Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Andrew Branch, Chief Operating Officer of XNA Northwest Arkansas National Airport. XNA began operations twenty-five years ago following an opening ceremony from then-President Bill Clinton and Air Force One. The airport's mission is to ensure that the safest and most modern aviation infrastructure is in place to satisfy the needs of the traveling public. The airport’s economic impact exceeds $500 million dollars an...
Dec 18, 2023•39 min•Ep. 100
Summary Join host James Bell in the final episode of a special four-part series of The Bentonville Beacon podcast, featuring live-recorded conversations at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit with the thinkers and doers shaping the future of global tech in Bentonville. The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference and serves to enhance, prepare and diversify the Northwest Arkansas economy. Now in its tenth year, the event is hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area...
Dec 11, 2023•55 min•Ep. 99
Summary Join host James Bell in this third episode of a special four-part series of The Bentonville Beacon podcast, featuring live-recorded conversations at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit with the thinkers and doers shaping the future of global tech in Bentonville. The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference and serves to enhance, prepare and diversify the Northwest Arkansas economy. Now in its tenth year, the event is hosted by the Greater Bentonville Are...
Dec 04, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 98
Summary Join host James Bell in this second episode of a special four-part series of The Bentonville Beacon podcast, featuring live-recorded conversations at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit with the thinkers and doers shaping the future of global tech in Bentonville. The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference and serves to enhance, prepare and diversify the Northwest Arkansas economy. Now in its tenth year, the event is hosted by the Greater Bentonville Ar...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 97
Summary Join host James Bell in this special four-part series of The Bentonville Beacon podcast featuring live-recorded conversations at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit with the thinkers and doers shaping the future of global tech in Bentonville. The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference and serves to enhance, prepare and diversify the local Northwest Arkansas economy. Now in its tenth year, the event is hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of C...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 96
Summary In this special two-part series on The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell continues an engaging discussion featuring members of Fuel’s 2023 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Accelerator cohort. They spotlight Fuel's 12-week enterprise-ready accelerator program, which pairs seed- and growth-stage tech startups with key enterprise partners to fast-track the adoption of practical technology solutions. The program emphasizes operational value training over traditional venture cap...
Nov 13, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 95
Summary In this special two-part series on The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell kicks off the first episode with an engaging discussion featuring members of Fuel’s 2023 AI/ML Accelerator cohort. Joined by Fuel's Director, Darian Harris, and Entrepreneur in Residence, Tom Douglass, they spotlight Fuel's 12-week enterprise-ready accelerator program, which pairs seed and growth-stage tech startups with key enterprise partners to fast-track the adoption of practical technology solutions. The prog...
Nov 06, 2023•52 min•Ep. 94
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell sits down with Scott Fitzgerald, Founder and CEO of Buddy Pegs, for a captivating conversation venturing into the whimsical world of cycling–a discussion that traverses an imaginative landscape where storytelling meets the spokes. Through Buddy Pegs, Scott and his team craft enchanting tales and hands-on experiences that not only teach kids to ride bikes but also bring families together through joyous play and adventure. Through...
Oct 30, 2023•53 min•Ep. 93
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell is joined by Arkansas Department of Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald for a fascinating conversation about the state’s economic growth initiatives and the role Greater Bentonville plays in the state’s success. The Arkansas Department of Commerce’s mission is to champion economic opportunities through strategic initiatives and an equitable regulatory environment that attracts and grows businesses, safeguards consumers, enhances wo...
Oct 23, 2023•46 min•Ep. 92
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell sits down with Tom McMullen for a rousing conversation about Rapha’s role in Bentonville’s exceptional bike culture. Tom is the Managing Director for North America at Rapha, the world’s finest cycling clothing brand, which relocated its North American headquarters from Portland, Oregon, to Bentonville, Arkansas, a few years ago. Throughout the episode, Tom and James discuss Tom’s recent move from London to Bentonville, Rapha’s e...
Oct 16, 2023•32 min•Ep. 91
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell is joined by Jeff Stinson for a compelling conversation about Bentonville’s unique culture and how it helps businesses thrive. Jeff is the Director of HealthTech Arkansas, which is driving innovation for Arkansas health systems through internal innovation programming and accelerators for medtech, healthtech and therapeutics that attract accomplished startup founders from around the world. A long-time leader in the Arkansas entre...
Oct 02, 2023•47 min•Ep. 90
Summary In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon , host James Bell sits down with Elysia Contreras Springer and Zach Springer for an inspiring conversation about Gnargo Bike Co., which they founded in 2022. Gnargo Bike Co. is a trailblazing e-bike startup that seamlessly blends the charm of classic frames with modern electric functionality. The brand is reviving the timeless allure of vintage bikes, transforming them into state-of-the-art electric cargo bikes, while maintaining a commitment to ...
Sep 18, 2023•56 min•Ep. 89
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell engages in a lively conversation with Bentonville’s Mayor, Stephanie Orman. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas, Bentonville seamlessly blends its global prominence with the charm of a welcoming, tight-knit community. As Bentonville celebrates its 150th anniversary, its unwavering commitment remains–fostering progressive growth while continuing to uphold and further elevate its high quality of life. Recognized as...
