rock. It was founded by two female business-owners, Erin Hohnbaum and Natalie Ghidotti, and meant solely for women.

“Erin and I were in a CEO group called Vistage together, and we were the only two women,” said Ghidotti, who also owns Little Rock-based public relations firm Ghidotti Communications. “I had been the only woman in the group, and I recruited Erin because she owns E.Leigh’s boutique. We started talking about some ideas we both had at different points in our lives, and realized we had the same vision — to have a physical place where women could come together and learn from each other and grow.”

Located in what Natalie Ghidotti was once a laundromat, The Nest has been designed to create a warm and comforting environment, reminiscent in some ways of a coffee shop, but more conducive to all-day working. Members can also come in for just a few hours to handle whatever work they need and make use of amenities like printers, a conference room, a soundproof booth and even a patio to get some work done outside when the weather is nice.

“The patio has been really popular in our rentals,” Ghidotti said. “That’s someARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

thing that Erin and I didn’t really foresee and wasn’t the main business goal. We’re definitely a coworking space and have memberships to cowork, but people rent The Nest all the time because it’s just a beautiful space. We’ve had everything from corporate events to people renting the meeting room for business meetings to baby showers.”

The members who stay with The Nest long-term tend to fall into two groups, Ghidotti said. The first are the entrepreneurs and creatives who normally work from home but do not want to do so every day and need somewhere besides their dining room table.

The second group is those who work on hybrid schedules, working at the company office a few days of the week, but preferring to have a dedicated workspace on one or more of their days to work from home.

“I work remotely but am an extrovert,” said Sunny Baker, senior director of programs and policy at National Farm to School Network. “I thrive on being around people. The Nest has been such a nourishing space for me as a human and as an employee. I have a lovely home office, but also two loud little girls! I also get more out of The Nest than just a space to work: I love connecting with the other women here, sharing a lunch or a professional development opportunity. It’s comfortable and creates a great environment for getting stuff done. It’s also nice to have a space meant for women.

That has been a unique experience that I am really enjoying.”

Another example of a coworking office filling a specific niche is the Arnold Innovation Center in Conway. Open only to entrepreneurs and small businesses, the AIC is run by The Conductor, a public-private partnership between the University of Central Arkansas and Fayetteville’s Startup Junkie, and is sponsored by Conway Corp.

“We wanted to create a space for tech-enabled scalable businesses in the central Arkansas area to be able to start and grow,” said Grace Rains, executive director of The Conductor. “So how do we create a center of resources and community space where entrepreneurs can come together, can learn The Arnold Innovation Center from each other, can has been a popular addition to interact, where we can downtown Conway. lower barriers to entrepreneurship and really grow that economic opportunity here in central Arkansas? Because when you look at the economic development play here, 65.1 percent of net new-job growth comes from small business owners. So there’s a lot of job growth opportunities when you start talking about cultivating entrepreneurship, especially in the hub of downtown.”

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The AIC is housed in what was formerly known as Conway Town Hall, and the building is leased to The Conductor for a nominal fee. Between this and further sponsorship, the AIC, named for former Conway Corp CEO Richie Arnold, is able to offer memberships starting at just $25 a month. That small monthly fee is mainly used to provide snacks, coffee and lunches for members.

“It’s about 11,000 square feet. We have a large coworking space downstairs and eight reservable meeting spaces of all sizes and configurations, everything from a conference room to soft seating to a one-on-one type room that our members can reserve in advance,” Rains said. “We have a coworking kitchen with plenty of snacks, a fridge and an oven. We have mail slots so they can use this as their business address if they would like, printing services and lockers they can reserve if they want to keep stuff here. Then we have a pretty large 75-person event space where we do all of our workshops and events, which members can also reserve at a reduced cost.”

The upstairs also includes individual rented desks for solo entrepreneurs to have their own space and larger leased ofGrace Rains fices for small companies of roughly two to five employees who have outgrown the downstairs space. All of these options include access to the center’s amenities and to The Conductor’s team and resources.

“A big benefit that we’ve seen from the AIC is getting that crossmember collaboration,” Rains said. “Entrepreneurship a lot of times isn’t a team sport, and it’s very isolating, especially with solo entrepreneurs. So they’re able to build a community of people here that a lot of the time are seeing the same issues they’re having.

They’ve gone through the same struggles, and they can learn and grow together. They’ve been able to create a network of support and a community, which has been beautiful to watch.”

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SPORTS

Grappling

Little Rock wrestler Tyler Brennan finished fifth in his weight division at the 2022 Pac 12 championships.

