Welcome to another episode of The Bentonville Beacon Podcast, where we shine a light on the stories and people driving economic growth and innovation in Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas. In this episode, host Brandom Gengelbach, president of the Bentonville Area Chamber, sits down with Dr. Brent Williams, Dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. Together, they dive into the region’s dynamic role as a national and international hub for supply chain and logist...
Jun 26, 2025•53 min•Ep. 130
Welcome to another episode of the Bentonville Beacon podcast, where we shine a light on the stories and people fueling Bentonville’s incredible growth and thriving community spirit. In this episode, host Brandon Gengelbach, President and CEO of the Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, sits down with two game-changers in Bentonville’s mobility and cycling scene: Jessica Pearson of the Bentonville Moves Coalition and Zach Springer, founder of Gnargo Bike Co. Jessica and Zach share their personal ...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 129
Welcome back to The Bentonville Beacon podcast! In this episode, host Brandom Gengelbach, President of the Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and guest Aaron Nolan, Media and Corporate Relations Director for Downtown Bentonville Inc., dive into what makes Bentonville’s community so special—and how that charm is being preserved amid rapid growth. You’ll hear Aaron’s journey from Arkansas newsrooms to Chicago's network scene and back home to Bentonville, where he now helps create iconic events ...
May 29, 2025•48 min•Ep. 128
Welcome to another episode of The Bentonville Beacon ! In this eye-opening conversation, host Brandom Gengelbach sits down with Dr. Debbie Jones, Superintendent of Bentonville Schools, to explore the school district’s critical role as one of the region’s largest employers—beyond just educating students. Dr. Jones shares her journey from aspiring truck driver to education leader and dives deep into the pressing challenges of attracting and retaining top talent—issues that resonate across the enti...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 127
On this episode of the Bentonville Beacon podcast, host Brandon Gengelbach sits down with Dr. Claude Pirtle, interim Executive Director of the Heartland Whole Health Institute, to explore the game-changing transformation happening in healthcare right here in Northwest Arkansas. Dr. Pirtle shares the story behind his journey—from his roots in Louisiana and roles at Walmart Health and West Tennessee Healthcare, to leading innovative, data-driven projects in the heart of Bentonville. Together, they...
May 05, 2025•50 min•Ep. 126
Welcome to a very special episode of The Bentonville Beacon podcast! Today marks an exciting transition as former host James Bell passes the torch to Brandon Gengelbach, the new president and CEO of the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce. In this heartfelt handoff, James reflects on his favorite moments from over one hundred and twenty-four episodes—sharing behind-the-scenes stories of entrepreneurs, community leaders, and groundbreaking innovators who’ve helped shape Bentonville into ...
May 01, 2025•43 min•Ep. 125
Welcome to The Bentonville Beacon, where we shine a light on the people, businesses, and big ideas making Bentonville, Arkansas more than just a city—it's a movement. With a new host, Brandon Gengelbach, President and CEO of the Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, this podcast dives into the stories of entrepreneurs, innovators, and change-makers who are shaping the future of this thriving region. Each episode, you'll get exclusive insights and inspiration, up-close with the leaders behind Ben...
Apr 29, 2025•1 min•Ep. 124
Summary Curious for a more intimate look into the lives of Fixer to Fabulous stars, Dave and Jenny Marrs? Eager to find out what sparked their journey into television and what projects they have on the horizon? This week on The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell explores the captivating world of Dave and Jenny Marrs, the dynamic duo behind HGTV’s beloved series, Fixer to Fabulous . Known for their skillful renovations, the Marrs beautifully marry contemporary design with the historical essence...
Jun 17, 2024•51 min•Ep. 123
Summary Curious how the Walton Family Foundation is catalyzing inclusive economic growth and cultural enrichment in Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta? Tune in to this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , where host, James Bell, is joined by Robert Burns, Home Region Program Director at the Walton Family Foundation. The Walton Family Foundation represents several generations of family rooted in the places they work and in a family legacy of giving back. It brings together diver...
Jun 10, 2024•49 min•Ep. 122
Summary Want to hear some big Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas announcements from Youthful Savings? Check out this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , where host James Bell shares the studio with Somya Munjal, Founder and CEO of Youthful Savings, a tech-powered, learning ecosystem dedicated to socioeconomic empowerment through youth and beyond. Youthful Savings’ ecosystem consists of The Learning Marketplace (TLM), the Youthful Savings Marketplace (YSM) and the Youthful Savings Foundation (YSF...
