AY About You August 2025

People all over Arkansas trust Dr. Jahon Zehtaban with their smile. With years of experience in providing clinical excellence you know your smile is in good hands. Dr. Zehtaban is a proud member of both the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Credentials, experience, and caring concern for each individual patient ensure that you’ll receive exceptional esthetic results regardless of the challenges presented. Learn more how Dr. Zehtaban can help you have an incredible smile by calling today for your complimentary smile consultation.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

DENISE & TIM LUFT

GALA FOR GOOD CO-CHAIRS

SATURDAY

OCTOBER 11

6PM

STATEHOUSE CONVENTION CENTER LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

BY

Join us for a celebration of our life-changing impact as we showcase the achievements of our program participants, graduates and community partners. Experience a night of inspiration with delicious food, signature drinks, live and silent auctions, plus the presentation of the Spirit of Goodwill Award. Top it off with an electrifying live concert by The Bayou Royals.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2025 SPONSORS

ENTERTAINMENT

THE BAYOU ROYALS

National Theatre Live:

The Importance of Being Earnest

Sat, Aug 2 | 3:00 p.m.

Rock & Roll Breakfast Reunion with Tommy Smith, Big Dave and Danny-Joe Crofford

Fri, Aug 8 | 7:00 p.m.

Exhibition on Screen: David Hockney at the Royal Academy of Arts

Sat, Aug 16 | 4:00 p.m.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975, R) Sat, Aug 16 | 8:00 p.m.

BINGOFLIX: Monty Python and the Holy Grail 50th Anniversar y (1975, PG)

Thu, Aug 28 | 7:00 p.m.

CALS Ron Robinson Theater | 100 River Market Avenue

Get tickets and see the schedule at RonRobinsonTheater.org.

Photo courtesy of Brewski’s

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Joe David Rice, born in Paragould and reared in Jonesboro, probably knows Arkansas as well as anyone alive. The former owner of an outfitting business on the Buffalo National River and the state’s former tourism director, his Arkansas Backstories is published by the Butler Center.

Chris Davis was born and raised in Sherwood but now resides in North Little Rock with his wife and son. When his son was born, his wife asked for a new camera to take pictures of their little one. From there, his love of photography grew, and he is proud to be one of the contributing photographers at AY About You magazine.

Margie Raimondo blends culinary skills with storytelling. She specializes in Mediterranean cooking classes that emphasize healthy eating and has authored two cookbooks: Mangiamo and Finding Your Path Additionally, she is a filmmaker. She produced the awardwinning documentary The Soul of Sicily

Lori Sparkman, owner of Lori Sparkman Photography, has traveled the globe to work extensively with beautiful brides and grooms, fierce fitness clients, and growing families, as well as high-profile and corporate clients. She prides herself in capturing their personalities with a sophisticated and lighthearted style.

Todd Traub is a freelance writer with close to 35 years of experience in Arkansas journalism and publishing. An Air Force veteran and father of three grown children, he lives with his cat, Scout, in Cabot, where he is a world-class dabbler in cooking and exercise, a so-so trivia player and a wildly successful gatherer of books.

Jamie Lee is a freelance photographer originally from southwest Louisiana who now resides in Little Rock. With a strong focus on portrait, branding and food photography, she loves capturing people’s stories and cultures through the lens, helping businesses build their brands visually, and showcasing the local food scene and small businesses.

Justina Parker has a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville and is the creator of We Belong, a blog that features women in leadership across Arkansas. She loves people’s stories of selfdiscovery and spending time with her two boys, and she has never met a dog or potato she did not like.

Jane Colclasure is a Little Rock native with more than 25 years of experience in product, architectural, and home and garden photography. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado and an associate’s degree from the Colorado Institute of Art.

at Little Rock, AR and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AY Magazine, 910 W. 2nd St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $24 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call

advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AY

Please recycle this magazine.

The Dog Days are Here!

Late summer means back to school, the start of football season and thoughts turning to cooler weather right around the corner.

Around here at AY About You, late summer, aka the Dog Days, also means a seasonal favorite, our annual pet issue. Just like our readers, AY staffers are crazy about their furry family members, and so it is a real joy to put this issue together very year. Read all about pet-friendly restaurants, the latest in vet care and how to pick the right pet for your lifestyle. Plus, we showcase some very special animals waiting for their forever homes — check them out, and discover a new friend.

Also in this issue, we get ready to cheer on the Hogs with suggestions for game-day grub, be it on the tailgate or in one of several fun watering holes around the state. Plan your next watch party at one of these spots, and get ready to call those Hogs.

Looking for great event for a great cause? We bring you a look at the upcoming Bolo Bash Golf Tournament benefiting Baptist Health College Little Rock. AY Media Group is proud to be a sponsor of the popular outing, one of the longest running charity events in the city.

Looking for some late summer fun? Check out our feature on Hot Springs, which offers dozens of things to do right here in your own backyard. All this and much more awaits.

There is so much happening here in Arkansas this month, and AY About You puts it all at your fingertips. As always, we appreciate you, our loyal readers. Drop us a line and let us know what you are up to in the Natural State!

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com

/ heatherbaker_ar

Photo by Ryan Parker

we healers

Faye York of Little Rock began working as an emergency management specialist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2004 and continued until 2024, when she retired to take care of health issues including arterial blockages in her legs and three aortic aneurysms. Although another surgeon told her she was too old for surgery, UAMS Health Vascular Surgeon Dr. Andre Ramdon and a UAMS colleague performed a combined procedure to address both issues simultaneously to shorten the time she was under anesthesia. A year later her aneurysm remains sealed, and she can walk without any issues.

“While recuperating I received excellent care from the staff at UAMS, especially the ICU and the 8th floor nurses. I would recommend UAMS to any and everyone.”

– Faye York, Little Rock

Faye York at Dunbar Garden

CONNECT

READER FEEDBACK INSTAGRAM

2025 MEN OF DISTINCTION: ERIC M. PAUL, M.D.

It is an honor working with him! He truly is a wonderful surgeon!

Lauren Taylor

SCOOPS TO ADD SECOND HOT SPRINGS LOCATION, WELCOME TWO FOOD TRUCKS

This is EXCELLENT news!!

Erin Gray

2025 MEN OF DISTINCTION: GARY PROFFITT

A true leader who has become a great friend. He makes a difference every single day!

Paul Rowton

BODY, MIND & SPIRIT: DR. JIM ENGLISH SPENDS A LIFETIME HELPING PATIENTS FIND BALANCE AND PEACE

He’s the best and so kind.

Judy Southerland Maddox

2025 MEN OF DISTINCTION: CHRIS HANS OLSEN

Love Chris Olsen! Well deserved!

Linda Harding

2025 MEN OF DISTINCTION: TIMOTHY ADAMS, CMP

We are so proud of Tim! Happy to have him as part of the Saracen team!

Saracen Casino Resort

SWING SOCIAL TO PAIR STATE-OF-THE-ART GOLF SIMULATION WITH TASTY FOOD, UPSCALE DRINKS

So excited for this!

Christina Day Essary

2025 MEN OF DISTINCTION: CHRIS PRITCHARD

The best man in all aspects! He deserves the world & works harder than anyone. Abigail Peterman

BOBBY MARTIN: DEFYING FATHER TIME.

Your time as CIO at Walmart was spectacular. Your bringing in satellite communications to the stores was light years ahead of what the competitors did. It was great being able to work for you.

Ken Gill

Professional Party Animal: Banana Ball broadcaster hails from Arkansas

Scoops to add second Hot Springs location

New Panda Express location to open in Little Rock

Cave City Watermelon Festival back for 45th year

Daiso to open two stores in Arkansas

AY ’s Best Local Musicians for two years in a row, BAD HABiT, recently played at Camp Taco in Little Rock. Check out AY ’s weekly music lineup to see where they’ll play next! Seen here with AY President and Publisher Heather Baker.

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream is planning to open a second Hot Springs location at 829 Central Ave.

AY Media Group staff were recently treated to one of Arkansas’ more unique experiences as they gathered for high tea at Urbana Farmstead. Photo by Jane Colclasure Photography.

As autumn blankets the Ozark hills, Silver Dollar City comes to life with pure old-fashioned fun at America’s #1 Theme Park! By day see visiting craftsmen and cowboys during Harvest Festival presented by Humana, and by night be wowed by thousands of illuminated pumpkins and larger-than-life masterpieces for Pumpkins In The City® presented by Mercy. Plus, thrilling rides, concerts and late-night fun September 12 - October 26...make plans to visit today!

5Top

you just can't miss!

“WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC

Aug. 3

Walmart AMP — Rogers

Known for his hilarious parodies of popular songs, such as “Like a Surgeon” and “Eat It,” “Weird Al” Yankovic will take to the stage for his latest tour. He is set to perform both old favorites and newer picks that fans will not want to miss.

SOAR NWA 2025

Aug. 15-16

Benton County Fairgrounds — Bentonville

The sixth annual SOAR NWA event will feature fun for the whole family. Take a ride in a hot air balloon, be wowed by circus performers, relax at a beer garden, listen to live music, and play in the kids zone during the event.

WINGSTOCK 2025

Aug. 16

Simmons Bank Arena — North Little Rock

Wingstock, presented by The Poultry Federation, is a clucking good time offering great wings galore. Enjoy an allyou-can-eat experience featuring local restaurants serving up their best wings.

DELTA DIAMOND CHEF PRELIMINARY COMPETITION

Aug. 22

Saracen Casino Resort Event Center — Pine Bluff

Five central Arkansas chefs will go head to head in a preliminary competition to see who will advance to the main event. The winner will face the defending Delta Diamond Chef champion, Payne Harding, executive chef and owner of Cache Restaurant in Little Rock, in February.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF ARKANSAS & NORTH LOUISIANA GOLF SCRAMBLE & GOLF 4 A CAUSE

Aug. 25

Pleasant Valley Country Club — Little Rock

Pinnacle Country Club — Rogers

Golfers can grab their clubs and their friends for a day on the greens to support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana. This year, the event will take place in two different locations.

Northlittlerock.org/events

Event Season is here in North Little Rock, Arkansas

Arkansas Reggae Festival - Aug 30

Argenta Vibe: Pura Coco - Sept 20

Argenta Vibe: Arkansauce - Oct 4

Maroon 5: love is like tour - Nov 9

Piccolo Zoppe Circus - nov 13-22

Northern Lights - nov 22

Riley Green: Duckman Jam - Nov 22

nlr christmas parade - dec 7

nlr restaurant month - Jan

CREEK CRAWL

Come crawl the creek with us! Our new Creek Crawl guided tour allows guests to experience Dogwood Canyon like never before. Explore an Ozarks stream using underwater viewers and snorkels to observe diverse wildlife and aquatic habitats, all while learning about conservation initiatives! Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is proudly part of the Johnny Morris Conservation Foundation.

BUILDING Memories

Parkinson Building Group brings clients’ dreams to life

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by LORI SPARKMAN

For the last 20 years, Parkinson Building Group in Little Rock has helped customers construct beautifully designed, fully custom homes in central Arkansas. Each home is unique and designed to surpass the expectations of customers.

There is nothing more important in this world to Dr. Mike and Terri Calhoun than family.

The Calhouns’ pride and joy is their blended brood of four grown children and myriad grandchildren who bring love and laughter to any gathering, so when the couple decided to build their dream home as a kind of family retreat for occasions large and small, notable and ordinary, it had to be something special from the lot to the footprint to the layout.

“I always said I wanted all four kids to be able to feel like they had a home to come home to, that at Christmastime, there would never be a problem. Everybody would have a room,” Terri said. “I wanted to see the children running around, the adults sitting around

and playing a game or having a glass of wine together. That was important to me.”

The couple’s search for their ideal patch of land led them to the Waterview development in Roland, a place of yawning vistas and forested serenity. That secured, the discussion turned to what builder could create a home that matched the stunning surroundings and brought their wildest domestic dreams to life.

That is when Bill Parkinson’s phone rang.

“We have built a lot out in the Waterview neighborhood. We were one of the first builders out there and have been pretty consistent in being one of the main builders of the lakeview lots,” said Parkinson, founder of Little Rock-based Parkinson Building Group, which specializes in luxury homes. “We had not worked with the Calhouns before, but

Terri was very familiar with our work and knew people who we have built for and was interested in having us build her home.

“They’re wonderful people. You’ve never met a nicer couple in your life, who love to entertain their family and friends. They wanted this place to be something really, really special. That excitement was infectious, and we were honored they trusted us enough to bring their vision to life.”

Any homebuilding project provides its own unique set of challenges, and the Calhoun residence was certainly no exception. Time and experience have made Parkinson Building Group well aware of the many moving parts that go into designing and building a luxury home inside and out. The company takes a team approach to each build, a unique process that helps ensure the requisite expertise is brought to bear at every phase.

For Parkinson, the system is not only a more efficient way to work but also ensures the company’s concierge-level responsiveness and white-glove customer service is maintained throughout what is typically a multiyear project.

“When we meet with clients, we want to be that one-stop shop for them,” he said. “We don’t ever say, ‘Hey, here’s some names and numbers of draftsmen and architects. Go develop a plan and come back to us.’ We sit down with them and do an interview and

We want every client to understand that we take their build as seriously as they do. We sweat it out just as much as they do. We’re worried about the same things they’re worried about.

— Bill Parkinson, Founder, Parkinson Building Group

try to find out what their drivers are, what’s important to them, what their budget is. We want to guide them through that process soup to nuts, beginning to end.”

Following the initial interview the process moves through various departments, each with their own in-house experts, who refine the project down to exacting detail. Once that is completed, each project is assigned a fourperson construction oversight team comprised of a construction manager, purchasing agent, on-site project manager, and project coordinator who serves as a client liaison and dedicated point of access.

Parkinson said the system represents the best illustration of the lengths the company is willing to go to ensure complete customer satisfaction with the finished product.

“We want every client to understand that we take their build as seriously as they do,” he said. “We sweat it out just as much as they do. We’re worried about the same things they’re worried about. Whatever it is that’s concerning the client, we want them to know that’s concerning us equally.”

For their part, the Calhouns appreciated the team approach from the get-go, saying they felt heard and understood throughout the planning and building process, even in cases where they did not have a firm vision of what the finished product should be.

“I think what impressed me the most is that Bill nailed exactly what I’d just envisioned as my dream house,” Terri said. “There were no plans initially. I just started talking to Bill, saying, ‘I’m just going to bring a whole bunch of different pieces of paper of things that are important to me and where I think these things are all going to fall.’”

Another attractive element to Parkinson Building Group’s system is how much flexibility it gives for changes and amendments as the build goes along. The company balances that with the kind of construction expertise that offers structural and aesthetic suggestions to bring about the best solution.

“The builders were so smart and so good and just lightning fast,” Mike said. “In a couple of places, they made these brilliant suggestions, like on the inside of the entranceway. We had no plan on any kind of woodwork, and one day, our finish guy is there, and he just said, ‘This is what I think you ought to do.’ He drew it out in about five seconds, and it was perfect.”

Designing and building luxury homes is no easy task, so the Parkinson Building Group utilizes a team approach that ensures the highest levels of expertise in all aspects of the project.

Parkinson Building Group was one of the first developers in the Waterview neighborhood in Roland, where homeowners can embrace serene living while enjoying stately amenities.

The finished home — for which Chad Young served as architect and David Peterson was designer — is a sight to behold. Coming in at about 6,800 square feet and sporting five bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths, the European-influenced design aesthetic is welcoming and elegant, featuring a two-story living room, great room catwalk and doubledecker back porch awash in natural light. The symmetry of design allows sightlines from the front door clear through to the back of the home and its unparalleled view.

Seen through its amenities, the home represents a living photo album of the Calhouns’ passions in life. The large kitchen holds the promise of many holiday dinners to come; the wine cellar houses the couple’s prized collection; large open spaces embrace friends and family in hospitality; and a swimming pool cools off squealing grandkids under azure Arkansas summer skies.

“I will tell anybody this: I’m a very lucky girl, and I’m very blessed to have a husband who built this beautiful home for us,” Terri said. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever lived in. It’s like nothing I could ever have dreamed I would ever have in my life. Sometimes I can’t believe it’s mine, honestly. I thank the Lord every day for my husband and for allowing us to have that.”

For Parkinson, it never gets old to see such reactions from clients as they experience their vision growing up out of the ground. That sustained passion for building homes of distinction has expanded the company’s reputation and spurred its growth, most recently into the Hot Springs market. There, Parkinson hopes to bring many more dream projects to life using the same proven system, enduring craftsmanship and unrelenting customer service.

“This home is a great example of what we try to bring to every project,” he said. “At the end of it all, when we hand over the keys and turn the house over, our goal is for our client to feel like they made a great investment of their time, of their money, of their energy and effort. We want to be good stewards of that as we bring together their vision for where they’re going to live for the next X number of years. We understand, and we never forget what we’re building for people.”

At Camp Aldersgate, nature isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a key ingredient in our mission to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities and medical conditions. Located on 100 acres in the heart of Little Rock, campers experience firsthand how time spent outdoors can improve physical health, emotional well-being and social connection.

Research continues to show that time spent in nature reduces stress and boosts mood. For our campers, many of whom have special needs, access to the outdoors provides a powerful sense of independence and possibility. Whether paddling a canoe, practicing adaptive archery or simply spending time with their cabinmates, campers gain confidence and build friendships in an environment that encourages movement, exploration and joy.

Camp Aldersgate’s inclusive, nature-based programs are designed to meet each individual’s needs while promoting independence and community. We know transformation takes place in a supportive outdoor environment, and we see its impact — every day, in every smile, milestone and memory made.

At Camp Aldersgate, campers of all abilities can grow, thrive and connect with nature, with others and with themselves.

Learn more or get involved.

Sponsored Content

Nothing Beats Experience Luxury Pool & Spa

Serving Arkansas for nearly 50 years

In a world where online reviews abound, some things just have to be experienced firsthand. Installing a pool is no small matter, both literally or financially speaking. Any investment in one’s home, family and future memories deserves nothing less than a company dedicated to providing quality builds, top-level service and unmatched expertise. Luckily for Arkansans trying to beat the heat or enjoy a relaxing soak any time of year, Luxury Pool & Spa has nearly five decades’ worth of experience installing pools and hot tubs designed to fit every lifestyle and home aesthetic.

Co-owned by third-generation pool builders Jeremy and Shane Lawson, Luxury Pool & Spa is coming up on its 50th anniversary in 2026. That kind of staying power has made the company an industry leader and example to be followed. Luxury Pool & Spa’s longevity is a testament to its team members and the craftsmanship that goes into every build. There is little the company has not seen when it comes to installing and maintaining these backyard oases.

“Experience” also defines the Luxury Pool & Spa staff, whose ongoing training and deep industry knowledge provides customers with the tools and know-how needed to keep one’s pool or hot tub working in top condition season after season. The company’s retail locations in Russellville and Conway offer a full line of top-of-the-line equipment, chemicals and other products, an ideal complement to the premium products and equipment used in every new construction. Available for all manner of services and advice, the company offers saltwater systems, chlorine alternatives and in-store water testing, in addition to automatic pool cleaners, winterization and much more.

Many Luxury Pool & Spa customers return to the company for their second and even third pool building project. They spread the word along the way, as well, referring family, friends and neighbors. It does not take long for such referrals to become loyal customers

after experiencing the level of quality and service Luxury Pool & Spa offers at every stage of a project and well after.

For those who would still like to see an objective consensus, Luxury Pool & Spa has that box checked, as well. AY About You readers voted Luxury Pool & Spa as “AY’s Best of 2024” and “Best of 2025,” while readers of Arkansas Money & Politics added the further honor of being a “Most Admired Company” of 2025.

With the ringing endorsements of scores of Arkansans — and no signs of slowing down after a half-century in business — Luxury Pool & Spa is the clear choice for any family looking for the only pool company they will ever need.

Sponsored Content

What Matters MOST

RAISING FUNDS STAYS TOP OF MIND WHEN DESIGNING FOR CHARITY EVENTS

By CHRIS NORWOOD, AIFD, PFCI, AAF

It is easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour of a charity gala, with all the lights, music, festivities and, of course, flowers. However, it is important not to lose sight of what is most important — raising money for a worthy cause.

That is what I prioritize first and foremost when a client approaches me about designing florals for a fundraising event. Norwood-Day Floral Co. in Little Rock has been privileged to work on flowers for such functions as The Centers’ Evolve Gala, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock’s Tabriz Gala and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute in Little Rock’s Gala for Life.

Each event was accented by beautiful florals, but those arrangements are not nearly as important as advancing the missions of those noble organizations. That is why staying within a strict budget is key to successful floral design at fundraisers.

When I first start planning a fundraiser with a client, I make sure to discuss the budget for the event, in addition to the theme and color palette. Larger organizations work

with event planners or have an in-house event planner who works with the florist and other vendors to ensure the event goes off without a hitch.

That said, Norwood-Day can help as much or as little as needed. Some clients may not be able to afford an event planner, in which case our team can help select furniture and other decorations for the event. We can also order flowers at wholesale prices for organizations that cannot afford complete floral services.

Trust your florist when it comes to which blooms are affordable and available. Those that are in season are typically the best bet when working within a budget, and there are other factors that can affect the price of flowers too.

For instance, I guide clients who are having Valentine’s Day events away from reds and, especially, red roses, which are sold at a premium as the holiday approaches. Instead, opt for white and pink with hints of red, or choose a more affordable red flower, such as red tulips.

Accents do not have to cost an arm and a leg either. I have asked committee members to forage for natural greenery such as cane and mag-

nolia, which could be growing readily in someone’s backyard. Just be sure to harvest foliage evenly so that the shrub or tree is not deformed.

Norwood-Day recently built humungous trees for a charity event. I scoured my neighborhood for weeks, looking for shrubs and trees that were being cut back, and piled all the sticks in my front yard to use for the trees. I do not think my neighbors were very happy with me, but the arrangements looked phenomenal.

By the way, florists can help with items such as tablecloths, as well. I often help clients choose their tablecloth colors or pick the most economical tablecloths for their events. One budget-conscious way to handle linens is to use more expensive tablecloths or extra embellishments for one or two tables where the biggest donors will sit.

I tend to create three or four table arrangements per event: one low, one high and one with more candles. For long tables, alternating heights of bud vases with candles interspersed between them can provide an elegant look.

Keep in mind that most venues do not allow open flames, so it is more than likely LED candles will provide the mood lighting.

The 2025 Tabriz Gala benefitting the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (Photos courtesy of Daniel Seung Lee/AMFA)

The 2025 Evolve Gala benefitting The Centers (Photos courtesy of Melisa Smock)

One of my pet peeves is having table arrangements that are too tall to see over. Sometimes, guests even put the arrangements on the floor so they can make eye contact. I know Mama said keep your elbows off the table, but my rule of thumb is to not have arrangements taller than wrist height if I place my bent elbow on a table.

It is OK to have a few taller pieces that stick out, but the bulk of the arrangement should be below the sightline. Another option is to raise the arrangements three feet above the tables on pedestals so guests can see under them. The main idea is to allow people across the table from each other to speak.

Another consideration is whether there will be a live auction. If so, it is important to position the taller arrangements so that they do not interfere with guests’ ability to see the items and bid.

Table settings are just one aspect of floral design, however. Some clients ask us to frame the stage to create an even greater focal point, while others may want hanging decorations over the dance floor or band. My team has even partially disassembled a stage and decorated the trusses with foliage to create a makeshift garden at an event.

For those looking to incorporate flowers into an upcoming charity event, make a Pinterest

board of things you like and another Pinterest board of things you do not like to provide inspiration. I strongly suggest using monochromatic color schemes, which have the biggest impact.

I try to stay mindful of the fact that every situation is different. Some organizations may raise their entire budget for the year at a single event, so it is important to meet clients where they are and provide help to all levels. After all, it is a blessing to be a blessing, especially when it comes to raising funds for those in need.

Chris Norwood and Christina Day-Essary are coowners of Norwood-Day Floral Co. in Little Rock. For more information, visit norwood-day.com.

The 2024 Gala for Life benefitting the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute (Photos courtesy of Norwood-Day Floral Co.)

food Touchdown Tasty

There may not be a football season chill in the air quite yet, but there is a smell — the smell of game-day food being served up at sports bars and restaurants around the Natural State. The following are a sample of some of Arkansas’ best places to grab a bite and a pint while calling the Hogs.

Photos courtesy of Brewski’s

Brewski’s Pub & Grub

With two locations, one in Little Rock and one in North Little Rock, sports fans do not even need to cross the river to watch their favorite teams on a large projection screen at both Brewski’s Pub & Grub locations.

In 2017, Brad McCray shifted his weekend-only night club on Main Street in Little Rock into a seven-days-a-week sports bar. The vision: a place with an all-American, southern Arkansas roots vibe.

“We felt like we were underutilizing the space, so we wanted to come up with a new concept that we thought could be seven days a week,” he said.

While McCray said Brewsky’s is a sports bar first, he also wanted to place an emphasis on great food, as well. The formula worked, and after the success of the first location, he opened a sister restaurant in North Little Rock at 2800 Lakewood Village Drive in 2023. Both places stay busy year-round, showing games of every type, but football season is the busiest.

“We’re sports driven, and the crown jewel of all sports is Arkansas Razorbacks football, so that’s definitely our busiest season,” he said.

With staff and customers that heavily favor the Hogs, McCray said the game-day energy in the bar can rival being at the Razorbacks’ stadium in person.

At both locations, there are more than 30 TVs and a large projection screen. The setup offers every NFL game during the season, even the ones not broadcast locally.

“If you’re a Las Vegas Raiders fan but they’re not showing that on NBC locally, you’ve got a place with Sunday NFL Ticket to see those games,” McCray said.

Fan-favorite dishes on game days include shareables such as nachos because people tend to come in with large groups and want to share food. Hugely popular are the restaurant’s famous wings, which can be had in lemon pepper, buffalo, barbecue and spicy thai varieties.

Also on the menu are salads and chili, classic sandwiches such as the Brewski’s Cheese Steak, and even street tacos. On Sundays, there is a brunch menu available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. that features a hash-

brown “sammich” and sweet meat flap jacks, which are sausage-filled pancakes.

Brewski’s offers an extended happy hour from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. on Fridays. There are also various drink specials all season long, as well as ice-cold beer on tap.

“We have a glycol draft beer system that keeps the beer super cold all the way through the line, and then we serve all our draft beers in frozen mugs, so the beers are always super cold and thirst quenching,” McCray said.

While carryout is available on game day, McCray said most people dine in because of the experience of being there for a game.

“We’re an Arkansas company. We’re born and bred here, so the passion and the excitement and enthusiasm for Arkansas Razorback sports is genuine at Brewski’s,” he said.

Brewski’s Pub & Grub Downtown 315 Main St., Little Rock 501-372-2739

Sunday through Wednesday: 9 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Brewski’s Pub & Grub North Little Rock 2800 Lakewood Village Drive, North Little Rock 501-379-8875

Sunday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

brewskispubandgrub.com

Arkansas has hot spots for game watching, good grub

By ALEX HARDGRAVE

Homer’s Kitchen Table

Homer’s began as a breakfast and lunch spot started by the late Homer Connell on East Roosevelt Road in Little Rock in 1986.

“I grew up working there as a kid, bussing tables and learning the business from him,” said owner David Connell, Homer’s son.

David managed the location until 2011 and then decided to open up another location in west Little Rock.

“I always wanted to bring that kind of food dynamic to the residential part of town and the families of Little Rock,” he said.

The second location served breakfast, lunch and dinner until 2022, when it moved into the former Franke’s Cafeteria building on Rodney Parham Road. With the move came a new name, Homer’s Kitchen Table, but the same great Southern home cooking on which the restaurant built its reputation. Popular options on the lunch and dinner menu include burgers, country-fried steak, pork chops and Homer’s Hot Chicken Sandwich.

The space has a Southern-inspired, inviting feel and boasts more than 11 TVs, Connell said. While it is not a sports bar, Connell said it is a great place to view any sporting event, especially the Razorbacks.

“Razorbacks are always the barometer for us,” he said. “When the Razorbacks do well, bar watching does well.”

Homer’s also has a private party room that seats about 20 people for groups, as well as some of the friendliest wait staff around. Patrons can even get a taste of Homer’s at home or for a watch party, since catering makes up a major share of the restaurant’s business.

Homer’s Kitchen Table

11121 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock

501-224-6637

Monday through Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Closed Sundays

homerskitchentable.com

Sauced Bar and Oven

Sauced Bar and Oven, opened in 2018, has made a name for itself for gourmet pizza and a great atmosphere.

“We wanted kind of a local-bar feel with good food, sports and good cocktails,” said Kevin Case, co-owner.

The restaurant rotates cocktails throughout the season, in addition to offering wine, frozen cocktails and beer on tap. Spirits aficionados will also appreciate the wide selection of bourbons and tequilas, Case said.

Sauced also offers game-day specials, which is one reason the restaurant is typically packed when the home team is on.

“Everyone’s excited about it, and they’re happy to be here, so it’s just kind of a festive environment,” co-owner Leslie Case said.

Any of the restaurant’s gourmet pizzas are popular on a game day, as well the chicken wings, of which garlic parmesan is the leading seller among sauces. Brunch offerings include shrimp and grits, a brunch smashburger, and a biscuit and gravy breakfast platter called the Petit Jean Platter.

Along with the food and drinks, there are plenty of opportunities for game viewing thanks to nine TVs that are primed to show any NFL game, Kevin said.

There is even a party room that can be reserved, and if people are planning an at-home watch party, Sauced also offers catering.

Sauced Bar and Oven

11121 N. Rodney Parham Road, Suite 9A, Little Rock 501-353-1534

Catering: 501-214-6048

Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Happy hour daily: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

saucedlr.com

Photo courtesy of Homer’s Kitchen Table

Photo courtesy of Sauce(d) Bar and Oven

Tin Roof

Razorback game days are “controlled chaos,” at Tin Roof Fayetteville, regional manager Scott Coghill said.

“It’s a tailgate inside a restaurant,” he said.

To help manage the chaos, Tin Roof offers a limited menu on game days, but everything is still made from scratch. Coghill recommended the loaded tots and chicken tenders, as well as the restaurant’s salads, which are great for people looking for something on the lighter side.

“We brand ourselves as ‘better than bar food’ because obviously we are a bar, but we strive to do better than the typical menu,” he said. “Across the board, everything we offer is quite tasty.”

The menu also features tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, wraps such as the fan-favorite buffalo chicken wrap, and quesadillas with different fillings.

The location is full of TVs, so fans can

catch a game wherever they are in the bar. There are more than 40 TVs throughout the location and a 15-foot LED TV on the patio.

Coghill said the patio is a winning place to watch a game on a nice day; in fact, he said it is his favorite part of the location overall. There is also lots of seating outdoors and a full-service outdoor bar, he said, which is ideal for people watching all the games that are on, as well.

“If I’m off work on a game day and there’s a table available, that’s where I like to go sit because I kind of get to see the whole scope of the patio,” he said.

In addition to being a great spot to grab grub on game days, Tin Roof is known for its live music, which it presents five days a week. Karaoke is featured on Wednesday, and bands and DJs play Thursday and Friday evenings. Saturday brings a day full of musical acts starting early in the day, while

Sunday features more chill music vibes.

On Saturdays, Tin Roof usually opens at 11 a.m. but may open early if there is an early Razorback’s home game.

For some, adult beverages are essential to the game day experience, and there is no shortage of them at Tin Roof, including beers and classic bar drinks. Coghill recommended The Woo, a Razorback-themed concoction that is not to be missed.

“[Tin Roof] is like your favorite tailgate where you don’t have to bring anything but you and your friends,” he said.

Tin Roof

430 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville 501-438-0563

Tuesday through Friday: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to midnight

tinrooffayetteville.com

Photo courtesy of Tin Roof

food STOCK

UP,

TAKE OUT, DIG IN DIG IN DIG IN DIG IN

Photo courtesy of Back Home BBQ

Photo courtesy of Count Porkula

TAILGATING IS AN ART, A SCIENCE AND A BREEZE WITH THE RIGHT PREP WORK

By MAK MILLARD

For all of its whirlwind emotions, unpredictable excitements and inevitable disappointments, there is at least one constant anchoring the football season weekend — food. Whether one is hauling out the ice chests, grills and lawn chairs for a long day of tailgating or hosting a game-day gathering closer to home, building, buying and serving the right menu to a crowd of hungry football fans can be a daunting feat. A little advanced planning and help from a few experts at feeding the masses can take the weight off an event planner’s shoulders and leave more time for enjoying time spent with family, friends and perhaps a few strangers in team colors.

ART OF THE MEAL

“For me personally, if I’m going tailgating, you’re focusing on finger food and things that you can kind of snack on throughout the day, especially in these hotter months,” said Steve

Edwards Jr., special projects manager at GES, the name behind Edwards Food Giant and Edwards Cash Saver stores.

Edwards speaks from particular experience as an alumnus and former fraternity social chair at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. A large tailgate can see people spend four, five or six hours in the heat on game day, he said, making lighter fare imperative for sustaining the crowd. While heavier-hitting items can certainly be on the menu, starting off the festivities with large plates can make for an uncomfortable, sweaty day ahead.

“Then, obviously, you’ve got to have your cold drinks, got to have some water and got to have some cold beer,” Edwards said.

Barbecue stands head, shoulders and ribs above the rest when it comes to game-day food, and whether tailgaters are employing their own prowess on the grill or smoker or leaving it to the pit masters, there are many tried-and-true

options for feeding fans effectively.

“You can’t go wrong with pulled pork,” said Walt Todd, co-owner at Count Porkula in North Little Rock. “As far as barbecue goes, I tend to lean toward chicken. … It appeals to the masses, [and] you can prepare it different ways.”

When it comes to sides, the traditional options are standard for a reason. Todd’s preferred combination of pulled pork sandwich, beans and potato salad with the occasional bag of chips is hard to beat. Still, there are ways to go even bigger and better for the game-day host looking to put on a show. Count Porkula has catered to all kinds of tailgate setups by providing everything from big briskets to whole hogs. If an entire roast pig sounds like the ultimate pick for a football weekend — or any other special occasion, for that matter — it is. It is wildly popular, Todd said, especially at tailgates, but Count Porkula has even put on its porcine presentation at weddings and funerals.

Photo courtesy of Back Home BBQ

Photo courtesy of Edwards

Photo courtesy of Edwards

“A tailgate is an experience, and [if you] try to fill your life with experiences rather than stuff, I think you’ll be better off,” Todd said. “If you have a whole hog at a tailgate, apple in the mouth, just glistening, and then have a pit master come in and carve it up in front of you, and then you go up and eat it — it’s just awesome.”

Big plated pig aside, there are plenty of avenues for incorporating some unique barbecue flair into the menu. Co-owner Adam Murray at Back Home BBQ in Little Rock recommended Texas Twinkies, an offering that has already been a smash hit at the recently opened downtown establishment. The restaurant’s smoked turkey is a great alternative to heavier proteins, as well, and Back Home has more accoutrements ideal for the tail end of a tailgate spread.

“If you aren’t familiar with Texas Twinkies, they are jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese, a cheese blend and brisket and then wrapped in bacon and smoked for a few hours and finished on a grill with some barbecue sauce,” Murray said. “For those with a sweet tooth, go for our smoked banana pudding. We briefly smoke our bananas, and the pudding is made from scratch — it doesn’t come out of a box — and delivers that nice punch of sweetness to put the finishing touches on a great barbecue meal.”

When it comes to prep work, a tailgate or other game-day gathering is not much different from any large, food-forward event. Planning ahead, getting things done early, and knowing a thing or two about the crowd one will be feeding are all key.

Photo courtesy of Edwards

Photo courtesy of Count Porkula

“Know who’s coming,” Todd said. “If you’re feeding the football team, you’re going to have to have a certain amount of food, and if you’re feeding the cheerleaders, you’re going to have to have a certain amount of food.”

Scaling the menu can be a tough task, especially if one’s guest list has a range of different appetites. Murray recommended about 8 ounces of meat per person as a rule of thumb. Ordering sides in bulk, like by the half-pan as offered at Back Home, can be a cost-effective way to serve up the most popular fixings.

Todd said Count Porkula tries to hit the right amount of food for the guest list “dead on” but rightly mentioned that, “We’d rather have a little left over than to run out, especially at a tailgate.”

“Preparation a few days in advance is a must so you aren’t rushing on game day and stressing out trying to finish your menu,” Murray added. “Focus on smaller items, like game-day sliders, so you can give a variety of a few different meats, like brisket, pulled pork and sausage, and not increase your prep time too much.”

For game-day hosts keen to serve up their own scratch-made menu, Edwards Food Giant aims to be a one-stop shop. In addition to a steady stream of weekly deals and digital coupons, the grocer partners with Instacart for deliveries and offers curbside pickup.

“I always tell people you can come to our store, and we can do your tailgate, one extreme or the other,” Edwards said. “You can come to our stores, and if you want to go all out and take care of it yourself, you can

get burgers, you can get our homemade sausages, you can come get a steak if you want to, and you can cook it all yourself. We’ve got everything you need here.”

PERFECTING PREGAME

Bearing in mind that the point of any tailgate is more in the gathering itself than the grub, some hosts might have half a mind to wipe their hands of all that work entirely.

Count Porkula, Back Home BBQ and Edwards all have solutions in that department, as well, with easy catering setups ranging from party trays and sliders to the show-stopping pig roasts mentioned above.

“Really, anytime that you can kind of eliminate some of that decision paralysis that you get from looking at all the options and just say, ‘Hey, here’s something that has everything that you need, and you don’t have to make any decisions,’ that also seems like a good alternative,” Edwards said.

While delivery from Count Porkula is on the table with at least a week’s notice, Todd said — no promises — the restaurant always strives to make it as easy as possible to pull up, pick up one’s catering package and go.

