Podcasts about arkansas business

In this episode, we sit down with Trey Bohannan (@treybodirt) to talk about his journey from lawn care to leading one of the largest trucking and construction companies in his area. Trey shares insights on how small businesses can leverage social media for growth, how he scaled Design One from a local mowing company to a major player in commercial construction, and his strategies for leadership and employee investment. We also discuss his recent five-part series on bidding commercial jobs, his partnership with BusyBusy, and his time at the World of Concrete show in Las Vegas. Plus, we get into his passion for giving back, including his work with Make-A-Wish Foundation, and, of course, his famous catchphrase—“Alright guys”! Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don't forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitConnect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/

Lauren Waldrip previously acted as partner at Campbell Ward, a Little Rock based public affairs and public relations firm. A native of Moro, Lauren oversaw communications, promotional efforts, media relations, trade association management, event planning, marketing strategies, government relations, grassroots engagement and activities for state and federal PACs.While at Campbell Ward, Lauren served as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Rice Federation and testified on behalf of farmers before the Public Service Commission regarding net metering.She has worked as Project Coordinator for the Razorback Foundation, where she created and implemented a program that increased membership by 20%. Lauren assisted with the re-branding of the Razorback Foundation and aided in planning events for current and prospective donors. She has provided public relations assistance for U.S. Senator John Boozman and for the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation.Lauren serves on the Little Rock Water Reclamation Commission and the Arkansas Foodbank board. She has been named to Arkansas Business' 20 in their 20's and Arkansas Money and Politics' Future 50 lists and is a Leadership Arkansas graduate.Our services for both our clients and candidates can be found below✔️For Employers: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/for-employers/✔️For Candidates: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/career-opportunities/✔️Consulting: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/consulting-services/✔️Executive Search: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/executive-search/Nenni and Associates on Social Media:► Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nenni-and-associates/► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nenniandassoc/► Email Listing: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/join-email-list/► Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NenniAssociates

Summary In this episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast, hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Harrison Kitson are joined by Travis Hester, founder of Eat My Catfish, a successful catfish and seafood restaurant in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Inspired by his love for cooking and his culinary background, Travis established Eat My Catfish fifteen years ago, which has now blossomed into a thriving chain of eight restaurants and four food trucks.  Travis discusses the transition from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar store, highlighting one of the pivotal moments in expanding Eat My Catfish when a friend suggested crawfish. Implementing this suggestion led to skyrocketing sales, with the restaurant eventually sourcing over one hundred thousand pounds of crawfish annually. Travis credits Eat My Catfish's farm-to-table approach and commitment to fresh ingredients as defining factors in its success.  In addition to business insights, Travis underscores the importance of striking a balance in life, valuing his roles as a father, husband, and employer, and illustrates a heartfelt customer story, signifying the profound bond between his business and the community. He also mentions their involvement in educational initiatives, like school visits to teach children about crawfish, emphasizing his and the restaurant's commitment to giving back. During the episode, Travis shares his entrepreneurial journey, including navigating challenges, embracing opportunities, and building a thriving business. Through his candid storytelling, he highlights the importance of hard work, positivity, and giving back to the community, offering valuable insights into entrepreneurship, leadership, and the resilience required to overcome adversity.   Show Notes (0:00) Introduction to Travis Hester (0:59) Eat My Catfish's Origin Story (3:52) From Food Truck to Brick and Mortar (11:58) Finding Confidence to Begin (14:46) What's Next for Eat My Catfish (20:58) Eat My Catfish's Arkansas Business of the Year Award (25:30) Eat My Catfish Customer Stories (30:16) Advice to Younger Self (31:56) Closing Question   Links Jeff Amerine Caleb Talley Harrison Kitson Startup Junkie Startup Junkie YouTube Travis Hester Eat My Catfish

Community-based organizations such as free and charitable clinics and advocacy groups serve a critical role in promoting health equity at the ground level. The webinar will be led by two such community leaders: a free and charitable clinic in Greenville, SC - Greenville Free Medical Clinic - and Michigan United. They will talk about how working at the grassroots level can make a major difference in health equity outcomes, including vaccinations. Join us in a conversation about how we can realize Dr. King's vision in each community. Moderator Laura Lee Hall, Ph.D. President Emeritus, Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity National Minority Quality Forum Dr. Laura Lee Hall brings 20 years plus of executive experience leading health advocacy, research, education, and quality improvement efforts. Dr. Hall founded the Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) in 2016 as part of the National Minority Quality Forum to help translate data, geomaps, and educational efforts into improved health in underserved communities, through provider and community education and practice improvement. SHC has launched national initiatives in flu and COVID vaccination, diabetes, heart failure, and cancer screenings, working with FQHCs, other clinics, pharmacists, churches, and other community leaders. The work has led to freely available toolkits for clinicians and communications, including DRIVE QI modules (SHCDrive.org) and the health champions program (see: http://ai-healthnet.com/health-champi.... Prior to joining SHC, Dr. Hall founded and lead the Center for Quality and Office of Grants at the American College of Physicians (ACP), creating a network of more than 2000 primary care physicians in 19 states engaged in quality improvement (QI) activities along with the largest federally qualified registry for Medicare reporting. Panelists Suzie Foley Executive Director Greenville Free Medical Clinic Suzie Foley is a resident of Greenville, South Carolina and has been for 25 years. She became the Executive Director of the Greenville Free Medical Clinic in September of 1999 and has worked in the United Way system for 10 years. Prior to this, Suzie spent 8 years as an Executive Director in El Dorado, Arkansas, and 2 years in the Community Fund and Community Outreach departments at United Way of Greenville County. She gained recognition in 1995 as 1 of 2 national recipients for the United Way of America Small City Executives Award, in 1997 as ‘Arkansas Business' Nonprofit Executive of the Year finalist, and in 2007 as one of TALK Magazine's '25 Most Beautiful Women'. Suzie graduated Magna cum laude with a BA degree in Radio/TV/Film Management from Northeast Louisiana University with a Minor in Journalism. She holds Membership and volunteer service with the South Carolina Healthy Outcomes Program ‘Vision Council', Access Health Greenville County Advisory Board and with the Blue Ridge Institute of Community Service Executives (1995-present). She alsois a part of the Leadership Greenville Class 34, National Association of Free Clinics board member (2009-2017), South Carolina Free Clinic Association Chair (2009-2010 and 2022-2024), Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Initiative Class XVI, and the Junior League of Greenville Sustaining Member. Dr. Latressa Gordon DNP, RN Director of Public Health Nursing Navigator Program Dr. Latressa Gordon is a highly respected healthcare professional with a passion for nursing and patient care. With a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) and a background as a Registered Nurse (RN), she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the field. Dr. Gordon's commitment to excellence in healthcare is evident in her contributions to patient care, research publications, and her active involvement in healthcare organizations. She continues to be a driving force in advancing the nursing profession and making a positive impact on the lives of patients and their families.

