January 11, 2026 • 44 mins
A single thank-you call can change a career. That’s where Corey Hufty first felt the spark that would guide her from UCA grad to executive director of philanthropy for Arkansas Children’s in Northwest Arkansas, translating generosity into real outcomes for kids and families.
We walk through Corey’s path with open notes: the professors who widened her world, the sorority project that introduced her to service, and the hospice mentor who taught her that fundraising is about facilitating impact, not asking for cash. From there, we delve into lessons learned at TheatreSquared during a once-in-a-century disruption, exploring how the arts reduce loneliness, build community, and even enhance bedside communication through a partnership with the Alice Walton School of Medicine. It’s a clear thread in NWA: when arts, healthcare, and business collaborate, solutions scale.
Then we turn to the work at hand. Arkansas Children’s is expanding in Northwest Arkansas with new inpatient and outpatient capacity, an enhanced infusion and hematology-oncology clinic, and the recruitment of 30 providers, bringing specialty care closer to home so families don’t have to shoulder long drives and extra costs. Corey makes the case that every $20 gift matters in an $82.7M campaign, especially as uncompensated care rises. Philanthropy fills critical gaps, keeps care accessible, and turns community values into measurable outcomes.
We also talk about the culture that makes this region special: leaders who model giving, volunteers who run like pros, and a networking climate where a simple hello can change your trajectory. Corey shares practical advice for young professionals and UCA alumni on building cross-industry connections that lead to real partnerships, and why NWA’s welcoming energy makes it easier to start.
If you care about children’s health, the power of the arts, or how communities rally to build what’s next, you’ll find plenty to take back to your team. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who loves NWA, and leave a review to help more listeners discover the stories shaping our region.
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SPEAKER_01 (00:01):
This is Central to NWA, a UCA podcast.
I'm your host, Paul Gatling, andwe are bringing the University
of Central Arkansas to NorthwestArkansas.
Each episode, we will talk withleaders, alumni, and innovators
driving this region forward.
People who are shapingindustries and defining what is
next for our state.
(00:22):
Let's get started.
Welcome into another edition ofCentral to NWA, a UCA podcast.
I'm Paul Gatling, your host herein Northwest Arkansas.
And today, uh really excitedabout our guest to have Corey
Hufty.
She is the executive director ofphilanthropy for Arkansas
Children's in NorthwestArkansas.
(00:43):
Corey, really appreciate youbeing here, and it's good to see
you.
SPEAKER_00 (00:46):
Thank you.
Thank you for having me.
It's great to be here.
SPEAKER_01 (00:48):
Yeah, you and I have uh cross paths uh a few times in
our in our previous um businesscareer, me at the Business
Journal and you at TheaterSquared and now Arkansas
Children.
So uh I'm excited to have you instudio today.
SPEAKER_00 (01:01):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (01:02):
So um first before we get into what you're you're
doing now and and your role thatyou stepped into this past
summer, um, you know, I justwant to what's one thing that
that has stood out to you earlyon in your um your second
go-around at ArkansasChildren's, and we'll get into
that uh later in the program.
But you started at ArkansasChildren's in June.
So six months in.
(01:23):
Give me your give me yourscorecard so far.
SPEAKER_00 (01:25):
Six months in, it's incredible.
I have been absolutely blownaway by the team at the Arkansas
Children's Foundation.
There's about 50 team members intotal, and they are all
brilliant experts.
So I go to work every day, andnot only am I, you know,
executing some of the projectsthat I'm personally working on,
but I'm also just surrounded byexperts, and I feel really
(01:47):
fortunate.
I've got a solid team that I'mworking with here, where there's
um going to be eight of us intotal here in Northwest, and
we're just rocking and roll.
SPEAKER_01 (01:55):
Yeah, it sounds like you've learned the landscape and
met a ton of people, and uh I'mexcited to talk about that and
your work and what you do and uhand get into it.
So, well, first let's uh rewinda little bit and let's go back
to uh your UCA class of 2006.
Uh so a proud uh alum of theuniversity.
What brought you to UCAoriginally?
(02:16):
You know, what what brought18-year-old uh Corey Gilmore uh
from Lake Hamilton High Schoolin uh in Pearcy, right outside
of Hot Springs, right?
Tell me the circumstances of howyou you wound up in Conway at
UCA.
SPEAKER_00 (02:30):
Yeah, so um, you know, the short version of the
story is that um I was a I was ahigh school kid that needed
financial support.
So UCA offered a scholarship,and that paired with student
loans made college possible forme.
But I will say what kept me atUCA was um, you know, I spent a
lot of time thinking back onthat experience.
(02:51):
And what really kept me therewas the amazing professors that
I had, the community thatthey've built there.
Um, you feel like you're notjust another face in the crowd.
You um, you know, you developreal close relationships with
your professors.
They're looking out for you,they want you to succeed.
So that I think is what meant somuch to me.
And of course, you know, I alsobuilt some great friendships
(03:13):
while I was there too.
SPEAKER_01 (03:14):
Yeah, and uh I think mass communications and
political science was your uhyour double major there.
That's a fun combination.
What uh what was on your mind uhwith that right there?
SPEAKER_00 (03:25):
Yeah, well, I started off in mass
communications and I reallyenjoyed it.
And I initially had politicalscience as my undergrad.
And as I was taking more andmore classes, I realized that I
I could actually spend anotheryear um focusing on political
science and ended up um with afocus on international
relations.
And what was incredible to mewas that I really at that point
(03:46):
in my life hadn't ever beensurrounded by people who could
really um kind of broaden myworldview.
They helped me understand whatwas happening um, you know,
across the world in a way that Ihadn't ever thought of before.
Um, so that I think um, youknow, that political science
puts together um economics,history, law.
And it was, it was for the firsttime that I really was able to
(04:08):
sort of put all the puzzlepieces in together and realize
that um, you know, with a littlemore focus on political science
that I could, you know, possiblymove that into more of a career.
So that's how that's how Ilanded that.
SPEAKER_01 (04:20):
What do you remember about you you said you you
recalled the strong community atUCA?
What do you remember about yourum your campus life?
Was there uh was there a Greekcomponent?
Were you in any studentorganizations?
You mentioned, you know, astrong group of uh some
professors that really stuckwith you.
What do you just recall aboutcampus life?
SPEAKER_00 (04:39):
Yeah, campus life was so fun.
So um, and you look, I just lookback on it just with a huge
smile on my face.
Um, I was paired with um aroommate who I didn't know
previously.
We were just randomly paired.
And I remember she came homeafter um um she was rushing a
sorority.
She got her bid into thesorority and she said, There's
(05:01):
another sorority that actuallyhas a couple of open spots and
they're doing an open bid.
And I had honestly no idea whatshe was talking about.
I didn't know any of thelanguage.
Um, and she said, you shouldjust go for it.
So I did.
I she coached me up and um kindof taught me, you know, what are
some questions to ask and how tobe engaged in the conversation?
Um, and so I ended up um rushingAlpha Sigma Alpha, which was one
(05:22):
of the best decisions I thinkI've I've made.
I um through that have held onto some great lifelong best
friends, um, many of who thatI'm still really close with uh
today.
So that has been reallyremarkable.
SPEAKER_01 (05:36):
Did that maybe in some ways lay the groundwork for
this um, you know, thisdevelopment path that you got on
later in career?
Because, you know, I think whenpeople think Greek life, they
think of Greek life, but there'salso the uh the altruistic part
of it and the you know serviceover self part of it that you do
that, you know, goes unnoticed,maybe.
SPEAKER_00 (05:56):
Yeah, yeah.
So their um nationalphilanthropy is special
Olympics, and I did have theopportunity to work on a couple
of um their events and things.
And so that was really my firstum understanding of what
philanthropy was.
I remember not evenunderstanding what that word
literally meant.
Um somebody had to say, Oh,you're gonna come and volunteer
for this nonprofit.
And I was like, Oh, that soundsincredible.
(06:16):
So um, so yeah, I think thatreally was kind of my my first
experience with that.
SPEAKER_01 (06:20):
I think most college students, I know I would if
somebody asked me this question,they if you asked them that one
professor that stands out thatreally kind of put you on a
trajectory.
Do you have a person in mind?
Is there somebody that kind ofstands out from your undergrad
career?
SPEAKER_00 (06:35):
Yeah, I had a couple of exceptional, um exceptional
professors.
One I'll mention in particular,Dr.
Mark Mullenbach.
Um, he, I felt like was, and II'm not even sure.
Um, let's see how to explainthis.
He was so engaged, and I feellike he was so intentional with
his students and really wantingto make sure that they
(06:57):
understood the material, thatthey were set up for success.
Um, you know, some of the thejust the overall learn
understanding what politicalscience is, some of it is
challenging.
And it's in philosophy and allsorts of things.
And so he was able to um explainit in a way that for uh, you
know, still a kid, um trying tolearn how to navigate the world
(07:18):
and ask all the big questions,um, he really set it up in a way
that I felt like was more easyfor me to absorb in that time of
my life.
SPEAKER_01 (07:26):
So Mark Mollenbach.
Okay, well, I hope he'll be gladto hear me.
All right.
So you you go from learning outwhat the word philanthropy
actually means and stands for toum, you know, that some maybe
thinking of this is my lane,maybe this may be my career.
Let's go back uh to when youwere in Little Rock, you know, a
decade ago and doing this typeof work for uh first uh for
(07:48):
Arkansas children's.
And then I think before that itwas um uh Arkansas Hospice.
Um so give me, you know, how didhow did you get into this type
of career?
How did you get into this workto make it your your
professional life?
SPEAKER_00 (08:00):
Yeah.
So I actually started off umright after college working in
politics.
And um I did that for a coupleof years and realized that um,
you know, while I have a realinterest in politics and current
events, that that probablywasn't gonna be the path that
was for me.
I, you know, was one of thosekind of you sort of see behind
the curtain and realize that umthat that you know there's other
(08:22):
other ways that I think I wantedto contribute to society
overall.
And so um, so yeah, I that wasmy first step.
And then after that, I was atMuseum of Discovery for a little
while.
Um, and then I went and actuallygot a master's degree in um
public administration.
Um, and then from there, I thinkone of the most transformative
(08:43):
experiences I had was workingfor Arkansas Hospice.
That was my first experience.
Um, that was my first experiencein fundraising.
I started off as acommunications manager and my
super as supervisor at the time,her name is Renee Rule.
Um, she, I think, saw somethingin me and took me under her wing
and offered me a position on thefundraising team.
(09:05):
And that was the first time thatI just I was hooked.
Um I'll tell you a story realquick.