“During football season, we have game-day specials every weekend,” Todd added. “Kelly [Lovell], my business partner here, went to [the University of Arkansas in Conway], so we do a lot with them. We do game-day packs all through the season. Then we’ll do specials depending on if it’s a playoff or we’re playing a big game.”

Murray recommended ordering at least two days in advance for large groups and to ensure one can get a variety of Back Home’s smoked meat options. Back Home does have contingency plans ready for those planning to tailgate come hell or high water, but if all else fails, the restaurant’s newly added upstairs area also has a full bar and 75-inch televisions ideal for catching the game.

“If you wait until the last minute, not to worry, we can take same-day orders for pulled pork or brisket sandwich bundles — a sixpack of regular buns or 10-pack of sliders — with a couple quarts of sides on our website,” Murray said.

Best known as a lifesaver around the holidays, Edwards Food Giant’s catering program, Edwards Caters, has tailgate-specific selections tailor-made for a busy season. One price secures a game-day package with staples such as pulled pork, ribs, buns and baked beans, and online ordering makes for a low-effort watch party menu. From full meals to finger foods, there are plenty of ways to ensure guests are well fed for a long afternoon of football.

“With our catering program, we offer a lot of other things, from sandwich trays to chicken tender trays,” Edwards said. “You can order those tailgate packages and make it easy, or you can go in and really kind of pick out, ‘Hey, I want this. I want that,’ whether it be something specially ordered from our smokehouse or a chicken tender platter. We do sandwich trays. We do cookie trays, fruit trays — a little bit of something for everyone.”

Photo courtesy of Back Home BBQ

Photo courtesy of Count Porkula

OVEN-BRAISED CHICKEN CACCIATORE OFFERS INCREDIBLE FLAVOR

By MARGIE RAIMONDO

ItalyOF TASTE

// Photos by MARGIE RAIMONDO

With celery leaves and fresh slices of fennel, this oven-braised chicken cacciatore has a lovely aromatic depth. Serve this dish over polenta, noodles or rice, or simply pair with warm, crusty bread. A crisp green salad with lemon and olive oil makes the ideal accompaniment.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or a mix of thighs and drumsticks)

• 2 bell peppers (1 red, 1 yellow), sliced into strips

• 1/2 bulb fresh fennel, thinly sliced (save fronds for garnish)

• 1 large onion, thinly sliced

• 4-5 large, ripe tomatoes, chopped (or a pint of cherry tomatoes, halved)

• Small handful celery leaves (from the tops of celery stalks)

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Fresh basil or parsley for garnish

• Fennel fronds for garnish

• Olives or capers for garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Pat chicken dry. Season well with salt and pepper.

2. Optional quick sear: Heat olive oil in an ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear chicken, skin side down first, until golden (4-5 minutes per side). Remove chicken and put on plate.

3. In the same pan (or a casserole dish) layer sliced onions, sliced bell peppers, sliced fennel, minced garlic and chopped fresh tomatoes. Sprinkle with oregano, chili flakes, and a bit of salt and pepper. Toss everything gently. Pour in white wine or broth.

4. Place chicken skin side up on top of vegetables. Scatter celery leaves over everything. Drizzle with a little more olive oil.

5. Bake uncovered 45-55 minutes until chicken is cooked through (165 F internal temp) and the vegetables have collapsed into a flavorful sauce. Broil the last 2-3 minutes for extra crispy skin.

6. Sprinkle with fresh basil or parsley and chopped fennel fronds. Scatter olives or capers if desired.

Note: The quick sear deepens the flavor of the chicken but can be skipped for a simpler prep. Just layer the veggies in a casserole dish.

Delta Diamond Chef COMPETITION boasts all-star CULINARY field

OutKnives

Following a well-received debut in 2024, the Delta Diamond Chefs competition returns this month with a vengeance.

The event kicks off with preliminary competition among six central Arkansas chefs on Aug. 22 at the UAPTC-Culinary Arts & Hospitality Institute in Little Rock. The winner from that round advances to face the defending Delta Diamond Chef champion, Payne Harding, executive chef and owner of Cache Restaurant in Little Rock, at a February competition and awards gala presented by the American Culinary Federation, the Arkansas Delta Chef’s Association and the Central Arkansas Chef’s Association.

The title bout, slated for Saracen Casino Re-

sort Event Center in Pine Bluff, is sponsored by AY Media Group, with President and Publisher Heather Baker serving as emcee.

After a tumultuous stretch following the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant industry in Arkansas and elsewhere is staging a comeback. As recently as last year, nearly 1 in 4 operators said their restaurants were not profitable due to food and personnel costs 30 percent higher than 2019 levels and a 61 percent decline in customer traffic. However, there are encouraging signs that the tables are finally turning. The National Restaurant Association, in its latest annual State of the Restaurant Industry Report , notes the industry is expected to reach $1.53 trillion in sales this year,

Delta Diamond Chef Awards Gala and Competition

UAPTC-Culinary Arts & Hospitality Institute in Little Rock

Preliminary competition

Aug. 22

Saracen Casino Resort - Pine Bluff Gala and final Feb. 24

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by JANE COLCLASURE

an increase of 4.1 percent over 2024’s $1.47 trillion nationwide, leading 82 percent of operators surveyed to predict sales this year will be either higher or on par with 2024 receipts.

Pent-up demand among consumers is one major underlying cause for the bump, which is also spurring interest in creative and innovative cuisine. In preliminary and final competition, Delta Diamond Chefs will showcase the best the state has to offer in masterful chef-inspired creations.

On the following pages, meet the talented competitors vying for their shot at Arkansas’ ultimate culinary prize, the coveted title of Delta Diamond Chef.

Preliminary contestants

Jill McDonald & Wendy Schay, chefs/owners, The Croissanterie, Little Rock

Matías de Matthaeis, Executive Pastry chef, Saracen Casino Resort, Pine Bluff

Joseph Carmelo Salgueiro, executive chef/owner, SŌ Restaurant, Little Rock

Austin Bond, executive chef, Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, Morrilton

Joshua Garland, executive chef/ owner, DONS Southern Social & Best Cafe, Hot Springs

Defending champion

Payne Harding, executive chef/ owner,

Cache Restaurant, Little Rock

Tickets:

Austin Bond

Executive Chef — Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, Morrilton

During his career in food thus far, Chef Austin Bond has graduated from culinary school; worked on a team handling all internal catering for Walmart corporate; opened the Bentonville catering company The Sous Chef; won a cooking competition as voted by patrons of a March of Dimes gala; and became a father.

About the only thing he has not done yet, in fact, is celebrate his 30th birthday. That means despite being a fresh face and a Delta Diamond Chef newcomer, anyone in the field underestimating him does so at their own risk.

“I’m so excited just to be in the room with these other chefs,” he said. “I really enjoy being around other people who are super creative, and these are of the best chefs in Arkansas. I have a couple of friends that have done some competitions like this, so I have reached out to them and have been getting some advice on how to get things done.”

Asked to describe his specialty as a chef, Bond described himself as a “meat-and-potatoes guy,” one that makes elevated dishes approachable for the audience. As with the chef behind it, his cooking is more than meets the eye when it comes to levels of flavor, presentation and the difference wholesome local ingredients can make.

“People today understand that highly processed foods are really not good for them and are learning how big manufacturers are pumping a lot of stuff that’s not really food into our food,” he said. “I think that’s really sparked people’s interest in learning where our food comes from and how to go about cooking it and making it really tasty.”

Having recently moved to central Arkansas, the Missouri native said he is enjoying building his reputation in the breadbasket of the state. He especially looks forward to sharing his calling card through the Delta Diamond Chef experience.

“When I was 16, I started working in a restaurant, and I fell in love with the adrenaline. I’ve tried to get out of the food industry a couple of times, but I always come back to it,” he said. “I like getting to express myself in various ways, and I really love the people that I meet. You can really tell your own story, and you can learn somebody’s else’s story just through their food, even if you don’t speak the same language.”

The Contender

The kid

Matías de Matthaeis

After coming within a paper-thin wafer of winning the inaugural Delta Diamond Chef competition, Chef Matías de Matthaeis admitted to thinking long and hard about coming back for another shot at the title.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to compete or not,” he said. “It’s a lot of work, and sometimes, being chefs, you don’t have the time that you would like for practice and preparation to put on such an important competition.”

Ultimately, de Matthaeis did decide to return, and his experience with the Deltas Diamond chef, as well as his drive to show his best dishes, makes him one to watch in this year’s competition.

Asked what last year’s runner-up finish taught him, he said it gave him a whole new strategic mindset.

“I was disappointed in myself. I thought I could have done much better,” he said. “[Last year,] I think I went too far. My dishes were very, very complicated. I feel like I can do something simpler while still being tasty and giving some ‘wow’ moments in the presentation.”

Of course, de Matthaeis’ definition of “simpler” is not that of your average home cook or even most chefs. A native of Argentina, he is an all-around threat in the kitchen, having graduated from both culinary and pastry school in Buenos Aires. His Arkansas resume reads like a list of the state’s most renowned restaurants, including time at the Capital Hotel and Chenal Country Club, both in Little Rock, and the ultraexclusive Alotian Club, located just outside Little Rock.

In his current role, he has established Red Oak Steakhouse at Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff as one of the premier steakhouses in the South, if not the country.

“I get to do really cool stuff [at Red Oak],” he said. “I oversee the whole thing, which is great because it makes more sense with the menu as a whole when there’s one person guiding it.”

As he turns his attention to the preliminaries, he said it felt good to have his competitive juices flowing again.

“It is humbling to be among such great names and such great talent,” he said. “Of course, I’m always going to do my best and try to win, but just finding myself among so many great names and acknowledging them and being acknowledged by them is very humbling.”

Executive Pastry Chef — Red Oak Steakhouse, Saracen Casino Resort, Pine Bluff

Jill McDonald & Wendy Schay

Chefs/Owners — The Croissanterie, Little Rock

If there was anyone who could be excused for not competing in the Delta Diamond Chefs competition, it is easily the one-two culinary punch of Jill McDonald and Wendy Schay.

The duo is the brains and creative forces behind The Croissanterie in Little Rock, one of the most celebrated and awarded bakeries/restaurants to hit central Arkansas in a while. In addition to keeping up with the ravenous appetite locals have for their goods — headlined by the incomparably flaky croissants, sold singly as well as in an array of tasty sandwiches — the entrepreneurs have spent the summer renovating and moving into larger digs, the former Capers Restaurant.

Yet when came the opportunity to return to the field for the 2025 competition, they did not hesitate to take it.

“It was so much fun last time, and we had such a good time,” McDonald said. “We love to compete, especially Wendy, who’s traveled all over the country, competing. It’s just a good thing for our staff to see, and [this event] really helps the industry. We’re all about doing whatever we can to grow the industry within Arkansas.”

Schay agreed, saying the competition also allows the duo to show their culinary chops in a way many customers do not get to see.

“It gives us a chance to do something outside the box,” she said. “With this, we get to research and try to do something that, maybe, someone’s never seen before. It’s similar to stuff that we do for our supper clubs once a month, which we’ve been told recently are like Michelin-star-level dinners. [Delta Diamond] is something that we do to just push our limits and show people we can do more than just breakfast and lunch.”

McDonald said another enjoyable aspect of the competition is being able to talk food and connect with other chefs in the competition.

“Last year, we got to meet several people that we didn’t know previously, and since that time, a couple of those chefs have become really great friends, and we’ve done a number of events with them,” she said. “In any industry, you’re looking for like-minded people who are willing and able to help you grow as an individual, people you can just reach out to and be like, ‘Hey, I need some help,’ and vice versa. It’s all about networking and learning from each other.”

The Visionary

The Savants

Josh Garland

Chef Josh Garland, a Hot Springs restaurateur whose Arkansas roots show up dazzlingly on every plate, has never seen things like other people. Where many would have completed their business degree and settled into a safe existence, Garland split halfway through college and headed to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Las Vegas to pursue a dream of food for a living.

From there, he traveled the country, seeking opportunity and inspiration wherever it may lie: Alaska; Sun Valley, Idaho; Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Massachusetts; and Vero Beach, Florida. Then, when traditional thinking might have bundled that experience and headed for New York, Chicago or back to Vegas’ high rollers, Garland had other ideas.

“I chose Hot Springs because of the history,” he said. “Hot Springs is a beautiful city that is growing rapidly. I wanted to be a part of the culinary scene here and bring something different to the table.”

Garland’s journey culminated in DONS Southern Social in the 900 block of Central Avenue. In a town known for its personality, the venture immediately stood out for originality of fare and experience.

“I think something that sticks out is the creativity that I’ve brought to this town and the highlighting of local farmers, trying to use the ingredients that we have at hand,” he said. “We’re just trying to highlight those things and give people something different.”

Garland is not only entering his first Delta Diamond Chef competition; he said this is his debut in a cooking competition of this kind anywhere. He said he has been inundated with advice from fellow chefs about how to approach it, which he appreciates, but true to form, he is looking to attack this new challenge his way.

“I’ve had some advice from good friends who just told me to make sure I bring my A game and have fun and not to get lost in trying to do anything too crazy — just to do what I do best and let that speak for itself,” he said. “Hopefully I can truly wow everybody. We’ll see. Those are some really good chefs that I’m going against.

“I’m truly honored, you know? I never thought that I would even make it to this level, and to be considered a top chef in this state and for people to really appreciate my food. It just means the world to me.”

Chef/Owner — DONS Southern Social & Best Cafe, Hot Springs

Jill McDonald and Wendy Schay

Joseph Carmelo Salgueiro

Chef/Owner — SŌ Restaurant, Little Rock

Like every accomplished chef, Joseph Carmelo Salgueiro devoted years of study and practice to honing his craft. Unlike a lot of people in the culinary world, Salgueiro, now owner of SŌ Restaurant in Little Rock, earned his stripes the hard way.

“After I graduated high school, I was working on Wall Street for a bank, doing corporate fine dining and high-end lunch buffets during the day, and I worked for a French caterer on my days off,” he said. “I used to work at the Harvard Club as a waiter at night, and then on the weekends on Long Island, I did some waitering for a caterer where we did French service.

“Back then, the waiters I worked with would complain about having to work so hard and this and that, and I’m like, ‘What are you guys talking about?’”

Salgueiro chuckled at the memory of the early days, which also included completing culinary school wedged into his hectic work schedule. All that effort paid off with a plum gig at the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York, a quintessential luxury spot that was a daily pressure cooker.

“We were doing 1,500 people a day, fine dining, five or six chefs yelling at you at one time, trying to get stuff out,” he said. “It was basically just carved into me. You could say I’m a masochist for the industry.”

Arriving in Arkansas, Salgueiro dove into the local food scene and quickly built a reputation as a creative and talented chef in Little Rock kitchens ranging from the Capital Hotel and Cache Restaurant to the former Capriccio Grill in the then-Peabody Hotel and the bygone 1620 Savoy, as well as a stint at a new venture, SŌ Restaurant. Years later, the path wound back to SŌ, this time as an owner.

While new to the Delta Diamond field, Salgueiro previously competed in another version of Diamond Chefs, placing in the top three in three outings, one of which was alongside his boss at the time, Delta Diamond defending champ Payne Harding. Should he win the preliminaries, Salgueiro said he relishes the chance to face off against his rival and colleague.

“To be honest with you, I think it’d be very challenging to go up against him,” he said. “Especially since we used to work together for such a long time, I think it would be very competitive between the both of us. It would be exciting.”

The Champ

The Veteran

Payne Harding

Executive Chef/Owner — Cache Restaurant, Little Rock

As the defending titlist from the inaugural Delta Diamond Chef competition, Chef Payne Harding earned what is known in sports circles as a firstround bye, awaiting the winner from the chefs in the preliminary contest. Decades in cuisine and years of participation in competitions leave him with no illusions, however — whoever he faces in the finals will demand his best to pull off back-to-back victories.

“There’s so many good chefs in this year’s event,” he said. “There’s a lot of stiff competition, and it’s going to be difficult. Honestly, I’ve competed in these so many times now that I try not to even think about who’s competing. I just think about myself and what I’m doing right and not worry about any outside factors.”

Harding wowed the judges last time with a three-course stunner that included duck, lamb chops, sea bass, and a variety of sauces and sides en route to the title. He said time in the kitchen is the best preparer for performing under pressure, whether during a slammed Saturday dinner rush or under the lights at Delta Diamond.

“I’ve grown as a chef. I’m very comfortable now being a chef. I’m always trying to continue to learn and improve any way I can,” he said. “It’s all related. I may spend months on end learning a certain technique for a competition, techniques I can then apply to some of my tasting menus at the restaurant.”

Even the most devoted beneficiaries of Payne’s preparation and constant refinement, be they Cache patrons or guests at the Delta Diamond competition, may not detect the most salient element to his arsenal — in a word, grit.

“I remember one of my chef instructors giving me a hard time one day because I couldn’t figure out how to get a piece of machinery working,” Harding said of his culinary institute days in New York. “He said I wasn’t a natural. I’ve pretty much always been kind of a grinder in my life, with athletics and with being a chef. This didn’t come easy to me at all.

“Still, after I won [Delta Diamand], there was never any doubt that I would be back to defend my title. I’m looking forward to it, and I’m just happy that I’m able to do it again. It’s made me a better chef, and it’s helped me broaden my ideas of food.”

Payne Harding’s vision for Cache is one that transcends food — where every guest encounter receives as much care as what emerges from the kitchen. From the architecture of the building to the linens on the tables, Payne believes that every detail is significant and impacts the experience of Cache patrons. With the infrastructure now firmly in place, Payne is immersed in crafting what promises to be a constantly evolving and dynamic culinary story at Cache.

Payne Harding Executive Chef and Owner

The Benefit of Experience

Sightline Retail founder to join UA, share supply chain info in AMP

By SARAH DECLERK // Photo by LORI SPARKMAN

Shannon Bedore, founder of Sightline Retail in Bentonville, is transitioning to chairman of the board after serving as CEO of Sightline Retail and Blue Elephant Food Group USA. She will join the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville as a professor of practice in the Sam M. Walton College of Business J.B. Hunt Transport Department of Supply Chain Management.

As a bonus, she will share the wisdom of her lifetime in retail with the public by penning a series in AY About You’s sister magazine, Arkansas Money & Politics.

“I’ve had every job imaginable within the world of merchandising, and I always had a supply chain focus to the roles that I had, so being able to continue to teach and continue to be focused in supply chain at a university level is really exciting to me,” she said.

Having long been interested in retail and teaching, Bedore has collected a wealth of data about brand launches and other aspects of retail over the past 10 years. She recently completed her doctorate at the University of Florida.

“I’m really honored to be a part of the University of Arkansas supply chain department,” she said. “It’s one of the top supply chain departments in the nation for undergraduates. The professors and leadership team at the Walton College of Business are as good as any university, and it’s a real honor for me to be a part of a school that has made a difference in so many people’s careers and lives in Arkansas.”

“Moving widgets from Point A to Point B doesn’t have to be physical anymore. It can also be about the virtual movement of goods and how it’s tracked and how it’s managed. There really isn’t an industry that doesn’t rely on competencies from supply chain in order to be successful.”

In her upcoming series, AMP readers can expect research tidbits from successful brand launches and case studies about what has and has not worked at big-box retailers. Bedore said she is excited to write about various topics that relate to the supply chain in Arkansas.

“I think AMP is a great magazine,” she said. “It has a wide readership across the state and has a diversity of industries that are engaged in the magazine. This is one way to help people understand the importance of supply chain, and I’m really honored to be able to do that in a way that is interesting, real and fact based.”

“Decades ago, a supply chain was really just talked about as the movement of goods through warehouses and trucks, and while that is still an important component of supply chain, supply chain has really increased in its strategic significance to many different industries and many different job types.”

— Shannon Bedore, Sightline Retail

Bedore said the university plans to use her real-world experience to develop retail-focused curricula and research programs. She added that transitioning to chairman of the board will allow her to be part of the strategic side of Sightline Retail and Blue Elephant Food Group USA while she focuses on research, brand launches and the convergence of supply chain optimization.

Supply chain management has increasingly prioritized cost reduction as prices have skyrocketed in recent years, she said, adding that supply chains have become more complex and are increasingly integrated into businesses.

“Decades ago, a supply chain was really just talked about as the movement of goods through warehouses and trucks, and while that is still an important component of supply chain, supply chain has really increased in its strategic significance to many different industries and many different job types,” she said.

Sponsored by

AY About You

Family A-Fur

Family comes on four legs. It comes with fur, tails and whiskers. For some, it slithers. For some, it flies. At the end of the day, it is clear that pets are family too.

“Our dogs are part of our family,” said Toni Beavers, coowner of Dat Pooch Mobile Dog Grooming in Maumelle. “They’re like our children. We have four boys between the two of us, and these are just as much our babies as our human babies.”

AY About You

Celebrity Pet

She and her husband, David Ausbrooks, started Dat Pooch in 2019 to provide others with the same level of care they wanted for their dogs, standard poodles Otto and Chloe and miniature poodle Sophie.

“We value our dogs so much that we didn’t want them to stay in place all day long caged or crated,” she said. “Our Dat Pooch team understands the importance that pets bring to their human family.”

Dizzy Johnston

FAMILY: Greg Johnston, vice president of stadium operations for the Arkansas Travelers

AGE: 8

BREED: English cream golden retriever

FAVORITE TREATS: Whipped cream, birthday cake, cookies, anything with peanut butter, licking kids’ fingers after they eat cotton candy.

FAVORITE TOYS: Baseballs, baseballs, baseballs and a stuffy that looks like himself.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Chasing baseballs, rolling on the field before each game, riding on the UTV with Greg, accepting pets and scratches from fans.

FUN FACT: Was featured on SportsCenter as part of the lead-up to Barkansas Dizzys week, loves to travel and has been to 31 states so far.

Mobile Dog Grooming

Pets are a big part of the family at AY About You, too, and during the “dog days of summer,” the magazine honors all manner of furry, feathery and scaly family members in its annual pet edition.

Pet ownership is on the rise. Forbes reported in January that pet ownership has skyrocketed in the U.S. over the past 30 years, growing from 56 percent in 1988 to 66 percent last year.

Across the nation, 86.9 million households include a pet.

People in rural areas are more likely to own a pet than city dwellers or suburbanites. The pet ownership rate rises to 71 percent among rural Americans, who are also more likely to have more than one pet. Dogs are the most popular pet, followed by cats and freshwater fish. Further down the list come birds, small animals, reptiles, horses and saltwater fish.

Forbes reported that 97 percent of pet owners consider their companion animals to be a part of the family, and it shows. Nearly 7 percent of the people surveyed had broken up with a significant other who did not like their dog.

There are numerous benefits to having pets, as well. According to the National Institutes of Health, interacting with animals can lower blood pressure and decrease levels of cortisol, a hormone related to stress. Studies have also shown animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support and boost one’s mood.

NIH has also partnered with the Waltham Petcare Science Institute to fund research about animal interactions with children who have autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other conditions.

Research has shown that dogs help children with ADHD focus their attention and that children with autism who played with guinea pigs were calmer and had better social interactions. Other research found that children with Type 1 diabetes who cared for fish were more diligent about monitoring their blood glucose levels.

At AY About You, we want to be sure pet owners have all the resources to give their furry loved ones the best care possible. From a spotlight on grooming with sponsor Dat Pooch Mobile Grooming to highlights about boarding and new trends in veterinary care, this section is jam-packed with information to help keep pets happy and healthy.

There is also a rundown on pet-friendly restaurants, a feature about adorable highland cows, and considerations for prospective pet parents about the cost of pet ownership and finding the appropriate pet. AY also shines a spotlight on a few adoptable fur babies in need of homes.

Owning a pet is a lifestyle commitment, and animal lovers should be sure the pets they select are a good fit for their families, Beavers said.

“We love Arkansas because it’s an outdoor state,” she said. “It’s the Natural State. We can pretty much drive within one or two hours of lakes and rivers and state parks, and if that’s your family lifestyle, make sure that your pet or breed will be able to fit in that lifestyle.”

Welcoming a pet into the home is not without its chal lenges. It takes time and money, but for those who cannot picture life without their dog, cat, parrot, snake or goldfish, the rewards are worth it.

AY Pet section sponsored by Dat Pooch Mobile Dog Grooming

SCRAPPY ELIZABETH MAYHAIR TOWE

Staff Pets

Photo courtesy of Hill Station

Mobile Dog Grooming

Pet-friendly patios ensure family dinners include all members of the family

Going out for a bite or a pint with a pup in tow used to be an unheardof occurrence, but restaurants, breweries and all kinds of other establishments now welcome furry companions with open arms. The vast number of pet-friendly patios across Arkansas mean animal lovers no longer have to leave Poochie alone come happy hour or interrupt an outing to check on the fur babies. Here are just a handful of eateries that do not discriminate when it comes to four-legged guests.

with alfresco fido

By SARAH DECLERK

AY Pet section sponsored by Dat Pooch Mobile Dog Grooming

If there was ever a dish made to appeal to the whole family, it is pizza. At U.S. Pizza Co., Fido and Fluffy can join the family for a bite to eat at the patios of several locations, including Fayetteville, Maumelle, Sherwood and Bryant, plus Hillcrest and the Heights in Little Rock.

“It really started with the Hillcrest location,” said Drew Weber, chief operating officer. “So many of our guests were out walking their dogs every single day and just really wanted to be allowed to have their dogs on the patio with them.”

After working with the health department to ensure the pet-friendly patio would be in compliance with the law, U.S. Pizza Co. began allowing dogs on the patio at the Hillcrest location about eight years ago, he said. The move was such a success that the Maumelle and Sherwood locations followed suit.

“It’s amazing how many people want to have their dogs,” Weber said. “As long as they’re well behaved on the patio, we enjoy it.”

He added that the Sherwood location has even hosted an adoption event to help find homes for animals in need.

It is not just dogs who have patronized the patio either. Weber said parrots, ferrets and even a small monkey have come to visit. However, dogs remain the most popular companion among those who stop by for a slice.

“They just have to make sure that the dogs are well behaved, and I would say for 99 percent of the people who bring their dogs, their dogs are, absolutely — sit down, lay underneath the table, you don’t even know they’re there,” Weber said. “You’ve got some really, really great pet owners that bring their dogs out.”

u.s. pizza co.

Batesville 870-569-4894

Bryant 501-943-3333

Cabot 501-422-0838

Chenal 501-830-6190

Conway 501-450-9700

Fayetteville 479-582-4808

Heights 501-664-7071

Hillcrest 501-663-2198

Maumelle 501-851-0880

McCain 501-753-2900

Rodney Parham 501-224-6300

Sherwood 501-992-1512

Springdale 479-365-6565

AY staffers Sarah DeClerk, left, and Alex Hardgrave visit U.S. Pizza Co. in the Hillcrest area of Little Rock with their dogs, Ollie and Football. (Photos by Erin Love)

A relatively new addition to the East Village area of downtown Little Rock, Southern Tail Brewing not only welcomes pets to its patio; it was founded with the goal of helping animals in need.

“The ‘tail’ in Southern Tail is for tails, like dogs and cats, and a big portion of what we do is we sponsor dog charities, cat charities, rescues to the degree that we can support pet owners,” said Tracy Cryder, co-owner. “We also have sponsored a number of people that needed life-saving care for their pets.”

After years of working in the food and beverage industry, she and her husband, Brent, came up with the idea for Southern Tail after the death of one of their dogs in 2018.

“We were very, very blessed to be able to take the best care of him, but I just saw so many parents that could not afford lifesaving care,” she said. “For us, it was always going to be at the center of what we were doing.”

The establishment hosts regular adoption events, as well as promotions in which the proceeds are donated to animal rescue organizations, such as the launch of the aptly named Sour Puss cherry sour ale.

For furry visitors, Southern Tail offers pet treats and toys, as well as bone broth and “pup cups” of whipped cream.

“We try to do as much as we can to be animal-centric, and of course, dogs are absolutely welcome,” Cryder said. “We always say

well-behaved dogs and well-behaved owners are always welcome on our patio, so they’re part of our guest list.”

Southern Tail will partner with Community Cats of Central Arkansas to celebrate International Cat Day Aug. 8, and on Sept. 19, the brewery will celebrate its first anniversary.

“One of the things we’ll do is welcome back all of the dogs that have been adopted here through this year and do a special celebration for them. We did pup-prosals and canine commitment ceremonies,” she said. “While all the pets are really special, there are some that have either been adopted here or got married here or other ways that have come to us.”

Daisy joins in the fun at Southern Tail Brewing in Little Rock with her owners, Taylor and Stephanie Williams. (Photo by Erin Love)

Situated on a well-traveled corner of the pedestrian-friendly Hillcrest area of Little Rock with a focus on outdoor dining, Hill Station is one of those places that was seemingly designed for dog-friendly outings.

“Being pet friendly was always an intention when we created the patio,” said Max Oliver, bar manager. “We kind of want it to be an everybody-friendly thing, which is why we don’t allow smoking on the premises. We wanted it to be a place where people could bring their kids, where they could bring their pets, obviously in a safe manner, but just feel comfortable, and they could have a good time.”

In addition to adopting a pet-friendly attitude, Hill Station has sponsored various adoption and microchipping events, said Christin Bryant, co-owner.

“We get many calls a week of people asking do we allow pets, and yes, we do. We want you to bring your dog,” she said. “I think that is a big plus for us because some patios don’t allow that, and so I feel like we get more people than we would normally get with them knowing that they can bring them.”

Staff keep treats on hand for four-legged guests and even have dogs stop by on their daily walks just to get a treat, Oliver said. One couple brings their cats to the restaurant in a stroller every weekend, he added, and Hill Station has also had visits from a bird, a baby pig and a baby kangaroo.

“This is a big walking neighborhood, and so even people that don’t live here may come here, park, walk around with their dogs, especially on the weekends, you know, visiting some of the local stores or maybe the farmers market that’s in the neighborhood,” he said. “This gives them a place to come and get something to drink or maybe something to eat or just relax for a little while before they go to their next destination. It’s a nice place to relax not just for the people but for the pets, as well.”

Ever since The Root Cafe opened on south Main Street in Little Rock in 2011, it has become an everyday occurrence to see the outdoor areas of the SoMa landmark teeming with dogs. When the restaurant opened at Little Rock’s Breckenridge Village earlier this year, it brought its dog-friendly ethos to its second location, as well.

“Our mission is ‘building community through local food,’” said Jack Sundell, co-owner, “and dogs are a very important part of our community and a lot of people’s families.”

While the restaurant does not serve any items specific to canines, Sundell said patrons often order breakfast sausage, bratwurst or a burger patty for their pets. In addition to dogs, the SoMa establishment has welcomed a large lizard, a tiny pig, a parrot and several cats in strollers over the years.

Sundell said he hopes more people will learn that their furry, feathery and scaly friends are welcome at the courtyard of the Breckenridge location, as well.

“I don’t think as many people know about our Breckenridge location being dog friendly, but folks who have discovered it seem to be pleased,” he said.

Offering pet-friendly spaces is a delight not just for guests but for staff, as well.

“We have a lot of outdoor seating, so that makes the space work well for dogs and other social pets — and dogs brighten our day,” he said. “They will definitely get fawned over by our staff, and it’s a great social experience for the dog, especially if there are other dogs there at the same time.”

The Root Cafe SoMa

1500 S. Main St., Little Rock Tuesday through Sunday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Root Cafe Breckenridge

10301 N. Rodney Parham Road, Suite C3-4, Little Rock

Tuesday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (kitchen closes at 8 p.m.)

Sunday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kim Foret, left, and Alice Kinder spend time with Foret’s dogs, Darcy, left, and Pip, at The Root Cafe’s new location at Breckenridge Village in Little Rock. (Photos by Lori Sparkman)

Whatcha gonna do with a cow, boy?

Scottish Highland cows: Hot new pet demands buyer beware

By DWAIN HEBDA

Photos by MONICA MCGHEE

Americans are crazy about their pets. According to Forbes, nearly 7 in 10 U.S. households own a pet, led by millennials and Gen Xers as the largest pet-owning populations at 33 percent and 25 percent, respectively. They also lead the economic charge that goes with it — $136.8 billion spent on pets in 2022, up nearly 11 percent from 2021.

Dogs, cats and fish make up the bulk of those adopted family members, but an industry does not achieve market penetration into 87 million American households without some outliers thrown in there. Every year, it seems, a new pet of the moment comes along that — not unlike bangs and acid wash jeans — represents the hot new trend of the moment

The list of such alternative animal companions is a long one. Pot-bellied pigs, monkeys, squirrels, miniature horses, fiddler crabs, guinea pigs, rats and various reptiles have all enjoyed their 15 minutes of widespread fame through the years. Now a new pet star appears to be emerging — the Scottish Highland cow, those lovable pasture fluffs that have been described as teddy bears on four legs.

The breed is far from ubiquitous; though there is no official head count, Animalia estimates there are only about 15,000 head in the United Kingdom and 11,000 in the U.S. Nevertheless, the Scottish Highland breed has enjoyed a lot of traction in the states over the past decade, both with producers and with the public.

Ranchers favor the breed not only for temperament but for ease of calving and their tender, lean meat, crows the American Highland Cattle Association, as its membership spread attests. AHCA numbers nearly 1,900 producers, spread out across all 50 U.S. states, including a handful from the U.K., Chile, Brazil, Canada and Australia.

Domestically, Colorado has the most AHCA members at 116, followed by Missouri at 111 and Ohio at 88. Arkansas lists 38 members, putting it squarely mid- to lowerherd among other states.

But does all that make the Scottish Highland cow a good pet? Well, yes and no. As with any animal, the beast has certain needs and requirements that owners must be willing to meet in order to keep it vital and healthy.

Mature standard Scottish Highlands cows can reach a full-grown height up to 52 inches (measured at the shoulder) and can tip the scales at 1,100 to north of 1,700 pounds. Adults can put away 150 pounds of grass a day, reports Animalia. Because of that, experts suggest providing at least two acres of ground per animal.

Scottish Highland cows also take some

regular maintenance, starting with the iconic shaggy coats that benefit from brushing. The cows grow long horns that complicate handling, even given the animals’ generally docile demeanor. Socialization plays a key role in ownership, especially when the animals are younger, since it helps cement a strong emotional bond between owner and animal.

Full-sized animals are not the only or even the primary thing that is driving the pet craze, however. Miniature Scottish Highlands have become the darlings of social media. Here again, the cute factor which is so undeniable can blind the owner as to the expense and work involved in owning one. Miniature Scottish Highlands are just 30 to 50 pounds at birth, but that picture will change well past what many people expect.

Chris Andrews, owner of CMA Farms, has been working Scottish Highland cattle on his spread outside of Ward for five years. As an operator, he is delighted with the breed’s attributes, but he chuckles at the thought of people buying them as pets, especially those who think their miniature version is going to top out at about the size of a Saint Bernard.

“They’re very sweet and docile. In fact, it’s real easy to walk out to them and milk them and brush them and handle them,” he said, “but a lot of folks are unaware of what these cattle are.”

Andrews said part of the issue is unscrupulous breeders who take advantage of uninformed consumers’ infatuation with the cow’s appearance and use that to sell them a standard calf that will grow into something they did not bargain for.

“A lot of people think they’re buying a mini cow,” he said. “They don’t realize these Highlands don’t get full grown until they’re, like, 4. People are getting hoodwinked because they’re coming out, buying a ‘mini cow,’ and they think they’ve got this cute little pet. Well, that’s great for the first two-and-a-half years, and all of a sudden, you walk out one day, and he’s 800 pounds.”

“They’re dense, they’re short legged, and they stay that way a long time. If you were to take a picture of one of ours right now, let’s say we’ve got one that’s about 8 months old. If I was dishonest, I could put him out there and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got a mini Highland for sale.’ You would be happy with him for a year, maybe even two. Then they hit this growth spurt, and all of a sudden, you walk out there to a 4-year-old animal that’s now 1,100 pounds, and you’re like, ‘ Where’s my mini?’”

Even when breeders are on the level with people, consumers often do not have a proper concept of what lies ahead. As breed facts

AY Pet section sponsored by Dat Pooch Mobile Dog Grooming

Chris and Melissa Andrews and their daughter, Mackenzie, are one of a number of Arkansas agricultural families raising Scottish Highland cattle.

at highlandcowguide.com bear out, “mini” is a relative term when talking about a Scottish Highland. While they are about half the size of the standard breed, that still adds up to hefty proportions in adulthood. Full-grown miniatures typically stand taller than 3 feet tall at the shoulder, cows weigh between 500 and 800 pounds at maturity, and bulls typically weigh in at 700 to 1,000 pounds.

Owners do save money at the chow line, since miniatures eat between half to twothirds what their full-sized relatives consume, but that still equates to 12 to 18 pounds of hay per day. The same equation applies to pasture ground, medicinal/supplements, shelter and equipment needs, all of which are less than for standard animals but still have to be provided at considerable cost to the owner, not to mention the coat maintenance and socialization time the creatures require, just like their bigger cousins. Multiply that by the not-uncommon life expectancy of 20 years or more, and keeping a Highland as a pet is an expensive and time-consuming proposition.

The problems with the miniature version extend beyond merely financial considerations and whether or not the animal can fit through a doggy door into the house. As with other breeds and species, miniaturization is increasingly being decried as unethical due to the complications that can result from it. The reason is mini cattle got that way in the first place due to mutation, a gene linked to a growth disorder known as chondrodysplasia, which can cause dwarfism.

If both parent animals carry the gene,

calves are often stillborn, and even if they are not, miniature cattle can be more prone to health issues such as enlarged joints and arthritis. Critics thus call breeding minis unethical and even cruel, particularly for breed -

"You would be happy with him for a year, maybe even two. Then they hit this growth spurt."

— Chris Andrews CMA Farms

ers who lack the knowledge or experience to mitigate risk.

