Little Rock’s Premier Leasing Specialists

Dorcas K. Prince Owner Low’s Bridal

Dorcas Prince and her husband, Stan, are the owners of Low’s Bridal in Brinkley. Low’s Bridal, located in the historic and restored Great Southern Hotel building, is one of the largest bridal shops in the United States and is the goto bridal gown destination in the South. Low’s Bridal began with Prince’s mother and six dresses in a room above the family pharmacy. Prince initially intended to become a pharmacist like her father, but she joined the other family business instead. Over four decades later, the appointment-only shop now offers more than 2,500 gowns in sizes 0-34 –one of the largest selections in the country – and handles about 5,000 weddings annually.

Gary Proffitt Vice President of Operations GES, Inc.

Gary Proffitt is vice president of operations for GES Inc, the company that operates Edwards Food Giant and Edwards Cash Saver stores across central and eastern Arkansas. After graduating from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Proffitt initially worked in various management positions for other supermarkets before moving into retail counseling for independent stores. While in this role, GES Founder Oral Edwards and his son, Steve, hired Proffitt to oversee operations for the Edwards brands. After more than two decades as vice president, Proffitt has helped the company thrive and open new locations at an impressive rate.

Susan Reynolds Vice President, Sales Associate The Janet Jones Company

Susan Reynolds is vice president and sales associate at The Janet Jones Company. She is one of the top real estate agents both at the company and in Arkansas. Reynolds has been in real estate for over 25 years, earning her real estate license at age 18. In her roles at the company, Reynolds assists in running the business, helping agents in the office, training new agents and working on strategic planning. She especially enjoys motivating, encouraging and teaching new agents. Alongside administrative work, Reynolds lists and sells homes. She comes from a long line of salespeople, including her mother, Janet Jones. Over the years, The Janet Jones Company has consistently ranked as the top real estate agency in Central Arkansas, and the firm remains locally, family-owned, and proudly independent. Reynolds has served on the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce boards and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary. Numerous publications have recognized her, including Arkansas Money & Politics, Arkansas Business, At Home in Arkansas, and others.

Todd Rice Principal, Executive Vice President, Brokerage Colliers Arkansas

Todd Rice is an executive vice president and principal at Colliers Arkansas. He is a member of the firm’s executive committee and is responsible for managing the dayto-day operations of the brokerage department. Rice has over 15 years of experience in commercial land analysis and development, commercial mix-use projects, industrial, multifamily and retail representation. Rice was previously a broker with Coldwell Banker Commercial Hathaway Group in Little Rock, where he worked for six years. He was also the co-founder and president of the VanadisCl Development Companies, where he oversaw client development and project management for the company’s multifamily and commercial properties in Arkansas. He attended the University of Arkansas and is a certified commercial investment manager.

Dave Roberts Senior Vice President of Business Development, Director of Planning Crafton Tull

Dave Roberts has been the senior vice president of business development and director of planning for Crafton Tull since 2016. Earlier in his career, Roberts designed zoos for the Little Rock firm MESA before starting his planning and design firm, Roberts & Williams Associates. He managed Roberts & Williams until it merged with Crafton Tull in 2008. Roberts oversees and contributes to various urban design and community redevelopment plans, and he frequently presents at conferences across the Mid-South. Roberts is a Governor’s Advisory Council on Cycling member and serves on the Little Rock Active Transportation Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the Camp Aldersgate board of directors.

Salas Executive Director Entrepreneurship for All Northwest Arkansas

Rodrigo Salas has been the executive director of EforAll since 2021. Salas is the primary fundraiser and spokesperson for EforAll/ EparaTodos and focuses on building relationships within the community to grow the program. He enjoys working with a wide variety of entrepreneurs and seeing their business ideas evolve. Salas worked in marketing and advertising in his early career and was referred to EforAll while mentoring entrepreneurs with Startup Junkie. He loves EforAll’s mission of accelerating economic impact in Northwest Arkansas. Salas received his undergraduate marketing degree from the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico and his MBA from the University of Texas.

Patti Stobaugh Owner, Founder PattiCakes Bakery

Patti Stobaugh is the owner and founder of PattiCakes Bakery. She and her husband, David, are the owners of the Arkansas restaurant staple, Stoby’s. After receiving her accounting degree from Lyon College, Stobaugh worked in corporate accounting and served as the CFO of Arkansas One Call. Leaving the corporate world behind, Stobaugh opened a bakery next to the Russellville Stoby’s location; after the property behind Stoby’s in Conway became available, she moved the operation to Central Arkansas. Stobaugh, a past president of Haven House, has been on the Conway area Chamber of Commerce and, in 2015, was asked to join the board of directors for the Retail Bakers of America.

Steve Straessle Principal Catholic High School for Boys

Steve Straessle has been the principal of Catholic High School for Boys for the last 18 years. A 1988 graduate of the school, Straessle started teaching in 1992 before taking the helm as principal; he continues to teach two classes in addition to his administrative and fundraising duties. He has served as the physical fitness and bowling team coach, yearbook sponsor, alum director and vice principal throughout his time at Catholic High. His numerous accolades include being named DAR Social Studies Teacher of the Year in 1995 and ASPA Administrator of the Year in 2016. Straessle is a member of the Arkansas Activities Association board of directors and serves on the Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation Commission.

