I Am Northwest Arkansas®

About the Show: It took a minute to release this episode, but we believe it is better late than never. We recently sat down with Matthew Micksin , Senior Director of Real Estate with Common, to discuss his company’s entrance into the Real Estate market in Northwest Arkansas. Common is one of the nations leading residential brands and operating platforms for Multi-Family developments. Blue Crane ,...

About the Show: We sit down with Dr. Marti Sharkey, Pediatrician and member of the City of Fayetteville Board of Health, and Dr. Gary Berner, Internist and Chief Medical Officer of the Community Clinic, to discuss the 4th wave of the pandemic and how the Delta Variant of COVID-19 is wreaking havoc here in Northwest Arkansas, Arkansas, and other parts of the country. The challenges are even greater...

Click Here For More Information (PDF) Hear our discussion with Bianca Montoya from BikeNWA discussing the Critical Mass Summit. The two-day summit takes place on Friday, July 23, and Saturday, July 24, 2021. Critical Mass Summit , supported by the Walton Family Foundation, is A two-day summit designed to empower and connect women and other underrepresented genders with the trails, cycling, and act...

About the Show: Every business needs a little recognition and acknowledgment. We sit down with Mary Mickel, Co-Founder of Resplendent Hospitality - RH, on this podcast episode. With offices in Austin, Texas, and Fayetteville, RH specializes in hospitality, lifestyle, CPG, and Cannabis PR and Marketing.  Mary has 15 years of experience in marketing and public relations and has been at the fore...

About the Show: On this IANWA Special Edition episode, we sit down with Jerra Nalley Toms to discuss some of the most incredible things opening here locally in Northwest Arkansas the week of July 9th, 2021. Whether it's a new restaurant, Food Truck, Store, or something else, we've got you covered. Don't be the last to hear about something new in your backyard.  All this and more on this Speci...

About the Show: Sometimes delays in life work out to your advantage. This episode is an example of that. We initially sat down with Ben Clark, Owner of Custom Apparel maker B-Unlimited last February 2020.  And then the pandemic hit.   We decided to hold off on releasing that episode.  It was a good one, but Ben thought it would be better to discuss how they survived the pandemi...

About the Show: On this inaugural IANWA Special Edition episode, we sit down with Jerra Nalley Toms to discuss some of the most incredible things opening here locally in Northwest Arkansas. Whether it's a new restaurant, Food Truck, Store, or something else, we've got you covered. Don't be the last to hear about something new in your backyard.  All this and more on this Special Episode of I a...

About the Show: We sat down with Jeff Webster, President, and CEO of Hark Excellerate to learn all about the organization and how they are making a difference in the lives of everyday people here in Northwest Arkansas.  Learn more about Jeff’s path to Hark and how his previous jobs and roles have set him up for success with the organization. There is even a very cool story of how Jeff, an avi...

About the Show: We sat down with Sarah Autry and Stephanie Peters, two of the Founders at Duncan & Stone based in Fayetteville, to discuss what it was like to start a business during the pandemic and watch it grow.  All this and more on this episode of I am Northwest Arkansas. Important Links and Mentions on the Show* Email Sarah Autry Email Stephanie Peters Website for Duncan & Stone...

About the Show: Stacy Harper is the Founder of Lighthouse Solutions, an organization that helps people in need. Harper talks about her success story and how she is working with organizations to bridge the gap between resources and the community. The primary focus is on teenagers, and the strategy is to use art and life skills mapped together to assist them in opening up. She also talks about two s...

About the Show: Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area has it all, Hunting, Shooting Range, and some of the best Mountain Bike Trails in Northwest Arkansas are under one roof. According to Park Superintendent Mark Clippinger, located on the East side of Rogers, Hobbs State Park has something for everyone who loves the great outdoors. All this and more on this I am Northwest Arkansas episode. Important...

About the Show: We sat down with Kenny Williams from Pedal It Forward NWA to discuss how his organization is trying to make bicycles and biking available for everyone in Northwest Arkansas. All this and more on this episode of I am Northwest Arkansas. Important Links and Mentions on the Show* Email Kenny Williams Website for Pedal It Forward Pedal It Forward on Facebook Pedal It Forward on Instagr...