Um I remember she would come andinvite me to sit in her office
and listen while she made thankyou phone calls to donors to
thank them for their donationand just say, thank you, Mr.
Smith.
We are so thrilled that you gave$1,000 today.
(09:25):
Do you have any idea howtransformational this gift is to
our organization?
And she was just bursting at theseams with celebration and love
for um for the organization.
And I, you know, and in thatprocess, you know, the donor
ends up telling about why theywere um so compelled to give.
And then by the end of the phonecall, everybody's in tears and
(09:47):
everybody feels great.
And I was, I realized that thatis something that I want to be a
part of.
SPEAKER_01 (09:52):
Wow.
That sounds like that really didstick with you to kind of open
your eyes.
So from there, um, what were thecircumstances that led you for
the first time in your career tothe Arkansas Children's
Foundation uh working in LittleRock?
SPEAKER_00 (10:05):
Yeah, so I had heard, you know, I had um
attended some fundraisingprofessionals meetings, um, and
I had heard that the fundraisingteam at Arkansas Children's was
essentially the premier place tolearn how to fundraise at the
highest possible level.
So um, whenever the opportunitypresented itself um to go and
work there, I I jumped at it.
(10:25):
And um it was it was remarkable.
SPEAKER_01 (10:28):
So I was reading some of your career highlights
about uh one and a half milliondollars in 2019, 500 volunteers.
Tell me about that.
How does I hear 500 volunteersand I think, my goodness, that
is an event planning.
That's event planning andwrangling that and getting that
all together.
Tell me that story.
How did that come together?
SPEAKER_00 (10:46):
Yeah, so um during that time, I was working with
the um auxiliary, which is agroup of women and but the this
was based in Little Rock, andthey are they're volunteers, but
they are rock star fundraisers.
They are so committed to theorganization.
They are event planners, they umare errand runners, they go and
(11:08):
pick up silent auction items,they set very, very high
standards for themselves.
And just being able to supportthe work that they were doing
was amazing.
Um, I feel, and a lot of themare still my friends now.
Um, you know, whenever you'reworking on special events
together, you really get to knoweach other at a very deep level.
(11:28):
Um, you know, the stress and funof it all comes together.
And so yeah, that was that was agreat experience.
SPEAKER_01 (11:33):
Yeah, the stress and the fun are kind of like go hand
in hand when you get into it.
What is something else thatmaybe people don't realize about
philanthropy um until you'reright in the middle of it and
you're you're you know you'veyou've grown your career there
from uh the museum and andhospice and now at Arkansas
Children's.
Um, what did you learn in thoseearly first few years once you
(11:54):
were involved in it?
SPEAKER_00 (11:55):
Yeah, so I think you know, people often will say, I
could never ask people formoney.
And while that's part of it, thetrue, the true role that I have
is a facilitator for the impactthat they want to make.
You know, so many, so manydonors, they've come to me and
said, you know, I I have, youknow,$100 and I want to leave a
(12:17):
legacy and, you know, I want tomake an impact.
Tell me, you know, and then Iget the opportunity to share all
about the amazing work, um, themission that the organization is
accomplishing, and really get totout the the people who make
that mission happen every day.
So I feel like I'm the sort ofthe facilitator and sort of the
the um the sherpa to help tohelp make it happen.
(12:39):
Um so I think that's probably abig misconception.
Um so yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:44):
Do you miss living in Little Rock?
Do you like it?
SPEAKER_00 (12:46):
I loved Little Rock.
I think Little Rock isfantastic.
It it was a it was a greatplace, um, especially in my um
mid-20s.
You know, the music scene thereis great, the food scene there
is great.
Um, I really uh had an amazingneighborhood.
We lived in Hillcrest.
Um, I loved the community aspectof it.
SPEAKER_01 (13:03):
So there's a lot of things about it that's yeah, and
you were also involved um in acommunity sense.
I think you had a lot of somejunior league uh involvement,
which I think you've continuedup here today, but um how
important was that to you to getinvolved?
SPEAKER_00 (13:15):
I would say that was probably one of the biggest um
one of the biggest decisionsthat I made in terms of
contributing to my leadershipskills, because when you're
working for working with anorganization of women and you're
all solely focused on doinggreat work, and it's one of
those no-ego kind of situations.
(13:36):
Everybody's learning as they go.
Um, you are a volunteer, so youknow, if you have to get up and
speak, if you are holding ameeting, that's where I gained a
lot of those skills, you know,how to work closely with a team
of 15 people who all havedifferent ideas of the direction
the way things need to go.
And um, that to me, I was I hadthe opportunity of, you know,
(13:57):
serving on the board in a coupleof different roles.
And I think um, and again,learning from the people who are
amazing leaders in their ownright, you know, various
community leaders.
So it was great.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (14:08):
All right.
So let's go to the year 2020.
Uh, we all remember that year.
You remember it for maybesomething else.
You came to Northwest Arkansaswith your husband, Evan, also
UCA graduate.
So talk to us about thecircumstances of making your big
professional move to NorthwestArkansas.
SPEAKER_00 (14:26):
Yeah.
So um I accepted the job um atTheater Squared in December of
2019.
And we all know what happened umshortly thereafter.
So it was definitely a wild timeto, you know, take a new job,
move to a new part of the state.
Um, but you know, in taking thatjob, I had no idea that the
doors of the theater would closefor several months after that.
(14:48):
Um, but I also came at anincredible time um during
Theater Squared's growth.
So they had just opened thebuilding in August of 2019.
They had an amazing donor base,people that had supported the
organization for the 15 yearsthat they had been there.
Um, so I was be able to, youknow, organize a team, um, build
(15:10):
on this uh incredible successthat they had already
experienced.
Um in that short, you know, inthat five-year span that I was
there, we um built a solid umannual fund campaign, a robust
stewardship program.
We created a corporate council,and year over year we were, we
continued to build on that.
So um I feel fortunate that Igot to work with such um an
(15:32):
amazing team and um just be partof be part of um the amazing
mission there.
SPEAKER_01 (15:40):
Yeah, and I'm sure you've reflected on it this past
summer as you change jobs, butjust like what you said, what
what what a fantastic time to bepart of Theater Squared and
really that rise.
I mean, we've all seen the riseof arts in Northwest Arkansas as
a whole.
And Theater Squared is a big umname, brand, part of that,
really part of the fabric ofNorthwest Arkansas's art scene.
(16:02):
And you were right in the middleof that.
I mean, that has to be uh, I'msure it was bittersweet, but
also incredibly rewarding tolook back on those five years.
SPEAKER_00 (16:10):
Yeah, absolutely.
And and what I came away withwas a new and profound respect
for artists who are doing thework.
So, you know, we get to see thefinal beautiful um product and
it all is perfect, but justbeing able to work alongside
those um amazing artists andtechnicians every day and see
the um the amazing work and thecraft that is behind it all um
(16:35):
was just really neat.
And I came away also just umfeeling that art isn't just a
nice thing to have because somuch it's you know, there's many
important nonprofits, so manyimportant causes.
Um, and art is another one ofthose.
Theater squared is another oneof those.
Um, so one thing that I alwayswanted to hit home was that, you
(16:57):
know, the true cost of a ticketat Theater Squared is$125.
And um, you know, most peopleare paying about$40 for a
ticket.
So the difference is the flantis philanthropy.
So when um, you know, whenindividuals are supporting
philanthropy that keeps thosetickets affordable or affording
or um supporting an organizationthat keeps tickets affordable.
(17:19):
Um, but I think also art is whatmakes a place worth living in.
Um it's what gives the place itscharacter and its soul and sets
it apart from any other placethat you can live.
Um, it's truly the fiber thatkind of keeps us all connected.
So um, yeah, I'm I'm reallyproud of that.
SPEAKER_01 (17:37):
It sounds like you, I mean, you I would think, you
know, there are certainprinciples of philanthropy and
fundraising that transfer,whether you're doing it for
healthcare, whether you're doingit for the arts.
Yeah.
Um, but that is, as you probablylearn, an entirely different um
muscle.
Now, you didn't get to do itprobably as the way you
envisioned because of COVID in2020.
But what did that um fundraisingfor the arts, what did that that
(18:02):
point of your career teach youabout what is transferable for
philanthropy?
SPEAKER_00 (18:06):
Yeah, I think I think one of my um the main
things that it taught me was theimportance of community
partnerships.
Um, and I'll tell you a quickstory.
So um I had done some researchon the um social isolation and
the loneliness epidemic, and umlearned that, you know, by
watching a play, um, people feelmore connected to um the people
(18:30):
sitting in the audience.
They feel connected to humanityum as a bigger picture.
So I thought, I wonder ifthere's a way that we can take
sort of the science behind umart and the loneliness epidemic
and sort of mental health andphysical health and put that all
together in a panel discussion.
And so we brought together somemental health experts, um, some
(18:50):
um some physicians, um, localphysicians.
And the response was I was blownaway by the response.
The community showed up for theevent in a way that I was not
expecting.
The buzz after the event, peoplewere just overwhelmed with um
the conversation and just likehaving the opportunity to talk
(19:12):
about social isolation at adeeper level.
Um, and through that, long storyshort, was that um now Theater
Squared has a partnership withthe Alice Walton School of
Medicine, where they are workingtogether on curriculum that uses
theater techniques to betterengage with patients and
essentially better healthoutcomes.
(19:33):
So amazing stuff.
Only in Northwest Arkansas.
I got the chills just talking.
Yes, I know, exactly.
Only in Northwest Arkansas.
Um and along with that, weconnected with a group called
the Vibe Tribe, um, which theirwhole goal is to fight social
isolation.
Um, and we got to host eventsfor people in the community
connect.
So I'm just really um proud ofthe um the foundation that sort
(19:53):
of set.
And with that, that put backinto my mind, you know, the
importance of healthcare.
So that sort of was the To mynext um step going back into
Arkansas Children's Foundation.
SPEAKER_01 (20:04):
Right.
Well, you should be proud ofthat.
Great five years there.
And uh you make a great seguejust for me because that's where
we were headed.
So you started in June as theexecutive director of
philanthropy for ArkansasChildren's here in Northwest
Arkansas.
So, how did that job transitioncome about?
Tell me the circumstances of howyou uh began to pursue this
opportunity and land there.
SPEAKER_00 (20:25):
Yeah, so I I had started um, you know, just
thinking about what what were mynext steps.
And honestly, the theconversation around healthcare
just kind of re-sparked myinterest in it.
And the opportunity kind of umpresented itself.
It's one of those things I've Ifeel like throughout my life,
most things have happened reallyserendipitously and just the
(20:47):
timing just worked out.
