AY About You July 2021 by AY Magazine

join us for

Botox Days July 14-16

SPECIALS DURING BOTOX DAYS: Botox $10 a unit, Juvéderm $200 off a syringe and Voluma buy 2 for the cheeks and get the chin done for FREE ($800 value)* *Please note, due to vendor increase, we will be increasing our Botox to $13 a unit starting August 1st.

*$50 reservation fee required. ™

2200 N Rodney Parham Rd, Ste 200, Little Rock, AR 72212 501.219.8000 / www.littlerockplasticsurgery.com My Passion. Your Results.™

Oaklawn has all you need for the ultimate getaway. Book yours at Oaklawn.com.

A NEW LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT OAKLAWN.COM • 1-800-OAKLAWN

R A C I N G • C A S I N O • H O T E L • S PA • E V E N T C E N T E R • D I N I N G Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.

M Y L A G O S M Y W AY

C AV I A R C O L L E C T I O N S

We Keep People All

Caitlin’s amazing new smile with porcelain veneers

Make 2021 Your Year For The Beautiful...

Over Arkansas Smiling

“People all over Arkansas trust Drs. Lee Wyant and Alyssa Lambert with their smile. With a combined 40 years of experience in providing clinical excellence you know your smile is in good hands. Dr. Wyant is Arkansas’ only Fellowed Cosmetic Dentist. Credentials, experience and caring concern for each individual patient insures that you’ll receive exceptional esthetic results regardless of the challenges presented. Learn more how Drs. Wyant and Lambert can help you have an incredible smile by calling today for your complimentary smile consultation.”

501.819.3608

ACCREDITED FELLOW

COSMETIC SERVICES Porcelain Veneers & Crowns Dental Bonding Zoom® Whitening Invisalign • Dental Implants

C. LEE WYANT, DDS ALYSSA LAMBERT, DDS

16524 Chenal Pkwy Little Rock, AR 72223 501.819.3608 smilearkansas.com

All photos of beautiful smiles created by Drs. Wyant and Lambert.

Smile You Deserve!

WHAT’S INSIDE

Publisher’s Letter Connect Top Events Murder Mystery Arkansas Backstories

10 12 14 174 176

HOME&GARDEN

Home is Where the View Is

FOOD&DRINK

L et Them Eat Cake FMengel ace Behind the Place: Sally 36 Sweet Summer Recipes 38 Cake and Cream Recipes 40 Knives Out 46 Hungry for Change 24 32

ARTS&CULTURE

Erika Thomas

108 The Play’s the Thing 112 From the Ward to the Word 116 Poppin’ Tags 158 Trickle-Up Economics 160 The People Behind Your News:

TRAVEL ARKANSAS 128 Retiring in Arkansas

Ice Cream, Shakes and Cakes List Pg. 28

MENTAL HEALTH

Photo by Jamison Mosley

Born Genius

164

HEALTH 170

Men’s Health

ABOUT YOU

53 2021 Men of Distinction

ON THE COVER Sweet scoops of summertime vibes all around for us this month, courtesy of our friends at Loblolly Creamery. Photo by Jamison Mosley. Read more: Page 32

PCSSD WELL-REPRESENTED AT ARKANSAS GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL Pulaski County Special School District is proud to have 12 students attending Arkansas Governor’s School at Arkansas Tech University this summer. The 42nd annual four-week summer program is a unique experience for rising Arkansas seniors from July 5 - August 1. The students, selected by a committee named by the State Department of Education, will live on the campus of Arkansas Tech University and attend classes in three areas of curriculum. About two-thirds of class time is devoted to the student’s selected discipline, which includes choral music, drama, English/language arts, instrumental music, mathematics, natural science, social science, and visual art. Students also work in general conceptual development and personal and social development. “My expectations for Arkansas Governor’s School are high,” said Connor Keeler, incoming senior at Sylvan Hills High School. “I am so grateful for this opportunity. I expect to strengthen my music abilities and grow as a musician.” “I expect a high effort, high reward experience where my ability to reason and understand the greater social and political structure of the nation (and maybe even the world) will be refined, challenged, and built upon to make mee the most capable version of myself,” said Geronimo Lonzo Mckee, incoming senior at Maumelle High School.

“Being part of Arkansas Governor’s School will take me away from home and provide me with more wisdom and knowledge,” said Kory Putnam, incoming senior at Maumelle High School. “At Arkansas Governor’s School I hope to familiarize myself with concepts that I’ve never heard of before,” said Caleb Smith, incoming senior at Sylvan Hills High School. “I expect to become inspired through the speeches of those who have come before me and accomplish great things. But the thing that I hope to bring back most from Governor’s school is confidence, confidence in myself and my abilities.”

“One thing I hope to bring back to m y school is better acting skills and technical theatre skills,” said Jakobi Oliver, incoming senior at Maumelle High School. Other PCSSD students attending Arkansas Governor’s School this summer: • Eva Casto • Geneva Millikan Maumelle High School - Mathematics Maumelle High School - Drama • Jacob Deneke • Madison Mobley Joe T. Robinson High School - Natural Science Joe T. Robinson High School • Gibbs Kell English/Language Arts Joe T. Robinson High School - Social Science • Olivia O’Quinn • Sydney Littrell Joe T. Robinson High School - Visual Arts Joe T. Robinson High School - Instrumental Music ABOUT PCSSD

About PCSSD Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 25 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927.

501.234.2000

pcssd.org

PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER

Heather Baker hbaker@aymag.com EDITOR

Dustin Jayroe djayroe@aymag.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Mark Carter mcarter@aymag.com

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Lisa Fischer lfischer@aymag.com

FOOD EDITOR

Kevin Shalin kshalin@aymag.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Katie Zakrzewski katie@aymag.com

STAFF WRITER

Emily Beirne ebeirne@aymag.com

ART DIRECTOR

Jamison Mosley jmosley@aymag.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER Rebecca Robertson rrobertson@aymag.com

Dwain Hebda is president of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths in Little Rock. A writer, editor and journalist of some 30 years, his work appears in more than 30 publications in four states. Nebraskan by birth, Southern by the grace of God, he and his wife, Darlene, have four grown children and two lovely dogs.

Janie Jones began her journalism career by writing features for the River Valley & Ozark Edition. After finding her niche as a true crime writer for AY About You, she acted as a consultant for Investigation Discovery. With her husband, she coauthored two books: Hiking Arkansas and Arkansas Curiosities.

Julie Craig began her magazine career while living in New York City as an intern at Seventeen. With fashion and home design as her forte for the past 15 years, Julie is a blogger, writer and editor who has reported stories for Us Weekly and written and photographed New York Fashion Week on her blog, I Heart Heels.

Andrea Patrick has spent most of her childhood and adulthood in Little Rock. She loves the local food scene and believes that we all eat with our eyes first. This led her to a passion for experimenting with recipes, designing and plating at home. Find her on Instagram, @DishedbyDrea.

Angela Forsyth lives in Northwest Arkansas. Her articles have been published in AY About You, Arkansas Money and Politics, Food & Drink, Modern Home Builder, Manufacturing Today, Inside Healthcare, Retail Merchandiser and many more magazines. She’s a happy wife and mom to four kids and a dog.

Jason Pederson spent 20 years as KATV’s “Seven On Your Side” reporter. He now heads up the Office of the Ombudsman for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Jason and his wife, Mary Carol, have two biological children and one bonus son, all now adults. They are long-time members of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock.

DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Kellie McAnulty kmcanulty@aymag.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Lora Puls lpuls@aymag.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Stephanie Wallace swallace@aymag.com Linda Burlingame lindaaymag@aol.com Tonya Higginbotham thigginbotham@aymag.com Mary Funderburg mary@aymag.com Tonya Mead tmead@aymag.com Shasta Ballard sballard@aymag.com

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

Jessica Everson jeverson@aymag.com

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jacob Carpenter ads@aymag.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ginger Roell groell@aymag.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Kaitlin Barger, Sandy Bradley, Casey Crocker, Ian Lyle, Meredith Mashburn, Tony Milligan, Jared Sorrells, Philip Thomas

ADMINISTRATION Casandra Moore admin@aymag.com Vicki Vowell, CEO

TO ADVERTISE:

501-244-9700 or hbaker@aymag.com

TO SUBSCRIBE:

501-244-9700 or aymag.com

Nic Williams, an Arkansas native, is a practicing lawyer and contributor to AY About You. He has developed original recipes for more than half a decade and considers Ina Garten as his inspiration. Most importantly, he’s a proud doggy dad and is grateful for his supportive friends and family.

AY Magazine is published monthly, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3 AY Magazine (ISSN 2162-7754) is published monthly by AY Media Group, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AY Magazine, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $20 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 AY are copyrighted ©2020, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AY should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AY. Please recycle this magazine.

publisher's letter

We All Scream for

Ice Cream

When it’s hot outside, I don’t know a better remedy to beat the heat than a nice, barely beginning to melt bowl (or cone) of ice cream. Blend in some cookies, top it with some candy, or just serve it to me straight — you won’t find a complaint from me, as long as it’s cold, smooth and sweet. If you’re like me — and I think most of you are — then we have whipped up the perfect book for you. The first scoop is this month’s iteration of the AY’s Arkansas Bucket List. It started off as just ice cream, and then we got a little too excited, and turned it into a list of some of our favorite places for ice cream, cakes and shakes. We also went with extra toppings of recipes this month, each fitting the sweet-toothed theme. Nic Williams and Kaitlin Barger concocted a mouthwatering lineup of Nutella Icebox Pie and Strawberry Crepes Flambé. And Sandy Bradley (the Greatest Baker herself ) has shared recipes for Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Ice Cream and a classic Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake. We’ve all been good. We can indulge every now and then, right? This month also includes the latest class of our annual Men of Distinction. It’s a vocationally diverse group of interesting and influential Arkansas men, from financial gurus to home builders, lawyers to truckers — and everything in between. If you haven’t noticed by now, we really love the state of Arkansas here at AY. I mean, really love it. That’s why we’ve got another annual special we’re proud to feature in this issue: Retiring in Arkansas. You’ll hear from Stacy Hurst, Secretary of Parks, Tourism and Heritage, and Joe David Rice, our travel aficionado and former tourism director, and get the lowdown on saving for retirement. Beyond that, there’s plenty of sprinkles as to why our state is among the best for retirees, and some ideas for you and yours when you’re ready to do so. And it wouldn’t be an issue of AY without a few twists and turns here and there. Like, I bet you didn’t think you’d be reading about The Nanny in an issue of our magazine. Well, this month, you will. Daniel Davis, who famously played Niles the Butler in the popular ’90s TV show, is from Arkansas. Our staff writer, Emily Beirne, caught up with him to share his incredible story. Our editor, Dustin Jayroe, tracked down Arkansas’ “Thrift King” (that’s what we’re calling him, anyway), Jason Hayes. He quit his job three years ago to pursue a life of reselling, and now he’s TikTok-famous because of it. This issue also has plenty of models for inspiration. Such as Amanda Sexton, an oncology nurse at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s, who just wrote a children’s book about a little girl battling cancer, baldness and acceptance. Contributor Dwain Hebda also wrote about Conway’s Raven Henry, a mother whose son became autistic after his bout in a coma. Since then, she’s made it her mission to share her story, raise awareness and, most importantly, give her son the life he deserves. That’s it from me and us this time. Thank you for reading; I hope you enjoy.

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com

AYISABOUTYOU

TRENDING ON AYMAG.COM Conway’s Whitney Williams Crowned Miss Arkansas 2021 Arkansas-Born Actor Frank Bonner Dead at 79 Count Porkula Opening First Standalone Restaurant in Midtown Arkansas’ First DarkSky Festival Coming to Buffalo River in October

CONNECT AYISABOUTYOU

AYISABOUTYOU

AYMAGAZINE

AYMAG.COM

READER FEEDBACK PITBULL COMING TO WALMART AMP IN SEPTEMBER “My Jazzercise class does so many of his songs. Would love to see him.” Ellen Dreyfuss MADE IN ARKANSAS: TRUTH SAUCE “Wow, what an honor to be featured on Father’s Day. I’m forever grateful.” Keith Tucker Jr. 15 ARKANSAS MUSEUMS YOU SHOULD VISIT THIS SUMMER “Thanks for the feature, AY magazine!” The Gangster Museum of America ARGENTA: DOGTOWN’S DELIGHT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER “Thank you, AY magazine for the flattering article and the awesome photos!” Argenta Arts District

15 Arkansas Museums You Should Visit This Summer

INSTAGRAM

CONTESTS

If you haven’t visited the Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet at the Clinton Presidential Center, be sure to check it out!

AY was a proud sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women luncheon last month.

Jessica H. Ford of Arkansas Community Foundation was featured as one of AY’s Hometown Heroes.

Contest deadline is July 14! Go to aymag.com and click on the “Contests” tab.

1. ROCK TOWN DISTILLERY

It’s important to always enjoy the finer things in life. Sometimes those things come in a bottle. At Rock Town Distillery, you can find a wide selection of some of the best bourbons and spirits available today. Don’t forget your gift card when you go, and buy a bottle of the good stuff. CODE: ROCKTOWN

2. LOBLOLLY

There’s nothing like a scoop of delicious ice cream, no matter the season. When it comes to ice cream, you can’t beat Loblolly Creamery. This Little Rock favorite serves up mouthwatering small-batch ice cream, using fresh ingredients and unique flavors. Come and get your favorite flavor, on us. CODE: LOBLOLLY

3. GADWALL’S GRILL

Find your new favorite place to eat when you visit Gadwall’s Grill. This North Little Rock mainstay has been feeding locals and visitors alike for 30 years, and it’s still making some of the best food in Arkansas. Find out how good it is with a gift certificate to the restaurant. CODE: GRILL

UCA just named its Farris Center court after basketball legend Scottie Pippen.

! June WINNERS Tipton & Hurst: LINDSEY SNODDY Loblolly: DANA THOMPSON Turpentine Creek: BLAIR HUSTON

agenda

Top

you just can't miss! SPACEBERRY FESTIVAL July 1-3

The Farm — Eureka Springs Things are getting intergalactic in Eureka Springs with the return of Spaceberry, a music and camping experience unlike any other.

37TH ANNUAL POPS ON THE RIVER July 4

First Security Amphitheater — Little Rock Pops on the River, the largest Fourth of July event in the state, is back again. The event is free to the public and will include children’s activities, shopping, live music, food trucks and, of course, fireworks.

THE ROCK CITY MARGARITA FESTIVAL & THE GREAT ARKANSAS BEER FESTIVAL July 24

Statehouse Convention Center — Little Rock The Rock City Margarita Festival and the Great Arkansas Beer Festival have partnered with 103.7 The Buzz to put on what is sure to be one of the biggest parties of the summer.

LINDSEY STIRLING July 27

Walmart AMP — Rogers The violinist, songwriter and dancer will showcase her skills at the Walmart AMP this month, and will be joined by Canadian singer Kiesza.

PEACEMAKER FESTIVAL July 30, 31

Riverfront Amphitheater — Fort Smith Set on the banks of the Arkansas River, the Peacemaker Festival is the perfect blend of good views and good vibes. Headliners this year include Cody Johnson, Paul Cauthen, Muscadine Bloodline and Lucero.

events

Top 3 events to do at home Editor’s Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events and information listed are subject to change. For the events you attend this month, please remember to be safe and abide by the most current guidelines set forth by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Department of Health.

VIRTUAL PET PARADE July 6; 2 p.m. www.cals.org

VIRTUAL: CRIMES AND CLUES July 8; 9:30 a.m. www.faylib.org

AGFC VIRTUAL NATURE CENTER www.agfcnaturecenter.com

aymag.com

HOME

Where

View is

the

By JULIE CRAIG // Photography By JAMISON MOSLEY

A third-generation of builders, Ferguson Real Estate Homes of Central Arkansas proves top-level homes with million-dollar views can be built for a fraction of the price. 17

aymag.com

For this home project, the goal was “to create an affordable home that draws others to connect to nature without needing to drive, go or look too far,” Brock says.

t’s a phenomenal homebuilding legacy. In fact, when you hear the name “Ferguson” around town, you automatically think of the word “home.” Three generations of skilled artisans who began with a craft — a dream that all started with the build of one house when founder Randy Ferguson wanted to “be a good neighbor” and help build a house. And now the entire family of sons, brothers, husbands and wives builds dreams for others across the region. Founder Randy and his wife, Pat; Rick; Brock and his wife, Kate (interior designer with DeYmaz Design Group); and Jack are part of a team of Fergusons who make home magic happen. Brock and Kate have worked hand in hand on the latest land of “enchantment” — dubbed Lakeview West, located 15 minutes outside of west Little Rock in Roland on a ridge overlooking Lake Maumelle — with “million-dollar views for a fraction of the price.” From kitchens with panoramic views to scenic lots that rival all others and city living in a country setting, Lakeview West is truly about family, views and homes.

The Ferguson family.

At Lakeview West, the curb appeal is on point, and the stunning views are unmatched.

One’s backyard becomes the very place they seek out the most to recharge. 19

This 2,900-square-foot home, in particular, was one of the first five homes built in Lakeview West, pioneering the development. When designing the floorplan and exterior style, the Ferguson team’s priority was to emphasize the views in every room with breathtaking panorama as the guide toward all decisions involving window sizes and placement. “Maximizing natural lighting and ability [is key] for one to connect with nature throughout their day to day lives,” Kate says. [As builders and designers], we are wildly influenced and intrigued by biophilia,” she continues. Biophilic design is a concept connecting buildings with the natural environment, whether it’s the use of water, natural light, ventilation and other natural features such as landscaping. Overall, the intent is to create a cohesive environment that draws others to connect with nature. “We all are a bit biophilic — some more than others, of course. We tend to seek nature to relax, be at peace or broaden our perspective. We were created without shoes and without barriers to the world, so it makes complete sense that in our modern age, we look outside to improve our inner perspective.” For this home project, the goal was “to create an affordable home that draws others to connect to nature without needing to drive, go or look too far,” Brock says. “One’s backyard becomes the very place they seek out the most to recharge.” So what makes Lakeview West really all that special? It’s pretty easy for Brock to sum it up. “The unique thing [about this subdivision] is the flat lots sitting up on the ridge overlooking Lake Maumelle. Typically on a ridge, homes are sloped or built up against it, but here at Lakeview West, we are able to ensure the homes themselves are flat with incredible backyards that allow one to build their dream home and configure it to suit their needs the best.” This home with a view truly takes the open concept to the next level, with all the main rooms connecting to one spectacular view. The open space looks out at Pinnacle Mountain, the islands in Lake Maumelle, Bear Den Mountain, Twin Pinnacles, Alotian Golf Club and the Ouachita Forest without having to move a muscle. Just on the edge of the city, the panoramic views are both breathtaking and extraordinary. aymag.com

in particular, we wanted to do something unique that calls for a luxurious feel,” Kate says. “We mitered the edges significantly and dropped the cabinets to be deeper drawers, creating a unique vanity design that we have not seen in this market!” Custom-designed kitchen cabinets add a special touch, with materials like leathered quartz, a porcelain slab backsplash and driftwood pieces underneath the bar to add a bit of laid-back luxury to the overall space. “It’s bittersweet turning a project over and entering the completion phase,” Kate says. “For us, in particular, there is The master bath features a one-of-a-kind design.

The eye-catching nature of the home is evident as soon as you walk in the front door. And once inside, it’s easy to get swept away by an interior palette of warm and inviting tones — from the flow of natural mortar-toned walls to the subtle, yet bold accents of texture by the use of natural materials from room to room. But, perhaps the most eye-catching feature of all is the extra-long, twin-sized day bed, found to the right of the fireplace. This feature was built intentionally to accent the incredible window above and showcase the jaw-dropping views. Across the way is the kitchen and hood, with a porcelain backsplash selected specifically for the space. The movement throughout this piece mimics the similar movement seen directly to the left, the stunning Ouachita Mountain range. The lighting throughout the home is used in a way that draws interest, energy and has a unique effect. With almost all recessed lighting on dimmers, at nighttime “there is a sense of tranquility and energy found when walking from space to space,” Kate says. Quartz countertops are used throughout because of their “extreme durability,” which makes the Ferguson team confident in using them in all homes. “In the master bath,

so much more to what we do than just build a home. From picking the lot and clearing it, to designing every inch of the home, and finally breaking ground, we do it all. Lakeview West has been years in the making, so it feels incredible to finish the first few homes, and we are thrilled to see it develop. “We are incredibly blessed to work alongside one another and our family; it’s a dream come true,” Brock says. “There is no greater pride than working hard for your family. When you are working for your family and with one another daily, the level of pressure to serve, achieve and honor one another is uniquely heightened. Though working with/for family isn’t for everyone, our greatest asset is actually one another.”

Life Wide Open...

For new construction, reale state inquiries and or a tour of our properties call Brock or email him directly! Follow the Fergusons on Instagram to see full video tour of this project and watch it transform from the ground up.

501-414-7441 | Brockferg31@gmail.com ferguson.real.estate

Quality built into every piece.

Shop Local and Feel the Difference Family Owned and Operated Since 1920

19650 I-30, Benton •

congofp.com •

501.316.4328

CABOT HEALTH & REHAB, LLC

is a skilled nursing facility offering resident-centered care in a convenient and quiet location. Cabot Health & Rehab, LLC is located in beautiful Cabot, AR near the city center, medical offices and hospitals. Our team consists of licensed nurses, physicians, therapists and other medical specialists who believe in building strong relationships with our residents and their families. We believe this is essential to the healing process.

ACCOMMODATIONS & SERVICES

Cabot Health & Rehab, LLC offers both semi-private and private rooms (when available). Our staff is dedicated to ensuring that our residents are provided a robust activity calendar, a superior dining experience in a warm, family-like setting. When recuperation and convalescence is needed, our staff works as a multi-disciplinary team to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation program to facilitate a return to home.

health &

C si n

ab reh

cabo t

REHABILITATION

198

CABOT HEALTH & REHAB, LLC 200 North Port Drive Cabot, AR 72023 Phone 501-843-6181 Fax 501-843-6736

When indicated, our team of therapists work with residents to customize a rehabilitation program which can include physical, occupational and speech therapy with a focus on improving mobility, endurance, safety and facilitating a return to home. A tailored treatment plan will allow residents to recapture health and an independent lifestyle when possible. The enrichment of daily physical function can significantly improve a resident’s self-reliance and overall happiness.

11121 N Rodney Parham, Ste 32B Little Rock

501-224-3133

Providing linens & elements for table top design for 4O years.

partytimerentalandevents.com

DINE IN TAKEOUT ONLINE ORDERING DRIVE THRU

12 Flavors of Chicken Salad Made Fresh Every Day! 2235 Dave Ward Drive

Conway 2821 Parkwood Road

Jonesboro order.chickensaladchick.com

aymag.com

LET THEM EAT CAKE...

By DWAIN HEBDA Photography by JAMISON MOSLEY Big Orange’s Strawberry Cake Shake.

. m a e r C e Ic s M il ksha kes. food

and

ot long ago, we got the harebrained idea at our house to complete a yard project in the first blast of Arkansas’ smelting-furnace summer heat. For two days, we toiled on landscaping in the backyard, while our wiser neighbors watched, smirking from temperature-controlled spaces on all sides. By the end of it, the heat had swelled our brains against our temples, and we lost the ability to utter coherent sentences. My beloved searched for 15 minutes for a cellphone that was in her pocket, while I hallucinated a coyote chasing a roadrunner off the end of the deck. It was nothing compared to what roofers or construction workers go through, I grant you, but it was still enough. When we finally staggered inside and lowered our core body temperatures to something approaching medium-well, the wiser of our household suggested a bowl of ice cream. I could only nod, weakly, unsure if it would be resuscitative therapy or simply a nice last dish. Twenty minutes later, we were laughing and remembering other ice creams eaten in other summers. I don’t know what they put in this stuff, but the wizards of ice cream — those Chilly Willy Wonkas — had done it again. There are some things so perfect — so fundamentally wholesome — that they never fail to live up to the most intense, gauzy nostalgia we carry of them in our minds. When it comes to summertime food, ice cream, cake and milkshakes are the almighty triumvirate of this fact, always as good as you remember. “I’ve never handed a person a cup, cone or carton of ice cream that I didn’t get a smile in return,” says Mitch Evans, vice president of sales and marketing for Yarnell’s Ice Cream Company in Searcy. “It’s just something that makes people happy. It brings them back the nostalgia of making ice cream with their grandparents or birthday parties or lots of other events. That’s the great thing about ice cream and being in the ice cream business.” Evans has forgotten more about ice cream than most people will ever know, having invested nearly four decades of his working life to the legendary Arkansas brand. And while you may envision working at an ice cream factory as a have-spoon-will-travel kind of gig, there’s real work involved in producing the centerpiece of our summers. “Yeah, there are some difficulties in it,” he says. “The toughest situation with ice cream is that when there’s the biggest demand is when it’s hardest to deliver. You’ve got to keep ice cream at about 5-10 below, at least. And when it’s 95 degrees and you got 100 percent humidity out there, it’s pretty difficult to get around and keep it in the quality temps that we want. “Plus, you’re dealing with milk, and you’re dealing with eggs and all the inclusions that we put in ice cream. Things like pecans can get very expensive sometimes. But for the most part, it is a fun business to be in. I just enjoy doing it.” Next summer marks the 90th anniversary of founder Ray Yarnell pooling his funds — includ-

aymag.com

“I’ve never handed a person a cup, cone or carton of ice cream that I didn’t get a smile in return,” says Mitch Evans. Yarnell’s, circa 1934. (Courtesy)

ing borrowing against his life insurance policies — to buy the defunct Southwest Dairy Products plant and launching his company. It was 1932 and the height of the Great Depression, but Yarnell forged ahead anyway. Through the lean early years, he and his family laid the foundation for a brand that would eventually be a generational staple at soda fountains and backyard parties in six states, and become the last Arkansas ice cream maker standing. Even when the company abruptly closed its doors in June 2011, it didn’t stay shuttered for long. By November that year, Chicago-based Schulze and Burch Biscuit Company bought both plant and recipes, and things were back up and running by the following spring. Today, a bowl of Yarnell’s is a tasty piece of Arkansas history preserved, as it were, in ice. “Our oldest recipe would probably go back into the 1940s,” Evans says. “They came out with what we call today our Real Vanilla flavor, and then they came out with a French vanilla during that time frame. “Now, there were some changes because of World War II; there was a sugar shortage and everything else, so some of the flavors changed during that time. But once things got a little more established, and commodities were pretty accessible, the recipes haven’t changed a whole lot from there.” Restaurateur, Arkansas food authority and milkshake whisperer Scott McGehee helps carry that legacy, using only Yarnell’s ice cream in the decadent milkshakes served at his Big Orange gourmet burger joints. Talk to him about what makes the perfect milkshake, and he speaks to you on a level that’s part food science, part Zen master. “Making a milkshake is a lot like making a cocktail,” he says. “You’re measuring out the ingredients, right? You want it perfectly chocolatey, but not too chocolatey, or not chocolatey enough. And that goes for any flavoring, or berry, or syrup, or anything you might be adding to it. “Something that’s really important when we’re teaching our people to make a really great milkshake is, it’s really important to have the correct amount of ice cream in the blender. It’s real easy to put too much ice cream in there. For our milkshake artists, the thickness is also very important. You want to get it just barely blending, where it’s almost too thick to blend. That’s perfect.” McGehee’s modus operandi for developing his creations — including a couple of boozy options that are the pinnacle of delicious madness — has its roots in the expansive and oft-overlooked annals of Arkansas restaurant history. Milkshakes are no exception. “I remember going to Frostop on Markham and getting chocolate milkshakes,” he says. “I remember Swenson’s had a dark chocolate milkshake that made an impression. And then Sweet N Creme on Main

Street; I was a regular at Sweet N Creme, particularly when I was at Central High School. Those three stand out in my mind. I was probably more of an ice cream person but, you know, I’ve never turned down a good milkshake.” That said, McGehee has also shown a knack for rocking the culinary boat wherever he’s opened a concept. Such was the case with Zaza Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co., his Heights neighborhood-born enclave many credit with introducing gelato to Central Arkansas. “Gelato may even be the parent of ice cream. The stories go that they used to bring ice down from the Italian Alps to make it during the Renaissance,” he says. “I do know it pre-dates the rediscovery of America in 1492, by far.” Tasted side-by-side, it’s fairly easy to tell the two desserts apart, but what actually separates gelato and ice cream may surprise you. “Gelato typically has milk and a little bit of cream; it has less butterfat than ice cream,” McGehee says. “But what makes gelato so rich and creamy is the shape of the paddle inside the cylinder that is freezing the product. It’s angled in such a way where it’s not incorporating air. Ultimately that impacts cost, making gelato is a little more expensive, in terms of the volume. “I just love the texture that’s so dense and rich and creamy, all because of the shape of that blade. And it’s slightly less — well, it’s not guilt-free, because it’s still full of sugar — but it’s a little less fattening, generally, than ice cream.” In the 1991 movie City Slickers a group of urbanites embarks on a tenderfoot cattle drive. Sitting around the campfire, Mitch Robbins, played by Billy Crystal, gets into a discussion with ice cream entrepreneurs the Shalowitz brothers, as to their ability to pick the perfect flavor of ice cream to follow any meal. Pressed to test this skill, Robbins throws them a softball, “Franks and beans.” “Scoop of chocolate, scoop of vanilla,” says Barry Shalowitz, derisively. “Don’t waste my time.” While most of us don’t have our ice cream pairing skills honed to such a fine edge — heck, most of us probably see ice cream as the new black, goes with anything — there can be no denying that some things riding along with ice cream make a good treat even better. Cake, for instance, especially the next-level creations produced by Blue Cake Company of Little Rock. “Cakes are celebratory; they’re connecting people to a moment where they are celebrating something,” says Jan Lewandowski, who co-owns the popular bakery with her husband Steve. “In the South, particularly, people have more of a history of making cakes from scratch or cooking

ZAZA’s Strawberry Cheesecake and Icebox Lemon Pie gelato. (Courtesy) with the grandparents, and I think it just reminds them of that. “I teach at [Pulaski Tech] culinary school, and that’s all of my students, ‘Oh, I just love baking with my mom or my grandma.’ They all have those memories and that makes them also want to work in the business. Lewandowski didn’t get that life experience growing up but as the former pastry chef for the Capital Hotel, and through Blue Cake, opened in 2005, she’s been making up for lost time. “I was a terrible baker,” she says. “My mom is Korean, and we just didn’t eat many sweets like that; we ate ice cream and fruit. But I have a huge sweet tooth. I went to culinary school, and I discovered if you work in a pastry kitchen, you pretty much get all the sweets you want.” Cake fanatics and pie lovers observe an uneasy coexistence. Blue Cake got into the pie business a couple of years ago by purchasing the much-decorated Honey Pies of Little Rock, but there’s no ambiguity as to where Lewandowski’s heart lies. “I am cake all the way, and I always have been,” she says. “I like soft and creamy. My favorite types of cakes are sponge cakes. Of ours, I love our tres leches; that’s one of my all-time favorite cakes. It’s between that and chocolate raspberry ganache because I love chocolate. “It’s mostly, I love fillings; I love cakes with fillings inside. I’m not as much of a buttercream person, and I think that’s why I like our petit fours because it’s mostly cake as opposed to cupcakes, which have so much frosting.” Lewandowski isn’t alone in her love for the shop’s petit fours, estimating patrons take home about 1,500 of the diminutive treats every week.