Chris Tanner

Co-Owner

Cheers in the Heights, Samantha’s Tap Room & Wood Grill, The Oyster Bar

Chris Tanner and his wife, Samantha, own Cheers in the Heights, Samantha’s Tap Room & Wood Grill and The Oyster Bar. Tanner originally earned a degree in aviation, but soon after, he and his wife turned to catering for extra money. That hobby turned into a full-time job and a career when the couple opened their first restaurant in Little Rock, Cheers in the Heights. In 2016, along with ICU nurse Devin Miller, the couple established the Heart of a Nurse scholarship in honor of their late daughter, Anna Charley Tanner.

Mitsy Tharp

Co-Owner, Realtor Signature Properties

Mitsy Tharp is a realtor and the co-owner of Signature Properties. While helping clients navigate the home selling and buying process, she and her business partner, Holly Driver, are responsible for the daily management of the brokerage and assisting agents in achieving their goals. Tharp received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1992. She has been recognized for her work by publications, including At Home in Arkansas and AY About You, in addition to receiving awards of distinction from the Little Rock Realtors Association. Tharp currently serves on the board of directors for the Arkansas Zoological Foundation and the Little Rock Realtors Association, and she previously served on the UAMS Consortium Board.

Katherine Thomas, RN Owner

Arkansas Aesthetics

Katherine Thomas, RN is the owner of Arkansas Aesthetics, where she works as a master aesthetic injector and aesthetic trainer. Arkansas Aesthetics is the only aesthetic practice in the Southeast, focusing solely on neurotoxins and dermal fillers in all three locations. Thomas is the only injector in the state to be named to the Top 100 Best Injectors in America three years in a row. Thomas started her nursing career in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Before founding Arkansas Aesthetics, she was the vice president of clinical education at medical device company AccuVein. Her favorite part of the job is meeting patients’ needs, some of whom have become her close friends.

Cathy Tuggle Owner, Principal Broker Tuggle Services, Inc.

Cathy Tuggle is the principal broker and owner of Tuggle Services, Inc. DBA Apartment Hunters and Arkansas Suites. Tuggle began her career as a leasing consultant in 1991, and in 1999 she had the opportunity to purchase Apartment Hunters; she started Arkansas Suites one year later. Tuggle holds the Certified Apartment Manager and National Apartment Leasing Professional designations through the National Apartment Association and has over 28 years of experience in the multifamily industry through marketing, training and property management. Tuggle is the chair of the UA Little Rock advisory board and the Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock; she is a former chair for MakeA-Wish Mid-South and AR Kids Read. She currently serves on the UA Little Rock real estate advisory board, the Arvest board of directors, Fifty for the Future, the Little Rock Regional Chamber and is a member of Rotary Club of Little Rock. She is a past president of the Arkansas Apartment Association, Apartments Across America and a past officer of the Institute of Real Estate Management.

Brooke Vines Co-Founder Vines/Brookshire

Brooke Vines is the co-founder of Vines/Brookshire, a media buying and planning company established by Vines and business partner, Bill Brookshire, in 2018. Her goal is to put people first – clients, team members, partners and the audiences her team is trying to communicate with. Her first professional job was at Arkansas Business Publishing Group, where she worked as an ad coordinator. Before joining forces with Brookshire, Vines was the owner of Vines Media, which she founded in 2004. Vines is also active in her community, mentoring other entrepreneurs at the Venture Center and volunteering with organizations including CARTI, Care-Link, Home For Healing, Holy Sews and others.

Keith Weeks President

Gary Houston Electric Company

Keith Weeks has been the president of Gary Houston Electric Company for the past 10 years, having worked his way up under the guidance of founder, Gary Houston. Now with over three decades of experience in the company, Weeks is proud to be part of a hardworking team that continues to provide residents and businesses with crucial electrical contracting services. For 45 years, Gary Houston Electric Company has performed electrical repairs and remodeling for homes, retail spaces, restaurants, offices, warehouses and more.

Shannon Williams

Vice President and Senior Account Manager

CJRW

Shannon Williams is vice president and senior account manager at the advertising agency CJRW. She has three decades of experience in advertising and communications and prefers a team-focused approach to project management.

Williams works with various local, regional, and national clients in her current role to develop and implement marketing campaigns, including Visit Hot Springs, Stamp Out Smoking and others. Williams previously worked as an account executive at Stone Ward and held various positions at Alltel Communications, Inc. A Little Rock native, Williams graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Keith Wingfield

President and Co-Owner

River Rock Builders

Keith Wingfield is the president and co-owner of River Rock Builders, a custom home company specializing in high-performance homes, and is the most active Energy Star® Builder in Central Arkansas. Wingfield is a Certified Graduate Builder, Certified Green Professional and LEED AP. He and his wife, Patty, began building for customers in 1999 after building their home in Little Rock. Patty has since retired, but Wingfield continues to oversee day-to-day operations and ensures that each project is completed with the same quality and sound building principles the company has maintained for over two decades. Wingfield earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and began his career in construction material sales in 1977.