As Dr. Rosemary Elliott, veterinarian and president of Sentient, the Veterinary Institute of Animal Ethics, told ABC Australia, breeding miniature animals prioritizes looks over quality of life.

“You can get lots of other genetic problems and health issues that come with [miniaturization],” she said.

So, again, does the Scottish Highland make sense? For the right family on the right patch of land with the right understanding of cost and care demands, the standard breed does in fact make for good livestock, Andrews said. Properly socialized, Scottish Highland cows are social, gentle, adaptable to climate and less-than-ideal pasture, and love to be petted and brushed.

“The first thing is Scottish Highlands can utilize less luscious fields than usual,” he said. “Ours have grass out there, don’t get me wrong. They’ll eat crab grass and Bermuda and all that stuff, but they also walk around eating poison ivy and poison oak. They’ll walk by and just eat down a pear tree.

“Another thing is [in hot Southern climes], they get regulated to blow their coat, they get rid of it, and they have a nice, sleek summer coat. To scratch off the heavy coat, they’ll rub on stuff. They’ll rub on every tree out there. When my wife walks in the field with a brush, she’ll get run over because they all want to be brushed first. Brushing to them is like throwing a bone for a dog, you know? It’s just something that these cattle enjoy.”

Andrews said he believes the breed’s good qualities mean continued growth in commercial cattle operations, but as far as the current pet craze is concerned, he just shakes his head.

“It’s like a novelty, like people drive by and think they’d like to have one,” he said. “It’s a fad.”

AY Pet section sponsored by Dat Pooch Mobile Dog Grooming

Scottish Highlands are docile, bond with their humans and live for brushing.

Home Away From Home

Boarding facilities, doggy day cares nurture pets while owners take care of business

By SARAH DECLERK

Mobile Dog Grooming

It is a fact of life that pets cannot go everywhere people can. While a handful of offices allow employees to take their dogs to work, leaving pets at home during the workday is still the norm. For those who work long hours or have pets with separation anxiety, the situation can quickly become problematic.

Vacations present another challenge for pet owners. Although it is possible to plan a trip with dogs in tow, the task is far from easy. That leaves pet parents to call on friends and family or hire a pet sitter to ensure their furry friend is well taken care of. Those solutions can present their own problems related to cost and inconvenience.

Enter the boarding facility. Not only do such businesses ensure worry-free vacations for animal lovers, but many of the establishments also offer services such as doggy day care, grooming and transportation that can make life easier for people with pets.

HOUNDS LOUNGE PET RESORT AND SPA

Founded in the Riverdale neighborhood of Little Rock in 2016 by Mandy Marshall and her husband, Justin Harris, Hounds Lounge Pet Resort and Spa is one of the most prolific boarding facilities in the state, having expanded to six locations in central and northwest Arkansas in less than a decade.

Marshall said she decided to open Hounds Lounge after her pet sitter moved away, leaving the couple to look for a place to board their two dogs.

“With two Dobermans, our friends and our in-laws did not want to babysit them while we were away,” she said. “We went and toured all of the boarding facilities in central Arkansas, and it was surprising to me how many facilities didn’t require vaccines or wouldn’t give a tour. I came home and told my husband, ‘I think we can do this, and I think we can do this better.’”

The couple set out to learn everything there is to know about dog boarding, attending expos and touring facilities across the nation. They also hired consultants to learn more about the industry. Great boarding facilities prioritize two things, she said: pets and staff.

“We knew that we were up for a challenge with not only creating a space that was built with a dog in mind but also capturing the right people to apply and interview and to train them appropriately,” she said.

She added that her mission was to create “hotel-like suites” for her four-legged guests, instead of housing them in traditional crates, and provide pups with off-leash play all day long. She also wanted to ensure there was a human on-site at all times.

“A lot of boarding facilities, they close at 6 or 7 at night, the staff clean up, and they leave for the day. Then they don’t return until the next day. For me, that always blew my mind,” she said. “The reason why I board my pets or I have a pet sitter is because I don’t want my dogs to be alone at night, and so one of our competitive advantages and something that really sets us apart is we’re one of the very few facilities across the nation that’s staffed around the clock.”

In addition to overnight dog boarding, Hounds Lounge offers full- and half-day doggy day care, as well as a full-service grooming spa and a do-it-yourself dog spa.

Pet parents should be sure the business requires vaccines when they choose a boarding facility, she said, adding that it is also important

Hounds Lounge owners Justin Harris and Mandy Marshall

(Photos courtesy of Hounds Lounge Pet Resort and Spa)

AY Pet section sponsored by Dat Pooch Mobile Dog Grooming

to choose a facility that provides tours so owners can ensure the establishment is the right for them.

Hounds Lounge not only requires vaccines but prioritizes guest safety by ensuring staff are CPR certified and professionally trained in dog body language and managing groups of dogs in a play environment. There is also a private retreat option that provides one-on-one care for dogs who do not do well in group settings.

“It’s a party all day long,” she said. “We have both indoor and outdoor play yards. Our indoor play yards are climate controlled, so on those hot summer days — the dog days of summer — we can party inside, but on those nicer days, we can also party outside.”

Hounds Lounge Pet Resort and Spa houndslounge.com

CHENAL PET PALACE

Founded in 2005 by Ashley Mosley and her parents, Steve and Theida, Chenal Pet Palace in Little Rock was one of the first places to provide luxury pet boarding in Arkansas. Reflecting on the establishment’s 20th anniversary, Ashley Mosley said the industry has evolved tremendously over the past two decades.

“We were just a little ahead of the time at that time,” she said. “The luxury pet industry has definitely grown in 20 years, for sure. People have now seen that there is a need.

Dogs are people’s pets, and they’re not just their pets; they are their family member and they are their child, for sure, more so than they ever were.”

Seeking to provide an option beyond just boarding with a vet, the Mosleys toured facilities in different parts of the country and decided to create a business with a home-like feel.

“They are boarded in a room just like your house with little French doors,” she said. “They have TVs and little cot-type beds.”

Cat owners can choose between a community room and private suites for their cats, she said. Added only four years ago, the private suites are a popular option among people with multiple cats or those who like to bring a lot of toys and furnishings from home.

“It’s been a huge hit,” she said.

Dogs are grouped by size and age, she said, adding that she limits the size of the groups to maintain a ratio of one human for every 10 dogs to maintain safety. Chenal Pet Palace requires vaccines, as well.

The facility offers three outdoor play yards, as well as indoor areas.

“Summertime, we go out more times but

less long because it’s so hot. Wintertime we go out less but stay out longer because it’s not as hot,” she said. “It all depends on the weather, and we let them play and socialize in groups.”

Mosley added that it is interesting to watch the dogs play with each other and see their personalities come to life.

“I’ve done this for 20 years, and I feel like I’m a third-grade teacher, constantly judging, like, the friend groups,” she said. “If you remember the playground when you were in third grade or second grade, that’s what it’s like outside,

watching the play groups.”

She suggested that parents of pets who have never boarded before drop their dog off for an hour while they run an errand the first time and then work their way up to a few hours before overnight boarding or a full day of day care, especially for nervous pets.

“Do something like that, especially if your dog is super attached to you because you know

(Photos courtesy of Chenal Pet Palace)

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your dog’s personality,” she said. “If your dog’s super friendly and loves everybody whenever guests come over and doesn’t have any anxiety, then you probably don’t have to do any of these baby steps, but sometimes you might have to do baby steps.”

Take the dog on a tour of various facilities, if possible, and choose the one where he or she feels most comfortable, she added.

“You know by your dog and how happy he or she is,” she said. “It’s judged by that. I wouldn’t let the price or cost get in the way of Puppy making that decision.”

Chenal Pet Palace

14309 Kanis Road, Little Rock

501-223-2688

chenalpetpalace.com

CANINE COUNTRY CLUB

Situated just outside Little Rock in Roland, Canine Country Club is one of the most luxurious facilities in the state, offering an in-ground swimming pool and acres of play yards for pups.

Its pick-up and drop-off services, along with proximity to the Alotian Club, have made Canine Country Club a destination for the pets of high-profile professional golfers and NFL players, as well as U.S. ambassadors, former governors and other prominent families in the state.

“The way I designed this place was I wanted to be able to spread the dogs out,” said Anita Sedberry, owner. “I didn’t want them to be on top of each other. I wanted them to be able to have room to breathe and run, and that’s why we’re located out where we are.”

She founded Canine Country Club in 2004 after moving back to Arkansas from

Dallas. She stayed with her parents for about a month during the transition, but their house was not large enough to accommodate her two golden retrievers, who had to stay in Dallas for the duration.

Missing her dogs one night, Sedberry was encouraged by her father to start a boarding facility. After spending a year researching and visiting boarding establishments across the country, she opened Canine Country Club.

“I wanted the dogs to have plenty of room to run and play on because that’s so important. When you confine them into a small area like that, they don’t get the full benefit of the exercise and of the socialization,” she said. “When they’ve got room to spread out and run, they can be dogs, and that’s what I cared about.”

The general manager lives on-site, she said, so someone is available to check on the dogs 24/7, and the facility also has a robust camera system with audio that provides staff with views of the animals at all times.

In addition, she said, she is proud of her relationship with the local vet community, which helps her staff identify signs that something might not be quite right with their guests and provides pointers on ensuring health and safety, such as requiring vaccinations and resting after meals.

When shopping for a boarding facility, it is important to understand the needs of the dog, she said. For example, her business uses the crate-and-rotate method in which dogs alternate between resting in their crates and playing in groups. Owners with young or energetic dogs who want to ensure their pups get the maximum amount of exercise might prefer an establishment that offers all-day play, she said.

“You need to ask those questions,” she said. “How often does my dog get to come in and rest? What do you do if a dog is picking on

my dog? What can you do if my dog gets sick? What would you do in cases of a slight injury? What food do you feed? Why do you feed that food? Can I bring my own food?”

She added that she is looking to bring in new programs to the day care service, perform physical improvements on the building, grow the pickup and delivery service, and explore the possibility of expansion.

“The biggest compliment I can give my staff is that at the end of the day, after everybody’s eaten dinner, you can run a racehorse through the back and not wake up any dogs,” she said.

Canine Country Club

26807 Goodson Road, Roland 501-868-7297 caninecountryclubar.com

CCC owner Anita Sedberry

(Photo by Sarah DeClerk)

(Photos courtesy of Canine Country Club)

pets A Heart in the Right Place

Southern Hearts Rescue helps animals who need it most

By MAK MILLARD // Photos courtesy of Southern Hearts Rescue

hitney Ashcraft dreams of the day Southern Hearts Rescue is no longer needed — or, at the very least, not nearly so much as it is now.

“We intake and get so many calls and messages about animals in crisis that shouldn’t be happening over and over again instead of just being able to be a rescue for animals in true need of it, like when natural disasters hit or when people pass away or accidents,” she said.

Ashcraft saw the need for a rescue in a part of central Arkansas where, as is the case in many rural areas, there is no animal shelter but nonetheless a surfeit of vulnerable animals. Taking matters into her own hands, she had a building added to her property in rural Saline County to serve as home base for the operation. Southern Hearts does not limit itself to one part of the state, however, and helps animals all over Arkansas. The Southern Hearts team even lends a hand in surrounding states in the case of natural disasters.

“We go where we are needed most,” Ashcraft said.

That inclusivity also applies to the kinds of animals Southern Hearts takes into its care. From the expected throngs of dogs and cats to horses, pot-bellied pigs and bearded dragons, Ashcraft said, the rescue does it all. Southern Hearts typically cares for anywhere from 100 to 150 animals of all kinds at any given time, in addition to an estimated 50 to

Ashcraft and Haag with children, from top, Devon Ashcraft, JJ Haag, 11, and Aaralynn Haag, 14

100 daily requests for help coming from every corner via calls, texts and Facebook messages.

“We rescue any animal who needs help and we are capable,” Ashcraft said. “Primates would have been the most crazy [species] we have ever helped with rescuing.”

Southern Hearts was officially founded in 2018, but Ashcraft’s passion for animals goes all the way back to childhood. Her grandmother was “always saving animals,” she said, and passed on to Ashcraft a sense of duty towards — and love for — other creatures. Ashcraft intends to act on this passion for the rest of her life, battling negative behaviors and attitudes towards animals and their welfare.

“We should give the animals the same hospitality we give to each other because they deserve this world just as much as we do, and to feel safe and loved shouldn’t be so difficult,” Ashcraft said.

Whitney Ashcraft opened Southern Hearts Animal Rescue at her family farm in rural Saline County, where she cares for animals in need with her husband, James Hagg, and five children.

Ashcraft, along with her husband and five children, are the main caretakers at the rescue, which is housed on the family’s farm. Southern Hearts also has a small but tireless support team made up of board members, fosters and volunteers who help with everything from social media and event planning to capturing animals in the field. Facing tough, often heartbreaking situations day or night and in most any weather condition, rescue work is a formidable task in itself. That is to say nothing of the details that come afterward to get the animal from rescue to adoption. Southern Hearts frequently absorbs the cost of those efforts up front, making donations not only important but essential.

“Month to month would be cost of upkeep alone, depending on how many animals we have, based on prevention, food consumption, electricity, water, trash service — [the] basics are in the thousands each month,” Ashcraft said. “Then there are extras that are always needed due to damage, like fencing for repairs [necessitated] by dogs who are scared or escape artists; toys and treats for enjoyment and exercise; cleaning products such as cleaners, paper towels and trash bags so we can keep animals in a clean, healthy environment.

“Then the big hitter for all rescues is vet bills because every dog or cat, to fully vet with no extras, is around $200 to $600 depending on breed. Then you have hurt animals who need lots of extra medical care, and that cost alone per animal is in the thousands, depending on the issue, on top of everything else.”

One advantage of Southern Hearts’ rural setting is the space in which it allows rescued animals to decompress as the team works to get them adopted. After taking care of any medical issues, ensuring vaccinations and preventatives are accounted for, and familiarizing the animal with the likes of other pets, kids and leash training, the focus then shifts to securing a safe, loving and permanent home.

“We do adoption events anywhere we are invited to, as much and as many as we can, as well as adoptions at the rescue by appointment,” Ashcraft said.

The sheer number of creatures in need of saving reflects deeper, more systemic issues on the animal rights front. More shelters in rural areas would be a definite boon, but Ashcraft said that is only one component of stopping the cycle of animal abuse. The other half, she said, is changing laws and enforcing them. Southern Hearts is as active in that arena as it is in the field, advocating for the implementation of new animal welfare statutes and improvements to

existing ones. While far from an exhaustive list, basic moves such as mandatory spay and neuter laws, breeding permits and inspections, and an end to breed-specific legislation would certainly make an impact.

The family-run rescue gives a variety of species a new lease on life.

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Staff Pets

“Our biggest challenge is irresponsible people who don’t do the right things with the animals they acquire and backyard breeders and irresponsible breeders. If you are breeding a dog that can be found in a shelter or rescue, then you are the problem.”

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Celebrity Pet

Charlie Brown Baker

FAMILY: Heather Baker, president and publisher at AY Media Group, and her husband, Ryan Parker, contributor

AGE: 7

BREED: Teddybear goldendoodle

FAVORITE TREATS: bananas

FAVORITE TOYS: Charlie has a collection of stuffed animals. He brings them to you and wants to play tug of war with them. If you can possibly get one away from his death grip, he loves a game of toss (but you aren't going to get the toy back).

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Charlie Brown loves traveling with us. We go on so many fun adventures around Arkansas, and Charlie Brown goes on as many trips with us as he can.

FUN FACT: Charlie won Best of Show at the Cherokee Village Pie Festival Dog Show & Parade. A unique skill he has is the ability to open doors, and he will eat anything he can get his paws on.

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Aaralynn

“Our biggest challenge is irresponsible people who don’t do the right things with the animals they acquire and backyard breeders and irresponsible breeders,” Ashcraft said. “If you are breeding a dog that can be found in a shelter or rescue, then you are the problem.”

A more robust legislative landscape paired with a more mindful, compassionate culture about caring for animals is the horizon toward which Southern Hearts constantly orients itself. Until that future is realized, however, the day-to-day work does not stop.

“Monetary [donations] and land are our biggest needs for what we have in the works,” Ashcraft said.

“In the works” is an expansion project for the rescue that is especially crucial for the horses in its care. Southern Hearts often rescues horses one or two at a time out of kill pens, Ashcraft said. While the younger ones can usually find a new home, older horses in the rescue’s care need a comfortable place to spend the rest of their days. The goal is to acquire 5 to 10 acres of land, preferably through donation. A property with a building would allow the rescue to do even more, Ashcraft said, since Southern Hearts could host spay and neuter clinics and have a space for volunteers to work. Building a sanctuary would benefit other creatures under Southern Hearts’ care, as well, giving senior dogs or otherwise unadoptable animals a home-like setting to retire to.

“The best way to support us is by donating money or land so we can expand and open a sanctuary and spay and neuter clinics,” Ashcraft said. “[We also need] your time — volunteers and fosters are a huge part of why we are able to save so many animals — and your voice and vote when we need laws passed to help issues not be swept under rugs and forgotten about.”

Haag

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Preston Andrew Noland, rescue partner

By MARK CARTER pets

Shelters are filled with pets that did not fit owner’s lifestyle

Giving up a pet can be one of life’s most difficult choices. As satisfying as it would be to know that all domestic dogs and cats are secure in safe and comfortable homes, reality tells us otherwise.

Pet owners are sometimes faced with agonizing decisions. Much of the time, that means rehoming a beloved pet with a family member, friend or someone in the community — but not all of the time.

Roughly 5.8 million dogs and cats were taken into U.S. shelters in 2024, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. That number is down slightly from the previous year and does not account for the number of dogs and cats abandoned each year to fend for themselves.

Though 4.2 million animals were adopted into homes in 2024, according to the ASPCA data, animal shelters across the country continue to experience more inflow than outflow. In the U.S., about 607,000 shelter animals were euthanized in 2024, down 2 percent from the previous year and continuing a positive trend that has seen euthanasia rates drop from 13 percent in 2018 to 8 percent in 2024.

The ASPCA also reports that the length of time dogs — large ones, especially — are staying in shelters before being adopted has increased over the past five years.

Making the Right Choice

translates to more than 99 percent of animals that year leaving the Cabot Animal Shelter alive.

For Wheeler, responsible pet ownership is one of the issues at the heart of overcrowded shelters.

“The vast majority of animals entering our shelter are strays found running loose in the city of Cabot,” he said. “In 2024, for example, we took in 914 animals, and only 90 of those — roughly 9.8 percent — were owner surrenders. Among those 90 surrenders, many were likely due to a mismatch between the pet and the owner’s lifestyle. Reasons often include energy level, size, behavioral challenges, financial hardship, or life changes like moving or health issues. While every case is unique, they all reflect the need for more support and resources for pet families.”

As director of community services in Cabot, Mike Wheeler’s duties include overseeing the city’s animal shelter and animal control services.

Since he took the position in 2009, both the number of animals taken in and the number of animals euthanized had dropped dramatically. In 2019, the city took in 3,357 animals — just 23 had to be put down. That

Cabot Animal Support Services has developed 23 community-focused programs designed to help keep people and pets together, he added.

“These initiatives range from pet food assistance and low-cost veterinary care to behavior counseling and temporary crisis boarding,” Wheeler said. “By addressing the root causes of pet relinquishment, we aim to reduce intake, support families in need and promote long-term, successful pet ownership. Our goal is not just to care for animals once they arrive at the shelter but to proactively serve the community in ways that prevent them from needing to come here in the first place.”

Wheeler takes his work seriously. He serves as vice president of the National Animal Care & Control Association and as president of the Arkansas State Animal Control Association. He also serves on the executive management committee at the Human Animal Support Services nonprofit.

“With patience, consistency and understanding, most pets will begin to relax and adapt to their new surroundings — just as families adjust to welcoming a new member into the home.”

— Mike Wheeler, City of Cabot

He understands that the majority of pet surrenders represent gutwrenching choices, which is why ensuring that a potential pet is a good fit for a potential owner’s lifestyle is one of the most important steps toward ensuring a successful, lasting relationship.

“ While it’s common to have preferences about breed, size or appearance, we encourage people to keep an open mind,” he said. “Sometimes the best match is the one you didn’t expect. Taking the time to visit with different animals, learn their personalities and understand their needs can lead to stronger bonds and better outcomes for both the pet and the family.”

Wheeler noted that potential pet owners should remember that animals in shelters or transitional environments may not show their full personality right away.

“These settings can be stressful, and behavior is often influenced by fear, overstimulation or unfamiliar routines,” he said. “With patience, consistency and understanding, most pets will begin to relax and adapt to their new surroundings — just as families adjust to welcoming a new member into the home.”

“If you’re bringing a pet home after losing a beloved companion, it’s important to honor that each animal is unique. Comparisons can unintentionally set unrealistic expectations and prevent new bonds from forming naturally.”

The American Kennel Club’s annual Responsible Dog Ownership Day is Sept. 20, and AKC maintains a page on its website devoted to helping develop responsible owners.

It starts with preparation — recognize the commitment of pet ownership and evaluate one’s lifestyle. Prospective pet owners should ask themselves if they are really ready for a pet and if they have room in their lives for a new companion. And, of course, choosing the right breed is crucial. A large breed like a Great Dane or an energetic one like an Australian shepherd obviously requires lots of room to maneuver, whether inside for the former or outside for the latter.

Research can help potential pet owners determine which breed is best suited for them, and if a registered breed is the goal, prepare to wait if necessary. Plus, puppies can be a lot like newborns; be prepared for potential long nights full of squeaky toys and teething. On the other hand, older rescue dogs have already been spayed or neutered, screened for health issues, and, perhaps most importantly, potty trained.

If the goal is a shelter animal, visit a shelter more than once, if necessary, and try to get to know multiple animals. Sometimes connections are instantaneous, and as Wheeler noted, sometimes it takes shelter animals a little while to warm up.

Mike Wheeler with Mistletoe (Photo courtesy of city of Cabot)

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It helps to “dogproof” the home, as well — move chewable or breakable items out of harm’s way, make electrical cords and sockets inaccessible, and remember that some house and garden plants are toxic to dogs.

Experts also advise new pet owners to make sure a pet’s new home is ready for them when they arrive. That means necessities such as food, a collar and leash, toys, and, of course, a good comfy bed, whether that means one’s own, a dog bed, a crate or even a pile of blankets.

It helps to “dogproof” the home, as well — move chewable or breakable items out of harm’s way, make electrical cords and sockets inaccessible, and remember that some house and garden plants are toxic to dogs.

Once a new pet is home, give him or her time to adjust. Pets — dogs especially — are routine oriented. Let the new pet know what behavior is not acceptable, and be consistent with the house rules. Another consideration is

the opportunity for children to learn responsibility through pet stewardship.

The AKC lists 75 things to consider for prospective dog owners, but they all take a back seat to the most important thing — be the new pet’s best friend, and provide a loving environment. After all, why else would one bring the pet home?

The Cabot shelter provides ongoing support to adopters and the broader community by offering resources that can help navigate the initial transition period and even assist with long-term care and training.

“These efforts are all part of our mission to keep pets and families together by setting them up for success from the very beginning,” Wheeler said.

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OLLIE DECLERK

StaffPets

LOKI CRISE

DOC CHURAN

MYKA PORTER

TANGO AND CASH HEBDA

EXMERELDA STARK

GUNGUN SMITH

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PUPS

Mobile Dog Grooming

By ALEX HARDGRAVE // Photos by CHRIS DAVIS

Pet owners love their fur babies, but fur babies are, well, furry, and regular grooming is an essential part of being a responsible dog owner.

Grooming can prevent various health issues and keep hair and debris from getting in the dog’s eyes and ears. Also, frequent brushing stimulates blood flow and helps prevent a dog’s coat from getting matted, said Toni Beavers, co-owner of Dat Pooch Mobile Dog Grooming, which is based in Maumelle and services a large area of central Arkansas.

There are many options to choose from when it comes to grooming, and not all groomers are created equal. Dat Pooch Mobile Dog Grooming, which took to the road in 2019, stands apart from the rest.

Co-owner David Ausbrooks, Beavers’ husband, a retired U.S. Navy commander and mechanical engineer, had previous experience owning and operating a mobile grooming service when he lived in another state. With Ausbrooks’ experience and Beavers’ clinical and public health background, the couple were excited and qualified to start Dat Pooch.

benefits of caring for and interacting with pets for social and emotional comfort.”

Since its founding, the company has now grown to a fleet of 10 vans, all of which are tricked out with everything a pooch could need to have a spa day. Nothing has been overlooked in the vans to make sure a client’s fur baby is comfortable throughout the whole experience.

“Every single piece of equipment in our vans has been deliberately chosen for the dogs,” Ausbrooks said. “We tailor our mobile service to ensure quality and safety in a state-ofthe-art mobile unit right outside your door.”

“It was really important for our dogs to be comfortable with the groomer and build that healthy relationship.”

— Toni Beavers, co-owner

There is a large basin where dogs are washed with multiple shampoos and a deep conditioning treatment, all done with top-of-the-line products. Once on the grooming table, the dog is groomed to its breed’s standards. Every service includes a haircut, nail trim and file, ear cleaning and deodorizing, gland expression as needed, and breath freshener.

Beavers appreciates that Dat Pooch gets to contribute to the well-being of pets and also the well-being of Arkansans.

“Owning and caring for animals have many potential health effects by decreasing stress levels, lowering blood pressure, and reducing loneliness and isolation,” Beavers said. “There are compelling pediatric studies supporting the

The pups are also treated to a blow dry, coat brushing, and a finishing spray with perfume or cologne to leave them smelling great. Dat Pooch includes all the services without added costs or a la carte pricing, so owners know the price of the appointment when they book.

“We care for each pet as our own with full consideration to detail,” Ausbrooks said. “Each fur baby receives one-on-

Dat Pooch Mobile Dog Grooming revolutionizes keeping dogs clean, healthy

Dat

Pooch Mobile Grooming brings grooming services to customers to reduce stress for both owners and pets.

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one attention with no distractions. Our groomer’s attention is not divided while grooming by tasks normally attributed to grooming salons. They do not answer phones nor book customers. This gives the desired one-on-one service that sets us apart.”

Dat Pooch’s team services one dog at a time and parks right in front of the owner’s home while grooming the dog. Large windows in the unit allow the dog to see outside and realize they are still at home. The service is also convenient for pets who do not like car rides or may get car sick while being driven to a traditional brick-and-mortar grooming location.

“These factors facilitate a quiet, comfortable, stress-free environment,” Ausbrooks said.

Grooming frequency depends on various factors, including coat type, breed, activity level, family lifestyle and seasonal changes. Most curly, long-haired or wavy-coated dogs should be groomed every four to eight weeks, Ausbrooks said, while double-coated or shedding dogs can be groomed every eight to 12 weeks.

“When a customer asks, we refer them to the American Kennel Club and discuss their family’s specific needs,” he said. “We also provide brush training prior to or after mobile grooming for a pet parent to properly care for the coat at home between grooming appointments.”

Deshedding and removing undercoats in double-coated dogs controls shedding and makes sure a pup’s natural oils stay in check. That not only keeps the owner’s house more fur free, it can also help stave off skin irritation and infection for the dog. Dat Pooch bathes dogs with high-quality shampoos and conditioners to nourish the dog’s skin, while high-velocity dryers get rid of loose coat hairs and remove the undercoat.

“No cage dryers are ever used or tools that break the guard coat,” Ausbrooks said. “This sets us apart from most other grooming companies.”

A dog’s skin is a vital organ and should be treated with care. Skin provides protection, immunity, thermoregulation and hydration to a dog, VCA Animal Hospitals states.

A healthy coat also helps keep a pet’s temperature regulated and hydrated throughout the dog days of summer and the colder winter months. Nail upkeep is important, as well, for a dog’s comfort and posture.

“Our customers do value the convenience of mobile grooming and not leaving their pet for several hours or all day at a brick-and-mortar salon.”

— David Ausbrooks, co-owner

Dat Pooch also has a shed-free program to help keep owners’ homes nearly hair-free. The maintenance program takes a comprehensive approach to shedding by providing mechanical deshedding during grooming and by addressing the pet’s nutrition. She recommended Dog Food Advisor for product reviews and ratings to find out which foods are healthiest for a pet.

“We recommend researching high-quality dog food to maintain a healthy coat, potentially holding onto the coat longer, minimizing shedding,” Beavers said.

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Lulu

The Dat Pooch team has recommended in-home care and grooming processes, as well as product recommendations, on the company website, datpooch.com.

“With as much care and consideration in choosing a family or companion pet, choosing a pet groomer should be just as deliberate,” Beavers said.

She said some things to take into consideration in the selection process are if a groomer understands and follows best practices in coat care; whether the pet will be crated or caged; the level of convenience and personalized care; and what customers review and testimonials say.

“Our customers do value the convenience of mobile grooming and not leaving their pet for several hours or all day at a brickand-mortar salon,” Ausbrooks said.

When a new client reaches out, the Dat Pooch team works with them to provide a customized price range based on breed,

FAMILY: Deke Whitbeck, president of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, his wife, Sarah, and their daughters, Cate and Charley

AGE: 4

BREED: Cavapoo

FAVORITE TREAT: Turkey jerky

FAVORITE TOY: Squeakers

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Fishing with the family

FUN FACT: Lulu loves the water — not swimming — but more on a boat, canoe or kayak.

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Traveler

FAMILY: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, first gentleman Bryan Sanders, and their children, Scarlett, Huck and George

AGE: 6

BREED: English cream golden retriever

FAVORITE TREATS: Cheese

FAVORITE TOYS: Stuffed mallard duck

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Playing with his best friends Scarlett, Huck and George

FUN FACT: Arkansas' first dog Traveler once caught a bird in midair.

David Ausbrooks, co-owner, poses with one of the company's groomers, Ashlyn, and a happy client.

weight, coat condition and thickness, as well as grooming frequency. With everything that is offered by way of product, expertise and convenience, clients should be prepared to spend more for a mobile service, Ausbrooks said.

“We strive to base prices on the amount of work performed,” he added.

Dat Pooch, voted an AY About You “Best Of” 2024 and 2025 winner for dog grooming, services more than 4,500 dogs for 3,000 clients every month, Beavers said.

Within the U.S., there are approximately 200 dog breeds, the American Kennel Club states. The most popular breeds Dat Pooch’s groomers work with are Labrador retrievers, goldendoodles, shih tzus, miniature schnauzers and golden retrievers, which represent about 1,000 jobs annually.

Beavers and Ausbrooks have three of their own pups: a miniature poodle named Sophie and two standard poodles named Otto and Chloe.

“It was really important for our dogs to be comfortable with the groomer and build that healthy relationship,” Beavers said. “We strive to instill that trust with our customers so that our customers feel their dogs are part of the Dat Pooch team.”

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Fluffy

SHow much is that doggie or kitty in the window? More than you think.

It is a tale as old as time: People’s eyes connect with that of their potential beloved, and logic and reason go right out the window. What remains is the quickened pulse, the wellspring of emotion and the firm belief that at long last, two soulmates have found each other in a tired, old world.

Of course, we are talking about laying eyes on a prospective pet for the first time. For many, the soulful eyes and furry face is all that is needed to fall head over heels. The phenomenon used to be easier to avoid, especially as pet shops fell out of vogue and became less common, but with the rise of social media sites, anyone is just one scroll away from being smitten.

Naturally, that is a good thing, given there are so many animals waiting for their forever homes on any given day. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported that almost 6 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues last year. A little more than 4 million were adopted, about the same as in 2023, including 2 million dogs and 2.2 million cats. While a sobering 600,000-plus animals were put down in 2024, the number of animals euthanized has been on a steady decline, down 2 percent year over year and down 5 percent since 2019.

All that being said, bringing home a pet is still a major responsibility, more than a lot of people give credence to in the heat of the moment. Not only do pets require attention and exercise but also food, beds, treats, boarding, grooming, toys, leashes, carriers, and medical attention of the preventative, diagnostic and treatment variety, all of which can add up significantly.

How much cash are we talking about here? Kiplinger reported the average cost of owning a dog in the U.S. ranged from a pedestrian $80 to a cardiac-inducing $440 per month last year, or between $1,000 and $5,200 per annum. Cats were a little more affordable at between $700 and $2,800 per year in care and upkeep.

Rover, an online marketplace for pet care, puts it a different way: In its annual True Cost of Pet Parenthood Report for dogs and cats, the site stated the average lifetime costs for a 10-year-old dog surpasses $34,500 and comes in at a little more than $32,000 for a 16-year-old cat. However, the report’s authors are quick to note that is just an average, and costs can vary widely based on breed, size and health conditions.

No wonder the U.S. pet supply industry has skyrocketed over the past few years. The American Pet Products Association reported that the annual spend by pet owners in 2018 was $90.5 billion, a figure that

Pricey Pups

Average cost ranges of dog ownership in the U.S. in 2025:

UPFRONT COSTS

Adoption fees: $0-600

Vaccinations: $167-515

Spay/neutering: $250-525

Wellness exam/parasite prevention: $275-435

Collar/harness: $10-140

Leash: $5-75

Poop bags: $10-90

Food/water bowls: $5-80

Crate: $25-475

Bed: $10-470

Toys: $5-220

Treats: $2-125

Brush/nail trimmer: $15-125

Potty pads: $5-70

Cleaning supplies: $5-55

Food: $45-345

jumped to $104 billion in 2020, when “shelter in place” and “two weeks to flatten the curve” evolved into working from home and distance education, triggering an unprecedented run on animal rescue organizations. All those adoptions have since come home to roost, with spending jumping $20 billion in 2021 alone. The APPA forecasts 2025’s spend, bolstered by the higher cost of nearly everything since the days before the COVID-19 pandemic, will reach $157 billion.

Anyone who has owned a pet knows there are shortcuts that can help save a few dollars here and there, since just about any pet provision or accoutrement, from collars to treats, can be found in different cost tiers. Take toys: Visit Hollypet or Martha Stewart websites for a plush plaything, and expect to spend $20 per. Stroll over to your friendly, Arkansas-based Walmart site, and a quick search yields more than 390 dog toys less than $2 each. True, Walmart’s stuff might not match the throw pillows, and there may be some quality differences, but to be honest, a typical dog will see the common and the bespoke in the same light — something to chew the bejesus out of.

Granted, the picture gets a little murkier when talking about food, cheaper brands having come under fire for being void of nutrition and lacking formulas to meet specific animal needs. That explains the rise

ONGOING COSTS

Food: $560-4,115

Flea/tick prevention: $225-265

Poop bags: $65-85

Treats/chews: $20-380

Toys: $5-125

Annual checkup: $105-130

Annual pet license renewal: $20-125

COMMON ADDITIONAL COSTS

Emergency vet bills: up to $2,985

Dog boarding: $50 per night

Professional grooming: $55-195

Apartment pet deposit: $150-500

Pet insurance: $10-100

Training: $55-215

Source: Rover

By DWAIN HEBDA

of so-called customized dog food companies, which have experienced steady-to-explosive growth in recent years. Brands such as The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie and We Feed Raw, among others, have found a foothold a s consumers become more concerned about pet health and online retail continues to grow. The global market for such companies hit $4.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow more than 8 percent annually to $9.2 billion by 2032.

For all of its advantages, real or perceived, there is no denying such food comes at a premium. In an admittedly nonscientific experiment, we entered the same pet information at two leading sites. Category leader The Farmer’s Dog suggested a plan that runs $7.74 per day, and Ollie recommended a plan running $85 per week, both after the discounted first month’s box.

There is one category of pet expense — medical care — that just like in human health care, often leaves less wiggle room for owners. Dr. Sonya LaVergne at Pinnacle Valley Westrock Animal Hospital in Little Rock said shots and checkups are often the last thing a prospective pet owner thinks about when choosing a furry friend but are essential for pet health and longevity.

“I think a lot of people just think about the initial cost of the dog

when, obviously, there’s going to be a lot more expense over the years of that dog’s life,” she said.

LaVergne said while all dogs and cats will require some of the same things — such as wormer, vaccinations, and flea and tick treatment — she recommended people do their homework when deciding on a pet. Boning up on different breeds can help avoid costly surprises.

“Certain breeds may be prone to more health issues than other breeds, so if they’re looking for a specific breed, it’s going to be really important that they do a little bit of research about potential health issues,” she said.

A dog’s bloodlines can give some indication of health genetics, not unlike a family medical history, but LaVergne warned against falling into the misconception that a purebred animal is always a superior one.

“As a general rule of thumb, the mixed-breed dogs tend to have a little bit of that hybrid vigor, so they may, on average, have fewer health issues than some of your purebred dogs,” she said.

Another misconception many people have is that a puppy needs less medical care than an adult animal and is therefore less expensive. In fact, the opposite is true.

“That initial setup for a puppy is rather detailed,” said Dr. Stacey Greathouse, owner of Cantrell Animal Clinic in Little Rock. “They need to come in for vaccines every three to four weeks until they are at least 5 months old. Starting at 8 weeks of age, they also need to be provided with preventative care such as heartworm prevention and flea and tick control. That’s a monthly thing unless you do the longer-term injection for heartworm prevention. Then [there is] having the pet altered, which usually occurs at around 6 months of age, so overall, it’s quite expensive.”

Greathouse said the cost of veterinary care has led more people to investigate pet insurance but advised people to read policies carefully to understand the fine print and restrictions.

“Just like in human medicine, pet insurance companies have preexisting condition clauses, so you don’t want to wait until your dog is diagnosed with an issue [to get it],” she said. “Another way it’s different from human medicine is that the client pays the veterinarian upfront and then the client is reimbursed by the insurance company.”

Any animal lover will say the financial cost of a dog, cat or other pet is a small price to pay for the unconditional love and nonjudgemental companionship a pet provides in return. While that might be true, especially on the emotional level, being a responsible owner means considering costs and resources before picking out a pal.

