The Bentonville Beacon

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell shares the studio with Harry Hill, Founder of Minority Mountain Bikers (MMB), an organization dedicated to increasing and highlighting diversity in mountain biking. This episode spotlights the third annual Minority Mountain Bikers Bentonville Bike Week, comprising several days of rides, skills clinics, cultural events and community activities. Throughout the episode, James and Harry discuss the genesis and evolution of Minority Mountain Bikers, riders’ experiences during MMB Bentonville Bike Week and the wide range of support received from Bentonville and numerous people and organizations across Northwest Arkansas.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

(0:52) Introduction to Harry

(2:32) Harry’s Passion for Mountain Biking

(5:25) About Minority Mountain Bikers

(6:49) Why MMB Chose Bentonville 

(8:13) About MMB Week

(11:26) Experiencing MMB Bentonville Bike Week

(16:43) How Bentonville Has Helped Diversity Initiatives

(21:28) #BecauseBentonville Story

(33:24) How Bentonville Has People Live Their Best Lives

(37:58) Closing Question

‍Links

James Bell 

Bentonville Economic Development 

Harry Hill 

Minority Mountain Bikers

Quotes

“...most people are welcoming, but at the same time you tend to not feel like you can be yourself all the time when you’re the only one because it feels like you’re representing all Black people. So riding with more folks that have experienced life the same way you’ve experienced it is kind of where it started.” - Harry Hill, (5:54)

“We want it to be more than just bike riding. We want it to be like an overall experience. We want people to come in, have a good time and meet each other.” - Harry Hill, (15:57)

“One of my favorite things is something that’s after the event where I see somebody from one part of the country go to another part of the country and they meet up with somebody else that they met here. That's a result of what we do, and I feel like that’s fantastic.” - Harry Hill, (19:10)

“I haven’t been anywhere that’s like this [in Bentonville], where everything is so right here. Even if you don’t want to ride at Coler or Slaughter Pen, it’s all so close. There’s no reason not to be outside.” - Harry Hill, (34:31)

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host Allie Johnston welcomes back to the show Kris Adams, Director of the Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit. The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference, and it serves to further enhance, diversify and catalyze the economy of Bentonville and the Northwest Arkansas region. Throughout the episode, Kris breaks down what it takes to plan the NWA Tech Summit–and he shares what attendees may expect from this year’s gathering, the positive impact this important annual event has on the NWA community and why tech startups and scaleups are relocating, launching and growing in Bentonville.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

(1:00) Introduction to Kris Adams

(3:54) Kris’ Role as Director of the Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit

(5:44) Planning the NWA Tech Summit

(6:50) Importance of the NWA Tech Summit

(10:05) This Year’s NWA Tech Summit Theme

(15:51) The NWA Tech Summit’s First AI Series

(19:31) The Rise, Evolution and Implementation of GPT

(24:05) Kris’ XPONENTIAL Speaking Opportunity

(26:02) Why Bentonville Is the Ideal Home for Tech Companies

(29:44) #BecauseBentonville Story

(33:37) Closing Question

‍Links

Allie Johnston

Bentonville Economic Development 

Kris Adams

Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit

Quotes

“I think the way I contribute to making Bentonville better is that the Tech Summit, while it is the Heartland’s premier technology conference, it’s not really a conference. What we’re building is more than that. We’re building a tech community here, and that’s what I love being a part of.” - Kris Adams, (4:58)

“It’s important for us to highlight [Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas], but it’s really for the tech community because you might think you need to relocate to Silicon Valley or New York City…but in Northwest Arkansas you can enjoy the trails and the art and the local culture that you can’t find anywhere else. So it’s important to tell that story as part of the Tech Summit.” - Kris Adams, (7:21)

“There’s a great quality of life here. There are places you can go and have office space available. There’s trails and bike paths to clear your head and get a fresh perspective. There’s just a lot of great reasons to be here in Northwest Arkansas, and anyone launching their company or looking to relocate should check us out here.” - Kris Adams, (26:52)

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, regular host James Bell takes a seat in the guest chair to be interviewed by his intern Allie Johnston, who was matched with Bentonville Economic Development through the University of Arkansas' Venture Intern Program. The Venture Intern Program connects undergraduate students from the university with startups, entrepreneurs, support organizations and investor networks for semester-long internships. Throughout the episode, Allie and James discuss James’ current role as Vice President for Economic Development at the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, how Bentonville is a place that punches above its body weight and the exciting things in store for Bentonville’s future. 