“We’re known at our shop for our petit fours,” she says. “They’re like two-bite sized, they’re already cut, and you can get a variety of flavors. We actually have a summer set that we’re selling right now with Key lime, strawberry lemonade — just some different, fun, summery flavors.” Blue Cake’s creations are high art — pastry masterpieces that look as good on a summer buffet table as they taste with a companion scoop of ice cream. As an educator and former struggling baker, she relates to people trying to up their cake game, readily imparting advice to rookies as well as those going head-to-head with Aunt May at the next family reunion. “First, I will say to follow directions. That’s really the No. 1 secret to success in baking,” Lewandowski says. “But also, one of the issues people run into on the baking side is following the baking temperature and time literally, when in reality, it’s always going to vary in your oven. If the recipe says bake for 30 minutes and you take it out and it’s dry, well, it probably baked too long. You have to know how to check for doneness. “And, if people are baking from home Petit fours from and they want to use a mix, I say use a Blue Cake/Honey mix, but make your own filling. If you’re Pies. (Courtesy) making your filling from scratch, then it won’t taste completely like a boxed, artificial cake. Especially since fillings and frostings are usually pretty easy to do.” As for those boxed mixes, Lewandowski gives them an unexpected thumbs-up, displaying a refreshing lack of pastry snobbery. Whatever spreads the Cake Gospel, she’s on board. “I love cake-mix cake. That’s what I grew up with,” she says. “In my family, we were not scratch bakers at all, so that’s just what I know, and that’s what a lot of our customers know. [Blue Cake’s] cake is different than that from a box, of course, but I think cake, however you get it, is great.”

aymag.com

l Ambrosia Baking Co. Hot Springs l Arkansas Pineapple Whip Conway l Big Orange Little Rock, Rogers l Blue Cake/Honey Pies Little Rock

AY’s ARKANSAS

Ice Cream, Cakes & Shakes

l Bocadillos Restaurant Tacos & Ice Cream Dardanelle l Briar Rose Bakery & Deli Farmington l Burton’s Comfort Creamery Fayetteville l Cabot Cafe & Cake Corner Cabot l Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets Keo l Cinnamon Creme Bakery Little Rock l Community Bakery Little Rock l Country Village Oven Bakery Star City l Dee’s Delightful Desserts Little Rock

Bucket List Presented by Big Orange

l Scoops Hot Springs l Scoopy’s Homemade Ice Cream Benton l Shake’s Frozen Custard Fayetteville, Little Rock l Shelby Lynn’s Cake Shoppe Springdale l Shelly’s All in Good Taste Bakery Texarkana

l Julie’s Sweet Shoppe Conway l Just Ice Cream Benton l Kawaii Boba House Conway, Little Rock l Las Delicias Conway l Le Pops Little Rock l Loblolly Creamery Little Rock l Lybrand’s Bakery and Deli Pine Bluff

l Short Stop Grill Garfield l Smallcakes Cupcake and Creamery Bryant, North Little Rock l Spark Café Soda Fountain Bentonville l Spradlin’s Dairy Delight England l SugarDumplin’s Cupcakes Bryant l Susie Q Malt Shop Rogers

l Magnolia Bake Shop Magnolia

l Sweet House Donuts & Ice Cream Conway

l Neighbor’s Mill Harrison

l TCBY Various Locations

l Nothing Bundt Cakes Little Rock

l The Big Dipper Eureka Springs

l PattiCakes Bakery Conway

l The Cake Place Bakery Russellville

l Paul’s Bakery Van Buren

l The Humble Crumb Sherwood

l Pure Joy Ice Cream Siloam Springs

l The Original ScoopDog North Little Rock

l Ice Cream Delights Eureka Springs

l Purple Cow Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock

l Wild Sweet William’s Searcy

l Jackrabbit Dairy Bar Lonoke

l Rick’s Bakery Fayetteville

l Yarnell’s Ice Cream Company Searcy

l Johnny’s Ice Cream & Deli Russellville

l Salem Dairy Bar Benton

l ZAZA Conway, Little Rock

l Delicias Michoacanas Ice Cream Fort Smith l Dempsey Bakery Little Rock l Diamond Drive-In Clarksville l Ed’s Bakery Conway l Flying Pig Conway l Garry’s Slingblade Drive In Benton

3C heck off the Ice Cream, Cakes & Shakes list 28 as you visit a small sample of our favorite places.

AY About You

Arkansas Bucket List

Every Wednesday morning on KARK 4.

aymag.com

88% of AY readers are looking for dining and entertainment ideas according to Circulation Verification Council.

Our readers are hungry.

That is 134,315 readers per month.

SUBSCRIBE TO AMP ARKANSAS MONEY &

POLITICS

Our mission is to provide the most relevant information in the world of business and politics. Go to amppob.com and click on the subscribe tab. $

Only 28 a year! ARKANSAS MONEY & POLITICS

501 N. Johnson, Clarksville Tuesday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5-9 p.m.

kaspersclarksville.com

(479) 647-4332 handcrafted ice cream buttercream macarons

sundaes

coffee

milkshakes

catering ice cream truck

aymag.com

food

Sally Mengel.

(with ice cream)

Sally Mengel.

(with ice cream)

Face Behind the Place:

Sally Mengel of

Loblolly Creamery • By Kevin Shalin • Photos by Jamison Mosley and Loblolly

The queen of Arkansas ice cream looks back on 10 years of building a business from scratch, one scoop at a time.

ike many of us, Sally Mengel’s affinity for ice cream goes way back. “I just loved ice cream as a kid. I remember going to the local ice cream shop with my mom when my dad was working late,” Mengel says. “We would go there and have a banana split for dinner. Ice cream is so memory-based.” Unlike many of us, Mengel turned a childhood love affair with the creamy confection into a career when she opened Loblolly Creamery inside The Green Corner Store in 2011. The Little Rock business started small, and, truth be told, never was supposed to grow into the pride of Arkansas ice cream that it has become today. It now boasts products in every corner of the state, in towns like Bentonville, Texarkana, Searcy, Stuttgart and Magnolia. Mengel says, “I thought I was going to do a very simple lemonade stand type soda fountain and have a very simple life. I’d live around the block. The whole thing would be quaint and charming. Then I realized I kept saying yes to everything. The business really grew accidentally. It was just going to be for a couple of years, and I’d move on to something else. When I was looking for an ice cream product, I could not find anything local that was hand-crafted and allnatural. I really wanted to use Arkansas-grown products and do creative flavors that were inspired by that. And I did not want to outsource it, so I decided that we had to make it.” As the company approaches a 10-year anniversary — a huge accomplishment — it is safe to say Mengel’s one-time passion project has turned into a full-fledged success story, as evident by the more than 600 gallons of ice cream she and her crew churn out each week. And while it seems like a big number, Loblolly is still a small-batch producer, with an eye toward partnerships with local artisans, farmers and businesses. Outside of the ice cream, just about everything else has changed for the business. After securing a spot at The Green Corner Store, Loblolly added an event truck, one you’ve probably seen rolling around town and at events. A new kitchen space came next, followed by the addition of a delivery truck. Then in the summer of 2017, Mengel and her crew moved next door to their current digs at 1423 Main Street in Little Rock. Affectionately named the Scoop Shop, the new space came complete with house-made, gluten-free/vegan cones, ice cream cakes, milkshakes, whoopie pies, marshmallows and a massive case that

housed more than three times the number of ice cream flavors, along with a fun, festive atmosphere that just screamed ice cream. Referring to The Green Corner Store, Mengel says, “We were just outgrowing that space.” Even with all the growth, she has never lost focus on the ice cream, as well as the dayto-day challenges and meticulous nature of its production. “Ice cream making is a science. It is about getting that right balance of your sugar, proteins, stabilizers and emulsifiers, and making sure it doesn’t get too icy. It needs to be scoopable and have good texture. And because it’s a frozen product, the flavor can be depreciated, so you want to make sure it has a good pop of flavor,” Mengel says. “Because we’re not factory-made, a salted caramel, for example, will be different with every batch. And that’s ok. I try to be as consistent as possible, but Loblolly is consistently inconsistent. That is because we make the ice cream [from] scratch and there are so many variables. I think it’s beautiful that it’s not perfect.” These days, you will rarely see Mengel scooping ice cream behind the counter. Such is life for a company on the rise with a leader who has now taken on more of a general management role. This includes spending most of her time overseeing production, delegating responsibilities, and keeping employees engaged. She says, “When you keep making ice cream from scratch, then our team is involved in all parts

of it.” And while the future continues to look bright for Loblolly Creamery, getting Mengel to look too far down the road makes her a bit uncomfortable. “I’m a very in-the-present-moment type of person,” she says. “I do have dreams, but I’m a little superstitious to say them out loud.” It took a little prodding from yours truly, but those dreams include bigger wholesale accounts, more places that scoop Loblolly ice cream, and possibly a walk-up, drive-thru location. But rest assured, the company will never lose that artisanal feel. “We are still making all of our bases and mixes from scratch, and we will maintain that,” Mengel says. The pandemic may have slowed growth down a bit, but people’s love for ice cream will not wane for very long — and neither will Mengel’s desire to keep producing it. Our taste buds thank her, but the waistline is a different story.

s e t i B k c i u Q y l l a S h wit What is the weirdest ice cream flavor that you’ve ever come up with?

There are so many. Back in the soda fountain days, I would definitely experiment more. We did an elephant garlic flavor, as well as mashed potatoes and everything bagel. The weird flavors are the savory ones. Have you ever thought of a cheese dip ice cream?

The cheese dip competition has always asked us to make it, and we just have not. But I have always thought of ways to do it that are not off-putting. What is your dog’s name? Moo. He looks like a cow. He’s a Blue Heeler Corgi. When he was a puppy, he looked like a mini cow. It was so cute. Now that he’s grown, he does not look so much like a cow anymore, but he has cow spots. What is your favorite outdoor area in Arkansas? I really like Boyle Park because I am thinking Little Rock right now. It has such a nice trail and even a babbling little brook. What women have been a huge inspiration to you? My mom, Laura Frankenstein, is the co-owner of Loblolly Creamery, so I’m always inspired by her and how she presents herself. One of my ice cream idols is Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Ice Cream. She is pretty amazing. And then Marilyn Abrams, our head of kitchen, inspires me every day because she works harder than anyone else.

“

I could not find anything local that was hand-crafted and allnatural. I really wanted to use Arkansas-grown products and do creative flavors that were inspired by that. And I did not want to outsource it, so I decided that we had to make it.

“

s t a E •

aymag.com

S • R ECIPE

FLAVOR PAIRING Nutella and Biscoff cookies come together in this frozen icebox pie — perfect for family gatherings outside or a treat all for yourself. The best part is that there is no need to thaw; just cut and serve straight from the freezer!

Nutella

ICEBOX PIE By Nic Williams

INGREDIENTS 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature ¾ cup powdered sugar 3 large eggs, unseparated 3 large eggs, separated 3 tablespoons Nutella 1 (8.8 ounce) package Biscoff cookies

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Line bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with wax paper, and set aside. 2. Using a stand mixer, beat butter and powdered sugar together until smooth and creamy, about 4 minutes on medium-high. Add unseparated eggs one at a time, making sure each egg is incorporated before adding the next. Add Nutella and mix until incorporated. 3. In a separate bowl, whisk three egg yolks until smooth and bright yellow. Once whisked, add yolks to batter, and mix until incorporated. 4. In a clean bowl, whisk three egg whites until stiff peaks form. (This can be difficult to do by hand, so you may want to use a mixer.) Carefully fold stiff egg whites into batter using a rubber spatula, making sure not to deflate them in the process. Don’t worry if the batter looks lumpy or watery, but make sure there are no visible traces of egg whites. 5. Line bottom of springform pan with a single layer of Biscoff cookies, using pieces to fill in the bottom where necessary. To make a border, add cookies to the perimeter, laying cookies horizontally as you go. 6. Add batter to pan, and smooth it out using a rubber spatula. Lay a piece of wax paper on top of pie and a saucer for weight. Store in freezer for 24 hours, and garnish with cookie crumbs before serving.

STRAWBERRY CREPES My sister, the inspiration behind many of my recipes, has been making crepes for as long as I can remember. They make a tasty, light breakfast or dessert and can be filled and topped with whatever you like. This recipe makes about 16 crepes. For this recipe, I decided to get a little bit fancier and light some strawberries on fire.

Flambé By Kaitlin Barger

INGREDIENTS

FLAMING STRAWBERRIES

INGREDIENTS 4 tablespoons butter ½ cup sugar 2 cups strawberries, hulled and halved 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 shots Grand Marnier or any liqueur of your choice

Filling Ingredients

Crepe Ingredients

DIRECTIONS

16 ounces cream cheese, softened 16 ounces sour cream ¼ cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Splash of lemon juice

4 large eggs 2 ¼ cups milk 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon sugar ¼ cup butter, melted (plus more for cooking)

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat, and add butter and sugar for about 30 seconds. 2. Add strawberries and lemon juice to pan, and cook until mixture becomes syrupy. 3. Add liqueur and carefully light it. When it is on fire, shake pan until there are no more flames. 4. Remove from pan, and use to top crepes.

INSTRUCTIONS Filling Directions 1. Mix all ingredients until smooth, and refrigerate for about an hour before using. Crepe Directions 1. Blend all ingredients until completely smooth. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, but 2 is best. 2. Heat nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and add butter to melt. 3. Slowly pour batter into center of pan, tilting it to evenly spread into a very thin layer. 4. Let sit for about 10-15 seconds. When batter begins to lightly brown, flip it over, and cook for another 10 seconds. 5. Remove from pan, and repeat process for remaining batter. 6. Spread filling into crepes, and roll each one up. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, or serve warm. 7. Top with whipped cream and strawberries (or move on to the next step on the right).

HELPFUL HINTS: Sometimes

it takes a while to get the “perfect” crepe. The consistency will be like a very thin pancake. I like to let the crepes cool a bit before adding the filling, but you can also serve them warm.

CAKE s ICE CREAM

RECIPES – By Sandy Bradley

Last year, Sandy Bradley was named The Greatest Baker in an international competition involving more than 20,000 entrants. This month, she shares some of the magic behind her crown with AY About You.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Ice Cream Ingredients 3 cups milk

3 cups heavy whipping cream 1 ½ cups sugar

3 (1.55-ounce) Hershey’s milk chocolate candy bars, finely chopped ¾ cup fresh strawberries, mashed 2 tablespoons strawberry extract 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

1 (10-pound) bag crushed ice

1 ½-2 cups rock salt (ice cream salt)

Directions Combine first 7 ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Pour into a chilled ice cream freezer canister. Place paddle into canister, and top with lid. Place canister into ice cream freezer bucket, and attach motor. Plug ice cream motor into an outlet. While the canister rotates, add about 2 inches of crushed ice to bucket, pouring around the canister. Sprinkle about ¼ cup rock salt over ice. Continue layering ice/salt until ice reaches the bottom edge of the canister lid. Add additional ice and salt as ice melts to maintain the same level. It takes approximately 30 minutes until ice cream is to the soft custard stage and ready to be served. Remove canister from bucket, and wipe water/salt from sides and top before opening and removing paddle. Serve immediately. If a dipping consistency is desired, spoon ice cream into a large, plastic, freezer-safe container to “ripen.” Press a piece of parchment paper on top of ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming. Cover with lid. Place in the freezer for a minimum of 6 hours. Yields 3 quarts.

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake Ingredients 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa

2 ¼ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk

½ cup vegetable oil

1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs

1 cup hot water

Frosting 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, melted

5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa 6 cups powdered sugar ½ teaspoon salt

12-14 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Ganache

(Optional)

1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips ¾ cup heavy whipping cream

recipes

Directions Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick baking spray. Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt to a large bowl. Set aside. In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract and eggs until well-blended. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat for 2-3 minutes, scraping the sides of bowl as need until well-combined. Slowly add hot water to batter and mix on low speed until thoroughly blended. Divide batter evenly between prepared cake pans, and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove cakes from oven, and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Frosting Directions Add butter to a large bowl, and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add melted chocolate, and mix until well-blended. Add cocoa and continue to beat while adding 3 cups of powdered sugar, salt and half of heavy cream, and beat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add remaining heavy cream as needed to obtain the right consistency for spreading the frosting.

Ganache Directions To make the chocolate ganache, add chocolate chips to a medium-sized bowl. Heat heavy whipping cream in a double boiler until cream is very hot but not boiling. Pour cream over chocolate chips, and let sit for 2-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Set aside.

Cake Assembly Place the first cake layer on a cardboard cake disc. Frost the top, and place second cake layer on top of frosted layer. Continue to frost the top and outside of cake with remaining chocolate frosting. (If desired, you can double frost.) Place cake on cooling wire rack that is positioned over a cookie sheet with sides. Pour ganache over top, and let it drip over the sides. Use a small spatula to smooth top and sides. Excess ganache can be discarded or saved for other use. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve. The cake is best when served at room temperature.

food

By KEVIN SHALIN

Photography By JAMISON MOSLEY

A custom, hand-forged knife by Thomas Franklin. @tfrankcustomknives

From family heirlooms to those used every day in the kitchen, knives are the centerpiece of experts in the food industry. They share with us their most cherished implements and what makes them so very special.

Amanda Ivy,

Low Ivy Catering

Cobalt Steel Shun, Limited Edition For this home project, the goal was “to create an affordable home that draws others to connect to nature without needing to drive, go or look too far,” Kate says What is the story behind this beauty?

I was given the opportunity a few years ago to private chef in Napa. It was a really great experience for me because we were staying on the original investor of The French Laundry’s vineyard. I was pretty much nerding out on the ingredients I had available and the incredible kitchen, so as a thank you, they took me to the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) in Napa and that’s where I bought the knife. It reminds me of one of the best experiences I’ve had as a chef.

Is there anything special you have to do to help take care of it?

I keep it in a wooden sheath, and it has to be oiled after every wash so it doesn’t rust.

Have you ever let anyone else use the knife or is it your baby?

I’ve only ever let my sous chef, Sammy, use it, and I only use it for special events, private dinners and competitions. It’s definitely my baby.

Joey Coleman,

Photo by Rebecca Fellers

White Hall Fresh Market Victorinox Boning Knife

Since you are a butcher, I think a lot of folks are very interested in the knife you chose. Could you tell us a little bit about it?

I primarily use a 6-inch, 8-inch, or 10-inch Victorinox boning knife. They are available, affordable and hold an edge as well as any other I’ve seen. As much as I use them, I may sharpen them once a month. I’ll hit them with the steel a couple times a week and that’s it.

How expensive is the knife?

They are $25-$50 each, depending on the size. Most restaurants supply stores carry them, or you can order them from Amazon.

Do you use it to cut up those beautiful tomahawk steaks you sell at the meat market?

I use the 10-inch for those big boys. Then the 6 or 8 when it comes time for trimming.

Anything special you do to help maintain the knife?

Just keep them clean, out of liquid and hit them with the steel occasionally.

aymag.com

“This knife has been with me for over a decade. It is my go-to chef’s knife, and I am sure that it will become a family heirloom.”

@tfrankcustomknives

Matthew McClure, The Hive

Masamoto Sohonten, Gyuto-Style I know it was difficult for you to narrow it down to a single knife for this article. Why did you end up choosing this one?

I fell in love with Japanese carbon steel knives in my early days of cooking in Boston. They are lightweight, extremely sharp and the steel holds an edge for a very long time. This knife has been with me for over a decade. It is my go-to chef ’s knife, and I am sure that it will become a family heirloom.

Anything special you do to help maintain the knife?

It is high carbon steel, so it can easily rust. It needs to be cleaned and dried after use. It also is designed in the Japanese style, so it is slightly concave on one side requiring a 90/10 sharpening ratio. I use a water stone to keep it tuned up.

About how often do you have to replace it?

Never! Well, that is my hope. I have had it for well over a decade, and it seems to be wearing very well. The only knives that I have that wear out are the stainless steel ones. Again, I easily see this knife as a family heirloom when I am long gone. I hope that my kids and grandkids are able to use this knife. Photo by Meredith Mashburn

Titus Holly, The Pantry

9-Inch Misono Chef ’s Knife Why is this your knife of choice for this article?

First of all, it takes a beating. It’s also light and easy to sharpen. I am more of a light knife guy, especially if I use it every day.

Does your entire kitchen staff use it, or do other folks have their own knives?

When they’re looking for a very sharp knife, they’ll use mine. For the most part, all we have is house knives. Most people don’t believe in buying their own knives.

How long will the Misono last?

The Misono is a pretty good long-term knife. It’s survived a few drops and accidental runs through the dishwasher. I just re-sharpened it last week, and it keeps a good edge.

About how much does it cost?

They run anywhere from $170 to $200. If I can’t find it on Amazon, I like to go to the Korin website. It’s a company in New York that sells and ships to anywhere in the world. They have an impressive collection of knives. It would be fun for people to go look at their website to get an idea of what any kind of knife could cost.

Mindy Mitchell,

Copper Mule Table & Tap Family Heirloom

What is the story behind this knife?

Growing up, my dad would come home after work every day and sharpen this knife on a piece of sandpaper tacked inside of a cabinet door. (Side note, this is where I was educated on the safety of a sharp blade.) Then he would start prepping dinner with it. I used to love to watch him slice and dice everything and talk about why he did it the way he did. When I was ready to learn how to cook in my early teens, he let me cut my first of many onions and bell peppers with his knife. It was always special to me, and after I graduated from culinary school, he gave it to me. It’s been in my knife kit since. The blade is so warped from age and wear that I no longer use it, but boy does it bring back memories every time I pull it out and put it in my hands!

Do you think it played a role in inspiring you to become a chef?

It played a role in inspiring my love of food and cooking, which ultimately led to me becoming a chef. So yes, I suppose it unknowingly did.

Payne Harding, Cache Restaurant

7-Inch Japanese Santoku

Is this a knife you use on a daily basis at Cache?

I use this knife any time I’m cooking on the line for dinner service at Cache. Once every blue moon, I may go through my knife kits and switch up knives for a different feel, but I always end up coming back to this original chef ’s knife.

What characteristics about this knife are so appealing to you?

This particular chef ’s knife and high-end Japanese chef knives, in general, are made of high carbon steel. High carbon steel sharpens very easily on a wet stone. Once you have achieved that sharp edge on a Japanese knife, it will stay and hold the edge for a long time. Also, the blade on a Japanese knife is extremely thin, and it slices effortlessly. I think the Japanese lettering is pretty cool as well, and the knife has a certain balance when it is held for chopping and dicing.

Is this a knife you’ve been using for a long time?

I bought this knife the week I was graduating from culinary school. There is this knife shop in Rhinebeck, New York, called Warren Kitchen & Cutlery, and all the students from CIA would tell stories of shopping there. I finally made the trip and bought a knife that would eventually hold much emotional value.

About how often do you need to sharpen it?

I only sharpen the Japanese knife a few times a year on a wet stone when it is slow at the restaurant. That is the beautiful thing about Japanese knives — they stay sharp. However, I do use my steel on a daily/nightly basis for about 10-15 seconds to retain the edge of the blade.

Wendy Schay & Jill McDonald, The Croissanterie

8-Inch Offset Serrated Bread Knife & 6-Inch Chef ’s Knife (both by Dexter Russell) Wendy, why did you choose to highlight this knife?

It’s what I use most often in pastry and bread production. The scalloped, toothlike edge is ideal for cutting through foods with a hard exterior and softer interior, such as breads and pastries. The serrated edge works like a saw; the teeth of the blade catch and rip as the knife smoothly slides through the food, resulting in a neater cut. It’s also great for cutting many fruits and vegetables. I have a couple of them in my drawer, but this one is my favorite because it has a comfortable grip handle.

When did you really fall in love with this knife?

During culinary school. Our baking kits came with a large, straight, 10-inch serrated knife, and I found the smaller offset easier to handle. Offset means the handle isn’t lined up with the blade; the blade is lower than the handle, allowing a full cut before your hand hits the cutting board.

Is it expensive?

Not at all, and if something happens to it, I can easily replace the knife.

Jill, be honest, is this a better knife than the one Wendy uses?

I’m supposed to say yes because all chefs think their knives are the best, but no, not really. It’s a totally different knife, with a different style and different purpose. Use the right tool for the right job. I love it because it’s multipurpose. I can make it do anything. I can use it as a pairing, boning, slicer — everything. The knife has a super-thin blade, is light, and the handle is smaller. Most importantly, I keep it super sharp.

Be even more honest, are you protective of this knife?

Again, I’m supposed to say yes, but it’s a really inexpensive knife. I only have a few desires: please don’t put it in the dishwasher, don’t bang it on surfaces, and don’t try to chop through bones.

Matthew Knight, Knightfire BBQ

Dexter Russell 12-Inch SofGrip Scalloped Slicer Do you use this knife specifically to slice brisket?

We use this knife to slice brisket, beef ribs, turkey, sausage, spare ribs and loin back ribs.

What characteristics of this knife make it ideal for you to use day-in and day-out?

The knife is great because of its 12-inch blade which makes it easy for long cuts, like for brisket and ribs. The scalloped blade is like a saw and makes it easy to cut through the bark on the meat.

Is it fairly inexpensive?

The best part of this knife is that it’s not too expensive — about $50 dollars. If you take care of it, the knife should be good for a couple years.