Sep 05, 2023•38 min•Ep. 88
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell spends time with Pea Ridge Mayor Nathan See. Nestled beside Bentonville in Northwest Arkansas, Pea Ridge balances its rapid development with its rich history. In addition to being the gateway to Pea Ridge National Military Park, the city is located in close proximity to world-class businesses such as Walmart, J.B. Hunt and Tyson Foods. It is just 40 minutes from the University of Arkansas and is surrounded by outdoor recreation a...
Aug 28, 2023•36 min•Ep. 87
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell chats with Sandi Macklom, the Founder and Owner of Sandi Sue’s Gluten Free Bakery. This shop caters to the Northwest Arkansas community with gluten-free breads, pies, cakes and custom orders. After adopting a gluten-free lifestyle, Sandi found it challenging to discover tasty gluten-free alternatives. Being an avid baker, she decided to rectify this gap by opening Sandi Sue’s Gluten Free Bakery. Throughout the episode, James and ...
Aug 21, 2023•35 min•Ep. 86
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Jessica Keahey, Owner of Sweet Freedom Cheese, Arkansas’s first cut-to-order cheese shop, offering a curated selection of artisanal cheeses, cured meats, wine and complementary gourmet food. Since its opening in 2018, Sweet Freedom Cheese has been featured in many notable publications, including Culture Magazine, Taste of Home and The Wall Street Journal. Most recently, Sweet Freedom Cheese was named by Wine Enthus...
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 85
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Dr. Debbie Jones, Superintendent of Bentonville Schools. Previously, Dr. Jones served as Assistant Commissioner for Learning Services at the Arkansas Department of Education where she led its largest unit, which worked to enact educational legislation. Additionally, James is joined by Teresa Hudson, Immediate Past Director of Bentonville Schools’ Ignite Professional Studies, a program that provides relevant learnin...
Aug 07, 2023•55 min•Ep. 84
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Randy Wilburn, Founder and Host of I am Northwest Arkansas , a blog and podcast that covers business, culture, entrepreneurship and everyday life in the Ozarks. Randy is also a consultant who teaches business leaders how to podcast at a high level, as well as Chief Encourager at Encourage Build Grow, a leadership development consulting service that helps people discover how to “Get 1% better every day.” Throughout th...
Jul 31, 2023•58 min•Ep. 83
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Tim Hall, Co-Founder of Simporter, a company providing software that automates new product research, including white space exploration, pre-launch forecasting, marketing simulations and product monitoring. After decades of working in consumer packaged goods (CPG), Tim recognized the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and made it his mission to make it easier for non-technical people to cut costs, improve consu...
Jul 24, 2023•42 min•Ep. 82
Summary On 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 E...
Jul 17, 2023•43 min•Ep. 81
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Jeremy McGhee, Founder of The UNPavement, a movement that’s helping everyone get off the pavement and into the wild to heal our hurting culture of Nature Deficit Disorder. Jeremy is also Founder of JPM PRO, the US distributor of Sport-ON, off-road handcycles, providing adaptive mountain bikes and accessories to disabled riders, including options for paraplegics and quadriplegics. Additionally, Jeremy is a pro athlete...
Jul 10, 2023•43 min•Ep. 80
Summary On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Andrea Allen, US Barista Champion and Runner-Up World Barista Champion. Andrea is Co-Founder of Onyx Coffee Lab, a world-renowned café and roastery dedicated to the art and science of coffee, with a mission focused on the pilgrimage seeking quality, truth, and accountability in coffee. Since its founding in 2012 with the mantra “Never Settle for Good Enough,” Onyx has cultivated an award-winning team of roasters th...
Jul 05, 2023•47 min•Ep. 79
Summary In this special two-part series of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by several founders in the inaugural Fuel for Your Health Accelerator cohort, plus Grace Gill, Fuel’s Operational Manager. Fuel operates a family of accelerators in Bentonville that are operationally focused. The program provides growth-stage companies with knowledge and opportunities to interact with enterprise-size entities to further accelerate their success. Fuel for Your Health features innovative g...
Jun 30, 2023•32 min•Ep. 78
Summary In this special two-part series of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by several founders in the inaugural Fuel for Your Health Accelerator cohort, plus Tom Douglass, Fuel’s Entrepreneur In Residence. Fuel operates a family of accelerators in Bentonville that are operationally focused. The program provides growth-stage companies with knowledge and opportunities to interact with enterprise-size entities to further accelerate their success. Fuel for Your Health features inno...
Jun 26, 2023•38 min•Ep. 77
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 M...
Jun 19, 2023•43 min•Ep. 76
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 gatherin...
Jun 12, 2023•35 min•Ep. 75
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...
Jun 05, 2023•39 min•Ep. 74
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 strateg...
May 30, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 73
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...
May 22, 2023•49 min•Ep. 72
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: Jak...
May 19, 2023•47 min•Ep. 71