Costly Cats

Average cost ranges of cat ownership in the U.S. in 2025:

UPFRONT COSTS

Adoption fees: $0-185

Spay/neutering: $165-250

Microchip: $20-95

Initial vet exam/vaccinations: $200-390

Collar: $5-30

Bed: $15-250

Food/treats: $40-155

Food/water bowls: $5-90

Litter box: $10-550

Litter: $10-90

Toys: $0-80

Claw trimmers: $5-40

Brush: $5-50

Scratching post: $20-300

Carrier: $20-260

Pet license: $15-95

ONGOING COSTS

Food: $450-1,860

Litter: $150-720

Toys: $5-155

Annual checkup: $105-155

Source: Rover

Insurance Blues

National annual premiums for pet insurance in the U.S. in 2025:

Dog — accident and illness: $675.61 ($56.30/month)

Dog — accident only: $204.16 ($17.01/month)

Cat — accident and illness: $383.30 ($31.94/month)

Cat — accident only: $116.11 ($9.68/month)

Source: The North American Pet Health Insurance Association

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Little Rock Animal Village

The Little Rock Animal Village is more than just another shelter — it is a haven for improving the life of every animal in the community. LRAV’s goal is to increase adoptions and get healthy, well-adjusted pets into loving homes, and staff know it takes “a village” to succeed. A fully staffed veterinary clinic, regular outreach and education, and a beautiful facility not only promote animal welfare and public safety but give the animals in LRAV’s care a comfortable place to wait for that special someone to come along and adopt them. Thousands of animals come through the Village every year, and there are many ways to support its cause.

• ADOPTION: Visit the Village and bring home the latest addition to the family.

• VOLUNTEERING: Volunteers are vital to LRAV’s work, so get connected and see where help is needed.

• WISH LIST: Help the Village care for its residents by donating much-needed supplies.

• FRIENDS OF THE ANIMAL VILLAGE: Get involved with this volunteer-run nonprofit, which accepts donations and hosts fundraisers to help support LRAV’s mission.

501-376-3067

friendsoftheanimalvillage.org 4500 Kramer St., Little Rock

Little Rock Animal Village

Puppy Community,

We offer a curated selection of dog food, snacks and chews, delectable kitty treats, engaging toys, stylish clothes, and more.

Dog Pajama - Planets

Meet Your New

Behind every wagging tail or subtle meow, pets offer companionship and comfort to the masses. Often taken for granted, these furry friends shape our lives in many ways.

Arkansas animal shelters see a continual influx of displaced or discarded felines and canines who are in desperate need of loving homes. In partnership with Little Rock Animal Village and Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville, AY About You is once again featuring a collection of four-legged friends available for adoption.

Although only a select few are featured, pets of all kinds, shapes and sizes can be found at local Arkansas shelters. Due to a longstanding tradition of rehoming every animal featured, AY About You is determined to keep the running streak for these loyal critters. We urge you to open your heart and your home to a fluffy friend in need.

By AY STAFF // Photos provided

Bonnie is a very sweet and affectionate lab mix. She’s just under a year old and around 40 pounds. Bonnie is just jumping at the chance to love and be loved.

Clyde is a super sweet 1-year-old 50 pound hound-shepherd mix. He’s easy on a leash and may already be potty trained. He's all smiles and ready to be your best buddy!

shy boy does great with other dogs and loves to run and

He would thrive in a home with another dog to help his confidence.

Han Solo is one year old and 47 pounds of fun. He is sweet, smart, playful, potty trained, and great with other dogs. He's asking you to please come meet him, bring the family and fall in love!

A playful, happy girl who loves her people, her toys and snacks.

A playful girl who loves car rides, cuddles and bones. She will “smile” for treats!

BFPRC

This

play.

Jerry is a sweet, playful young Catahoula mix who weighs around 50 pounds and is almost a year old. He is hoping to become your new bestie and shotgun rider

This sweet girl had a rough start in life, but it has not dimmed her spark. She loves everyone she meets and plays well with other dogs.

Marley loves her stuffies. She enjoys fetch, tug and snuggling, but she’s also happy lying in a puddle of water or the shade.

An energetic, playful girl who has done really well with adults and kids and is the queen of the play yard.

Victoria Beckham is one year old and 54 pounds of fun. Playful and sweet, she is great with kids and other dogs — and talk about cute!

Do not let Val’s disappointed face fool you! She loves toys and lying in the

She wants affection on her terms and will snuggle you if you let her come to you.

AY About You

Celebrity Pet

Rocco

but his official name for cat shows is Tammy Leopards Rocco of GlamCats

FAMILY: Shayla Copas, owner of Shayla Copas Lifestyle, and her husband, Scott Copas, chief operating officer

AGE: 1 Year

BREED: Bengal

FAVORITE TREAT: Churu

FAVORITE TOY: Anything he can chew on

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Rocco is an incredibly energetic and lively cat, much like most Bengals. True to his breed, he thrives on adventure and excitement. Whether it’s strolling on a leash, enjoying car rides or partaking in activities that are typically reserved for dogs, Rocco is always up for the challenge

INTERESTING QUIRK: His athleticism is truly remarkable — he can leap to heights that most cats can only dream of — but it’s not just his physical prowess that sets him apart. Rocco is also one of the smartest cats we have, constantly surprising us with his cleverness and curiosity

FUN FACT: Rocco is basically a little person in a cat’s body. He’ll happily sit with us for hours, bingewatching TV and purring like a motorboat the entire time. However, we’ve learned the hard way that not all toys are created equal because Rocco has a habit of turning everything into a snack. If it fits in his mouth, it’s fair game!

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Photo by Larry Johnson

Best Friend, Best Care

Technology is exploding in veterinary care, but it still comes down to the personal touch

By DOUG CRISE

Mobile Dog Grooming

For Dr. Katelyn Lang, it is all about the vibe.

Neon lights of pink and blue are wrapped around her North Little Rock office at Healthy Life Pet Clinic, matching up with walls painted a purplish red. The colors extend to the main waiting area, which features spotless cream-colored chairs for clients and another dash of pink and purple representing her business’ logo.

The whole setting feels more like a high-end day spa than a veterinary clinic, which is exactly what Lang is shooting for. Even the best veterinary spots can sometimes feel overly cold and clinical, and Lang wants her clients and their pets to feel immediately at ease. The overall look also makes Lang’s seven employees feel at home, which is not unimportant since Healthy Life stays open until 8 p.m. to accommodate clients.

“I want pet parents to feel comfortable enough to come with me at any point in their ownership,” Lang said. “I want them to feel like I’m approachable and my clinic also feels that way.”

The more things change in veterinary care, the more they stay the same. As technology, especially artificial intelligence, ramps up at an ever-faster rate, so too does the ability for veterinarians to make quicker diagnoses and deliver quality care to four-legged loved ones. While veterinary medicine has seen an avalanche of advances in treatment, it remains at its core a people business.

“More clinics are able to offer better diagnostics,” said Dr. Brian Barron at Shackleford Road Veterinary Clinic in Little Rock. “Things like ultrasound and in-house bloodwork machines are becoming more affordable.”

Barron said one of the biggest changes he has seen during his time in veterinary medicine is the flow of information. Much like how people now use websites such as WebMD to learn about medical conditions, pet owners have educated themselves about what to look out for in terms of overall pet health. Because of the affordability of clinic technology, vets are able to keep customer costs reasonable. While a trip to the vet used to be an “in case of emergency” proposition, clients are now showing more of a willingness to pay for preventative measures, as well.

“With more knowledge out there and people googling everything or just asking, there’s more information for the client,” Barron said. “Therefore, they’re more interested in doing actual testing instead of just treating the symptoms as they show up.”

Dr. Brian Peters at Lake Hamilton Animal Hospital in Hot Springs recently took delivery of a blood chemistry machine from veterinary equipment manufacturer IDEXX, and it has already changed how pets are analyzed at his clinic.

“I can do urinalysis on it,” Peters said. “I can do all my endocrine tests on it.”

Called the “inVue,” the machine can analyze samples down to the cellular level and provide comprehensive diagnostic information in about 10 minutes. For example, a veterinarian can take an “ear smear” sample from a dog, run it through an inVue and be able to determine the precise nature of an ear infection plus other health issues that may not be readily apparent.

“It is cutting edge, man,” Peters said. “It’s actually a new AI type of machine. Basically, what it means for veterinarians like me is the more I shove in the machine, the more the machine is learning itself.”

Advancements have also been made to make aspects of treatment easier for veterinarians, as well.

“I’m definitely getting more and more tools,” Peters said. “I have what’s called a vet scalpel laser system, so I no longer use a typical metal scalpel blade to do spays or neuters or surgeries. The vet scalpel makes my cuts. It’s better for healing because it seals blood vessels. I haven’t really picked up a scalpel in almost two years now.”

The process is also becoming easier for pet owners.

“We also have an online pharmacy for the clinic,” Barron said. “For a lot of people, what’s changed is they order there, and they send us an email asking us if it’s OK to fill the prescription. It gets shipped straight to

Dr. Katelyn Lang

Dr. Brian Barron

their house, so there’s less of having to come to the clinic. That’s changed things tremendously. We also have an inhouse pharmacy and a pharmacy technician.”

Not all of the changes in vet care are powered by newfangled gadgets, however. With diagnostic work becoming more and more automated, veterinarians are no longer spending their days just putting out fires. Instead, they have been freed up to think long-term and reexamine the client experience. At times, that involves a shorterthan-usual wait for pet owners, while at other times, it involves a more in-depth approach to customer service that would have been more difficult to provide in the past.

“Something we specifically do here and that seems to be going on in some parts of the rest of the country is what we call ‘open concept,’” Lang said. “We try to keep the pet

Celebrity Pet

Taft

FAMILY: Congressman French Hill

AGE: 5 in October

BREED: Boykin Spaniel

FAVORITE TREATS: Hot dog treats when training

FAVORITE TOYS: Anyone’s sock

FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Retrieving, hunting and he loves swimming

FUN FACT: He’s named Taft in honor of President William Howard Taft, because it’s a short, snappy name, great for hunting commands. We then found out he was born in Taft, Tenn.

with the pet parent for most — or all — of the visit when we can. That is kind of groundbreaking. A lot of corporations are unable to do that, and corporations have taken over a lot of veterinary medicine recently.”

Lang estimated “something like 80 percent” of today’s vet clinics are corporately owned.

“That is a trend that has come about in the last, probably, five years,” Lang said. “COVID[-19] kind of brought it in because veterinary medicine boomed during COVID. People were home with their pets all the time. Clinics were really busy, highly profitable, when they

There are two sides to the post-COVID-19 corporate coin. There is still plenty of room for veterinarians who want to hang out a shingle and manage their own business and enjoy the advantages of increased flexibility and more control over daily decisions. However, all that control can backfire when a vet gets swamped with to-do lists that go beyond caring for peoples’ pets.

On the flipside, corporate support can free up vets to focus on practicing medicine and also comes with financial backing that could make it easier to purchase the latest in machinery.

Chances are clients do not notice whether a veterinarian is corporately backed or not. The name on the door is the same, and the tools available to each vet are also largely the same. Providing a comfortable, welcoming environment for pets and pet owners is still the name of the game. The machinations of diagnosis and treatment are constantly advancing, but the principles of customer service remain unchanged.

Dr. Brian Peters

AY Pets Sponsored by Dat Pooch Mobile Dog Grooming

AY About You

As the job gets easier for vets, so does the overall experience for clients.

“We kind of like the open philosophy of being able to be transparent and feeling like our clients have a front seat to their pets’ health care,” Lang said. “I had a really good mentor tell me one time that people don’t want to know how much you know. They want to know you care.”

GERTIE CARTER

SHABBA, COWBOY & LADY SUBLETT

RIVER ROSE DAUGHTERY

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A Sacred Trust

Medical professionals are by our sides for some of the best days of our lives — the birth of a child — and some of the worst days, such as a dreaded diagnosis.

The health care industry is the largest employment sector in the U.S., employing an estimated 17 million people as of 2023, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. While it is a hard business, it is also big business for the economy. In 2022, the U.S. spent $13,493 per person on health care, which is 17.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Despite that, there is a shortage of health care workers, which has caused jobs in the field to be even more taxing on those working them. As of June 2024, about 75 million people lived in an area that had a shortage of primary care professionals, the HRSA states, and federal authorities project a shortage of 63,720 full-time registered nurses by 2030.

However, there are encouraging signs, such as the fact that medical school enrollment has increased nearly 6 percent in the past few years, and the number of newly licensed registered nurses increased by about 36 percent every year between 2019 and 2023.

As the industry works to push through hardships, it is as important as ever to honor their hard work and dedication.

Every year, AY About You creates the “AY’s Best Health Care Professionals” list. You, our readers, are always eager to brag about your favorite local professionals, so we asked you to nominate the medical professionals who you believe exemplify what it means to be the best in their respective health care specialty. The people on this list are not just meeting the call of duty but exceeding it by so much that patients and the community have taken notice.

These nominations coalesce into a list of all the best medical professionals around the state in their respective fields. This year’s class, as always, illustrates the best, most skilled and most admired members of the medical community in a wide array of fields, from IV therapy and orthopedics to trauma surgery and geriatric medicine.

While we hope this list serves as a spotlight on the best health care workers in the state, we also hope that it can serve as a database for our readers. We know it can be overwhelming choosing who to go to for care, and this list can help provide a starting point for who to turn to for needed medical help.

AY About You is proud to give these hard-working professionals their well-deserved flowers this month. After all, the people on this list work every single day to keep our friends, neighbors, loved ones and even ourselves healthy.

From the bottom of our hearts to every health care worker, thank you for the work you do!

This year’s class, as always, illustrates the best, most skilled and most admired members of the medical community in a wide array of fields, from IV therapy and orthopedics to trauma surgery and geriatric medicine.

A Lot to Manage Andrew Covington health care

By DOUG CRISE

Andrew Covington has a lot going on.

As chief financial officer at Arkansas Surgical Hospital in North Little Rock, Covington oversees the hospital’s accounting functions, handles yearly financial audits, keeps track of taxes, and maintains a cost report of all the hospital’s fiscal activities. On top of that, Covington oversees ASH’s information technology department.

“If our board is looking to do some things, usually me and my team are running the data to see if it’s going to be worthwhile.”

“We’ve got a really great IT group that we utilize,” Covington said. “I’m no expert in IT, but they’ve got to report to someone. The coding and medical record functions roll right under us, as well. I’m basically in data all day long.”

It is a lot by any stretch, but Covington has the background to handle it. He was previously director of financial services at ASH, and he started working as a certified public accountant soon after his graduation from Harding University in Searcy.

Needless to say Covington knows and understands the numbers behind running a hospital.

“I’m a high user of Excel,” Covington said. “I make a lot of reports, a lot of documents to try to help us analyze and look for opportunities.”

Covington said he likes to think of his job as “decision support.”

“If our board is looking to do some things, usually me and my team are running the data to see if it’s going to be worthwhile,” Covington said. “We like to make data-driven decisions instead of just on hunches.”

Covington’s job may sound like it is all about the numbers, and at a larger hospital, he very well could spend his days at his desk, mining spreadsheets for data, but ASH is not that kind of hospital. Its smaller nature demands that most employees — Covington included — wear several hats.

Covington counts all the extra duties as a perk.

“We’re a small organization,” Covington said, “so every day, you can be pulled into something different.”

Covington’s introduction to the medical world came purely on chance while he was working for a private accounting firm.

“They just put me in health care,” Covington said. “I would just kind of go all over and audit hospitals’ financials.”

It is probably not a surprise that Covington spends a vast majority of his time entering data, but as he looks to the future of his job, he can see that changing.

“One thing that I think is coming, and this is not just in health care but everywhere, is this whole artificial intelligence situation and bots,” Covington said. “I feel like there’s a lot of opportunity to utilize bots, or how they call it, robotic process automation.”

Covington sees artificial intelligence and automation as a means of freeing up both himself and others to tackle larger tasks and needs.

“These bots, they can do it all day, every day, including on weekends,” Covington said. “They don’t make mistakes. From a business case, it’s hard to say no to that. It can definitely help.”

Improving the patient experience is also important to Covington, even if he works on the financial side. He is also committed to the hospital’s employee profit-sharing, a cornerstone of ASH’s operation.

“We do have profit-sharing here,” Covington said. “Every single employee, no matter what your level, if we meet certain goals, we do have quarterly profit-sharing. Every employee gets the same amount. I get the same amount as an entry-level person.”

Having a hand in reaching those profit-sharing goals is one of Covington’s favorite parts of the job, and he enjoys seeing those around him benefit from ASH’s success.

“It makes us different from most [employees],” Covington said. “We kind of work together as a team to try to meet our goals, and that does benefit everybody because they get a higher bonus if we do our job cutting costs. Financially, we’re doing really well, and as long as we do a good job and have a good reputation on that side, we should continue to thrive.”

(Photo courtesy of Arkansas Surgical Hospital)

AY’s Best Health Care Professionals:

Dr. Heather Owens, Women First Gynecology & Wellness Clinic

When Dr. Heather Owens embarked on the journey to establish her own clinic, she did so with a crystal-clear vision: to create a sanctuary of care where women are not just seen, but heard and celebrated. Earlier this year, she unveiled Women First Gynecology & Wellness Clinic, a premier destination devoted to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care with elegance, expertise and empathy at every turn.

The distinguished practice offers a full spectrum of women’s health services thoughtfully curated to support every chapter of a woman’s life, from the blossoming of adolescence and the vibrancy of young adulthood to perimenopause, menopause and beyond.

A revered figure in women’s health for over two decades, Owens is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a proud member of the Arkansas Medical Society. Her tenure as an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock (2004–2009) was marked by accolades, including the prestigious Association of Professors of Gynecology Award for Excellence in Resident Education. Her dedication to patient care has earned her repeated recognition in esteemed publications such as AY About You, where she has been named among the “Best Health Care Professionals” and “Best Women in Health Care.”

“Whether it’s navigating puberty, contraception, menstruation, sexual health or the complexities of menopause, I strive to be more than a physician,” Owens said. “I aim to be a steadfast advocate.”

At Women First, the gold standard of care begins the moment a patient walks through the door thanks to a team of compassionate professionals. They bring both clinical excellence and heartfelt dedication to their role. Their mission is to empower women with knowledge, comfort and unwavering support.

Women First offers a refined suite of services, including annual gynecologic exams, menopause and perimenopause management, contraception counseling, hormone optimization therapy, sexual health advocacy, weight management, breast care and mammography. Owens is also highly skilled in managing abnormal pap smears, resolving painful intercourse, alleviating heavy or painful periods, and performing a range of gynecological surgeries, from in-office procedures to inpatient operations.

The clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including an on-site mammography suite that ensures timely, screening imaging in a supportive setting. Women First clinic is also proud to offer on-site laboratory services, ensuring patients receive timely and accurate test results without the wait.

Women First also offers bespoke weight loss programs complete with medical supervision and advanced therapies, as well as comprehensive hormone replacement treatments designed to help women feel radiant, revitalized and wholly themselves.

In a world where the nuanced needs of perimenopausal women are too often overlooked or misunderstood, Owens stands as a passionate advocate for change. At Women First Gynecology & Wellness Clinic, she is redefining what it means to age gracefully and empowering women to embrace this transformative stage of life with confidence, vitality and balance.

“Perimenopause is not a condition to be endured in silence,” Owens said. “It’s a pivotal time in a woman’s life that deserves thoughtful, personalized care.”

Through advanced hormone optimization therapy, Owens offers a tailored approach to managing the physical and emotional shifts that accompany hormonal changes. From mood fluctuations and sleep disturbances to weight gain, fatigue and diminished libido, her goal is to restore equilibrium and enhance overall well-being.

Sponsored Content

“ ”

Whether it’s navigating puberty, contraception, menstruation, sexual health or the complexities of menopause, I strive to be more than a physician. I aim to be a steadfast advocate.

AY's Best Health care Professionals 2025

To be called a professional is among the highest of compliments in any industry, and when that industry is medicine, the honor of being considered among the elite is amplified. Physicians and nurses of every specialty and background contribute immeasurably to the community by literally seeing to its well-being.

Each year, AY About You asks its readers to nominate the medical professionals who they believe exemplify the highest ideals of compassionate, skillful care, and every year, the public responds in droves, resulting in a list of the best medical professionals Arkansas has to offer. This year's roster, as always, recognizes the best, most skilled and most admired members of the medical community.

AY About You is proud to salute the many men and women across our state who work every single day to improve the lives of our neighbors, friends and loved ones.

AESTHETIC INJECTOR

SIDNEY BENNETT, RN Beyond Wellness (Chenal & Hillcrest)

REAGAN CODY, RN Beyond Wellness (Hot Springs Village & Chenal)

SYDNEY MAYO, RN, LE Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

KAYLA SANDERS, APRN Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

TAYLOR STEELE, RN Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

AESTHETICS

ERIN MARIE COURTWAY, APRN Prism Aesthetics

KASSIE ROBERTSON, APRN Elevation Med Spa

LINDSEY SABATINI, APRN, DNP Body Balance

TERRI WELLS, APRN Infinity Signature Aesthetics

CARLY WESTERMAN, APRN Elevation Med Spa

ALLERGIST/IMMUNOLOGIST

ANIL K. BADHWAR, M.D. Baptist Health Medical Center/ Unity Health

MATTHEW C. BELL, M.D. Arkansas Children’s Northwest

KELLY D. BURKS, M.D. Arkansas Allergy & Asthma Clinic

JENNY M. CAMPBELL, M.D., FACAAI Hedberg Allergy & Asthma Center

MEREDITH DILLEY, M.D., MPH Arkansas Otolaryngology Center

DONNA M. GRAHAM, M.D. Arkansas Children's Hospital

MELISSA GRAHAM, M.D. Advanced Allergy & Asthma

TERRY HARVILLE, M.D., PH.D. UAMS Health

ALISON L. HUMPHREY, M.D. Baxter Health

JIM M. INGRAM, M.D. Little Rock Allergy & Asthma Clinic

KIM JACKSON, M.D. Little Rock Allergy & Asthma Clinic

STACIE M. JONES, M.D. Arkansas Children's

JOSHUA KENNEDY, M.D. Arkansas Children's

TINA KAY MERRITT, M.D.

Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Northwest Arkansas

TAMARA T. PERRY, M.D. Arkansas Children's

ROBERT D. PESEK, M.D. Arkansas Children's

BLAKE G. SCHEER, M.D. Little Rock Allergy & Asthma Clinic

AMY SCURLOCK, M.D. Arkansas Children's

EDDIE W. SHIELDS, M.D. Arkansas Allergy & Asthma Clinic

LINDSAY STILL, M.D. Arkansas Allergy & Asthma Clinic

ADESUA O. WEJINYA, M.D., FACAAI Hedberg Allergy & Asthma Center

CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT, M.D. Baptist Health

AUBREY ZIEGLER, M.D.

Baptist Health Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy Center in Fort Smith

ANESTHESIOLOGIST

ROBERT C. BAKER, M.D. Arkansas Children's Hospital

BRENT BLAKELY, M.D. Unity Health

VERNON BREWER, M.D. Unity Health

BEN BURNSED, M.D. Baptist Health of Conway

BRIAN BURTON, CRNA Unity Health

JOSHUA CHANCE, M.D.

Baptist Health Medical Center - Little Rock

PRICE HOLMES, CRNA Unity Health

STEVEN JONES, M.D.

Baptist Health Medical Center - Little Rock

JED KINNICK, M.D. Arkansas Children's

BRETT ROBERSON, CRNA Unity Health

BEN SESSIONS, M.D. Arkansas Surgical Hospital

KIMBERLY SHAFFER, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

AUDIOLOGY

MARY CHATELAIN, AU.D. Pinnacle Hearing

LISA LEANNA Miracle-Ear Hearing Center

ALLISON MABRY, AU.D. Pinnacle Hearing

TRACY VAN ES, AU.D. Little Rock Audiology

BARIATRIC/METABOLIC PHYSICIAN

J.D. FULLER, M.D. Arkansas Heart Hospital

K. BRUCE JONES, M.D. NEA Baptist

ANTHONY MANNING, M.D., FACS Conway Regional Health System

ERIC M. PAUL, M.D. Baptist Health Medical CenterBariatric Surgery

JAMES TUCKER, M.D. Arkansas Heart Hospital

BARIATRIC SURGEON

BRANDON INGRAM, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

TRIPURARI MISHRA, M.D. Baptist Health

KRISTIN PATTON, M.D. Saline Health System

ERIC PAUL, M.D. Baptist Health Bariatric Center

LEWIS PORTER, M.D. Saline Health System

JEAN SALEM, M.D. Saline Health System

BONE & JOINT COORDINATOR

JANET BOYLES, RN National Park Medical Center

BREAST RADIOLOGY

STACY SMITH-FOLEY, M.D. CARTI

BREAST CANCER SURGEON

DANA C. ABRAHAM, M.D. Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Abraham Breast Clinic

JAMES E. HAGANS, M.D. Baptist Health

JERRI S. FANT, M.D., FACS CARTI

YARA ROBERTSON, M.D., FACS CARTI

JULIE TURNER, DNP, APRN Baptist Health

CARDIAC SURGEON

F. MICHAEL BAUER, M.D. Baxter Health

KRISTOFER FREELAND, M.D. Arkansas Heart Hospital

MARK HARDIN, M.D. UAMS

MICHAEL T. NOLEN, M.D. Arkansas Heart Hospital

CARDIOLOGY/CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

MAHESH ANANTHA, M.D.

White River Health Cardiology

NARIN ARUNAKUL, M.D.

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center

CHERISSE M. BALDEO, MBBCH, FACC

Baxter Health

THOMAS BEST, M.D.

Arkansas Children's

RENEE BORNEMEIER, M.D. Arkansas Children's

ERIC BOWEN, M.D.

Baxter Health Cardiovascular Clinic

THOMAS D. CONLEY, M.D. Baptist Health

JOSHUA DAILY, M.D. Arkansas Children's

BRIAN EBLE, M.D. Arkansas Children's

JOE HARGROVE, M.D., FACC

CHI St. Vincent

VASILI LENDEL, M.D. Arkansas Heart Hospital

TENA MURPHY, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent

RON E. REVARD, M.D.

Baxter Health

PHILIP MICHAEL RILEY, D.O.

Mercy Heart and Vascular CenterNorthwest Arkansas

ANGELA SIMMONS, APRN Arkansas Heart Hospital

PATRICK STAGE, APRN

Arkansas Heart Hospital

DON STEELY, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

JEFFREY STEWART, M.D. Saline Health System

OTIS WARR IV, M.D. Baxter Health

CARDIOLOGY/CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY

THURSTON BAUER, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent

FREDERICK MEADORS, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

THOMAS RAYBURN III, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent

CARDIOLOGY/ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

PRABHAT HEBBAR, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent

THOMAS WALLACE, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent

CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON

BO BUSBY, M.D. Baptist Health

MARK HARDIN, M.D.

UAMS Health

KAROL MUDY, M.D.

Baptist Health Little Rock

BRIAN REEMTSEN, M.D. Arkansas Children's

RICHARD STEVENSON, M.D., FACS NEA Baptist

CHARLES WILLIAMS, M.D. Baptist Health

RUSSELL WOOD, M.D. Washington Regional

CHIROPRACTOR

CHRIS BLACKMON, D.C. Blackmon Chiropractic Clinic

AMANDA BLEDSOE, D.C. Bledsoe Chiropractic

DANA BROWNING, D.C. Pain Care Associates

MICHAEL BUTLER, D.C. Restoration Health

JASON M. COLLINS, D.C. Collins Chiropractic and Diagnostics

JAMES COOPER, D.C. Power Chiropractic

CHRIS CURTIS, D.C. Curtis Chiropractic & Wellness Center

BEVERLY FOSTER, D.C. Chiropractic Health & Rehabilitation

MADDIE MAGINN GANANN, D.C. Little Rock Chiropractic & Acupuncture

SARAH HAYS, D.C. Little Rock Chiropractic & Acupuncture

TYLER HICKS, D.C. Little Rock Chiropractic & Acupuncture

TRACI KIERNAN, D.C. Natural State Health Center

ADAM LAMEY, D.C., FAFSA Lamey Chiropractic

SHAWN MCGEHEE, D.C. Lamey Chiropractic

RIANNA NICODEMUS, D.C. Bledsoe Chiropractic

SAVANNAH NORMAN, D.C. Wellspring Chiropractic

JOSI OWENS, D.C. Owens Chiropractic

KYLER POMEROY, D.C. Root's Chiropractic

RICHARD L. RILEY, D.C. Little Rock Chiropractic Clinic

KYLE L. SKINNER D.C, CCSP Skinner Chiropractic

JEFF SMITH, D.C. Smith Family Clinic

DWIGHT STEWART, D.C. Pain Care Associates

DAVID VANG, D.C. Pain Care Associates

JOHN VINCENT, D.C. Wellness Revolution

JESSIE WOOD, D.C. Woodland Chiropractic

CLINICAL BREAST RADIOLOGY

BRITTON B. LOTT, M.D. The Breast Center, A MANA Clinic

KELLY A. PIERCE, M.D. The Breast Center, A MANA Clinic

JOANNE ROBERTS, MIS, RRA, RDMS, RT(R) Associated Radiologists

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

KODI LIDDELL, PHARM.D. UAMS Health

COLON AND RECTAL

NABIL AKKAD, M.D. Baptist Health-Fort Smith

LANCE BURNS, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

LEE C. RALEY, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

JEAN SALEM, M.D. Saline Health System

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

MARCUS BLACK, DDS Marcus Black, DDS

DJ DAILEY, III, DDS, PA Smile Dailey Modern Dentistry

WILLIAM GIBSON, DDS Little Rock Family Dental Care

SHANE SMITH, DDS Shane Smith Family Dental Care

COSMETIC SURGERY

JENNINGS BOYETTE, M.D. Boyette Facial Plastic Surgery

RHYS BRANMAN, M.D. Cosmetic Surgery Center

MICHAEL A. DEVLIN, M.D. Devlin Cosmetic Surgery

JIM ENGLISH, M.D., FACS, FICS English Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center

W. TOMASZ MAJEWSKI, M.D. Majewski Plastic Surgery

MAURICIO A. MORENO, M.D. UAMS Health

DARON C. PRAETZEL, DMD Arkansas Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons

JAMES Y. SUEN, M.D. UAMS Health

EMRE A. VURAL, M.D. UAMS Health

BYRON WILKES, M.D. McFarland Eye Care

SUZANNE YEE, M.D. Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Center

COUNSELOR

KATHERINE BISHOP, ED.S., LPC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

ASHLEY N. BROOKS, M.e D, NCC,LPC, BC-TMH Argenta Counseling and Wellness

FATIMAAH CARMICHAELANTHONY, DSW, LCSW Argenta Counseling and Wellness

SHERRY CLEMENTS, LCSW Argenta Counseling and Wellness

NICK CLEMMONS, LPC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

MICHAEL DILLON, LPC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

KELLIE FUGERE, MSW, LCSW West Rock Counseling

TAYLOR GIBSON, LPC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

JESSE D. HUBBERD, LCSW Argenta Counseling and Wellness

ROBERT KEMPER, LPC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

KEVIN MANSFIELD Counseling Services of Jacksonville

KATE MCCALMAN, LCSW Argenta Counseling and Wellness

STEVEN MCCLATCHY, M.A., LPC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

KELLEE MCCOY, LPC, LMFT Argenta Counseling and Wellness

TIARA MELLON, LPC, LMFT Argenta Counseling and Wellness

GABRIELA O'DELL, M.S., LPC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

GEORGE RAMSER, M.A., LPC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

MONIQUE RANDLE, LCSW, CST Argenta Counseling and Wellness

ANITA RUTLEDGE, LPC, NCC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

CARTER SHIELDS, MS, LAC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

LYDIA THEISEN, LPC Napa Valley Counseling

DEMETRA THOMPSON, LPC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

AUSTIN TISDALE, LCSW Argenta Counseling and Wellness

CRANIAL PROSTHESIS SPECIALIST

NINA HARRIS LONG Crown Yours RX

DENTIST

JAMES ALLEN, DDS Family Dental Associates

BRYAN AUSTIN, DDS Austin Family Dentistry

MICHAEL BOURNS, DDS Michael Bourns, DDS

WES BUCHMAN, DDS, FICOI Buchman Family Dental

HUGH BURNETT, DDS Little Rock Family Dental Care

Tanner Matone,

“In high school, I noticed I had this natural draw to helping people. Friends would come to me for advice, and I always felt extra empathy for what others were going through.”

Resilience in Action Nicole Eckard

By MARY LESIEUR

Destigmatizing, educating and implementing the importance of mental health is no easy task, yet Nicole Eckard, owner of Resilience Therapy in Jonesboro, is determined to raise awareness about the cause.

Fighting the reservations and misconceptions surrounding such issues is a battle Eckard refuses to take lightly out of a personal conviction she called a “natural drive to help others.”

“In high school, I noticed I had this natural draw to helping people. Friends would come to me for advice, and I always felt extra empathy for what others were going through,” she said. “Once I paired that with education, it just clicked. This is what I’m meant to do.”

As a young adult, Eckard was drawn to pediatrics, but after a semester of studying biology in college, she bid the major farewell. Enrolling in a general psychology class made her decision simple: She would help others through her wisdom and advice.

“In my first semester, I quickly realized that I didn’t want to study biology for the rest of my life,” Eckard said. “Thankfully, my professor gave us the degree plan, and as I read it, I thought, ‘This just isn’t for me.’”

After completing her supervision hours and obtaining her Licensed Professional Counselor certification in 2020, Eckard felt drawn to create a space for patients to feel comfortable expressing themselves and their emotions in a safe environment. Opening Resilience Therapy in 2020, she saw an influx of patients due to insurance groups offering free counseling and therapy at no cost, allowing patients flexibility when accessing their health care.

“Telehealth has been amazing for accessibility,” Eckard said. “Insurance started covering it during COVID[-19], which helped a lot. It allows people who can’t travel — or who just feel more comfortable at home — to get care. I see clients across Arkansas via telehealth, and many say they’re more open because of that comfort.”

Since opening, Eckard has seen a spectrum of patients at her Jonesboro clinic. In 2024, she brought on two additional therapists to widen the services her practice could offer.

“I wanted diversity — therapists who weren’t exactly like me,” Eckard said, “different specialties, styles and even ages, so clients have options. Professionalism and passion for therapy were nonnegotiable. I also wanted people who value self-care and growth because those things directly impact the quality of care we provide.”

By staffing her practice with experienced and diverse professionals, Eckard said the practice is able to help wider groups of people. She sees that among many rewarding aspects of her work, along with giving people a safe space to talk without judgment.

“Many clients say, ‘I feel so much better just because I could talk about it,’” Eckard said. “On the other end, some clients come to us as a last resort. Seeing them reduce medication, restore family relationships or finally do things they’ve wanted to do for years — like go back to college or reconnect with loved ones — that’s incredibly rewarding.”

While her line of work can be emotionally draining and mentally taxing, Eckard said she not only encourages therapy for others but also sets boundaries for herself.

“My family knows I sometimes need a ‘brain break,’” she said. “I step away from noise, recharge, take a day off if needed, even take a vacation. I’ve also gone to therapy myself, which helps. I diversify my work — community outreach, supervision and speaking engagements — so I’m not always just in sessions.”

Eckard prides herself on the work she does both inside and outside of her clinic. As a leader in psychoeducation, she reaches audiences who fall victim to the stigmas of mental health.

“Through psychoeducation — speaking at churches, schools and businesses — I explain what therapy really is, break misconceptions and normalize mental health conversations,” she said. “When people understand the brain-body connection and why they react the way they do, it builds trust and reduces stigma.”