Photos by Rebecca Fellers

food

HUNGRY

for

CHANGE: Josh Harris is Making Sure Arkansans are ‘Well Fed’ By Katie Zakrzewski Photos by Ian Lyle

osh Harris has been working to address the issue of food insecurity in the Natural State for nearly three years. But it was when Harris fell ill that he developed a new appreciation for the important role that nutrition plays in our lives. “I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease six years ago, and was very sick to the point of being bedridden for months,” Harris says. “Diet was an important part of recovery, and I did lots of research into nutrition. It helped me develop a new appreciation for food as medicine.” By working with Mosaic Church, Harris found out about the problem of food insecurity that the city of Little Rock faces that the city of Little Rock was facing. He moved his wife and three kids to Little Rock, determined to combat hunger. “Former Little Rock Mayor [Mark] Stodola had an idea to develop food access mobility in order to get healthy food to people in food deserts, and to outsource farmer produce,” Harris explains. With the former mayor’s initiative, Fresh 2 You, a

food pantry in the form of a mobile bus, worked together with many other nonprofits, such as the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, to conduct research and procure volunteers. But Harris always wanted to do more. He could see the gaps and inefficiencies of the current structure addressing food insecurity. After two years of serving as the volunteer director for Fresh 2 You, Harris launched Well Fed. “During the time I was serving in those needy communities, I saw the big need to do more,” Harris says. “I wanted to create something that could both improve on and complement the current food access system. Especially when COVID-19 hit, I saw how inequitable healthy food access was. There were plenty of pantries giving away something, but I didn’t see a systemic solution to the deeper problems of diet-related issues rampant in low-income communities.” Well Fed partners with local and state organizations, problem of food insecurity that the city of Little Rock

Well Fed sources their fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms, gardens and veteran- or minorityowned grocers and wholesalers. Josh Harris.

aymag.com

“We want to help both those who need food and those who grow food.”

faces as well as other nonprofits that are dedicated to a similar cause, so that food is efficiently allocated alongside informative nutritional education. “We go into communities, we provide only healthy foods, and we always bring education and empowerment with our programs,” Harris says. “There are so many great organizations working to fight food insecurity, and each has their own specialty or expertise. My passion was to try to bring some of this different expertise together. This is a collective approach to fighting food insecurity, by working with existing organizations already involved in underserved communities.” Harris explains how Well Fed is a new and different approach. “Well Fed works at strategically, sourcing a healthy diet of foods that is predictable for every community that we serve,” he says. “We have education partners now, such as UAMS and SNAP-Ed, two great professional education partners. They come to communities with us, and we provide the food, relationships, and logistics, while they offer nutrition and cooking advice. What’s new about Well Fed is a holistic, strategic approach to solving food insecurity through programming. Now, we see the solution is not only providing free healthy food, but also educating and empowering families forward in their health journey.” As of publishing, Well Fed provides educational programming through their partners at the UAMS Culinary Medicine Department and the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Arkansas. These partners go to the mobile markets that Well Fed hosts in communities and do a short education segment related to healthy cooking and eating. Already this year Well Fed has been able to feed and educate more than 1,000 families through its programs. Harris explains that the best food systems should include local agriculture. For this reason, Well Fed sources their fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms, gardens and veteran- or minority-owned grocers and wholesalers. “We want to help both those who need food and those who grow food,” Harris says. Since Harris has been working in the community for a while now, he has been able to build relationships with several communities and community leaders. As a result, he has seen the needs and where there are gaps in the food system that are not being met. “Seeing the gaps has given me more energy and passion to do the things that aren’t necessarily being done by other organizations,” Harris shares. “We see an incredible need in low-income communities that are underserved, that do not have equitable food access, living in a food desert. We typically know about those communities through city data and because of the connections that we’re building with these organizations.” Communities reach out to Well Fed for help, because they’re aware of the organization’s ability and reputation.

aymag.com

Harris is dertermined to help create a more equitable food system in Arkansas.

“Our strategy is to focus on communities that we have relationships with, as well as identifying community needs and community stakeholders, which is a beneficial strategy because we know that utilizing the leadership that’s already in the community leads to an effective return on investment,” Harris explains. The pandemic emphasized the importance of organizations such as Well Fed. “I think the pandemic really highlighted what was there before, which was an inequitable food system,” he says. “It brought to light that things need to change and that we need to work harder as a city and a state to make sure that everyone has access to healthy food and nutrition. One of the best things that we can do to keep our bodies healthy is monitor what we eat. Lack of access to healthy foods makes many communities more susceptible to illness.” With a coalition of leaders and experts across the state, Harris is excited to conduct outreach in more rural areas of the state that he hasn’t been in contact with yet. “We are really excited about reaching into rural communities outside of the Little Rock area. There is a huge need for healthy and consistent food access in these areas because we see lots of poverty in the rural areas of Arkansas,” Harris elaborates. “Those towns and cities are in desperate need of solutions. We’re working on getting the agriculture that we grow to families that need it, not just in big cities, but in rural towns. We’re reaching out to the Delta, and continuing to expand into those areas that are food deserts and food insecure. A second thing is that we’re really excited about working with schools. We are ready to launch a program in

schools that would provide healthy fruits and vegetables to send home with kids. If we come in alongside what’s already there in those schools, we can further improve the health of children.” Well Fed is always in need of volunteers and partners. Whether volunteers would like to help feed communities, or whether local businesses would like to team up with Well Fed’s mission, Harris is thankful for any and all help. “We are always looking for those who want to come be ‘Food Heroes’ with us,” he exclaims. “Well Fed’s mission is to ensure that every man, woman and child has access to two vital things: nutritious food and nutrition education. Well Fed feeds, teaches and empowers families to eat, cook and live healthier. The fight against hunger will not be solved by simply handing out food — we must also equip families with tools to live healthy and whole.” For more information on Well Fed and to get involved, visit its website at wellfedar.org.

5 STAR Ratings Skilled Nursing Facility • 2 Courtyards • Cable System • Modern Furnishings • Private & Semi Private Rooms • State-of-the-Art Rehab Gym

• Restaurant Style Dining • Separate Rehab Dining • Hospice & Respite • Physical, Occupational, Speech Rehabs Offered

Medicare • Private Pay • All Major Private Insurance We are an 80 bed facility with both private and semi-private rooms. We offer Rehab services (PT, OT, and ST) as well as Long-Term Care.

121 Spring Valley Rd., Cabot, AR 72023 (501)605-1545 | Fax: (501)605-1505

Greystone

love

Tours available daily—call today to schedule yours!

Nursing and Rehab, LLC

www.GreystoneNursingAndRehab.com

AY Readers their home!

249,169 AY print readers plan to purchase products for their home monthly ... home furnishings, major home appliances, home trends, home improvements or home supplies.

- Circulation Verification Council Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2019

Photo by Rett Peek.

To advertise contact Heather Baker hbaker@aymag.com • 501.244.9700

aymag.com

INTRODUCING THE NEWEST PREEMINENT CLOTHING DESTINATION FOR THE MODERN GENTLEMEN 17711 Chenal Pkwy Little Rock, AR 72223 (501) 821-8005 QCLOTHIER.COM

LOCATED AT THE PROMENADE AT CHENAL ACROSS FROM THE APPLE STORE

2021 By Emily Beirne, Katie Zakrzewski and Dustin Jayroe Photos by Ebony Blevins, Jeffrey Fuller Freeman, Meredith Mashburn, Mark Mondier, David Yerby and Jamison Mosley

For years, AY About You has produced an annual listing of accomplished Arkansas women every October, known simply as AY’s Intriguing Women. This month, AY is proud to present the second annual special section of its brother to Intriguing Women: AY’s Men of Distinction. This exclusive listing highlights Arkansas men who have distinguished themselves from the crowd. It is both a celebration and elevation of the original talents and traits that the men of Arkansas possess — no matter the vocation. Our broad brush serves as an example that there is not just one way to find success in a state as diverse and rich with talent as Arkansas, nor is there one mold to fit to distinguish yourself from the crowd. We hope you enjoy reading each of these unique stories of success.

2021

Jim English, MD, FACS, FICS “DON’T GIVE LESS THAN WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF, EVEN IF IT COSTS YOU MORE THAN YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY.” |OCCUPATION| Facial Plastic & Body Cosmetic Surgeon, English Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Center |EDUCATION| Bryant High School; University of Arkansas at Little Rock; University of Arkansas School of Medicine Triple Board Certified: American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery American Board of Cosmetic Surgery American Board of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery |HOME TOWN| Sardis |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| The Terrace-Mediterranean Kitchen Before Jim English began his extensive career in facial plastic and cosmetic surgery, he was just a boy doing chores on a farm in rural Arkansas. He credits his determination and values to his childhood and the work ethic that was instilled in him so early in life. After receiving his bachelor’s and medical degrees, he went on to complete a residency in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, and a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery as well as a third board in body cosmetic surgery. From farm boy to cosmetic surgeon, English holds fast to his faith.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: Being accepted into medical school in 1976.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” “A good man, out of good treasure, bringeth forth good things.” (Matthew 12:35)

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Authentic humility translated as “controlled power.”

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Being a parent of an amazing daughter and training 25 surgeons at my facility over my professional tenure.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Seeing the confidence restored in my aesthetic patients through the surgical skill set that I have been blessed to have achieved.

PERSONAL MOTTO: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

PERSON YOU ADMIRE THE MOST: The author and finisher of the Christian faith, Jesus Christ. He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher. Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned put together have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one, solitary life.

2021

Chris Fowler “I’M LIVING A DREAM.”

|OCCUPATION| President, Fowler Foods, Inc. |HOMETOWN| Key West, Florida |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Hank’s (Key West) |FAVORITE BEER| Miller Lite Chris Fowler’s mother and father, Jama and Wallace Fowler, founded the family business of Fowler Foods, Inc. in 1965 with the purchase of one KFC, and by 1985 the company owned 93 KFC restaurants. The family sold all but four restaurants before Jama and Wallace retired from the business, but Chris has brought the number back to its former glory. He believes that the way he builds and nurtures relationships is among the main reasons for his success, learning that working to have good relationships — be it family, friends or at work — truly sets one apart from others and has helped make him a better person.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” In my mind, being a “good man” means being there for others, always keeping your word and helping others whenever possible.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I am most proud of my family. Being a husband, dad and granddad is my greatest accomplishment. A close second would be continuing and growing the business that my parents worked so hard to build.

SURPRISING FACT: I collect Corvettes. Two were purchased through the Corvette Museum Delivery Program. My wife, Kim, our friends Kristy and Kurt Reed, and I toured the National Corvette Museum, and I was able to drive the cars off the museum floor.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: As a KFC franchisee and Fowler Foods, Inc. president for 35-plus years, I have had the opportunity to work with some incredible people within our own organization and the KFC system. People are what I love most about my job.

PERSON YOU ADMIRE MOST: The person I admire most is my mom. She always worked right alongside my dad in all their businesses in leadership roles during a time when women were not as involved in business. She has always been smart, successful and driven.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: One of the key lessons I learned from the pandemic was the ability to adapt in our work environment. The pandemic completely changed our restaurant operations. Our dining lobbies were closed, and we began to operate as drive-thru-only restaurants.

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOU? In 2012, I was diagnosed with cancer. I decided to allow this experience to shape me into a better person by truly valuing those close to me, being there for others and living life to the fullest.

2021

Chris Freeman “PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION.” |OCCUPATION| President, CRF Logistics |HOMETOWN| Fort Smith |FAVORITE BAR| 906 Cocktail and Cigar Lounge |FAVORITE BEER| Dos Equis Few successful entrepreneurs are better examples of persistence than Chris Freeman. Now the president of his own trucking company, CRF Logistics, Freeman applied lessons learned from prior business ventures to become what he is today. He also drew from his experience in the transportation industry to grow CRF Logistics to 21 trucks in just a few years. Freeman proves that anything is possible with grit and determination no matter where you start in life. Regardless of how much wider the net of his business ownership gets, he remains grounded in the most important part of his life: family.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: When I was 26, I took money that I made playing poker and bought my first investment property at an auction.

PERSON YOU ADMIRE MOST: I think Elon Musk is my biggest inspiration. I can’t even wrap my head around how he operates so many companies that have the potential to change how we live.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: My wife and I growing our business over the last four years through countless setbacks, including a pandemic that shut down the world for half of last year. It’s been tough, but I don’t regret it.

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOU? I tend to stay outside of my comfort zone. Because of that, I’ve spent the majority of my time dealing with major issues and learning how to fix them so we can keep moving forward. My self-confidence reflects that struggle.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I love the freedom to schedule my work around my family. My wife and I have been able to raise our daughter without missing any of her big milestones.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: Always operate as if everything can go away in an instant. We were lucky to have a strong team and great customers in place, but we definitely struggled when the world shut down.

REMEMBER ME FOR: My wife and daughter are the most important things in my life, and I hope I’m remembered as being a great husband and father. Everything I do is to make sure they are both taken care of, even if I’m no longer around.

2021

Greg Kendrick, MD

“NO MAN HAS A GOOD ENOUGH MEMORY TO BE A SUCCESSFUL LIAR.” — ABRAHAM LINCOLN |OCCUPATION| Internal Medicine Physician/Medical Director, Conway Regional Health System Hospitalist Program; Director, Conway Regional Internal Medicine Residency Program |EDUCATION| Ouachita Baptist University; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Vanderbilt University |HOMETOWN| Conway |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Stoby’s Restaurant Dr. Greg Kendrick epitomizes a lot of “American Dream” designations. His story is that of a hometown kid who came back to town to make a difference; after taking his talents to Arkadelphia, Little Rock and, ultimately, Nashville, Tennessee, Kendrick came right back to his hometown of Conway to put his education to good use for his community with the Conway Regional Health System. But through all the accolades and accomplishments, Kendrick works hard to never take for granted the most important parts of life — family. He and his wife, Jenifer, have been married for 27 years, and together they have three children. He believes that everything he’s achieved and has been gifted are blessings from God.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” Being a good man means loving other people more than you love yourself.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: The ability to not take yourself so seriously.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Starting and continuing the Conway Regional Hospitalist Program is probably the biggest success.

SURPRISING FACT: I love singing karaoke, and I have performed some funny songs.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I love being able to explain what is going on medically for people in terms that they can understand. People appreciate it when their physician takes the time to help them understand why they are sick.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: Life is fragile, and people have an innate need to be around other people.

PERSON YOU ADMIRE MOST: There are two men who have had the biggest impact on me. One is my dad, George. The other is my late father-in-law, Jim Hill. They both taught me how to love my family, how to be successful in life and how to be a dad.

2021

Jack “Matt” Lovelis “IT DOESN’T COST A DIME TO BE NICE.” |OCCUPATION| General Manager, Atlas Auto Auction |HOMETOWN| Key West, Florida |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Sonny Williams’ Steak Room |FAVORITE BEER| Miller Lite Matt Lovelis has always been a hard worker. His humility keeps him level headed and grounded, as he doesn’t consider himself better than anyone else — just a person who is driven and dedicated in life and business. One of his proudest personal superlatives is his loyalty to both his customers and his vendors, boasting that he “does business with the people who do business with me.” Both outside of and within the confines of his profession, he considers himself a people person, as one of his favorite pastimes is meeting new people, be it a new customer to walk through his doors or a new friend made in the community. If Lovelis had to pinpoint one area that distinguishes him from the rest, it would be his generosity and understanding.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: At age 22 when I entered the automobile industry.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” To me, a good man means having a relationship with God, being a good husband and father, and having respect for every person you know and meet.

SURPRISING FACT: I play guitar and sing a little. I’ve seen Cher in concert four times. And I used to own thoroughbred racehorses.

QUALITY YOU MOST ADMIRE IN MEN: Being a man “of your word.”

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: The people I get to meet and do business with.

REMEMBER ME FOR: Being a good guy.

ADVICE TO OTHERS: In anything worth pursuing, be determined and resilient.

2021

Ryan Orrell

“I’VE FAILED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN MY LIFE. AND THAT IS WHY I SUCCEED.” — MICHAEL JORDAN |OCCUPATION| Founder & CEO, Webmonster.com |EDUCATION| Lake Hamilton High School |HOMETOWN| Hot Springs |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Bleu Monkey Grill Ryan Orrell is used to conquering adversity. His desire to overcome challenges and to continue to learn is what led him to selling his first website. Orrell has always sought to better himself and the community around him. A former 911 dispatcher, former police officer, and self-taught web designer, it’s easy to say that Orrell has a diverse array of successes. He doesn’t carry himself with a sense of vanity or hubris, though, believing that all of his accomplishments stemmed from simply his grit and determination to never give up.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: I sold my first internet website for more than seven figures that I developed for only $250 in 2005. I built the website, quotemonster. com, to help people compare insurance quotes online. I developed the idea of consumers wanting multiple insurance quotes and charged the insurance carriers to give consumers their “free quote.”

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” Loyalty and honesty. I firmly believe a man is only as good as his word. I’m still a look you in the eye and handshake type of guy.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Work ethic, presence and the way they dress. The first thing I look at on another man are his shoes. Are they clean? Polished? Attention to detail.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Being a father to my daughter, Meadow. If a man is a father, this should be his greatest accomplishment in life.

SURPRISING FACT: Two things. One, I actually did not graduate high school. I failed my last semester of English due to an undiagnosed ADD condition. They let me walk, but there was no diploma inside. I got my GED. Two, I was once a K-9 Police Officer for the City of Hot Springs and 1995 “Rookie of the Year.”

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Helping small businesses succeed. At Webmonster.com, we’ve received 10 international awards from the Web Marketing Association on our web design. That comes from a place of LOVE in helping our clients succeed online.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: Build relationships with your clients and employees. It’s about servicing your customers and creating an atmosphere of love in the workplace. Using this philosophy, I didn’t lose ONE customer or ONE employee during this pandemic.

2021

Mike Preston

“SUCCESS IS NOT FINAL; FAILURE IS NOT FATAL: IT IS THE COURAGE TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTS.” — WINSTON S. CHURCHILL |OCCUPATION| Secretary, Arkansas Department of Commerce |EDUCATION| B.A., Political Science, University of Florida |HOMETOWN| Fort White, Florida; moved to Arkansas in April 2015 |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Kemuri |FAVORITE COCKTAIL| Whiskey on the rocks Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Mike Preston as executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commision in 2015 and Secretary of Commerce in 2019. He has traveled to Japan, China, France, Germany, Israel, Cuba, Mexico, Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Czech Republic, UAE, India, New York City and Silicon Valley for business recruitment, resulting in more than 500 companies locating or expanding in Arkansas, creating more than 23,000 new jobs and more than $10 billion in direct capital investment. Under the leadership of Preston and Hutchinson, Arkansas’ unemployment rate has stayed below or has mirrored the national average, even throughout the pandemic. Preston was selected to join The Wall Street Journal’s invitation-only CEO Council in 2018 for the opportunity to connect with some of the most influential leaders in the world. Preston is also an active volunteer in the community with the Easterseals Arkansas and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I’m most proud of being a father to our son, Pierce, and husband to my wife, Anne.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I love that I get to sell Arkansas as a business destination around the world.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: The pandemic taught us a lot. Looking back, I would say it prepared me better on always being ready to adjust to changing data and circumstances, and to do so quickly.

PERSON YOU ADMIRE MOST: I strongly admire President Abraham Lincoln for all that he endured throughout his life and was ultimately able to preserve. Then upon becoming president, he led in the most difficult years of our county’s history, and ultimately saved the nation.

FAVORITE HOBBIES: My hobbies are basketball, weightlifting and water skiing.

2021

Marshall Saviers “I TRULY BELIEVE YOU MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK.” |OCCUPATION| CEO, Principal, Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners |EDUCATION| B.B.A, Southern Methodist University |HOMETOWN| Little Rock |FAVORITE BAR| Maxine’s |FAVORITE BEER| Pale Ale or IPA Marshall Saviers is one of the most accomplished commercial real estate brokers in the state with close to 20 years of experience in the industry, and has been with Sage since its inception. Saviers has been involved in many of the largest investment sales transactions in the state of Arkansas, with an extensive client base consisting of many Fortune 500 companies. Now part of the Cushman & Wakefield Global Alliance, Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners remains locally owned, but with a global reach. Marshall was named CEO of the company in 2021, previously serving as president. When he’s not brokering multi-million dollar deals, Saviers enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid outdoorsman.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” A good man is one who puts his family first. Everything else is secondary or tertiary.

SURPRISING FACT: I’m a live music lover. Really any type, in any venue.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I love how every day is different and the constant problem solving. At Sage, we want to provide solutions and add value to our clients every day. That’s a lot of fun!

PERSON YOU ADMIRE MOST: My father. He has been a role model to not only our family but to many others as well.

ADVICE TO OTHERS: My advice is to just keep at it — there are no shortcuts. Eventually, those who keep grinding prevail.

PERSONAL MOTTO: I try to make every situation a “win-win.” It’s much better to go through life that way.

FAVORITE HOBBIES: Anything outdoors, especially fly fishing in wild spots around the world, floating on the Kings River, and duck hunting in the delta.

2021

John C. Collins, JD “I WOULD RATHER BE HAPPY THAN RIGHT.” |OCCUPATION| Partner, Collins, Collins & Ray, P.A. |EDUCATION| Juris Doctor |HOMETOWN| Hope |FAVORITE DRINK| Unsweetened tea John C. Collins has seen the law in every stage. After serving in the U.S. Army then working as a police officer in Texas, to working as a full-time attorney, Collins has seen his fair share of the legal system. Now, he’s eager to share his experiences with others through a nationwide speaking circuit about the law. Collins strives to embody a life of reason and hopes to share his kindness and knowledge with others.

WHAT IS A ‘GOOD MAN?’ To give back. I have had many successes, and it would mean nothing if I could not pay it forward and help others. A good man should always be willing to help others achieve their goals.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Kindness is an admirable quality.

SURPRISING FACT: I wrestled a bear in high school and was bitten by an ape in grade school. You have to love south Arkansas.

REMEMBER ME FOR: A dedicated and loving father, husband and friend. A person who acted based on reason not emotion. A person always eager to share knowledge with others. A person who was free with time and stingy with condemnation.

PERSONAL MOTTO: I would rather be happy than right. Not everyone needs to know you are right. Too many people are so consumed with being right that they evade happiness. One need only look at the comment section of an internet post to see this phenomenon.

2021

Brian Wayne Ray, JD “PEOPLE ARE ABOUT AS HAPPY AS THEY MAKE UP THEIR MINDS TO BE.” |OCCUPATION| Partner, Collins, Collins & Ray, P.A. |EDUCATION| Juris Doctor |HOMETOWN| Mountain Home |FAVORITE BAR| Dugan’s Pub Brian Wayne Ray may be an outspoken legal advocate at Collins, Collins & Ray, but his true nature is actually quiet and reserved. One might not guess that to be the case based on his career, or on his previous service in the Marines and in law enforcement. But Ray has learned, especially after the pandemic, that we are all fighting our own battles. He knows firsthand that empathy and gentleness will go a long way.

WHAT IS A ‘GOOD MAN?’ Good men strive to be exceedingly capable while remaining humble and kind. Human intelligence is far less rare than human empathy. To meet a person that is both intelligent and kind is to make a most welcome friend indeed.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Our clients undergo trying circumstances. Helping people get great legal outcomes while providing peace and comfort along the way is what I love the most about my work.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: People live in their minds more than they live in the real world. Now more than ever we should be more authentic and gentle with one another lest we forget we are all in this together

PERSON YOU ADMIRE MOST: For words, Ralph Waldo Emerson. For deeds, my wife, Trenda, who is a remarkable and exceptional human being.

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOU? I’ve learned that if anyone wants to understand the world better, take time to listen to the people in it and imagine walking a mile in their shoes. People may be walking a difficult path that we simply cannot see, and deserve our sympathy and understanding more than our judgment.

aymag.com

2021

Justin Zachary, JD

“FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY CAREER, I’VE TRIED TO NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE HIGHS OR THE LOWS.” |OCCUPATION| Attorney, Denton & Zachary, PLLC |EDUCATION| B.A., University of Memphis; J.D., UALR William H. Bowen School of Law |HOMETOWN| Memphis, Tennessee; moved to Little Rock in August 2007 for law school |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Kemuri Justin Zachary made Arkansas his home in 2007 when he attended law school in the Capital City. Since receiving his law license and a long list of successes in the courtroom, Zachary has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as a rising star — a recognition only 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state are awarded. He has also been named one of the Top 40 Under 40 trial lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. He was just recently named the 2021 Arkansas Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” Being a good man is having the humility to know you’re not a good man and accepting your flaws and mistakes and learning from them.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Balancing work and family is extremely hard. Running a business is hard and being a father can be even harder. When I see other men devote the passion into their family they have my admiration.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: The business of law is an adversarial business at heart. Despite the nature of the law business, I’m extremely proud of the relationships I’ve developed — both personal and professional. Some of my closest friendships are lawyers I’ve met from working on cases.

SURPRISING FACT: I don’t eat chocolate and don’t drink coffee.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB:

Pretty much all the clients that hire us are coming to us because something bad has happened and they don’t know what to do. To be able to help someone and provide them hope, oftentimes in the lowest time in their life, is extremely awarding.

2021

Joe Denton, JD “TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED.” |OCCUPATION| Attorney, Denton & Zachary, PLLC |EDUCATION| University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; UALR William H. Bowen School of Law |HOMETOWN| Jonesboro |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Capital Bar and Grill A Jonesboro native, Joe Denton received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and later attended law school in Little Rock. Denton has a personal injury practice, and he is passionate about giving voice to and representing injured Arkansans. He was just recently named the 2021 Arkansas Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: I had my first successful jury trial less than a year out of law school — and won! It was thrilling.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” To treat others with dignity and respect and raise my children to be kind and honest men.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: The ability to work hard and still prioritize family.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Being blessed with an incredible family and starting my law firm.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: I learned to slow down and feel a greater sense of gratitude for all of life’s blessings.

aymag.com

2021

Jake Keet “DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT GRUMBLING OR ARGUING, SO THAT YOU MAY BECOME BLAMELESS AND PURE, ‘CHILDREN OF GOD WITHOUT FAULT IN A WARPED AND CROOKED GENERATION.’ THEN YOU WILL SHINE AMONG THEM LIKE STARS IN THE SKY.” — PHILIPPIANS 2:14-15 |OCCUPATION| COO, JTJ Restaurants |EDUCATION| Florida State University |HOMETOWN| Little Rock |FAVORITE COCKTAIL| Gin and Tonic with lime Jake Keet is a decent Spanish speaker but is an expert at exploring nature with his wife and kids. As for the rest of the Keet family? Well, he sees them fairly often, as JTJ Restaurants is the family business. Outside of that, he tries to learn as much as he lives, and remain thankful for every part of life.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: I remember that I felt successful when I landed a job at CD Warehouse at age 17. Success is best measured by your happiness at a given point. Our business lives as a family have been extremely successful, which makes me very grateful.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” To be a good man should be measured in how you treat others and how well you love your family.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I am tremendously proud of the company that my brother, my father and I have built together. My wife Stephanie does all of the marketing, and I have been amazed at her abilities. It is great to build something together as a family.

SURPRISING FACT: I wrote a novel, The Disposable Assassin.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I love working with my family. I get to see my brother, my dad and my wife every day at work.

2021

Tommy Keet

“PERFECTION IS NOT ATTAINABLE, BUT IF WE CHASE PERFECTION WE CAN CATCH EXCELLENCE.” — VINCE LOMBARDI |OCCUPATION| Restaurateur, JTJ Restaurants |EDUCATION| Hendrix College; William H. Bowen School of Law |HOMETOWN| Little Rock |FAVORITE BEER| Busch Light Tommy Keet is a self-described “reformed attorney.” He practiced law for five years before hanging up his scale of justice to join the rest of his family with the JTJ Restaurants empire, which includes Petit & Keet, Cypress Social, and multiple Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe locations.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: We opened our first Taziki’s in September 2008; it took us 18 months to get consistently profitable. The time grinding for every dollar made the profits all the sweeter and taught me how to become a true restaurant operator.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: I appreciate when men don’t pretend to be perfect, but instead choose to learn from previous mistakes and commit to not making the same mistake again.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I am proud of the business we have built, but I am most proud of the opportunities that we have provided to people to support themselves and their families.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I love the ability to provide comfort in a time of need for people who have lost a loved one — donating food and giving a hug fills my heart, knowing that maybe I made that person’s day less stressful or a little brighter.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: It would take me a year to write them all out. Take care of your people (family, friends, employees, etc), but also take time for yourself and make sure that you are in a good place to lead mentally — don’t skip the gym or church or whatever you do to center yourself.

aymag.com

2021

Travis Hester “I WILL NOT LET ANYONE WALK THROUGH MY MIND WITH THEIR DIRTY FEET.” — GANDHI |OCCUPATION| President, Eat My Catfish |EDUCATION| Northwood University |HOMETOWN| East End |FAVORITE DRINK| Jalapeno Margarita Travis Hester left his home state of Arkansas to pursue a finance career in Dallas, but he ultimately returned to chase his future wife. When asked by his friends and family what his next move would be, Hester would reply, “I’m gonna sell catfish on the side of the road.” He bought a food trailer with no truck to pull it and no air conditioning in the middle of summer, but he did have his Mawmaw’s recipes. On his first day open, and with little experience cooking catfish, he sold out in under an hour. He now has six Eat My Catfish locations across the state with a fast-growing fanbase.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: My ability to make a positive impact on other people in their professional and personal lives.