And that's kind of when you knowit's it's time to make the move.
Um, and so yes, I took the jobum this summer and um my team,
we again, my team is incredible.
We oversee um two of ourflagship events, which is Will
Golf for Kids and Gala of Hope.
And then um that also includesum the ACNW Auxiliary, which is
(21:10):
uh members of 150 members whoorganize four different
fundraising events um and alsohave various um volunteer
opportunities in the hospital.
And um that includes Children'sMarical Network Partnership,
which is our nationalpartnership with um various
companies across the country.
And the biggest partner, ofcourse, is our Walmart and Sam's
(21:31):
Club partnership.
So it is um an incredibly umpowerful and important job, and
I feel so lucky that I have it.
SPEAKER_01 (21:40):
Yeah, and that hospital is only getting bigger
too.
Now, you don't work on theconstruction side at all, do
you?
SPEAKER_00 (21:45):
I don't, I don't, but I can't really anticipating
it.
Yes, yes, yes.
But that is that is our primaryfocus right now for fundraising,
is our expansion project.
So that is an$82.7 millionproject.
Um, and the first phase of itwill be done very soon.
Um, it'll also include um 16 newinpatient beds, 30 new
(22:07):
outpatient beds, an expandedinfusion and hematology and
oncology clinic.
Plus, um we're looking torecruit 30 new providers.
So, you know, expansions alwayssound fun and they are
incredible, and it'll be amazingto see a new building.
But the true impact is are goingto be the kids of the Northwest
Arkansas region who will havebetter access closer to home.
(22:30):
So, you know, right now so manyof our patients are driving or
flying to Little Rock to receivecare.
And um, we feel like that'ssomething that we can address
with philanthropy.
We need more, we need morepatients staying here because
what happens is when they dohave to drive to Little Rock,
they're spending money on gasand food and hotels.
And it it creates a financialburden that is unsustainable for
(22:53):
most families.
So this really is a way for umfor us to provide the Northwest
Arkansas community what it needsnext for pediatric health care.
SPEAKER_01 (23:01):
Yeah, you mentioned Little Rock, and for folks who
may not know, I mean, ArkansasChildren's is a Little
Rock-based um enterprise.
I mean, it's a statewide umhealthcare organization, but um
statewide impact, obviously.
But what is unique about um, youknow, raising support?
Your work is focused strictly onNorthwest Arkansas.
Like my work for UCA and Conwayis focused strictly on Northwest
(23:24):
Arkansas.
What is unique about raisingsupport uh in this region?
Uh we all know there's so muchnonprofit support, there's so
much philanthropy, there's somuch uh giving.
What is unique about NorthwestArkansas?
SPEAKER_00 (23:37):
Yeah, I think what sets Northwest Arkansas apart
are the community leaders, um,the the companies and the
individuals that um reallyprioritize philanthropy and they
lead, they lead the charge.
And I think, you know, with themleading the charge, it really
sets the tone for what what isum what's the expectation to be
(23:59):
a citizen in Northwest Arkansas?
And to me, that means if you ifyou have the means, um, you
should be supporting thenonprofit that is closest to
your heart.
Um, that no one just gets to sitback and um kind of just
passively take advantage of allof the things, the great
amenities that we have here.
Um so I think I think that's umprobably probably the key thing.
SPEAKER_01 (24:20):
What does it mean to be a citizen of Northwest
Arkansas?
I like that.
I mean, that would give anybodyuh enough to think about.
And there is something, becausewe said there's so many
nonprofits and areas to give,um, you could find something
that's close to your heart nomatter who you are, no matter uh
what that might be.
What are the big opportunitiesfor for Arkansas Children's uh
(24:41):
Northwest in 2026 that peopleshould know about?
SPEAKER_00 (24:44):
Yeah, so um it's funny that I'm here today
because today is actually GivingTuesday, which is um the one of
the biggest um days to donate.
Probably it's Giving Tuesday andum you know December 31st are
the days people people like togive.
And so um I know the listenerswon't hear this um today, but um
I think it it regardless ofwhenever you decide to give,
(25:08):
every single dollar makes such adifference.
And you know, we're working onthis$82.7 million expansion, and
you can hear that and easilythink my$20 will be a drop in
the bucket to that.
And that's absolutely not true.
It literally will take thousandsof people coming together to
make that goal attainable.
So um, you know, I thinkexpansion is the is the thing
(25:31):
that I will underline.
It is um our biggest and mostimportant project.
It's the one that's gonna havethe most major impact.
Um, and and yeah, the the otherthing I'd like to mention is
that, you know, right now umwith, you know, and everybody's
aware of this, the overall costof everything is going up:
housing, health care, um,groceries, child care, all of
(25:53):
it.
Um, that's also gonna cause anincrease in uncompensated care.
So, you know, Arkansaschildren's will absorb those
costs for for families that umdon't have the ability to pay.
But again, it takes philanthropyto make sure that we can offset
that and still um keep keep theincredible care level um to the
highest standard.
SPEAKER_01 (26:11):
I want to get your take on a couple of leadership
questions now that you I meanyou you've been in a leadership
capacity for some time uh withTheater Squared and and now with
Arkansas Children's here and theteams that you lead.
Think about the last 10, 12, 15years or so.
Who has helped shape yourleadership style?
Who is uh really, you know, isit a boss or a mentor or family
(26:33):
member?
Who who do you think about mostwhen I say leadership?
SPEAKER_00 (26:37):
Yeah, so um one position that I um hadn't hadn't
mentioned yet was I also umbriefly worked at the
administrative office of thecourts.
And while I was there, I um oneof my jobs was to work on
exhibits of past judges, um, youknow, important moments in
history that had to do with theadministrative offices.
(26:59):
And so um, you know, I spent, Igot to spend a probably a week
solid with former Arkansas ChiefJustice Jack Holt.
And he would come to my officeand and part of it was, you
know, I was creating a timelineand I had all these things that
I wanted to do for this exhibit.
But he would just come into myoffice and tell me the story of
(27:20):
his life.
And it was one of the mosttransformative experiences that
I had as a young person becausehe, well, let me just tell you,
and I've I've got this writtendown here, so um, so I'll refer
to my notes, but um he actuallyis responsible for a landmark
(27:42):
lawsuit um against the ArkansasPenitentiary.
Um, because so I'll I'll citethe Encyclopedia of Arkansas
here.
Yeah.
Um, a landmark lawsuit againstthe Arkansas Penitentiary that
caused the Arkansas prisonsystem to be declared
unconstitutional, triggeringjudici judicially inspired
prison reforms in many states.
(28:03):
And it's hard to even fathomsomething that significant
happening, period, that someonemade that, you know, made sure
that you know they saw all theinjustice happening in the
prison systems and decided thatthey were gonna tackle it, and
that I got to sit in front ofhim and hear it from on a
firsthand basis.
(28:24):
Um there's that story, butthere's many other stories of
his incredible life.
Yeah, yes.
So I would highly encourageanyone to Google um Arkansas
Chief Justice Jack Holt.
He was brilliant.
And um, again, it's just one ofthose things where you're like,
I can't believe that I get tosit in front of him and listen
to him tell the story.
Um, so he was one.
(28:46):
Um, another one um was um DeannaCourti.
So she um ran an organizationcalled Riverfest, which was a
huge music and arts festival inLiteracy.
SPEAKER_01 (28:58):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (28:59):
Yes.
And I was a volunteer forRiverfest for 10 plus years.
And I got to see her in actionevery, well, we had several
meetings throughout the year,but every summer during that
week, the she was justabsolutely inspirational.
She was so hardworking.
The appreciation that she hadfor the volunteers doing the
(29:21):
work, the love that she had forthe mission, that stuck with me.
Um, and you know, I think it itwas hundreds of volunteers that
came together every year to pullthat off.
SPEAKER_01 (29:32):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (29:33):
She, I think, was the only paid employee, and she
relied so heavily on thevolunteers, and you could tell
that she genuinely appreciatedand admired the work that they
were doing to pull it off.
SPEAKER_01 (29:44):
Well, you you're pulling your your Little Rock
card with the Riverfestreference.
That's a good one.
That's uh that's an old schoolLittle Rock reference.
So uh so you moved here fiveyears ago, Northwest Arkansas.
You live in Fayetteville.
Fayetteville.
Okay, so you're Fayetteville,Funky, Washington County, I
guess.
What is what have you seen?
I guess, I mean, you've seeneverything evolve fast in one in
(30:06):
five years.
What what maybe stands out asfar as uh, you know, what's been
the most impactful change inNorthwest Arkansas in five
years?
SPEAKER_00 (30:14):
Yeah, yeah.
So I think, you know, as wecontinue to experience
exponential growth, um, there'salso been an exponential need
that's followed that.
So, you know, all I would saymost nonprofits are working
harder than they've ever worked.
Um, you know, everyone is sortof spreading out their
philanthropic dollarsdifferently.
Um, so that that's a big one.
Um, but I think at the heart ofit, something that I've noticed
(30:38):
at the at the core of what makesNorthwest Arkansas special are
um honestly the people who areworking in restaurants, the
teachers, the the artists, thesmall business owners, the
healthcare workers, all of thepeople that um, you know, are
often in some thankless jobsbehind the scenes, making the
(30:58):
place that we live special.
Um, so that that to me is umsomething that I maybe didn't
pay as much attention to that Ifeel like now is just more front
and center for me.
SPEAKER_01 (31:09):
Right.
And now that you've got fiveyears of perspective to see some
things and kind of learn somethings about Northwest Arkansas,
what is what is something thatum, you know, outsiders, you
know, from Little Rock or HotSprings or wherever in Arkansas,
what do, what do they still notget about Northwest Arkansas?
What do they what do they missabout this place?
Maybe what's a common uhmisconception about Northwest
(31:31):
Arkansas?
SPEAKER_00 (31:32):
I'm not sure.
Um I think I think most peoplehave a pretty good understanding
of what Northwest Arkansas isabout and what what it stands
for and what you know kind ofhow we're evolving over time.
Um and I think so many people,you know, people who maybe
aren't planning to move herelove to come here just for a for
a weekend away.
(31:53):
Um so I think it's cool that,you know, this has kind of
become a little bit of avacation spot for people too.
I mean, obviously you have um,you know, football and all of
that, but there's just so manyother great things to that are
worth making the trip for.
SPEAKER_01 (32:06):
Yeah, the food and the art and the uh just uh the
everything.
I think my eyes were first opento that.
This was probably about 10 yearsago when the preacher's son, um,
and it was called the sanctuarythen in Bentonville had had was
opened.
