NWA Business Journal 2023 NWA Women in Business Class Announced 16 Chamber Partners Recognized in Top 100 Women of Impact in Arkansas

16 Chamber Partners recognized in Top 100 Women of Impact in Arkansas

Congratulations to the following women who were among the Top 100 Women of Impact in Arkansas:

1. Heather Albright, President of Bank of America Arkansas

2. Krista Cupp, Vice President of Corporate & Community Affairs, Runway Group

3. Marcy Doderer, President & CEO of Arkansas Children’s

4. Sarah Goforth, Executive Director of Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at University of Arkansas

5. Shannon Hendrix, MS, RD, LD, FACHE, Senior Vice President & Chief Administrator of Arkansas Children’s Northwest

6. Lexanne Horton, CFO of Ritter Communications

7. Toni Barger Lindsey, Director of Governmental Affairs & Leadership Arkansas Program Director, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas

8. Meredith Lowry, Partner Wright Lindsey Jennings

9. Danyelle Musselman, Community Advocate

10. Creshelle Nash, Medical Director of Health Equity & Public Programs of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

11. Kim LaScola Needy, Dean of the College of Engineering, University of Arkansas

12. Jamie Pafford-Gresham, President of Pafford Medical Services

13. Katherine F. Pickus, Vice President of Sustainability & Global Impact of Tyson Foods

14. Shelley Simpson, President of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

15. Rickie J. Smith, Director of Public Relations of Wright Lindsey Jennings

NWA Business Journal has named its 2023 NWA Women in Business class.

This includes five women from Chamber partners:

1. Jules Gianneschi, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Senior Vice President of People at America’s Car-Mart Inc. in Rogers

2. Shannon Hendrix, MS, RD, LD, FACHE - Senior Vice President and Chief Administrator at Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale

3. Suzanne Lantz - Vice President Design and Customer Services at The Stitt Group in Rogers

4. Gail Shepherd - Partner at Hight Jackson Associates in Rogers

5. Jill Wagar - Deputy Director at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville

How it works: The community submitted candidates for the 2023 class and Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s editorial staff selected the 10 women. Honorees were chosen based on their community involvement, awards, and qualifications. See the full list here.

Why it matters: The Rogers Lowell Chamber advocates empowering, educating, and connecting women. Our Hustle in Heels initiative fulfills this statement. It’s important to celebrate these women who are an integral part in helping us serve business and community together.

16. Denise Thomas, CEO of World Trade Center Arkansas

Backgrounder: The process started with over 600 submissions being sent in to the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas (WFA), Arkansas Business Publishing Group, and Little Rock Soirée. Afterwards 100 women were selected including 16 women who are Chamber partners.

• All Honorees will be celebrated at WFA’s 2023 Power of the Purse event and featured in a special publication in September.

What they’re saying: WFA CEO Anna Beth Gorman says: “The 100 women that appear on this list are impacting Arkansas today, and they are making it a better state for future generations. By sharing these stories in the Top 100 publication, we know that leaders across Arkansas will have the opportunity to learn the names of our state’s trailblazing women, and how they’re affecting change. Our goal is to inspire more women, businesses, and leaders to support and replicate change-making work.”

See the full list here.