About the Show: We recently sat down with Wes Craiglow from the Urban Land Institute (ULI NWA). Wes is leading ULI’s effort to help Northwest Arkansas grow smart and not just big for the sake of being big. According to Wes, Northwest Arkansas is one of the fastest-growing metro areas under one million people in the United States.   ULI is a nonprofit created in 1936 to help communities t...

About the Show: We recently sat down with Jake Lewis, the founder of Woodworx Workshop. Jake is a  talented artist and woodworker.  He learned to marry his passion for woodworking and art with business. He takes recycled wood and repurposes them into works of art for all to enjoy - see some of the examples in the Show Notes below. I spent some time in Jake’s tidy little workshop just off...

About the Show: If you are looking for motivation to get your business idea off the ground or just need that extra push for your current business bookmark and listen to this episode for great stories and motivation to achieve your dreams here in the Ozarks whether big or small.   We recently had a chance to sit down and talk with Brant Barnes, the owner of the local Shelter Insurance in...

About the Show: Are you in Northwest Arkansas? Would you like to join the cycling community?  This episode is for you!   We sat down with Bianca Montoya, Communication and Marketing Director at BikeNWA. Bianca sheds light on how the BikeNWA organization intentionally supports and builds a cycling culture in Northwest Arkansas. Bianca moved to Northwest Arkansas to attend the Univers...

About the Show: We recently sat down with Amanda Childs of Community Service Inc. (CSI) , a 501(c)3 youth and family services organization serving youth 18 and younger. They were founded in 1958 by Conway County Circuit Judge Audrey Strait, CSI, to “combat juvenile delinquency” directly and to minimize the rate of delinquency through “serving other segments of the population who were in need.” Som...

About the Show: We recently sat down with EasyBins Founder James Farmer. Known as the Instacart of Northwest Arkansas, EasyBins takes inspiration from the familiar concept of “connecting the store to your door” and offers a unique service, “connecting the market to your door.” Unlike other grocery delivery apps, EasyBins removes the physical store from the equation and allows users to create a bas...

About the Show: We recently sat down with Stacey Mason and had a full-ranging conversation on Leadership Coaching through Improvisation and everything in between. Stacey dropped so many nuggets of wisdom including the smart decision to locate her improv studio, The Improv Lab , in Downtown Bentonville. Stacey shared her perspective on the difference between counseling and coaching.  “Counseli...

A brief summary of this episode Mentioned in this episode: FindItNWA.com 🎧 This episode is brought to you by FindItNWA.com – the hyper-local business directory made for Northwest Arkansas. From local eats to trusted pros, it’s the go-to spot for discovering what’s great nearby. 📣 Are you a business owner? Get listed today and connect with thousands of locals looking for what you offer. 👉 Visit...

About the Show: We recently sat down with Kathryn Tucker, Executive Director, and Kody Ford, Director of Statewide Outreach and Education, from the Arkansas Cinema Society , based in Little Rock, Arkansas, to discuss all things related to films and filmmaking in the Natural State. Kathryn and Kody broke down the impact that films and filmmaking have on Arkansas and what has happened to make Northw...

About the Show: We recently sat down with Fayetteville’s newest City Councilor , D’Andre Jones. D’Andre, a Ward 1 Representative, is the second African-American to hold the position. D’Andre originally ran back in 2014 and didn’t win.  He continued to labor and serve in the community, and then the Spring and Summer of 2020 happened.  D’Andre became one of several spokespeople in the Nort...

About the Show: We recently sat down with Chef Neal Gray from The Preacher's Son in Bentonville, AR. This episode is our second podcast with this signature restaurant from the Ropeswing Hospitality Group Family.  We initially met with Chef Matt Cooper more than a year and a half ago.  Since Chef Matt left in December of 2020, the restaurant has been in the more than capable hands of Chef...

About the Show: We recently sat down with Emmy award-winning Filmmaker and Video Journalist MarioTroncoso and Lisa Marie Evans Filmmakers from OZCast to discuss the origins of the online variety show and how they are slowly putting a diverse group of underrepresented artists from Northwest Arkansas and beyond on the map with their programming.   Whether you are into dance, culinary, text...

About the Show: We sat down with Beth Pittman and Christie Martin the Founders of Skills Lab Training in Bentonville to discuss how they are preparing the next generation for jobs and general employment readiness. All of this and more on this podcast episode.  Important Links and Mentions on the Show* Email Beth Pittman Email Christie Martin Website for Skills Lab Training Skills Lab Training...