And and this is a story given tome secondhand from a guy who was
sitting at a table, but theywere sitting, he and his wife
(32:27):
were sitting in there Fridaynight and had met a couple
sitting next to them uh fromKansas City, and they had just
flown down to have dinner at uhthe sanctuary, and then we're
gonna fly back.
But we're fleet people flying toBentonville to have dinner and
then flying back home.
This, I mean, and it's only justgotten more um um unique, let's
(32:48):
say, uh, as the years have goneby.
So uh truly, it's a great placeto to be a uh a philanthropist
and a fundraiser and a and acitizen uh as you've discovered,
you and Evan have discovered thepast five years.
So let's talk about UCA and usshowing up here and and um you
know my job of of connectingwith alums and kept connecting
with business partners up here.
(33:08):
Where do you see opportunitiesfor UCA?
If you could have an audiencewith uh, you know, the president
or whoever your your favoriteprofessor about how we need to
show up up here, what would whatwould your advice be?
Where do you see opportunitiesfor UCA to expand our presence
here?
SPEAKER_00 (33:22):
Yeah, I think I think for me, um, and I I know
everyone says this, but it is sotrue.
The continued need fornetworking and building, you
know, close, close professionalrelationships with people across
sectors.
So um, you know, being in thefundraising sector, I am
familiar with, you know, a lotof the amazing people that work
in fundraising, you know, go tothe association meetings and all
(33:45):
these things, but I don't oftenhave the opportunity to to visit
with people that are in the youknow financial industry who are
doing, you know, work in wealthmanagement or um, you know,
someone who you know is workingin the technology field.
I mean, there's so many other umlittle industry, not little big
industries here.
(34:05):
Um, and I think, you know,having the opportunity to, you
know, connect with other alum ina way that uh there just isn't
there isn't that space alreadyset for that kind of
conversation.
Um, and I think whenever you'rebe up, whenever you're able to
build those connections, so manyorganic partnerships will come
(34:26):
from that in ways that if youknow you passively see someone
on LinkedIn, they it's just itjust won't happen.
Um being able to share ideas andfigure out how we can um partner
and work more effectively andefficiently together, I think,
um, I think that is key.
SPEAKER_01 (34:41):
Right.
Are is there are there thingsabout UCA that are going on um
on campus that you would like toknow more about?
Is there something you'velearned about maybe as you've
thought about UCA a little bitmore than maybe you have coming
onto this podcast, anything thatmaybe piques your interest about
I'd like to learn more aboutthat or I'd like to learn more
about this program or or what'shappening on campus?
SPEAKER_00 (35:01):
Yeah, you know, I think I'd like to say um after,
you know, having thisconversation, um, you know, and
being able to reflect on um mytime in the political science
department and the masscommunications department, I
kind of realized that I shouldprobably spend some more time
reconnecting with some of thoseum professors and you know
former colleagues um just tokind of see what they're up to
(35:24):
and um you know, again, how wecould possibly work together.
SPEAKER_01 (35:27):
Well, you mentioned networking and working together.
I mean, we've got about 4,000alums in in Benton and
Washington County.
Um so there's plenty ofopportunity.
Do you do you feel likenetworking is is maybe uh a
skill or or a habit that is uhmaybe most impactful for young
professionals to have right now?
SPEAKER_00 (35:46):
I do, I do.
And and honestly, I will saythat that I feel like has been
the key to um a key to mysuccess is being able to walk
into a room and introduce myselfto anyone who's in there.
Um it may be the CEO of theorganization and feeling
comfortable enough just tointroduce myself and say hello
and carry on a briefconversation.
(36:07):
Um, I I think that those momentsdo add up because as everyone is
well aware, the job market ischallenging.
And so, you know, any job thatI've ever had that I have
posted, you know, you get ahundred applicants and you know,
being able to decide who you'regonna interview, unless you've
had a, you know, a personalinteraction with someone, you're
(36:30):
probably gonna look to, youknow, hire just the person who
on paper has the mostexperience.
Whereas the person with the mostexperience may not necessarily
be the best fit.
But if I if I had theopportunity to meet that person,
you know, maybe through aninternship, or maybe they
volunteered at some point, orum, I said to high, you know,
they introduced themselves to meat a at a chamber event or
something like that.
(36:50):
Um, being able to make justthose like brief connections
are, I think, key to stand outin the crowd.
SPEAKER_01 (36:56):
Well, brief connections can lead to uh
lengthy connections too, aswell, right?
So I think we're at um to me,that's one of the
differentiators of NorthwestArkansas and other regions, uh,
not just in Arkansas, butanywhere.
The, the um, the networkingclimate here, the um some people
call them business collisionshere that just happened, whether
(37:18):
you're at this event or or thislunch or this networking event,
are just um they're robust.
I I heard a guy um he works forum New Road Capital Partners,
and he was being interviewed onone of their podcasts, and he
had relocated here from NewYork.
And somebody was asking him, youknow, how do you describe
Northwest Arkansas?
(37:39):
I mean, the guy, you know, camefrom New York.
He was a professional inManhattan.
I mean, he was an investmentprofessional, but he'd moved his
family here to work here.
How do you describe NorthwestArkansas to people that you used
to work with in New York and uhhis description that I've never
forgotten because it makes somuch sense uh as it relates to
networking and meeting people?
He equated it to it's like thefirst year uh of college.
(38:04):
Everybody that's come here fromall over the country, and in
some instances the world, uh,they're just trying to meet new
people.
They're trying to make friends,they're trying to make a new
network.
And so everybody is just eagerto do that, whether you're in a
dorm as an 18-year-old or as aas a 37-year-old professional
moved here from whatever thecase is.
And I thought that is a that'sabout as apt a description as I
(38:25):
could come up with uh for how doyou describe Northwest Arkansas?
Because there are people movinghere from all over the country
and and even the globe to um umbring their families here, bring
their work here.
SPEAKER_00 (38:36):
Yeah, that's exactly right.
And I think the welcomingspirit, um, the spirit of
everyone, you know, wanting tomake sure that Northwest
Arkansas is the best place thatit can be, and that, you know,
everybody's looking to, youknow, help each other out and to
partner together and tocollaborate and share resources
and connections.
Um, it is a place where um Ifeel like people will set their
(38:58):
ego aside and they they justsay, yeah, come on, I can
introduce you to to so-and-sostanding next to me here.
Um, I think that that issomething that definitely sets
this space apart.
SPEAKER_01 (39:07):
Well, that's why we're here.
We need we need to be here.
UCA needs to be uh plugged intothe um the business engine of of
Arkansas.
And so uh I'm excited about umuh the new year coming up.
It'll be my second year workingfor the university uh and
excited about it, excited tomeet and continue to meet alums
(39:28):
like you.
Tell me a little bit more aboutyou and Evan.
Do you guys mountain bike?
Do you play golf?
Tell me what you like to do inNorthwest Arkansas when you're
not working.
SPEAKER_00 (39:36):
Yeah, so um we have a beautiful six-year-old son.
His name is Bertram, and we loveto visit the art galleries.
We love to go to theater.
We um actually just went to um,I'm so proud of this on Sunday
night.
We took Bertram to his firstrock and roll show.
Um, it's a one of my favoritelocal bands, Benjamin Del
(39:57):
Shreve, who I've listened to umsince I Was in college and um we
got to take him to that and heyou know got to have that
experience with at Georgia's,which was so cool.
Um, so you know, I think one ofmy favorite things is that you
just never kind of know whereyour um where your day is gonna
lead when you're in northwestArkansas.
(40:18):
So funny story.
Um, a couple of weeks ago, we umit was on a Saturday night.
Um we all we went to go eat atRolando's in Fayetteville, and
we stepped outside and we hearda drum circle playing.
We walk over the drum circle.
There's probably 20 people ondrums and you know various
percussion instruments.
And this lady walked up toBertram and she said, Here, you
want to play?
So he is playing the tambourine.
(40:39):
They hand Evan and I maracas andEvan and me maracas, and then we
are in the middle of the drumcircle dancing and playing, and
it was so fun.
We we probably danced for 30minutes um until it got late.
And then we were about to leaveand we noticed that the Walton
Arts Center just had a new artgallery open.
The the door was open.
(41:00):
We walked in there, that wasjust like a very unexpected.
Then nobody were gonna have thatthat moment.
Um, so just like again, the coolthings that can happen whenever
you're least expecting it.
SPEAKER_01 (41:10):
Well, your son's career path has probably been
set in stone now, right?
You realize that.
I mean, percussion drums.
SPEAKER_00 (41:17):
Right.
We hope.
SPEAKER_01 (41:18):
Yeah, what an event.
What a what a what a fun event.
What's your favorite concertyou've ever attended?
SPEAKER_00 (41:24):
Ooh, ever?
SPEAKER_01 (41:24):
Ever.
SPEAKER_00 (41:25):
Oh, gosh, that's tough.
SPEAKER_01 (41:26):
Um it's the most memorable.
SPEAKER_00 (41:28):
One of the most memorable was seeing John
Batiste at the momentary.
He plays every genre of music.
He is I I can't even put it intowords.
He's just overall an incrediblehuman being.
But the most amazing part wasthat he actually walked off the
(41:49):
stage into the crowd, led sortof a um New Orleans style parade
through the crowd.
He was um playing some funnyinstrument and had a little crew
around him, but he walked rightin front of me and back in front
of me, probably three or fourtimes.
He's just right there, justplaying this instrument.
And I mean, he's a GrammyAward-winning artist, uh, you
(42:09):
know, formally trained.
The guy is brilliant.
And just to be able to literallysee him so up close and personal
was amazing.
SPEAKER_01 (42:18):
Yeah, here in Northwest Arkansas and right out
there on the green.
Yeah.
I mean, so yeah, that the stufflike that are the stories that
you know uh all of us can tellhere in Northwest Arkansas.
And now that uh that this homefor you and your family, uh,
only more stories like that tocome.
Uh I love the Rolando story.
That's great.
Um, well, listen, this wholething has been great.
(42:38):
I really appreciate you comingin.
It's been great to visit withyou.
SPEAKER_00 (42:41):
Yes, thank you.
And I appreciated thisopportunity because I really got
to spend, you know, from day today, you're just blowing and
going and you you just sort ofhead down in the work.
Um, but it was nice to have theopportunity to actually kind of
look back and reflect.
And um, it really filled myheart with gratitude for the
experiences that I had at UCA,the amazing professors that I
(43:03):
had, um, the friendships that Igained.