(Photo courtesy of Little Rock Athletics)

With

History

Greg Hatcher and the rise of Arkansas wrestling

By Todd Traub

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restling may be considered the oldest sport in the world, but it is relatively new to Arkansas.

Given its growth, however, it seems like wrestling has been in the state a lot longer than it has.

In 15 years, Arkansas has become the first state to sanction wrestling from high school to the collegiate NAIA and NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III levels and is among the first states to sanction the sport for girls. Beginning with 44 in 2008, there are now more than 100 boys and girls wrestling programs combined at the high school level.

“I come from Oklahoma, which Oklahoma has had wrestling for maybe 120 years, and we have more colleges wrestling in our state than Oklahoma does,” said Pat Smith, the collegiate legend at Oklahoma State who heads the Arkansas

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Wrestling Academy. “That is mind-boggling.”

Pushed by businessman Greg Hatcher and a coalition of allies, Arkansas has embraced a sport that can be traced at least to ancient Greece, if not further. The timeline for Arkansas is not quite as long, and according to some, is remarkably short.

“If it wasn’t for Greg Hatcher, we would never have been moving at this pace,” Smith said.

HATCHER Arkansas and Mississippi were the only states that did not have scholastic wrestling when Hatcher began his efforts to grow the sport in 2005.

“If you look across the country, only the SEC does not have wrestling,” Hatcher said. “Football and basketball dominated, and they didn’t have it. Plus, we were a small state.”

Hatcher was a nine-time varsity letterman at Michigan’s Alma College, where he graduated in 1983. As a senior, he was named All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in wrestling and was a member of three hall-of-fame wrestling teams, two hall-of-fame baseball teams and, thanks to his multiple sports, six MIAA championship teams.

In 1984, he joined his family in Arkansas, where his father, Joe, had moved to become president of Hendrix College in 1981. Greg Hatcher worked for a computer company and enjoyed the South, but he missed sports and returned north. After a stint as baseball graduate assistant at Notre Dame and as a summer coach, he quickly returned to Arkansas to work for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

“I realized there wasn’t anything wrong with Arkansas,” Hatcher said. “I just missed the sports.”

A public relations major in college, Hatcher knew he had a flair for salesmanship, and in 1990, he founded the Hatcher Agency in Little Rock, now the state’s largest health insurance provider.

Hatcher also established the Mighty Bluebirds in Little Rock to create athletic opportunities for kids. The organization now has soccer fields, baseball fields and a gym.

By 2005, the Mighty Bluebird wrestling team was already beginning to build a reputation through competition. “When the Mighty Bluebirds rolled up at tournaments out of state, people knew who we were,” said Hunter Jones, a four-time state champion at Little Rock Christian who wrestled collegiately at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia.

Then Hatcher got a call from northwest Arkansas businessman Don Schuler (not to be confused with National Wrestling Hall Of Famer Don Shuler), who ran a wrestling club.

“He called me one day and said, ‘I heard you were a college wrestler. We sure need high school wrestling in this state,’” Hatcher said. “‘Somebody said I ought to call you.’”

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THE GROUNDWORK Some of the momentum behind wrestling stemmed from established strongholds like Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, all of which border Arkansas.

“There was an influx in northwest Arkansas as far as parents moving into the state and bringing their kids from some of the northern states that had wrestling,” said Don Brodell, associate executive director of the Arkansas Activities Association. “The interest just grew.”

Schuler and Hatcher began calling AAA officials, and Hatcher was eventually told 16 schools needed to have programs to get wrestling sanctioned.

In 2007, Hatcher contacted Smith, who had recently stepped down as assistant coach at Oklahoma State, and asked him to help start a wrestling academy.

“What intrigued me was doing something off the beaten track, taking a road less traveled,” Smith said, “and that was coming to Arkansas and starting wrestling in a state that had no wrestling.”

From a famed wrestling family — Smith’s brother John is the only American to win six consecutive world and Olympic championships — Pat had dominated Oklahoma high school wrestling to the tune of three state championships and two state tournament outstanding wrestler awards. His real claim to fame came at Oklahoma State, when he became the first wrestler to win four individual NCAA Division I championships, finishing with a 1215-2 record and a school record 98 consecutive victories.

A National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee like his brother, Smith finished second in the 1995 U.S. Freestyle Nationals and the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials, was a six-time U.S. Freestyle All-American and took the bronze medal when he represented the U.S. at the 1997 Wrestling World Cup. Smith then assisted his brother, head coach at Oklahoma State, and helped the Cowboys win four consecutive team titles from 2003 to 2006.