May 20, 2024•26 min•Ep. 121
Summary Discover how health tech companies are reshaping the future of medicine from Bentonville. In this special three-part series of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell meets with cohort members of this year’s Fuel for Your Health Accelerator. James kicks off the episode with Grace Gill, Fuel’s Operations Manager, who shares how this accelerator matches scalable health tech startups with key enterprise partners to expedite the adoption of their transformative medical technologies. Differe...
May 13, 2024•42 min•Ep. 120
Summary In this special three-part series of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell meets with cohort members of this year’s Fuel for Your Health Accelerator, a program that matches scalable health tech startups with enterprise partners to expedite the adoption of transformative medical technologies. James kicks off the episode with Tom Douglass, Fuel’s Entrepreneur in Residence, and is then joined by Rand Ragusa, Co-Founder of QuickTake Health; Erin Keyes, Co-Founder and CEO at Telegenixx; Dr...
May 06, 2024•41 min•Ep. 119
Summary In this special three-part series of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell meets with cohort members of this year’s Fuel for Your Health Accelerator. James kicks off the episode with Fuel’s Director, Darian Harris, who shares how this accelerator matches scalable health tech startups with key enterprise partners to expedite the adoption of their transformative medical technologies. Different from other programs, during each Fuel accelerator, high-growth startups from around the world ...
Apr 29, 2024•39 min•Ep. 118
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell is joined by Dana Schlagenhaft, Executive Director of Downtown Bentonville Incorporated (DBI), a private, not-for-profit organization uniquely positioned as a driving force to build and promote a welcoming, secure and lively downtown Bentonville. Established over two decades ago, DBI has played a key role in revitalizing the city and making it a place that people are eager to visit, discover and share with others. Downtown Bento...
Apr 22, 2024•23 min•Ep. 117
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell sits down with Canem Arkan and Quinn Roberston from Endeavor, where Canem serves as Managing Director for Endeavor Heartland and Quinn is Director of the 412 Angels Program. Endeavor is the leading, global community of, by, and for high-impact entrepreneurs. It is on a mission to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging and underserved markets around the world. With the belief that high-impact entrepreneurs transfor...
Apr 15, 2024•44 min•Ep. 116
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell is joined by Mayor Bill Edwards of the City of Centerton, a community focused on a wholesome lifestyle, cultural history, environmental preservation and nurturing local business growth. Since the 2020 U.S. Census, Centerton’s population has grown more than thirty-five percent, vaulting it to the twentieth largest city in Arkansas. Centerton’s population has grown from 9,500 to nearly 25,000 residents during Mayor Edwards’ pivota...
Apr 01, 2024•18 min•Ep. 115
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell is joined by Jessica Pearson, Manager of the Bentonville Moves Coalition, a vibrant alliance of more than five hundred community organizations, local businesses, schools, institutions, civic leaders and engaged residents working together to make the Greater Bentonville Area the safest and most connected city in the Heartland by 2027. With a commitment to creating a mobility network that is equitable to all users, the Bentonville...
Mar 25, 2024•40 min•Ep. 114
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Ravi Dadi, Co-Founder of Beach BBQ, which has proven to be a vibrant addition to Bentonville's culinary scene and is known for its fresh, innovative approach to barbecue. With a rich background in his prior role in information technology at Walmart, Ravi brings a unique blend of corporate savvy and entrepreneurial spirit to the table, where he and his team are transforming the traditional BBQ experience with flavor...
Mar 18, 2024•27 min•Ep. 113
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell chats with Ramsay Ball, Founder of Grey Space Collective, a nonprofit organization based in Bentonville that focuses on community development. Through Grey Space, Ramsay and his team focus on real estate, ventures, hospitality and nonprofits to catalyze community development and impact investing. Throughout the conversation, he shares how cultures, colors and companies blend together to form new relationships, accelerate entrepr...
Mar 11, 2024•41 min•Ep. 112
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell sits down with return guest Phil Libin, a renowned serial entrepreneur known for his transformative ventures such as Evernote, All Turtles, mmhmm and now, Bentoville. Bentoville is a new concept that promises to revolutionize the dining experience in the Greater Bentonville Area by combining Japan’s culinary art with vibrant, local food culture from Northwest Arkansas. Throughout the conversation, Phil shares his insights on ent...