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

(1:12) Introduction to James

(1:47) James’ Experience with the Venture Intern Program

(4:21) About James

(13:17) James’ Current Role

(18:23) Lessons Learned from Mentoring

(20:50) What Makes Bentonville Special

(24:17) Opportunities in Bentonville

(27:48) James’ Hope for Bentonville

(29:02) #BecauseBentonville Story

(34:12) Future Podcast Content

(37:27) Closing Question

‍Links

Allie Johnston

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Quotes

“The cool part about this job is we were looking for somewhere that we could call home and never leave. And so now in this role, I get to do my tiny part helping build a community where my son may leave one day, but will come back or decide not to leave because there’s an abundance of opportunities…The whole world has changed and I’m glad to be here and be a part of it.” - James Bell, (12:30)

“This year there’s really a handful of goals that everything rolls up to. Number one is finding even more ways to share the stories of the businesses and leaders that are sparking the rise of Bentonville.” - James Bell, (14:56)

“If you look in the middle of the country, you’ll notice there’s a spot. That’s the Ozark Mountains. That’s where we are. And so short of snow and ocean sports, we’ve got it all here…And so in the area of outdoor recreation, this is a place in the middle of the country where people come to play.” - James Bell, (22:36)

“...my hope for who we are. And that’s two things, number one, that we continue to be and are even more a place where everybody belongs, where everybody wants to be here…The second one is, I want Bentonville to be the best version of itself.” - James Bell, (28:05)

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Cat Hutchings, a jewelry e-commerce rockstar with two shops ranked in the top one percent of all Etsy stores, Through SpotLight Jewelry and Moonlight Supplies, Cat has made more than one hundred thousand sales and more than one million dollars in revenue. And she announces a new Etsy store, WonderLight Jewelry, during the show! Throughout the episode, James and Cat discuss her business ventures, the different strategies she has used to exponentially grow them and how having access to Bentonville’s extensive entrepreneurial resources has accelerated her success.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:51) Introduction to Cat

(1:49) About Cat

(5:44) The Journey of Establishing SpotLight Jewelry

(9:56) The Process of Creating New Jewelry

(13:41) Challenges during Business Growth

(18:26) About Moonlight Supplies

(21:34) Cat’s Consulting Business

(27:03) A Day in the Life of a Business Owner

(30:24) About Kiva

(33:35) Advantages of Being an Entrepreneur in Bentonville

(47:24) Cat’s Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas Favorites

(56:34) #BecauseBentonville Story

(1:00:13) Advice to Women Entrepreneurs

‍Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Cat Hutchings

SpotLight Jewelry

Moonlight Supplies

WonderLight Jewelry

cathutchings.com

Quotes

“...that’s how [SpotLight Jewelry] started. Then the journey after that and the learning and growth that the business went through, that I went through, has just been absolutely fantastic. And Bentonville has been a huge part of that.” - Cat Hutchings, (8:21)

“I started my Etsy consulting specifically because that’s what I knew so well…I loved thinking of how I can help these people make more money to support their families, to quit their full-time jobs and do what they really love.” - Cat Hutchings, (22:29)

“Being around the entrepreneurs here in [Bentonville], I don’t think my business could have done what it did without a lot of that support.” - Cat Hutchings, (35:06)

“...it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, how long you’ve been here, there’s always someone that’s willing to reach out and help you.That’s just crazy to me, and I’ve heard you talk about this on the podcast and how unique that is for this area.” - Cat Hutchings, (44:16)

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Kenny Belaey, Founder and CEO of Bentonville Bike Fest, a festival that celebrates and champions everything bike related in Bentonville. Originally from Belgium, Kenny is a globetrotting mountain biker who holds the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) record for most podium spots at a world championship in the discipline of trial. Since his career started in 1996, Kenny has been nicknamed the Magician for his ability to clear seemingly impossible obstacles. He has been featured on the Extreme Sports Channel and is a Red Bull ambassador. Throughout the episode, James and Kenny discuss the motivation behind establishing the Bentonville Bike Fest, Kenny’s travels across the world and the exponential growth of the biking industry in Bentonville. 