“Pat was the first four-time NCAA champion in history. There’s only five,” Hatcher said. “So all of a sudden, we had the equivalent

Hatcher (right) convinced Smith, an NCAA champion wrestler, to come to Arkansas and run his wrestling academy.

(Photo provided)

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“We felt like wrestling builds character. It was something our board of directors bought into and felt that this was something good that would be effective for our kids.” of a Michael Jordan or a LeBron James coaching.”

Smith arrived in Arkansas on Aug. 15, 2007, and the Arkansas Wrestling Academy opened on Sept. 1.

“I thought it would bring some notice around the country.

‘Why is Pat Smith moving to Arkansas?’ And it did,” Smith said of his reputation. “With Greg, as well, and what Greg was doing for the state.”

Hatcher joined forces with David Bazzel, the former Arkansas Razorback and media personality who helped found the Little Rock Touchdown Club and the Broyles Award, awarded to college football’s top assistant. The two promised to buy mats at about $10,000 apiece for the first 20 wrestling schools. Hatcher had to borrow and raise money, but then the salesman in him went to work using his “fear of loss” theory.

“If you come home and your wife says, ‘Take out the trash or you’re getting a divorce,’ you take out the trash,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher dangled the idea of free wrestling mats in much the same way.

“When I would call a school administrator, I would say, ‘I understand you’re interested in wrestling. I’ll buy the mat, but you’ve got 30 days to make up your mind. If you wait 30 days, I’m going to give it to the next school.’”

State tournaments at the club level had been held since 2006, but there were continuing wrangles over how many teams the AAA required before sanctioning wrestling. The number seemed to creep upward during meetings until someone proposed a sunset provision stipulating wrestling would be sanctioned when there were 40 teams.

Hatcher had 37, not counting club teams, with seven committed for the next year, but the AAA wasn’t completely satisfied until he produced the paper agreement that stressed the words “committed teams.”

On June 4, 2008, wrestling became a sanctioned high school sport for the 2008-2009 season.

“They sanctioned it right then,” Hatcher said. “The AAA was actually pretty good to work with. We’ve had a great relationship with the AAA ever since.”

To this day, Hatcher and Smith still run the high school state tournament through the Arkansas Wrestling Association, which

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Hatcher also founded.

“He has been supportive and smart enough to say, ‘Let the wrestlers handle this,’” Hatcher said of Brodell. “He’s given us control over the state tournament. We have guidelines, but he helps us. He also says, ‘Hey, handle it.’”

This school year marks the 16th sanctioned state wrestling tournament, held in February. Girls wrestling was added in 2019.

“We felt like wrestling builds character,” Brodell said. “It was something our board of directors bought into and felt that this was something good that would be effective for our kids.”

FROM SCRATCH With 14 weight classes ranging from 106 pounds to 285, wrestling was a way to increase opportunities. A 106-pound student who might struggle in football could become an all-star wrestling other 106-pounders.

“I think as a kid, I wasn’t strong, just wasn’t physically strong, and I think the first time I got a win, that was really interesting for me,” said Tyler Mann, who became Arkansas’ first All-American while wrestling at Little Rock Central.

“You’re not too small; you’re not too big. Everybody has a size that fits,” Hatcher said, “and there’s no politics like when you’re trying to be the quarterback on the football team or the point guard on the basketball team. No one determines whether you play or not.”

With the free mats, the sport was also seen as economical.

Shoes, headgear and singlets together cost just over $100, while a pair of shoulder pads for one football player costs around $200. Facilities were simply any room in a school where a mat could be thrown down, from auxiliary gyms to large classrooms or cafeterias.

There were 460 athletes wrestling for 40 teams in the first sanctioned state tournament won by Bentonville at the Jack Stephens Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in February 2009.

“Greg, with his generosity, moved this thing a lot faster than anybody could have done — myself or anybody else,” Smith said.

It seemed natural that colleges, especially the state’s small colleges, would follow suit. Schools need ways to drive enrollment and provide activities that will appeal to students and keep them in the state.

“I think I’ve helped 14 colleges add wrestling,” Hatcher said.

“It’s an easy sell to the president because it brings in more students, and the president gets paid to bring in more students. If it doesn’t make its enrollment, a school is in trouble.”

Ouachita Baptist was the first to sign up and was followed by schools like Arkansas Baptist, Central Baptist, Williams Baptist, the University of the Ozarks and Lyon College, which also became the first state college to add women’s wrestling.