SummaryOn this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Michael Paladino, Co-Founder and Chairman at RevUnit, a technology studio that helps companies supercharge their supply chain operations with technologies built specifically for them. RevUnit has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies four times and the Entrepreneur 360 list of America's most innovative businesses. Additionally, with a people-centric mindset, it has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine on its Top Company Cultures list and as Best Place to Work by Arkansas Business. Throughout the episode, James and Michael discuss the past, present and future of RevUnit, the evolution of Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas's startup ecosystem, and how the recent surge in artificial intelligence advancements is revolutionizing business and everyday life.Thanks for tuning in!Show Notes(0:51) Introduction to Michael Paladino(4:49) RevUnit's History(8:24) What RevUnit Offers(11:23) The Evolution of RevUnit(16:12) Cultivating the Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas Startup Community(20:31) The Future of the Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas Startup Community(22:56) Why Tech Leaders Should Have a Presence in Bentonville(30:20) #BecauseBentonville Story(37:34) Advice on Managing the Emergence of AI(40:17) Closing Question‍LinksJames Bell Bentonville Economic Development Michael PaladinoRevUnitQuotes“What we're doing is building emerging technology for the supply chain, so we're a professional services company. We come in and do custom work, but largely we're looking at creating a great customer experience for that company whether it's interaction with one of their clients or creating a new front end for a new system in the supply chain.” - Michael Paladino, (8:29)“My hope is to see others come along and create their own RevUnits… I hope to see the various generations of entrepreneurs finding ways to give back and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.” - Michael Paladino, (20:52)“There's so many organizations here that are trying to do good and trying to create opportunities. I think the word I come back to often is access. You're never more than one or two steps away from just about anybody in this community. And from what I understand, that's relatively unique.” - Michael Paladino, (24:36)“I think one of the most interesting skills over the next couple of years is going to be distinguishing between truth and lack thereof for generative content…there's plenty of opportunities to talk about automation and creating marketing content, but for the average person, it's going to be understanding what is real and what isn't.” - Michael Paladino, (37:35)

placemakingpodcast@gmail.com Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin Instagram Economic Trends and their Effects on Local Real Estate Development with Mervin Jebaraj – Ep. 71 About the Guest Mervin Jebaraj is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research. He has contributed to economic thinking and public policy discussion that journalists, business people, and community leaders alike rely on to understand how national and regional issues impact Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas as a whole. Arkansas Business and the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal recognized Mervin in their 40 Under 40 lists and on the Arkansas 250 list. He makes presentations that share the center's expertise directly to over 5,000 individuals annually and tens of thousands more hear and see his economic analysis and commentary through TV, radio and print media. Jebaraj serves on the Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics, the Board of Directors of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport, and on the Board of Directors of the Walton Arts Center.  Mervin earned a B.A. in Economics and International Relations and a Master's in Public Administration and Public Policy from the University of Arkansas. To Learn More About Mervin Jebaraj and the CBER, Check out the Following Websites: LinkedIn - Mervin Jebaraj CBER UARK Website Recommended Reading Section P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free! If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page. The Weekly Real Estate Development Workshop Receive the latest news Subscribe To Our Weekly Updates Find Us Here Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin-in Youtube The Placemaking Podcast All Rights Reserved © 2020

Arrest made in Easter Sunday homicide in Conway; South Conway County School Board approves personnel changes, expenditures at meeting; Koontz announces electricians who reach milestones; Conway County native among Arkansas Business' "40 Under 40" honorees; Center community accepting donations for tornado victims; Morrilton softball defeats Vilonia in non-conference game; we talk with Jennifer Jones with VMBTC.

Episode 38:  Believe in Yourself Natalie Bartholomew is a 21+ year career banker with experience in a variety of areas of banking including lending, retail, culture building, human resources, and marketing. She currently serves as Community President of First Community Bank in Northwest Arkansas. Natalie has a passion for philanthropy and sits on various boards and committees that serve the Northwest Arkansas region. She was recognized as the 2015 Young Woman of the Year by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce for the NWA Business Women's Conference and was a member of the 2015 Northwest Arkansas Business Journal's Forty Under 40 and their 2018 Women In Business list as well as the 2019 Arkansas Business and 2020 ICBA Forty Under 40 classes. She received both her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Arkansas and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Boulder, Colorado where she now serves as a faculty member. Natalie is also a past member of the Emerging Leaders Council of the Arkansas Bankers Association. She launched the Girl Banker platform in November of 2017 in hopes of creating a voice for women in banking and working moms. In addition to advocacy for women in banking, Natalie has a passion for educating young women about the banking industry and highlighting those who started their career at a young age. Natalie and the Girl Banker platform have been featured in a variety of financial industry magazines, newsletters, and podcasts which have opened the door to speaking engagements at banking conferences all over the country. The Girl Banker Podcast was launched in 2019 where Natalie and guests cover many topics that women in banking face. Podcast sponsor:  William and Lauren If you want to see if it's a good fit to work with Jen V. and JRT on speaking courageously as a leader, check us out at https://www.voicefirstworld.com/  

Lance Turner counts himself lucky for landing a media gig after college that followed a typical work schedule, but his work is anything but ordinary.  As the editor of Arkansas Business, Lance Turner has seen the evolution of a weekly news outlet evolve into an online must-read.  He and his team at this vital news outlet work non-stop to report on the  latest in Arkansas -- and there is a lot happening there.  While Arkansas is known well for its agriculture, Lance's is especially proud of a set of news coverage on the booming steel industry in Mississippi County. This small, but mighty state is chock-full of powerful players (both industry and persons), and Lance and his team deliver the latest on them every single day.  Tune in to meet Lance Turner!

Emergency Services Banquet held with awards given; we preview both the Conway County and Perry County Fairs; WST to hold Hiring Event; Point Remove Brewery, Movie House Winery ranked by Arkansas Business; we visit with Mary Clark of UACCM.