And um, yeah, it it just feelsgreat.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (43:09):
Well, there's a lot of great at UCA, and there's a
lot to be proud of, and there'sa lot to look forward to.
So um, I'm excited and veryhappy to have you as a UCA ally
in Northwest Arkansas and justwish you continued success in
and all that you do for Arkansaschildren's and and all that
you're uh going to be doing forus as as a as a partner and ally
for UCA.
(43:30):
So thanks very much.
Thank you so much.
All right.
Well, that is a wrap on thisedition of Central to NWA, a UCA
podcast.
Appreciate you tuning in.
Until next time, go bears.
That's it for this episode ofCentral to NWA, a UCA podcast.
I'm Paul Gatling, SeniorDirector of Northwest Arkansas
Engagement for the University ofCentral Arkansas.
(43:52):
Be sure to subscribe to the showand follow UCA on all the
appropriate social media.
I'll see you next time onCentral to NWA.
This is Central to NWA, a UCA podcast.
I'm your host, Paul Gatling, andwe are bringing the University
of Central Arkansas to NorthwestArkansas.
Each episode, we will talk withleaders, alumni, and innovators
driving this region forward.
People who are shapingindustries and defining what is
next for our state.
(00:22):
Let's get started.
Welcome into another edition ofCentral to NWA, a UCA podcast.
I'm Paul Gatling, your host herein Northwest Arkansas.
And today, uh really excitedabout our guest to have Corey
Hufty.
She is the executive director ofphilanthropy for Arkansas
Children's in NorthwestArkansas.
(00:43):
Corey, really appreciate youbeing here, and it's good to see
you.
SPEAKER_00 (00:46):
Thank you.
Thank you for having me.
It's great to be here.
SPEAKER_01 (00:48):
Yeah, you and I have uh cross paths uh a few times in
our in our previous um businesscareer, me at the Business
Journal and you at TheaterSquared and now Arkansas
Children.
So uh I'm excited to have you instudio today.
SPEAKER_00 (01:01):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (01:02):
So um first before we get into what you're you're
doing now and and your role thatyou stepped into this past
summer, um, you know, I justwant to what's one thing that
that has stood out to you earlyon in your um your second
go-around at ArkansasChildren's, and we'll get into
that uh later in the program.
But you started at ArkansasChildren's in June.
So six months in.
(01:23):
Give me your give me yourscorecard so far.
SPEAKER_00 (01:25):
Six months in, it's incredible.
I have been absolutely blownaway by the team at the Arkansas
Children's Foundation.
There's about 50 team members intotal, and they are all
brilliant experts.
So I go to work every day, andnot only am I, you know,
executing some of the projectsthat I'm personally working on,
but I'm also just surrounded byexperts, and I feel really
(01:47):
fortunate.
I've got a solid team that I'mworking with here, where there's
um going to be eight of us intotal here in Northwest, and
we're just rocking and roll.
SPEAKER_01 (01:55):
Yeah, it sounds like you've learned the landscape and
met a ton of people, and uh I'mexcited to talk about that and
your work and what you do and uhand get into it.
So, well, first let's uh rewinda little bit and let's go back
to uh your UCA class of 2006.
Uh so a proud uh alum of theuniversity.
What brought you to UCAoriginally?
(02:16):
You know, what what brought18-year-old uh Corey Gilmore uh
from Lake Hamilton High Schoolin uh in Pearcy, right outside
of Hot Springs, right?
Tell me the circumstances of howyou you wound up in Conway at
UCA.
SPEAKER_00 (02:30):
Yeah, so um, you know, the short version of the
story is that um I was a I was ahigh school kid that needed
financial support.
So UCA offered a scholarship,and that paired with student
loans made college possible forme.
But I will say what kept me atUCA was um, you know, I spent a
lot of time thinking back onthat experience.
(02:51):
And what really kept me therewas the amazing professors that
I had, the community thatthey've built there.
Um, you feel like you're notjust another face in the crowd.
You um, you know, you developreal close relationships with
your professors.
They're looking out for you,they want you to succeed.
So that I think is what meant somuch to me.
And of course, you know, I alsobuilt some great friendships
(03:13):
while I was there too.
SPEAKER_01 (03:14):
Yeah, and uh I think mass communications and
political science was your uhyour double major there.
That's a fun combination.
What uh what was on your mind uhwith that right there?
SPEAKER_00 (03:25):
Yeah, well, I started off in mass
communications and I reallyenjoyed it.
And I initially had politicalscience as my undergrad.
And as I was taking more andmore classes, I realized that I
I could actually spend anotheryear um focusing on political
science and ended up um with afocus on international
relations.
And what was incredible to mewas that I really at that point
(03:46):
in my life hadn't ever beensurrounded by people who could
really um kind of broaden myworldview.
They helped me understand whatwas happening um, you know,
across the world in a way that Ihadn't ever thought of before.
Um, so that I think um, youknow, that political science
puts together um economics,history, law.
And it was, it was for the firsttime that I really was able to
(04:08):
sort of put all the puzzlepieces in together and realize
that um, you know, with a littlemore focus on political science
that I could, you know, possiblymove that into more of a career.
So that's how that's how Ilanded that.
SPEAKER_01 (04:20):
What do you remember about you you said you you
recalled the strong community atUCA?
What do you remember about yourum your campus life?
Was there uh was there a Greekcomponent?
Were you in any studentorganizations?
You mentioned, you know, astrong group of uh some
professors that really stuckwith you.
What do you just recall aboutcampus life?
SPEAKER_00 (04:39):
Yeah, campus life was so fun.
So um, and you look, I just lookback on it just with a huge
smile on my face.
Um, I was paired with um aroommate who I didn't know
previously.
We were just randomly paired.
And I remember she came homeafter um um she was rushing a
sorority.
She got her bid into thesorority and she said, There's
(05:01):
another sorority that actuallyhas a couple of open spots and
they're doing an open bid.
And I had honestly no idea whatshe was talking about.
I didn't know any of thelanguage.
Um, and she said, you shouldjust go for it.
So I did.
I she coached me up and um kindof taught me, you know, what are
some questions to ask and how tobe engaged in the conversation?
Um, and so I ended up um rushingAlpha Sigma Alpha, which was one
(05:22):
of the best decisions I thinkI've I've made.
I um through that have held onto some great lifelong best
friends, um, many of who thatI'm still really close with uh
today.
So that has been reallyremarkable.
SPEAKER_01 (05:36):
Did that maybe in some ways lay the groundwork for
this um, you know, thisdevelopment path that you got on
later in career?
Because, you know, I think whenpeople think Greek life, they
think of Greek life, but there'salso the uh the altruistic part
of it and the you know serviceover self part of it that you do
that, you know, goes unnoticed,maybe.
SPEAKER_00 (05:56):
Yeah, yeah.
So their um nationalphilanthropy is special
Olympics, and I did have theopportunity to work on a couple
of um their events and things.
And so that was really my firstum understanding of what
philanthropy was.
I remember not evenunderstanding what that word
literally meant.
Um somebody had to say, Oh,you're gonna come and volunteer
for this nonprofit.
And I was like, Oh, that soundsincredible.
(06:16):
So um, so yeah, I think thatreally was kind of my my first
experience with that.
SPEAKER_01 (06:20):
I think most college students, I know I would if
somebody asked me this question,they if you asked them that one
professor that stands out thatreally kind of put you on a
trajectory.
Do you have a person in mind?
Is there somebody that kind ofstands out from your undergrad
career?
SPEAKER_00 (06:35):
Yeah, I had a couple of exceptional, um exceptional
professors.
One I'll mention in particular,Dr.
Mark Mullenbach.
Um, he, I felt like was, and II'm not even sure.
Um, let's see how to explainthis.
He was so engaged, and I feellike he was so intentional with
his students and really wantingto make sure that they
(06:57):
understood the material, thatthey were set up for success.
Um, you know, some of the thejust the overall learn
understanding what politicalscience is, some of it is
challenging.
And it's in philosophy and allsorts of things.
And so he was able to um explainit in a way that for uh, you
know, still a kid, um trying tolearn how to navigate the world
(07:18):
and ask all the big questions,um, he really set it up in a way
that I felt like was more easyfor me to absorb in that time of
my life.
SPEAKER_01 (07:26):
So Mark Mollenbach.
Okay, well, I hope he'll be gladto hear me.
All right.
So you you go from learning outwhat the word philanthropy
actually means and stands for toum, you know, that some maybe
thinking of this is my lane,maybe this may be my career.
Let's go back uh to when youwere in Little Rock, you know, a
decade ago and doing this typeof work for uh first uh for
(07:48):
Arkansas children's.
And then I think before that itwas um uh Arkansas Hospice.
Um so give me, you know, how didhow did you get into this type
of career?
How did you get into this workto make it your your
professional life?
SPEAKER_00 (08:00):
Yeah.
So I actually started off umright after college working in
politics.
And um I did that for a coupleof years and realized that um,
you know, while I have a realinterest in politics and current
events, that that probablywasn't gonna be the path that
was for me.
I, you know, was one of thosekind of you sort of see behind
the curtain and realize that umthat that you know there's other
(08:22):
other ways that I think I wantedto contribute to society
overall.
And so um, so yeah, I that wasmy first step.
And then after that, I was atMuseum of Discovery for a little
while.
Um, and then I went and actuallygot a master's degree in um
public administration.
Um, and then from there, I thinkone of the most transformative
(08:43):
experiences I had was workingfor Arkansas Hospice.
That was my first experience.
Um, that was my first experiencein fundraising.
I started off as acommunications manager and my
super as supervisor at the time,her name is Renee Rule.
Um, she, I think, saw somethingin me and took me under her wing
and offered me a position on thefundraising team.
(09:05):
And that was the first time thatI just I was hooked.
Um I'll tell you a story realquick.
Um I remember she would come andinvite me to sit in her office
and listen while she made thankyou phone calls to donors to
thank them for their donationand just say, thank you, Mr.
Smith.
We are so thrilled that you gave$1,000 today.
(09:25):
Do you have any idea howtransformational this gift is to
our organization?
And she was just bursting at theseams with celebration and love
for um for the organization.
And I, you know, and in thatprocess, you know, the donor
ends up telling about why theywere um so compelled to give.
And then by the end of the phonecall, everybody's in tears and
(09:47):
everybody feels great.
And I was, I realized that thatis something that I want to be a
part of.
SPEAKER_01 (09:52):
Wow.
That sounds like that really didstick with you to kind of open
your eyes.
So from there, um, what were thecircumstances that led you for
the first time in your career tothe Arkansas Children's
Foundation uh working in LittleRock?