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:52) Introduction to Kenny

(8:37) Kenny’s Journey to Bentonville

(16:12) Bentonville’s Transformation into the Mountain Bike Capital of the World

(18:02) About the Bentonville Bike Fest

(30:04) Engaging with the Biking Industry in Bentonville

(41:07) #BecauseBentonville Story

(47:40) Closing Thoughts

‍Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Kenny Belaey

Bentonville Bike Fest

Quotes

“Bigger is not necessarily what we want. We want to be better…It’s going to feel more like a festival. The Old Applegate actually has a lot of history, so we’re bringing back a little bit of the old memories of the locals.” - Kenny Belaey, (18:01)

“...it’s about relationships they’ve built and I think everybody, even in Europe, knows about [Bentonville]. Locals don’t realize that, but everybody is looking at Bentonville as doing something. They don’t exactly know what yet, but they’re doing something that’s different, that works. So everybody is looking at this place.” - Kenny Belaey, (20:28)

“We are blessed with where we are because of all the brands that have a presence here. I’m talking about the CPG brand and all those companies, and they want to support cycling as much as the bike industry wants to support cycling. And that’s great and that’s something we want to keep growing on.” - Kenny Belaey, (31:05)

Summary

On this special episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by the innovative women who make up the inaugural cohort of FemHealth Founders. FemHealth Founders is a women-led, women-centric innovation hub that provides validation, mentorship and investment for female founders offering solutions to women’s health-related issues. With FemHealth Founders recently concluding its first accelerator, James sits down with leaders of the five participating startups, including: Jaki Johnson, Founder and CEO of WellMiss; Meredith Brunette, Co-Founder and CEO of Bunnii; Kristen Davidson, Founder and CEO of Function Feedback; Meghan Doyle, Co-Founder and CEO of Partum Health; and Sheereen Brown and Asia Barnes, Co-Founders of Between. Throughout the episode, cohort members discuss the inspiration behind their companies, the solutions they provide for their customers and their experiences during the first FemHealth Founders accelerator. Additionally, James interviews two of the dynamic trio behind FemHealth Founders, Elizabeth Prenger and April Roy, who share how Bentonville has embraced their program and made it possible.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:26) Introduction to Elizabeth

(0:46) About FemHealth Founders

(1:24) Why FemHealth Founders Is Located in Bentonville

(3:38) Introduction to Jaki

(5:38) About WellMiss

(10:54) Bentonville’s Whole Health Initiatives

(13:26) Jaki’s Most Important Cohort Takeaway 

(17:10) Introduction to Meredith

(17:41) About Bunnii

(19:19) Meredith’s Most Important FemHealth Takeaway

(20:22) Introduction to Kristen

(21:04) About Function Feedback

(25:19) Kristen’s Most Important FemHealth Takeaway

(29:17) Introduction to Meghan

(30:02) About Partum Health

(33:00) Meghan’s Most Important FemHealth Takeaway

(35:14) Introduction to Sheereen and Asia

(37:01) About Between

(38:59) Asia’s Most Important FemHealth Takeaway

(39:59) Sheereen’s Most Important FemHealth Takeaway

(42:12) Introduction to April

(42:21) About the FemHealth Accelerator Experience

(43:17) #BecauseBentonville Story

(45:04) Closing Thoughts

‍Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Elizabeth Prenger

April Roy

FemHealth Founders

Jaki Johnson

WellMiss

Meredith Brunette

Bunnii

Kristen Davidson

Function Feedback

Meghan Doyle

Partum Health

Sheereen Brown

Aisa Barnes

Between

Quotes

“Bentonville right now is on fire with its entrepreneurial support. Obviously, the city was built on entrepreneurship and it seemed like the right place for our founders to come and find the resources they need to grow and scale their businesses.” - Elizabeth Prenger, (1:24)

“WellMiss is building the first human form of digital health clinic to provide holistic and integrated trauma care to women.” - Jaki Johnson, (14:56) 

“What we’re trying to solve for is consolidating all the medical data into one place and providing interoperability on our platform to patients, providers, and their payers. And that allows for more of a seamless healthcare experience.” - Meredith Brunette, (18:23)

“We had access to a number of mentors to discuss different areas…Being able to get my prototype put together and preparing to send it out to pelvic therapists for beta testing was really pivotal. Having all the resources we had was amazing.” - Kristen Davidson, (25:27)

“...the best thing about it is you build community, you build knowledge, but also you get your passion reignited by meeting other people who are solving different problems but with equal amounts of enthusiasm and excitement.” - Meghan Doyle, (33:06)

“The most impactful thing and the most helpful thing that has happened during the program is having the mentors available that can push us, that can broaden our view.” - Asia Barnes, (39:06)

“It’s been wonderful to be in a group of other founders that are in the trenches right along with us…that sense of community is really, really important.” - Sheereen Brown, (40:05) 

“I think [FemHealth Founder’s] biggest inspiration is having this community in Bentonville, in Northwest Arkansas, supporting our vision to help women-led companies.” - April Roy, (43:26)