April Ambrose is currently Business Development Manager for Sustainability and Energy at Entegrity, a Sustainable Building Consulting Firm based in Little Rock. As the first employee in 2007, she has been key in the successful growth of Entegrity which has grown from two to 120 employees with offices in Little Rock-AR, Memphis-TN, Fayetteville-AR, Jackson-MS, Kansas City-KS, and Tulsa-OK. Previously she was Director of Operations for Sustainability, opened the Entegrity office in Memphis, and was involved in over 200 sustainable building projects.   Current responsibilities include education and technical expertise for Entegrity's Sustainability and Energy Divisions. Specific areas of expertise include k-12 and higher education, product/service/curriculum development, design and construction projects, sustainability rating systems, dashboards, marketing/education, and behavioral changes.   April received a BA in a self-designed Environmental Education major, which included an Arkansas high school teaching certificate, from Hendrix College. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture LeadAR Class 13 and Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXIX (LGLR).   Awards include the USGBC Southeast Regional Sheroe of the Year, USGBC AR Green Tie for Central Arkansas Member of the year, Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 list, Outstanding Young Alumna by Hendrix College, and a variety of magazine features.   April's previous expertise included the creation and operation of numerous non-profit organizations dedicated to sustainability education, national climate change policy, municipal sustainability, and the integration of health and the environment. April has provided over 500 presentations on sustainability and energy to various local and national groups including non-profits, trade organizations, governmental entities, k-12 and higher education schools, media outlets, and environmental organizations.   Show Highlight Figure out your capacity in order to narrow your focus into green buildings.  Measure change to see the impact you can make in the lives of people. Entegrity adds another seat to the green building table in providing a full service for their clients and the industry. Figuring and focusing on what is preventing your clients from choosing the greener path.  Performance based understanding using tools like ARC help large corporations find their niche to replicate and integrate green strategies.  Understanding “people impact” is a huge opportunity to make spaces better places for more than the climate.   The trick to adjusting industry language to show specific value that motivates each client towards trusting sustainability.  The financial component is going to shift where renewable buildings become income producing assets.   “Coming from my background, it's pure education. I have no desire in selling somebody something they don't need, but I want them to be able to make a conscious decision and to have all the facts to make the decision that they feel meets their values and their needs. I didn't see that as an asset for a long time. I realize now that not only is it an asset, it's an incredibly valuable one where you get trusted in a way that people don't see you as a salesperson. They see you as somebody that's coming in to help them.” -April Ambrose   Get the episode transcript here!! April Ambrose's Show Resource and Information LinkedIn Entegrity april.ambrose@entegritypartners.com 99% Invisible Roman Mars - Apple Podcasts The Woman Code  Hippies - The New York Times My Mommy is a LEED Fellow Connect with Charlie Cichetti and GBES Charlie on LinkedIn Green Building Educational Services GBES on Twitter Connect on LinkedIn Like on Facebook Google+ GBES Pinterest Pins GBES on Instagram   GBES is excited our membership community is growing. Consider joining our membership community as members are given access to some of the guests on the podcasts that you can ask project questions. If you are preparing for an exam, there will be more assurance that you will pass your next exam, you will be given cliff notes if you are a member, and so much more. Go to www.gbes.com/join to learn more about the 4 different levels of access to this one-of-a-kind career-advancing green building community!   If you truly enjoyed the show, don't forget to leave a positive rating and review on iTunes.  We have prepared more episodes for the upcoming weeks, so come by again next week! Thank you for tuning in to the Green Building Matters Podcast!   Copyright © 2022 GBES

5 DELICIOUS DINNER RECIPES to support your weight loss: https://www.chefaj.com/5-delicious-lo... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MY LATEST BESTSELLING BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1570674086?... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Tionna L. Jenkins, Ph.D., MPH CEO & Founder, Plate It Healthy & O'nita Lee Foods LLC Dr. Jenkins Website: https://plateithealthy.com/ Dr. Jenkin's Food Company: https://onitaleefoods.com/ On Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drtionnajen... https://www.instagram.com/onitaleefoods/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plateithealthy https://www.facebook.com/onitaleefoods A public health leader, consultant, educator, business woman and author, Dr. Tionna L. Jenkins, has over 15 years of public health experience and is dedicated to improving the wellbeing of communities, organizations, and individuals. Dr. Jenkins is the CEO & Founder of Plate It Healthy, a public health and wellness company that provides strategic guidance to executives & organizations to improve health and well-being. Other services include providing culinary experiences, via the Plate It Healthy Cooking Academy. Through the cumulation of food, science, technology and education, the Plate It Healthy Cooking Academy specializes in teaching wellness, culturally infused and hands-on cooking courses, specializing in vegan, vegetarian, plant-based, whole foods and raw food dishes. It was through the work of Plate It Healthy and the need to provide a solution that would increase healthier food options in the food manufacturing space for all communities that Dr. Jenkins was led to establish a fully licensed & insured wholesale food manufacturing company, named after and inspired by her grandmothers, called, O'nita Lee Foods & Products. Dr. Jenkins currently is a public health consultant, television personality and public health media contributor with wellness & cooking segments on both Good Morning Arkansas, KATV, Channel 7 and The Vine, THV-Channel 11. Additionally, Dr. Jenkins has been a featured guest and contributor on large social media platforms like, Plant Powered Sista's, Afro-Vegan Society, Femme Fit Fitale, Black Women Losing Weight and Black Woman Transformation, celebrity chef Babette Davis and Terrah Bennett Smith podcast, “Sunday Bites and Tidbits in partnership with Jane Unchained News Network and celebrity (national) journalist Jane Velez Mitchell from CNN, HLN and founder of Jane Unchained News Network. Dr. Jenkins earned a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Arkansas, an MPH from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and a B.S. from Philander Smith College. She also holds a non-profit graduate certification from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and certifications from both T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies at Cornell University (New York) and Emory University (Georgia) in plant-based nutrition and diabetes management. She has been recognized for her achievements and held numerous national and local board appointments, including the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Health Equity Council, a subject matter expert in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) by the Alliance for Reaching Community Health Equity, Arkansas Business 40 Under 40, a national fellow for Association for Black Foundation Executives (ABFE), and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Arkansas Children's Hospital and as Board of Trustee member for Philander Smith College. Big Green Goddess Salad This dish is super fun, delicious and easy to make! All you will need are a few simple ingredients of ALL Things Green! Ingredients: 1-2 cups of Romaine Lettuce 1-2 cups of Baby Bok Choy 2-3 avocados 2-3 cucumbers ½ cup of seeds (your choice) 2 large green apples Herbs & seasonings of your choice Dressing of your choice or lemon and lime juice