(Photo by Jamie Lee)

CAMELLA CARD, DDS

Arkansas Family Dental

CHRIS CHANDLER, DDS Chandler Family Dentistry

EMILY CHEEK, DDS Leap Kids Dental

DARRON COOPER, DDS Wisener, Cooper & Fergus, DDS

JORDAN COOPER, DDS Cooper Family Dentistry

JOHN H. DEAN, DDS Dean Dental Solutions

BRETT DECOURSEY, DDS Austin Family Dentistry

ADAM DELEE, DDS Tri-Lakes Dentistry

LESLIE DICKINSON, DDS Dickinson Dental

MEG DUNN, DDS Dunn Family Dental

CHRIS EASTBURN, DMD Arkansas Family Dental

ETHAN ERWIN, DDS Smile Hot Springs

DALE FALLIS, DDS Little Rock Family Dental Care

CHRIS FERGUS, DDS Wisener, Cooper & Fergus, DDS

LUKE FRUCHEY, DDS Two Rivers Dental Care

MATT FULMER, DDS Fulmer Family Dentistry

RICHARD GORE, DDS ASAP Smile Center

DRAKE HAWKINS, DDS Hawkins Rainwater Dental Group

MONTY HEATHMAN, DDS Heathman Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

RANDALL HESTIR, DDS Family Dental Associates

JOHN HOLT HESTIR, DDS Family Dental Associates

KIRSTAN HYSER, DDS Smile Dailey Modern Dentistry

BRAD W. JOLLY SR., DDS, PA Jolly Family Dental

SARAH KING, DDS Arkansas Family Dental

BRITTEN LOVELACE, DDS Smile Hot Springs

JOSHUA LUDFORD, DDS Arkansas Family Dental

CARMELLA MONTEZ KNOERNSCHILD, DDS, CAGS

Dr. Carmella M. Knoernschild Orthodontic Clinic

RANDY MACHEN, DDS Little Rock Family Dental Care

STEVE MANGAN, DDS Rock Family Dental

RACHEL MANN, DDS Little Rock Family Dental Care

SAMARIA MASCAGNI, DDS

Arkansas Family Dental

CHAD MATONE, DDS

Arkansas Dental Centers

TANNER MATONE, DDS

Arkansas Dental Centers

APRIL MCCAIN, DDS Leap Kids Dental

MARK MURPHY, DDS Little Rock Family Dental Care

TINA H. NICHOLS, DDS

Nichols Family Dental

PAULA NOH, DMD Leap Kids Dental

KIMBERLY POLLARD, DDS

Arkansas Family Dental

WILLIAM A. POLLARD, DDS Pollard Family Dentistry

LANCE PORTER, DDS

Porter Dental Health Clinic

DAVID M. RAINWATER, DDS

Hawkins Rainwater Dental Group

STEVEN RAY, DDS Ray Dental

TRACY SCHROEPFER, DMD Congo Dental Studio

TODD STEWART, DDS Rock Family Dental

MATT TEALE, DDS Tri-Lakes Dentistry

WILL WARREN, DDS Porter Dental Health Clinic

CALEB M. WINKLER, DDS Rock Family Dental

JAMES WISENER, DDS Wisener, Cooper & Fergus, DDS

JAHON ZEHTABAN, DDS Smile Arkansas

DERMATOLOGIST

JAMIE ABBOTT, M.D. Ozark Dermatology

KATTIE ALLEN, M.D. Premier Dermatology

REBEKAH BALTZ, M.D. Premier Dermatology

RANDALL BREAU, M.D. Arkansas Dermatology

ROBERT BROWN, M.D. Ozark Dermatology

MISSY CLIFTON, M.D. Premier Dermatology

CAROLINE CUNNINGHAM, M.D. Premier Dermatology

SCOTT M. DINEHART, M.D. Arkansas Dermatology

HAYDEN H. FRANKS, M.D. Franks Dermatology

ALISSA HUBERTY, PA-C Pinnacle Dermatology

CHERYL HULL, M.D., FAAD Hull Dermatology & Aesthetics

JENNIFER JACKS, M.D., FAAD Jacks Dermatology

MATTHEW KAGY, M.D. Little Rock Dermatology Clinic

ANDREA MABRY, M.D. Pinnacle Dermatology

THOMAS MANNING, M.D Little Rock Dermatology Clinic

LAUREN H. MCCASLIN, M.D., FAAD Hull Dermatology & Aesthetics

JUSTIN MCLAWHORN, M.D. UAMS Health

KAYLA MOHR, M.D. Pinnacle Dermatology

CHELSEA NEWEY, PA-C Pinnacle Dermatology

MICHAEL F. OSLEBER, M.D. Arkansas Dermatology

KARA RICHARDSON, PA Premier Dermatology

BRANDY ROGERS, CNP Arkansas Methodist Medical

CHRIS SCHACH, M.D. Ozark Dermatology

COURTNEY STEWART, APRN Arkansas Methodist Medical

ERIC STEWART, M.D. Ozark Dermatology

BRIAN WAYNE, M.D. Little Rock Dermatology Clinic

BRADLEY A. WHITE, M.D. Searcy Dermatology and Aesthetics

BLAKE WILLIAMS, M.D. Premier Dermatology

MARLA WIRGES, M.D. Pinnacle Dermatology

DEVELOPMENTAL & BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS

JILL FUSSELL, M.D. Arkansas Children's

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

DONALD B. NORWOOD, M.D. CARTI

DIETITIAN

MEG GREEN, M.S., RDN, LD, IFNCP Meg Green, RD

NATHAN SLINKARD, RDN Argenta Counseling and Wellness

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIST

MONICA LO, M.D. Arkansas Heart Hospital

WILSON WONG, M.D. Arkansas Heart Hospital

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

SCOTT ARCHER, M.D. Cabot Emergency Hospital

JASON N. ARTHUR, M.D., MPH UAMS Health

LAURA BAILEY, M.D. Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas

BRIAN BAIRD, M.D. Cabot Emergency Hospital

TODD FINCHER BAKER, M.D. North Arkansas Medical Center

JIM BOX, M.D. Cabot Emergency Hospital

MARTIN CAREY, M.D. Unity Health

SCOTT DARNELL, M.D. Cabot Emergency Hospital

WADE GREGORY, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

ALEXANDER HARGIS, M.D. Baptist Health

DARREN LENDERMON, M.D. Unity Health

ROBERT GARRETT LEWIS, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

CHARLES MASON, M.D. Cabot Emergency Hospital

NICOLE MCMINN, RN Cabot Emergency Hospital

JOHN MENARD, M.D. Saline Memorial Hospital

NHAN MARC PHAN, M.D. UAMS Health

JASON SKINNER, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

ELIZABETH STORM, M.D. Arkansas Children's

SAMUEL CHASE TURNER, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

JUSTIN WHITE, M.D. Cabot Emergency Hospital

ENT

KEVIN W. LOLLAR, M.D., FACS, FAAOA ENT Center of the Ozarks

JAMES RAGLAND, M.D. ENT Center of the Ozarks

ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM

DONALD L. BODENNER, M.D., PH.D. UAM S Health

MARIA JAVAID, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

IRINA LENDEL, M.D. Arkansas Heart Hospital

ALLEN H. REDDING, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

JAMES THRASHER, M.D. Arkansas Diabetes and Endocrinology Center

ENDODONTIST

STEPHEN HARRISON, DDS Hot Springs Endodontics

MELODY OLIVER, RN

National Park Medical Center

JAMES A. PENNEY III, DDS

James A. Penney III, DDS

ESTHETICIAN

LINDSEY SABATINI, APRN, DNP Body Balance

MAEGAN WHITEHEAD, LE Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

EYE & FACIAL PROSTHETICS

MICHAEL D. KACKOWSKI

AR Artificial Eye Clinic and Facial Prosthetics Center

CURTIS RISINGER

AR Artificial Eye Clinic and Facial Prosthetics Center

EYE DOCTOR

SHANE E. FORD, O.D. Arkansas Eye Care Group

SARAH LUNSFORD, O.D. Legacy Eyecare

ERIC D. ROBBINS, O.D. Arkansas Eye Care Group

FAMILY

MEDICINE

JAMAL ABDIN, M.D. Washington Regional Farmington Family Clinic

JULIA LEE ALLEN, M.D. White River Health Family Care - Batesville

MARY S. ANDERSON, M.D. ARCare

GREGG BARDEN, M.D. Unity Health

SARA BLAIR, M.D. Autumn Road Family Practice

LAUREN BLOCH, M.D. White River Health Family CareCherokee Village

SHAWN D. BOGLE, M.D. Baxter Health

HUNTER CARRINGTON, M.D. National Park Medical Center

MICHAEL CARSON, M.D. Baptist Health

JERRY NICK CAVANEAU, M.D. Baptist Health

VICTOR S. CHU, M.D. Baxter Health

STEPHANIE CODY, M.D. Baptist Health Family Clinic Little Rock

KIRK COKER, M.D. Baptist Health Medical Clinic in Stuttgart

WILLIAM SCOTT COLE, M.D. Family Medicine and Wellness Clinic

KEITH COOPER, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

JHEANELLE DAWKINS, M.D. Saline Psychological Services

MARY C. DEPPER, M.D.

Baxter Health

PAUL TIMOTHY ENGLISH, M.D.

Family Medicine and Wellness Clinic

BARRY FORD, M.D. Little Rock Family Practice

STEPHEN R. FOSTER, M.D. UAMS Health

BRITTNEY W. FRISBY, M.D.

Baxter Health

PAYAL GANDHI, M.D. Saline Health System

REAGAN GARBER, D.O.

Conway Regional Health System - Greenbrier

HAILEY HARDEN, APRN Baxter Health

WHITNEY LAUREN HARRIS, APRN ARCare

HAL HEDGES, M.D. Little Rock Family Practice

ERIN HEKMATPOUR, M.D. Autumn Road Family Practice

KEVIN HIEGEL, M.D. Little Rock Family Practice

KIMBERLY HILL, DNP, APRN, FNP-C Diversity Family Health

YASTHIL "YAS" JAGANATH, M.D. UAMS Health

STEVEN JAMES, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

JOHN JAYROE, M.D. Little Rock Family Practice

MICHAEL KITTELL, M.D. Kittell Clinic

MARK WATSON LEFLER, M.D. Family Medicine and Wellness Clinic

MIRIAM G. MORSE, M.D. Jacksonville Medical Care

JOSEPH O’CONNELL, M.D. MANA Family Medicine - North

MELINDA PATTERSON, M.D. Little Rock Family Practice

MARK A. PETERSON, M.D. Jacksonville Medical Care

PETER POST, M.D. Morrilton Medical Clinic

JANELLE LEIGH POTTS, M.D. Mercy Clinic Family MedicineDowntown Rogers

PHILIP POUNDERS, M.D. Autumn Road Family Practice

ABBY RICE, PA-C Unity Health

ROBERT R. RITCHIE, M.D. Jacksonville Medical Care

PATTI RIVERS, APRN SAMA Healthcare

AARON ROBERDS, M.D. Jacksonville Medical Care

KEVIN ROBERTS, M.D. Little Rock Family Practice

ELIZABETH A. SULLIVAN, M.D. Little Rock Family Practice

BART THRONEBERRY, M.D.

Throneberry Family Clinic Conway, Arkansas

BRANDON THUROW, M.D.

Throneberry Family Clinic Conway, Arkansas

JAMIE TRAPP, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

JAMES WILKERSON, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

FOOT/ANKLE SURGERY

TROY ARDOIN, M.D. OrthoArkansas

JESSE B. BURKS, DPM Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

JAMES HEAD, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

LARRY L. NGUYEN, M.D. Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

GASTROENTEROLOGY

TERENCE L. ANGTUACO, M.D. Premier Gastroenterology Associates

BODUNRIN S. BADEJO, M.D. Baxter Health

GARY BARTON, M.D. Arkansas Gastroenterology

DANIEL BROWN, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

KENNETH COGGINS, M.D.

Premier Gastroenterology Associates

ANGELO G. COPPOLA, M.D. Premier Gastroenterology Associates

SAMUEL HUNTER DUNN, M.D. Arkansas Gastroenterology

KELLY GIBBS, M.D. Gastro Arkansas

JOHNATHAN GOODWIN, M.D. Arkansas Gastroenterology

BRIAN T. HUGHES, M.D. Premier Gastroenterology Associates

JOHNNY JONES, M.D. Premier Gastroenterology Associates

BOBBY KAKATI, M.D. Gastro Arkansas

ALI KHAN, M.D. Baptist Health

WHITFIELD KNAPPLE, M.D. Arkansas Gastroenterology

DEAN KUMPURIS, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

DAVID MCELREATH, D.O. Premier Gastroenterology Associates

BRIAN MCGEE, M.D. Digestive Care of West Little Rock

MARTIN MOIX, M.D. Conway Regional Gastroenterology Clinic

DEBRA MORRISON, M.D. Gastro Arkansas

DHAVAL H. PATEL, M.D. Premier Gastroenterology Associates

LEWIS PORTER, M.D. Saline Health System

SYED SAMAD, M.D. Digestive Care P A

PATRICK SELAKOVICH, M.D. Arkansas Gastroenterology

R. PAUL SVOBODA, M.D. Premier Gastroenterology Associates

SCOTT A. WOFFORD, M.D. Premier Gastroenterology Associates

GENERAL SURGEON

MATTHEW BROWN, M.D. Unity Health

JOHN M. DELOACH JR., M.D. Baptist Hospitals North Little Rock

ROBERT HARDISTER, M.D. Unity Health

BRANDON INGRAM, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

CHRISTIAN LATHAM, M.D. National Park Medical Center

KRISTIN PATTON, M.D. Saline Health System

GUY L. PEEPLES, M.D. Baptist Health

LEWIS PORTER, M.D. Saline Health System

MICHAEL STANTON, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

CLAY WILLIAMS, M.D. Unity Health

GENETICIST

JENNIFER CAMPBELL, LCGC, MS CARTI

G. BRADLEY SCHAEFER, M.D. UAMS Health

GERIATRIC MEDICINE

SANJAY DASS, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

HAND SURGEON

JESSE D. ABELER, D.O. Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

JEANINE ANDERSSON, M.D. OrthoArkansas

MATTHEW BURN, M.D. OrthoArkansas

G. THOMAS FRAZIER JR., M.D. UAMS Health

J. KIRK GRYNWALD, M.D. OrthoArkansas

JAMES T. HOWELL, M.D. COSMC

BRIAN NORTON, M.D. OrthoArkansas

For voting Dr. Mimi Lee the Best Non-Surgical Cosmetic Professional!

“My knowledge and compassion allows me to connect and provide my patients trusted care.”

Botox/Dysport | Dermal Filler | Spider Vein Treatment By Board-Certified Surgeon

We congratulate the outstanding UAMS healthcare providers voted as Best Healthcare Professionals by the readers of AY magazine.

At UAMS, we’re here to ensure you have access to the best care, right here close to home. With a staff of the best and brightest, personalized medicine and convenient access to clinics, you can feel confident knowing the state of your health is in exceptional hands.

To find a doctor, visit UAMS.Health/BestHealthPros or call 501-686-8000.

“Not only am I listening to them, but I’m also showing them their MRI and, to the best of my ability, showing them where the problem could be coming from.”

Patients First Dr. Dominic Maggio

DBy DOUG CRISE

r. Dominic Maggio is a man with a complicated job who wants to make things as simple as possible for his patients.

As a neurologist at Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists in Little Rock, Maggio spends a great deal of time thinking about being in his patients’ shoes. He knows all too well that practicing medicine can have an almost conveyor belt feeling to it — seeing one patient after another day after day. A lot can get lost in the process, which is why Maggio spends so much of his time making sure everyone he treats leaves with a rock-solid understanding of their diagnosis and treatment plan.

“Not only am I listening to them, but I’m also showing them their MRI and, to the best of my ability, showing them where the problem could be coming from,” Maggio said. “A lot of times, I’ll see a patient, and I’ll be their third opinion, and they haven’t even seen their MRI before — and that’s kind of sad.”

Maggio is not just paying lip service. The more he talks about patient relations, the more passionate he becomes. It is clear that if he needs to spend extra hours on the job educating his patients about their respective conditions, he is willing to do it.

“If they have, let’s say, a big disc herniation, I’ll show them the disc herniation,” Maggio said. “I’ll show them the nerve it’s touching and tell them, ‘OK, this is where we will do an injection to make this bulge get smaller,’ or if it’s a surgery, I’ll use pictures to explain the treatment. That’s just a thing I think is important for doctors to do.”

Maggio is also big on access. Neurologists are not exactly found everywhere, and it is not uncommon for patients in rural areas to drive as long as three hours to meet with him, but after that initial visit, Maggio makes it a point to keep those patients at home as much as possible.

“I’ll see them and get a really good physical exam and show them their MRIs,” Maggio said. “If they are coming from really far away, we do telehealth to check back in with them. It allows them to just hang out in their living room, and I’ll give them a call, and we’ll do a video chat.”

That all leads to each and every patient getting a personalized treatment program, one that does not necessarily include surgery. Maggio’s goal is to explore noninvasive procedures first and build from there.

(Photo courtesy of Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists)

“A lot of times, when people go to a surgeon, they have a setup where if the patient isn’t a slam-dunk surgical candidate, they’ll get sent over to a totally different place,” Maggio said. “It’s a little different here because my partner and I create this entire treatment plan to try and get you better without surgery.”

When surgery is called for, Maggio strives to keep it as simple as possible.

“We’re looking at MRI images and seeing exactly where the problem is,” Maggio said. “We can usually use the information from it to create a surgery that’s minimally invasive.”

Whatever the plan for treatment may be, Maggio strives to keep all of his operations inhouse. While referrals may sometimes be necessary, Maggio prefers to keep things under one roof whenever possible. For him, it is all a part of his larger philosophy of making things easy for patients.

“It’s really important for the doctor to work as a team with them and get them where they want to be and not force anything onto someone,” Maggio said. “I think the one thing that differentiates us from other places is that we have everything set up so that someone who has a problem is evaluated by a neurosurgeon who is conservative. The mindset is to try and do what we can to get you better without surgery.”

BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN DESERVE THE VERY BEST

Thank you for recognizing these champions for children as “Best Healthcare Professionals” in 2024.

Robert C. Baker, M.D.

Eva Barlogie, P.A.

Hannah Beene-Lowder, M.D.

Matthew C. Bell, M.D.

Thomas Best, M.D.

Renee Bornemeier, M.D.

Charles Bower, M.D.

Thomas Burrow, M.D.

Cindy Carpenter, CNP

Joshua Daily, M.D.

Sid Dassinger, M.D.

John Dornhoffer, M.D.

Brian Eble, M.D.

Abby Emanuel, R.N.

Jill Fussell, M.D.

Donna M. Graham, M.D.

Larry Hartzell, M.D.

Jed Kinnick, M.D.

Tamara T. Perry, M.D.

Robert D. Pesek, M.D.

Saritha Ranabothu, M.D.

Brian Reemtsen, M.D.

Gerald Schaefer, M.D.

John Scott, DDS

Stacie M. Jones, M.D.

Aaron Hiegert, DDS

Amy Scurlock, M.D.

Joshua Kennedy, M.D.

Stacie M. Jones, M.D.

Joshua Kennedy, M.D.

Elizabeth Storm, M.D.

Scarlett Yates, R.N.

CONGRATULATIONS!

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DAVID M. RHODES, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

MARK A. TAIT, M.D. UAMS Health

RICHARD S. WIRGES, M.D. OrthoArkansas

THERESA O. WYRICK-GLOVER, M.D. UAMS Health

HEAD & NECK SURGICAL ONCOLOGIST

SCOTT J. STERN, M.D. CARTI

HEALTH COACH

HUNTER LITTLE Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center

HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY

BRADY MCCELLEN, RN Mill Creek Behavioral Health

FRITS VAN RHEE, M.D., PH.D. UAMS Health

HORMONE SPECIALIST

JORDAN DAVIDSON, APRN Beyond Wellness (Hot Springs Village)

KIMBERLY HILL, DNP, APRN, FNP-C Diversity Family Health

CHRISTA JACKSON, APRN Beyond Wellness (Chenal & Hillcrest)

CRYSTAL D. MARCUSSEN, APRN-CNP UAMS Health

KAYLA SANDERS, APRN Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

ANNE TRUSSELL, M.D. Sei Bella Med Spa

PAMELA VOLNER, APRN, FNP-C Painted Rock Health and Wellness

HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE MEDICINE SPECIALIST

KEVIN BEAVERS, M.D. Arkansas Hospice

BRIAN BELL, M.D., FAAHPM Arkansas Hospice

CHRIS BIERMAN, M.D. Arkansas Hospice

WILLIAM COLE, M.D. Arkansas Hospice

NEAL WYATT, D.O. Arkansas Hospice

HOSPITAL

VICTOR ARMSTRONG, DO Baxter Health Harrison Family Practice

HOSPITAL/PEDIATRICS

CHRISTINA M. BARTLETT, M.D.

Saint Mary's Regional Health System

HOSPITAL/SURGERY

MIKE FRANCIS BELL, M.D.

Saint Mary's Regional Health System

HOSPITALIST

STEVEN JAMES, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

ART SLATON, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

RAYMOND BANDY, M.D. Baxter Health

MARY BURGESS, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

JOHN E. DIETRICH, M.D. Infectious Disease Resource Group

MONICA GRAZZIUTTI, M.D. UAMS Health

JASON W. HAMMACK, M.D.

Baptist Health Little Rock

STEPHEN HENNIGAN, M.D.

Infectious Diseases Specialists of Northwest Arkansas

MAXINE C. SEALES KASANGANA, M.D. Baptist Health Medical

DANIEL RAY YOUNG, M.D.

Infectious Diseases Specialists of Northwest Arkansas

INTERNAL MEDICINE

AHMED ALI, M.D. Noydeen Medical Group/Noydeen Beauty

SARA BLAIR, M.D. Autumn Road Family Practice

BLAIR H. GREENWOOD, M.D.

Conway Regional - Mayflower Medical Clinic

JON D. HARPER, M.D.

Baptist Health Adult Medicine Specialists in Fort Smith

RICHARD A. HINKLE JR., M.D.

Baptist Health Adult Medicine Specialists in Fort Smith

CHARLES A. JENNINGS, M.D.

Baptist Health Adult Medicine Specialists in Fort Smith

HOLLY H. JENNINGS, M.D.

Baptist Health Adult Medicine Specialists in Fort Smith

GREG KENDRICK, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

TYLER NELSON, M.D.

Saline Health System

T. BRENT ROSSON, M.D.

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center

CHRISTOPHER SKELLEY, M.D. Saline Health System

ART SLATON, M.D.

Conway Regional Health System

WILLIAM WESLEY THORPE, D.O.

Baptist Health Internal Medicine Associates of North Little Rock

BRANNON TREECE, M.D. NEA Baptist

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST

WESLEY LANE, M.D. Arkansas Heart Hospital

LICENCED PRACTICAL NURSE

HANNAH TIPTON, LPN

Women First Gynecology & Wellness Clinic

LIFESTYLE MEDICINE

MARINA IVANOVSKY, MSN, APRN, FNP-C Marina Lifestyle Medicine

MASSAGE THERAPIST

JAMEL GOHLKE, LMT, CLC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

BROOKE A. SLAIS, LMT,MTI Optimal with Brooke — Brooke A, Slais, LMT, MTI

MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON

JOHN BATSON, DDS Cooper Family Dentistry

MEDICAL AESTHETICIAN

MARIA BOWDON Arkansas Plastic Surgery

MEDICAL ASSISTANT

EMMA CASCIO Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

MEDICAL ESTHETICIAN

OLIVIA GEATER Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

MEDICAL GENETICS

THOMAS BURROW, M.D. Arkansas Children's

GERALD SCHAEFER, M.D. Arkansas Children's

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY

RHONDA GENTRY, M.D. CARTI

RYAN HALL, M.D. CARTI

SAM MAKHOUL, M.D. CARTI

LAWRENCE MENDELSOHN, M.D. CARTI

DEREK MIDDLETON, M.D. CARTI

GRACE RAJA, M.D. CARTI

THOMAS SNEED, M.D. CARTI

MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY

SHERRY CLEMENTS, LCSW Argenta Counseling and Wellness

CHARLES COLE, LPC Conway Counseling and Wellness Center

CHELSEA FARRAR, LPC Conway Counseling and Wellness Center

JOHN A. GUINN, MSN, FNP-BC, APRN-CNP The Guinn Clinic

NINA HARRISON, LCSW, RPT, CO-OWNER Indigo Counseling

ALICE KEENER, LPE-I Conway Counseling and Wellness Center

ANNA KNIGHT, LCSW Conway Counseling and Wellness Center

JOHN KNOTT, LCSW Conway Counseling and Wellness Center

REBECCA MANSFIELD, LCSW Counseling Services of Jacksonville

TIARA MELLON, LPC, LMFT Argenta Counseling and Wellness

SCOTT PASSAFIUME, LPC-S Level Ground Counseling

JAIME STARLING, LPC New Path Mental Health & Wellness

THOMAS STINNETT, M.D. Conway Behavioral Health

MARGARET ANN TAYLOR, LCSW Indigo Counseling

MENTAL HEALTH TRAUMA SPECIALIST

JOSHUA LEE, LPE-1 New Path Mental Health & Wellness

KATIE WALKER, LCSW, RPT Indigo Counseling

NEPHROLOGY

MICHAEL GERSCH, M.D. National Park Medical Center

GARRY BERNARD GLASCO, M.D. Baptist Health Nephrology Associates

NISHANK JAIN, M.D. UAMS Health

GRANT MATHEWS, M.D. Baxter Health

SARITHA RANABOTHU, M.D. Arkansas Children's

MARY JO SHAVER, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY

JAMES ADAMETZ, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Neurological Surgery Associates

LUCAS BRADLEY, M.D. Baxter Health

ALLAN GOCIO, M.D. Baxter Health

ALI KRISHT, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent Neuroscience Institute

DOMINIC MAGGIO, M.D.

Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists

MEGAN N. MARTIN, APRN Baxter Health

ZACHARY MASON, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Neurological Surgery Associates

JOEL PHILLIPS, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Little Rock Neurosurgery Clinic

ALI I. RAJA, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Neurological Surgery Associates

STYLIANOS RAMMOS, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent Neuroscience Institute

SCOTT SCHLESINGER, M.D.

Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists

REZA SHAHIM, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/Neurological Surgery Associate

BRAD THOMAS, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Little Rock Neurosurgery Clinic

NEUROLOGY

ROBERT L. ARCHER, M.D. UAMS Health

LARRY ARMSTRONG, D.O.

Washington Regional Brain and Spine Surgery Clinic, Washington Regional J.B. Hunt Transport Services Neuroscience Institute

BEVERLY A. BEADLE, M.D. Baptist Health

LEONIDES BERMEJO, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

DALE M. CARTER, M.D. UAMS Health

MICHAEL Z. CHESSER, M.D. Baptist Health Medical

ROHIT DHALL, M.D UAMS Health

ALAN DIAMOND, D.O. Washington Regional Senior Health Clinic

DIMITRY ALEXANDER FOMIN, M.D. Mercy Clinic Sleep Medicine

TIM FREYALDENHOVEN, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

EDWARD L. KRAMER, D.O. Baptist Health

YUANYUAN LONG, M.D.

Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle

KELLI SCHLESINGER, M.D.

Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists

KEITH SCHLUTERMAN, M.D.

Conway Regional Neurology

SUDHAKAR TUMMALA, M.D.

CHI St. Vincent

NEURORADIOLOGY

MARK MOSS, M.D. Washington Regional Interventional Neuroradiology Clinic, Washington Regional J.B. Hunt Transport Services Neuroscience Institute

NEUROSURGERY

ALI KRISHT, M.D., FACS CHI St. Vincent

NONSURGICAL COSMETIC

SIDNEY BENNETT, RN Beyond Wellness (Chenal & Hillcrest)

MONICA COOPER, LE Sei Bella Med Spa

BRANDE DANIELS, RN, BSN Ageless Aesthetics of Arkansas

PAIGE KELLY, BSN, RN Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

MIMI LEE, M.D., PA Dr. Mimi Lee Vein & Aesthetic Care/ Doctors MedSpa

ALEXA MEDLOCK, RN Medlock Aesthetics

THERESA J. "TJ" MOIX, APRN Conway Med Spa

SABRINA SHIPP, FNP-BC, MSN Radiant Wellness

KATHERINE THOMAS, RN Arkansas Aesthetics

ANNE TRUSSELL, M.D. Sei Bella Med Spa

AMBER WARD, RN, BSN Arkansas Plastic Surgery

KRISTEN WEATHERFORD, LE Radiant Wellness

HEATHER WHALEY, M.D. Defy Age Med Spa

MAEGAN WHITEHEAD, LE Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

NONSURGICAL INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MANAGEMENT

DREW BEASLEY, M.D. OrthoArkansas

GUNTER CAIN, M.D. OrthoArkansas

GARY FRANKOWSKI, M.D. OrthoArkansas

STEPHEN PAULUS, M.D. OrthoArkansas

BRENT WALKER, M.D. OrthoArkansas

NURSE/ NURSE PRACTIITIONER

CRISTIE ALLEN, APRN Arkansas Heart Hospital

IMANE AMRANI, RN UAMS Health

RACHEL ASHCRAFT, APRN Cornerstone Clinic for Women

KELLY BASSETT, APRN Baptist Health Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas

SARA CARMICHAEL, RN UAMS Health

CINDY CARPENTER, CNP Arkansas Children's

NICHOLE CLARK, APRN Hope Medical Clinic

SHAWN CLAWSON, APRN Arkansas Urology

ZACK COCO, MNSC, APRN, PMHNP-BC New Path Mental Health & Wellness

BARBARA COLE, RN Arkansas Gastroenterology

ERINN CRAIG, RN Conway Regional - Renaissance Women’s Clinic/Conway Regional Health System

TRACI CRUMP, APRN Saline Health System

JORDAN DAVIDSON, APRN Beyond Wellness (Hot Springs Village)

RHONDA DIXON, APRN Conway Regional Health System

ABBY EMANUEL, RN Arkansas Children's

HALEY ENDACOTT, APRN-BC, AE-C ENT & Allergy Center

LAUREN EVANS, RN, CCRC Baptist Health

STEPHANIE FARMER, APRN Saline Health System

ANGELA FOSTER, M.D. Conway Regional Medical Clinic

MARK FOSTER, NP Arkansas State University

NEKO GILBERT, RN UAMS Health

WILLIAM ZACHARY GOZA, APRN ARCare

SHANNON GRAHAM, APRN UAMS Health

KELLY HALL, APRN Arkansas Heart Hospital

KIMBERLY HILL, DNP, APRN, FNP-C Diversity Family Health

SARAH HOLLAND, APRN West Little Rock Women’s Center

CHRISTA JACKSON, APRN Beyond Wellness (Chenal & Hillcrest)

JARROD JERRY, APRN Conway Regional Greenbrier

BAILEY JONES, APRN Baptist Health

PAIGE KELLY, BSN, RN

Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

REBECCA LEE, APRN Collaborating Docs

DANIELLE LYNCH, APN Renew Mental Health and Wellness

KIMBERLY MACCONAUGHA, APRN-CNP Cabot Health & Wellness

ALLISON MORROW, APRN Arkansas Urology

AMANDA K. PAYNE, APRN The Woman's Clinic

SHANNON POGUE, APRN-CNP Access Medical Clinic Arkansas

ANDY PRUDHOMME, RN UAMS Health

ATALIE SESSIONS, APRN Autumn Road Family Practice

JENNIFER SHULER, MNSC, RN, APRN, ACNP-BC, PMHNP-BC Pulaski Heights Wellness Clinic

TONJA SNOW, APRN Baptist Health Medical

ANGELIA STURGIS, RN UAMS Health

MATT TAYLOR, APRN Gastro Arkansas

DANA TREAT, APRN Hope Medical Clinic

LAUREN VEAZEY, APN Baptist Lakewood

PAMELA VOLNER, APRN, FNP-C Painted Rock Health and Wellness

KRISTEN WAGNER, APRN OrthoArkansas

KATELYN WARREN, DNP, AGACNP-BC Saline Health System

AUDREY WEATHERRED, RN Saline Memorial

KAYLEN WELTER, APRN Conway Regional Health System

LESLIE ANN WILCOX, RNP Arkansas Urology

WISCHELLE WILLIAMS, APRN Arkansas Urology

SCARLETT YATES, RN Arkansas Children's Hospital

REBEKAH YOUNG, APRN OrthoArkansas

NURSE INJECTOR

VICTORIA ARRICK , RN Kelamis Plastic Surgery

ANGELA CASE, RN, CANS

Melanie Prince Plastic Surgery/ Prince Plastic Surgery

JENNIFER GABBARD, RN Shewmake Plastic Surgery

PAIGE KELLY, RN

Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

Deena Fitzgerald, APRN, from left, owner Lindsey Sabatini, APRN, DNP, and Allison Howell, CLS

“It was my rotation in OB-GYN that made me realize that that was my calling because it was a good combination of surgery but also with the obstetrics aspect.”

Reimagining Care Dr. Lauren Nolen

By MARY LESIEUR

Conway obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Lauren Nolen has spent the last decade perfecting the art of providing quality care to her patients and community.

With an emphasis on personally knowing every patient, Nolen destigmatizes and promotes women’s health through her outreach inside and outside Conway OB-GYN and Elevation Med Spa.

Nolen began her professional career in 2016 after graduating from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where she completed her residency and medical school. The Perryville native and graduate of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway said she showed an initial interest in medicine before her collegiate endeavors because of her father’s profession as a family practice physician.

Nolen said she knew she was interested in women’s health, general surgery and orthopedics, but she was torn until her rotation in an OB-GYN unit.

“It was my rotation in OB-GYN that made me realize that that was my calling because it was a good combination of surgery but also with the obstetrics aspect,” Nolen said. “When I did my OBGYN rotation, I just realized that that was what I was supposed to do. It just clicked.”

Like many who go into obstetrics and gynecology, Nolen said that implementing a friendly, aesthetically pleasing and welcoming environment is a top priority congruent with offering excellent care.

“My staff are the first people that they see,” Nolen said. “We have a wonderful clinic that’s aesthetically pleasing, a nice place to come to. Hopefully, they have a good experience with friendly staff that makes them feel welcome.

“I like it when I’ve seen them before — that rapport with them before they come. We just try to make it comfortable for them. ... I have more knowledge about them than just their medical history — what they do, who their family is or what they have going on in their lives. Being a female, for some people, is a comfort. Then you find something to relate with them about, whether it be talking about my own children or my own birth experiences.”

Nolen said getting to know her patients is one of the many joys of her work. Although there are numerous pleasures of being a provider, Nolen said the most rewarding aspect of her work is an emotional one.

(Photo courtesy of Conway OB-GYN)

“Delivering babies is the obvious highlight, but honestly, one of the most rewarding parts is walking with patients through both the joys and the sorrows, like helping families after a pregnancy loss and then later seeing them have a healthy pregnancy. The emotional journey with patients, sharing both heartbreak and joy, is incredibly meaningful. Overall, obstetrics tends to involve mostly healthy women and happy outcomes, so it’s easy to enjoy my work.”

During her career, Nolen has blended personable care and medical expertise to educate her patients. She said the field of obstetrics and gynecology faces misinformation about critical topics, and with her largest demographic being women of childbearing age, knowing the facts is essential.

“One of the hardest parts is combating misinformation,” Nolen said. “Patients often trust what they see on TikTok or Google over their doctor’s advice. Building a strong relationship helps, but I also talk to patients early on about avoiding unreliable sources and remind them we’re here to answer their questions. It’s an ongoing challenge in today’s world.

“Misinformation affects everyone. Conway is a hub for obstetric care across seven counties or more, so we see a diverse range of patients. Many people having babies are in that younger demographic, which can make education around reliable health information especially important.”

Along with providing medical care to her community, Nolen also saw a call to integrate spa commodities with annual care. Opening in 2021, Elevation Med Spa offers various wellness and beauty services.

“With the large number of women we see, it made sense to offer these services under one roof for convenience and continuity of care,” she said.

Dr. Tracy Van Es has been meeting the hearing needs of Arkansans since 2001. She’s a graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and earned her doctorate from the Pennsylvania School of Audiology.

Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Tracy Van Es.... Because life is worth hearing!