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Natalie Shew, Co-Founder of FemHealth Founders, an innovation hub catalyzing and supporting women-led companies that offer solutions to women’s health-related issues. With over eleven years of experience in nonprofit and for-profit management, Natalie is also the Founder and CEO of EmployWell, a healthcare engagement platform on a mission to take better care of the people taking care of us. Throughout the episode, James and Natalie discuss FemHealth Founders’ first accelerator, the struggles women entrepreneurs face and why Bentonville is the perfect location for femhealth companies to launch, build and scale.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:53) Introduction to Natalie

(1:45) About Natalie

(2:28) About EmployWell

(8:52) About FemHealth Founders

(11:47) FemHealth Founders’ Partners

(17:49) FemHealth Founders’ First Accelerator

(20:42) Scaling with FemHealth Support

(23:11) Accelerator Challenges

(27:21) Making Women Led Companies More Profitable

(34:41) Navigating Work-Life Balance as a Woman

(39:29) Why Bentonville Should Be Considered for Companies

(45:50) #BecauseBentonville Story

(50:52) Advice to Women Founders

(52:02) Closing Questions 

‍Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development

Natalie Shew

FemHealth Founders

EmployWell

Quotes

“FemHealth Founders was birthed out of this need for a more curated experience to the women’s health market, to the women’s health issues, and then also to this third piece of women founders trying to grow and scale companies and accessing very little of the capital that’s out there.” - Natalie Shew, (10:38)

“We have this beautiful cohort of not only impactful women, but brilliant, intelligent and motivated people who are solving women’s health issues…I was skeptical about how this whole peer-to-peer mentorship would go, but it’s been the best thing the founders have benefited from.” - Natalie Shew, (19:11)

“One of the challenges is there’s not enough time. The hope is that we would be able to provide support to these founders over the entire lifetime of their business, that’s why we’re building relationships here, not just companies.” - Natalie Shew, (23:12)

“...[Northwest Arkansas] is an inspiring place because of this entrepreneurial ecosystem. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life, and I’m not sure there is another place like this in terms of a community of people who will rally around you.” - Natalie Shew, (40:13)

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Tyler Dunbar, President of Central Standard Talent, a technical talent and recruiting agency that specializes in helping US businesses assemble and retain high-performing software development teams. Although Central Standard Talent is based in the epicenter of the Mexican Silicon Valley, it has recently announced the opening of its US headquarters in Bentonville. Throughout the episode, James and Tyler discuss Central Standard Talent’s mission and its assimilation into the Northwest Arkansas ecosystem, why it’s beneficial for companies to have a presence in Bentonville and how lessons learned during Tyler’s time in US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal are helping him now as a business professional.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

(0:52) Introduction to Tyler

(2:41) About Central Standard

(4:43) Current Workforce Issues

(8:16) Central Standard’s Partner Company, Metova

(10:41) Future Evolution of Central Standard

(12:33) Advantages of Having a Presence in Bentonville

(17:56) Transitioning to Bentonville

(21:22) #BecauseBentonville Story

(26:36) Using Skills from the Navy in Business

(31:47) Closing Question

‍Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Tyler Dunbar

Central Standard Talent

Quotes

“We’re really excited to be in Bentonville and the Ledger specifically, it’s a really cool space and  a great creative environment…Bentonville is an amazing place.” - Tyler Dunbar, (2:45)

“People are nice, and economically speaking, it’s very business friendly. You have organizations that are focused on making Bentonville and NWA as a whole a great place to land from a professional standpoint.” - Tyler Dunbar, (12:34)

“More priorities should be placed on moving and figuring it out as you go because everyone is going to make mistakes. Some weeks are great and some weeks are terrible, but the reality is if you keep going you’re going to win. It might not be in the timeline you wanted, it might not look like you thought it was going to look, but you’ll win. And that’s the goal.” - Tyler Dunbar, (16:03)

“What we should be doing is spending time with those people and helping them and teaming up and partnering and collaborating with them. And success is going to happen off of those relationships because relationships are still the most valuable thing in this economy.” - Tyler Dunbar, (28:53)

Summary

On this special episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Cyrus Sigari, who was appointed by former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson as Chairman of the Arkansas Council on Future Mobility (ACFM). The ACFM recently released its Arkansas Future Mobility Report, which provides a bold, visionary and specific plan to ensure the state’s leadership in advanced mobility. Cyrus is also Co-founder and Managing Partner of UP.Partners. UP.Partners is an early venture capital firm building companies that move people and goods cleaner, faster, safer and at a lower cost on the ground, in the air, over the sea and in space. Additionally, Cyrus is Co-founder and Executive Chairman for jetAVIVA, a global brand that selects, acquires and sells high-performance aircraft–and he serves as a Board Member of Bentonville-based Game Composites, which designs and manufactures the world’s finest and most nimble aerobatic aircraft. Furthermore, he leads UP.Summit, the definitive annual gathering of leaders from around the world who are rethinking the future of transportation. Throughout the episode, James and Cyrus discuss the Arkansas Future Mobility Council’s recommendations and how Bentonville is a key driver in the State of Arkansas’ leadership in advanced mobility. 