Starting and Growing your business is scary, terrifying, and exciting. Ken Clark and I talk about starting your private practice, when to grow and scale, and creating and fostering a culture of respect, appreciation, and leadership. We talk about how growth doesn't always equate to financial success, how putting effective leadership in place is crucial, and how empowering your leadership to make decisions is vital. We also talk about stepping into and embracing your fears, as well as using them as a Gas Pedal, not a Brake. Ken owns Chenal Family Therapy and SemiPrivatePractice. He's grown his group practice from 1 employee to hundreds, all while implementing strategy, intentionality, and leading by example. More about Ken Clark, LMFT, CEO of Chenal Family Therapy, Practice Coach at SemiPrivatePractice.com: With a reputation for confidentiality and extensive experience bringing collaboration to high-conflict environments, Ken has a unique ability to tap into the human elements behind complex situations and quickly move towards effective solutions. When not leading his award-winning system of mental health clinics, he loves helping entrepreneurs and corporate leaders develop multi-year scaling strategies, working with family-owned businesses to manage change, and helping companies build better teams by developing talent optimization strategies. He and his companies have been the winner of numerous awards including being ranked four times as one of America's fastest growing companies by Inc. Magazine, Arkansas Business of the Year, Top 40 Business People Under 40 (Arkansas Business Publishing), and the Mentoring Excellence Award (The Investment News). As both a CEO and a trained psychotherapist, Ken is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and media-friendly subject matter expert, and he welcomes conversations about helping you or your company. Offer: 30 days free of Coffee With Ken (weekly Zoom call for practice owners) for solo or group practitioners (different times each week) https://www.semiprivatepractice.com/store (https://www.semiprivatepractice.com/store) -------------------------------------------------------

When was the last time you left a water conference session feeling moved by the dialogue and perspectives presented? Stephanie was fortunate experience that rare conference high during both iterations of the Young Professional (YP) panel at UMC2021 in Atlanta and UMC2022 in Orlando. You can catch the summary in the April 2022 AWWA Journal article https://awwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/awwa.1889 (here). Stephanie was most impressed by the panel's ability to create a safe space where people felt comfortable enough to engage and have a genuine dialogue, even when there was disagreement. Join us in this discussion about rethinking the way we conference and the ways we have conversations around difficult issues. We also dive into the very real discomfort of stepping outside of your comfort zone. We talk about why its' important to do so and ways to lean into the discomfort. Meet Chelsea: Chelsea Boozer is the Government Affairs Manager at Central Arkansas Water and serves on AWWA's Young Professionals Committee. She was named to Arkansas Business's 2020 list of 20 in Their 20s and Arkansas Money and Politics included her on its 2021 Power Women list. She holds an Executive Master of Public Administration degree from Syracuse University, an undergraduate journalism degree from the University of Memphis, and a reporting certificate from the Johannes Gutenberg Universitat in Germany. Chelsea has been published in Opflow and Journal AWWA, and regularly speaks at national and regional water conferences about public engagement and workforce development as it relates to young professionals. As government affairs manager, Chelsea works with government, community, and wholesale partners and stakeholders on policy, economic development, and regionalism efforts.

Winter weather shuts down traffic, cancels in-person instruction at schools and pushes back basketball tournaments; local hemp farm featured prominently in Arkansas Business report; Kiwanians to hold pancake breakfast.

Vaccine being greenlighted for kids as state plans rollout; local man charged with theft of trailers and other equipment; Mayor, County Judge talk about Morrilton-Clarksville football game; WRI leader recognized by Arkansas Business as one of state's top leaders; local sports roundup; we visit with Mary Clark of UACCM.

About the Show:                           We had a chance to sit down with Paul Gatling, the Editor and Associate Publisher of the https://talkbusiness.net/category/regions/northwest-arkansas-region/ (Northwest Arkansas Business Journal) recently. Paul has worked in Northwest Arkansas for more than two decades and cut his teeth in journalism and media at a daily newspaper in Central Arkansas as well as the Henderson State Sports Information office.  Paul walks us through the genesis of the business journal from its origins in Little Rock to the creation and evolution of the business newspaper/magazine here in Northwest Arkansas.  In addition to the https://talkbusiness.net/category/regions/northwest-arkansas-region/ (NWABJ magazine), they have a website, https://talkbusiness.net/ (Talk Business, and Politics) which updates daily business news here in NWA and beyond. They also have a podcast, a radio segment on https://www.kuaf.com/post/ozarks-large-thursday-july-22-2021 (Ozarks at Large on KUAF - Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Report), and the https://talkbusiness.net/about-roby-brock/ (Roby Report) every Sunday morning on Channel Five here in Northwest Arkansas. We chronicle a lot of the changes that have taken place to put Northwest Arkansas on the map and how Walmart and some of the other large firms in the area have helped to propel the economic and population growth of the region. All this and more on this episode of I am Northwest Arkansas. Important Links and Mentions on the Show*: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-gatling-79aa8545 (Paul Gatling on LinkedIn) Paul Gatling NWABJ Email https://talkbusiness.net/category/regions/northwest-arkansas-region/ (NWABJ Website) https://twitter.com/NWABJ/status/1415649587633827843 (NWABJ on Twitter) https://www.facebook.com/NWABJ/ (NWABJ on Facebook) https://talkbusiness.net/subscribe-nwa-business-journal/ (Subscribe to NWABJ) https://talkbusiness.net/category/video-podcasts/ (NWABJ Podcast) Paul's favorite restaurants: https://www.doeseatplace.com/ (Doe's) https://www.mcclards.com/ (McClards) http://www.thecatfishhole.com/ (Catfish Hole) https://www.flyingfishinthe.net/ (Flying Fish) Paul's favorite Book right now:  https://amzn.to/3ySDUod (The Cubs Way)   This episode is sponsored by*:   https://www.signature.bank/ (Signature Bank of Arkansas) -   https://www.signature.bank/ (Signature Bank) was founded here in Northwest Arkansas in 2005. Their focus is personal and community banking. When you bank with a community bank, you're investing in local businesses, local entrepreneurs, local charities, and the causes close to home. Signature Bank has worked hard to earn its tagline, “Community Banking at its Best.” You may ask why bank at Signature?  Because they focus on the customer instead of having a branch on every corner, this means you can have your questions answered by a real person, whether you're reaching out to the call center or your banker's cell phone. You can access any ATM in the country without fear of a fee.  They will refund all of those fees at the end of every month. Finally, they are constantly improving their digital offerings to ensure you can access the best financial tools from your laptop, phone, or tablet 24 hours a day. Signature Bank of Arkansas is a full-service bank offering traditional checking and savings accounts, investment accounts, business and personal loans, and mortgages.   Give the folks at Signature Bank a call (479-684-4700) or visit their website https://www.signature.bank/ (Signature.Bank) and let them know you heard about them on the I am Northwest Arkansas Podcast.    https://www.signature.bank/ (Signature Bank of Arkansas) is a Member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.    