AMBER WARD, RN, BSN

Arkansas Plastic Surgery

OBSTETRICIAN & GYNECOLOGY

JENNIFER ANDERSON, M.D. Baptist Health Surgical Clinic

RALYNN BRANN, M.D. Saline Health System

KEVIN BRENIMAN, M.D. Cornerstone Clinic for Women

BRIAN M. BURTON, M.D. The Woman's Clinic

KAY CHANDLER, M.D. Cornerstone Clinic for Women

KRIS CITTY, M.D. Unity Health

KYLE CITTY, M.D. Unity Health

MICHAEL CLOUATRE, M.D. Willow Creek Women's Clinic

ANDREW COLE, M.D. Conway OB-GYN

AUDRA COLE, D.O. Lifespring Women’s Healthcare

MICHAEL COPE, M.D. The Woman's Clinic

JENNIFER DOYLE, M.D. Baptist Health

MAUREEN FLOWERS, M.D. Baxter Health

BRYAN FULLER, M.D. Natural State OB/GYN

AMY GALDAMEZ, M.D. Baptist Health/ Central Clinic for Women

SHELLY GIBBS, M.D. The Woman's Clinic

JULIE GOODWIN, M.D. West Little Rock Women’s Center

NICQUEL GORDON, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

CHRISTINA GREEN, M.D. Saline Health System

JENNY GREGORY, M.D. Arkansas Women's Center

PHILLIP GULLIC, M.D. Conway OB-GYN

CHRISTOPHER HALL, M.D. Mercy Clinic OB/Gyn

J. TODD HANNAH, M.D. Lifespring Women’s Healthcare

LINDSAY HEULITT, M.D. Central Clinic for Women

KEITHA HOLLAND, M.D. Conway OB-GYN

KEN V. HOLT, D.O. Baxter Health

CINDY HUBACH, M.D. Central Clinic for Women

CLINTON HUTCHINSON, M.D. Arkansas Women's Center

JILL K. JENNINGS, M.D. The Woman's Clinic

AMY JOHNSON, M.D. Conway Women’s Health Center

LETICIA JONES, M.D. The Woman's Clinic

MORGAN M. KNIGHT, M.D. UAMS Health

DEBRA LAWRENCE, M.D. Conway Women's Health Center

STEPHEN MARKS, M.D. Baptist Health

BRANDIE MARTIN, M.D. Conway Women’s Health Center

DEAN MOUTOS, M.D. Arkansas Fertility and Gynecology

ANGELA MYLES, M.D. Saline Health System

LAUREN NOLEN, M.D. Conway OB-GYN

MELISSA ODOM, RN Baptist Health

LINDSAY OSLEBER, M.D. Arkansas Women's Center

LORIE OSWALT, APN Lifespring Women's Healthcare

HEATHER OWENS, M.D. Women First Gynecology & Wellness Clinic

ANANTH RANGANATHAN, M.D. Arkansas Women's Center

GREG REITER, D.O. Willow Creek Women's Clinic

KIMBERLY REYNOLDS, M.D. West Little Rock Women’s Center

JAMES ROBB, M.D. Saline Health System

LAWRENCE SCHMITZ, M.D. Lifespring Women's Healthcare

MATTHEW A. SELLERS, M.D. Cornerstone Clinic for Women

COURTNEY SICK, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

KENNETH SINGLETON, M.D. Cornerstone Clinic for Women

DORA MAH SMITH, M.D. UAMS Health

CHAD B. TAYLOR, M.D. UAMS Health

JOSH WARD, M.D. Conway Women's Health Center

JULIA WATKINS, M.D. West Little Rock Women’s Center

AMY WIEDOWER, M.D. Central Clinic for Women

EMILY WILLIAMS, M.D. Arkansas Women's Center

OCULARIST/ANAPLASTOLOGY

JOHN D. PEMBERTON, D.O. UAMS Health

ONCOLOGY

K'ANNE CASH ARTHUR, M.D. Highlands Oncology Group

OMAR T. ATIQ, M.D. UAMS Health

BRAD BALTZ, M.D. Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute

J. THADDEUS BECK, M.D., FACP Highlands Oncology Group

BROOKE E. BRANDER, D.O. Highlands Oncology Group

LYNSAY BRAUTNICK, M.D. Highlands Oncology Group

FRED DIVERS, M.D. Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute

RHONDA GENTRY, M.D. Baptist Health

RYAN KOCH, D.O. Unity HealthThe Pyeatt Family Cancer Center

M. BLAKE LOCKWOOD, M.D. Highlands Oncology Group

STACIE MCCORD, M.D. Unity HealthThe Pyeatt Family Cancer Center

GREGORY J. OAKHILL, M.D. Highlands Oncology Group

WHIT ROBERTSON, M.D. Unity HealthThe Pyeatt Family Cancer Center

STEPHAN B. ROSENFELD, M.D. Highlands Oncology Group

CESAR GIANCARLO GENTILLE SANCHEZ, M.D. UAMS Health

OPHTHALMOLOGY

TRACY BALTZ, M.D. Little Rock Eye Clinic

AUSTIN P. BELL, M.D. BoozmanHof

CHAD BETTS, M.D., RPH McDonald Eye Associates

SUSAN BLAIR, M.D. Baptist Health Little Rock Eye Clinic

W. PATRICK COLLINS, M.D. Collins Eye Clinic

ROMONA DAVIS, M.D. UAMS Health

CHRISTIAN HESTER, M.D. Baptist Health/Little Rock Eye Clinic

LYDIA LANE, M.D. Little Rock Eye Clinic

EDDIE MENGARELLI, M.D. McDonald Eye Associates

EVAN NEWBOLT, M.D. McFarland Eye Care

SEVERIN POULY, M.D. Little Rock Eye Clinic

DANIEL T. SINES, M.D. BoozmanHof

MICHAEL R. WAGGONER, D.O. BoozmanHof

OPTOMETRY

PERRY AMERINE, D.O. Amerine Eye Care

VALERIE ARNOLD, O.D. River Mountain Eye Care

SHELBY BROGDON, O.D. Noh Eyes Left Behind

JADE COATS, O.D. McDonald Eye Associates

LEIGH COX, O.D. Conway Family Eye Care

SARAH DAVIS, O.D. Conway Family Eye Care

SUSAN DEBLACK, O.D. Conway Family Eye Care

SHANE E. FORD. O.D. Arkansas Eye Care Group

ALAN GROVER, O.D. McDonald Eye Associates

DEREK S. LONG, O.D. Maumelle Eye Care

PAUL NGUYEN, O.D. McDonald Eye Associates

TIFFANIE NGUYEN, O.D. McDonald Eye Associates

RUSSELL RUSTY SIMMONS, O.D. Simmons Eye Care

MARY C. SULLIVAN, O.D. BoozmanHof C. SCOTT WOODWARD, O.D. BoozmanHof

ORAL MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON

JOHN BATSON, DDS Capitol Oral Surgery & Implant Center

ERNIE S. WOODARD, DDS Woodard & Sundell Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Implant and Periodontal Surgery

ORAL SURGERY

AARON B. BALDWIN, DMD, M.D. Arkansas Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeries

JOHN BATSON, DDS Capitol Oral Surgery & Implant Center

DARON C. PRAETZEL, DMD Arkansas Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons

ORTHODONTIST

BRITTANY CURRY, DDS, M.S. Westrock Orthodontics

JOHN A. DANIEL, DDS

Daniel & Jones Orthodontics

ALEX JONES, DDS, MDS

Daniel & Jones Orthodontics

CARMELLA MONTEZ KNOERNSCHILD, DDS, CAGS

Dr. Carmella M. Knoernschild Orthodontic Clinic

CATRIONA OLTMANN, DMD Family Dental Assoc.

DAVID WARDLAW, DDS Wardlaw Orthodontics

BEST HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Jesse D. Abeler, DO Orthopedics

Dana C. Abraham, MD Breast Oncology

James Adametz, MD Neurosurgery

Samuel Baxter, MD Orthopedics

Scott Bowen, MD Orthopedics

Jesse B. Burks, DPM Foot/Ankle Surgery

Paul K. Edwards, MD Orthopedics

Tom Hart, MD Pain Management

William Hefley, MD Orthopedics

Jerry Lorio, MD Orthopedics

Kenneth Martin, MD Orthopedics

Zach Mason, MD Neurosurgery

Samuel Moore, DO Orthopedics

Larry L. Nguyen, MD Orthopedics

Joel Phillips, MD Ortho/Spine

Ali I. Raja, MD Neurosurgery

David Rhodes, MD Orthopedics

Clay Riley, MD Orthopedics

Kenneth Rosenzweig, MD Pain Management

Ben Sessions, MD Anesthesiology

Reza Shahim, MD Neurosurgery

Joel Smith, MD Orthopedics

Jason Stewart, MD Orthopedics

Brad Thomas, MD Neurosurgery

How does a small, family-owned aesthetic practice in Hot Springs gain so much popularity and respect? Quite simply — by providing quality from every angle. Terri Wells, a board-certified family nurse practitioner with more than two decades of health care experience, set out on a path to bring something exceptional to the Hot Springs community and her industry.

“I’ve always had a passion for helping people,” Wells said. “My journey in aesthetics began with a deep interest in both science and art. This career has allowed me to merge those passions into something meaningful. Seeing the transformation in my clients not just physically but emotionally is incredibly fulfilling.”

Wells is the owner and clinical director of Infinity Signature Aesthetics, a thriving practice built on the belief that when people feel good in their own skin, they shine in every part of their lives. With Wells’ specialized certifications in both basic and advanced injectables and a team of highly-skilled aesthetic professionals, the goal of Infinity Signature Aesthetics is to provide high-quality, medically sound care in a warm and welcoming environment.

“We believe in beauty that begins with confidence,” Wells said. “We’re not here to change who you are; we’re here to highlight what makes you uniquely beautiful.”

The practice carefully develops a plan and then strategically implements it with the utmost safety in mind. Full assessment, facial balancing and personalized care are the foundations of every client’s tailored journey. Wells’ top goal is to normalize a natural, refreshed look, and she has a special interest in regenerative aesthetics.

“Spending quality time with each client is critical,” Wells said. “The most rewarding part is witnessing someone light up with renewed confidence after a treatment. There’s nothing like it.”

Wells’ expertise and compassionate approach have quickly made Infinity Signature Aesthetics a trusted name in the community. She has also been recognized as one of AY About You’s “Best Women in Health Care,” and her practice has previously been nominated for small business of the year by the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. For individuals looking for top-notch quality and individualized aesthetic care, Infinity Signature Aesthetics is a must-see. The premier medical spa combines science and artistry to deliver transformative quality results.

“I’m most proud of building personalized relationships with my clients,” Wells said. “It’s not just about enhancing appearances. It’s about empowering people.”

Terri Wells, Owner/Clinical Director, APRN, FNP-BC

ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY

JEFFREY ANGEL, M.D. White River Health Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

ERIC BOE, M.D. Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic

DYLAN CARPENTER, M.D. White River Health Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

DAVID GILLIAM, M.D. Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic

PHILIP JOHNSON, M.D. Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic

ADAM KESSLER, D.O. Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic

RICHARD NIX, M.D. Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic

ADAM NORWOOD, D.O. Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic

CHRISTOPHER STEWART, M.D. Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic

JOHN YOCUM, M.D. Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic

ORTHOPEDICS

BJ BAILEY, M.D. Arkansas Bone & Joint

SAMUEL BAXTER, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Martin Orthopedics

R. BRYAN BENAFIELD JR., M.D. Ozark Orthopaedics

KYLE BLICKENSTAFF, M.D. Unity Health

MICHAEL BOGATCH, M.D. Baptist Health

W. SCOTT BOWEN, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

CARI CORDELL, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

GEORGE "BJ" W. DEIMEL, M.D. Ozark Orthopaedics

PAUL K. EDWARDS, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

TOD GHORMLEY, M.D. COSMC

KAITLYN GRIFFIN, APRN Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic

JEFFREY K. GRYNWALD, M.D. Baptist Health Medical

C. KRIS HANBY, M.D. Ozark Orthopaedics

BRYAN HEAD, M.D., FACS Conway Regional Health System

JAMES L. HEAD, M.D. COSMC

WILLIAM F. HEFLEY, JR., M.D., FAAOS

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

ERIC HEIM, M.D Advanced Orthopedic Specialists

ANDREW D. HEINZELMANN, M.D. Ozark Orthopaedics

C. NOEL HENLEY, M.D. Ozark Orthopaedics

JEFF W. JOHNSON, M.D. Ozark Orthopaedics

JERRY LORIO, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Arkansas Bone & Joint

CHARBEL MAROUN, M.D. Arkansas Methodist Medical

KENNETH MARTIN, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Martin Orthopedics

SAMUEL A. MOORE, D.O.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

LARRY L. NGUYEN, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

REGIS L. RENARD, M.D. UAMS Health

CLAYTON H. RILEY, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Martin Orthopedics

THOMAS ROBERTS, M.D. Conway Regional Health Systems

SARAH SCOTT, APRN Baptist Health Orthopedic Clinic

JOEL SMITH, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Martin Orthopedics

DEVIN ST. CLAIR, M.D. Advanced Orthopedic Specialists

JASON STEWART, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

VICTOR VARGAS, M.D. OrthoArkansas

DAVID YAKIN, M.D. Advanced Orthopedic Specialists

OTOLARYNGOLOGY

CHARLES BOWER, M.D. Arkansas Children's

WILLIAM J. BULKLEY, M.D. Arkansas Methodist Medical

J. CHRIS COLCLASURE, M.D. Arkansas Otolaryngology Center

JOHN DORNHOFFER, M.D. Arkansas Children's

LARRY HARTZELL, M.D. Arkansas Children's

H. GRAVES HEARNSBERGER III, M.D. Arkansas Otolaryngology Center

FELICIA JOHNSON, M.D. ENT Center of the Ozarks

JEFFREY P. KIRSCH, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

BRYAN K. LANSFORD, M.D. Baptist Health/NEA Baptist

KEVIN LOLLAR, M.D., FACS, FAAOA

ENT Center of the Ozarks/ Northwest Health

RALPH MARRERO, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

JEFFREY MILLER, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

MAURICIO A. MORENO, M.D. UAMS Health

PAUL R. NEIS, M.D. Baxter Health

DEL SLONEKER, M.D. ENT Center of the Ozarks

JAMES Y. SUEN, M.D. UAMS Health

CORY VAUGHN, M.D. ENT Center of the Ozarks

PAIN MANAGEMENT & REHABILITATION

JOHN BROWN, D.O. Arkansas Spine and Pain

EREN ERDEM, M.D. Arkansas Spine and Pain

JILL FLAXMAN, M.D. Natural State Pain and Wellness Clinic

AHMED GHALEB, M.D. Baptist Health Advanced Spine & Pain Centers

TOM HART, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Pain Consultants of Arkansas

JAMES HUNT, M.D. Pain Treatment Centers of America/ Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital

MIKHAIL IVANOVSKY, M.D. Pain Treatment Centers of America

RODNEY MCCARVER, M.D. Conway Regional Advanced Pain Management Center

CHRISTOPHER K. MOCEK, M.D. The Mocek Spine Clinic

AMIR QURESHI, M.D. Arkansas Spine and Pain

NOEMI RAMSAY, M.D. Pain Treatment Centers of America

MIKIO RANAHAN, M.D. Conway Regional Advanced Pain Management

AMY REGNAS, APRN Natural State Pain and Wellness Clinic

J. CARLOS ROMAN, M.D.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Proper Pain Solutions

KENNETH ROSENZWEIG, M.D. Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Orthopedic Spine & Sports

MERAJ SIDDIQUI, M.D.

White River Health Pain ManagementBatesville/Pain Treatment Centers of America

TATYANA STEPANENKO, M.D

Arkansas Spine and Pain

MOHAMED TOLBA, M.D.

Arkansas Spine and Pain

KAREN WILLIAMS, APRN

Natural State Pain and Wellness Clinic

PALLIATIVE CARE

CHRIS BIERMAN, M.D.

Arkansas Palliative Care

DANIEL CARTAYA, M.D.

Arkansas Palliative Care

NATALIE BROOK PEEPLES, M.D. UAMS Health

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

EMILY CHEEK, DDS Leap Kids Dental

AARON K. FORRESTER, DDS

Groovy Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

EMILY E. FOURMY, DDS River Valley Pediatric Dentistry

GERALD FRIEND, DDS

Conway Pediatric Dental Group

JASON HAVARD, DDS

Conway Pediatric Dental Group

AARON HIEGERT, DDS

Arkansas Children's

ANDY KITCHENS, DDS Kitchens Pediatric Dentistry

BRANDON KITCHENS, DDS Kitchens Pediatric Dentistry

MICHAEL KITCHENS, DDS Kitchens Pediatric Dentistry

APRIL MCCAIN, DDS Leap Kids Dental

STEFANIE MEEK, DDS

Conway Pediatric Dental Group

PAULA NOH, DMD Leap Kids Dental

JOHN SCOTT, DDS

Arkansas Children's/ Conway Pediatric Dental Group

SUMMER B. TYSON, DDS

Jonesboro Pediatric Dental Group

PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENT & BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

JARROD ADKISSON, M.D. Ozark Guidance

SAADIA HANEEF, D.O. Simple Soul Counseling Services and Wellness Clinic Associates

DIANE LYDDON, APRN Washington Regional Medical Center

CHAD STRIKE, LCSW Counseling Clinic

PEDIATRIC - GENERAL

HANNAH BEENE-LOWDER, M.D. Arkansas Children's

SARAH BONE, M.D.

Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

CARLA BROWN, M.D. UAMS Health

“It is very rewarding for me to see patients who are struggling and unable to participate in activities they love be able to return to those activities as a result of their treatment.”

Essential Option Dr. Dwight Stewart

By MARK CARTER

Dr. Dwight Stewart, chiropractor at Pain Care Associates in Little Rock, sees the chiropractic profession as an essential part of today’s health care system — as simply another component to the diverse array of treatment options available for patients. That has not always been the case.

Because chiropractors do not carry the “M.D.” credentials attributed to traditional doctors of medicine, many suffering patients are hesitant to consider chiropractic care. However, that hesitancy discounts the millions of success stories realized as the result of chiropractic treatment.

“We offer many treatment options in our practice, to include traditional techniques and very gentle techniques,” Stewart said. “Patients who may be nervous about chiropractic care feel at ease when they learn that we offer treatment options that provide excellent results and that fit their needs and comfort level. Most insurance companies cover chiropractic care and physical therapy, and we are participating providers in the vast majority of plans.”

When Stewart launched his practice almost 40 years ago, chiropractic care carried a stigma, but the practice is now much more accepted as a viable health care choice by the general public and the medical profession alike, he said.

“It is very rewarding for me to see patients who are struggling and unable to participate in activities they love be able to return to those activities as a result of their treatment,” he said. “Patients are very grateful when they are able to return to playing golf, tennis, skiing, pickleball, gardening or even playing with the grandchildren, to name a few.”

Stewart is quick to emphasize that chiropractic care is simply another component to overall health care. Doctors of chiropractic do not receive the same training as physicians, but practitioners of the two variations oftentimes work together. Sometimes the difference in training ends up being a good thing for the patient.

“I approach my patient care with a conservative and holistic mindset,” Stewart said. “I have always worked as part of the overall health care system and work in coordination with my patients’ medical providers. I consider myself a part of the medical community, not separate from.”

Stewart said he refers patients for outside advanced imaging such as MRIs and for consultations with other medical specialists and surgeons when necessary.

“I have a physical therapist working with me in my office. We’ve been working together for 25 years,” he said. “I treat a large number of health care providers in my office, including medical doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists and more. They feel comfortable in my office because we have a professional setting, and we speak the same language.”

People see chiropractors to remove obstacles. When those obstacles stand between patients and where they want to be in their lives related to health and activity level, both now and in the future, that is where chiropractors can help, Stewart said.

“Mobility is at the top of the list for maintaining quality of life in our later years,” he added.

In addition to chiropractic, physical therapy and ergonomic therapeutic care, Stewart’s practice offers treatment for spine-related injuries, arthritis, carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, tendinitis and fibromyalgia, as well as arm, leg, shoulder and foot pain.

Patient education plays an important role in his practice, Stewart said.

“We discuss realistic goals and work very hard to reach those goals,” he said. “Communication is a key to success, and we work very hard to build trust, relationships and good communication with our patients.”

Health care can be just as physically demanding on the professionals as it can on patients, and chiropractors understand that they must be good patients to help ensure they are effective providers.

“Being a chiropractor is quite physically demanding,” Stewart said. “I exercise at the gym at least three days per week, get regular chiropractic adjustments and massage to keep me going after 36 years in practice.”

(Photo courtesy of Pain Care Associates)

TRUSTED CANCER CARE.

CARTI providers have once again been named among AY Magazine’s 2025 Best Healthcare Professionals. This recognition reflects the tireless dedication of our team, who provide expert, leading-edge cancer care with compassion, innovation and purpose. At CARTI, we remain committed to delivering trusted care that patients and their families can count on every step of the way.

NATALIE BURR, M.D.

Little Rock Pediatric Clinic

JERRY BYRUM, M.D.

All for Kids Pediatric Clinic

JESSICA CANNON, M.D. Hot Springs Pediatric Clinic

TERENCE L. CHAMPLIN, M.D. TLC Pediatrics

ANTON DUKE, M.D. Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

TONY ELIAS, M.D. All for Kids Pediatric Clinic

JESSICA FOX, M.D. Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

ASHLEY HALPAIN, M.D. All for Kids Pediatric Clinic

ANTHONY JOHNSON, M.D. Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

CHRIS KILLINGSWORTH, M.D. The Children's Clinic of Conway and Greenbrier

JOSH LYON, M.D. All for Kids Pediatric Clinic

KIMBERLY MACCONAUGHA, APRN-CNP Cabot Health & Wellness

BRICIN MARTIN, APRN Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

DAWN MARTIN, M.D. All for Kids Pediatric Clinic

AMBER MCGUIRE, APRN Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

BRITTANY MOFFETT, APRN Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

LORI MONTGOMERY, M.D. Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

MISTY NOLEN, M.D. Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

JOSHUA O’NEILL, M.D. Little Rock Pediatric Clinic

MINDY POMTREE, M.D. Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

MEGHAN REPP, M.D. Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

ROBBIE RHODES, M.D. Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

CATHERINE ROBBEN, M.D. Little Rock Pediatric Clinic

AMANDA ROBERTS, M.D. Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

CHAD RODGERS, M.D. Little Rock Pediatric Clinic

KRISTA SANTIAGO, APRN Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

STACY SAX, M.D. Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

KIM SKELLEY, M.D. All for Kids Pediatric Clinic

DAVID WEED, M.D. Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

SEPTEMBER WESTBROOK, M.D.

All for Kids Pediatric Clinic

REBECCA WHITE, APRN

Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic

PEDIATRIC SURGERY

SID DASSINGER, M.D.

Arkansas Children’s

PERIODONTIST SURGEON

TACY M. SUNDELL, DDS

Woodard & Sundell Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Implant and Periodontal Surgery

PHARMACY

SAM EDDINGTON, PHARM.D. Cornerstone Pharmacy

BRITTANY MARSH, PHARM.D. Cornerstone Pharmacy

KYLEIGH STOUT, PHARM.D. Cornerstone Pharmacy

PHYSICAL THERAPY

TYLER BASS, DPT Advanced Physical Therapy

CHELSEA BURROWS, PT, DPT Arkansas Otolaryngology Center

MATT COLLAR, DPT Advanced Physical Therapy

ROY DENTON, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

MADISON FERRELL, DPT, PRPC Pelvic Rehab of Bryant

DEREK LAGEMANN, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT Physical Therapy Institute

STEVE LONGINOTTI, MSPT Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

SANDY MCDONALD, PT, PRPC Advanced Physical Therapy

BETH MILLIGAN, APRN Conway Regional Health System

KELSEY MOIX, DPT, PRPC Advanced Physical Therapy

MARLA MURPHY, DPT, PT Exceptional Physical Therapy

MARIO RAMIREZ ZERMENO, PT Lonoke Physical Therapy

LISA SALLINGS, PT Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

BRAD SANDERS, PT, DPT Physical Therapy Institute

MATT THORNTON, MSPT Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

GENA WOODWARD, M.S., PT Pain Care Associates

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

EVA BARLOGIE, PA Arkansas Children's

SAVANNAH BRADBURY, PA-C Conway Regional Health System Neuroscience Center

ANN BROWN, PA Baptist Health West

MAGGIE BROWN, PA-C OrthoArkansas

JAMI HOWELL, PA-C Arkansas Urology

JASMIN LEASE, PA-C Arkansas Bone & Joint

BROOKE MONEY, PA Conway Regional

EMILEE T. ODOM, PA-C Arkansas Dermatology

MATTHEW T. REYNOLDS, PA-C Arkansas Dermatology

ROBERT STEVENS, PA-C Ozark Dermatology

BAILEY POLLOCK PA-C Franks Dermatology

ELIZABETH TURBEVILLE, PA-C Franks Dermatology

DIA WATSON, PA Arkansas Bone & Joint

PLASTIC SURGERY

DAVID BAUER, M.D. Arkansas Plastic Surgery

J. ALEX KELAMIS, M.D. Kelamis Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics

STEPHANIE KOONCE, M.D. Écosse Plastic Surgery

MELANIE PRINCE, M.D. Melanie Prince Plastic Surgery/ Prince Plastic Surgery

KRIS SHEWMAKE, M.D. Shewmake Plastic Surgery

GENE SLOAN, M.D., FACS Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

MICHAEL L. SPANN, M.D. Little Rock Plastic Surgery

ERIC WRIGHT, M.D. Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa

ZACHARY YOUNG, M.D. Arkansas Plastic Surgery

PODIATRY

JESSE B. BURKS, DPM Arkansas Surgical Hospital/ Bowen Hefley Orthopedics

R. ALEX DELLINGER, DPM

Foot & Ankle Associates of Central Arkansas

CODY GAUPEL, DPM

Foot & Ankle Associates of Central Arkansas

MEGAN HERRING, DPM

Foot & Ankle Associates of Central Arkansas

NAVAL PATEL, DPM

CHI St. Vincent

AARON K. SEITER, DPM

Seiter Foot & Ankle Specialists

PRIMARY CARE

KIMBERLY MACCONAUGHA, APRN-CNPD Cabot Health & Wellness

PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS

CARA BRAY, MPO, CPO, LOPP Snell Prosthetics & Orthotics - Little Rock

JEREMY CROWELL, BOCPO, LOPA Snell Prosthetics & Orthotics - Little Rock

SEAN DINEEN, MPO, CPO, LOPP Snell Prosthetics & OrthoticsNorth Little Rock

GARY HORTON, CO, LO Horton's Orthotics & Prosthetics

MICHAEL HORTON, LPO, CPO Horton's Orthotics & Prosthetics

JOSH KETELSEN, CPOA, CPED, LOPA, LPED Snell Prosthetics & Orthotics - Bryant

JIM MCCALLISTER, C.O., LOPP Snell Pro s thetics & Orthotics - Fort Smith

FRANK SNELL, CPO, LOPP, FAA Snell Prosthetics & Orthotics - Little Rock

PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER

CODY COTTRELL, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC Argenta Counseling and Wellness

LAQUINTHA HENDERSON, PMHNP Argenta Counseling and Wellness

JENNIFER SHULER, MNSC, RN, APRN, ACNP-BC, PMHNP-BC Pulaski Heights Wellness Clinic

PSYCHIATRIST — ADULTS

JESSICA L. COKER, M.D. UAMS Health

JANE KANG, M.D. Baptist Health Behavioral Health Clinic on Springhill North Little Rock

NIHIT KUMAR, M.D., DFAACAP Argenta Counseling and Wellness

DANIELLE LYNCH, APN Renew Mental Health and Wellness

ABEER WASHINGTON, M.D. Rice Clinic

PSYCHIATRIST — CHILD

DANIELLE LYNCH, APN Renew Mental Health and Wellness

ABEER WASHINGTON, M.D. Rice Clinic

PSYCHIATRY

JOHN DOWNES, M.D. Levi Hospital

LISA J. FITZGIBBONS, PH.D., ABPP Mercy Clinic Behavioral Health - Rogers

THE BEST HOSPITAL WITH THE BEST HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

At Conway Regional, our award-winning team is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate health care to the communities we serve. We are honored to be home to many of AY’s Best Healthcare Professionals in addition to being voted "Best Hospital" in the state by the readers of AY magazine for six years in a row.

JENNIFER FREILINO, LPC

501 Counseling

REBECCA SCHLAU, PSY.D Saline Psychological Services

KATIE SHORT, LPC 501 Counseling

JENNIFER SHULER, MNSC, RN, APRN, ACNP-BC, PMHNP-BC Pulaski Heights Wellness Clinic

PSYCHOTHERAPY

MICHAEL W. BIBBS, M.S., LPE-I West Rock Counseling

MICHELE CLARK, M.S., LPC, LMFT West Rock Counseling

JENNIFER SHULER, APRN Pulaski Heights Wellness Clinic, PLLC

PULMONOLOGY

BRIAN I. MALTE, M.D. Baxter Health

RADIATION ONCOLOGIST

MATTHEW E. HARDEE, M.D., PH.D. CARTI

SANJAY MARABOYINA, M.D. UAMS Health

RADIATION ONCOLOGY

WESLEY B. GARNER, M.D. Highlands Oncology Group

RADIOLOGY

DANIEL CLARK, M.D. Conway Regional Health System

EREN ERDEM, M.D. Baptist Health

JOSEPH S. MURPHY, M.D. Baptist Health Medical

JONG S. PARK, M.D. Washington Regional Radiology

SHANE THARP, M.D. Unity Health

REGISTERED NURSE

SIDNEY BENNETT, RN Beyond Wellness (Chenal & Hillcrest)

REAGAN CODY, RN Beyond Wellness (Hot Springs Village & Chenal)

BRANDY MCCELLAN, RN Mill Creek Behavioral Health

MADDIE PETERMAN, RN Women First Gynecology & Wellness Clinic

SHANNON STEELE, RN Beauty Boss Co. Aesthetics & Wellness

RHEUMATOLOGY

TAMER ALSEBAI, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

SWETHA BODDEDA, M.D., FACS

Conway Regional Health System

JASEN CHI, M.D.

Chi Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates

JESSICA SHORT CHISM, M.D. Washington Regional Rheumatology Clinic

NASIM KHAN, M.D.

John L. McClellan VA Medical Center

LESLIE MCCASLAND, M.D. Arthritis & Rheumatism Associates

MICHAEL A. MCGHEE, M.D. Arkansas Otolaryngology Center

NOHA MOHAMED, M.D. Noydeen Medical Group

SAFWAN H. SAKR, M.D. CHI St. Vincent

SHAILENDRA SINGH, M.D. Unity Health

SLEEP MEDICINE

GARY R. GOZA, M.D. Baptist Health Sleep Clinic

SPORTS MEDICINE

JEFFREY ANGEL, M.D. White River Health Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

ETHAN SCHOCK, M.D. OrthoArkansas

JONATHAN WYATT, M.D. OrthoArkansas

SURGERY

JUSTIN CUTLER, DO Arkansas Or t hopedics and Sports Medicine

DONNA D. JOHNSON, M.D. Mercy Clinic General Surgery

JOHN LUMB, M.D. Arkansas Methodist Medical

SURGICAL ONCOLOGIST

BRAD BALTZ, M.D. Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute

JOSEPH J. IVY, M.D. Highlands Oncology Group

MICHAEL M. POLLOCK, M.D. Baptist Health Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas

THERAPIST

AMANDA MARTIN, LCSW The Centers

TRAUMA SURGEON MARY KATHERINE (KATIE) KIMBROUGH, M.D. UAMS Health

UROGYNECOLOGY

MANDY PERRY BURTON, APRN Baptist Little Rock

UROLOGY

JOHN PAUL BRIZZOLARA, M.D., FACS CARTI

KEVIN CLAYBROOK, M.D. Arkansas Urology

CHRISTIE DUMBOSKI, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC CARTI

TIMOTHY GOODSON, M.D. Arkansas Urology

GAIL REDDE JONES, M.D. Arkansas Urology RON KUHN, M.D. CARTI

KEITH MOONEY, M.D., FACS CARTI

TAYLOR MOORE, M.D. CARTI

TORONSA M. SIMPSON, MSN, APRN, FNP-C CARTI

VASCULAR SURGEON

KENT P. NACHTIGAL, M.D. Baxter Health

WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE

NICOLE TURNER, M.D. Lifespring Women's Healthcare

WOUND CARE

MEGAN SANTIAGO, PA-C Access Medical Clinic Arkansas

DEVIN SESSIONS, M.D., CWS-P, PCHM Pinnacle Wound Care

NOTE: Every reasonable attempt has been made to confirm the accuracy of names, credentials and affiliations on this list, including but not limited to confirming submitted nominations. with medical practices and institutions, and other means. AY Media Group is not responsible for any missing information or changes in affiliation by any member of this list prior to or following publication.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

AY About You will never miss an opportunity to shine a spotlight on women, and the DECEMBER 2025 issue of our magazine is no exception. We want to hear from you — our readers — on who you think should make the cut. Be it a physician or pharmacist, nurse practitioner or CNA, if she represents exemplary work in any medium of healthcare, nominate her now at aymag.com!

Providing the Best in Dental Care for Families throughout Little Rock and Stuttgart

Since 2000, our team has been 100% focused on your oral health. We offer our patients the very best that dentistry has to offer through advanced technologies and procedures. We provide personalized dental care with compassion and skill in order to provide a great treatment experience.

• Teeth Cleanings

• Oral Cancer Screenings

• Tooth Fillings

• Partials

• Full Dentures

• Teeth Whitening

• Veneers

• Dental Crowns

• Implants

• Botox Injections

Change for Better Dr. Eric Wright health care

T“From the start, I was drawn to the artistry and transformative power of this field, particularly in helping patients regain confidence after weight loss, pregnancy or medical conditions like breast cancer.”

By MARK CARTER

he power afforded by the practice of plastic surgery to help change lives for the better is what attracted Dr. Eric Wright to the field.

Wright launched his Little Rock private practice, Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa, in 2018 and today treats patients from across the state, country and beyond.

“Plastic surgery combines surgical precision with the ability to make a lasting impact on patients’ lives,” he said. “From the start, I was drawn to the artistry and transformative power of this field, particularly in helping patients regain confidence after weight loss, pregnancy or medical conditions like breast cancer.”

Wright’s practice has become a leading destination for advanced body contouring, breast surgery and aesthetic procedures, as well as breast implant removal, or explant surgery. Plus, Wright is one of the few surgeons in the state performing migraine surgery.

Wright said he became attracted to plastic surgery after graduating from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and then attending medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. He completed his plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at Stanford Medicine in California, where he trained alongside some of the top leaders in the field. He then completed a reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston while serving as a plastic surgery clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School.

“My training experiences provided a strong foundation in both advanced surgical techniques and patient-centered care,” Wright said.

His experiences include an international flavor. As an undergraduate in Fayetteville, Wright studied abroad in Costa Rica and Mexico, where he returned years later for the first of two prestigious Laub Fellowships. His second took him to India. He later completed a microsurgery rotation at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. After returning home to central Arkansas, Wright was an assistant professor of surgery at UAMS before opening his practice.

“By building my own team and surgical suite, I’m able to offer patients a concierge-level experience in a highly controlled, private setting,” he said. “At Wright Plastic Surgery, we believe in educating and guiding our patients every step of the way. During consultations, I take time to listen to their goals, explain what’s possible and set clear, realistic expectations. We also focus on comprehensive pre- and postoperative care, ensuring that patients feel supported not just physically but emotionally, as well. Our approach is about achieving natural, beautiful results that enhance confidence.”

Wright said his practice offers patients an investment in their future as opposed to a simple aesthetic procedure.

“Every patient is unique, and the key is finding the right balance between their goals and what will deliver the safest, longest-lasting results,” he said. “I overcome this by maintaining a commitment to honesty, surgical precision and advanced techniques — always putting patient safety and satisfaction first.”

Wright is the author of more than 30 textbook chapters and manuscripts related to aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. Topics he has written about include face-lifts, rhinoplasty, breast reconstruction, migraine surgery and resident education. He also has delivered more than 20 lectures at meetings across the globe and serves on the educational committee at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and as a manuscript reviewer for the monthly publication Aesthetic Surgery Journal

Wright said he is deeply committed to educating and empowering patients to make informed decisions about their aesthetic and reconstructive procedures, which continue to evolve and advance.

“I’m particularly excited about the evolution of body contouring procedures, advanced breast surgery techniques and innovative nonsurgical treatments that deliver impressive results with minimal downtime,” he said. “Staying at the forefront of these advancements means continuously refining my skills, attending conferences and integrating the latest proven technologies into our practice. Our goal is to offer the safest and most effective treatments available.”

(Photo courtesy of Wright Plastic Surgery & Med Spa)

travel

Despite four years of soaring gas prices, crippling inflation, mounting competition and a hospitality industry struggling to recover

By DWAIN HEBDA

10 million, nearly 4 out of 10 of which are overnight stays, and generating more than $1 billion in total spending.

More than that, people who visit are liking what they see enough to return often and at an overwhelming rate. More than 70 percent of overnight travelers are repeat visitors, Visit Hot Springs states, and more than half had visited the city in the past 12 months.

Hot Springs solidifies title of Arkansas’ tourist central Spa City on a Hot Streak

“People are looking for a quality of place, quality of life and quality of experience,” Arrison said. “People visit our city, and they come back and say, ‘Man, we ran into this free concert downtown, which was Bridge Street Live, on a Thursday night, and it was the best band.’ It gives them one more thing to talk about and it just enhances their experience while they’re in our city.

“We see that all the time; people come here for Oaklawn and the races and casinos or for Garvan Gardens, and they discover golfing and mountain biking. This quality of experience has really made a difference, I think, as far as our tourism numbers.”

No analysis about Hot Springs tourism is adequate without mentioning the ongoing impact of Oaklawn Hot Springs, which last year led the list of top hospitality tax receipts in both food and lodging. Having steadily expanded its offerings into casino gaming, a luxury hotel, world-class spa and fine dining over the years, the storied racetrack is seeing its considerable investment pay off.

“The goal and the reason why we built what we did was because [Louis Cella, president] truly wanted to elevate Oaklawn to a new level of luxury-slash-entertainmentslash-racing product,” said Wayne Smith, general manager. “Everything that we did was to elevate Oaklawn not only in Hot Springs but to the region. What that has done, quite honestly, is really raised things to another level. We’re seeing significant numbers of folks come to our facility to experience the level of luxury and the level of entertainment and the things that we offer here.

“As a full-on resort with a level of entertainment that goes from our Mainline Sports Bar all the way to the ultraluxurious Astral Spa and so many things in between, we’ve been able to expand into so many options for guests and groups to pick from. It’s really starting to take hold.”

As a private company footing the bill for all the improvements, Oaklawn leadership

would be justified in squeezing every dollar out of guests on-property as a means to recoup investment. By contrast, Smith said the organization has retained a resolute community-first mindset that helps spread around Oaklawn guests’ spending power.

“The one thing that we really focused on back in 2018 when we announced that we were going to be expanding this facility was that Oaklawn was building this, obviously, for the elevation of racing and the casino and the resort but also to incorporate Hot Springs into our programming,” he said. “When guests check in here, if they want to go out to the lakes, if they want to go to a marina or golfing, we’ll shuttle them to these other attractions in town. In fact, if they want to go to another restaurant in town, we will actually take them from our property down to those restaurants.

“We’ve always operated from the idea that people aren’t just coming to Oaklawn; they’re also coming to Hot Springs, which is a community that offers a multitude of things to do both outdoors and indoors. Quite honestly, that is something not many communities in Arkansas or in the region can do.”

Gary Troutman, president and CEO of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, said this cooperative, one-for-all philosophy is precisely what has helped the city thrive, be it from an events perspective or supporting a healthy business community.

“Small business is our core,” he said. “We’ve got a little over 1,000 members, and I would venture to say that probably 700 to 800 of those are small businesses. We make no bones about it — tourism is our bread and butter, and so when people come here, 9.3 million visitors and 3.6 million staying overnight, the best thing going for us now is synergy.

“I can be a lake person, I can be an Oaklawn person, I can be a Northwoods mountain biking person, I can be a national park aficionado, I can be a Magic Springs amusement park fan, and not only can I find it here, but I can find two or three other things to do with that. It adds up to quite the Hot Springs value proposition.”

The range of amenities is equally appealing to both permanent residents and visitors alike, Troutman said. Looking ahead, he sees a prime opportunity to leverage that fact to move people from the latter category into the former.

“You know, [Visit Hot Springs] goes to all that work to get all those folks to Hot Springs. My mantra to the chamber board and our metro partnership, our economic development, is, ‘Hey, why not invite those people to move here?’” he said. “They picked us out of anywhere else in the South to come spend their weekend or their week. Let’s let them know we’d like them to stay here, that it’s a great place to live.

“We fought hard to bring broadband to Hot Springs. Our transportation infrastructure is great. We’ve got great schools. Our downtown is just blowing up. We’ve had 237 new businesses open over the past 11 years. Since COVID, a lot of people have been more particular about what they do and where they’re going to do it, and we are in a good position to get our young people trained for a good career without having to move to Little Rock or northwest Arkansas or Dallas-Fort Worth.”