Mar 04, 2024•40 min•Ep. 111
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell sits down with Cindi Marsiglio, Senior Vice President for Corporate Real Estate at Walmart. With over two decades of experience in corporate real estate and government affairs, Cindi is at the forefront of Walmart’s monumental new home office located in Bentonville. She brings a wealth of insight from overseeing the mammoth task of managing Walmart’s office space across the United States, solidifying her as a leader who plays a ...
Feb 26, 2024•55 min•Ep. 110
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell is joined by Brooke Bierhaus Sutton, Co-Founder and Owner of Third Space Coffee, a beloved coffee haven nestled inside Best Friends Pet Resource Center Northwest Arkansas in Bentonville. As an award-winning documentary filmmaker, Brooke’s work has appeared in National Geographic, PBS, NBC Sports, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, ABC Australia and more. Brooke’s curiosity and passion for cultural experiences led her to emb...
Feb 19, 2024•47 min•Ep. 109
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell is joined by Bella Vista Mayor John Flynn. Bella Vista is known for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities and growing community spirit, and as only the third mayor in the city’s history, Mayor Flynn’s leadership is pivotal in guiding and shaping Bella Vista’s growth. With a diverse background in law, education and public service, Mayor Flynn’s journey from corporate counsel to professor to Mayor of one of Northwest Arkansas’s mo...
Feb 12, 2024•38 min•Ep. 108
Summary In this installment of The Bentonville Beacon, James Bell hosts Chef Rafael Rios, Founder and CEO of Yeyo’s. Yeyo's stands out as a celebrated culinary enterprise in Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas, acclaimed for its authentic Mexican cuisine and dedication to sustainable farming practices. This journey began with the Rios Family Farm and one of Bentonville's first food trucks, eventually expanding into multiple venues, including a restaurant in Bentonville’s 8th Street Market and a m...
Feb 05, 2024•50 min•Ep. 107
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell is joined by Bryan Fittin, Founder and CEO of Go Rogue Studio, a video production company who partners with individuals and businesses to create exceptionally customized content fit for unique brands, strategies and goals. With fifteen years of experience in the corporate world, Bryan’s journey from a career in sales and development to founding a creative agency provides a unique perspective on what it takes to thrive in today’s...
Jan 29, 2024•54 min•Ep. 106
Summary In this insightful episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell shares the studio with Andres Lazarte, Co-Founder & President of Basis Health, a pioneering healthcare provider that relocated from Boise, Idaho, to Bentonville, Arkansas, in 2021. Basis Health is revolutionizing healthcare for aging people by delivering expert medical care right in the comfort of their homes. Basis makes healthcare accessible to elderly patients regardless of living setting and is reducing unneces...
Jan 22, 2024•29 min•Ep. 105
Summary In this engaging episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell visits with Phillip Shepard, the visionary behind All Things NWA and a seasoned Realtor at Collier & Associates. Phillip brings more than a decade of real estate prowess to the table, passionately guiding people through the captivating landscape of Greater Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas. He explores the region's unique fusion of outdoor allure, bustling event scenes and tight-knit community, all set against a ba...
Jan 16, 2024•46 min•Ep. 104
Summary Join host James Bell in this special episode of The Bentonville Beacon podcast featuring interviews with students from Bentonville Schools’s Ignite Professional Studies Program. These conversations were live-recorded at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit, where the students were exposed to innovators, creators and leaders reshaping the world. At the start of the show, James also sits down with the program’s Director, Jessica Imel, to learn how Ignite helps juniors and seniors ...
Jan 08, 2024•38 min•Ep. 103
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell is joined by Dr. Dennis Rittle, President of NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC). NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a public, two-year institution that provides quality and affordable higher education in an effort to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding areas. NWACC is a nationally recognized, comprehensive college serving regional, national and international stude...
Jan 02, 2024•57 min•Ep. 102
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell is joined by Mark Bray, Owner and Founder of Airship Coffee. This independently owned, specialty coffee company boasts four unique cafes and a roastery, all located in Bentonville, Arkansas. Since its inception in 2008, Airship has consistently strived to exceed the ordinary in all its endeavors, with a strong commitment to enhancing the coffee experience for everyone involved. This commitment is underpinned by a dedication to e...
Dec 26, 2023•47 min•Ep. 101