ADVICE TO OTHERS: Establish your core values and vision early, stick to them, and explain them to the people around you often.

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOU? Approach everything as an opportunity for growth. Over the past 12 years, there has been a lot of trial and error, and I’ve learned the most important key is to turn every mistake into an avenue for growth.

REMEMBER ME FOR: As a servant leader who positively impacted people around him.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: How to create certainty for your team when you don’t even know that certainty exists.

2021

Drew Spurgers “THERE ARE FAR, FAR BETTER THINGS AHEAD THAN ANY WE LEAVE BEHIND.” — C. S. LEWIS |OCCUPATION| Owner/CEO, Kanga Studio |EDUCATION| B.B.A., M.B.A., University of Central Arkansas |HOMETOWN| North Dakota; moved to Arkansas in 1997 |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Wunderhaus Drew Spurgers prides himself on being an entrepreneur who works to live, rather than living to work. He loves what he does, but appreciates even more the opportunities his job affords him outside of the office like making a difference in his community and spending time with his husband of four years, Kevin.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Honesty and vulnerability.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Winning the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Young Business Leader” award in 2019.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: Slower pace is better! I don’t ever want to go back to as busy as I was before COVID. We have really enjoyed the time at home.

REMEMBER ME FOR: Making the world a better place and positively impacting those around me.

PERSON YOU ADMIRE MOST: I’d say the person I admire most is my husband, Kevin. I love the way he thinks so carefully about words and actions and how they’ll affect the people around him. He’s the most selfless person I know and has an infectious effect on people because he’s just a joy to be around.

2021

Chris Blackmon, DC “IT COMES DOWN TO A SIMPLE CHOICE, REALLY: GET BUSY LIVING OR GET BUSY DYING.” |OCCUPATION| Chiropractor, Blackmon Chiropractic Clinic |EDUCATION| University of Arkansas; Palmer College of Chiropractic |HOMETOWN| Little Rock |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Red Moon Tavern Dr. Chris Blackmon originally studied zoology at the University of Arkansas, but it didn’t take long for the family business to call his name at Blackmon Chiropractic Clinic. He followed the footsteps of the men before him, his father and uncle, and became a chiropractor in 1995. Blackmon is a board member at Catholic High School for Boys, his alma mater. Blackmon loves to sail, and one thing that people may not know about him is that he was a Razorback Cheerleader.

WHAT IS A ‘GOOD MAN?’ A faithful and loving husband, father, loyal friend, and one who lives with honesty and integrity.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Being honorable and keeping your word.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I can honestly say I enjoy getting up in the morning and going to work. I get to help people feel better and live fuller lives. I am also very proud to carry on the legacy that my dad started and his passion for his patients.

REMEMBER ME FOR: “If you want people to remember you a certain way, live your life the way you want to be remembered.” And that my family and friends would say, “I am a better person for knowing him.”

ADVICE TO OTHERS: Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is a critical part of a successful life. Follow your dreams, prepare, and work hard.

2021

Morgan Blair “YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OR YOU CAN MAKE EXCUSES, BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE BOTH.” |OCCUPATION| Sales Manager, LKQ Corporation |HOMETOWN| Benton |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Oceans at Arthur’s Looking back on his 39 years of life, Morgan Blair has a lot for which to be thankful. That certainly includes how proud he is to work for LKQ, but the forefront of his heart is occupied by his faith and his family. Blair and his wife, Jessica, were blessed with a son in 2016, and the trio are active members of the Church at Rock Creek.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Loyalty.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: My 4-year-old son, Barron. He is growing up to be the sweetest, loving and thoughtful young man.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I love how LKQ Corporation gives back to all of our local communities. I am “LKQ proud” — this simple statement drives everything we do. It speaks to pride in ourselves and each other, pride in the company, pride in our customers and pride in the communities in which we serve. Lately, we have been fortunate enough to sponsor Women’s Own Worth and also partner with local body shops to give away vehicles to families in need.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: Never take normalcy (or your health) for granted.

REMEMBER ME FOR: I would like to be remembered for being fair, honest and always treating people the way I would like to be treated.

aymag.com

2021

Dennis Bost “LIFE IS 10 PERCENT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU AND 90 PERCENT HOW YOU RESPOND TO IT.” – LOU HOLTZ |OCCUPATION| Insurance Agent, Dennis Bost State Farm |EDUCATION| University of Arkansas; Henderson State University |HOMETOWN| Arkadelphia |FAVORITE COCKTAIL| Whistle Pig on the Rocks Both life in insurance and as a family man came honestly for Dennis Bost, a second-generation State Farm agent. He’s ranked in the top 3 percent in the country in his field of work, but his proudest accomplishments are at home. Bost is a husband of 15 years and is dad to a son and daughter.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I get to be the helping hand to people when they are trying to recover from the unexpected. From losing their home to the loss of a loved one, being there for my clients is a special privilege.

PERSON YOU MOST ADMIRE: My dad, David Bost. From the time I was young, he modeled how to work hard and be a successful businessman. But even more than that, he instilled in me the importance of stepping back from your business to enjoy family and spending time in the outdoors regularly in order to maintain perspective.

PERSONAL MOTTO: To thine own self be true

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOU? I always say I am living proof the good Lord takes care of fools and idiots. There have been plenty of times I wanted my life to go in a direction I thought was the best that didn’t work out. Little did I know how much better His plan was!

FAVORITE HOBBIES: I love being outdoors. I truly believe spending time in nature is therapeutic. Bowhunting for big game, fly fishing and duck hunting are some of my favorite activities.

2021

Reggie Clow “THE SECRET OF LIFE IS TO FALL SEVEN TIMES AND TO GET UP EIGHT TIMES.” |OCCUPATION| Owner, Sharlow Builders & Developers, LLC |EDUCATION| B.S., University of Arkansas at Little Rock |HOMETOWN| Little Rock |FAVORITE DRINK| Scotch on the Rocks Reggie Clow has always been the type to plan his work and work his plan. As the successful owner of Sharlow Builders & Developers and husband to a successful business owner, Clow’s hard work and determination in both his business life and family life have played a pivotal role in who he is today. Clow spends his spare time with family, friends, various social and charitable events within the communities of Little Rock and Hot Springs, hunting, and fishing.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: In 1983 at the age of 18, I was partnered up with a group of individuals to help form a retail establishment called Hot Tub Harry’s. I learned about being a business owner hands-on while still in college, and it was then I knew I wanted to work with people and be my own boss.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Character and integrity.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I am most proud of my marriage and being a good role model and stepdad to our son, Nelson.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: Friends and family are extremely important — you are never promised tomorrow, and in some cases, less is more.

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOU: Being surrounded by various influential people I have had the opportunity to meet. I have learned from their experiences how to be a better person and more compassionate towards others. If you work hard toward achieving your goals, you will receive great rewards. And to always stay humble and never forget where you come from.

2021

Greg Cole

“IF YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND HAVE DEDICATION AND PRIDE – AND NEVER QUIT – YOU’LL BE A WINNER. THE PRICE OF VICTORY IS HIGH BUT SO ARE THE REWARDS.” — PAUL “BEAR” BRYANT |OCCUPATION| President/CEO, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services |EDUCATION| Arkansas State University; LSU Graduate School of Banking |HOMETOWN| Harrisburg |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Sam & Harry’s (Washington, D.C.) Greg Cole is a subscriber to the idea that you are only as good as those you surround yourself with. The Bible says that “iron sharpens iron,” and one of his paramount passions is learning from others on his quest to be better each and every day.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: Receiving my college internship with the Farm Credit Bank of St. Louis which started my 37-year career with Farm Credit.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: In addition to my family, I am proud of having the opportunity to lead the state’s largest agricultural lender.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Being able to leverage my passion of coaching and growing people and serving those in agriculture and rural America.

REMEMBER ME FOR: My faith in God, the love I have for my wife, two sons and family and my passion for people.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Make something happen every day.

2021

Steven F. Collier, M.D.

Dr. Steven Collier has dedicated his life to medicine and the development of ARcare. Dr. Collier has played a pivotal role in creating access to medical care in the Natural State. Dr. Collier believes his experience and the expertise of his colleagues has been helpful over the last year, especially during the pandemic.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: The formation and development of ARcare over the last 40 years. The values I started with on the first day, seeing all patients regardless of their ability to pay, carries through all our clinics throughout the three states.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: The pandemic was a crash course for everyone in population health. It was a reminder that we view the health of our local communities with a global perspective. I am proud that ARcare served our patients through the hardest days.

REMEMBER ME FOR: As someone who established a health care system that provides quality management of the health care needs of thousands of patients regardless of their ability to pay and as willing to provide medical care to everyone, including the least, the last, and the lost.

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOU? My small-town upbringing and my college experience at Baylor University helped mold me. I love the strong sense of community one gets from being involved in a small town. At Baylor, I was able to find my calling.

FAVORITE HOBBIES: The hobby I enjoy most is travel, especially foreign travel, for the fun, excitement and adventure, but also it clarifies my thinking. Other hobbies I enjoy are cycling and walking, along with spectator sports, especially football and basketball.

2021

Nate Coulter

“FOR OF THOSE TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED.” — JOHN F. KENNEDY |OCCUPATION| Executive Director, Central Arkansas Library System |EDUCATION| A.B., Harvard University; J.D., Harvard Law School JD; MLIS, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |HOMETOWN| Nashville, Arkansas |FAVORITE BEER| Flyway Bluewing Nate Coulter is the ambitious executive director of the Central Arkansas Library System. A graduate of Harvard, Coulter has spent the entirety of his life as a go-getter, determined to accomplish any goals he sets. Coulter shares that as he’s grown older and gotten a little wiser, he has worked to balance his ambition with more humility.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: My three grown children, but with the important qualification that my contributions to their being compassionate, productive citizens, have been in concert with those of their mom, other family members, friends and teachers. It does take a village!

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I get to work with a lot of smart people who are passionately devoted to the egalitarian serviceoriented mission of the public library that transforms lives and strengthens our democracy.

REMEMBER ME FOR: As a person who engaged with substance without taking himself too seriously, who was steady and dependable, and who was open-minded enough to continue learning and changing.

PERSONAL MOTTO: I recently heard a definition of “mindfulness” that I liked: “Trying to hover objectively above one’s emotions and feelings.” I’m trying to be more intentional about noting and expressing gratitude for the people and occasions that enrich my life daily.

ADVICE TO OTHERS: Find role models to look up to who will field your questions and give candid advice. And develop friendships with people who have different perspectives and lived experiences from yours.

2021

E. Scot Davis

“I BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GIFT TO CREATE A VISION OF SUCCESS, TO COMMUNICATE IT WITH PASSION, AND HELP OTHERS ALONG THE WAY TO DEVELOP PERSONAL GROWTH IN THEIR LIVES.” |OCCUPATION| CEO, Arkansas Urology |EDUCATION| B.A., M.P.A., Memphis State University; M.B.A., Christian Brothers University |HOMETOWN| Memphis, Tennessee; moved to Arkansas in 1999 |FAVORITE COCKTAIL| Vodka Martini (up, shaken, very cold, with three olives) E. Scot Davis is a third-generation Sicilian; his greatgreat-grandparents emigrated from Terrasini, Sicily, in 1912 to the United States. Davis is passionate about life and is driven to make a difference in the lives of others — both personally and professionally.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: When I moved to Jonesboro to become a chief financial officer of a prestigious multi-specialty physician practice. I learned so much in my 13 years there, lessons that I carry with me today.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Kindness, integrity, a sense of humor and honesty.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: My commitment to philanthropy and giving back to the community. I have been blessed beyond measure — returning those blessings is a joy.

SURPRISING FACT: I learned how to juggle during the pandemic.

ADVICE TO OTHERS: Swim like a whale, swallowing everything, and what remains will feed your soul. Always keep learning, growing, expanding your horizons — you never know what is just around the corner.

2021

Ray Ellen “DON’T WISH IT WAS EASIER, WISH YOU WERE BETTER. DON’T WISH FOR LESS PROBLEMS, WISH FOR MORE SKILLS. DON’T WISH FOR LESS CHALLENGES, WISH FOR MORE WISDOM.” — JIM ROHN |OCCUPATION| Owner, Pixel Properties Realty |EDUCATION| B.S., University of Arkansas |HOMETOWN| Bryant |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Oceans at Arthur’s Just as much as Ray Ellen is an entrepreneur, he’s even more proud to be a family man, first and foremost. The veteran of the Arkansas real estate industry has been married to his college sweetheart for 15 years, with whom he has four children.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: I grew up competing in martial arts tournaments. Due to our work ethic, putting in extra time with our forms and sparring, we would always place and usually get two first place trophies. The early success showed me a direct correlation to working hard and achieving a goal.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: A man who does what he says he is going to, even after discovering that the cost of going through with and honoring his word is greater than anticipated shows deep character.

SURPRISING FACT: I love to cook and bake! I would always help my mom make desserts, birthday cakes and cookies. She gave me a love for creating amazing food. From making my kids’ birthday cakes to having friends over for sushi night, I’m a lifelong foodie.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: On the consumer side, I really enjoy creating a wonderful home selling and home buying experience for our clients. On the real estate brokerage side, I love teaching and coaching agents to achieve their goals in the real estate industry.

ADVICE TO OTHERS: There are no shortcuts to success. It takes perseverance and continued hard work to “make it,” especially as a real estate agent and entrepreneur.

2021

Jim Engelhorn “WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN OR THINK YOU CAN’T … YOU’RE RIGHT.” — HENRY FORD |OCCUPATION| Little Rock Store Manager, Sissy’s Log Cabin |EDUCATION| B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign; Gemologist Diploma, GIA |HOMETOWN| Bloomington, Illinois; moved to Arkansas in September 2017 |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Bruno’s Little Italy A cut above the rest, Jim Engelhorn has a total of 39 years of experience in the jewelry business and sales management under his belt with bachelor of science degree, multiple certifications from the Gemological Institute of America and a Diamonds Graduate. The most important gems in his life are his wife, two kids, and dogs Bogey and Louie.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” The conscious decision to try to do the right thing every day, and when you fail, you make amends.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Resiliency.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: My sobriety — Feb. 27, 2010. Without it nothing is possible. With it, everything is.

SURPRISING FACT: I am a DIY maniac. My wife, Laura, and I have remodeled our home top to bottom almost completely without outside contractors.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I get to serve people at the happiest times of their lives, and I actually get paid for it. And, when someone is unhappy, I’m uniquely qualified to fix it.

2021

Rick Fleetwood, MPA

“IF IT WAS ANY BETTER, I COULDN’T STAND IT.” |OCCUPATION| Retired |EDUCATION| Master of Public Administration |HOMETOWN| Monette |FAVORITE COCKTAIL| Martini Rick Fleetwood definitely earned his recent transition into retired life. And he is “loving it.” The former CEO of Snell Prosthetics & Orthotics has an accolades list a mile long, such as his Heroes of Hope Award from Centers for Youth and Families and being named Arkansan of the Year by Arkansas Easter Seals in 2020. No matter the many recognitions that found him, however, he’s always been far more interested in helping others, devoting much of his time to serving on dozens of boards and helping his community.

BEST PART OF LIFE: Either working or retired, I love trying to make a difference in any and as many ways that I can. To enhance the quality of life of a man, woman or child makes my day. We deserve the community we have — get out and make a difference.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: How vulnerable we are/how much we need each other. I give thanks to all individuals who have done their part to ensure the health and well-being of their fellow man. We must learn how to respect each other in all manners (health, religion, sex and opinions).

REMEMBER ME FOR: I pray that when people may think of me they may say, “He made a difference in so many lives, and Arkansas is better today because of him.”

ADVICE TO OTHERS: Learn and appreciate the past but make your own “footprints.” Never give up and try to help others on the way up. When you do succeed, do not forget who helped you.

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOU: I have stood on the shoulders of giants and have been blessed to know, work with and make a difference with so many inspirational individuals.

2021

John P. Gaudin “I HAVE DECIDED TO STICK TO LOVE … HATE IS TOO GREAT A BURDEN TO BEAR.” — MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. |OCCUPATION| Investment Advisor, Argenta Wealth Management |EDUCATION| University of Louisiana |HOMETOWN| St. Martinville, Louisiana; moved to Arkansas in 1982 |FAVORITE COCKTAIL| Martini A life of wealth and luxury didn’t come naturally for John Gaudin. But with an attitude rooted in perseverance, dedication and steadfastness, Gaudin was able to pave his own path and establish himself as a role model for others.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: Growing up poor and being the seventh of eight kids, I somehow managed to always be the first at Mama’s dinner pots full of gumbo and jambalaya.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” I believe a great man must have integrity, generosity of spirit and resources, a grateful attitude about his gifts, and lives a life of responsibility and truth.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I’m proud that I have somehow accumulated the most interesting and talented friends a person could ever want. Professionally, I’m most proud of the initiatives I’ve cofounded, such as the Argenta Arts District, the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, and my firm, Argenta Wealth Management.

REMEMBER ME FOR: When all is said and done, I hope I’ll be remembered as a good friend with a generous heart and easy laugh.

ADVICE TO OTHERS: I’m not sure there is an etched-in-stone path. Some might say I’m a visionary, but that only gets you so far. I’ve been able to act on a variety of my ideas with partners, hard work, determination and a lot of luck.

2021

Todd R. Gold

“DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.” |OCCUPATION| Director of Food and Beverage, Saracen Development LLC & Saracen Casino Resort |HOMETOWN| Little Rock |FAVORITE COCKTAIL| 1806 Casamigos Anejo Old Fashioned Todd Gold is one of the most accomplished and acclaimed culinary names in Arkansas. He has served as president and owner of Purple Cow Restaurants and was the associate dean and south site director at the University of ArkansasPulaski Technical College for more than a decade, among many other notable endeavors. He currently serves as the director of food and beverage at the Saracen Casino Resort and is the president of the American Culinary Federation, Central Arkansas Chapter.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: Before I left for culinary school, I was promoted to kitchen manager at Bruno’s Little Italy. After receiving a key and alarm code, my new responsibilities were to go in early each morning and open, start the sauces and prepare things for lunch service.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” Good men are those who use their God-given talents to work hard in their careers and their community, while simultaneously making time for their children.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: In my younger years, I struggled academically. I remember my grandfather telling me, “Not solely academics but hard work and giving it your all will always lead you down a path to success.” This is the path that I took professionally, while also ultimately excelling academically. I’m extremely proud of my grandfather’s words of wisdom and feel that his guidance and life advice 100 percent shaped my achievements.

SURPRISING FACT: I have dyslexia and attention deficit disorder (ADD). Interestingly enough, many others in the hospitality industry have the same issues. We have found that this industry is actually a great place for those of us who are not happy if we do not have multiple irons in the fire at all times!

LESSON LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: Always be ready to pivot. Meet your customers and employees where they are. Admittedly, I’ve always been a bit of a germaphobe, so it’s nice to have company now.

2021

Terry C. Hartwick “RAY FUREIGH MADE ME BETTER THAN I WANTED TO BE.” — TERRY C. HARTWICK |OCCUPATION| Mayor of North Little Rock |EDUCATION| University of Central Arkansas |COCKTAIL| Crown and Diet Coke |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Riverfront Steakhouse Terry Hartwick just entered his second stint as the mayor of North Little Rock, his hometown. He previously served on the post from 1985-89. Between then and now, Hartwick served as the president and CEO of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce for 15 years, and then served as the director of the North Little Rock Parks and Recreation department. By trade, his lifelong dedication to public service is well documented. But that essence of who he is dates back even before his life in the public arena, as Hartwick also proudly served in the U.S. Air Force, and he is a Veterans of Foreign Wars member.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: I hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, at age 12, to win the District Little League Championship.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Truthfulness and persistence; a man who provides for his family.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Creating the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I get to make a difference.

FAVORITE HOBBIES: The beach and golf.

2021

Matt House

“WE ARE WHAT WE REPEATEDLY DO. EXCELLENCE, THEN, IS NOT AN ACT, BUT A HABIT.” — WILL DURANT |OCCUPATION| Lawyer, James, House, Swann & Downing, P.A. |EDUCATION| Hendrix College; UALR William H. Bowen School of Law |HOMETOWN| Born and raised in Oklahoma; moved to Arkansas in 1992 |FAVORITE DRINK| The sweeter and bigger the umbrella, the better. Matt House’s primary law practice areas are estate, trust, probate and inheritance litigation (what he calls “wealth wars”); business and contract disputes; and family law matters. When not at the office, he enjoys downtown living, working out, traveling, reading and playing tennis.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Hard work and self-discipline. I like what Alabama football coach Nick Saban calls “The Process” — focusing upon what you can control (good daily habits, attention to detail, doing your best) instead of what you can’t control (the outcome).

REMEMBER ME FOR: Being a loving and devoted father, a good and ethical lawyer, and a flawed but fundamentally good person who loved people and left the world a little better than he found it.

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOU? I’ve grown more from my mistakes and failures than from my successes and victories.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: I learned to never take the small things for granted, much less the big things. I also developed a greater appreciation for the role and importance of science.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: My proudest accomplishment is co-founding Harmony Health Clinic, a local nonprofit providing free medical and dental care to uninsured and underserved local residents, and staffed by volunteer professionals in a unique atmosphere of caring, compassion, respect, dignity and diversity.

2021

Casey Jones

“A PESSIMIST SEES THE DIFFICULTY IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY; AN OPTIMIST SEES THE OPPORTUNITY IN EVERY DIFFICULTY.” – WINSTON CHURCHILL |OCCUPATION| Realtor, The Janet Jones Company |HOMETOWN| Little Rock |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Cheers Casey Jones has been in the real estate business for more than three decades, and during that time has forged a legacy like no other. He has been named the Top Agent in the state on multiple occasions and has amassed a number of other statewide accolades in the field, such as the Distinguished Sales and Marketing Achievement Award. Jones has also served on the boards of directors for Baptist Health and Soaring Wings Ranch.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: Becoming the top producer at The Janet Jones Company.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Integrity, loyalty, faith and honor.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: In my personal life, my family. In my professional life, the friendships that have developed over 35 years of helping families find the perfect place to call home here in Little Rock.

BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: The people I work with at The Janet Jones Company are second to none. Janet and Bud Jones are extraordinary, and we truly have a family atmosphere that extends beyond business. Our business philosophy of teamwork and cooperation makes for a supportive and positive work environment, and is a key component of our success.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: The pandemic emphasized how important our home environment is for healthy living. It made people more mindful of having the amenities that enable them to enjoy spending more quality time at home. Most importantly, it gave us strong appreciation for good health, and reemphasized the responsibility to take care of each other.

2021

Matt Jones, JD, CFP® “DO THE RIGHT THING.”

|OCCUPATION| President/Wealth Advisor, Legacy Capital |EDUCATION| B.S.B.A., University of Arkansas; J.D., UALR William H. Bowen School of Law |HOMETOWN| Searcy |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Petit & Keet Matt Jones believes that we learn more from our failures and disappointments than from our successes. In his noteworthy career, he’s had plenty of experience with both. Jones lives all aspects of his life with passion and drive. As he has aged, his faith and maturity have helped him to channel these traits in more positive ways including serving and investing in others, leading Legacy Capital and raising his kids.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: My first professional experience was clerking jobs while in law school. I was able to receive offers and work at three of the largest and most prestigious law firms in Arkansas during school.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” To be someone who has and displays integrity and honesty in all aspects of life, and looks out for the needs of others above self. I believe that requires you to have a moral code that you believe deeply in and strive to live by each day.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Integrity — that to me means a man who honors his commitments, treats others with respect and does what is right regardless of the cost.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Having raised three kids who are all young adults now and knowing they have been raised with a faith and set of values that will hopefully guide them through the rest of their lives.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: The personal relationships that I have developed over the years with many of our firm’s clients, as well as their other professional advisors. I have the great blessing of advising and working with several amazing entrepreneurs and families. I have definitely learned a lot more from my clients than they have learned from me!

2021

Justin Keener “FIRST, DO NO HARM.” — HIPPOCRATES

|OCCUPATION| Home Builder, Hartness Construction Co. |EDUCATION| B.S.E., University of Arkansas |HOMETOWN| Little Rock |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Table 28 Justin Keener joined the Hartness Construction team in 2005 to work alongside his mother, Brenda, at the head of the company. The mother-and-son duo have a combined experience of over 50 years in the home building industry. Keener is also a life director on the board of the Home Builders Association of Greater Little Rock, where he also served as president in 2016.

FIRST TASTES OF SUCCESS: The first paycheck I received outside of the family farm: $30/day hauling tomatoes from the field. Hot work but great money for a 14 year old.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: My three kids — and convincing my wife to marry me.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: The entire process of working with clients to achieve their vision for their home. Whether they come to me on the front end of a custom project or they come to me later in the process, the collaboration to get to the ideal finished product is very satisfying.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: The construction industry is the most resilient part of our economy.

FAVORITE HOBBIES: Golf and duck hunting — I’m not very good at either of them, but really enjoy doing both.

2021

Clint Lancaster “I AM A TERRIBLE QUITTER, I ABSOLUTELY HATE LOSING, AND I FIND A WAY TO SUCCEED EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE ALL HOPE IS LOST.” |OCCUPATION| Attorney, The Lancaster Law Firm, PLLC |EDUCATION| B.A., University of Arkansas at Little Rock; J.D., UALR William H. Bowen School of Law |HOMETOWN| Benton |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Kiyen’s Clint Lancaster’s path to opening his own law firm was not what some would call a conventional journey. From professional bull rider to U.S. Marine to an Arkansas CLEST certified police officer and field training officer, Lancaster finally found himself making that jump to law school. His law career included more than 2,000 cases, numerous awards and recognitions and a list of high-profile clients.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: When I married my wife during my third year of law school.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” To love my wife like Christ loves the church and to teach my girls what they should expect from a man by the way I treat them and their mother.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Patience because I have none.

PERSONAL MOTTO: “I can’t” is an excuse for quitting. I tell my girls almost weekly that they are Lancasters and can do anything.

SURPRISING FACT: I have represented reality TV stars, politicians, and professional athletes.

2021

Chad Matone, DDS

“WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN OR THINK YOU CAN’T, YOU’RE RIGHT.” — HENRY FORD |OCCUPATION| Dentist, Founder/Owner, Arkansas Dental Centers |EDUCATION| University of Central Arkansas; University of Tennessee College of Dentistry |HOMETOWN| Decatur, Illinois; moved to Arkansas in 1995 |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| 501 Prime Dr. Chad Matone has been a practicing dentist for 15 years. In addition to owning and operating 15 locations of his dental practice across Arkansas, he continues to work in the clinic five days a week to continue providing hands-on care to his patients. And while he loves his job, his biggest loves are at home — his wife, Lacy, and their three children.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” Being a good man goes far beyond success in business. A good man is defined by character, morals and ethics. A good man is measured through his family and friends, and the type of impact he has on them.

SURPRISING FACT: Becoming a dentist and building Arkansas Dental Centers was not my first career. I was a physical therapist for seven years, and while my focus was helping people improve their physical capabilities, I saw how oral health impacted patients’ ability to eat, speak and live comfortably. That inspired me to make quality dentistry accessible in Arkansas.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Be it my personal practice or one of the Arkansas Dental Centers locations, my motto has always been “Do good work and treat people right. Everything else will take care of itself.”

ADVICE TO OTHERS: Strap on your seat belt. Work hard. Surround yourself with the best support team. Build people up. Take the blame and share the credit. Read all you can. Never stop learning.

HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOU? Failures shape you more than success. Life will always present challenges; it isn’t always easy and isn’t supposed to be. How you respond to life’s challenges, however, is what sets you apart. aymag.com

2021

Stan McLellan

“WORK LIKE IT IS TOTALLY UP TO YOU, BUT PRAY LIKE IT IS UP TO GOD.” |OCCUPATION| President & Principal Broker, McLellan & Associates |EDUCATION| BSBA, University of Arkansas |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Señor Tequila Faith is a way of life and the way to live for Stan McLellan of the real estate group McLellan & Associates. And that life has begun to come full circle for the veteran of the industry; just as his grandfather taught him the words of Christ and the importance of loving the Lord, now McLellan is a “g-dad” himself, teaching his five grandchildren some of those same lessons.

WHAT IS A ‘GOOD MAN?’ To be a good man means you do the right thing, you treat others as you would have them treat you and not just what is good for you.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: I most admire courteous and respectful responses from other men.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I love the freedom I enjoy in my job; freedom to go and do as I want to do.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: I learned how important having a loving wife that I enjoy being around is.

REMEMBER ME FOR: Being a man who loved the Lord and lived by the Golden Rule, a loving father and husband, and a loved granddad.

2021

Kellee McCoy “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A ‘SELF-MADE MAN.’ WE ARE MADE UP OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS.” — GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS |OCCUPATION| CEO, Argenta Counseling |EDUCATION| B.A., Ouachita Baptist University; M.S., John Brown University |HOMETOWN| Benton |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Brood & Barley Kellee McCoy, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), started Argenta Counseling in 2017 as the sole practitioner. The practice has since grown to include 36 therapists, four full-time office employees and four locations. McCoy is trained in a multitude of areas for adolescents, adults, families and couples, and recently founded the nonprofit Every Child Arkansas.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” The men I respect are secure enough to show dignity to the powerless, are driven by their values over their ego and are honest about their shortcomings.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Courage, kindness and generosity.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Successfully blending a family and launching children into adulthood.

SURPRISING FACT: Starting in the fall, my wife and I will become parttime van-lifers living weeks at a time, mostly on the West Coast.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Helping the helpers help more people.

2021

Charles Donald Morgan “DON’T GIVE UP AND DO MAKE IT HAPPEN.” |OCCUPATION| Chairman & CEO, First Orion Corp |EDUCATION| University of Arkansas; Sewanee: The University of the South |HOMETOWN| Fort Smith |FAVORITE DRINK| Woodford Reserve Before his current endeavor with First Orion Corp, Charles Morgan was the longtime CEO of Acxiom from 1972 to 2008. His experience in data science and information technology rivals those of Silicon Valley. Morgan currently serves on the board of Inuvo and was recently given the Lifetime Achievement Award from Marketing EDGE.

WHAT IS A ‘GOOD MAN?’ I wouldn’t limit it to “man.” To be a good person, I think, means striving to do good works while helping people along the way. I’ve done that at Acxiom and First Orion. I’m defined by the people around me.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: I most admire people who’re trying to do the right thing — looking after their families and the people they work with, being honest and trustworthy. When they promise you something, you can count on it. There’s substance behind their words.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I’m proud of living up to the responsibility of building a large company like Acxiom. But I’m proudest of having helped create the opportunity for folks to raise and educate their families while having great careers right here in Arkansas.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I’m a problem solver — to me there’s nothing more exciting than wrestling with technology problems. At First Orion, we’re working to solve one of the world’s biggest — how to give people back their cell phone communication by cutting out the scammers.

FAVORITE HOBBIES: I love any high-tech gadget that’s got power and wheels. When I was younger, I raced sportscars and flew jets. And now that I’ve got a place in the country, my new passion is pushing boulders around on my bulldozer.

2021

Mark ‘Willy’ Pickhardt, MD “A SHIP IS SAFEST IN PORT, BUT THAT IS NOT WHY A SHIP IS BUILT.” |OCCUPATION| Urologic Surgeon, Highlands Oncology |EDUCATION| University of Arkansas; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Indiana University-Purdue University |HOMETOWN| Fayetteville |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Columbus House Brewery Mark Pickhardt has lived the majority of his life in Fayetteville. He grew up there, attended the University of Arkansas in his hometown for his bachelor’s, earned his doctorate at UAMS in Little Rock, then moved on to Indiana University-Purdue University for his urologic surgery residency. He is now back in Fayetteville as the first urologist at Highlands Oncology.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” A “good man” is someone I would entrust with the care of a loved one. It’s a culmination of traits, whether that’s an ability to communicate, one’s own personal intelligence, or their bedside manner.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Humility. We are all very prideful individuals, but we have to recognize our own limitations and inexperience at times.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Since moving back to Northwest Arkansas, we have started the region’s first multidisciplinary Genitourinary Tumor Conference at Highlands Oncology. Collaborations like these are the key to the future of oncology.

SURPRISING FACT: I was previously a triathlete who competed internationally for Team USA. I trained and raced with individuals whom have since been Olympic gold medalists.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: The evolution of the field. Every week, new guidelines and new technology are pushed out that can completely change the dynamics of how you follow, treat or manage a diagnosis. This requires a lifelong commitment to education to constantly ensure the best for your patients.

2021

Aaron Michel Pilkington “I HAVE ONLY ONE LIFE TO LIVE, AND I WANT TO USE IT HELPING THE PEOPLE OF ARKANSAS.” |OCCUPATION| State Representative; Vice President of Operations, ARcare |EDUCATION| B.A., Washington & Jefferson College, M.H.A., University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences |HOMETOWN| Mena |FAVORITE BAR| Country Monks Brewing Rep. Aaron Pilkington is currently serving his third term in the Arkansas House, representing the 69th District, which encompasses portions of Johnson and Pope counties. Pilkington is proud to devote the majority of his professional time and energy to the state of Arkansas, while still being a devout man of faith and family.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” To be a good man is to be a Godly man who knows how he should order his life — in a way that the things that are truly meaningful are the priority.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Having a clear vision. I admire men who can lay out an idea, have a plan and know what they need to do to make it happen.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I would say my son is currently the accomplishment I’m most proud of. A second would be creating the PASSE program in Arkansas; being a 26-year-old legislator and pushing that massive piece of reform through was a great accomplishment.

SURPRISING FACT: To de-stress I do puzzles; it really helps me straighten out my thoughts.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: That those working in rural health care would truly do anything for the communities they serve. As vice president of operation with ARcare, I was blown away by our employees’ commitment to their fellow citizens.

2021

Austin Samuelson

“QUIT LIVING AS IF THE PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO ARRIVE SAFELY AT DEATH. SET GOD-SIZED GOALS. PURSUE GOD-ORDAINED PASSIONS.” — MARK BATTERSON |OCCUPATION| Co-Founder, CEO, Tacos 4 Life |EDUCATION| Ouachita Baptist University |HOMETOWN| Vilonia |FAVORITE DRINK| A great cup of coffee Not many people can claim to have lived life like Austin Samuelson has. He married his high school sweetheart and best friend, Ashton, with whom he has four boys and a restaurant empire bigger than either of them could have dreamed. They started Tacos 4 Life in 2014 to help fight world hunger, and to date have donated more than 19,000,000 meals for children in need worldwide.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is working with our team at Tacos 4 Life to build our organization into one that is set up to invite franchisees to partner with us. Collaborating with our franchise owners in the fight against hunger is incredibly rewarding.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: I love almost everything about what I do on a daily basis with Tacos 4 Life. Every day is different and full of challenges and problems to be solved. We have an amazing team, we are changing the world through our mission, and I eat queso all the time.

REMEMBER ME FOR: A man who loved his wife and boys unconditionally, lived each day to the fullest and helped make the world a better place.

PERSON YOU ADMIRE MOST: My dad — Mark Samuelson.

PERSONAL MOTTO: It’s something Jesus said in the book of Matthew. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

2021

Daniel Sawran

“I BELIEVE MY DIVERSE OPERATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL SET COMBINED WITH A STRONG BUSINESS ACUMEN, DESIRE TO SERVE OTHERS AND A RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE ARE WHAT DISTINGUISH ME FROM OTHERS.” |OCCUPATION| Owner/President, Charis Property Solutions Vice President of Corporate Assets and Facilities, Foxden Capital & Foxden Construction |HOMETOWN| Auburn, New York; moved to Little Rock in 2015 Between both of his occupations, Daniel Sawran is thankful for the opportunity to impact the lives of others every day. He’s been humbled by tragedy and honored with triumph throughout his career, and believes that both are necessary to becoming a thoughtful and well-rounded individual.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: While it was not Daniel’s first success, his greatest success has been establishing Charis Property Solutions.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Those who are willing to invest in the growth and development of other men, helping them to achieve and maximize their potential. Whether it be spiritual, personal or professional development, the investment into the lives of others is invaluable.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: There is nothing that brings me greater pride than my children, Rowan and Brett. I am incredibly proud of who they are and the young adults they are becoming.

SURPRISING FACT: I think others would be surprised to know that I do not often get angry or mad. No matter the circumstance, I remain calm and always seek solutions. I have found in all situations, solutions are most often found with a calm demeanor, clear communication and a positive attitude.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: In my current position as vice president of Foxden Construction, I oversee the construction of several building projects that will impact the lives of children throughout the state for years to come. It is rewarding to be a part of something that will have such a tremendous impact on children and families, and to ultimately give back to this community.

2021

Bill Sowell “ADVERSITY CREATES OPPORTUNITY.” |OCCUPATION| CEO and President, Sowell Management |EDUCATION| University of Arkansas at Little Rock |HOMETOWN| North Little Rock |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Ristorante Capeo |FAVORITE COCKTAIL| Manhattan Bill Sowell and his wife, Cindy, have worked side-byside together for more than 20 years. The duo have made Sowell Management one of the most successful and trusted investment firms in the entire state. Outside of dollar signs and portfolios, Sowell enjoys golfing, boating and duck hunting.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: Being an athlete allowed me to feel what it’s like to win, to achieve your goals. It gave me a healthy dose of competition, an understanding of the importance of teamwork, and a determined drive to succeed — which crossed over into most everything I do.

WHAT IS A “GOOD MAN?” To be humble, passionate and caring, and to carry a philosophy for giving back as part of your everyday life.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: The growth and success of Sowell Management. Starting from the ground up, we found a purpose — helping other financial advisors unlock their potential. We build on these special relationships, while focusing on our team and our culture. People matter most.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC: I live by the belief that adversity creates opportunity. And that relationships matter. So, when the pandemic hit our door, it was an opportunity for our firm to adjust how we delivered our services and supported our advisors. Adopting new processes and communicating even more effectively was key.

REMEMBER ME FOR: Being fair, honest and a compassionate leader. Office Companion - Tess, Chesapeake Bay Retriever

2021

Shannon Steele, RN “SOMETIMES EVEN TO LIVE IS AN ACT OF COURAGE.” |OCCUPATION| Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, The BridgeWay |EDUCATION| B.S., UAMS |HOMETOWN| Little Rock |FAVORITE RESTAURANT| Cypress Social There’s little argument that nurses are among society’s unsung heroes. In the case of Shannon Steele, that heroism is exceptionally evident. He and his team’s areas of service at The BridgeWay include caring for and treating individuals with mental health afflictions, including substance use, and helping them find a path forward. In addition to his education in nursing, Steele is also working on a Masters of Health Administration at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS: In the first grade when I convinced a second-grade girl to be my girlfriend.

MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY IN MEN: Humility.

FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: The people, both patients and colleagues. I love watching the light come back into a patient’s eyes as they stabilize, to see lucidity and hope return. Those things never get old.

PERSON YOU MOST ADMIRE: My wife, Taylor. Loyal, intelligent, kind, and driven — she embodies all the qualities that I value. Her love and support make me better in every single way.

ADVICE TO OTHERS: Set yourself apart. Say yes when others won’t. Never present a problem without a potential solution. Act or accept. When challenged, lean in. Adapt and learn.

ALL STAR LINEUP 6A-10a

10A-1p

RJ HAWK · DAVID BAZZEL TOMMY SMITH · ROGER SCOTT

Justin acri · WESS MOORE

YOUR FUN & GAMES STATION

4-7p

1-4p

randy rainwater · rick schaeffer

JOE FRANKLIN · JOHN NABORS AY Media Group’s Mental Health Guide includes valuable information, a resource directory and stories featuring individuals who’ve overcome mental health challenges.

• Suicide • Depression • Addiction • Recovery • Resource Guide Arkansas

Mental Health Guide

For advertising information email hbaker@aymag.com

armentalhealthguide.com

IN IN GUEST GUEST 30% OFF + 40% + $80 PASSES $80 PASSES THE JOINING FEE THE JOINING FEE

Limitofoftwo twotrials trials per per calendar year, Can’tbe be combined combined with Limit year, local localresidents residentsonly. only.Offer Offerexpires expiresononMay July31, 31,2021. 2021. Can’t withother otheroffers/discounts. offers/discounts.

107

aymag.com

arts&culture

Davis playing the part of Prospero in The Tempest.

THE PLAY’S THE THING:

Daniel Davis Life and Career of

By Emily Beirne

“When you’re on stage

performing, that’s the only

chance you get to show the audience what you can do. You get one take to be that

character for that crowd, and

then it’s done and finished until the next audience.”

Davis as Professor Moriarty in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

108

he name Daniel Davis may ring a bell for those who have been around the entertainment industry for a while. His British accent and witty comebacks captured America’s hearts on the set of The Nanny, but beneath the character of Niles the butler is an Arkansas native whose soul has thrived on the theater stage. In the year 1945, a television and theater legend was born in an Arkadelphia hospital. Daniel Davis spent the first half of his adolescent years in the little town of Gurdon, where some of his most vivid memories include television. “I guess I’m a television baby because when television first came around, I was fascinated by it,” Davis tells AY About You. “My aunt and uncle were the first people [in my family] to buy a television, and they put it in their living room. The box was about as big as a dining table, and the picture was about 8 inches wide. My aunt was fussy and wouldn’t let people inside her house. So, on Sunday nights, when The Ed Sullivan Show came on, they would open the picture window in the living room, and people would stand in their yard, including me, and watch their television. We couldn’t hear the sound, but we were content with just watching.” His father eventually broke down and bought the family their own television, and Betty Fowler’s Betty’s Little Rascals instantly became one of Davis’ favorite shows to watch after school. When Davis was 11 years old, his father accepted a job in Little Rock, and the family prepared to move to the big city. Davis saw this move as his chance to start his acting career. “When I found out we were moving to Little Rock, I sat down and wrote a letter to Betty Fowler and said, ‘My father is moving our family to Little Rock. I watch your show every day, and I want to be on it. I can sing, I can dance, and I can do impersonations of movie stars.’” Davis pauses to laugh fondly at the memory. “She wrote me back and told me to have my mother call the studio when we arrived in Little Rock, and they would arrange for me to meet with [the show].” Davis and his mother set up a time to go to the studio where he sang, performed a tap dance number, and did impersonations of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis. “Once I was done, she asked, ‘Can you start tomorrow?’” he recalls. “For three or four years, I would leave school early and head over to the studio for the show. We never had a script or rehearsed; they would tell us what we were doing, and we would do it. We were too young to be scared; we just did random things and had fun doing it.”

Davis’ cast photo from The Nanny.

A director on the show also worked with a community theater in Little Rock and would occasionally pull kids from Betty’s Little Rascals to fill children’s roles in different shows the theater was doing. “I would get chosen for those roles a lot, and I was good at memorizing parts because I would recite long chapters of the Bible on Sunday mornings in front of the congregation,” Davis says. “[You] start getting all kinds of praise and adoration from strangers in these settings, and it starts feeding an ego need. From there, it grew.” In high school, Davis found a shift in status after performing in a school play. Going from just another kid in the crowd, he remembers becoming as popular as the captain of the football team. “I could make [the students] laugh when I was on stage, and I kept that up as being the class clown. I think otherwise I would have been bullied and pushed around,” he says. An alumnus of Hall High School (now Hall STEAM Magnet High School), Davis opted out of attending Central High School in favor of pursuing his dreams. “The emphasis at Central was entirely on sports, and I didn’t even want to take gym class,” Davis explains. “I remember a woman named Marguerite Metcalf who played a major role in promoting arts in the school district during that time, especially speech and theater. I begged the school board to let me go to Hall. They didn’t understand why I wanted to go there, but it was purely

109

for the arts.” He was in the choir, a member of the drama club, in the speech and debate clubs and eventually found parts in the school plays. “There was an attitude at the time that if you did the arts you were weak, which doesn’t make any sense because you have to be strong as an ox to survive in show business.” Following high school, Davis pursued drama at Baylor University. Before he enrolled, Paul Baker, the founder of the Dallas Theater Center in Dallas, Texas, was over the theater department at Baylor. Baker was a major reason Davis chose Baylor as his college choice. But upon arrival, he learned that Baker, along with other faculty members in the drama department, had resigned. “I was stuck at Baylor for a year in the department without Paul Baker, and I didn’t enjoy it, I didn’t like Waco, and there were a lot of things going on that I wasn’t happy about,” Davis explains. During this time, the Rockefellers in Arkansas were funneling money into different cultural endeavors to try to establish a stronger arts presence in the state. An arts school that focused on drama, art and dance was put together under the direction of Dugald MacArthur, a man who worked closely with Baker at Baylor University. “[Directors of the school] started going around offering scholarships to Arkansas students to go to this school and study. I had aymag.com

come back to Arkansas and was taking classes at Little Rock University (now the University of Arkansas at Little Rock) in their drama department. MacArthur came to see a couple of productions, and he offered me one of those scholarships for the first class of students to go through the arts school — Arkansas Arts Center.” This first class of students went to the school for four years and were about to receive accreditation when the Rockefeller regime in the Arkansas government passed, the Rockefellers moved out and the funds stopped coming to the school. “The Arkansas legislature decided we were just a bunch of ‘freaks’ and ‘weirdos,’ so they didn’t want to support us. We graduated one class with no accredited degree and a nonexistent school, but it didn’t stop me. I received great training there under a talented staff, and our students were wonderful.” When the school officially closed its doors, the second class of students at the Arkansas Arts Center was accepted to the drama division of The Juilliard School, and Davis was planning his next move. “Those students made the big move from Arkansas to New York, but I had already graduated and accepted a job at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in December of 1968.” He has fond memories of the roles he played starting out in this company before he was picked up by a Broadway producer who put him in an off-Broadway show. While there, another casting director, looking to reopen the Stratford Festival in Connecticut, recruited Davis. “I worked with that company for a couple of years, and it seemed like it was just one thing after another,” Davis says. “I had a very good beginning as a professional actor.” His break, he believes, happened while replacing an actor for a play in New York. He rehearsed for a mere week before he performed. “Another actor in the show had his agent attending the production, and the agent met me backstage after the show and asked if I had representation. When he heard that I didn’t, he handed me a card and told me to call his agency to set up an appointment. Well, I did, and I signed on with the agency. They were great representation with a small client list, and the client list included names like Holland Taylor and John Travolta. It usually takes actors years to get this kind of representation, but I was lucky from the start.” The connections Davis formed through the years at Stratford, New York City and

other regional theaters here and there eventually led him to where the small-town boy from Arkansas had always had an ambition to go: the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. “We would rehearse for nine months every year, and toward the last three months of the year, we had nine productions in rotation,” Davis says. “So I would be a spear-carrier one night and Hamlet the next. It was the ideal situation for me.” He estimates that he spent the first 20 years of his career doing regional theater productions. He stayed in San Francisco seven years before he saw a shift in his career, sending him back to New York. After being a standby for Sir Ian McKellen and not receiving the role once he had left, Davis and his agents had a conversation about a “TV quotient,” or the need for actors to be in front of the audience in film or on shows so that their faces become recogniz-

sake,” Davis says with a laugh. The main difference Davis felt between performing on the stage and on the screen was something that he enjoyed most about the theater. “When you’re on stage performing, that’s the only chance you get to show the audience what you can do. You get one take to be that character for that crowd, and then it’s done and finished until the next audience. There’s nobody to edit you or take control of your performance — it’s only you and your fellow actors from start to middle to end. On a show, however, the director might want six or seven takes of one scene, and the take that you thought was your best may not be used in the final cut; and you don’t know that until the show airs, and you watch it. I feel at home on the stage.” The Nanny was, however, filmed in front of a live audience, giving Davis that connection to theater he missed. “We would rehearse all week long, like we were rehearsing a play, and then a young audience came in on Friday night, and suddenly, it actually was a play for me because there were people sitting there, and I would forget that we were on TV,” he says. On hiatus at the end of seasons, Davis would fly back and forth between California and New York to do theater productions. Between The Nanny and his other famous role as Professor Moriarty on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Davis became an iconic face and voice in the industry and to fans. “It’s kind of funny to me, because 60 million people know me from these shows, but those same 60 million people don’t know me for the 300 plays I’ve been in,” he says. “Yes, I’m proud of the effect that I had on the audience and how much people love to still watch and talk about [the shows], and yes I’m happy to have done these roles, but when people say, ‘Those must be the two best parts of my career,’ no, [you] didn’t see this other part of my career. [You] weren’t there.” From the roles Davis is most proud of reigns the part of Hamlet. Four different times Davis played the character, and he believes that each time was better than the last. “I played Hamlet almost once or twice a decade since my 20s — the first time at 23 and the last when I was close to 40,” Davis says. “Each time I played him, I was in a different stage of my life, and that life experience allowed me to bring more to the role than previously. When I finally performed Hamlet the last time, I felt that that was as good as I could ever do the performance, and I was too old to play him again.” Another standout part was as the lead in

“I didn’t really have any objections to living in Arkansas; I just knew that for the specific dreams I had, I needed to go somewhere else.” able, and casting directors for theater can use that popularity to the production’s advantage. “I had never wanted to go to Hollywood and be on film — it was just something I never saw myself doing,” Davis explains. “I had classical training to be on the stage, and I loved being in front of people in a live audience. That’s what I really wanted to do.” Nonetheless, in order to keep advancing in his theater career, Davis went to Hollywood and found parts in pilots that were never picked up for shows — a soap opera and oddend cops-and-robbers shows until the fateful day he would audition to play a butler with a British accent. “I thought this show had the least chance of being picked up, but it ran for six years, and I was proven wrong once again. I guess I have no taste where the American public is concerned,” Davis laughs. The Nanny, a beloved ’90s sitcom that earned a Rose d’Or and an Emmy, ultimately became the show that gave Davis — or Niles the butler — that TV quotient. “I mean, people are still watching the show. We went off air in 1999, and they’re still watching it. HBO Max is streaming it for heaven’s

110

Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, a four-and-a-halfhour-long production. “My mentor was an Ibsen scholar and translator, and he really wanted to do Peer Gynt because it’s seldom produced. The length of the show is usually a lot to ask of an audience to sit through, and the cast has almost 50 people. I played the title character who goes from age 17 to 80 in the span of four hours — the complete life story of a man.” Davis takes a breath before he continues, excitement still in his voice after all these years. “This production was one of the most awesome undertakings that I ever did, and it was such an enormous success that we kept it in our repertory for three seasons.” The third role Davis ranks as one of his greatest accomplishments is the part of Alceste in Molière’s The Misanthrope. After running into a director he had gotten to know throughout the years, Davis was offered a part on the spot. “The director, Garland Wright, and I were longtime friends, and we never got to work together very often,” Davis says. “I went to Seattle to do the show, and it was a huge success — one of the most beautiful productions I think I’ve ever done. I played opposite Kate Mulgrew, who at that moment became a lifetime friend and still is to this day.” Wright then took an artistic director position at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and planned to open his tenure with another iteration of The Misanthrope. “He reached out to me and asked if I would come and do the part again, and I, of course, jumped on it. The show was even more successful there than it had been in Seattle.” Davis has invested decades into producing art and making audiences feel the entire spectrum of emotions. At this point in his life, 65 years since his first television appearance on KATV-Channel 7, Davis has thoroughly enjoyed the break 2020 gave him. “To be completely honest, I have not missed the grind,” he says. “I don’t want to audition for somebody who wasn’t even alive when I was doing my important work, and I don’t want to go in and prove to some 25-year-old studio head that I know how to act. I learned through the lockdown that I don’t have to jump through hoops anymore to work.” One of his favorite things to do now is sit in his “big comfy chair” at home and read the books he hasn’t had a chance to read in the last few decades. “It’s nice to not have to do a damn thing but pick up a book, make myself lunch and dinner, and watch an old movie on the TV,” he says. “I want a whole bunch of nothing right now.” He doesn’t want to use the word “retired” because he says if someone were to dangle a big part in front of him, he wouldn’t say no. “I have a friend that has a phrase I love he says applies to me: ‘I’m picky and not in demand,’” Davis laughs. “I love performing, and I love putting on a show, but I’ve found that I’ve

Davis in an iteration of Shakespeare’s King Lear.

been missing out on some much-needed rest.” Since he left Arkansas, Davis has always been on the move. Thinking back to what life in the Natural State was like for him, Davis realizes that nothing is the same. “It’s so funny to me, the things that I remember from downtown Little Rock, because I know nothing that I remember is still there, and it really makes me sad. The places I worked at, like Kepner’s Shoe [Store], and the movie theaters we would go to; Franke’s Cafeteria is gone, where we used to have our lunch every day,” Davis says. He attended a few high school reunions in the past, with the last being his 30th reunion. His 60th class reunion is coming up soon. “This is one of the reasons why I stopped coming to the reunions, because I would just be nostalgic all the time. Would I be happy with what’s left?” A memory from growing up he wants to hang on to forever is attending the Robinson Auditorium with his aunt. “She was the person who kind of helped me fall in love with the theater. The first show I ever saw was with a touring company from the Fourteenth Street Repertory Theater, with productions starring actress Eva Le Gallienne and actor Richard Eastham. I saw those plays when I couldn’t have been much older than 12 or 13 years old. Fast forward to my own acting career,

111

and I had the opportunity to act alongside Eva in my first acting company and Richard on a separate occasion. The longer you’re in theater, the smaller the theater world gets.” Arkansas gave Davis the opportunities he needed at those points in his life, but he knew that in order to fulfill his dreams he needed to leave. “When I left for New York to start my career, my father bought me a return ticket for the Greyhound bus because he thought that I would fail,” Davis shares. Obviously, Davis proved him wrong. “My family didn’t understand my dreams or really support me, save for a few family members that believed in me. I didn’t really have any objections to living in Arkansas; I just knew that for the specific dreams I had, I needed to go somewhere else.” He urges Arkansans to continue supporting the arts and the talent that is in the state. He’s met many people over the years from his home state in the theater world and film world. “A lot of talent comes from Arkansas,” Davis says. “I can remember selling out shows when I was performing at the Arkansas Arts Center, so I know there are very bright cultural people in the state that want to see the arts thrive. It’s been a few years since the days I was performing in the state, but I’m sure a trip downtown is still all it takes to find the talent.” aymag.com

arts&culture

Amanda Sexton.

From the Ward to the

Word

Oncology Nurse Pens Children’s Book

By Dwain Hebda Photos by Jamison Mosley

manda Sexton leans back in her chair and smiles. She’s had a full day; not as full as the 12-hour shifts she usually puts in on the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) oncology ward in Little Rock mind you, but considering it’s her day off, she’s been kept busy. From attending a continuing education seminar in the morning to sitting for a press interview in the afternoon to meeting with her publisher that evening, each appointment speaks to a different facet of what the 23-year-old nurse and first-time author’s life has become these days. She’s not tired, exactly; incredulous is more accurate. With just a couple of weeks to go until Oh No, My Hair!, her inaugural children’s book, drops, the reality of being a published writer is sinking in more all the time. “[The book] is like my baby at this point,” Sexton says. “That’s literally how I’ve been describing it. It’s very surreal. Not that I didn’t love my own story, but it was just crazy that someone else liked it enough to want to publish it. I was like, ‘For real? Are y’all sure?’ Like, it’s just me. I’m not anybody.” Growing up in Lonoke, Sexton remembers peg-

ging a career in health care early on, following that call to the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and UAMS, where she graduated from nursing school in 2019. “My mom is an occupational therapist, but for the majority of the time that I was growing up, she’s been the director of a school called Building Bridges,” Sexton says. “It’s for kids with special needs and they do therapy, trying to get them from preschool to an actual school. They also have an adult program. “I used to love playing doctor, pretending to be a nurse and playing dress-up and stuff as a kid. I would wear Mom’s scrubs, and they were way too big. I’ve just always had this thing for caring for people and wanting to help them.” A nursing career may have been an early foregone conclusion, but writing was about the last thing the adolescent Sexton could’ve imagined herself doing. “When I was younger, I hated to read. I absolutely hated it,” she says. “My friends would be at high reading levels, and I would just be at the basic level. “By the time I got to middle school, something

changed. I just picked up a good chapter book and read it. From then on out, I really picked up the love of reading.” Sexton has also kept a journal for as long as she can remember, something that passed from girlish musings to successively more serious topics as she moved through high school and college into nursing school, and finally onto the cancer ward. “My job, it’s a weird emotional roller coaster throughout the day,” she says. “You could be crying in one room and then have to switch it off and go be ‘happy me’ in the next room, because that’s what that next person needs. Being that person, it’s hard. I mean, it is a balance. You kind of have to take it in, be there for that person, and then you have to have coping skills. “I’ve always had a diary, journal, whatever you like to call it. It was just my way to process a lot of thoughts that go through this head. Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m getting at, and I have to collect them somehow. A journal allows me to sit there and write them all down and really figure things out, as crazy as that sounds.” While a typical day on any oncology ward provides a generous helping of journal fodder, 2020 was all that and then some.