Misti Staley is an artist by education and training and is also an inventor, having provided health industry aid and at-home medical equipment through the FreeArm Tube Feeding Assistant and the FreeArm Muscle. She is the founder and CEO of Staley House, LLC, and Director of the nonprofit Freeman Foundation. Misti was recently featured in the Success Stories section of Arkansas Business, the weekly business newspaper for the state of Arkansas. In 2019, she was named an Arkansas Business's 40 Under 40 honoree. In this episode, Misti reflects on how heart and lung complications suffered by her son Freeman in 2015 inspired her to develop what would become the FreeArm and the feeding tube's advantages over the traditional IV pole. She speaks frequently on the road, discussing perfecting the design through customer discovery with a current goal to get the FreeArm covered by insurance. Additionally, Misti discusses how her art background informed the design process behind the FreeArm, what she has learned about entrepreneurship and business throughout the journey so far, and her global expansion plans for the company. This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen via the podcast player embedded above. Make sure to subscribe to “How That Happened” to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better run your business. For additional show notes, visit blog.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened/misti-staley. Copyright 2021 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com/terms-conditions.

Natalie Ghidotti, APR, is principal of Ghidotti, which she founded in 2007 and has since grown to serve a wide range of clients, including some of the region's best-known brands. The firm serves clients that span all industries, including retail, healthcare, retirement communities, professional services, nonprofits and more. Prior to opening her own firm, Natalie was a senior public relations account executive with another marketing/PR firm in Little Rock. Before joining the public relations world in 2004, Natalie served as special publications editor-in-chief at Arkansas Business Publishing Group, where she was editor of Little Rock Family, Arkansas Bride, Little Rock Guest Guide and other magazines for five years. While at ABPG, Natalie won national awards from the Parenting Publications of America for her stories published in Little Rock Family. In her public relations career, Natalie has garnered top Prism Awards from the Public Relations Society of America and Bronze Quill Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators. Natalie is an active community volunteer, serving on the board of the Rotary Club of Little Rock and the Board Development Committee for the Girl Scouts Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, and as an active volunteer with Holy Souls School and Catholic High School for Boys. She is a past president of the Arkansas Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and a past chairman of PRSA National's Independent Practitioners Alliance. She serves on the Executive Committee for PRSA National's Counselors Academy, has served as one of a three-member leadership team overseeing National PRSA's Section Council and has been a speaker for several PRSA International Conferences. Natalie is a member of PRConsultants Group, a collaborative of 50 senior-level PR practitioners representing the top markets in the country. She has served on the boards of directors for Reach Out and Read, Museum of Discovery, Centers for Youth and Families and the Girls Scouts. She is a member of Leadership Arkansas Class XII, Leadership Little Rock, Class XVI, was named to Arkansas Business' “40 Under 40,” and is troop leader for her daughter's Girl Scout Juniors Troop. What you'll learn about in this episode: How Natalie's journalism career ultimately led to starting her agency, Ghidotti, and how her agency's focus is on the power of becoming a thought leader How Natalie defines “the mindset of a journalist”, and how capturing that mindset is a crucial component of her team's thought leadership expertise Why understanding what a journalist considers important is the key to focusing on the right angle for your content to best reach and serve your audience How being a consistently valuable source for a reporter can help you build a strong, trusted relationship that can be invaluable in becoming a thought leader Why a sense of urgency is important when working with media outlets, and how Natalie defines thought leadership How PR and content marketing interact with Natalie's comprehensive, integrated “PESO” content model: Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned How becoming a thought leader and then slicing and dicing your content can allow it to be used across all four channels of the PESO model How being intentional and strategic with your thought leadership content is crucial for reaping its rewards How Natalie is active within the Executive Committee of PRSA (the Public Relations Society of America) Counselors Academy How to learn more about the upcoming PRSA Counselors Academy conference taking place September 19-21 2021 in Nashville, TN Resources: Learn more about becoming a thought leader at the PRSA Counselors Academy 2021 Conference in Nashville, TN from September 19-21 Website: https://ghidotti.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/natalieghidotti/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ghidotti/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ghidotticommunications/ Twitter: @ghidotticomm

Paul Holland is a talented speaker, educator and coach. A principal of Solomon Coyle, Paul focuses on sales performance, financial growth, strategic planning and leadership development. He brings a unique view gained from more than 36 years of experience in the office furniture industry. Paul has deep experience in the dealer, manufacturer and consulting arenas. Currently, his many activities include working closely with Manufacturers and Dealers on creating high performance results. Before joining Solomon Coyle in 2012, Paul focused on channel innovation, lean methodology, dealer profitability and market share growth as Haworth’s Manager of Dealer Development for North America. The dealer side of the business was the focus of Paul’s first 20 years in the industry. He was President of Innerplan Office Interiors, a Haworth Best in Class Preferred Dealer based in Little Rock, Arkansas. During his time there, Innerplan doubled in revenue and won Arkansas Business of the Year. Paul started in sales and marketing, beginning his career as an A&D Sales Rep and moving on to sales management, sales leadership, executive management and ownership. Paul is Franklin Covey Certified and has completed advanced studies in Marketing, Business and Industrial Management. Websites, Links and Handles:solomoncoyle.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-holland-9893419/  

In this week's episode, we provide perspective and conversation about Little Rock's State of the City Address, the Derek Chauvin trial, and Arkansas Business' article about the ongoing challenges for minority-owned businesses to gain access to capital. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/arktimes-rock-the-culture/message

Arkansas service and hospitality businesses impacted by the pandemic have until Wednesday at midnight to apply for Business Interruption Program grants, made available through the federal CARES Act. Stacy Hurst, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, as well as Mary Beth Brooks, director of the Small Business Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas describe the process and need. The help line number is (888) 722-1554.

This week on Rural Health Leadership Radio we are talking building a network of rural hospitals and the power of collaboration along with the challenges of rural hospital CEO turnover. We are having that conversation with Mellie Bridewell, CEO of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership. “Oftentimes people don’t recognize how hard a rural hospital CEO job is because you kind of have to be a jack of all trades. You don’t have all the levels of leadership so sometimes, you’re it!” ~Mellie Bridewell Ms. Mellie Bridewell currently works for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) as a Regional Director of the Office of Strategic Management and serves as the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership’s Chief Executive Officer. Mellie has eighteen years of experience in community and organizational networking, grant writing, and program development and implementation. Mellie created the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership organization in 2008, which began with five critical access hospitals and has grown to fourteen-member hospitals across the south Arkansas region. Mellie has obtained over $15.2 million dollars in grant funds for Arkansas Rural Health Partnership to implement healthcare provide training opportunities, healthcare workforce initiatives, chronic disease programs, behavioral and mental health services, and access to care throughout the Arkansas Delta. Mellie currently serves on the National Rural Health Association Congress and graduated last year from the NRHA Rural Fellows program. She also serves on the board of the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association. In 2016, Mellie was acknowledged as a Federal Office of Rural Health’s Rural Health Champion, and this year was awarded the Healthcare Heroes Innovation Award by Arkansas Business magazine. Under Mellie’s leadership, ARHP has been recognized nationally as a Rural Health Community Champion for Collaborative Partnerships by the Federal Office of Rural Health and as Outstanding Network of the Year by the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association.