In just their third year in 2014, Ouachita Baptist’s men turned out NCAA Division II All-Americans Josh Myers, Dallas Smith, Bobby Williams, Nate Rodriquez and Garrett Evans. In 2021, Lyon’s Jasmine Hernandez won an NAIA national championship in

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Counter-clockwise from top: The Trojan wrestling program’s fieldhouse bears Hatcher’s name (photo courtesy of Little Rock Athletics); inside the Arkansas Wrestling Academy (photo provided); Little Rock’s Josiah Hill placed fourth in his weight division at the 2022 Pac 12 championships (photo courtesy of Little Rock Athletics).

the 123-pound class, and she and teammate Kelani Corbett were named NAIA All-Americans.

With the high school state tournament held at UA Little Rock, the school and wrestling already had a connection, which paved the way for it to become the first NCAA Division I program in Arkansas. In 2018, Neil Erisman, a Kansas high-school state champion and Big 12 champion at Oklahoma State, came to the Trojans from a four-year stint as North Carolina head coach.

He knew Hatcher’s efforts and was intrigued by the challenge.

“I felt like this was a young man’s job to take,” Erisman said.

“Someone who was very ambitious, knew about recruiting.

Somebody who was stupid enough not to know how hard this is.”

He had one year to recruit a team and he hired an assistant in 2019, when the program began competition with a 26-man team in the Power 5 Pac-12 Conference.

“We jumped right into the fire,” Erisman said.

Little Rock did not win a dual meet at all the first season but had some individual winners and got a wrestler into the Pac-12 Tournament finals. These days, Erisman said, Little Rock wins four or five duals a year, has landed back-to-back top-15 recruiting classes and has signed the “pound-for-pound” No. 8 fresh-

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man recruit in the country.

The program has sent wrestlers to the national tournament since the program began, plays host to notables like Stanford and Oklahoma, and has a chance, Erisman said, to crack the top 25 rankings.

“We were the first program in 23 or 25 years to start from scratch and do it right,” Erisman said.

THE ACADEMY The Arkansas Wrestling Association was already established by the time Smith arrived. The association was important to lending material and organizational support to programs, running the state tournaments, and providing a governing body.

“Now we have a board. Now we’re under USA Wrestling,” Smith said. “Our youth wrestling and our high school wrestling, which is outside the AAA season, [and] all the kids in the state are under USA Wrestling.”

USA Wrestling, located in Colorado Springs, — home of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center — is the governing body for the Olympic wrestling program.

Hatcher realized the state’s relatively inexperienced talent pool

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needed a continuing wrestling education, with summer meets, training and national tournaments. That was where Smith came in when Hatcher tapped him to run the academy at the Bluebird complex on Pinnacle Valley Road.

The Bluebirds are for youth in kindergarten through eighth grade, and the academy is for high school athletes. The Bluebirds have an approximately 16-tournament season capped by the Arkansas Youth State Championship at Barton Coliseum in the spring. Last year’s event drew a record-breaking 977 wrestlers.

“We jumped about 300 from previous years,” said Smith, who also coaches the Bluebirds. Smith estimated there are about 80 athletes who train at the academy and 50 who take private lessons.

“The high school kids wrestle for their schools during the season, and after the season’s over, then they come to me and wrestle with me during the spring and summer,” Smith said. “They work on technique year-round.”

Inexperienced coaches of fledgling high school programs also took instruction at the academy. Central Arkansas Christian won consecutive state titles under Keith Almond — the second coming the first year wrestling was sanctioned — after learning the moves under Smith.

Mann recalled his dad taking him to the academy not long after it had opened and remembers just seven wrestlers, including Hatcher’s son, Layne.

“It was this little gym, and there was one mat. It was hilarious,” Mann said.

The programs began turning the state’s young wrestlers into legitimate champions. In addition to Jones’ multiple state titles and Mann’s landmark All-American honor, Layne Hatcher — who wore out the scoreboards as quarterback for Pulaski Academy’s state championship teams — was also a four-time wrestling state champion from 2015 to 2018 and got scholarship offers from Oklahoma State and North Carolina. He chose to focus on football and is currently the starting quarterback at Ball State.

“There’s the old quote ‘Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy,’” Layne Hatcher said. “That definitely applies to every sport. My hardest football workout was my easiest wrestling workout.”

Workouts can burn 1,000 calories an hour, Greg Hatcher said. If a kid of any shape or size has the fortitude to wrestle, they will benefit.