SPEAKER_00 (10:05):
Yeah, so I had heard, you know, I had um
attended some fundraisingprofessionals meetings, um, and
I had heard that the fundraisingteam at Arkansas Children's was
essentially the premier place tolearn how to fundraise at the
highest possible level.
So um, whenever the opportunitypresented itself um to go and
work there, I I jumped at it.
(10:25):
And um it was it was remarkable.
SPEAKER_01 (10:28):
So I was reading some of your career highlights
about uh one and a half milliondollars in 2019, 500 volunteers.
Tell me about that.
How does I hear 500 volunteersand I think, my goodness, that
is an event planning.
That's event planning andwrangling that and getting that
all together.
Tell me that story.
How did that come together?
SPEAKER_00 (10:46):
Yeah, so um during that time, I was working with
the um auxiliary, which is agroup of women and but the this
was based in Little Rock, andthey are they're volunteers, but
they are rock star fundraisers.
They are so committed to theorganization.
They are event planners, they umare errand runners, they go and
(11:08):
pick up silent auction items,they set very, very high
standards for themselves.
And just being able to supportthe work that they were doing
was amazing.
Um, I feel, and a lot of themare still my friends now.
Um, you know, whenever you'reworking on special events
together, you really get to knoweach other at a very deep level.
(11:28):
Um, you know, the stress and funof it all comes together.
And so yeah, that was that was agreat experience.
SPEAKER_01 (11:33):
Yeah, the stress and the fun are kind of like go hand
in hand when you get into it.
What is something else thatmaybe people don't realize about
philanthropy um until you'reright in the middle of it and
you're you're you know you'veyou've grown your career there
from uh the museum and andhospice and now at Arkansas
Children's.
Um, what did you learn in thoseearly first few years once you
(11:54):
were involved in it?
SPEAKER_00 (11:55):
Yeah, so I think you know, people often will say, I
could never ask people formoney.
And while that's part of it, thetrue, the true role that I have
is a facilitator for the impactthat they want to make.
You know, so many, so manydonors, they've come to me and
said, you know, I I have, youknow,$100 and I want to leave a
(12:17):
legacy and, you know, I want tomake an impact.
Tell me, you know, and then Iget the opportunity to share all
about the amazing work, um, themission that the organization is
accomplishing, and really get totout the the people who make
that mission happen every day.
So I feel like I'm the sort ofthe facilitator and sort of the
the um the sherpa to help tohelp make it happen.
(12:39):
Um so I think that's probably abig misconception.
Um so yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:44):
Do you miss living in Little Rock?
Do you like it?
SPEAKER_00 (12:46):
I loved Little Rock.
I think Little Rock isfantastic.
It it was a it was a greatplace, um, especially in my um
mid-20s.
You know, the music scene thereis great, the food scene there
is great.
Um, I really uh had an amazingneighborhood.
We lived in Hillcrest.
Um, I loved the community aspectof it.
SPEAKER_01 (13:03):
So there's a lot of things about it that's yeah, and
you were also involved um in acommunity sense.
I think you had a lot of somejunior league uh involvement,
which I think you've continuedup here today, but um how
important was that to you to getinvolved?
SPEAKER_00 (13:15):
I would say that was probably one of the biggest um
one of the biggest decisionsthat I made in terms of
contributing to my leadershipskills, because when you're
working for working with anorganization of women and you're
all solely focused on doinggreat work, and it's one of
those no-ego kind of situations.
(13:36):
Everybody's learning as they go.
Um, you are a volunteer, so youknow, if you have to get up and
speak, if you are holding ameeting, that's where I gained a
lot of those skills, you know,how to work closely with a team
of 15 people who all havedifferent ideas of the direction
the way things need to go.
And um, that to me, I was I hadthe opportunity of, you know,
(13:57):
serving on the board in a coupleof different roles.
And I think um, and again,learning from the people who are
amazing leaders in their ownright, you know, various
community leaders.
So it was great.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (14:08):
All right.
So let's go to the year 2020.
Uh, we all remember that year.
You remember it for maybesomething else.
You came to Northwest Arkansaswith your husband, Evan, also
UCA graduate.
So talk to us about thecircumstances of making your big
professional move to NorthwestArkansas.
SPEAKER_00 (14:26):
Yeah.
So um I accepted the job um atTheater Squared in December of
2019.
And we all know what happened umshortly thereafter.
So it was definitely a wild timeto, you know, take a new job,
move to a new part of the state.
Um, but you know, in taking thatjob, I had no idea that the
doors of the theater would closefor several months after that.
(14:48):
Um, but I also came at anincredible time um during
Theater Squared's growth.
So they had just opened thebuilding in August of 2019.
They had an amazing donor base,people that had supported the
organization for the 15 yearsthat they had been there.
Um, so I was be able to, youknow, organize a team, um, build
(15:10):
on this uh incredible successthat they had already
experienced.
Um in that short, you know, inthat five-year span that I was
there, we um built a solid umannual fund campaign, a robust
stewardship program.
We created a corporate council,and year over year we were, we
continued to build on that.
So um I feel fortunate that Igot to work with such um an
(15:32):
amazing team and um just be partof be part of um the amazing
mission there.
SPEAKER_01 (15:40):
Yeah, and I'm sure you've reflected on it this past
summer as you change jobs, butjust like what you said, what
what what a fantastic time to bepart of Theater Squared and
really that rise.
I mean, we've all seen the riseof arts in Northwest Arkansas as
a whole.
And Theater Squared is a big umname, brand, part of that,
really part of the fabric ofNorthwest Arkansas's art scene.
(16:02):
And you were right in the middleof that.
I mean, that has to be uh, I'msure it was bittersweet, but
also incredibly rewarding tolook back on those five years.
SPEAKER_00 (16:10):
Yeah, absolutely.
And and what I came away withwas a new and profound respect
for artists who are doing thework.
So, you know, we get to see thefinal beautiful um product and
it all is perfect, but justbeing able to work alongside
those um amazing artists andtechnicians every day and see
the um the amazing work and thecraft that is behind it all um
(16:35):
was just really neat.
And I came away also just umfeeling that art isn't just a
nice thing to have because somuch it's you know, there's many
important nonprofits, so manyimportant causes.
Um, and art is another one ofthose.
Theater squared is another oneof those.
Um, so one thing that I alwayswanted to hit home was that, you
(16:57):
know, the true cost of a ticketat Theater Squared is$125.
And um, you know, most peopleare paying about$40 for a
ticket.
So the difference is the flantis philanthropy.
So when um, you know, whenindividuals are supporting
philanthropy that keeps thosetickets affordable or affording
or um supporting an organizationthat keeps tickets affordable.
(17:19):
Um, but I think also art is whatmakes a place worth living in.
Um it's what gives the place itscharacter and its soul and sets
it apart from any other placethat you can live.
Um, it's truly the fiber thatkind of keeps us all connected.
So um, yeah, I'm I'm reallyproud of that.
SPEAKER_01 (17:37):
It sounds like you, I mean, you I would think, you
know, there are certainprinciples of philanthropy and
fundraising that transfer,whether you're doing it for
healthcare, whether you're doingit for the arts.
Yeah.
Um, but that is, as you probablylearn, an entirely different um
muscle.
Now, you didn't get to do itprobably as the way you
envisioned because of COVID in2020.
But what did that um fundraisingfor the arts, what did that that
(18:02):
point of your career teach youabout what is transferable for
philanthropy?
SPEAKER_00 (18:06):
Yeah, I think I think one of my um the main
things that it taught me was theimportance of community
partnerships.
Um, and I'll tell you a quickstory.
So um I had done some researchon the um social isolation and
the loneliness epidemic, and umlearned that, you know, by
watching a play, um, people feelmore connected to um the people
(18:30):
sitting in the audience.
They feel connected to humanityum as a bigger picture.
So I thought, I wonder ifthere's a way that we can take
sort of the science behind umart and the loneliness epidemic
and sort of mental health andphysical health and put that all
together in a panel discussion.
And so we brought together somemental health experts, um, some
(18:50):
um some physicians, um, localphysicians.
And the response was I was blownaway by the response.
The community showed up for theevent in a way that I was not
expecting.
The buzz after the event, peoplewere just overwhelmed with um
the conversation and just likehaving the opportunity to talk
(19:12):
about social isolation at adeeper level.
Um, and through that, long storyshort, was that um now Theater
Squared has a partnership withthe Alice Walton School of
Medicine, where they are workingtogether on curriculum that uses
theater techniques to betterengage with patients and
essentially better healthoutcomes.
(19:33):
So amazing stuff.
Only in Northwest Arkansas.
I got the chills just talking.
Yes, I know, exactly.
Only in Northwest Arkansas.
Um and along with that, weconnected with a group called
the Vibe Tribe, um, which theirwhole goal is to fight social
isolation.
Um, and we got to host eventsfor people in the community
connect.
So I'm just really um proud ofthe um the foundation that sort
(19:53):
of set.
And with that, that put backinto my mind, you know, the
importance of healthcare.
So that sort of was the To mynext um step going back into
Arkansas Children's Foundation.
SPEAKER_01 (20:04):
Right.
Well, you should be proud ofthat.
Great five years there.
And uh you make a great seguejust for me because that's where
we were headed.
So you started in June as theexecutive director of
philanthropy for ArkansasChildren's here in Northwest
Arkansas.
So, how did that job transitioncome about?
Tell me the circumstances of howyou uh began to pursue this
opportunity and land there.
SPEAKER_00 (20:25):
Yeah, so I I had started um, you know, just
thinking about what what were mynext steps.
And honestly, the theconversation around healthcare
just kind of re-sparked myinterest in it.
And the opportunity kind of umpresented itself.
It's one of those things I've Ifeel like throughout my life,
most things have happened reallyserendipitously and just the
(20:47):
timing just worked out.
And that's kind of when you knowit's it's time to make the move.
Um, and so yes, I took the jobum this summer and um my team,
we again, my team is incredible.
We oversee um two of ourflagship events, which is Will
Golf for Kids and Gala of Hope.
And then um that also includesum the ACNW Auxiliary, which is
(21:10):
uh members of 150 members whoorganize four different
fundraising events um and alsohave various um volunteer
opportunities in the hospital.
And um that includes Children'sMarical Network Partnership,
which is our nationalpartnership with um various
companies across the country.
And the biggest partner, ofcourse, is our Walmart and Sam's
(21:31):
Club partnership.
So it is um an incredibly umpowerful and important job, and
I feel so lucky that I have it.
SPEAKER_01 (21:40):
Yeah, and that hospital is only getting bigger
too.