Ken Clark is a serial entrepreneur, passionate storyteller, and the Founder and CEO of Chenal Family Therapy, a paradigm shifting mental health practice in Little Rock, Arkansas. Since its foundation, Chenal Family Therapy has been awarded the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies Award twice, as well as the Arkansas Business of the Year Award. With over 30 years of experience in the business world, Ken has established himself as a sought-after expert on a variety of topics, from financial planning to mental health. Ken is also a successful keynote speaker and the author of seven books, which focus on psychology and personal finance. In this episode… Do you ever feel anxious, stressed, or unheard at work? Is this holding you back from achieving success or growth? What if writing simple thank you notes could transform that stressful mindset into a mindful and productive one?  When businessman Ken Clark started practicing gratitude, his life changed. He was able to release his own stress and cultivate a company culture of open-heartedness, honest communication, and respect. In this episode of the Succeed Under Stress podcast, Dr. Jonathan Horowitz interviews Ken Clark, Founder and CEO of Chenal Family Therapy, about the practical strategies he uses to implement gratitude into every interaction he has. They discuss how to be vulnerable in the workplace, how to avoid personal and professional burnout, and why practicing gratitude is more important than ever. You don’t want to miss this!

Gerald Alley is the founder and CEO of Con-Real, LP, a diverse company providing construction, real estate, program management, and technology and innovation services to clients and is one of the nation’s largest minority-owned businesses. He was recently inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame. Prior to the business college becoming the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Gerald was challenged by his mother to broaden his horizons, leave his home town of Pine Bluff, and study in Fayetteville. In this episode, Gerald talks about his time at the University, and the lessons he learned that helped him achieve success.

Ruth Mitchell has been writing non-fiction articles for many years. White Oak is her first work of fiction. Her articles have appeared in Art & Antiques, The San Francisco Bay Guardian, American History, Fodor’s USA Travel Guide and Fodor’s Great American Vacations, Watercolor, American Style, Niche, Wedding Dresses, and Sailing magazines. Ruth interviewed world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli for Echoes magazine; wrote an article on early aviatrixes, Louise Thaden and Amelia Earhart, for American History magazine as well as many travel articles on Europe, the Bahamas, San Francisco, Antigua, and Napa Valley for Romantic Destinations. She has been editor of At Home in Arkansas and Special Publications Editor for Arkansas Business. Ruth also wrote Arkansas Heritage, a state-adopted Arkansas History textbook for elementary-aged children. You may find out more about Ruth by visiting: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthpeter... https://www.facebook.com/Ruth-Mitchel...

A lot has changed at Arkansas Business over the last two decades, but the editor's desk has remained the same. While many newsrooms and publications from around the country have dealt with staff cuts or even closed their doors in recent years, Gwen Moritz has served as editor of Arkansas Business since 1999. “My job is to make sure that we have a news product that this audience will value and will subscribe to year in and year out,” Moritz said. “It's a niche of readers that can and will pay for a product that they value.” Moritz shared more about her time at Arkansas Business with host Natalie Ghidotti on the latest episode of The Ghidotti Podcast, including how the media industry has changed over the years, what she envisions for Arkansas businesses going into 2020 and the origin of her wildly popular Craigslist find of the day. Subscribe to The Ghidotti Podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Be sure to check out our blog and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. We love hearing from you!

Dr. Nathan Regier welcomes Millie Ward, the president of Stone Ward a full service marketing agency based in Little Rock Arkansas with an office in Chicago as well, Millie embodies Stone Ward’s ethos of intelligent thinking, committed services and creative drive. Always on the go, Millie is the former chairman of the advertising marketing international network AMIN, one of the largest networks of independent agencies. She has also been named one of Ad Week’s Women to Watch, one of the top 100 women by Arkansas Business and Woman Business Owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners. She serves her community in many different ways and she is a wonderfully dedicated wife, mother and grandmother.   In this episode Millie shares the magic behind Stone Ward, how they chose their motto “building good” based on foundations of respect and trust, recognizing people’s potentials, prioritizing excellence and giving back to the community.   Key Takeaways: [1:58] Building good as a motto. [3:08] Best relationships have trust and respect at their core. [3:38] Recognizing potential. [4:07] Excellence. [4:35] Giving back. [5:23] The story behind Stone Ward. [6:58] Stone Ward recognized as one of the best places to work. [9:13] Work-life balance. [9:50] Three special features of Stone Ward. [10:43] Everyone who depends on you is welcome to Stone Ward. [11:19] Keeping employees healthy. [12:49] Flexible leave time. [14:03] Millie’s definition of compassion. [15:54] Stone Ward’s work with US women's soccer. [20:04] Building relationships that last. [21:21] Projects that Millie is proud to be involved in. [23:01] Is there a creative way to say no? [25:26] The ideation process. [26:28] Ideas can come from anywhere. [26:46] Examples of non profit organizations Stone Ward is working with. [28:40] Community work. [30:09] Health, education and mental stability. [31:18] Lighting round. [34:20] Advice for leaders. [37:01] Takeaways from this episode.   Mentioned in this episode: The Compassion Mindset RefuSHE Reach to Rwanda

Lance Turner joined Arkansas Business as a reporter in 1999 and became online editor in 2000. In that role, he oversees all Web content for Arkansas Business Publishing Group of Little Rock, which produces websites, magazines and newspapers in Arkansas, including Arkansas Business, Little Rock Soirée, Little Rock Family, Arkansas Bride, Guest Guide to Greater Little Rock, Arkansas Next: A Guide to Life After High School and Greenhead. Arkansas Business Publishing Group has more than 70 employees in Little Rock. Much of Turner’s time is spent writing and editing daily news at ArkansasBusiness.com, which includes the Daily Report and Morning Roundup e-newsletters. Turner also produces the Arkansas Business news report that airs at weekdays on “THV 11 This Morning.” And, from time to time, he's a panelist on AETN’s weekly public affairs program, “Arkansas Week.”