“It was hard,” she says of the pandemic. “You had goggles, and you had a mask on; [the patients] really couldn’t see you. Sometimes I just wanted to pull it down like, ‘I promise I’m having some sort of emotion here. It’s not just this straight face.’ As simple as it sounds, I would always make sure that my badge was turned around so they could see my face on it. I know that seems silly, but that was helpful to patients. “Then, on days when there wasn’t enough staff, it created this level where you had more patients than normal, and you kind of felt like you were rushed. Rushed, in that I can’t have a full conversation because I’ve got to go do this, this and this in another room. That also made things difficult.” The idea to write a children’s book had begun percolating a few years ago, but the demands of her job, especially in 2020, kept it firmly in the back of her mind. Then, on a short visit to Eureka Springs, she confided in her mother. “I told her I thought it would be really cool to do it, and she was like, ‘What are you going to write about?’ I was like, ‘No idea,’” Sexton says. “Literally the next morning, I woke up and just had this idea in my head. I didn’t dream about it or anything like that. It was just these little chicken scratches that I wrote down so I wouldn’t forget them.” Sexton’s idea told the story of Georgia, a little girl battling leukemia who is cleared by her doctor to attend regular summer camp. A last-minute mixup during packing leaves her wig behind and instead of blending in, she immediately stands out as different — a cancer

patient, for the loss of her hair. From there, she learns how to find people who see past such things and accept her for who she is. “It’s a book that talks about being comfortable with who you are and not feeling ashamed if something is different about yourself,” Sexton says. “Obviously, having cancer and a bald head is a big thing for a kid to deal with. I think it’s important for kids, and even adults, to realize that just because you have something different about yourself doesn’t mean it should change how anybody treats you. “I just think everybody is a little too hard on themselves these days. You should still feel confident in what you’re doing, despite what somebody else thinks.” Sexton says she’s always wanted to work in pediatric oncology but having not yet landed there full time in her career (she started a second, parttime gig in the oncology clinic at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in July), she quizzed colleagues on how to bring age-appropriate authenticity to the story. “I know how hard it is for a patient who has a new diagnosis and has to start that kind of treatCourtesy of American Childhood Cancer Organization ment to realize that, ‘Hey, I might lose my hair.’ I saw how much it can affect an adult,” she says. “I know some friends who work over at Arkansas it was different from what they had been reading, so they Children’s, and I consulted with them, like, is it really that would like me to give them the opportunity to publish the hard for a kid to lose their hair and just go through that book.” whole process? And they said, ‘Yeah, it is, especially for girls In addition to online distribution, Sexton received a around that age.’ sponsorship to have copies distributed to St. Jude Hospital “So that’s why I made the main character a girl instead of in Memphis and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. In the coma boy. It was just because I felt like it would resonate a little ing months, she plans to approach retailers about getting the more. I think it’s a lot bigger deal for a girl to lose her hair.” book on their shelves too, a task for which she has already By late 2020, Sexton was sorely in need of a break. So, she become adept at pitching. took a two-week vacation, during which she finally brought “Obviously, it’s a children’s book, but honestly, I think the pieces together. adults can relate to it, even if they’re just reading it to their “I think the hardest thing was trying to figure kids,” she says. “It’s a book that can go deep, but also be lightout what age to write it for,” she says. “I fohearted at the same time. By the end, there’s a twist in there cused mostly on the 8 to 12 [year-old] that makes you tear up a little bit, hopefully. It has a bigrange. That’s probably the biggest time ger message than just being a kid’s book. It goes beyond the of development, where you’re going surface-level feelings, I think.” through those awkward stages of being As for the obvious questions — will there be more books a pre-teen and all that stuff. I felt like it and what will they be about — Sexton rolls her eyes and would really resonate with kids that age.” smiles. The first draft took most of those two “The thought crossed my mind,” she says. “My brotherweeks to complete. After passing it around to in-law’s an editor, and he told me, ‘This could literally be a selected people in her circle for editing and inseries,’ and I was like, ‘Huh? Are you sure?’ put, by February she’d worked up the courage to “Writing this book and knowing that I can do it does send the manuscript to a local publisher, J. Kengive me enough confidence to try it again, but I haven’t rekade Publishing. Mere days later, her cell phone ally thought of a whole idea for another book. I have no idea rang while she was at work. what it would even be about. I’m just trying to live in the “I stepped out, and they told me that they read my moment on this one.” manuscript, and they loved it,” she says. “They thought

115

aymag.com

arts&culture

Jason Hayes.

116

O P PPIN’ TAGS Jason Hayes is Arkansas’ Thrift King

By Dustin Jayroe / Photos by Philip Thomas

t was 2012 when Macklemore made waves with the music video for his single “Thrift Shop.” A refresher through the lyrics (and yes, rewatching the video after all these years) quickly reminds one of the perfectly ridiculous and over-the-top execution. But it wasn’t so far from the truth, as those of us who’ve frequented thrift stores can attest. Lyrics like “dressed in all pink, ’cept my gator shoes, those are green,” and “draped in a leopard mink” all evoke images of some of the vintage and even gaudy garb that can be found while thrift shopping. There’s another set of bars that registers much differently this time around, though. “I’m digging, I’m digging, I’m searching right through that luggage. One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come up.” It’s here that the West Coast rapper encapsulates the entrepreneurial life of Fayetteville’s Jason Hayes. Three years ago, Hayes quit his day job to pursue a life of reselling. “Thrift Shop” isn’t just another radio bop for him — it’s an anthem. Hayes, a Northwest Arkansas resident for practically his whole life, grew up in Siloam Springs and attended high school in Rogers before furthering his education at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. After school, he dabbled a little here and there vocationally, ultimately working as a mortgage closer. By 2016, he had developed a concentrated side hustle — reselling. He started hitting up local thrift stores looking for items to flip online on sites like eBay, conducting most of this

117

aymag.com

Hayes spends countless hours hunting down inventory for his online stores.

business after work and on weekends. “Just to make a few extra bucks,” Hayes explains. “[I was] thinking, ‘If I can make a few hundred dollars a month, that’d be great.’” For the next two years, this “part-time job” became one of his life’s primary passion projects. He began to learn more of the ins and outs of the industry, the dos, the don’ts, what sells, what doesn’t. His online inventory grew larger, he got better at running this business, and with all of that, his revenues started to burgeon in lockstep. In April 2018, it was time to do what might seem unthinkable to others. The crossroad that all entrepreneurs face at one point or another — dive headfirst into the unknown, or play it safe. Hayes chose the former and quit his day job. “I walked into my work and talked to my boss, put my two weeks in, and never looked back,” he recalls. The decision was made easier by his supportive wife and an encouraging phone call with one of his best friends. He says that overall — especially for such an unconventional career move — all of the people in his life have stood behind him. But he’d be lying if he said that there wasn’t at least a little surprise and a few “mixed reviews” here and there. “[They were] excited for me to do something that I liked doing, but also, ‘Is he gonna make it?’ You know, ‘Is this the best career decision?’” he says with a laugh. “But I’ve had a lot of people in my corner supporting me with whatever I’ve done. So this wasn’t different.”

He also kept in mind that if sales ever slowed for whatever reason he could pick up a part-time job on the side to fill gaps here and there. That continues to be his backup plan. But now three years into his reselling business, he’s never needed it. Unlike Macklemore, however, Hayes isn’t here to “take your grandpa’s style.” His focus is mainly (but not exclusively) on name-brand outdoor apparel, and most of his online sales go through his eBay store, Ozark Mountain Goods. Although, he does list with other reselling platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark and Mercari. A browse through his online store will yield an array of bargain finds — which is, of course, the name of the game — like Banana Republic polos, Eddie Bauer flannels, Ralph Lauren button-downs, camouflage hunting gear, and even ostrich cowboy boots for women. That’s the meat and potatoes of the business, but there are also seasonings of other unique caches like antique China, chafing dishes and numerous collectibles. Hayes says there’s not too much science behind the finding part of the business; it’s just, essentially, treasure hunting without a map or compass. There aren’t any seedy back alleys or need-to-know-only clubhouses. He finds most of his inventory at Goodwill, his favorite place to shop for work. He’s also an about-town regular at garage and yard sales, but the past year amid the pandemic did stymie that side of things. So, the return of a

sense of normalcy coinciding with the season of the year for a lot of those home sales definitely has Hayes excited. “That’s probably the most fun,” he says of garage and yard sales. “I love getting out and talking to people and spending the morning outside.” While the pandemic temporarily eliminated one of his favorite shopping streams, it also provided Hayes with a novel opportunity through social media. He already had a presence on Instagram and began uploading reselling-related videos to YouTube in 2019, but the success was mostly moderate. But in July of last year, Hayes infiltrated the curious world of TikTok, which proved to be perfect timing. To date, he has a little more than 2,000 followers on Instagram and almost 2,000 on YouTube; but on TikTok, he’s amassed just shy of 20,000 already. His videos have netted a total of 150,000 likes. He says that’s partially due to the fact that there are a lot of people out there who are “reseller curious” — folks who may not be kindred spirits of his, per se, but enjoy living vicariously through such a distinctive venture. That phenomenon blended with a period of time when many Americans had just become un- or underemployed and were open to alternative ways of supplementing financial support — things like reselling. “I think a lot of people were put in predicaments where they needed to figure out, ‘How can I make some extra money?’” Hayes says.

119

“

I walked into my work and talked to my boss, put my two weeks in, and never looked back.”

aymag.com

Each item in his store has a unique code that helps Hayes stay organized.

“And TikTok’s kind of a newer platform, so I know a lot of people were jumping on to check it out and see what’s going on over there.” With social media, Hayes has filled a role as a Yoda-like figure for people looking to learn the ways of the thrift force. He shares his shopping and sales experiences, tips, tricks and everything in between. For those reseller-curious padawans among us who haven’t stumbled upon his channels yet, Hayes says the best way to jump into the business is to do just that. “Start with things around your house, because it doesn’t cost anything,” Hayes explains. “Just go pull things out of closets and drawers, and get the experience of … this is how you list, this is how you ship, and kind of work out the kinks.” Once you’ve sold a few things, that starts to begat more excitement, which in turn fuels additional momentum and confidence. After that, take your newfound talents to the next level at a thrift store. “I tell people, ‘Don’t try and look for anything and everything,’” Hayes goes on to say. “Start with what you know. Like, what are your hobbies? What do you have some knowledge about? [If it’s] electronics, go for electronics. For me, it was outdoor gear.” Once a solid base is built, then expanding to other parts of the market might be in order. “A lot of people will watch tons of videos, which is great. I mean, I learned that way, too,” Hayes says. “But at some point, it’s just a matter of doing it. You can store up all this knowledge and then not ever take action.” The most difficult part of the business, especially at the level that Hayes has reached, is organization. For a full-timer like him, that means a garage full of a 1,500-item inventory. The seasoned veteran combats that with an itemized spreadsheet of his stock, and each

item has a unique code that corresponds to its listing online and where it’s located in his storage. So, when someone buys something from him — no matter which platform used or where in the world they are — he knows exactly what it is and where it is. And apps like Vendoo help him easily crosspost his catalog across multiple selling sites efficiently. Keeping a fairly tight schedule helps, as well. Every weekday morning, Hayes has everything that was bought the day before boxed up and on his porch for the mail carrier to pick up. At least once per week, he spends an entire day out hitting thrift stores, which includes traveling to neighboring towns to run as clean a sweep as possible. On average, he says those

jason.m.hayes

120

weekly jaunts net him an additional 50-100 items to sell. The rest of the workweek consists of taking pictures and listing all of those new items, as well as making videos to keep the content flowing on his social channels. He takes weekends off. “When I went full time, I pretty much said, ‘This is my job now, so the weekend is my time, and not the business,’” he says. Among his most profitable treasures found includes a Burberry wool coat that he picked up for $6 and sold for nearly $500. He doesn’t luck into that type of profit margin often, nor should anyone expect harvests to be reaped so easily, but that’s just part of what makes his job so thrilling. You never know what’s in store.

Jason Hayes

. EXPLORE IMAGINE . PLAY!

AMERICA’S BEST AQUARIUM 2018, 2020 & 2021 BY USA TODAY

WONDERSOFWILDLIFE.ORG/PLAY

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING When you buy a hunting and When you buy a hunting and fishing license, you are giving fishing license, you are giving the gift of the great outdoors. the gift of the great outdoors. Hunting and fishing licenses Hunting and fishing licenses fund conservation, so that fund conservation, so that wildlife and wild places are wildlife and wild places are available for everyone to enjoy. available for everyone to enjoy.

ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH COMMISSION ARKANSAS Licenses GAME AND ISH C OMMISSION and F Permits Licenses and Permits

Bo Archer Bo CID: Archer #000-000-001 CID: #000-000-001 HE Verified DOB: 05/24/1972 HE Verified DOB: 05/24/1972

BUY BUY AA GIFT GIFT CERTIFICATE CERTIFICATE FOR FOR AA HUNTING HUNTING OR OR FISHING FISHING LICENSE LICENSE AT AT AGFC.COM AGFC.COM

SUBSCRIBE to

aymag.com

VIP Night: 9/21 “Mane” Event: 9/18

WILD WINES

Our mission is to inform and entertain you by providing accurate information that enriches lives. Did we mention it’s about you? Go to aymag.com and click on the subscribe tab.

at the

Only $20 a year!

tickets: littlerockzoo.com 124

happenings

HOT SPRINGS

Dreams — A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Independence Day Fireworks

The Legendary Vapors

Lake Hamilton, Highway 7 South Bridge

July 1

The Fleetwood Mac tribute band Dreams is performing at the Vapors this month. After all, “It's only right that you should play the way you feel it.”

July 4

The annual fireworks show on Lake Hamilton will begin at 9:30 p.m. on July 4. The event is free to the public and fun for the whole family.

RESIZING

126

Tesla Fest July 10

Mid-America Science Museum Our friends at the Mid-America Science Museum are celebrating all things Nikola Tesla this month.

Magic Springs Concert Series: Matt Stell

Escape — A Tribute to Journey

July 17 Magic Springs Theme and Water Park

The Legendary Vapors

(with special guest Jameson Rodgers)

Pack up your blankets and your loved ones and head to Magic Springs and enjoy the sounds of local country music artist Matt Stell.

July 23, 24

Escape, a Journey tribute band, will also be performing some classics at the Vapors this month.

• Almost 500’ of Lake Hamilton Frontage • Main house: 3 Bedrooms & 3 Bathrooms • Guest house: 2 Bedrooms & 2 Bathrooms • Price point: $2,500,000

Contact David Hall 501.525.0908 goffgroup.hotsprings

127

aymag.com

Special Section

Retiring in Arkansas

The Natural State is consistently ranked as one of the best states in the country in which to retire. Whether it’s Wallethub, Bankrate or Quicken Loans, Arkansas is sure to rank highly in practically all the major retirement lists. In fact, just this year Yahoo! and Money Rates listed Arkansas as tied for third-best on its “Best and Worst States for Retirement in 2021” list. We all desire that picture-perfect retirement into the sunset at some point in our lives. There aren’t many better places for that than right here in Arkansas.

aymag.com

Serving thousands in our community and region with continued excellence BOOZMAN EYE CLINIC WAS FOUNDED IN JULY 1977 by brothers Fay Boozman, M.D. and John Boozman, O.D. Joined by William Hof, M.D., in 1981, BoozmanHof Eye Clinic was established. By 1988, the doctors moved to the current location on Walnut Street in Rogers, Arkansas. The BoozmanHof Eye Surgery and Laser Center was opened on April 1, 1996, as the first ophthalmic surgery center in Northwest Arkansas. From its very beginning, this facility has provided the finest in ophthalmic surgical care available. The center has been recognized as a Center of Excellence by Allergan and has been featured in numerous national publications as one of the premier facilities of its kind. Over 55,000 patients and more than 35,000 cataract procedures have been performed at the center. The most advanced and proven no-stitch techniques are utilized in conjunction with new technology, multifocal and Toric Intraocular Lens implant options. AUSTIN P. BELL, M.D., specializes in cataract and glaucoma surgery. He is board certified and has received advanced training in medical and surgical glaucoma management. He is particularly interested in innovations in cataract surgery and minimally invasive glaucoma surgical techniques and procedures. Dr. Bell grew up in Rogers and is passionate about practicing in his hometown to improve vision and prevent blindness in his community. He has been involved in many clinical studies and given multiple presentations and abstracts in the field of ophthalmology. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. MICHAEL WAGGONER, D.O., specializes in cataract, LASIK, and corneal surgery. Over the course of his career, he has performed thousands of cataract and LASIK procedures. He takes great pride in offering a full spectrum of laser and microsurgical procedures to help you achieve your vision goals. He is Northwest Arkansas’ only fellowship trained LASIK and corneal surgeon. Dr. Waggoner is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, International Society of Refractive Surgery, and the Refractive Surgery Alliance. He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Austin P. Bell, M.D.

Michael Waggoner, D.O.

To schedule an appointment call or visit our website.

(479) 246-1700 • boozmanhof.com

travel

Retiring in the

Natural State?

Naturally! By Stacy Hurst, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism

ne of my goals when I was appointed Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism was to visit all 52 State Parks, including staying overnight in as many lodges as possible. I’m making pretty good progress on this, but the pandemic slowed me down. Only 28 parks to go! When I have opportunities to be incognito as a tourist and not as the head of the department, I always try to visit with our guests, and it has been fascinating to meet so many out-of-state folks visiting and considering retiring to the Natural State. But why not? We enjoy a low cost of living compared to other states. Plus, Arkansas is geographically diverse and rich with natural beauty and interesting cultural opportunities. Hiking and biking? Arkansas State Parks boasts more than 300 miles of trails, and that’s not including the many cities across our state adding pedestrian-friendly paths and bike lanes. Do you like the arts, culture and museums? We’ve got them in abundance. From the world-renowned Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in the Northwest corner of our state and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in the Capital City, to heritage sites in the Delta and folk artists in the Ozarks. Rivers and lakes? We are blessed with many. You can fly-fish the Little Red or dust off your skis on Lake Hamilton. If you’re more of an adventurer on the water, don’t forget about white water rafting at Cossatot State Park or chasing waterfalls in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains. Fancy yourself a foodie? So do we! Arkansas Heritage launched the Food Hall of Fame initiative to celebrate the rich history of our state’s culinary treasures, and we’re proud to say that the food movement is alive and well from corner to corner of Arkansas. And you certainly can’t discount the state-of-the-art medical facilities and moderate housing market, which makes Arkansas an attractive place for families as well as retirees. As a lifelong resident and ardent Arkansas supporter, I may be a little biased, but I think the best way to find out if Arkansas is ideal for your retirement is to come for a visit. Let the good people of our state show you what life here is all about. Stacy Hurst was appointed secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism (ADPHT) in July 2019 by Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Prior to that, she had served as director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage since January 2015. She is responsible for the work of ADPHT’s three main divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism.

132

Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Stacy Hurst at Mount Nebo with beloved pet Van Gogh, who enjoyed many Arkansas adventures before passing away in April at the age of 16.

Buffalo National River. (ADPHT)

Petit Jean State Park. (ADPHT)

133

aymag.com

In your home, on your terms. During times like these, it’s good to know you do have a choice for your loved one’s comfort and care. With Arkansas Hospice, you can focus on being a son, daughter, or spouse again – while your loved one with life-limiting illness receives comfort care in the safety of their home. Arkansas Palliative Care provides patients with serious illnesses an additional layer of support for symptom management and care coordination. It can benefit patients who are pursuing curative treatments and a better quality of life. Don’t let another precious moment pass you by. Call (877) 713-2348 and speak with one of our experts for the care that’s right for you.

Arkansas Hospice is available in 43 counties, including Central, North-Central, Northwest and Southeast areas of the state. Visit our website for the area office nearest you. Arkansas Palliative Care is available at CHI St. Vincent Little Rock & Hot Springs, Unity Health Searcy, and their surrounding areas in-home.

ArkansasHospice.org ArkansasPalliativeCare.org

135

aymag.com

Early Bird The

GETS THE WORM By Lauren McLemore

Retirement can be an intimidating thought, but whether you just got your first job or you’re looking to retire in the next few years, retirement is something everyone in the workforce will face one day. No matter where you are in your retirement planning journey, nearly every financial decision you make between now and your last day of work will affect your retirement.

t’s never too late to start planning for retirement, but according to many financial advisors, the early bird gets the worm. So in other words, it’s never too early to start thinking about it. Of course, time tells us that starting early allows one to save more money over time and potentially retire earlier, but L. Dan Fry, EVP Business Development and Director of Retirement Plan Services at Gadberry Financial Group, says there are also other logistical benefits to putting back money at an early age. “There are limits to how much money you can put in a retirement plan, and a lot of people don’t maximize it early on,” Fry says. “If you wait until you’re 10-15 years into your career … you just can’t put enough money in it.” Gadberry Financial Group is a full-service investment

136

firm. An independent branch of National Holdings Corp., the group has over 700 advisors and $12 billion in assets invested. In the professional and personal opinions of the Gadberry Financial Group, a financial advisor is important at every step of the planning game, but especially at the beginning. “There are some irrevocable decisions you make as you enter retirement, that if you make them incorrectly, it can have a devastating effect on the quality of your retirement,” Fry says. Paired with education from the experts, savers who start early can make better decisions that encourage more growth, like being more aggressive investors in the beginning. “The way you invest your retirement-plan money, these dollars that go in each pay period, probably should be (especially when you’re early and young) even more aggressive than you would normally think, because the time value of money and the dollar cost average of putting money in every paycheck … it works better for you. Oftentimes, people are far too conservative in their retirement plan early in life,” Fry says. Whether making investment decisions or just seeking more security with the money you’re saving, having a second

set of eyes on your plan is never a bad idea. Edward Jones financial advisor Cody Dertow says you don’t know what you don’t know. Getting an early start is great, but even more effective with the right foundation of education and financial competence. The first step, according to Dertow, is to sit down with a financial advisor and get a solid understanding of where you are and where you want to be. “The more you know, the more successful you’ll be, as long as you partner with somebody who wants to see you succeed,” Dertow says. “It’s great to start investing early, but the more you know when you start doing that and the more you understand why you might be doing the things you’re doing or need to make those adjustments toward what you should be doing, the more impactful your actual efforts are going to be, especially over time.” DOS & DON’TS Every person’s and every couple’s situation is unique and thus different. It can help immensely to have the kind of tailored, custom approach and plan for your individual financial needs that financial advisors help with, especially when it comes to retirement planning. However, there are a number of general dos and don’ts when it comes to planning for retirement. “You do want to be wary of your cash flow; you do want to be wary of your total assets; you do want to be wary of health care; you do want to be wary of debts,” Dertow says. “What you don’t want to do is use too much of your money too quickly. You want to make sure you can keep yourself from putting the future version of yourself in a hole that you cannot dig out of.” In short, living beyond your means now makes it that much harder to stop later on in life. “You want to make sure your money is being maximized for you given your current situation and your future situation,” Dertow says. When it comes to the other don’ts — avoid using money too quickly, touching your retirement fund for pretty much any reason, and making choices without consulting with experts or other experienced investors first. “What people don’t want is to be left without the cash flow to support the life they want to live and/or need to live. So what they don’t want to do is take loans against their 401k or cash out investments in full or too early,” Dertow says. “People trying to do it on their own may not be aware of information that exists or avenues that exist that can benefit them and their families. Having a partner that is aware of those things certainly helps because the more knowledge you have about how a situation relates to you, the more power you have to handle it.” Along with general knowledge about investing, it’s also important to have an understanding of how taxes can affect the decisions you make while planning for retirement. While financial advisors aren’t CPAs, tax implications are a topic of expertise among them. “Taxes can often be misunderstood, and they can oftentimes be very nuanced as well,” Dertow says. If you’re closer to retirement than the younger crowd, Dertow says to consider four things: • Your tax situation and how much tax-free money you should have. • W hat your health care situation and needs look like and

137

your family history in those regards. • How and if you desire to leave money to friends, family or charities. • Your social security or pension items — if you have them and where they’re coming from. Without pensions outside of social security, it becomes very important for someone approaching retirement to understand how their investments, how their retirement accounts, and how their portfolio will operate as an income stream for them if and when needed. THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED It’s no surprise that we’ve just experienced a pandemic, which inadvertently had a huge impact on the economy and affected a vast number of savings accounts — those of both new and experienced investors — across the country. “The pandemic has affected a vast majority of retirement savers because they either lost employment and were unable to save for retirement, or they had family members that were in need and the government gave them relief, and they could access their retirement accounts to help family,” Fry says. “It will be years before we understand the impact COVID-19 had on retirement savings, but there’s no doubt there is one.” It’s clear that those who had established good saving habits had an easier time weathering the storm, which is why many advisors are still harping on the same narrative — start early. With retirement, it’s all about planning for the future, and that means expecting the unexpected, which also translates into diversifying your portfolio and not relying solely on things like social security. Dertow says he often hears phrases such as, “Social security isn’t gonna be there when I retire,” or, “I’m not getting enough for social security.” “Social security was never intended to be someone’s entire retirement; it was always intended to be a supplement in the retirement years,” Dertow says. “Social security typically tries to increase its benefits in most years, but in many cases, those increases don’t keep pace with inflation. Because of that, you have to look at what your other assets are and what you’re doing and what you’re spending to ensure you don’t get left behind because of that dynamic.” Can you count on social security? The short answer is well, maybe, but don’t put all your eggs in one basket. On a positive note, as a whole, we seem to be on the right track with retirement planning and investing with our futures in mind. Jay Gadberry, president and CEO of Gadberry Financial Group, says that while it’s hard to say for sure, he thinks it’s possibly a lot easier for younger investors today, because kids are living at home longer, and their overhead is less. Fry says it’s the availability of information that makes the difference. “When I got my first job, there was so little information about retirement and access to retirement plans,” Fry says. “When I was [in my 20s], the Roth IRA didn’t exist. Even IRAs were rare back then for people. Access and information is so much better today than it was, so I would say there’s an advantage today. Statistics show that millennials are investing earlier and more often than baby boomers did at the same age so that’s a great thing.”

aymag.com

akewood Health and Rehab offers skilled professional care in a supportive and compassionate atmosphere. akewood Health and Rehab

offers skilled professional care in a supportive and compassionate atmosphere.

We invite you to experience the difference We invite you to experience the difference our facility has to offer from the moment our facility has to offer from the moment you walk through our door. you walk through our door. Call us to today to schedule your tour!

CallSPECIALTY us to today toSERVICES schedule your tour! IN-HOUSE Lakewood Health and Rehab, LLC. offers an inhouse team of professionals providing specialty services to better serve the specific needs of our & Rehab Lakewood Lakewood Health Health residents.

2323 McCain Blvd, North Little Rock • 501.791.2323 and Rehab, LLC. • Rehabilitative Services providing Physical, provides exceptional Speech and Occupational Therapy. skilled care in a compassionate Our team is passionate about bringing the and luxurious latest programs and techniques to our patients. environment They utilize therapy modalities combined with a comprehensive therapy program for strengthening, balance training, pain reduction, wound healing, and increasing range of motion.

Lakewood Health & Rehab • IV Therapy • Wound Care provided by our Wound Care specialists

2323 McCainakewood Blvd,Health North Little Rock • 501.791.2323 and Rehab

offers skilled professional care in

FACILITY AMENITIES a supportive and compassionate atmosphere.

• State of the art Rehabilitation Gym

• Wonderful Activity Program

We invite24/7 you by to experience difference • Physician Services Specializedthe Staff • Beauty Salon Services our facility has to offer from the moment • 24-hour Nursing Services • Daily Housekeeping and Laundry Services you walk through our door.