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

(0:51) Introduction to Cyrus

(4:23) Cyrus’s Background

(7:43) Objective of the Arkansas Future Mobility Council

(15:51) Implementing Council Recommendations

(19:34) Advancing Mobility in Bentonville

(25:15) UP.Partners Macro and Micro Trends in Mobility Report

(35:06) Mobility Megatrends

(40:03) #BecauseBentonville Story

(42:47) Closing Question

‍Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Cyrus Sigari

UP.Partners

UP.Summit

2023 Macro and Micro Trends in Mobility

Arkansas Future Mobility Report

Quotes

“I haven’t had a lot of experience dealing with government related initiatives, but this certainly made me hopeful about how when you get people with a common vision to work together, some exceptional work can happen…I’m pretty fired up, and I think we’re just getting started.” - Cyrus Sigari, (9:00)

“The bottom line is we have a collective vision, a great moment in history to take real action, to take advantage of these opportunities, work together as a community, create a plan, present the plan and then let the community run forward with it. I feel really blessed to have the opportunity to have a small part in all that.” - Cyrus Sigari, (14:23)

“The most important skill [future engineers and scientists] will need is language…The amount of resources we need to be putting towards helping people learn how to translate a vision from their mind into spoken or written word is the new computer science.” - Cyrus Sigari, (23:36) 

“...we all have some sort of divine purpose in our hearts and minds, and there’s tools out there to help us realize those purposes that can be of service to all of humanity…I think we’re in a hopeful time, and that’s one of the more exciting things for me on a day-to-day is my job is literally to stare at hope.” - Cyrus Sigari, (37:08)

“I think education is going to be one of the biggest areas of explosive growth that we see as a result of these sorts of technologies and, like I said, I feel fortunate to be alive during this time.” - Cyrus Sigari, (39:10)

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Mike Malone, Vice Chancellor for Economic Development at the University of Arkansas. Mike has nearly three decades of experience building coalitions and partnerships to advance community and economic development opportunities. Previously, Mike had served as the CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council, where he led the creation and implementation of regional growth resulting in an improved quality of life in NWA. Additionally, Mike has held senior leadership positions in the White House, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the US Senate, and the US House of Representatives. Throughout the episode, James and Mike discuss the University of Arkansas’s economic development initiatives, why the University of Arkansas is investing in Bentonville, plus what resources and services the Division of Economic Development offers for expanding economic opportunity and prosperity across the entire state of Arkansas.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

(0:51) Introduction to Mike

(2:17) About Mike and his Role as Chancellor

(5:52) Relations between the University of Arkansas and NWA Community

(10:27) About I³R

(16:46) Why the University of Arkansas Is Investing in Bentonville

(20:15) The University of Arkansas’s Focus on Smart Mobility

(23:50) How Industry in Bentonville Is Shaping the World

(29:29) Advantages of Being Located in Bentonville

(34:52) Other University of Arkansas Initiatives

(38:35) Describing Bentonville’s Community

(42:23) Entrepreneurial Support from the University of Arkansas

(44:42) #BecauseBentonville Story

(49:02) Learning from Past Experiences

(51:15) Advice to Aspiring Leaders

(55:36) Closing Questions 

‍Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Mike Malone

University of Arkansas Division of Economic Development

Quotes

“We’re a big, complex place and a lot of people have existing relationships or contacts and it’s great if they do. For new industry, for industry moving to Arkansas, they might not have those relationships or a path in, we want to be able to provide that access.” - Mike Malone (9:19)

“The thing we hoped would happen, and has happened, is it’s become this hub of entrepreneurial activity in Bentonville, and it’s not all university driven entrepreneurial activity, but it’s the thing that happens from putting interesting, amazing, dynamic people in the same space together in proximity to one another.” - Mike Malone, (18:15)  

“...but I hope we’ve built a region and a state that’s dynamic enough and offers enough professional opportunities, recreational opportunities, quality of life and amenities that at some point if [my daughters] want to come back, those things are here and they’ll have a great and fulfilling life.” - Mike Malone, (27:10)

“I think it’s access to talent and access to resources. Whether it’s in the field of logistics or if you’re into art or if you’re an outdoor business, some of the world’s greatest minds in those sectors are here.” - Mike Malone, (40:46)