“I’ve seen kids come in pudgy and chunky and leave a year later ripped. It makes you mentally and physically tough and gives you confidence,” he said.

THE GIRLS Girls’ wrestling may not have been sanctioned until 2019, but that did not mean girls were not wrestling in Arkansas. They just wrestled the boys.

Beebe’s Destiny Nunez became the first female state champion in 2015 when she topped Maumelle’s Aiden Menchaca, the No. 1

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seed, 5-2, in the 1A-5A tournament.

“I don’t want to just be compared to girls,” Nunez said at the time. “I want to be compared to good wrestlers.”

Brodell said sanctioning the girls was not done out of any desire to be seen as progressive or altruistic; it was simply time.

“It seemed like the only thing we heard from the parents and coaches was, ‘When are we going to start girls wrestling?’” Brodell said.

“When I started, my wife said, ‘You are not having our daughter wrestle,’ but that’s because she didn’t want her to wrestle with boys,” Hatcher said. “Once you have women against women, that’s a good scenario.”

Kristi Mann, the Arkansas state chair of USA Wrestling, became involved the old-fashioned way, by driving her sons, Tanner, Tyler and Tucker, to practice in whatever sport they were playing.

A military wife and former teacher, Mann took over one of her son’s soccer teams when it had no coach.

Her husband, Travis, an Army National Guard officer, was coaching football at Little Rock Hall High School and was one of the first to raise his hand in support of wrestling at the AAA meetings. In 2011, he flew from Germany on a 48-hour pass to see Tanner and Tyler, the only time they wrestled in the same state tournament.

Describing herself as a “team mom on steroids,” Kristi Mann continued to step up when needed to the point where she is now one of the state’s chief proponents of wrestling in general and girls’ wrestling in particular, lobbying for the sport in Washington, D.C. Mann began taking teams and coaches to the USA Championships in Fargo, N.D., every year and later to dual meets in Tulsa, Okla. Tanner won in Fargo, a first for Arkansas, and she remembers correcting people who thought the team was from Arizona or Alabama.

“We threw singlets on the boys and threw them out there,” Mann said of the early days.

Mann accompanied 18 wrestlers to that first USA Championship and more than 70 make the trip now. When girls wrestling was sanctioned, a tear-jerking moment for Mann, she began taking girls teams on the road. She estimates participation has grown from 88 to 300 the past two years.

When it comes to women in wrestling’s leadership roles, Mann referred to herself as the “Lone Ranger.” She recalled her first USA Wrestling leadership convention at Colorado Springs, at which men’s wallets were provided as gifts on the assumption that no women would be present.

When another woman finally attended the convention, Mann struck up a friendship that led to her attending a Washington lobbying effort by the group Wrestle Like a Girl, which led to further discussions with lawmakers. Last year, she advocated for a female wrestler from Alabama, which had not yet sanctioned girls wrestling, and convinced Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Ala-

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bama, an Arkansas native and the former head football coach at Ole Miss and Auburn, to support sanctioning the girls.

“I’ve never wrestled on a mat, but I can wrestle at a table for things I think are correct,” Mann said.

Mann called Nunez and Pulaski Academy’s Riley Holman “pioneers” for their state championship victories over boys.

The “rock star,” she said, is Bryant’s Presley Givens, now in her freshman year wrestling at Oklahoma City University.

Givens, last year’s 6A state champion in the 132-pound division, is Arkansas’ first triple crown champion in folkstyle (used at the collegiate and high school level), freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling and was undefeated her junior season. She placed twice at the state level and was a two-time qualifier at Fargo, a two-time member of the Women’s National Dual Team and an Adidas AllAmerican.

“She has aspirations of circling back around to being a coach or an official with us here in Arkansas,” Mann said. “That excites me the most.”

THE NEXT WAVE Arkansas may not have the number of wrestlers an Oklahoma or Iowa has, but Arkansas wrestling is recognized now.

Local college programs are competing nationally for recruits as well as finding more quality wrestlers at home, local athletes are being recruited to programs outside the state, and local schools are putting out All-Americans and winning at the national level.

“Arkansas has shown in every sport that they have top-tier athletes, five-star athletes in every sport. It’s time to start looking at how we do that in wrestling,” Erisman said. “I believe we’re starting on that path, and I believe the more we do that, the less I have to go out of state to find wrestlers, and that’s my ultimate goal.”

Gone are the days when an assistant high school baseball coach might be tapped to coach wrestling, ask for outside volunteer help or have to get coached up at the academy.