Call us to today to schedule your tour!

Lakewood Health & Rehab 2323 McCain Blvd. North Little Rock 501.791.2323

Lakewood Health & Rehab

Nestled in the center of a quiet neighborhood, Innisfree Health & Rehab is a unique, family-oriented facility offering skilled care in loving, supportive atmosphere. Our licensed nurses, physician assistants, dentists, podiatrist and other specialists believe that our residents need strong relationships with their families and is key to the healing process. The entire Innisfree staff is devoted to providing the highest quality care possible, in a manner which celebrates the dignity and grace of every resident.

A P

Our home is conveniently located just off Walnut in Rogers close to Walmart, under the medical directions of Dr. Kimberly Burner.

Our home is conveniently located just o to Walmart, under the medical direction 301 S. 24th Street | Rogers, AR 72758 | 479-636

301 S. 24th Street | Rogers, AR 72758 | 479-636-5545 | www.InnisfreeHR.com

ASHTON PLACE

HEALTH & REHABILITATION, LLC

You only want the best for your loved ones.

Now Accepting Reservations for Short Term Rehabilitation and Long Term Care To To schedule schedule aa tour tour before before admission, admission, call call René René at at 479-831-6518. 479-831-6518. 318 Strozier Lane • Barling • 479-452-8181 318 Strozier Lane • Barling • 479-452-8181 Visit Visit www.ashtonplacehr.com www.ashtonplacehr.com to to take take our our virtual virtual tour tour 139

aymag.com

travel

10) D ig for quartz crystals near Mount Ida. 11) Gaze at the mastodon skeleton at the Arkansas State University Museum in Jonesboro.

RETIREMENT By Joe David Rice // Photos courtesy of ADPHT

12) Take fly-fishing lessons.

101

Seems to me Arkansas is a pretty nice place to retire. We have reasonably low taxes, four distinct seasons, good medical care, relatively scandal-free government and some of the friendliest people on the continent. But when a couple of my skeptical out-of-state friends asked what they could do to keep busy should they choose to retire here, I decided to assemble this list of 101 opportunities for Arkansas retirees:

1) S ign up for free college classes (Arkansas’ state-supported universities offer tuition-free courses for residents 60 and over).

4) Explore Rush, a fascinating ghost town up in Marion County.

5) F ollow one of Arkansas’ many Quilt Trails. 3

13) Volunteer at Heifer Village in Little Rock and help the world become a better place. 14) V isit Riddle’s Elephant Sanctuary near Quitman. 15) Drive the Great River Road, a 362mile route paralleling the Mississippi River through the state’s rich Delta. 16) Spend the night in a yurt. 17) Broaden your horizons at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View. 18) Walk a labyrinth. 19) For a wonderfully different experience, float the Buffalo National River from the Highway 14 bridge to Buffalo Point in an innertube.

2) L ive your Robinson Crusoe fantasies for a day on one of Lake Ouachita’s many islands.

6) Catch a trout on the White and Little Red rivers. 7) Tour Johnny Cash’s boyhood home in Dyess. 8) Devote a day to fully appreciate the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. 3) S et aside a couple of hours for the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville.

9) Mingle with the monks at Subiaco Abbey (and purchase a bottle of Monk Sauce). 140

20 20) Spot an alligator basking in the sun at Arkansas Post National Memorial. 21) Tour Historic Washington State Park by surrey.

22) S ample a Spudnut or two in El Dorado.

47) Sample some Arkansas caviar. 48) Enjoy the latest exhibits at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Clinton fan or not.

23) V isit the Elk Education Center in Ponca. 24) Tour the USS Razorback, a World War II-era submarine, in North Little Rock.

49) Try an Arkansas fried pie. 50) Drive the length of the Crowley Ridge Parkway National Scenic Byway in northeastern Arkansas.

25) S hop for antiques in Hardy. 26) L earn about the rise of blues, gospel, country, and rockabilly music at the Delta Cultural Center in Helena.

35 35) O vernight in one of the many B&Bs in Eureka Springs.

27) D rop in at the Arkansas Air Museum in Fayetteville.

36) Tour the World War II Japanese American Internment Museum in McGehee, and learn about a disturbing chapter in American history.

28) E xplore the Wolf House, a classic dogtrot structure, in Norfork.

37) Check out Ernest Hemingway’s writing studio in Piggott. 38) Stroll across the Big Dam Bridge connecting Little Rock and North Little Rock. 39) Attend a minor league baseball game, either the Arkansas Naturals (Springdale) and Arkansas Travelers (North Little Rock).

29 29) Cool off in Blanchard Springs Caverns. 30) E xpand your creativity with a class at the (soon-to-open-in-2022) Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock. 31) B uy fresh produce at a farmers’ market. 32) R ide the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad’s excursion train between Springdale and Van Buren. 33) S ee Sam Walton’s original pickup and much more in Bentonville’s Walmart Museum. 34) Take the Peel Ferry across Bull Shoals Lake.

40) Browse through thousands of titles at the Dickson Street Bookstore in Fayetteville.

51) Spend the night at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge south of Eureka Springs and hear the lions roar. 52) V isit Lakeport, an authentic antebellum plantation home near Lake Village. 53) Take in the view from the Hot Springs Observation Tower. 54) Sign up for the ghost tour at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs. 55) Record a photo op at the original “little rock.” 56) Take the baths and then get a massage in Hot Springs. 57) Drive the Talimena Scenic Byway, stopping for lunch at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. 58) Sample the goods at the Delta Dirt Distillery in Helena.

41) Buy a ticket, support the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, and maybe win a fortune. 42) Wander through the delightful Esse Purse Museum in Little Rock’s SoMa district. 43) Join the Ozark Society, meet some great people, and sign up for some of the group’s excursions. 44) D iscover the legendary artistry of the CCC workers at Mather Lodge, an iconic symbol for Petit Jean State Park. 45) Spend a day in Wilson, a fascinating community in eastern Arkansas. 46) Ride a Rock Region METRO streetcar through the Little Rock/ North Little Rock downtowns. 141

59 59) Enjoy the view of downtown Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas from Mount Sequoyah. 60) Wander through the Arkansas Museum of Automobiles near Morrilton. 61) Take in a Broadway show at Robinson Center in Little Rock. aymag.com

62) S ee the Mississippi River at Sans Souci Park in Osceola.

63) S pend the night in an original Civil Conservation Corps cabin at Devil’s Den State Park. 64) R elive a Gone with the Wind experience at The Old Mill in North Little Rock. 65) B uy a hand-crafted walking stick at an Arkansas State Park, and hike a new trail. 66) S et aside a couple of days and drive the entire length of Scenic Arkansas 7 from the Arkansas/Louisiana state line north to Bull Shoals Lake.

74) E njoy the view of Lake Maumelle from the Arkansas Nature Conservancy’s Rattlesnake Ridge west of Little Rock. 75) F ollow writer Rex Nelson’s lead and seek out new barbecue joints across the state. 76) G rab your walking stick, slip on your hiking boots, and discover Lost Valley, a beautiful day-use area within the Buffalo National River. 77) P encil in a trip to El Dorado, making plans to see its vibrant downtown and the Murphy Arts District (MAD). 78) Take a towel and some sunscreen and plunge into one of the state’s ideal swimming holes, places such as Long Pool on Big Piney Creek or Little Missouri Falls. 79) A ppreciate the spectacular view from the Skycrest Restaurant at Mount Magazine State Park. 80) G awk at the huge locomotives on display at the Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff.

85) Stop by the national fish hatchery at the base of Norfork Dam to see more trout than you can imagine.

86) Sip a beer made from some of the purest water in the world at the Superior Bathhouse Brewery in Hot Springs. 87) W hile driving the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway through the heart of the Boston Mountains, consider a stop at the Nature Conservancy’s Smith Creek Nature Preserve.

67) D evelop a new appreciation for America’s military history at the Wings of Honor Museum north of Walnut Ridge.

88) Set aside at least an hour to fully appreciate the exhibits at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.

68) E xpand your epicurean experiences with stops along the Arkansas Wine Trail.

89) If you’re a Civil War enthusiast, plan on spending some time at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park and Pea Ridge National Military Park, both in Northwest Arkansas.

69) D iscover Little Rock’s historic Quapaw Quarter neighborhood. 70) V isit the Little Rock Nine Memorial. 71) P urchase a lifetime fishing license (65 years and up) from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for only $10.50. 72) B ring a camera and check out the cascades at Cossatot River State Park/Natural Area in southwestern Arkansas. 73) P ut on your walking shoes and meander through Fort Smith’s Belle Grove Historic District.

81 81) P lan to spend several hours at the Little Rock Zoo. 82) See the birth of a river at Mammoth Spring State Park. 83) For an introduction to Arkansas artists and craftsmen, visit the Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square in Little Rock’s River District. 84) Take advantage of one of the “you pick” orchards and bring home some fresh fruit. 142

90) Bring your camera and explore the botanical displays across the 210-acre Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. 91) Include Little Rock’s Museum of Discovery on your itinerary, especially if you have some youngsters in your group. 92) P lan your visit to the Delta Rivers Nature Center in Pine Bluff to coincide with the feeding schedule for inhabitants of the 20,000-gallon aquarium.

93) P urchase a piece of artisan pottery at Osage Clayworks in northwest Arkansas, and then visit the nearby graves of famed editor/writer Helen Gurley Brown and her husband, Hollywood producer David Brown. 94) D rive across Table Rock Lake on the picturesque Little Golden Gate Bridge, a 554-foot single-lane suspension bridge near the town of Beaver.

Top 5 Golf Courses in Arkansas 1. The Blessings Golf Club, 5826 Clear Creek Blvd., Fayetteville, 72704

95) M eet new people and display your thespian skills at one of the many community theaters staging productions across the Natural State. 96) E xpand your knowledge about an interesting era of this country’s history with a visit to the Gangster Museum of America in Hot Springs. 97) S et aside August 5-7 for the 45th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival. 98) S ee the site of a fatal 1837 knife fight between two state legislators in the Old State House Museum in downtown Little Rock. 99) G iven its wealth of genealogical resources, the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) has friendly experts to help you build your family tree.

2. Alotian Golf Club, 101 Alotian Drive, Roland, 72135

3. Chenal Country Club (Bear Den Mountain Course) 10 Chenal Club Blvd., Little Rock, 72223

100) E xpand your piscatorial experiences — because no matter where you are in Arkansas, you won’t be too far from decent fried catfish. 101) A t the risk of offending my many acquaintances in the tourism industry, I’ll point out that with its central location, Arkansas also offers easy access to a fine assortment of fascinating out-of-state destinations, places such as Oxford, Mississippi, St. Francisville, Louisiana and Jefferson, Texas. This list is by no means comprehensive, but I’m hopeful it’ll convince my distant acquaintances that Arkansas should remain near the top of their lists of possible states to relocate to once they retire. Maybe you can share it with some of your friends, too. After all, we live in a special place.

4. Hot Springs Country Club (Arlington Course) 101 Country Club Drive, Hot Springs, 71901

5. Texarkana Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane, Texarkana, 71854 According to GOLF Magazine

Connecting Families with Residents

with

Alma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s residents and staff are ready to roll up their sleeves so they can do away with FaceTime visits and visits through the windows, and get back to life as normal with friends and family.

Alma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 401 Heather Lane • Alma, AR

479-632-4343

Where

you live matters!

We are here for you! Call today for a quote. (479) 876-1847 670 Rogers Road • Bella Vista 144

The entire staff is devoted the es skilled professional care toinproviding a quality of careOur which celebrates the dignity ortive atmosphere. licensed and grace of every single resident. tometrists, dentists and other uilding strong relationships with 1202 SE 30th Street The sential to the healing process. Bentonville, AR 72712 roviding the quality 479.273.3430 of care which d grace of every BradfordHouseNR.com single resident.

al care in a ur licensed nd other nships with process. The of care which

onville, 72712 | 479.273.3430 le resident. AR strong relationships with residents and dHouseNR.com families is essential to the healing process.

The entire staff is devoted the es skilled professional care toinproviding a quality of careOur which celebrates the dignity ortive atmosphere. licensed and grace of every single resident. 479.273.3430 dentists tometrists, and other uilding strong relationships with 1202 SE 30th Street The sential to the healing process. Bentonville, AR 72712 roviding the quality 479.273.3430 of care which d grace of every BradfordHouseNR.com single resident.

al care in a

We are a skilled nursing facility with a

state-of-the-art rehab

Bradford House provides skilled professional care in a compassionate and supportive atmosphere. Our licensed nurses, physicians, optometrists, dentists and other specialists believe that building

center offering person-

centered care in a quiet and serene setting.

Awarded Bronze National Quality Award by the American Health We are a skilled nursi Association.

center offering person-c Awarded Bronze National

1092 West Stultz Road, S

1092 West Stultz Road, Springdale 479.750.3800 ShilohHR.com

We are a skilled nursing facility with a state-of-the-art rehab center offering person-centered care in a quiet and serene setting. Awarded National Quality Award by the American Healthrehab Association. We areBronze a skilled nursing facility with a state-of-the-art Bradford House provides skilled center offering care in a quiet and serene setting. 1092 West Stultz person-centered Road, Springdale | 479.750.3800 | ShilohHR.com professional care in a compassionate and

Awarded Bronze National Quality Award by the American Health Association. supportive atmosphere. Our licensed 1092 West Stultz Road, Springdale | 479.750.3800 | ShilohHR.com nurses, physicians, optometrists, dentists and other specialists believe that building strong relationships with residents and families is essential to the healing process. The entire staff is devoted the Bradford House provides skilled professional care toinproviding a quality of careOur which celebrates the dignity compassionate and supportive atmosphere. licensed and grace of every single resident.

nurses, physicians, optometrists, dentists and other specialists believe that building strong relationships with 1202 SE 30th Street The residents and families is essential to the healing process. Bentonville, AR 72712 entire staff is devoted to providing the quality 479.273.3430 of care which celebrates the dignity and grace of every BradfordHouseNR.com single resident.

Bradford House provides skilled professional care in a compassionate and supportive atmosphere. Our licensed nurses, physicians, optometrists, dentists and other specialists believe that building strong relationships with residents and families is essential to the healing process. The entire staff is devoted to providing the quality of care which 145 1202 30th | Bentonville, celebrates theSE dignity andStreet grace of every single resident. AR

aymag.com 72712 | 479.273.3430

Colonel Glenn Health & Rehab is central Arkansas’ newest premier-skilled nursing and long-term care facility. Our skilled team is focused on serving you and your family with excellence.

LONG-TERM CARE

REHABILITATION

RESPITE CARE

13700 David O Dodd Rd, Little Rock, AR 72210 501.907.8200 • colonelglennhr.com

travel

RV in AR

The rest of the country may not have caught onto it yet, but Arkansas is one of the best states in the country for natural adventures. While a big piece of that pie is sure to revolve around hiking, biking, fishing, floating and hunting, there’s another slice that shouldn’t go forgotten: RVing. (That’s “recreational vehicle” for the uninitiated.) There are a myriad of reasons to get an RV. Too many to count, as a matter of fact. Fortunately for all of us, Modern Wellness Guide sums it up pretty succinctly in its “Top 5 Reasons to Buy An RV” listing. 1. It’s your home away from home. 2. Shake up your routine. 3. Make friends wherever you go. 4. See more of the world. 5. Save yourself money. Here’s another, free of charge: It’s your home on wheels. And when you’re retired — and the kids are away and the office has stopped calling — home can be wherever you want it to be. Travel plans don’t have to be meticulously planned with confirmation numbers and round-trip drive times. You just … go. And stay where you want to stay, leave when you want to leave. With 52 State Parks from which to choose in the Natural State, there’s plenty of places to start, and just as many to end. There’s a reason why Arkansas rates in the top ten of most “Best States to Retire” lists. Because it is. We don’t know about you, but when we retire, we’re hitting all four corners in an RV at least once.

SHORT-TERM REHAB, LONG TERM CARE & RESPITE SERVICES We specialize in Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care services. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled common area to our beautiful outdoor patios, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us.

#3 CHENAL HEIGHTS DRIVE, LITTLE ROCK, AR

501.830.2273

HICKORYHEIGHTSHR.COM

home! Welcome

Quapaw Care & Rehab Center offers modern conveniences in a gracious setting. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood, Quapaw Care & Rehabilitation Center is a unique, family-oriented facility offering skilled care in a loving, supportive atmosphere. Our licensed nurses, physician assistants, dentist, podiatrist and other specialists believe that building strong relationships with their families is key. Our home is conveniently located just off Hwy 7 South, past Hot Springs Mall, on Brighton Terrace, under the medical direction of Dr. Hosam Kamel. 138 Brighton Terrace, Hot Springs

quapawcr.com

Call us today! 501-525-7140

Specialized Rehab | Long Term Care | Respite Care

Hot Springs’ newest, premier skilled nursing and long term care facility.

eatures all private rooms for o well as, private short term reha creen televisions and telephon venience. We have a dedicat Our facility features all private rooms for our long term residents, as well as, private short term rehab rooms with vate rooms andandan enclosed 42-inch flat screen televisions telephones for family and friend convenience. We have a dedicated secure unit with 23 private rooms and an enclosed courtyard.

Park Ave | Hot Springs, ARAR 71901 |71901 501.321.4276 | e |2600 Hot Springs,

Salem Place NURSING & REHABILITATION, INC

You must approve this artwork before production will begin. Send approval with order number to service@moxyox.com

479.419.5879 moxyox.com

Salem Place offers Memory Care for your loved one with cognitive decline, dementia or Alzheimer’s, including dedicated male and female units. Version 2.1 | 1.16.20

• Dedicated Male and Female Memory Care Observation Units • Proactive approach • Person-centered • Focus on strengths vs. individual decits

2401 Christina Lane | Conway, Arkansas 72034 | Phone: 501.327.4421 | Fax: 501.329.8997 www.salemplacerehab.com | We accept: Medicaid, Medicare, Private Pay.

NURSING & REHABILITATION LIVING PROFILE

Briarwood Nursing and Rehab is a 120-bed skilled facility located in an urban setting within the heart of Little Rock, in the neighborhood of Briarwood. We are located just minutes from downtown Little Rock and are only one block off interstate 630. We provide long-term care and short-term rehab care. All residents are monitored throughout the day with assistance in providing daily care as is needed: bathing, dressing, feeding and providing medications. Briarwood staff also work at ensuring the best care for residents through individual care plans of residents' needs, as well as daily activities, which allow for a variety of interests and abilities. Nearly all - 98 percent - of our rehab residents return to the community as a result of positive, caring therapists. Briarwood's approach has provided healing to many people in the community. At Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we are committed to ensuring that the best possible care is given to you or your loved one in an atmosphere that is calm, quiet and focused on healing. We endeavor to ensure that all aspects of your well-being — mental, physical and spiritual — are cared for in a peaceful and safe environment. Our staff strive to promote dignity, respect, and independence as much as possible, in a beautiful, soothing enviornment that was designed with our residents' comfort in mind. Briarwood's service-rich environment is made possible by its dedicated staff, from our nursing staff and therapists, to our operations and administrative employees. At Briarwood, our residents enjoy three generations of staff and families. That is over 30 years of service to the community!

501.224.9000 • 516 S. Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock • briarwoodnursingandrehab.com 154

When considering a facility for short-term rehabilitation services, families want the best they can get for their loved ones, and they have to look no further than Superior Health and Rehab in Conway.

Our rehabilitation gym offers state-of-the art rehab and features interactive equipment to enable our licensed therapists to create a comprehensive therapy program designed to get our residents back to their prior functional level, regain their self-reliance and facilitate a return to home as quickly as possible.

625 Tommy Lewis Drive • Conway, AR• 501-585-6800 • superiorhrc.com 155

aymag.com

Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

• SHORT-TERM REHABILITATION • LONG-TERM CARE • RESPITE SERVICES

Russellville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is nestled in the heart of the River Valley in Russellville, Arkansas. Our staff provides skilled professional care in a compassionate and supportive atmosphere. Russellville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center not only provides long-term care services, we also offer a wide range of rehabilitative services. Our physicians, nurses and staff all believe strong relationships with residents and their families is essential to the healing process. The entire staff is devoted to providing quality care, which celebrates the dignity and grace of every single resident.

Winner of the

GOVERNOR’S QUALITY AWARD FOR 2019

215 S. PORTLAND AVE. RUSSELLVILLE, AR

479-968-5256 • russellvillenr.com

At Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation we are committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. Our qualified staff is here giving support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities.

NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER at

GOOD SHEPHERD Bobby Lamb, Administrator 3001 Aldersgate Road, Little Rock AR 72205 • Phone 501-217-9774 • Fax 501-217-9781 www.goodshepherdnr.com

This side of

SEVEN – By Jason Pederson

Trickle-Up ECONOMICS T

rickle-down economics basically theorizes that if you lower taxes on the rich and corporate America, those savings will be passed on to the commoners, and everyone benefits. Studies have shown that it is a theory without much support — that the rich didn’t get rich by acting in ways that benefit the poor. The goal of the rich is often to get richer. Of course, there are many wealthy people who are very generous to the poor. But how many examples can you cite of poor people being generous to the wealthy? If you need a case study, you could start with Robert Ford. “It wasn’t my decision,” Ford says. “It was God’s decision. I asked God what I should do, and he told me to wait. So, I waited. For 18 months I waited, the day I met Dutch, I knew the wait was over.” Ford graduated from Gosnell High School in 1982, where he played football and basketball and ran track. He went straight to work out of high school, and 15 years later he was married and living and working in Virginia, helping to build mills for Yamato Steel. Ford says he was a workaholic, grinding seven days a week, 365 days a year. On March 23, 1999, Ford was driving home from work when he fell asleep. His ‘97 Nissan Maxima drifted off the road and hit a tree. Ford broke his neck in four places and severed his spine at vertebrae C6 and C7. Just 34 years old, he was paralyzed from the sternum down and could not use his hands. He would never walk again. “I was hospitalized in Virginia for a year,” Ford recalls. “I had to learn how to eat, swallow … everything. Then I moved to Hot Springs and continued my rehabilitation at a wonderful facility on Spring Street. But I was bitter for a couple of years after the accident. My wife left me. She hadn’t signed up for this. And my friends kept telling me, ‘Man, nobody wants to be around you. You’re so bitter.’ So, I asked God to change me.” While Ford’s body was altered in an instant, changing his heart and mind was a much slower process. He estimates it took 45 months to become the man he is today. The man who met

“I asked God what I should do, and he told me to wait. So, I waited. For 18 months, I waited. The day I met Dutch, I knew the wait was over.” Robert Ford

158

arts&culture Dutch Daniel in November. Dutch, with alabaster skin and flaming red hair, didn’t lose his ability to walk in an instant. It took years for muscular dystrophy to rob him of that independence. The fourth of four children born to Dana and Scott Daniel, his muscular dystrophy was diagnosed at age 6. He can remember walking and even attempts at running, but that was a long time ago. “Dutch is 14 now. He was about 11 when it became too painful for him to walk,” his father, Scott, recalls. “We put him in a manual wheelchair because we were told that to buy a motorized chair at that time would not be a wise investment because he would outgrow it too quickly. Insurance only pays for a new chair every five years.” But soon, Dutch was outgrowing his manual chair. And as he approached 150 pounds, it was getting difficult for him to operate. Then, late last year, doctors told his parents that Dutch needed a new motorized wheelchair immediately or his scoliosis would likely worsen. “These motorized chairs are custom-fit,” Scott says. “We learned that if you order one, it can take six to eight months to arrive. We didn’t have that kind of time. Panic started to set in.” As the Daniel family set out to quickly find Dutch his first motorized wheelchair, Ford had an extra one. “Eighteen months ago, I got a new chair, even though my old chair still worked just fine,” Ford says. “I tried to give it to a cousin and another person. I considered selling it online. But then I prayed about what to do, and God told me to wait.” The wait ended in January. Ford was having his wheelchair adjusted when Dutch and his family showed up at the same place looking to buy a wheelchair. “When I saw that red-headed boy, my heart went out to him,” Ford recalls. “All I wanted was to bless somebody with the chair who I knew would be able to use it.” Scott wasn’t as sure. “I didn’t believe it,” he says. “I mean, there is no way this stranger could have a chair good enough or suitable for Dutch that he was just giving away. As we get older, our opinions are seasoned by our experiences … and in my initial opinion, there was just no way.” There is a phrase I used often as a consumer reporter: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” People like Ford are the reason that the word “probably” is a part of that axiom. “He was skeptical,” Ford says. “Maybe because I’m a black man saying ‘I got a chair.’ Maybe because I didn’t want anything in return.” Scott says it was the latter. “Nobody has ever really given me anything. I’ve had to work

Dutch and Ford.

for everything.” Dutch now has Ford’s chair and more independence. He can get from here to there without any help. Ford enjoys such independence too — not only from his motorized chair, but also from a minivan specially modified so that he can operate it. “Robert’s minivan is high-mileage and has some serious issues,” Scott says. “As a way to thank him for blessing us, I want to bless him. So, I decided to create a GoFundMe page to help buy Robert a new minivan.” Ford lives on disability payments, so it is not a purchase he could make. In less than a month, the fundraising effort was more than halfway to its goal. “I thank God for Scott’s efforts to bless me,” Ford says. “Scott doesn’t know how much I appreciate it. I thank God for touching Scott’s heart. I’m proud of him. I thank God for his family.” But the man who lives in a Habitat for Humanity home had to first help the man who lives in a million-dollar home. God’s economy is upside down. It values kindness over status and relationships over race. It’s trickle-up economics. The Bible promises that we will all suffer losses in life. We will lose loved ones, jobs, material possessions.

And some will lose the ability to walk. But we are to “ … glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). Both Ford and Dutch exhibit this perseverance and this character and this hope. Their words, actions and attitudes reveal an inner peace that all of us would be blessed to possess. If you would like to check on the progress of the fundraising effort for Ford’s van, please visit www.gofundme.com and search “Robert Ford.” (The specific page name is “help Robert get a Disability Van!!”)

For two decades, Jason Pederson served as KATVChannel 7’s Seven On Your Side reporter. Now on the other “side” of his award-winning time on the news, he now serves as Deputy Chief of Community Engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. His perspective-filled and thought-provoking column, “This Side of Seven,” publishes exclusively in AY About You magazine monthly.

JASON PEDERSON

159

aymag.com

THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR NEWS:

Erika

THOMAS By Angela Forsyth • Photos by Jared Sorrells

Erika Thomas.

161

aymag.com

ake up at 7 a.m., exercise, do important mom stuff and then touch base with nearly 46,000 followers on one social media page and 9,000 on another. Next, arrive at work at 1:30 p.m., quickly produce, write and edit news content before anchoring four live newscasts for 5NEWS, the CBS TV affiliate covering Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Finally, head home, get to sleep at midnight (or later) and do it all again tomorrow. That’s how news anchor Erika Thomas does it. Known for her passion and drive, Thomas is no stranger to hard work. When that alarm goes off in the morning, she hits the ground running. Anyone who imagines a newscasting job to be a glamorous career of teleprompters, makeup and cameras can spend one day with her and see they are highly mistaken; nothing could be farther from the truth. Her current position as evening anchor for 5NEWS comes after 15 years of working behind the scenes and in front of the camera in TV newsrooms across the country. Along the way, she has earned an Edward R. Murrow Award and an Emmy, and still continues to push herself to work harder than ever.

choose the length of fasting that works best for them. In the span of nine months, she lost 60 pounds by fasting for 20 hours a day and then eating within a four-hour window. Now, she says her energy level is “through the roof.” It would have to be to keep up with her packed schedule. In addition to her fasting regimen, she’s been a vegetarian for 21 years and has cut out added sugars from her diet.

A HEAVY DOSE OF ENCOURAGEMENT

LIFE IN NWA

Recently, the popular newscaster has been garnering attention for more than her news stories. Her Facebook page Erika’s Essential Encouragement has become a well-loved hub for thousands of people who cheer each other on as they work toward losing weight. Having struggled with weight herself, Thomas knows the hardship firsthand. She battled anorexia as a teen and obesity as an adult. In 2019, nearly a year after the birth of her second son, Knox, she decided it was time to commit to living a healthy lifestyle, and she launched her Facebook page, inviting strangers to walk alongside her. “I formed the support group that I needed and didn’t have in my life,” she says. Whether she ended up with 5 or 500 members didn’t matter; the intention was to establish a space that was lacking in her life — a place for motivation, encouragement and support where people would feel accepted in whatever phase they were in. Through her social media group, Thomas discovered intermittent fasting, an eating pattern that involves scheduled cycles of eating and fasting. Individuals can Thomas has seamlessly weaved herself into the fabric of Northwest Arkansas community.