Now, you don't work on theconstruction side at all, do
you?
SPEAKER_00 (21:45):
I don't, I don't, but I can't really anticipating
it.
Yes, yes, yes.
But that is that is our primaryfocus right now for fundraising,
is our expansion project.
So that is an$82.7 millionproject.
Um, and the first phase of itwill be done very soon.
Um, it'll also include um 16 newinpatient beds, 30 new
(22:07):
outpatient beds, an expandedinfusion and hematology and
oncology clinic.
Plus, um we're looking torecruit 30 new providers.
So, you know, expansions alwayssound fun and they are
incredible, and it'll be amazingto see a new building.
But the true impact is are goingto be the kids of the Northwest
Arkansas region who will havebetter access closer to home.
(22:30):
So, you know, right now so manyof our patients are driving or
flying to Little Rock to receivecare.
And um, we feel like that'ssomething that we can address
with philanthropy.
We need more, we need morepatients staying here because
what happens is when they dohave to drive to Little Rock,
they're spending money on gasand food and hotels.
And it it creates a financialburden that is unsustainable for
(22:53):
most families.
So this really is a way for umfor us to provide the Northwest
Arkansas community what it needsnext for pediatric health care.
SPEAKER_01 (23:01):
Yeah, you mentioned Little Rock, and for folks who
may not know, I mean, ArkansasChildren's is a Little
Rock-based um enterprise.
I mean, it's a statewide umhealthcare organization, but um
statewide impact, obviously.
But what is unique about um, youknow, raising support?
Your work is focused strictly onNorthwest Arkansas.
Like my work for UCA and Conwayis focused strictly on Northwest
(23:24):
Arkansas.
What is unique about raisingsupport uh in this region?
Uh we all know there's so muchnonprofit support, there's so
much philanthropy, there's somuch uh giving.
What is unique about NorthwestArkansas?
SPEAKER_00 (23:37):
Yeah, I think what sets Northwest Arkansas apart
are the community leaders, um,the the companies and the
individuals that um reallyprioritize philanthropy and they
lead, they lead the charge.
And I think, you know, with themleading the charge, it really
sets the tone for what what isum what's the expectation to be
(23:59):
a citizen in Northwest Arkansas?
And to me, that means if you ifyou have the means, um, you
should be supporting thenonprofit that is closest to
your heart.
Um, that no one just gets to sitback and um kind of just
passively take advantage of allof the things, the great
amenities that we have here.
Um so I think I think that's umprobably probably the key thing.
SPEAKER_01 (24:20):
What does it mean to be a citizen of Northwest
Arkansas?
I like that.
I mean, that would give anybodyuh enough to think about.
And there is something, becausewe said there's so many
nonprofits and areas to give,um, you could find something
that's close to your heart nomatter who you are, no matter uh
what that might be.
What are the big opportunitiesfor for Arkansas Children's uh
(24:41):
Northwest in 2026 that peopleshould know about?
SPEAKER_00 (24:44):
Yeah, so um it's funny that I'm here today
because today is actually GivingTuesday, which is um the one of
the biggest um days to donate.
Probably it's Giving Tuesday andum you know December 31st are
the days people people like togive.
And so um I know the listenerswon't hear this um today, but um
I think it it regardless ofwhenever you decide to give,
(25:08):
every single dollar makes such adifference.
And you know, we're working onthis$82.7 million expansion, and
you can hear that and easilythink my$20 will be a drop in
the bucket to that.
And that's absolutely not true.
It literally will take thousandsof people coming together to
make that goal attainable.
So um, you know, I thinkexpansion is the is the thing
(25:31):
that I will underline.
It is um our biggest and mostimportant project.
It's the one that's gonna havethe most major impact.
Um, and and yeah, the the otherthing I'd like to mention is
that, you know, right now umwith, you know, and everybody's
aware of this, the overall costof everything is going up:
housing, health care, um,groceries, child care, all of
(25:53):
it.
Um, that's also gonna cause anincrease in uncompensated care.
So, you know, Arkansaschildren's will absorb those
costs for for families that umdon't have the ability to pay.
But again, it takes philanthropyto make sure that we can offset
that and still um keep keep theincredible care level um to the
highest standard.
SPEAKER_01 (26:11):
I want to get your take on a couple of leadership
questions now that you I meanyou you've been in a leadership
capacity for some time uh withTheater Squared and and now with
Arkansas Children's here and theteams that you lead.
Think about the last 10, 12, 15years or so.
Who has helped shape yourleadership style?
Who is uh really, you know, isit a boss or a mentor or family
(26:33):
member?
Who who do you think about mostwhen I say leadership?
SPEAKER_00 (26:37):
Yeah, so um one position that I um hadn't hadn't
mentioned yet was I also umbriefly worked at the
administrative office of thecourts.
And while I was there, I um oneof my jobs was to work on
exhibits of past judges, um, youknow, important moments in
history that had to do with theadministrative offices.
(26:59):
And so um, you know, I spent, Igot to spend a probably a week
solid with former Arkansas ChiefJustice Jack Holt.
And he would come to my officeand and part of it was, you
know, I was creating a timelineand I had all these things that
I wanted to do for this exhibit.
But he would just come into myoffice and tell me the story of
(27:20):
his life.
And it was one of the mosttransformative experiences that
I had as a young person becausehe, well, let me just tell you,
and I've I've got this writtendown here, so um, so I'll refer
to my notes, but um he actuallyis responsible for a landmark
(27:42):
lawsuit um against the ArkansasPenitentiary.
Um, because so I'll I'll citethe Encyclopedia of Arkansas
here.
Yeah.
Um, a landmark lawsuit againstthe Arkansas Penitentiary that
caused the Arkansas prisonsystem to be declared
unconstitutional, triggeringjudici judicially inspired
prison reforms in many states.
(28:03):
And it's hard to even fathomsomething that significant
happening, period, that someonemade that, you know, made sure
that you know they saw all theinjustice happening in the
prison systems and decided thatthey were gonna tackle it, and
that I got to sit in front ofhim and hear it from on a
firsthand basis.
(28:24):
Um there's that story, butthere's many other stories of
his incredible life.
Yeah, yes.
So I would highly encourageanyone to Google um Arkansas
Chief Justice Jack Holt.
He was brilliant.
And um, again, it's just one ofthose things where you're like,
I can't believe that I get tosit in front of him and listen
to him tell the story.
Um, so he was one.
(28:46):
Um, another one um was um DeannaCourti.
So she um ran an organizationcalled Riverfest, which was a
huge music and arts festival inLiteracy.
SPEAKER_01 (28:58):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (28:59):
Yes.
And I was a volunteer forRiverfest for 10 plus years.
And I got to see her in actionevery, well, we had several
meetings throughout the year,but every summer during that
week, the she was justabsolutely inspirational.
She was so hardworking.
The appreciation that she hadfor the volunteers doing the
(29:21):
work, the love that she had forthe mission, that stuck with me.
Um, and you know, I think it itwas hundreds of volunteers that
came together every year to pullthat off.
SPEAKER_01 (29:32):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (29:33):
She, I think, was the only paid employee, and she
relied so heavily on thevolunteers, and you could tell
that she genuinely appreciatedand admired the work that they
were doing to pull it off.
SPEAKER_01 (29:44):
Well, you you're pulling your your Little Rock
card with the Riverfestreference.
That's a good one.
That's uh that's an old schoolLittle Rock reference.
So uh so you moved here fiveyears ago, Northwest Arkansas.
You live in Fayetteville.
Fayetteville.
Okay, so you're Fayetteville,Funky, Washington County, I
guess.
What is what have you seen?
I guess, I mean, you've seeneverything evolve fast in one in
(30:06):
five years.
What what maybe stands out asfar as uh, you know, what's been
the most impactful change inNorthwest Arkansas in five
years?
SPEAKER_00 (30:14):
Yeah, yeah.
So I think, you know, as wecontinue to experience
exponential growth, um, there'salso been an exponential need
that's followed that.
So, you know, all I would saymost nonprofits are working
harder than they've ever worked.
Um, you know, everyone is sortof spreading out their
philanthropic dollarsdifferently.
Um, so that that's a big one.
Um, but I think at the heart ofit, something that I've noticed
(30:38):
at the at the core of what makesNorthwest Arkansas special are
um honestly the people who areworking in restaurants, the
teachers, the the artists, thesmall business owners, the
healthcare workers, all of thepeople that um, you know, are
often in some thankless jobsbehind the scenes, making the
(30:58):
place that we live special.
Um, so that that to me is umsomething that I maybe didn't
pay as much attention to that Ifeel like now is just more front
and center for me.
SPEAKER_01 (31:09):
Right.
And now that you've got fiveyears of perspective to see some
things and kind of learn somethings about Northwest Arkansas,
what is what is something thatum, you know, outsiders, you
know, from Little Rock or HotSprings or wherever in Arkansas,
what do, what do they still notget about Northwest Arkansas?
What do they what do they missabout this place?
Maybe what's a common uhmisconception about Northwest
(31:31):
Arkansas?
SPEAKER_00 (31:32):
I'm not sure.
Um I think I think most peoplehave a pretty good understanding
of what Northwest Arkansas isabout and what what it stands
for and what you know kind ofhow we're evolving over time.
Um and I think so many people,you know, people who maybe
aren't planning to move herelove to come here just for a for
a weekend away.
(31:53):
Um so I think it's cool that,you know, this has kind of
become a little bit of avacation spot for people too.
I mean, obviously you have um,you know, football and all of
that, but there's just so manyother great things to that are
worth making the trip for.
SPEAKER_01 (32:06):
Yeah, the food and the art and the uh just uh the
everything.
I think my eyes were first opento that.
This was probably about 10 yearsago when the preacher's son, um,
and it was called the sanctuarythen in Bentonville had had was
opened.
And and this is a story given tome secondhand from a guy who was
sitting at a table, but theywere sitting, he and his wife
(32:27):
were sitting in there Fridaynight and had met a couple
sitting next to them uh fromKansas City, and they had just
flown down to have dinner at uhthe sanctuary, and then we're
gonna fly back.
But we're fleet people flying toBentonville to have dinner and
then flying back home.
This, I mean, and it's only justgotten more um um unique, let's
(32:48):
say, uh, as the years have goneby.
So uh truly, it's a great placeto to be a uh a philanthropist
and a fundraiser and a and acitizen uh as you've discovered,
you and Evan have discovered thepast five years.
So let's talk about UCA and usshowing up here and and um you
know my job of of connectingwith alums and kept connecting
with business partners up here.
(33:08):
Where do you see opportunitiesfor UCA?