Joining guest host Jim Swift on today's Bulwark podcast is Gwen Moritz, editor of Arkansas Business, to talk about the Elaine Massacre (https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/127611/elaine-massacre-memorial-set-for-unveiling), part of the deadly Red Summer of 1919, a hundred years later. Special Guest: Gwen Moritz.

Graham Cobb stank at sports so he played in punk rock bands to learn teamwork. He Spent 20+ years earning a PhD in Pizza before heading to Arkansas Business to learn how to engage an audience with content in order find customers for local and national businesses. In late 2013 he entered the Chamber world as COO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber and is currently the President and CEO of the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce where he gratefully serves the community that is home to the world’s greatest Adventurepreneur, Sam Walton. Boasting a rich culture of culinary, arts, and outdoor activities; Bentonville is at once metropolitan, and Main Street. It is both global, and local. He believes Bentonville’s greatest gift to its citizens is that of Widescreen Livin’ - A 360 degree human experience revealing a past, present and future that connects us to nature, to the world, and to each other by organically weaving arts and culture, the outdoors, culinary excellence, and the power of human relationships into people’s everyday lives. Cobb relishes this quality of life as it provides him time to chase fast folks on mountain bikes, enjoy a great meal with his amazing wife Lisa, and soak up precious moments with William (9) and Sissy (6) searching for painted rocks on the Crystal Bridges art trail.

Greg Hatcher started The Hatcher Agency in Little Rock, Arkansas with an assistant and 500 square feet of office space in 1990. After only one year, Greg had seven employees and was producing more than any agent in Arkansas.The Hatcher Agency was named Arkansas’s Small Business of the Year in 1993 and has led the state in health insurance every year since its founding in 1990. Arkansas Business named it the Most Philanthropic Company in 2006 and it has been chosen as the Best Insurance Agency every year.

Greg Hatcher started The Hatcher Agency in Little Rock, Arkansas with an assistant and 500 square feet of office space in 1990. After only one year, Greg had seven employees and was producing more than any agent in Arkansas.The Hatcher Agency was named Arkansas’s Small Business of the Year in 1993 and has led the state in health insurance every year since its founding in 1990. Arkansas Business named it the Most Philanthropic Company in 2006 and it has been chosen as the Best Insurance Agency every year.

Now, Katie Childs photographs over 30 weddings a year, along with family portraits. In 2018, she booked 35 weddings, but hopes to reduce to 20 yearly. That may prove challenging--she’s already booked 14 weddings for 2019. Childs also started working with the Arkansas Times this year, traveling to farms for Food and Farm, and working on family-based shoots for Savvy. Savvy has brought projects that have been familiar due to her previous work, while Food and Farm offers opportunities to learn additional photography skills. “We’ll do the farmer’s portraits and try to pull a story from their farm and situation,” Childs explained. “With the cattle and corn, I’m just doing a documentary kind of style. A lot of the time, with these shoots, I don’t get to choose what time of day or what situation the cattle or the corn is going to be in. So it might be in the middle of the day. I’m trying to make the best use of whatever’s happening. And that is its own specific challenge, but I love figuring things out like that, it’s kind of my favorite thing. If it were super easy all the time, I don’t think I’d enjoy doing it. I like being thrown into a situation and having to figure it out.” Special Guest: Katie Childs.

Geovanni Leiva missed his family and his village, and then, after a visit five years ago, while flying back to Arkansas, he came up with an idea. “It was probably the worst three hours of my life because I would feel so defeated,” Leiva said. “And I would feel so helpless. … Why me? Why, out of all these people, I get to do this? Over one of those trips, I’m reading a magazine, and I have my little napkin for my Sprite, and I see a Chinese proverb in a magazine that says, if you give a man a fish, you will feed him for a day, but if you teach him how to fish, you will feed him for a lifetime. And I realized that exactly had happened to me. I had been given that opportunity. I had been given that chance to-- not only I was fed for one day, but I was actually given that opportunity. I realized, that’s exactly what I gotta do in my village. What if? And it started with that. Why if, why not? Why do I not bring their coffee, they grow coffee already. That’s what’s they’ve been doing for 60-plus years, ever since I’ve known them. What if I can get their coffee in the hands of my friends and family in the states? And then all of a sudden, I bridge the two, and while bridging the two, we break poverty? I was like, that’s it.” -- Want the full article? Head on over to www.hewandweld.com for more. Special Guest: Geovanni Leiva.

In this week’s episode, we provide perspective and conversation on the Arkansas Business’ article entitled “Is Little Rock Losing its Luster?”, LRSD loss of enrollment, and settlement of lawsuit filed against LRPD related to the use of the n-word. We also discuss the evolution of Obamacare to Arkansas Works with Health Policy Director of Arkansas Advocates, Marquita Little Numan. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/arktimes-rock-the-culture/message

And they keep their product lines interesting, even taking special orders. “We have these really unique niche scents in some of our candles, so they work really well for historical reenactors, but they’re not going to sell to somebody else,” Reeves said. “We have a state park that we contract to that deals with historical reenactors all the time, and one of their properties on the park is a jail. We designed an entire line of candles just for their jail, scents that would have been in a jailhouse in the mid-1800s to early 1900s when it was operational.” One of those specialty scents is called The Sheriff. “It kind of smells like this dirty man that’s been smoking a pipe,” Reeves explained. “When I smell it, I get the thought of the cowboy with his feet up on the desk, and the big sheriff badge and a hat over his face, sleeping while his prisoners are in the cells behind him. That’s what it conjures for me. Many of our scents are like that. You can smell it and you can conjure this idea of what it is supposed to be in your head.” But not everyone can smell the candles. “A lot of men can’t smell,” Reeves explained. “I didn’t realize this until I started dealing with men on a regular basis. Men, blue-collar workers, a lot of them can’t smell because they’ve worked around chemicals their whole life. Or they’ve worked around major smells their whole life. My dad is a maintenance man at a roofing plant. My dad can’t smell anything. Asphalt’s burned the inside of his nose. So he can’t smell candles. My dad can’t smell when something is cooking. And he’s not the only one.” Special Guest: Tabatha Reeves.

Ken Clark turned his weakness into a weapon. Therapist and owner of Chenal Family Therapy, Clark discusses his journey from “finance guy” to the proverbial couch at his practice, which he started by himself eight years ago. Recently named Arkansas Business of the Year, Chenal Family Therapy is currently opening its 10th clinic in the state. Host Natalie Ghidotti talks to Clark about how he handles stresses in his own life, the stigma that still surrounds mental health and how he's raising his sons to be curious people.