162

MOVING UP

Thomas knew early on she wanted a career as a newscaster. While other kids went off to sports camps, she spent time at broadcasting camps. As a teen, she anchored her high school’s morning news program and even reached out to a local news station for an internship. At the time, she was told she was too young, but that didn’t deter her. She took the opportunity to intern while studying at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where she graduated summa cum laude. From there, she made her way up the broadcasting ladder — landing a job at a news station in Iowa, where she made her way from weekend reporter, to weekday, morning and then evening anchor. That’s also where she met and married Dan, her husband of eight years. From there, the two moved to Ohio where she worked for three years as the main anchor for a CBS station and had their first son before making their way over to Arkansas. With a job offer to work for 5NEWS, the family of three moved to Arkansas in 2017, spending the first two years in the Fort Smith area where they became a family of four. They then moved up to Northwest Arkansas

Thomas knew early on she wanted a career as a newscaster. While other kids went off to sports camps, she spent time at broadcasting camps.

in 2019 once the new television studio was completed in Springdale. Thomas may work hard, but her life is not all about her career. She values her family first. In fact, what she enjoys the most about working in the evenings is being able to start the day at home with Dan and their two little guys: Axl, age 6; and Knox, age 2. When asked about life at home, Thomas is quick to acknowledge the strong partnership she shares with her husband. “Dan is a stay-at-home dad with the boys, and that makes a huge difference,” she says. “He is my ultimate support system and rock. We wouldn't be able to function as a family the way we do with our current schedule without him being here. I'm so grateful for him.” As for living in Arkansas, she’s thrilled. The move allows them to see extended family within a one-day drive, and she admits she prefers to leave the snow behind.

“I’m OK with not having a foot of snow for a few months of the year,” she says with a laugh. “The people here are so kind, and both NWA and the River Valley regions are beautiful. We’ve been able to expand our family, settle in and start to feel like we can make this our home.” Good news for everyone. Thomas recently signed a contract to stay for another two years, which will keep her here until at least 2023. You can watch Erika Thomas on 5NEWS Monday through Friday at 4, 6, and 10 p.m., as well as at 9 p.m. online on Facebook. You can also find her on Twitter as @5NEWSErika and on Facebook as 5News Erika Thomas. And if you’re searching for a source of positivity in your life, you can request to join her private Facebook group: Erika’s Essential Encouragement.

mental health

“

I HAVE A SON.

Kasen.” His name is

By Dwain Hebda // Photos by Ian Lyle

n 2017, Raven Henry watched her Russellville home burn to the ground. It was a conflagration rife with symbolism: The loss of so much inside, the uncertain process of picking up the pieces, and the searing questions of why this happened and how to move on. Henry couldn’t help but equate it to her life; so closely did circumstances mirror the fire.

Kasen.

164

“I prayed for peace. I prayed my way through. That was how I made it,” she says. “I just asked God to give me peace throughout the whole situation. It was too much for me. I knew it was something that I had to deal with, but I wasn’t relying on my own strength. I was very much in denial of the situation.” She pauses. “It was just a mess.” Seven years earlier, life had been completely different as Henry joyfully welcomed her only child, Kasen. Entering the world on Nov. 19, 2010, the 7-pound, 6-ounce infant was the epitome of a healthy baby boy “Very healthy. When he was born, he was a normal child,” his mother says. “He progressed at a rate that was with his other peers. He walked at 10 months; he crawled at six months. He started to babble little words: ‘Mama, Dada.’ Everything was on track.” Kasen was the center of Henry’s world, the very breath of life in her body. She couldn’t have known, 18 months in, that putting him to bed one night would be the last routine thing either would experience for a long time to come. “One night, Kasen got really sick, and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. I couldn’t get his fever down, no matter what I did,” Henry says, her voice steadied over time and retelling. “He had a temperature that went up to about 105 degrees, and he had a seizure. Following the seizure, we

Henry and her son, Kasen.

took him to the emergency room.” ER personnel also struggled to lower the child’s temperature, administering every medicinal and cooling treatment in their arsenal. But, to Henry’s horror, the toddler slipped into a coma, a state that he would survive, but from which he would never fully return. “After he came out of the coma, Kasen was never the same,” Henry says. “The child that I knew before was never the same after that. No communication. No eye contact. Just nothing. He became nonverbal. Everything just went really, really down.” Henry’s new normal was something she struggled to accept. The child she loved so much, more than her own life, suddenly wouldn’t look at her, and the chattering babble and laughter they shared was replaced by Kasen pleading to be let out of his frightening new world the only way he knew how.

“Kasen would just scream, every day. Every day,” Henry says. “It was so frustrating for him, because he was trying to adapt to this new life, this new journey that he had started. Physically, he was able to do everything that he could do before; he was able to get up, move around. He lost no movement, but mentally, everything kind of declined. “As his mom, I was so very much in denial. I didn’t want to believe that something could happen to him one day that could change everything for him for years to come.” Henry’s mother, Sandra, had seen Kasen’s symptoms before. In fact, she’d seen a little bit of everything in nearly 40 years as a special-ed teacher back in West Helena, where Henry grew up. And, she was one of the few people who could cut through the fog in which her daughter found herself. “My mom told me, she said, ‘Raven, I know you don’t want to hear this, but I really believe that

165

“After he came out of the coma, Kason was never the same. ... No communication. No eye contact. Just nothing.”

aymag.com

that this little boy that once had a voice, that once was an average child, would grow up and live his life being non-verbal. I never put that into my heart or my mind. “That put a fire inside of me like, ‘You know what, Raven? What they said might be absolutely correct, but now, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to sit back and just deal with the fact that they’re telling you that Kasen will never talk? Or are you going to do everything you can, in your power, to make sure he knows he has a mom that’s going to always make sure that regardless of what they say, we gon’ give it all we got?’” At this, Henry notices how much her voice has risen in tone and timbre. She pauses, then says, measuredly, “The true journey started for us right there.” Henry sought any source of help she could get, from online resources to doctors to specialized therapists, first in Russellville and

Through her own research, Henry learned the specifics of Kasen’s condition and built strategies and routines that addressed general things in a very personalized way. Kasen could be autistic,’” Henry says. The young single mother had no idea what autism was then — not when her mother mentioned it, nor when they finally got back results from a battery of tests confirming Sandra’s unofficial diagnosis. But as the medical professionals reeled through individual talking points, Henry started to feel something rising up inside, something that bubbled over when discussing Kasen’s prognosis. “Kasen was diagnosed with mild to moderate high-functioning autism, meaning he would be able to function, he would be able to walk,” she says. “Then they told me he probably would never catch up to his peers, he probably would be nonverbal and that I would have to come up with another way I could communicate with him. “I never accepted that. As much as I sat there and listened to what they said, in my heart, in my mind, I just would not believe

then in Conway, where she and Kasen moved after the house fire. She says she was delighted with many of the resources she found, others she had to dig out on her own. “I wasn’t for sure what autism really was. And I’m not ashamed to say that I had absolutely no experience, no education, no proper knowledge. I had nothing,” she says. “I didn’t have a clue what I was dealing with. But that was my life, so I had to try to get it together to try to be all I could be to help him.” Henry first attacked her own ignorance about the condition. This was largely a solo effort; as she said with a wry grin, any education or treatment plan beyond the initial diagnosis at the clinic, “was sold separately.” “I had to come up with my own game plan,” Henry says. “So, the first thing that I did was I tried to educate myself. Yeah, we know Kasen has autism, but what is autism? How does it affect him now? How does it affect him in the

166

long run? And what do I need to look for? “I quickly started realizing education was the best thing I could have ever done. I gained that knowledge — that personal knowledge, that mind knowledge. And then it went from finding out what autism was, to coming up with a plan that fit him, because every child with autism is different.” Through her own research, Henry learned the specifics of Kasen’s condition and built strategies and routines that addressed general things in a very personalized way. In her son’s case, that meant not only understanding the basics of his Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) but implementing strategies that played to his individual strengths and preferences. “With SPD, most children on the spectrum do not make eye contact. So, when you’re talking to them — and that’s important — you’re always supposed to talk to them, not at them,” Henry says. “I discovered what we call in our household ‘the Kasen Eye.’ That’s where he’s looking to the left and away from you because he’s following that sound or that rhythm of your voice or the words that you’re saying and then processing what you’re saying.” Each victory begat another: learning how to communicate informed her on how to approach education or the basic elements of daily living. When the time came, Henry was joined in this effort by the Conway Public School system where, with the help of teachers and a paraprofessional, Kasen enjoyed a relatively seamless transition from home to the classroom. The results have been astonishing. “Kasen attends Preston and Florence Madison Elementary in Conway, and they have been a godsend,” Henry says. “Coming up in the new school year, he will be in the fourth grade. He’s operating with his peers. He’s in a normal setting. He gets pulled out for some of his resource classes, but he functions in a regular classroom — meaning that he eats lunch with the rest of the children; he does recess with the rest of the kids; he’s in a classroom with the rest of the kids.” What’s more impressive is Kasen’s verbal skills have returned, something both he and his mother consider a particular point of pride. “From 18 months to 6 years old, Kasen was nonverbal. He didn’t start regaining his voice until age 6,” she says. “He has grown so much. Everything has changed.” So it was that one day Kasen asked for some juice and, lacking any in the house, his mother suggested they make some. The latest chapter in

this remarkable story was about to be written. “Kasen can’t have a lot of sugar, so I said, ‘Kasen, I’m going to order us the stuff, and we’re going to try to figure out how to make our own juice,’” she says. “We got in the kitchen, and we started coming up with these different recipes and just sampling things. And that’s how Genius Juice was created.” Genius Juice joins other merchandise marketed by Henry’s company, Born Genius, launched in 2019. As the juice started to find a national audience online, Henry has dived into the process of developing a wider in-store retail strategy. Through this, she’s got her eye on a prize that will provide hope to other children and families dealing with autism spectrum conditions. “We’re looking to start the Twisted Puzzle Foundation,” she says. “The dream is to have a community center for kids on the autism spectrum where we’ll have game days; we’ll have speakers come out; we’ll have different people come out to play basketball with the kids. We’ll have summer camps. We’ll have cookouts and different activities to show kids everyday life, but make it fun, make it exciting. “Mostly, we just want to make something where they can feel at home. In a world where having a disability sometimes is looked down on, everybody wants to feel accepted. I want them to feel accepted.” Today, nothing looks or feels impossible to Raven Henry, given all she and Kasen have built out of the ashes of his diagnosis. Still, she keeps close the memory of the time before the steps under her feet found their footing; days when faith replaced knowing as the grist to grind out another day. “God gave Kasen to me for a reason,” she says. “God put a fire on the inside of me that won’t let me quit. I don’t care how many people tell me, ‘No.’ I don’t care how many people tell me, ‘You can’t do it.’ God made me so strong to be able to put that strength into building and creating this place where my child knows that if my mama is helping me, we gon’ make it through. I don’t care what anybody says. We’re gonna make it through. “Sure, some days I wake, and I’m like, ‘I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to do this today or tomorrow, how about that?’ But I just have to keep pushing, telling myself that it might be raining today, it might be raining tomorrow, too. It might be raining for the whole week! But somewhere, the sunshine is going to come out. So, you gotta keep pushing.”

Nothing feels impossible for Henry and Kasen today.

167

aymag.com

Best of

2018

When you you walk walk into into the the Robinson Robinson Nursing Nursing && Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Center Center you you will will feel feel aa comfortable comfortable atmosphere atmosphere different different When from any any other other facility facility you you have have visited. visited. We We feature feature tall tall ceilings ceilings and and an an open open floor floor plan. plan. We We have have aa lovely lovely dining dining room room and and from covered outdoor outdoor patio patio area. area. aa covered We specialize specialize in in short-term short-term rehabilitation rehabilitation and and long-term long-term care care services. services. The The short-term short-term rehabilitation rehabilitation area area has has its its own own We diningarea areaand andday dayroom. room.From Fromthe themoment momentyou youenter enterour ourfacility, facility,we wewant wantyou youto toexperience experiencethe thedifference differenceour ourfacility facilityhas has dining to offer. offer. From From our our light-filled light-filled day day areas areas to to our our beautiful beautiful outdoor outdoor areas, areas, we we want want you you and and your your loved loved one one to to feel feel comfortable comfortable to and safe safe when when staying staying with with us. us. You You will will also also notice notice the the pride pride we we take take in in our our facility facility by by keeping keeping our our building building sparkling sparkling clean clean and from the inside out. from the inside out. Our team team isis dedicated dedicated to to providing providing aa safe safe and and comfortable comfortable environment. environment. Robinson Robinson Nursing Nursing and and Rehab Rehab offers offers modern modern Our conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by certified activity directors, like social events conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by Certified Activity Directors, like social events and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days. activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days. To help help you you plan plan your your visits, visits, we we provide provide aa monthly monthly event event calendar calendar and and aa monthly monthly meal meal planner. planner. Robinson Robinson Nursing Nursing and and To Rehab does does not not have have set set visiting visiting hours. hours. We We view view this this facility facility as as the the “home” “home” of of each each resident. resident. Rehab We try try our our best best to to communicate communicate with with patients patients and and families families to to help help alleviate alleviate the the anxiety anxiety that that accompanies accompanies this this journey. journey. We Our team team of of nurses, nurses, therapists therapists and and support support staff staff work work closely closely together together to to develop develop aa plan plan based based on on the the individual individual needs needs of of Our each person. person. We We recognize recognize that that rehabilitation rehabilitation involves involves not not only only the the patient, patient but the entire family. each

501.753.9003 •• 519 519 Donovan Donovan Briley Briley Boulevard, Boulevard, NLR NLR •• www.robinsonnr.com www.robinsonnr.com 501.753.9003

Exceptional Precision Starts Here

DOCTORS MISSY CLIFTON AND LANCE MANNING MAKE EVERY HAIR COUNT. EXPERIENCE THE MD DIFFERENCE AT MD HAIR LABS.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

SCHEDULE A NO-COST, NO-COMMITMENT CONSULTATION.

479.721.1228 mdhairlabs.com @mdhairlabs

AGING

Gracefully as a

MAN By Angela Forsyth

few wrinkles around the eyes, gray hair, no hair — these are just a few of the outward signs men face in aging. You can’t stop it, but what you can do is embrace the process and age with stately grace. To do this, you’ll have to understand the risks that naturally rise as you get older and be willing to adopt preventative healthy habits. Even though DNA and chance play major roles, there’s a lot you can do to control how well you age. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight, keeping up with recommended screenings and making the choice to not smoke can all contribute to a longer and better life. Read on to know more about aging gracefully from the inside out.

EAT WELL AND EXERCISE

Paying attention to your overall health is the not-sosecret to prolonging your life while looking and feeling your best. Nutrition and exercise are especially important. According to Reza Hakkak, Ph.D., chair of Department of Dietetics and Nutrition and Associate Dean for Research at UAMS College of Health Professions, most deaths from heart disease, as well as stroke and diabetes, can be attributed to being overweight or obese. “There are several reports that say there is a link between obesity and chronic diseases development, such as heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, that are some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death,” he says. You can prevent diabetes and other diet-related diseases, by eating healthy and exercising regularly. Trade fried and high-fat foods for whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean protein. Put down the soda and pick up a glass of water. “In Arkansas, we consume a diet that mostly has very high saturated fat, low fiber and low calcium.” Hakkak notes. “Of course, we are not eating enough vegetables, even though we are one of the most important states in agriculture.” As for physical activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination of both, along with two days of strength training, per week.

172

Put down the soda, and pick up a glass of water. FOCUS ON BRAIN POWER

Just like you work to maintain the rest of your body, you want to pay the same attention to keeping your brain in shape. Men are especially susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease so it’s important to be proactive in protecting brain health. According to Jeanne Y. Wei, M.D., Ph.D., the executive director of the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics, “The reason why Alzheimer’s disease affects men more than women is because blood pressure tends to rise higher in middle-aged men, while blood pressure tends to rise later in women (usually after menopause). It is now more appreciated that elevated blood pressure in middle age is a major risk factor and predictor of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s dementia in older age (after age 60).” The National Institute on Aging reports that what we eat might affect the aging brain’s ability to think and remember. Healthy eating patterns have been associated with cognitive benefits in studies, but keeping blood pressure under control is still considered a stronger intervention.

GET SCREENED

Along with diet and exercise, appropriate health screenings are important steps you can take to age well. Make sure to keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check with regular physicals, and don’t put off scheduling colonoscopy and prostate exams. These two tests can save your life. Colon screenings should begin at age 45, and prostate PSA blood tests should start in a man’s early 50s. Recommended exams for men: • Blood pressure test • Cholesterol test • Diabetes test

DON’T SMOKE

Smoking is a primary driver for chronic lower respiratory disease and a number of cancers, including lung, head and neck, esophageal, bladder and kidney. If you have smoked a pack or more a day for more than 30 years, you should get a lung cancer screening and CT scan. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Quit now to decrease your risk.

• Bone density test • Testosterone screening • PSA blood test • Digital rectal exam

LOVE YOUR COLON

• Prostate exam • Fecal occult blood test

Next to lung cancer, colon cancer is the No. 2 deadliest cancer in the United States. It claims more than 50,000 lives each year. Ranga Balasekaran, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Northwest Gastroenterology in Bentonville and Springdale, urges patients to get their colonoscopies when it’s time. He warns people to not be misled by advertisements for at-home tests. They are only detection tests that turn positive if you already have cancer. “Colonoscopy allows us to find precancerous polyps and remove them before they turn into colon cancer,” he explains. “So, take advantage of this life-saving test.” If you’re hesitant to sign up for this type of exam because you imagine it could be pretty uncomfortable, rest assured: “The patient is kept very comfortable with anesthesia, and the camera diameter is only the size of your index finger,” Balasekaran says. And, if you’re afraid of the bowelcleaning process of the night before, you’ll be happy to hear the prep options have changed. Nowadays, there are multiple low-volume prep options, as well as a pill option.

• Colonoscopy • Vision and hearing exam • Skin screening • Dental exam • Mental health screening

PROTECT THE PROSTATE

According to Matthew Kincade, M.D., a urologist at Arkansas Urology in Bentonville, men in their late teens and older are encouraged to do a testicular self-examination once a month to look for abnormal lumps or bumps. Once they reach their 50s, they should also get a yearly PSA blood test and an occasional digital prostate exam to screen for prostate cancer. It’s not just

prostates, urologists can help with urinary problems, kidney stones, low testosterone, intimacy issues, infertility, blood in the urine and cancers of the urinary tract. “Your urological health is also tied to your overall health, so things such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, exercising and losing weight not only contribute to your overall health but to preventing a urological

173

disease,” Kincade notes. Maintaining good heart health can lessen occurrences of erectile dysfunction. Quitting smoking can decrease the risk of bladder and kidney cancer. Drinking the right amount of water can keep kidney stones away. “Bottom line: If you improve your overall health, you will also improve your urological health,” Kincade says.

aymag.com

MURDER MYSTERY: Murder at Horseshoe Lake, Conclusion

– By Janie Jones

he New Madrid Earthquake of 1811-12 was so strong it made church bells ring in Boston and caused the Mississippi River to run backward. By the time it was all over, the course of the river had changed, and parts of it meandered off to become oxbows, separated from the flow that once again headed south. Oxbows became landlocked lakes and were often shaped like a horseshoe. On March 20, 2020, the murder of Martha McKay shook the residents of Horseshoe Lake as if another quake had hit there. Early that Wednesday morning, Crittenden County sheriff ’s deputies responded to a home alarm at Snowden House on Horseshoe Lake. Inside they found the body of McKay, 63. She had been stabbed and bludgeoned to death, but had somehow managed to trigger the alarm before collapsing at the top of the stairs. Some reports said she was wrapped in a blanket. The deputies then realized someone else — possibly the killer — was in the house. They saw him jump out a second-floor window and land, apparently uninjured, on the ground below. He got behind the wheel of a car that was parked on the premises and started driving away. He didn’t get very far, however, because the vehicle got stuck in mud. Exiting the car, he ran into the lake and disappeared under the cold water. He

174

did not resurface. Martha’s murder was the third to take place on the McKay property. A teenager, Travis Santay Lewis, slew her aunt and uncle, Sally McKay and Lee Baker, in 1996. At that time, one of Sally’s sisters, Edith “Edie” Snowden Dewey, became manager of the family’s Horseshoe Lake enterprise. Martha, who had been living in California, joined Edie to help her during the transition. Martha had grown up in San Francisco but spent summers on Horseshoe Lake. In her 30s, she studied at the University of Washington, where she got a degree in the comparative history of ideas. The director there encouraged her to complete a project she had been working on in her spare time: a chronicle of each generation of the women in her family. This became the subject of her thesis. Her love of history came to the forefront later when she was satisfied that Edie didn’t need her assistance in Arkansas anymore. Martha moved west again and bought an old house in Virginia City, Nevada, and restored it to its former glory, an endeavor she thoroughly enjoyed accomplishing. She also refurbished some houses in Seattle. After Edie died in 2006, Martha decided to buy the Snowden House from the family corporation and renovate it, as she had done with the Nevada property. Some of the improvements were simple, such as interior

painting. The entrance hall welcomed visitors with beautiful, soothing blue walls, and the black-and-white marble floor led to the grand staircase. The bathroom vanity countertops were made of Calacatta Gold marble from quarries in the mountains of Carrara, Italy. Hot water lines heated the floor beneath the tiles. A believer in green energy, Martha replaced a gas-heated basement furnace and old windowunit air conditioners with a geothermal system that drew water from the lake for cooling and heating. Her utility bills went from a couple of thousand dollars a month to $250. Tourists marveled at the majesty and splendor of Snowden House, and Martha opened it up for special events, such as parties and wedding receptions. But to her, it was her home and tranquil haven. Memphis Magazine called her “the Lady of the Lake,” and she often could be seen taking her black Labrador retriever, Lizzie, on leisurely walks through the scenic surroundings. Beginning in 1977, residents experienced a change in their environment. Horseshoe Lake was receding, pulling away from the shoreline. The cause was a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pumping station installed near Marianna to ease flooding problems when the Mississippi River overflowed. Unfortunately, the lake languished without the backwash from the Mississippi and St. Francis rivers. By the 1990s, the lake was so low a person could walk across it without divine powers. Martha likened it to a “mini-depression.” The neardisaster was the impetus for the formation of the Horseshoe Lake Drainage and Irrigation District. The $1.4 million project consisted of installing pumps and digging six wells, going down deep into an aquifer to keep the water level high. If it dropped, the pumps were turned on. Horseshoe Lake came alive again. “It was quite a job to get easements from property owners,” Martha was quoted as saying, “But everybody is happy with it, including me.” Over the years, the kind-hearted Martha had remained in contact with Lewis. When he killed her aunt and uncle, he was doing drugs and was a thief. Martha, who was a Buddhist, believed he deserved a second chance and tried to help him while he was incarcerated. She wrote to him regularly and even visited him behind bars. She also supported his early release. Though he had been sentenced to 28

175

years, he gained his freedom in 2018. The family was contacted every time he was up for parole. All of them opposed it — except Martha. After he got out, she hired him to help take care of the Snowden property where his mother, Gladys, had been a housekeeper for many years. Things seemed to be fine at first, but in time, Lewis regressed to the point that Travis Santay Lewis. Gladys had cut ties with her own son and warned Martha, “Stay away from Travis, because he’s going back to his old ways.” Despite her forgiving nature, Martha finally gave up on him. She had sold a chandelier for $10,000 and kept the cash at home until she could deposit it in the bank. But the money disappeared. The only person who saw her come home with the money and stash it was Lewis, so she reached the only logical conclusion and fired him on the spot. She banned him from ever returning to Snowden House. Then, on that fateful morning in March 2020, lawmen followed the intruder down to the lake where he went in and sank beneath the water. Using sonar equipment, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Crittenden County Search and Rescue were able to locate and recover the body. It was Lewis. He was 39 years old when he chose drowning rather than surrendering. An autopsy revealed he had cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in his system. Near Martha’s body, police found a bag containing valuables and a bloody kitchen knife. Investigators surmised Lewis had intended to steal the items, but no one could say if she caught him in the act and he then killed her, or if he went there to kill her and figured he might as well commit the theft. He may have put a blanket over her to fuel a fire he planned to ignite, as he had done with Sally McKay and Lee Baker, destroying any evidence he might have left behind. Whatever thoughts were in his drug-addled mind, Travis Santay Lewis killed his benefactor, a woman beloved by many and with nary an enemy, except for the soul she tried to save.

aymag.com

Lake Chicot By Joe David Rice

rkansas is blessed with many large and attractive lakes — impressive bodies of water, such as Beaver, Bull Shoals, DeGray, Greers Ferry, Norfork, Ouachita and others. But Lake Chicot, in the state’s southeastern corner, is unique among this impressive lot. Not only is it easily the largest natural lake in Arkansas, it’s the largest oxbow lake in North America. Formed when the nearby Mississippi River changed course several centuries ago, the 5,300-acre, C-shaped lake is nearly 22 miles long and about a mile wide. Lined with cypress trees, it’s long been a favorite destination for photographers. The lake has had a troubled past, beginning about a hundred years ago. A system of canals and ditches combined with changes wrought by the Flood of 1927 led to the discharge of sedimentladen runoff into the lower three-fourths of the lake (the upper quarter was protected by a weir installed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 1948). What had been a crystalclear fisherman’s paradise was quickly transformed into a muddy, silt-clogged body of water. Things changed in 1985 with operation of the new Lake Chicot Pumping Station which diverts undesirable runoff using a dozen 3,100 HP motors, which together can move 6,500 cubic feet of water a second. Located on Connerly Bayou, a few miles north of the lake, the huge facility (eight stories tall; big as 1.5 football fields) includes a visitors center complete with informative displays. Although costly — the final tab ran nearly $90 million — the project has returned Lake Chicot to its former glory. Now that the lake’s water quality has been restored, birds are back — and so are birders. Recognizing its valuable Mississippi River Flyway habitat, the National Audubon Society has given Lake Chicot the coveted “Important Birding Area” designation. Dozens of waterfowl and shorebirds can be spotted on the lake, including the relatively rare wood stork. At last count, some 285 species have been observed in the area.

Lake Chicot. (ADPHT)

Cypress trees at Lake Chicot. (ADPHT) A good place to view the birds is Lake Chicot State Park, a 220-acre complex located on the lake’s north end. With 14 cabins, over 125 campsites and fascinating interpretive programs (to include barge tours through cypress swamps), the park is one of the undiscovered secrets of southeastern Arkansas. Lake Village, the historic county seat of Chicot County, sits on the west side of the lake. Legend has it that the remains of famed Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto were buried in the

vicinity in 1542. A couple of miles south of Lake Chicot is another of the area’s lesser-known attractions: Lakeport Plantation, an 8,000-square-foot Greek Revival mansion dating from the late 1850s. The 17-room, two-story home, constructed largely from local cypress timber by slaves, sits at the base of the Mississippi River levee, facing the river. Following an extensive renovation process by Arkansas State University, Lakeport once again welcomes visitors.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director of Arkansas Parks and Tourism, has written Arkansas Backstories, a delightful book of short stories from A through Z that introduces readers to the state's lesser-known aspects. Rice's goal is to help readers acknowledge that Arkansas is a unique and fascinating combination of land and people – one to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing. Each month, AY will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give you a new appreciation for this geographically compact but delightfully complex place we call home. These Arkansas Backstories columns appear courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. The essays have been collected and published by Butler Center Books in a two-volume set, both of which are now available to purchase at Amazon and the University of Arkansas Press.

176

EXQUISITE french cuisine. BREATHTAKING VIEWS. THE WORMAN HOUSE BISTRO AT BIG CEDAR LODGE

reserve online at bigcedar.com

A Growing Health System for a Growing Community

Left to Right: Mary Burgess, MD, and Mallory Smith, MD, of Conway Regional Infectious Disease Center

Expanded Access

More Specialists

Innovative Services

Conway Regional Infectious Disease Center The Conway Regional Infectious Disease Center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Our infectious disease specialists provide special insight that may be helpful in understanding infection and preventing recurring infections. For more information, call 501-513-5295 or visit conwayregional.org.

We’re not just growing—we’re growing together.

New Medical Ofﬁces