The impact of Hot Springs and its coordinated strategic marketing plan has national if not international ramifications. The city’s springtime Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival, hosted by the the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation, has captured the imagination of a growing audience in recent years,

offering attractions that include performers and champion sumo wrestlers brought in from Japan. The event dovetails with the American Craft Sake Festival, which was lured to town thanks to lobbying by and the runaway success of Hot Springs’ Origami Sake.

Such coordinated activities are par for the course and illustrate the power of a community working collaboratively instead of getting stuck in silos, said Mary Zunick, foundation executive director and cultural affairs manager at Visit Hot Springs.

“Most of the people who live here love our city and appreciate what makes us special,” she said. “There’s a fair number of people who’ve lived here their entire lives, but many of us come from other places, such as myself. I think when you’ve had the opportunity to live in other places, you realize how truly unique and special [Hot Springs] is in that we want to see others succeed.

“We know that successful events and successful businesses make for a better community. I think that’s what truly brings all of us together.”

Zunick said the city’s track record for collaboration and vision bodes well for the city maintaining its momentum as Spa City continues to grow and evolve.

“There are a lot of individuals who love Hot Springs, who share a vision and who have invested in it to make it a better place to be,” she said. “It takes people who are willing to take risks and work hard and invest, and we have that here. These people, along with elected officials and the chamber and Visit Hot Springs and everybody, invested their time and, certainly, their financial resources to continue to change the city we all love for the better.”

An arial view of Hot Springs (Photo courtesy of Visit Hot Springs)

52 Things To Do in Hot Springs

By SARAH DECLERK

Perhaps no city in Arkansas has a higher concentration of things to do than Hot Springs. From the excitement of downtown to the many outdoor activities nearby, Spa City offers a wealth of attractions for visitors of all ages and interests. Whether for a daytrip or a weeklong family vacation, itineraries fill up fast in Hot Springs. Check out the list below to start planning a getaway.

Adventureworks Hot Springs

Get a treetop view of the natural beauty surrounding Hot Springs at Adventureworks, where patrons can walk, climb and swing across a 16-obstacle challenge course and zipline through the lush forest. The attraction is open throughout the year and offers a signature canopy zip tour, an aerial adventure, and a zip tour and adventure course combo. Participants must be 12 or older for the aerial adventure, and the zip tour is recommended for ages 8 and older. Reservations recommended.

Andrew H. Hulsey State Fish Hatchery

Ever wonder how Arkansas waterways stay stocked with the fish that make the Natural State an anglers paradise? The answer can be found at Andrew H. Hulsey State Fish Hatchery. Situated on the south side of Lake Hamilton, the hatchery includes 42 earthen ponds dedicated to producing native and non-native sportfish destined for public waters across Arkansas. The hatchery also offers a public boat launch with access to Lake Hamilton.

The Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo

There are nearly 150 alligators at the Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo in Hot Springs, and the thrill of watching the beasts has kept families coming back since the attraction started in 1902. Not only can visitors see the alligators, watch feedings and hold a baby gator, but the farm also offers a petting zoo, wolves and various other critters. There is also a parakeet house with more than 60 parakeets visitors can feed. Check out the website for hours and pricing.

The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa

For those who want to stay in the same style as notorious gangster Al Capone, check out the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa downtown, which is benefiting from an extensive renovation. The Arlington is not the only historic hotel in Spa City, of course. The 1929 Park Hotel is also being renovated. Meanwhile, a new Hampton Inn & Suites is being developed at the site of the former Goddard Hotel, and plans are being floated for a new mixed-use development at the site of the former Majestic Hotel.

Bathhouse Row

Perhaps no Spa City attraction is as storied as Bathhouse Row. After all, the first tourists who came to the city were bathers. While some, such as the Buckstaff Bathhouse, Quapaw Baths & Spa, and Hotel Hale, originally the Hale Bathhouse, still provide spa services to visitors, others have been turned into cultural attractions. The Fordyce Bathhouse, which houses the Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center, provides a great starting point for those interested in learning how the bathhouses were used historically.

Cedar Glades Park

Visit Cedar Glades Park to find fun outdoor experiences an easy distance from downtown Hot Springs. The park offers more than 10 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, as well as an 18-hole disc golf course, playgrounds, a three-story tree house for children, a climbing wall and a mowed area for flying kites. The climbing wall is usable by reservation at a cost of $5 per person.

Crystal Mining

Murfreesboro may be the state’s destination for diamond mining, but the Hot Springs area stands out for the number of public crystal mines in the vicinity. Ron Coleman Mining in Jessieville and the Wegner Crystal Mines in Mount Ida are just two places visitors can dig up quartz crystals and more. Come dressed for the dirt, and leave with pockets full of crystals.

Crystal Ridge Distillery

Embark on a distillery tour and tasting at Crystal Ridge Distillery, which provides insight into the history of moonshine in Hot Springs, including local traditions that shape the distilling process at Crystal Ridge. The building is pretty neat, too, having been built between 1910 and 1920. The facilities are available as a venue for weddings and other events. Visitors can also take

Bathhouse Row

(Photos courtesy of Visit Hot Springs)

home canned cocktails and bottles of moonshine and other spirits.

David Cochran Fishing Guide Service

Folks who want to learn the ins and outs of fishing need look no further than David Cochran Fishing Guide Service in nearby Royal. A professional striper fishing guide who works on Lake Ouachita and Lake Hamilton, Cochran has offered guided fishing excursions for more than 25 years and provides top-of-theline fishing equipment and gear for guests.

DeGray Lake Resort State Park

A short drive from Hot Springs, DeGray Lake Resort State Park in Bismarck not only offers a lake and all the swimming, boating and snorkeling opportunities that come with it, but the park provides an 18-hole championship golf course, five hiking trails, a disc golf course and more. Camping amenities are top notch, as is the full-service marina. There is also a 90-room lodge with a conference center well suited for corporate and other events.

Downtown Shopping and Dining

There are too many shopping experiences in Hot Springs to list, but be sure that most anyone can find a new favorite shop downtown. Casa Bella and Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium are a couple of suggestions to get folks started. Likewise, the downtown area provides more restaurants than one can try in a single visit. Some of the most popular include the Ohio Club, DONS Southern Social and Deluca’s Pizza, but many more await.

Dryden Potteries

Established in 1946, Dryden Potteries on Whittington Avenue is a reason for many to visit Spa City. Collectors have long been drawn to the family-owned business for its unique ceramics crafted lovingly with artisan skill. The company offers free live demos daily, and there are also various classes crafters can pursue. The shop is excellent for holiday shopping or simply marveling at the artistic pieces.

The Electric Strawberry

A finalist for Best Coffee Shop in AY About You's “AY’s Best of 2025,” the Electric Strawberry is hard to pin down. Yes, the coffee is on point, but the shop is about much more than that — it is about giving patrons a place where they can recharge mind, body and soul. The Electric Strawberry offers a salt room, hypnotherapy, psychic readings, a gift shop and more, in addition to hosting regular community events.

Escape Rooms

Spa City is not immune to the escape room craze that has gripped puzzle lovers in recent years, and visitors can find two great options in Escape Hot Springs and A Narrow Escape. Both offer challenging rooms ideal for team building, spending time with friends and sharpening one’s wits.

Funtrackers Family Fun Park

If playtime is on the agenda, families can find it at Funtrackers Family Fun Park in Hot Springs. The park includes an arcade, go-karts, mini golf, laser tag and bumper boats, and two-hour unlimited fun specials are available. There is no shortage of ways to run, bump and race one’s way to a good time.

Gangster Museum of America

Those who visit Hot Springs for its thermal waters and natural beauty may be surprised to learn the city was once a haven for gangsters such as Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, Frank Costello and others. Visitors can find out how the famous outlaws skirted the law in Spa City at the Gangster Museum of America, where some of the darker elements of the city’s past come to light.

Garvan Woodland Gardens

Situated a short drive from downtown is Garvan Woodland Gardens, a botanical garden on the shores of Lake Hamilton run by the University of Arkansas and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hot Springs. Beautiful in any season, points of interest within the garden include a bonsai garden, a fairy garden and more. Other attractions include stunning Anthony Chapel, the Bob and Sunny Evans Tree House, and the Evans Children’s Adventure Garden.

The Grand Promenade

One of the most peaceful ways to traverse the downtown strip is via the Grand Promenade, a walking trail that runs parallel to Bathhouse Row a comfortable distance from the hustle and bustle of the city street. The brick-paved trail is about half a mile long and provides numerous scenic sights along the way.

Gulpha Gorge Campground

Those who enjoy camping can do so practically within spitting distance of downtown Hot Springs at Gulpha Gorge Campground, which also provides access to an array of exceptional hiking trails. The campground offers 40 campsites, as well as modern restrooms and an amphitheater. Prior reservations are required.

Hamilton Hangout

Spa City is not lacking in any activity, and that includes bowling. Bowlers can knock down some pins at Hamilton Hangout, a local bowling alley and arcade that also offers a bar and grill. Open seven days a week, the establishment is a great option for birthday parties and rainy-day fun.

Hammer & Stain Hot Springs

Planning a birthday party? Looking for a fun bachelorette party idea? Shopping for a custom gift? Hammer & Stain Hot Springs has it covered. Hammer & Stain offers public workshops and private parties that allow patrons to make their own crafts, from stuffed animals and door signs to glass blowing and hat burning. The shop also offers custom laser-etched gifts and more.

Dryden Potteries

Garvan Woodland Gardens

Hollywood Park

There are several city parks in Hot Springs, but Hollywood Park stands out because of its architecture, sculptures and other unique features. The park also offers a pavilion, playground and walking trail. Nearby is the Hot Springs Bark Park, which opened in 2010 as the first off-leash dog park in the area.

Hot Springs Bicycle Touring Co.

There is a reason Queen made bicycles the topic of one of the band’s most popular songs. Bicycles are just fun to ride around. They also provide an active way to tour Hot Springs. Whether one is traversing the Northwoods Trails, cruising the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail or taking a guided tour of the springs, Hot Springs Bicycle Touring Co. can help. Bikes are available for children and adults. Mountain bikes, e-bikes and hybrid cruisers are available.

Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail

Speaking of the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail, the 5.5 mile trail is just as beautiful on foot as it is by bike. Just skirting the edge of downtown, the greenway provides scenic views of Hot Springs Creek and offers a convenient way to travel to various parts of the city by foot or bike.

Hot Springs Distilling

Founded in 2018, Hot Springs Distilling crafts whiskeys with a dedication to the craft that visitors might find infectious. Father-and-son owners Keith and Scott Atkinson toured distilleries across the U.S. before bringing their skills to Hot Springs. Patrons can partake of a tasting flight or cocktail at the distillery’s tasting room.

Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail

Hot Springs is the birthplace of Major League Baseball’s spring training, when coaches from days gone by brought their

players to Spa City to get in playing shape before the season. Modern-day baseball lovers can learn about that history while touring historic sites along the Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail. A smartphone app makes it easy to navigate the trail.

Hot Springs Mountain Tower

Take in a birds-eye view of Spa City from the top of Hot Springs Mountain Tower. Patrons take an elevator up 216 feet to the observation deck to soak up panoramic views of the Ouachita Mountains, Hot Springs Mountain and the Diamond Lakes area. Visitors can either drive directly to the parking lot or hike a 1.5 mile trail from Fountain Street to reach the tower.

Hot Springs National Park

Having a national park in its backyard is an undeniable part of Spa City’s character. At Hot Springs National Park, visitors can embrace the rich cultural history and stunning geological features of Hot Springs, including mountain views, thermal springs and lovely scenery — all within reach of the busy downtown area. There are numerous places where visitors can touch and taste the spring water.

In the Trees

Modern amenities meet Natural State scenery at In the Trees, which offers tree houses and cabins close to the Northwoods Trails and downtown Hot Springs. The accommodations are meticulously designed to immerse guests in the outdoors while providing the best in luxury, including optional experiences such as s’mores boards and inroom massages. A vinyl record player in each room is just one of the surprising touches that awaits visitors at In the Trees.

Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum

One of Hot Spring’s most long-standing tourist attractions, the Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum has delighted visitors since 1967. On display are lifelike statues of more than 100 celebrities and movie characters. The admission price includes access to a gambling museum where visitors can see the escape tunnel gangsters used when police raided the casino.

Lake Catherine State Park

One of five beautiful lakes in the Ouachita Mountain Region, Lake Catherine State Park is a must-see for Arkansas outdoor enthusiasts. In addition to a sparkling lake, which offers a marina and is available for fishing and various water sports, the park offers cabins, campsites and horseriding trails. Hike the

Falls Branch Trail during the rainy season to see one of the area’s most beautiful waterfalls.

Lake Hamilton

As Hot Springs’ premiere resort lake, Lake Hamilton has no shortage of things to see and do. Boating, water skiing and tubing are just some of the fun ways to get wet and wild at Lake Hamilton. Hot Springs Marina offers boat rentals for those looking to get in on the fun, and after working up an appetite on the water, pull up to Fisherman’s Wharf Steak & Seafood for some of the tastiest eats and libations in town.

Lake Ouachita

At 40,000 acres, Lake Ouachita is the largest lake in Arkansas, and that size makes the lake ideal for water-based recreation of all types. Anglers can bank on a wealth of catfish, bass and crappie, while lovers of water sports can swim, water ski, scuba dive, kayak and more. Camping is available at Lake Ouachita State Park, as well, and there are plenty of trails surrounding the lake. Check out special programs such as eagle cruises, guided hikes and kayak tours.

Low Key Arts

Step into the world of music and film at Low Key Arts in Hot Springs, which was founded in 2005 to produce Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival and has since grown to include the Inception to Projection Filmmaking Program, the Persistence of Vision Film Festival and KUHS-LP 102.5 Solar Powered Community Radio.

Machine Gun Grotto

Get ready to wear a machine gun grin after a trip to Machine Gun Grotto, which is the only indoor firing range in Hot Springs and one of the largest gun ranges in Arkansas. Visitors have the chance to fire a 1928 Tommy gun or a World War II-style machine gun. Machine Gun Grotto offers 11 lanes and a large conference room, as well as an armory with new and preowned firearms and supplies, and visitors are welcome to bring their own gear.

Magic Springs Theme and Waterpark

The roller coasters emerging from the forested landscape surrounding Magic Springs Theme and Water Park are one of the first sights that greet many visitors to Hot Springs. Open seasonally, the park offers a thrilling array of rides and a full water park, as well as a summer concert series. The 2025 lineup includes Clay Walker, Skillet, Everclear and Puddle of Mudd.

Northwoods Trails

Majestic Park

Check out the park where legendary Babe Ruth took his first steps on the path to becoming one of the most famous players in Major League Baseball at Majestic Park, once a popular spot for MLB teams who visited Hot Springs for spring training. The historic park has been lovingly restored by the city and now hosts a variety of sports events. Visitors can take a picture with a statue of Babe Ruth.

Maxine’s

One of the most well-known nightlife destinations in Hot Springs is Maxine’s, a small venue that could be described as a dive bar with exceptional taste. Local and touring acts perform there regularly, and the food and drink offerings are broad enough to appeal to most any patron. The establishment also offers billiards and other amusements.

Maxwell Blade Theatre of Magic

Housed in the historic Malco Theatre, the Maxwell Blade Theatre of Magic has captivated Hot Springs visitors for years. Enjoy the spellbinding magic of Maxwell Blade, who offers a grand, two-hour spectacle designed to amaze, or witness the mentalism and close-up magic of Jonathan Erlandson Live. Either show provides an unbeatable experience visitors will not want to miss.

Mid-America Science Museum

One does not have to be a child to enjoy Mid-America Science Museum in Hot Springs, but the museum is one of the best places for young visitors to learn while they play. Visitors can encounter dinosaurs at the outdoor Dino Trek, encounter novel exhibits at the Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk, explore the world below at Arkansas Underfoot and gaze into the depths of space at the Digital Dome Theater.

National Park Duck Tours

Experience Hot Springs from both water and land with National Park Duck Tours, which offers insightful, humorous tours showcasing Hot Springs’ downtown from amphibious World War II DUKW vehicles. The 75-minute tour takes visitors along Bathhouse Row and past other historic sites before taking a sojourn around St. John’s Island at Lake Hamilton.

Northwoods Trails

Move over Bentonville — Hot Springs is becoming a mountain biking hub in its own right. Conveniently located near attractions and amenities downtown, the Northwoods Trails offer more than 31 miles of world-

class mountain biking trails for riders of all skill levels. The trail system includes green, blue and black single track, multitrack, flow trails and jump lines plus the Lucky 13 expert section.

Oaklawn Hot Springs

No list of Hot Springs attractions would be complete without mentioning Oaklawn, a celebrated horseracing track that has grown into so much more. Not only is Oaklawn home to the Arkansas Derby, a stop on the path to the Kentucky Derby and a coveted Triple Crown win, but the establishment boasts a casino, event center, hotel and the highly rated Astral Spa. Be sure to sample the fare at any of the renowned restaurants.

Origami Sake

Hot Springs is home to the state’s first sake manufacturer, Origami Sake, and has hosted the American Craft Sake Festival in conjunction with the Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival the past two years. Origami Sake offers guided tours and great sake, including a nonalcoholic version.

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf

Mini golf is an essential part of vacationing in a resort town for many families, and Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf in Hot Springs offers an experience to rival those pint-sized putting enthusiasts might find anywhere else. The establishment offers two 18-hole courses suitable for both children and adults.

Pocket Community Theatre

Culture vultures can get their theater fix at Pocket Community Theatre, which was founded in 1992 and, over the past 30 years, has become a beloved fixture in Spa City. The season is jam-packed with engaging entertainment year after year. The 2025 season includes Barefoot in the Park in June, Shrek, the Musical in August, She Kills Monsters in September, The Haunting of Hill House in

October, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in November and She Loves Me in December.

Superior Bathhouse Brewery

Situated on Bathhouse Row in the former Superior Bathhouse, Superior Bathhouse Brewery is the only brewery located in a national park and serves the only beer brewed with thermal spring water. Patrons will also find plenty to eat at the establishment, as well as a dog-friendly patio and a special menu for canine companions.

TNT Fun Play

Youngsters will not get bored at TNT Fun Play, a family-owned indoor playground in Hot Springs. Ideal for birthday parties and other occasions, the business offers indoor playground equipment, arcade games and more — all geared toward making little ones smile.

Tiny Town Guide a miniature train past Native American villages, through a Pennsylvania Dutch farm and past other scenes from across America at Tiny Town. The captivating miniatures were mostly created by hand by the Moshinskie family over more than 40 years. The attraction is truly a marvel for the young and young at heart.

Vapors Live

Those looking to have a good time in Spa City have turned to Vapors Live since 1959, when the club was founded by New York gangster Owen Vincent “Owney” Madden. The venue offers live music and other entertainment, and while its connection to organized crime has been left to the annals of history, Vapors continues to be one of the most entertaining spots in the city.

Vulcan Pickleball Park

Pickleball has exploded in popularity in recent years, but many Arkansas pickleball players may be unaware that the official ball of pickleball is made in Hot Springs by Vulcan Sporting Goods. The company offers a pickleball park that is open seven days a week and free to the public. The park features four state-of-the-art, lighted pickleball courts.

The Winery of Hot Springs and Bathhouse Row Winery

Arkansas grapes are well suited for making wine, and connoisseurs can sample some of the finest Arkansas wines at the Winery of Hot Springs and Bathhouse Row Winery. The wineries also offer muscadine wines and strawberry wines. Purchase a bottle to take a taste of Hot Springs home.

Oaklawn Hot Springs

BATHHOUSE SOAPERY & CALDARIUM AND VILLAINESS ALCHEMY

CHARLENE SIMON,

OWNER

Charlene Simon may not be a Hot Springs native, but it is clear she was made for Spa City and Spa City for her. Discovering a passion for soap making in 2000 at just 19 years old, Simon embarked on a journey that would see her become not only a successful entrepreneur, artisan and industry leader but an integral part of the renaissance of downtown Hot Springs. Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium opened its doors in 2009, and the flagship boutique has spent the 16 years since helping visitors indulge in the fragrances, textures and unique artistry of its small-batch, hand-blended bath and body products.

“There’s always a batch to pour, a new scent to blend, a boutique shelf to fill or a challenge to navigate alongside peers on the same path,” Simon said. “I wake up each day knowing I get to make beautiful, useful things that help people feel good in their own skin. After two and a half decades, the legacy feels real — not just in bars of soap but in jobs created, a historic downtown revived and other makers inspired.”

Simon’s passion project turned calling has grown into multiple boutiques, a manufacturing operation and two beauty brands. The second is Bathhouse Soapery’s nearby “twisted sister,” Villainess Alchemy, a boutique offering scents and sensations right out of the seedy history of Spa City’s illustrious past. Villainess Alchemy’s SPEAKEASY! Lipstick

Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium 366 Central Ave., Hot Springs bathhousesoap.com

Apotheclass is a one-of-a-kind, bespoke lipstick creation experience inspired by the era of gambling and gangstresses. Guests leave with a personalized creation all their own infused with a magic that can only be found in the sultry glow of the Villainess lair. In either space, Simon’s goal is to leave guests with much more than just the purchased product.

“I hope to build a wellness destination — a temple of bathing, crafting and holistic practices that honor the mind, body and spirit as a whole,” she said, “a sanctuary where we can design our own bath and beauty essentials, experience time-honored bathing rituals, and learn the craft of soap and cosmetic making, practicing archetypal self-care in an immersive space that redefines how we create, enjoy and share our unique beauty in the world.”

While the beauty industry is her native territory, Simon’s influence on Hot Springs goes beyond the Caldarium doors. She also made her mark in the city’s culinary arena with the launch of Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcake Shoppe — now owned by her daughter — and EvilO Oils & Vinegars. A self-starter and autodidact, Simon has ridden out the storms of entrepreneurship and taken every challenge in stride. Her beauty ventures have gained a loyal following of visitors and locals alike. AY About You readers voted Bathhouse Soapery as the “Best of 2025” for Arkansas handmade products.

Villainess Alchemy 364 Central Ave., Hot Springs villainess.net

501-525-7627

Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium

ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCES, AND THE ARTS

As the state’s only public residential high school for talented students, the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts offers a unique and transformative experience. ASMSA students build independence and cultivate life skills in a safe, structured environment that celebrates and encourages their love of learning.

“I really feel that Hot Springs is the perfect home for ASMSA because the community actively campaigned to bring the school here,” said Rheo Morris, dean of students. “There is a deep sense of local ownership, in addition to the city itself serving as an extraordinary backdrop for learning.”

Morris joined ASMSA in 2017 and has become an active member of the Hot Springs community. She and the rest of the ASMSA leadership team are committed to ensuring the school stays rooted in its mission: empowering young Arkansans to compete globally without having to leave their home state. Because ASMSA is tuition free, Morris said, it is one of the few places in the country where a world-class residential education is accessible to all.

“Hot Springs is rich with history, innovation and heart,” Morris said. “I am proud to stand as a bridge between education and community, as well as help shape the next generation of leaders who will contribute to make Hot Springs proud.”

501-622-5100 — 200 Whittington Ave., Hot Springs Arkansas School For Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts @armathsciarts

BEYOND WELLNESS

Matt and Ashley Huneycutt bring more than 20 years of experience in the health care industry to their growing network of Beyond Wellness clinics specializing in functional medicine, innovative therapies and personalized aesthetic care. Their mission is simple: to help clients look, feel and live better through thoughtful, cuttingedge treatments.

“We’re Hot Springs Village residents and have proudly owned businesses in this area for over a decade,” Matt said. “The Hot Springs community continues to be an incredible fit for the kind of high-level care we strive to provide.”

Since last year, Beyond Wellness has expanded significantly, welcoming a third location in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock, introducing a growing team of expert providers and enhancing membership offerings across the Little Rock clinics. The momentum continues with a fourth location set to open in northwest Arkansas later this year, further expanding access to the Beyond Wellness experience across the state.

“We want every person who walks through our doors to feel supported in their journey, whether they’re seeking recovery, confidence or simply to feel more like themselves,” Ashley said. “Our vision is to make exceptional wellness experiences accessible without having to leave Arkansas.”

501-476-7171 — beyondwellnessar.com Beyond Wellness – Infinity Health beyondwellnessar

NURSE PRACTITIONERS JORDAN DAVIDSON AND CHRISTA JACKSON, FROM LEFT, AND OWNERS ASHLEY AND MATT HUNEYCUTT

RHEO MORRIS, DEAN OF STUDENTS

ALL THINGS ARKANSAS

As the name of her business implies, Lisa Coleman Carey is an avid proponent of anything and everything to do with the Natural State she calls home. As president of All Things Arkansas, Carey oversees both All Things Arkansas and All Things Natural, two shops that offer visitors and residents a wealth of products by, for and of Arkansas. If it is made in Arkansas, made by an Arkansan or otherwise about Arkansas, rest assured that Carey will have it.

All of the shop’s quartz is sourced from Ron Coleman Mining in Jessieville, which has been family-owned and operated since 1963. The Coleman Mine contains the world standard for quartz and is the largest producer of natural Arkansas quartz in the United States. Carey is also close to publishing a book, Quartz in Their Veins: A History of Quartz Crystal in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy Created by the Coleman Brothers

“As someone who not only grew up in the area but grew up immersed in quartz, I have a knowledge of this

area that brings many people in simply so that they can learn about the quartz crystal industry and Jimmy and Ron Coleman,” she said. “My family’s name is recognized around the world, and this book is my love letter to them.”

Carey opened All Things Arkansas on historic Bathhouse Row in 2013, followed the next year by All Things Natural. With both operations, Carey and her team listen to their customers’ needs while remaining respectful of their budgets. An avid community supporter, she also recently joined the Hot Springs Women's Leadership Alliance. Carey has much more in store for the rest of the year, with a major project underway at her business and other exciting announcements forthcoming.

“Hot Springs is beautiful, a treasure. I literally get up each morning and am able to hike and run in a national park 2 blocks from my front door. After that, I walk to work, and during days off, can walk downtown for amazing dining options,” Carey said. “The natural beauty of this area makes me truly grateful to call Hot Springs home.”

LISA COLEMAN CAREY, OWNER

C&C TREE SERVICES OF ARKANSAS

C&C Tree Services of Arkansas is a family-owned and operated tree services business that has served homeowners around central Arkansas for 45 years. Much more than just removing unwanted limbs and trees — which they do efficiently and affordably — father-and-son duo Chuck and Chase Shamlin specialize in providing a variety of top-notch services for outdoor spaces.

Chuck and Chase have decades of combined experience in the timber industry. With expertise in tree removal, trimming and land management, Chuck has built a reputation for quality workmanship and dependable service. Following in his father’s footsteps, Chase brings skill, dedication and a fresh perspective to the C&C team. The pair is proud to serve their friends, neighbors and fellow Arkansans with unmatched skill and professionalism in every job.

Fully bonded and insured, C&C Tree Services can help homeowners enhance the safety and aesthetics of their properties with offerings such as poststorm clean up, limb removal, skid steer and driveway services. Brush

hogging and skid steer mulching safely and effectively clear away thick weeds, bushes and small trees for a clean, open space. The skilled C&C team can also create strong, longlasting paths with its gravel driveway and spreading services. Whether picking up after storm damage, preparing for a new project, or simply maintaining the health and safety of one’s trees and home, C&C can trim branches, remove trees, brush and debris, and clear away hazards for a clean yard or the ideal lot for a new build.

Under the leadership of Chuck and Chase, every person at C&C Tree Services combines training and tenacity with a passion for customer service to ensure projects are completed with care, efficiency and attention to detail. Homeowners have trusted the company with their outdoor service needs for years because they know the C&C team treats every property like their own. What is more, C&C honors seniors and veterans with discounted services. C&C Tree Services of Arkansas takes pride in providing expert tree care with honesty, hard work and a deep commitment to the central Arkansas community.

501-615-5770 — candctreear.com — 20400 W. Acres Road, Little Rock

C&C Tree Services of Arkansas, LLC

THE GA N GS TE R MUSE UM OF AM ERI CA

What do Babe Ruth, Al Capone and Tony Bennett have in common? They’ve all played in Hot Springs, Arkansas! Come and experience the incomparable history of America’s first resort.

• Tour the antique casino room

• Shop The Hatterie for fashionable, period-style hats as well as contemporary options for men and women

• Listen to stories of those who lived through the “glory days” of gambling and mobsters

• View era artifacts purchased from collectors around the country

• Re-live the origin of major league baseball spring training

510 Central Ave., Hot Springs National Park TGMOA.com or (501) 318-1717 TGMOA

HOT SPRINGS METRO PARTNERSHIP

Much ink has been spilled about the merits of visiting Hot Springs, but under Gary Troutman, president and CEO, the Hot Springs Metro Partnership is convincing more people — and their companies — to put down roots. As the economic development organization for Garland County, the Partnership creates opportunity by attracting and retaining higher paying jobs, increasing business investment and generating growth throughout the region.

Many of the aspects that make Hot Springs a sought-after tourist destination make it an ideal landing spot for a range of industries, and companies such as Mountain Valley Spring Water, Keith Smith Co., Origami Sake and Sigma Supply choose to call it home. Hot Springs also hosts five aerospace and aviation companies — Radius Aerospace, AAR, Cobalt Aero Services, Craft Manufacturing and Tooling, and Airtech Supply — and one of two emergency passport centers in the U.S.

The Hot Springs Metro Partnership is one of only two accredited economic development organizations in the state and has overseen impressive regional growth from population and employment to tax revenue and new construction. Friendly to businesses of all sizes, the Partnership is helping the area build on its storied past with an exciting present and even more promising future.

501-321-1700 — 659 Ouachita Ave., Hot Springs hotspringsmetropartnership.com

Hot Springs Metro Partnership

5380 Central Ave. Hot Springs, AR 71913 (479) 886-6886

Little Rock,

knowledge of Central Arkansas and the Hot Springs area to my real estate career. As a proud REALTOR® with Century 21 Parker & Scroggins, I combine a lifelong connection to this region with a strong background in radio and large-scale event marketing — skills that allow me to creatively and effectively market properties while building meaningful relationships with my clients

My passion for helping people navigate the exciting and often emotional journey of buying or selling a home is what truly sets me apart. Whether you’re looking for your first home, a vacation retreat in Hot Springs, or the perfect place to put down roots in Central Arkansas, I’m here to guide you every step of the way with integrity, professionalism, and care.

I currently live in Hot Springs with my husband Jimm and our two dogs, June and Brewer. I’m the mother of two wonderful children, Adam and Analise, and a grandmother to Lisa. I’m proud to call this beautiful area home and look forward to welcoming new clients to the place I love most.

Being born and raised in

I bring a deep-rooted

Amanda Powell

GARY TROUTMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO

HAMMER & STAIN HOT SPRINGS

CYNTHIA HALL, OWNER

From glassblowing and hat bars to wood decor and custom laser engraving, Hammer & Stain Hot Springs is where Arkansas creativity comes to life. Guests can immerse themselves in a do-it-yourself paradise, from woodworking to painting and even sculpture making with the new wax hands cart experience. After seeing the concept succeed out of state, owner Cynthia Hall recognized the people of Hot Springs could use their own space to unleash their creative side.

“Although there are over 120 studios sharing the same name, we are not a franchise,” Hall said. “We are a bunch of makers who love sharing, crafting and collaborating to bring fun and excitement to our own areas. We have the tools, paint and supplies, and the best part is we clean up the mess.”

She described Hammer & Stain as “much like bringing Pinterest to life,” adding that no two projects are ever the same. Whether planning a girls’ night out, organizing a corporate team-builder or just dropping in on a whim to make something amazing, the studio offers hands-

on experiences that are as unforgettable as the finished pieces themselves. On the retail side, Hammer & Stain can also provide custom engraving on wedding favors, gifts and more.

“I absolutely love being a cheerleader to everyone who walks through our doors,” Hall said. “Many people come in saying that they aren’t artists, but we work with them every step of the way, helping them make wall-worthy pieces of art that they will be proud to display in their home or gift to another person.”

Whether a guest’s idea of a good time is stuffing a plush animal, crafting a ceramic masterpiece or slinging paint at a canvas a la Jackson Pollock, Hammer & Stain can make that dream a reality. One project at a time, Hall adds yet another interesting thread to the Hot Springs tapestry for visitors and residents alike to explore.

“I would have never dreamt that when I came to Hot Springs, I would have an opportunity to represent this beautiful town,” Hall said. “I truly believe that when people walk into my studio, they come in as strangers and leave as friends.”

501-547-9411 — hammerandstainhotsprings.com — 825 Central Ave., Hot Springs

Hammer & Stain Hot Springs @hammerandstainhotspringsar

IN THE TREES

Part of the timeless and widespread appeal of Hot Springs is its versatility. Visitors can experience the best of what the city has to offer while also being just moments away from some of the state’s most breathtaking scenery. Whether taking a break from the excitement of Spa City or seeking the calm and natural respite of the Ouachita Mountains, the elegant accommodations at In the Trees are the ideal home base for a Garland County getaway.

Inspired by founders Sarah and Lee Medley’s own annual trips to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, In the Trees provides a collection of cabins and tree houses where rest, regeneration and connection flourish. Guests sacrifice none of the creature comforts of home to enjoy the natural beauty. Each cabin and tree house is outfitted with lavish amenities that make for an immersive and stress-free stay. In the Trees has everything guests need to find their own place of sylvan serenity. Each unit includes a hot tub and fireplace, as well as a vinyl record player, luxury cookware and a beautiful outdoor deck.

Each cabin and tree house has been carefully and uniquely designed to complement the Ouachita Mountains setting, offering minimalistic profiles and unobstructed views that allow the splendor of the resort’s namesake trees to be seen in every direction. In the Trees offers a variety of accommodation styles to match most any trip or group. Cozy canopy tree houses make for a

romantic couple’s stay, while luxury tree houses and cabins provide ample space for family vacations, girls trips and more.

The resort offers convenient access to the best shopping, dining and entertainment in Hot Springs, but those looking to enhance their experience without leaving the forest have plenty to choose from, as well. Guests can book exclusive experiences such as e-bike rentals, in-room massages and beekeeping with professional guides. The area also features private hiking trails specifically for resort guests and access to the renowned network of Northwoods bike trails. Every tree house and cabin offers an in-room library, and further enhancements such as a s’mores board kit or even an indulgent four-course meal with a private chef, allow guests to tailor their dream itineraries.

In the Trees does not only lend its talents to vacationers, however. The resort’s business retreat center is an exquisite backdrop for companies looking to build connections, boost creativity and foster innovation in a focused, tranquil environment. The business tree house holds a fully equipped conference room, and lodging combinations can be customized to meet the needs of the team. Custom add-ons such as charcuterie boards, meal options and reception space in the Den Lounge ensure a company retreat that leaves employees refreshed and inspired.

No matter the reason, season or setup, one’s first stay at In the Trees is sure to be only the first of many.

121 Blowout Mountain Road, Hot Springs 501-430-4199

inthetrees.com In The Trees

Photo by Amber Nolen with 25Mockingbird Photography

Photo by Jeff Rose

Photo by Eric Frazier

Photo courtesy of In the Trees

Photo by Eric Frazier

LAKE HAMILTON AND HOT SPRINGS ANIMAL HOSPITALS

Scores of loyal clients have voted Lake Hamilton and Hot Springs Animal Hospitals among the best in the state for four years in a row, showing their appreciation for local veterinarians, Dr. Brian Peters and Dr. Ashley Stephens, and their hardworking staff.

“We are a group of highly trained, experienced animal lovers who are devoted to giving our patients the best care possible,” Dr. Brian said. “The city of Hot Springs is a very pet-friendly destination, and our goal has been to provide the highest quality, cutting-edge medicine since 1984.”

Dr. Brian started as an Associate Veterinarian in 2001 before buying both practices in 2008. While their appeal is statewide, the practices remain true to their Spa City ties. The Paw Spa and Retreat at Lake Hamilton Animal Hospital has pet suites named after historic Bathhouse Row and other notable Hot Springs locations, so pets can truly relax in spots like the “Quapaw,” “Superior” or even “The Arlington.”

“As a husband, father, veterinarian and community participant, you can rest assured your furry family member is in the best hands,” Dr. Brian said.

Lake Hamilton Animal Hospital 1525 Airport Road

Hot Springs 501-767-8503 lakehamiltonanimalhospital.com

Hot Springs Animal Hospital 1533 Malvern Ave.

Hot Springs 501-623-2411 hotspringsvet.com

Lake Hamilton & Hot Springs Animal Hospitals

DR. BRIAN PETERS, OWNER

JAMES A. ROGERS EXCAVATING AND MCHENRY & MEYER COMPANIES

CHRIS MEYER, PRESIDENT AND CEO

Founded in 1962 by James A. Rogers Sr., James A. Rogers Excavating began as a small, family-run operation in Little Rock and has since grown into a respected, established company with multiple locations. In 2016, grandson Chris Meyer took the reins as president and CEO.

“As a third-generation, family-owned business with over 60 years of experience, we combine old-school work ethic with modern technology to deliver precise, reliable results,” Meyer said. “From residential site prep to large-scale municipal and highway projects, our skilled team is known for quality work, safety and doing the job right the first time.”

Since 2016, the company has expanded its operations to include locations in Hot Springs and Springdale and grown the staff from 24 to more than 100. In addition, James A. Rogers Excavating recently acquired McHenry Companies in Hot Springs, allowing Meyer to realize his long-time dream of broadening services to include a quarry operation. The acquisition has enhanced the footprint of James A. Rogers Excavating while bringing together two distinct yet complementary companies under unified leadership.