If you could have an audiencewith uh, you know, the president
or whoever your your favoriteprofessor about how we need to
show up up here, what would whatwould your advice be?
Where do you see opportunitiesfor UCA to expand our presence
here?
SPEAKER_00 (33:22):
Yeah, I think I think for me, um, and I I know
everyone says this, but it is sotrue.
The continued need fornetworking and building, you
know, close, close professionalrelationships with people across
sectors.
So um, you know, being in thefundraising sector, I am
familiar with, you know, a lotof the amazing people that work
in fundraising, you know, go tothe association meetings and all
(33:45):
these things, but I don't oftenhave the opportunity to to visit
with people that are in the youknow financial industry who are
doing, you know, work in wealthmanagement or um, you know,
someone who you know is workingin the technology field.
I mean, there's so many other umlittle industry, not little big
industries here.
(34:05):
Um, and I think, you know,having the opportunity to, you
know, connect with other alum ina way that uh there just isn't
there isn't that space alreadyset for that kind of
conversation.
Um, and I think whenever you'rebe up, whenever you're able to
build those connections, so manyorganic partnerships will come
(34:26):
from that in ways that if youknow you passively see someone
on LinkedIn, they it's just itjust won't happen.
Um being able to share ideas andfigure out how we can um partner
and work more effectively andefficiently together, I think,
um, I think that is key.
SPEAKER_01 (34:41):
Right.
Are is there are there thingsabout UCA that are going on um
on campus that you would like toknow more about?
Is there something you'velearned about maybe as you've
thought about UCA a little bitmore than maybe you have coming
onto this podcast, anything thatmaybe piques your interest about
I'd like to learn more aboutthat or I'd like to learn more
about this program or or what'shappening on campus?
SPEAKER_00 (35:01):
Yeah, you know, I think I'd like to say um after,
you know, having thisconversation, um, you know, and
being able to reflect on um mytime in the political science
department and the masscommunications department, I
kind of realized that I shouldprobably spend some more time
reconnecting with some of thoseum professors and you know
former colleagues um just tokind of see what they're up to
(35:24):
and um you know, again, how wecould possibly work together.
SPEAKER_01 (35:27):
Well, you mentioned networking and working together.
I mean, we've got about 4,000alums in in Benton and
Washington County.
Um so there's plenty ofopportunity.
Do you do you feel likenetworking is is maybe uh a
skill or or a habit that is uhmaybe most impactful for young
professionals to have right now?
SPEAKER_00 (35:46):
I do, I do.
And and honestly, I will saythat that I feel like has been
the key to um a key to mysuccess is being able to walk
into a room and introduce myselfto anyone who's in there.
Um it may be the CEO of theorganization and feeling
comfortable enough just tointroduce myself and say hello
and carry on a briefconversation.
(36:07):
Um, I I think that those momentsdo add up because as everyone is
well aware, the job market ischallenging.
And so, you know, any job thatI've ever had that I have
posted, you know, you get ahundred applicants and you know,
being able to decide who you'regonna interview, unless you've
had a, you know, a personalinteraction with someone, you're
(36:30):
probably gonna look to, youknow, hire just the person who
on paper has the mostexperience.
Whereas the person with the mostexperience may not necessarily
be the best fit.
But if I if I had theopportunity to meet that person,
you know, maybe through aninternship, or maybe they
volunteered at some point, orum, I said to high, you know,
they introduced themselves to meat a at a chamber event or
something like that.
(36:50):
Um, being able to make justthose like brief connections
are, I think, key to stand outin the crowd.
SPEAKER_01 (36:56):
Well, brief connections can lead to uh
lengthy connections too, aswell, right?
So I think we're at um to me,that's one of the
differentiators of NorthwestArkansas and other regions, uh,
not just in Arkansas, butanywhere.
The, the um, the networkingclimate here, the um some people
call them business collisionshere that just happened, whether
(37:18):
you're at this event or or thislunch or this networking event,
are just um they're robust.
I I heard a guy um he works forum New Road Capital Partners,
and he was being interviewed onone of their podcasts, and he
had relocated here from NewYork.
And somebody was asking him, youknow, how do you describe
Northwest Arkansas?
(37:39):
I mean, the guy, you know, camefrom New York.
He was a professional inManhattan.
I mean, he was an investmentprofessional, but he'd moved his
family here to work here.
How do you describe NorthwestArkansas to people that you used
to work with in New York and uhhis description that I've never
forgotten because it makes somuch sense uh as it relates to
networking and meeting people?
He equated it to it's like thefirst year uh of college.
(38:04):
Everybody that's come here fromall over the country, and in
some instances the world, uh,they're just trying to meet new
people.
They're trying to make friends,they're trying to make a new
network.
And so everybody is just eagerto do that, whether you're in a
dorm as an 18-year-old or as aas a 37-year-old professional
moved here from whatever thecase is.
And I thought that is a that'sabout as apt a description as I
(38:25):
could come up with uh for how doyou describe Northwest Arkansas?
Because there are people movinghere from all over the country
and and even the globe to um umbring their families here, bring
their work here.
SPEAKER_00 (38:36):
Yeah, that's exactly right.
And I think the welcomingspirit, um, the spirit of
everyone, you know, wanting tomake sure that Northwest
Arkansas is the best place thatit can be, and that, you know,
everybody's looking to, youknow, help each other out and to
partner together and tocollaborate and share resources
and connections.
Um, it is a place where um Ifeel like people will set their
(38:58):
ego aside and they they justsay, yeah, come on, I can
introduce you to to so-and-sostanding next to me here.
Um, I think that that issomething that definitely sets
this space apart.
SPEAKER_01 (39:07):
Well, that's why we're here.
We need we need to be here.
UCA needs to be uh plugged intothe um the business engine of of
Arkansas.
And so uh I'm excited about umuh the new year coming up.
It'll be my second year workingfor the university uh and
excited about it, excited tomeet and continue to meet alums
(39:28):
like you.
Tell me a little bit more aboutyou and Evan.
Do you guys mountain bike?
Do you play golf?
Tell me what you like to do inNorthwest Arkansas when you're
not working.
SPEAKER_00 (39:36):
Yeah, so um we have a beautiful six-year-old son.
His name is Bertram, and we loveto visit the art galleries.
We love to go to theater.
We um actually just went to um,I'm so proud of this on Sunday
night.
We took Bertram to his firstrock and roll show.
Um, it's a one of my favoritelocal bands, Benjamin Del
(39:57):
Shreve, who I've listened to umsince I Was in college and um we
got to take him to that and heyou know got to have that
experience with at Georgia's,which was so cool.
Um, so you know, I think one ofmy favorite things is that you
just never kind of know whereyour um where your day is gonna
lead when you're in northwestArkansas.
(40:18):
So funny story.
Um, a couple of weeks ago, we umit was on a Saturday night.
Um we all we went to go eat atRolando's in Fayetteville, and
we stepped outside and we hearda drum circle playing.
We walk over the drum circle.
There's probably 20 people ondrums and you know various
percussion instruments.
And this lady walked up toBertram and she said, Here, you
want to play?
So he is playing the tambourine.
(40:39):
They hand Evan and I maracas andEvan and me maracas, and then we
are in the middle of the drumcircle dancing and playing, and
it was so fun.
We we probably danced for 30minutes um until it got late.
And then we were about to leaveand we noticed that the Walton
Arts Center just had a new artgallery open.
The the door was open.
(41:00):
We walked in there, that wasjust like a very unexpected.
Then nobody were gonna have thatthat moment.
Um, so just like again, the coolthings that can happen whenever
you're least expecting it.
SPEAKER_01 (41:10):
Well, your son's career path has probably been
set in stone now, right?
You realize that.
I mean, percussion drums.
SPEAKER_00 (41:17):
Right.
We hope.
SPEAKER_01 (41:18):
Yeah, what an event.
What a what a what a fun event.
What's your favorite concertyou've ever attended?
SPEAKER_00 (41:24):
Ooh, ever?
SPEAKER_01 (41:24):
Ever.
SPEAKER_00 (41:25):
Oh, gosh, that's tough.
SPEAKER_01 (41:26):
Um it's the most memorable.
SPEAKER_00 (41:28):
One of the most memorable was seeing John
Batiste at the momentary.
He plays every genre of music.
He is I I can't even put it intowords.
He's just overall an incrediblehuman being.
But the most amazing part wasthat he actually walked off the
(41:49):
stage into the crowd, led sortof a um New Orleans style parade
through the crowd.
He was um playing some funnyinstrument and had a little crew
around him, but he walked rightin front of me and back in front
of me, probably three or fourtimes.
He's just right there, justplaying this instrument.
And I mean, he's a GrammyAward-winning artist, uh, you
(42:09):
know, formally trained.
The guy is brilliant.
And just to be able to literallysee him so up close and personal
was amazing.
SPEAKER_01 (42:18):
Yeah, here in Northwest Arkansas and right out
there on the green.
Yeah.
I mean, so yeah, that the stufflike that are the stories that
you know uh all of us can tellhere in Northwest Arkansas.
And now that uh that this homefor you and your family, uh,
only more stories like that tocome.
Uh I love the Rolando story.
That's great.
Um, well, listen, this wholething has been great.
(42:38):
I really appreciate you comingin.
It's been great to visit withyou.
SPEAKER_00 (42:41):
Yes, thank you.
And I appreciated thisopportunity because I really got
to spend, you know, from day today, you're just blowing and
going and you you just sort ofhead down in the work.
Um, but it was nice to have theopportunity to actually kind of
look back and reflect.
And um, it really filled myheart with gratitude for the
experiences that I had at UCA,the amazing professors that I
(43:03):
had, um, the friendships that Igained.
And um, yeah, it it just feelsgreat.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (43:09):
Well, there's a lot of great at UCA, and there's a
lot to be proud of, and there'sa lot to look forward to.
So um, I'm excited and veryhappy to have you as a UCA ally
in Northwest Arkansas and justwish you continued success in
and all that you do for Arkansaschildren's and and all that
you're uh going to be doing forus as as a as a partner and ally
for UCA.
(43:30):
So thanks very much.
Thank you so much.
All right.
Well, that is a wrap on thisedition of Central to NWA, a UCA
podcast.
Appreciate you tuning in.
Until next time, go bears.
That's it for this episode ofCentral to NWA, a UCA podcast.
I'm Paul Gatling, SeniorDirector of Northwest Arkansas
Engagement for the University ofCentral Arkansas.
(43:52):
Be sure to subscribe to the showand follow UCA on all the
appropriate social media.
I'll see you next time onCentral to NWA.
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