“Every school has a coach that wrestled somewhere now,” Hatcher said.

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Clockwise from left: Bryant’s Preskley Givens now wrestles for Oklahoma City University; Hatcher and Kristi Mann at his induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame; Tyler Mann was a four-time state champ at Little Rock Central and an NCAA regional champion at Ouachita (photos provided).

Perhaps most importantly, the next wave is starting to arrive.

“We’re the young bucks,” Tyler Mann said, “and we’re coming back.”

Mann, who has pursued acting and currently works at the Hatcher Agency, wants to get his physical education degree and, like Givens, coach in Arkansas. They and others like them represent a secure future for Arkansas wrestling, since former youth wrestlers are becoming old enough to coach or have kids who will soon be wrestling someday.

Just as it is growing its own athletes and coaches, Arkansas is growing its own Hatcher and Smith families, those who someday will not remember a time when the state did not have wrestling.

“It’s very much a generational sport, so when you think about it, the athletes that have graduated and gone through, most of them are just now having kids,” Erisman said.

Hatcher, Smith and Erisman rank Arkansas more or less in the middle of the national pack, behind the long-time wrestling states but ahead of many others, which, they say, is not bad for 15 years.

It seems no one is mistaking Arkansas for Arizona at tournaments anymore.

“We just get better every year because the knowledge and the people that have wrestled in the past keep helping the wrestling in the future,” Hatcher said.

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THE LAST WORD

KEEP YOUR HEAD

ABOVE THE MUD

By John Callahan

E

lection year is fast approaching, meaning that one of America’s favorite pastimes will be back in full force — the time-honored tradition of mudslinging.

As any up-to-date American might gather by following the news on TV or social media: The other side is made up of the worst people yet to walk the earth. Democrats are evil communists whose exploits would make Stalin blush, while Republicans are fascist monsters who grind orphans into paste.

Things are worse than they have ever been — worse than the Civil War or Great Depression —and the very fabric of American society is unraveling before our eyes because that guy over there does not agree with me.

Of course, none of that is true. It would be wrong to say that everything is fine. Political tensions are certainly running high, perhaps even the highest they have been in decades. Yet a cool head and a quick look at history always serve to reveal that, all things considered, we are in pretty good shape. There has been no second Civil War, and even an economic crisis caused by a global pandemic came nowhere close to the depths of the Great Depression.

So why do people seem convinced that things are so uniquely terrible? Part of it is simply humanity’s short memory. Who cares for the past? What is happening right now is much more important.

Most of it comes from the severe political polarization of today. It is us versus them. The other side of the aisle is our sworn enemy. They seek to destroy everything we love, and there can be no compromise with the likes of them. The truth is, this mindset is likely doing more damage to our nation than is the party with which one might disagree.

As it turns out, those who have a different political opinion from you are not monsters out of a storybook bent on destroying the American way of life just because they want to watch the world burn. They are people — nothing more, nothing less.

They all share the same basic desires that you do. They want to be respected; they want to have a roof over their head and food in their belly; they want to be able to take care of the ones they love; and they want to live their lives the way they see fit.

The only difference between them and you is the paths you each follow to reach those goals.

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We are all free to have disagreements over the paths we want to take, and that is the beauty of democracy. Demonizing the opposition does nothing but help the people who are already in power stay there. It prevents us from looking at problems from different perspectives and applying nuance. It plays into our confirmation bias, leading us to blame our problems on the “enemy” rather than their real causes or even to invent problems where there are none.

Things are not the worst they have ever been, but democracy always requires protection and upkeep. Polarization and demonization of the political opposition is not how you save democracy — it is how you destroy it. The only thing that is going to fix the very real problems we face are level-headed and wellinformed citizens willing to compromise to get the things that all people want.

Common advice is to not second-guess yourself, but in 2024, you should do exactly that. Do not just accept that rage-inducing headline; dig deeper, and see if it leaves out a crucial bit of context. Place yourself in the shoes of the other side, and figure out why they think the way they do, remembering that they want to see this state and this country get better, just like you do. Try getting your news from different sources to break yourself out of any echo chambers into which you may have unknowingly fallen, and listen to the arguments made by political opponents without dismissing them out of hand.

It is clear to see that the upcoming election year is going to be a messy one. There is going to be fearmongering, disinformation and conspiracy theories like we have all come to expect. Do not buy it. Keep your head above the mud, and focus on real, practical improvements, not whatever newest outrage has been cooked up to distract you.

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