When Long moved to Florida, Godbold and Cook divided the remaining responsibilities. While they at first tried splitting the baking and the decorating, they found the workflow wasn’t efficient. Cook, who has a degree in business, took over the finances, taxes, and practical business needs. Godbold took on all of the baking, decorating, social media, and marketing. Along with refining her baking skills, Godbold learned that her customers weren’t on Instagram or Facebook. “At the beginning, I was trying to do paid ads and do all these things and market on Facebook but that really doesn’t sell for this market,” she explained. “Most of my customers didn’t find me on Facebook. It was word of mouth or they tried our cookies at someone’s event. Once I figured that out, it took a lot of stress off of social media. Social media is just fun. It’s a fun case to showcase our art and product and meet people.” Referrals turned into regular customers, and they also started selling cookies at the Me and McGee Market, a stand dedicated to local produce, meats, cheese, products, and crafts. “When we first started marketing, it was a little bit of a struggle trying to find who our customer is,” shared Godbold. “Who would appreciate what we do and who is looking for what we were offering because we’re not trying to compete with Walmart. We’re not even trying to compete with some of the other local storefront bakeries. You can’t call me up on a Tuesday morning and say, ‘Hey, can I have three dozen decorated cookies by this afternoon?’ It’s not going to happen because I need at least three days. It took a little bit, but once we really found our customer base, who understands us, they understand what we put into it. They know that I’m a stay-at-home mom and that I do this from 8 pm until midnight or sometimes later during the week. They appreciate our work and are willing to pay for what we’re offering.” Special Guest: Suzanne Godbold.

Brittany Oaks made a few friends in Conway while a single mother and was invited to a home birth. “It was really, really incredible to see,” Oaks said. “And I’d given birth by that point myself. But this was an unmedicated home birth. She started out in the water and ended up going to her bed. And just the raw power and just the fact that she invited only those people she wanted there was really, really interesting to me. That’s who was in that house and I was invited. And someone threw me a camera while she was pushing and the rest is history. I was just in love with it. This is a story, and I want to tell this story. I want to capture these sacred moments because there are a lot of things worth capturing in life - momentous moments, but to me in that time, it made it really clear to me. I spent a lot of money on my wedding photography. The wedding was annulled. I can’t show those photos or care about them because you know. But it doesn’t matter what happened with that child. When you take photos of that new human being born, that’s always your child, no matter what happens. There’s nothing that’s going to annul that.” Oaks soon remarried into the military and was stationed overseas. Unable to work, Oaks practiced her photography skills, homeschooled her three sons, and traveled with her family. “But I knew when we got back to the states, I wanted to hit the ground running,” Oaks explained. “I knew what I wanted to do. So I did. We got back in August last year and I immediately filed for my business, got insurance and all the stuff that makes a business. … I knew what I wanted and I’ve been hustling ever since to make it happen.” Special Guest: Brittany Oaks.

In September of 1990, with a bank loan, an assistant and 500 square feet of office space, Greg Hatcher started The Hatcher Agency. He signed a 3 year lease on that 500 square feet of office space thinking it would be all he would ever need. At the end of the first year, he had already outgrown his office space and had grown to 7 employees, producing more insurance in his first year of business than any agent in the state of Arkansas. Three years later in 1993, The Hatcher Agency was named Arkansas' Small Business of the Year by Arkansas Business and The Hatcher Agency was the largest health insurance agency in the state of Arkansas. Greg and The Hatcher Agency have been the number one producer since, leading the state of Arkansas in health insurance sales every year since they started business in 1990. Greg graduated in 1983 from Alma College with a degree in Public Relations. While at Alma, he was President of the Student Body, and lettered in soccer, wrestling and baseball. Greg was named the schools Outstanding Graduate and the TKE Fraternity's Top Fraternity Man for his local Chapter and Nationwide. Greg was also a nine-letter winner and one of the last athletes to play three varsity sports for four years at Alma College. He was captain of the wrestling team and was named first-team all-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1982-83. Hatcher helped the wrestling and baseball teams each capture three MIAA titles while also lettering in soccer. Hatcher was president of his junior class and served as president of the student body as a senior. He co-founded and was president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and also served as sports information director from 1981-83. Following graduation, he coached baseball at Notre Dame University for one year before going to work for Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. In Greg's seven years at Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, he was named the Account Executive of the Year, a record six consecutive times, before leaving to start his own agency in 1990. In 1999, Greg wrote the book 55 Steps to Outrageous Service, which is a book outlining the service that The Hatcher Agency delivers every day to their clients. This book has sold over 15,000 copies to date and in 2011 a publisher purchased the rights to the book and is now printing over 100,000 in paperback. The Hatcher Agency has grown to a business with 50 employees, over 650 group clients, and over 180,000 insured's. Because of his Outrageous Service philosophy, Greg and The Hatcher Agency have earned numerous awards and recognitions, including lifetime status in the Million Dollar Roundtable, recognizing the top 3 % of life insurance producers in the country and a lifetime Golden Eagle Award winner by the National Association of Health Underwriters, recognizing the top 1% of health insurance producers nationwide. His greatest joy has come from his work in getting wrestling started in Arkansas. Hatcher founded The Arkansas Wrestling Association (AWA) and has purchased the mats for 60 high schools and 4 colleges to help get new programs started at these schools. For his efforts, he has been honored with the “Dan Gable America Needs Wrestling Award,” named WIN Magazines Man of the Year and awarded The Certificate of Merit by The Arkansas Activities Association. Greg is most pleased that over 4,000 kids now wrestle in Arkansas.

In this week's edition of our super popular new podcast, "The Conversation," host Matt Price interviews Arkansas Business Editor, Gwen Moritz. After mispronouncing her name, they discuss her background, journalism as a craft as opposed to a profession, the future of journalism, and more fake news! Next week's guest is Arkansas Times Max Brantley, we rehash some old news with hopefully a new perspective.

Kirsten Blowers and Anna Morrison join us to share their experiences about starting and growing a business in Northwest Arkansas.  Kirsten started Riffraff seven years ago, starting with only $100 and growing a business now worth over a million dollars.  Kirsten was recently named to Forbes 30 under 30 for retail entrepreneurship and Riffraff has nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram.  Anna Morrison started Campus Concierge four years ago and employs over 100 tutors in Fayetteville.  She was recognized by Arkansas Business as a 20 in their 20s for 2015.  Both of these ladies are total rock stars and fun fact, Anna was one of Kirsten's first employees at the original Riffraff store! Get in touch!  Follow Kirsten Blowers (@kirstenblowers).  Help her get past the 30k mark!  Also, go buy some clothes at shopriffraff.com Check out what Campus Concierge is doing at @docollegebetter on Instagram.  Find out more at docollegebetter.com Hosts: Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com michael@startupjunkieconsulting.com