McHenry & Meyer Companies

994 Fox Cutoff, Hot Springs 501-321-4942 — mchenryaggregates.com

“This strategic growth not only enhances our operational capacities but also strengthens the family — uniting a dedicated team of employees who share deep commitment and pride in their work,” Meyer said. “By leveraging the unique strengths of both companies, these family-owned businesses continue to deliver exceptional service and build lasting relationships within the community.”

James A. Rogers Excavating offers a comprehensive range of excavation services for both residential and commercial projects. The company’s capabilities include everything from land clearing and site preparation to city, street and highway work. No matter the scale or scope, James A. Rogers is equipped to handle all phases of excavation with efficiency and expertise.

“The team we currently have in place is considered the foundation of our company,” Meyer said. “They have created such a culture of taking care of one another, it’s truly incredible. The success our company is reaping right now is due to their dedication.”

James A. Rogers Excavating

Locations in Hot Springs, Little Rock and Springdale 501-455-2439 — jamesarogersexc.com

MID SOUTH REALTY

AMBER WOOD, OWNER

Amber Wood started in the real estate industry on a whim. She had been a stay-at-home mom for 15 years, but once her children were grown, she became bored. While talking to her husband about wanting a job, he encouraged her to become a real estate agent.

Wood took a class and became a real estate agent a month later.

“That was November 2018,” she said. “I have since sold almost 2,000 properties across central Arkansas."

Wood is now the owner of Mid South Realty in Little Rock, where she combines her deep industry knowledge with a passion for helping clients build wealth through real estate and has personally closed on more than $150 million in real estate transactions. Taking a tailored approach to each transaction, she helps clients reach success in real estate and long-term financial success.

Her hard work has not gone unnoticed, and she has won many accolades, including Best Real Estate Company in the AY About You "AY's Best of 2025" poll and Little Rock

Realtors Association Realtor Awards of Distinction for sales.

Wood has made herself a known face in Hot Springs, along with two other members of the Mid South Realty team who live in Hot Springs, Kari Clay and Elissa McMillan.

“I have assisted in several transactions in the Hot Springs area,” Wood said. “It is fun to help people relocate in order to enjoy everything that Hot Springs has to offer.”

Wood is a cheerleader for the Hot Springs area and considers it the “epitome of Arkansas.”

“Hot Springs is an absolutely lovely community with so much outdoor activity,” she said, “the beautiful lakes, hiking trails, the natural hot springs. There are also so many delicious restaurants, historic hotels, and the people are so friendly and welcoming.”

Wood hopes to grow Mid South Realty in and around Hot Springs in the coming years.

“We would love to become your trusted real estate agency,” she said. “Our experience and negotiating skills are second to none. No one will work harder for you than we do.”

OAKLAWN HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

WAYNE SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER

Like many, Wayne Smith was drawn to Hot Springs in part because of its rich history and beautiful natural landscape. What made him decide to call it home, however, was the people.

“What is there not to like about Hot Springs?” he said. “My family and I were so generously welcomed when we arrived, and that feeling is still sensed today.”

Smith began his career in public accounting and finance before moving into corporate accounting and, later, management positions at prestigious locations such as MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Empire City Racing and Gaming, and Penn National. In 2017, Smith was named general manager at Oaklawn Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Oaklawn is a cornerstone of the city’s legacy, economy and future, and Smith and his team work hard to ensure that it remains the No. 1 tourist attraction in the state. Oaklawn is able to provide an unparalleled entertainment experience with live thoroughbred racing, 24-hour casino slots and table games, a multipurpose event center with headliner entertainment, Forbes-recommended hotel, Arkansas’ only Forbes four-star-rated spa, and a culinary experience with multiple dining options ranging from casual to upscale.

“There is something for every personality, every taste and every age,” Smith said. “It is important that we provide all our guests with a memorable experience that makes them want to return or even relocate to our town. We want everyone who walks through our doors to leave having enjoyed their time not only at Oaklawn but also with everything Hot Springs has to offer.”

Smith is also chairman of the Hot Springs Advertising & Promotion Commission, a role that allows him to aid the city as it continues its growth trajectory. He is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to make for a vibrant and economically thriving area, from wowing guests to making sure team members enjoy a safe, friendly and fun work environment.

“Guests who visit the city of Hot Springs and Garland County will see and experience a town with a storied past, natural beauty, Southern hospitality and a sense of community that will keep them coming back for generations,” Smith said. “Since 1904, Oaklawn has been an integral destination in Hot Springs. As Hot Springs has evolved, so has Oaklawn, and as Oaklawn has evolved, so has Hot Springs.”

2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs — oaklawn.com

Oaklawn Hot Springs

SANDY SUTTON’S DESIGN CENTER

Sandy Sutton’s Design Center in Hot Springs is at the forefront of making homes and businesses more stylish and functional. An interior design expert and Spa City native, Sutton caters to diverse clientele across the nation. Sandy Sutton’s Design Center offers an unmatched balance between uniquely personalized designs, timeless appeal and functional style.

“A hallmark of my ongoing success is that I have a rare ability to absorb my client’s personality and lifestyles then transform that into rooms of livable luxury,” Sutton said. “I have vast experience in residential design and commercial properties. With nearly 30 years in the interior design business, I continue to provide excellence for a wide variety of clients from coast to coast.”

In addition to garnering awards from AY About You readers such as winning the prestigious “2024 AY Interior Design Awards” and “AY’s Best of 2024” and “2025,” Sutton’s design prowess has been recognized and celebrated by industry peers at the highest level. Her own Lake Hamilton residence, Southampton, earned the prestigious American Society of Interior Designers Gold Award. Clients can expect the same award-winning creativity and attention to detail on their own projects.

4112 Central Ave., Hot Springs (next to Olive Garden) 501-624-6700 | Cell: 501-617-4279

sandysuttonsdesigns.com

Sandy Sutton’s Design Center

JoeGoslee56@gmail.com

“My grandfather, Johnny Goslee, used to take me with him to look at property. I don’t remember seeing much property, but we talked to an awful lot of his friends. He used to tell me how fortunate we were to ive here because of low taxes, low crime and lots of clean water. He also told me about how people would come here to take the baths, buy crystals and drink the water. But eventually, they came back to stay because what they really were coming down here for in the first place they couldn’t take back with them — our quality of life. You know, I think he was right.”

SANDY SUTTON, OWNER

In loving memory of Ryan Orrell

WEBMONSTER

The creative spirit of a place like Hot Springs combined with a bit of old-fashioned Arkansan stick-to-itiveness is bound to give rise to all manner of successful enterprises. Perhaps one of the most shining examples is that of the late Ryan Orrell, former K-9 officer turned master web developer and founder of Hot Springs-based WebMonster.

“I went to the local Books-A-Million in Hot Springs and bought an 800-page behemoth of a book called the HTML Bible. I studied and studied it. After about three years, I got pretty good at building websites,” Orrell previously told AY. “That’s where WebMonster was born.”

Orrell built his company on a reputation for visually stunning websites and unmatched customer service, a distinction that earned WebMonster multiple awards from the Web Marketing Association as voted on by industry

peers. He built sites and provided search engine marketing for businesses around Hot Springs and clients all over the country. WebMonster also became the go-to service for Magic Springs Theme and Water Park 15 seasons ago.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a mom-and-pop type or larger business. At WebMonster, I’m proud to say we treat every business the same, and we’ve got you covered,” Orrell said.

A Hot Springs native, Orrell was proud to serve his hometown and worked hard to help other companies prosper. More than just an entrepreneurial success, Orrell’s contributions as an active member of his community reflect a figure who made as much of a lasting impact on Spa City personally as he did professionally.

“Hot Springs is and always will be my home,” he said. “I love this city and the people in it.”

nonprofit DRIVING FORWARD Bolo Bash Golf Tourney to benefit Baptist Health College

By DWAIN HEBDA

The delivery was routine until it wasn’t. The nurses in the operating room, who had followed through with every protocol to that point, were preparing to receive the infant into the world when, suddenly, something went horribly wrong.

Lights on medical instruments began to flash, and warning buzzers sounded seemingly from all sides as the mother’s blood pressure started to drop. The attending nurses began emergency protocols to arrest the decline but to no avail. Seconds felt like eons as one protocol after another failed to stabilize the patient. They were losing her.

As quickly as it started, the lights shut off, and the sounds fell as silent as the motionless patient before them. The nurses look at each other, the adrenaline subsiding into fatigue and frustration.

It is hard to fathom such a situation as a dream scenario, but that is exactly what the preceding dramatization of a simulation lab training exercise at Baptist Health College Little Rock represents: a dreamed-of way to prepare the next generation of nurses and allied health professionals for the rigors of modern health care. Combining excellent instruction with cutting-edge facilities and equipment, the labs seek to prepare and equip Arkansas’ best and brightest students to operate effectively in a pressure-cooker environment.

“We want to offer the kinds of simulation and skills labs that feature high fidelity mannequins,” said Mike Perkins, president of Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock, Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute and Baptist Health College. “Those mannequins are really about as close to an actual real-life experience you can get without it being a real life patient. The new labs will provide simulation opportunities that are very specific to various programs.

“These real-life settings with real-life responses from the high-fidelity mannequins will provide training opportunities that don’t exist today in our college.”

When talking about such educational resources, Perkins is not just stargazing. Nor is the rest of Baptist Health leadership, all the way to the top level of executive administration. Recognizing the imperative of staying abreast of the best medical instruction possible,

Mike Perkins

leadership is committing to Baptist Health College in a big way — as in $21 million big — to bring the school a much-needed upgrade to the building and equipment.

“It’s just time for the school to update and modernize not just for competitive reasons but also because the needs of the students change, as do the ways that we teach and educate,” Perkins said.

“We’re not just training people for Baptist; we’re training a good percentage of people who will go to work for other hospitals and other clinical settings across Arkansas. We see our work as something that is not just good for Baptist Health but good for the community and the state.”

Raising a portion of the money needed to bring this new vision to reality is the work of the Baptist Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of the esteemed health system. The foundation has designated the college as the beneficiary of this year’s Bolo Bash Golf Tournament, of which AY Media Group is a sponsor, which will take place Sept. 15 and 16 at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock.

“Baptist Health is Arkansas’s largest and most comprehensive not-for-profit health care organization,” said Janet Marshall, the foundation’s chief development officer. “We have 12 hospitals in the system. We have a nursing home and 250 points of access statewide. Through all of that, Baptist Health Foundation is proud to be the fundraising arm for all of those institutions and all of those points of access.

“We just love being able to go out and talk about all the good things that Baptist Health does for Arkansans.”

Comprised of multiple events, of which the golf tournament is the largest, Bolo Bash is one of the longest-running corporate fundraisers in Arkansas, now in its 35th year. Money raised helps support organizational goals and projects for the hospital and health system across a variety of needs.

“Bolo Bash started around 1987 as a western-themed silent auction and dinner here on the campus of Baptist Health,” Marshall said. “People always say, ‘Well, what does “bolo” stand for?’Actually, it doesn’t stand for anything; guests wore blue jeans, cowboy hats, boots and bolo ties.

“In fact, we used to create bolo ties for whatever the theme was for

the event. One year, they were cactus. One year, they were the design of the Swiss cross. Whatever theme it was, we got somebody to design a western bolo tie to go with it. That’s kind of how it started.”

The golf tournament came along in about Year 2 or 3, Marshall said, and grew into a fixture event on Little Rock’s philanthropy calendar. Despite the plethora of worthwhile local causes in central Arkansas, the tournament has remained such to this day.

“I think there are a couple of reasons for our longevity,” Marshall said. “People want to be involved in something that is unique and special and gives back to help other people. Baptist Health is the leader in providing a quality, Christian healing ministry in Arkansas, whether it’s people that are underserved, underinsured, under-resourced or unhoused. Baptist Health provides that care for so many Arkansans all across the state, and people see that they’ve benefited from that, being either a patient here or a family member of a patient.

“I also think a lot of it has to do with the volunteers that we ask to co-chair or chair the events each year. We’ve been very fortunate to have such strong volunteers behind these events who are known in the community, who bring their friends on to help support us or be volunteers themselves on these events. I think that’s why we’ve had such success year after year.”

This year’s tournament co-chairs — Bobby Gosser, president and CEO of Baldwin & Shell Construction Co., and Clay Gordon, president of Kinco Constructors — fit that description to a T. They said they were inspired to head up the golf tournament due to the quality of the event, the cause behind it and having seen Baptist Health’s impact up close.

“We’ve had a long business relationship with

Janet Marshall

Baptist for many years and have always been appreciative of them and the positive impact they have on our community and state,” Gordon said. “We’ve got a lot of employees in Arkansas, and I know many of them and their families have been served by Baptist. That’s something that made me want to participate [as co-chair] and hopefully people will see this event as important, and they will want to come out and help and participate, as well.”

Gosser agreed and said on top of all that, the event itself is a fun outing Arkansans have been flocking to for decades.

“[Bolo Bash Golf Tournament] is a two-day event on one of the nicest golf courses in the state,” Gosser said. “Chenal [Country Club] does such a great job of hosting, I mean, it’s just top notch. It’s not a huge lift on our part to promote it as co-chairs; my biggest lift, as a nongolfer, is to talk up support from those I reach out to. When you’re talking about an event for the largest health care institution in the state run by really top-notch people, folks want to get behind that.”

The beneficiary of all that effort, Baptist Health College, was incorporated in 1921 alongside the hospital. That year produced the first five graduates of the Baptist State Hospital School of Nursing and, three years later, the initial 17 graduates of what was originally known as Baptist Health Schools walked the stage.

Over the next 30 years, the institution grew rapidly to include several other courses of study, including schools of radiology (1953), practical nursing (1964), medical laboratory science (1965), histotechnology (1976), nuclear medicine technology (1979) and coding technology (1985). The college’s schools of surgical technology and occupational therapy assistant were established in 1999 and 2005, respectively, the latter being a partnership with the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock.

The school has actively sought other partnerships to help students enjoy a seamless march toward their desired degrees. In 2010, the institution entered into agreements with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Pulaski Tech to offer degree completion in various disciplines.

Baptist Health Schools was rebranded Baptist Health College in 2015 after gaining certification through the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to grant degrees. Today, the college offers academic programs in medical laboratory science, nuclear medicine technology, occupational therapy assistant, patient care technician, practi-

cal and traditional nursing, radiography, sleep technology and surgical technology. It also offers an accelerated nursing track for licensed practical nurses and paramedics wishing to become RNs.

Since 1989, the college has been housed in its current location at 11900 Colonel Glenn Road in Little Rock in a building originally constructed as an outlet mall but never opened as such. The current refurbishment project is the first to be done to the building since Baptist Health College Little Rock moved in, making the improvements well overdue.

Troy Wells, CEO of Baptist Health, is justifiably proud of the legacy and quality of the health college — but not satisfied. He said in the competitive arms race for medical personnel, the school must continue to advance and stay abreast of the latest in educational pedagogy and tools to produce graduates capable of facing the challenges of the future.

“We have, over the years, provided a lot of health care professionals, nurses and allied health care folks to the entire state of Arkansas,” he said. “We’ve been training nurses the entire time that Baptist Health has existed, and we’re one of the largest graduating institutions of RNs around. What we do is really important to the state of Arkansas.

“I would argue that we’ve got the best clinical training around, but nowadays, people are looking for certain tools and technology. That’s something you have to have these days to be competitive and to raise the bar in terms of the training that students get while they’re in school.”

For more information about this year’s Bolo Bash Golf Tournament, visit baptisthealthfoundation.org/events.

Bobby Gosser

Clay Gordon

Troy Wells

arts & culture

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos by ELI VEGA

Hot Springs photographer stresses artistry and imagination

MMost days, Eli Vega lives the life of an average professional photographer. The soft-spoken 78-year-old shoots weddings and commercial jobs, teaches virtual classes on photography to students across the U.S., and delivers the occasional lecture or presentation to audiences in and around Hot Springs.

How he approaches his life and profession, however, is another matter. The former collegiate art student tackles every paid job — as well as his passion project artistic work — as an artist first.

“I don’t see with my eyes. I see with my imagination,” he said. “That [mantra] gets a lot of attention. People always push back on that, especially the advanced photographers, who say, ‘How is that possible? You can’t see something before you see it.’ The point is you can see something before you see it because you’re seeing it with your imagination.”

Vega calls his ethic “right brain photography,” a term he coined and concepts he introduced in his 2015 book by the same name. The approach is as much philosophy as it is technique, stressing the mental and creative elements of the art form.

“When I was starting to write the book, I thought if I just titled it Right Brain Photography and nothing else, people won’t know what it is,” he said. “I added a parenthetical subtitle, Be an Artist First, which I think gets to the answer of what’s different about this.”

Vega’s perspective is a natural one, having fallen in love with drawing in grade school and studying art for three years at Texas Tech University. Art represented a sharp departure from his everyday reality growing up, which was bare boned to say the least. The son of migrant workers who followed field work from Texas to the Pacific Northwest, Vega was born in a railroad boxcar provided as makeshift housing for his parents working the fields in Wyoming.

“When I was in second grade, I started drawing cardinals and blue jays, and my teachers took notice,” he said. “Of course, at that age, you don’t know anything about this stuff other than you like to draw, and that was it. Fast-forward the picture to my senior year, the local priest where I lived in a little town in Texas came up to me and said, ‘Eli, I’ve seen some of your work. You are a very good artist. You should go to college.’

“Of course, with my background, migrant parents and everything, that was the farthest thing from my mind, but he encouraged me, saying I had a skill, and I should major in art. I thought OK, I like that idea, and I asked my father to go to the bank and ask for a loan for college. Get this: It was a $200 loan.”

Vega started in the art program at Tech, where he would first be exposed to photography, but recognizing his limitations compared to other students, he decided to change course into business. In time, he would earn degrees in sociology and human resources management, the latter field

“I don’t see with my eyes. I see with my imagination.”

With a focus on “right brain photography,’ Hot Spring photographer Eli Vega translates perception into self-expression.

being where he spent the vast majority of his working life.

Two decades after college, an unknown kernel of his art experience sprouted thanks to watering in the form of a local camera club.

“I joined the camera club and purchased my first professional-level camera back in the late 1980s,” he said. “Six months after that, I started getting second-place ribbons, thirdplace ribbons, honorable mentions in competitions. I wasn’t getting those firstplace ribbons yet, but I was getting some recognition, and so I thought, OK, I’m going to continue this.”

Having entered the field before the onset of digital photography, Vega devoted himself to technique and acumen, striving to get the shot right the first time if for no other reason than film was expensive.

“I consider it a big advantage I have in photography that I learned during the film days,” he said. “We didn’t have the luxury of taking a snapshot and then looking at it on the display on the camera and making corrections and adjustments. All of the photographers back then had to learn how to get it right.

Learning to shoot before the digital age instilled in Vega a drive to capture a flawless shot on his first attempt.

“To this day I shoot with the thought of, ‘Get it right. Get it right,’ as opposed to, ‘I’ll just take it and then go into Photoshop and fix it.’”

Vega’s “right brain photography” approach hones his eye and stretches his creativity as he seeks to match the finished image to something he sees in his head. It also elevates his paid work from merely following trends to pursuing

something of depth and substance.

“Digital photographers, what they’re doing today and have for the last 15 or 20 years, emphasize getting it as sharp as you can get it and as colorful as you can with no shadows, especially since high dynamic range technology came along.

“I’ve been going against that trend for many years. In fact, when digital was introduced, I was a latecomer not because I was afraid of it but because there were things happening that I didn’t like. That comes from my art background.”

Eventually, the technology evolved to present Vega with results and features he not only liked but could no longer find on film cameras.

“In about 2009, I saw how digital was catching up to film in terms of resolution, sharpness and all that,” he said.

One of Vega’s first and favorite photographic techniques is the double exposure. Here, he overlays the heroes of the Alamo onto a shot of the famous mission itself.

“Then another photographer told me Nikon cameras now had double exposure. Canon and Nikon and all the other camera makers had taken that feature off of film cameras, and it was a feature that I really enjoyed using. That’s when I switched to digital.”

Today Vega is well established through his work, his teaching and his books. Right Brain Photography: Be an Artist First is in its fourth edition, and in 2022, he published Renditions of Famous Paintings, a book of images recreating famous masterworks.

Through all of these means, he hopes to advance his philosophy that the process of photography should not supplant the joy of achieving artistry.

“There’s a very famous natural arch in Utah that you

“Get it right. Get it right.”

might have heard about called Mesa Arch,” he said. “Millions of photographers are familiar with it, and the thought occurred to me, you know, everybody’s photographed Mesa Arch. I’ve never been there. I think it was 2012, and I was there at, like, 6 in the morning, and there were already 15 photographers there. I’m so confident with my photography that I wasn’t nervous, and everybody else seemed to be uptight.

“I’d gone there the day before to check it out, to find out where I needed to be and so on. The only thing missing was my exposure when the sun started coming up, so I was ready for it, and I was there with these 15 other photographers, and I started talking to them. They were so uptight, they looked at me like, ‘Don’t talk to me.’ If you know much about photographers, they can get almost too serious, in my opinion. I want people to remember that there’s room to be lighthearted and enjoy the process.”

Photographers take their work seriously, but Vega said he wants people to remember to enjoy the process.

A viral video, a first-time coach and Hendrix College’s big bet on women’s flag football

By

DOUG CRISE // Photos by MONICA MCGHEE

Doug Petersen, head women’s flag football coach at Hendrix College

t takes no more than a second to see what Ava Hanson is after.

Her eyes are on her target as soon as she receives the shotgun snap. Quarterbacks are not supposed to dead-eye lock onto their receivers, but Hanson is having none of that. She has seen something in the defensive coverage before the snap and knows that Wellington [Florida] High School teammate Avery Schroeder will be streaking down the sideline to her left with only one defender to contend with. Hanson, a senior at Wellington, likes those odds.

Hanson stutter-steps backward to her own 20-yard line and uncorks a spiral toward Schroeder, who hardly has to break stride. It is an absolute heater of a ball, placed so perfectly Schroeder only has to peek over her right shoulder as she catches it in rhythm. The defenders from opponent Alonso High School are so caught out of position that none even enter the camera frame until Schroeder is safely in the end zone.

The throw measured roughly 40 yards, just one in a series of big plays that marked Florida’s Class 4A girls flag football state final — one Alonso would win by a single point in overtime. All in all, it was not a bad way to end a high school career.

Except it was not over.

A Tampa-area videographer captured Hanson’s throw and placed it on the video-sharing app TikTok. More than 2.5 million people watched the clip, fascinated with the high school girl who could fire a football longer and harder than some of her male counterparts. News outlets from as far away as the United Kingdom came calling, reposting the viral video of Hanson’s rocket arm. NFL fans joked online that their teams should look at Hanson to bolster their quarterback play.

For many, Hanson’s big moment was their first time being exposed to flag football as a varsity sport. For even more, it was their first time hearing about Hendrix College. The liberal arts college nestled in Conway has gone all-in on women’s flag football, and newly minted head coach Doug Petersen made sure a phone call to Hanson was one of the first things he did after settling in.

“He told me he wanted to offer me a position on his team,” Hanson said. “I’ve had a few offers from a bunch of different schools, but then I visited Hendrix. The school really caught my attention, along with Coach Petersen. He made my dad and I feel so comfortable that I would be able to have a home in Arkansas the next four years.”

It is a good bet that by the time Hanson graduates, there will be a lot more talk in Arkansas about flag football. According to USA Football, 14 states currently offer girls varsity flag football at their high schools, including Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. The sport has similarly popped up at several small colleges, most of them stretching from the

In Conway, neither Petersen nor Hendrix are waiting. The Warriors will embark on their inaugural season in the spring of 2026, playing a mish-mosh club schedule made up of 14 games against opponents ranging from two-year junior colleges and nonscholarship NCAA Division III schools to scholarship-level programs in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. In 2027, the Hendrix program will join the college’s other sports in having full membership in the Southern Collegiate Athletic

Hendrix President Karen Petersen (no relation to Doug) and Director of Athletics Amy Weaver are betting that by the time 2027 rolls around, women’s flag football will be established in the region, and the college will be leading from the front. The sport has yet to take hold in the Arkansas high school ranks, but Doug Petersen is undaunted, saying he will go after any in-state female high school athlete that matches Hendrix’s academic profile and has the athleticism to play

“You know, we’re making history,” said Petersen, who coached primarily at the high school level and spent 33 years in law enforcement before coming to Hendrix to serve as a running backs coach for the men’s football team. “It’s one of the fastest-growing sports there is for women.”

Ava Hanson and Petersen

One of Petersen’s first orders of business was to hold an on-campus tryout. Several athletes from the volleyball, soccer and basketball teams joined in, as did several other students who did not play a sport at Hendrix but fell in love with the game through intramurals.

Petersen plans to keep pushing for regional athletes, but the recruiting radius around Hendrix looks stark. Along with Arkansas not yet adopting the sport, both Mississippi and Louisiana have only recently started offering it to high school athletes. Until that changes, Petersen will keep looking far afield, searching for girls from strongholds like Arizona and Florida who are attracted to Hendrix’s high-level academics, picturesque campus and the opportunity to compete.

“The school just really reminded me of a family,” said Hanson, who plans to major in psychology. “Everybody knew everybody. They told me you can go to the library at any time, and you have free tutors. Not only would I be thriving in my academics; I’d be thriving in my sports life, as well.”

For Petersen, some things are very much the same. High school girls flag football teams compete in summer 7-on-7 events, just like their male counterparts. There are also showcase events around the country, similar to Amateur Athletic Union basketball, where Petersen can get his eyes on prospective players. Recruits, meanwhile, have their playing highlights available on the film-sharing app Hudl, just like the boys.

In terms of fundamentals, there is much that is similar. Quarterbacks, for example, must be able to read defenses before the snap, identifying the safeties and communicating whether the pass coverage will be zone or man to man.

“Ava’s really pretty good at that right now,” Petersen said.

Yet just as many things are different. Defenses are not quite as complex as they are in the men’s game, and most teams opt to play basic Cover 2 or Cover 4 — zone-based defenses — rather than man to man. There are only seven players per team on the field, and the field itself is 50 yards long by 25 yards wide. Teams have four chances to cross midfield, then four more to score a touchdown. Quarterbacks have only seven seconds from the snap of the ball until they throw it.

For all his offseason preparation, Petersen knows a lot of his education will occur on the field in the heat of battle. That will go double for his players, especially those attempting the game for the first time. The entire program will be in the same boat in terms of learning, and with two sons having played college football, Petersen knows the transition to the college game can weigh on players. That weight gets heavier when a student-athlete is far from home and adjusting to the academic demands of college life. In response, Petersen has thrown open his doors to his players, inviting them to his home for family dinners and building relationships that go beyond flag football. The holistic approach worked on Hanson, who received offers to play at several similarly sized schools before choosing Hendrix.

Like a lot of people who get hit with 15 minutes of internet fame, there is a part of Hanson that is ready for her viral throw to sink into the background. She is still a teenager, and like most teenagers, she has an uneasy relationship with attention. Perhaps that is why so many of her conversations with Petersen have been about life at Hendrix, choosing an academic path and forging bonds with her teammates. The football part, by and large, will take care of itself over the next four seasons.

Having weathered the hype, Hanson has found a home. Already, she and her teammates have taken comfort from one another, bonded by being the first in Arkansas to do what they do. Hanson’s voice becomes notably more excited when she speaks about getting on campus with her teammates. It will be a season of firsts that will involve learning moments — some of them difficult but also lifetime friendships.

“There’s a big part of me that kind of wishes all that [with the video] didn’t happen,” Hanson said, “but there’s another big part of me that realizes, not to sound cocky or anything, that I’m making history. A flag football video went viral, and it’s making the game more popular. You look at the video comments, and there are little girls talking about how they want to play flag football. That makes me so happy.”

Hanson

Hanson and her father, Mark Hanson

Mistric Automotive Driven by Honesty, Quality

“Where honesty and quality are still a thing” is Mistric Automotive’s slogan, something owner Dustin Mistric lives by every day.

“The slogan says it all,” he said.

Mistric Automotive in Jacksonville opened its doors about two months ago on June 2. Since then, Mistric has been “very busy,” he said.

He was tired of the stigma that auto repair shops do subpar work and make clients pay high prices — and tired of people getting bad work done on their cars. Mistric prides himself on doing great work on vehicles that come to his shop and giving customers fair prices on a quality job. He is also certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

“I’m just sick of people being taken advantage of,” he said.

He literally built the business from the ground up, constructing the garage over the course of four years. He said that since there is no overhead cost for the space, he can pass that savings onto his customers.

Mistric started the company in order to prioritize family more and to spend more time with his wife and kids. Prior to starting the business, he worked at Landers Toyota for two decades. Having a new business and balancing family life has been “harder but easier at the same time” for Mistric.

He has been married to his wife, Amber, for 20 years, and they adopted twin boys last year who are now six years old. He appreciates being able to take a break during his busy days to see his children.

“I can go inside and love on them, and then I can come right back out to work,” he said.

As well as being a father, Mistric is a Christian. He said owning a new business can be difficult but that “God’s got us.” He also has Proverbs 27:17, “as iron sharpens iron, so does one person another,” printed on the back of all his business cards.

Mistric Automotive is a one stop shop for any car issues. Mistric does all general automotive repair including breaks, suspension and oil changes. When someone goes to Mistric Automotive, they know they will get great one-on-one customer service and enjoy a job done well.

To make an appointment, call or text the shop at 501-779-4668

SHERWOOD

We are devoted to providing high quality care which celebrates the dignity and grace of every person who enters our facility.

At Sherwood Nursing and Rehab we are committed to providing the highest quality of patient care. Our qualified staff is here giving support for the tasks of day-to-day living, allowing for the enjoyment of more pleasant and carefree activities.

We specialize in Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care services. 245 Indian Bay Drive Sherwood, AR

Phone: 501.834.9960 Fax: 501.834.5644

WAS JUSTICE DENIED?

By SARAH RUSSELL

The woman stopped to check her mailbox. She was wearing scrubs and a wig — scrubs because she was a nurse and the wig because her cancer had returned meaner than before. Then, on this late Friday afternoon, March 8, 1991, Linda Holley went into her Magnolia home, closing the front door behind her. She would never open it again. Death was on the other side.

Soon the jail cell doors closed. On April 18, Daniel Risher, 22, and Nikki Zinger, 26, were charged with first-degree murder. No one would have been more stunned than Holley — Zinger was her daughter.

Their life together had been a constant struggle but never against each other. The young single mother had embraced her imperfect baby, whose disabilities challenged every aspect of their lives.

“She had to swallow her life because of mine,” Zinger has said.

Emotionally, physically, financially, Zinger was dependent on Holley throughout her childhood and still was in many ways.

One day, Zinger found a tape recorder on her bed. It was the only way Holley could bear to tell her daughter that cancer had joined them. Although Holley insisted on working, Zinger was now determined to be as much of a caregiver as she could for Holley.

She had help with that. Risher understood. His own medical issue had resulted in his discharge from the Navy. Both being shy, their friendship began on tiptoes, but it slowly became more, the couple dividing their time between Holley’s place and his parents.

The Rishers alibied the couple. It did not matter. In January 1992, both received life sentences. Their 1993 appeal to the Arkansas Supreme Court did not even rattle their jail cell doors. In what was a highly unusual move, one rarely granted to defendants who do not admit guilt, the Arkansas Parole Board in 2016 unanimously recommended commutation, a legal move that allows the possibility of parole. It required the governor’s approval. He said no.

The doors might open yet though. Zinger and Risher have an unlikely

trio of advocates behind them — a New York City podcaster, a Texas grandmother and a member of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.

Maggie Freleng, co-host of the Wrongly Convicted podcast, packs a set of investigative skills as fierce as her tattoos, a fact backed by her 2022 Pulitzer Prize. Risher’s cousin, Sherry Scales, can articulate the smallest miniate about the case. Finally, Little Rock law professor Jacob Worlow brings his own arsenal to the case, the Innocence Project in New York.

The case was problematic from the start. On Sunday, March 10, a concerned friend found Holley’s back door broken in. The neighbor called Holley’s best girlfriend, who came but neither called 911. Instead, the girlfriend called a mutual friend, a local police officer. Sometime after he came to the house, he called dispatch.

Who was the officer, and why does it even matter? Because Holley was in a relationship with a married officer. It was public knowledge; his cruiser often parked overnight at her place. A valid question is whether he — and/or his wife — were ever considered persons of interest, and did this officer take part in the Holley investigation?

According to the Free Nikki Zinger website, answers regarding the identities and the actions of those on the force fluctuated, but clearly, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office saw no conflict of interest in its choice to investigate a case involving one of their own.

Standard protocol requires a crime scene to be immediately secured. That did not happen. It was three days after Holley’s death that the arriving team from the state crime lab did so. Unfortunately for Zinger and Risher, they had been there, cleaning and packing up. That was later interpreted as an attempt on their part to destroy evidence.

Time of death is a key factor when verifying alibis. It is odd that Holley’s death was estimated in terms of days — two — rather than hours. That, Scales has pointed out, is in contradiction to the stages of rigor mortis listed

on the autopsy, which indicates that at the maximum death occurred within 36 hours.

What about the fact that Holley was found in her scrubs, her phone unanswered on Saturday morning?

In early 1992, Zinger and Holley, with separate lawyers, faced the same jury. Life insurance, the prosecution maintained, was the motive, Zinger being her mother’s primary beneficiary. Zinger was not physically capable of a crime of such force, thus Risher’s involvement.

Certainly, many murders have been committed in the pursuit of a plump policy, but many a policyholder remains alive, as well. It is reasonable that Holley would have told Zinger she was the beneficiary on the policy, presumably issued before Holley’s cancer diagnosis, so that might lead to a reasonable question — why now? Why would the two defendants risk their freedom to murder a woman who was already dying, one whose life they were trying to prolong?

Bets are that the jury never heard about Holley’s successor beneficiary. If Zinger was unable to claim the money, it would go to Holley’s best friend, the second person to arrive at the crime scene. Does that spell out person of interest, as well?

To buttress its case, the prosecution implied that luminol testing had found Holley’s blood on Risher’s jacket. There are multiple issues there: The luminol testing was done incorrectly, and that form of testing does not differentiate between human and animal blood. Luminol testing has long been debunked as junk science. Later, DNA testing did not find Holley’s blood on the jacket. The blood was not human, which Risher, a deer hunter, had maintained all along.

Then there is the other murdered woman. Thirty miles away, five days after Holley’s murder, Bernice Rankin’s body was found at her home in Cullen, Louisiana. The crime scene was a mirror image of Holley’s: the perpetrator(s) had cleaned the crime scene, the victim was both bludgeoned and stabbed, and the crime scene was staged to look like a burglary gone bad.

Convinced that the suspects were the same in both cases, a Rankin investigator showed up to testify in Holley’s case, but the judge would not allow it. Thus, jurors never heard about the suspects’ connection to both cases. Every Saturday morning, a neighbor said, two men of that same description showed up at Holley’s place, one of the men thought to be a Rankin family member.

Holley’s position was as a director with the health department but she also took care of local inmates. Thus, on weekends, Scales has said, Holley was allowed to take drugs home. On Freleng’s Wrongly Convicted podcast, Episode 418, a private investigator brought in by Scales said locals shared that Holley was given blank doctor-presigned prescription pads. How she used them might have been conjecture, but one thing is clear — people knew she had access to drugs, people who might have, in another investigation, been questioned as persons of interest.

Zinger, protective of her mother, does not publicly address that fact, but perhaps her statement speaks for itself: “My mom didn’t always know the best people in her life or didn’t always, sometimes, pick the best people in her life.”

On Jan. 13, 1992, Zinger and Risher were sentenced to life. On Jan. 17, the jury returned with a verdict. Yes, you read that right. The judge — and this is documented — sentenced them before the jury came back with a verdict. Both the Magnolia Reporter, in an article published June 30, 2016, and Scales on danielrisher.com have called out even more legal irregularities in the case. The question is why they have never been properly addressed, even by the appeals courts?

In the aftermath of the trial, Rankin’s case remained open. It may never go to court, the case files having since been destroyed in a flood. The married police officer quit the force and left town. Zinger and Risher lost the right to relitigate the case after the Arkansas Supreme Court denied their appeal. Based on that, Holley’s best friend went to court in 1996 in her own bid for the insurance money. She got it too.

Zinger was subsequently left without money for legal assistance or even basic toiletries, which the Arkansas penal system requires inmates to purchase. The Rishers visited and provided financially for both of them. Now Scales continues to advocate for Zinger, as well as Risher, who, of course, also has Worlow and the Innocence Project.

Zinger is not included in that because as a former co-defendant, she is legally “conflicted out” of the representation. More recently, she was abandoned by an attorney working on a legal move for her, but she has a true friend in Freleng, the podcaster who found that something about Zinger just would not let her move on.

Asked what Zinger needs most now, Freleng cited her own trio — a pro bono attorney, money for toiletries and pen pals. Freleng has set up a FreeFunder account for Zinger, which not only receives donations but also provides her mailing address, as well as a Securus email connection.

Risher might like some written company and financial assistance too. His address is:

Daniel W. Risher, ADC 98275 MSU     2501 State Farm Road Tucker, AR  72168

Those wanting to correspond with either one should first check the prisons’ websites. Each has very specific rules about incoming mail, including the envelope.

Then there is Holley. What would she make of all this? Did this justice align with the truth, or might Lady Justice still find her way to open a few prison doors?

Daniel Risher and Nikki Zinger in 1991.

Risher Zinger

When you walk into the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center you will feel a comfortable atmosphere different from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and a covered outdoor patio area.

When you walk into the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center you will feel a comfortable atmosphere different from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and a covered outdoor patio area.

We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services. The short-term rehabilitation area has its own dining area and day room. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled day areas to our beautiful outdoor areas, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us. You will also notice the pride we take in our facility by keeping our building sparkling clean from the inside out.

We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services. The short-term rehabilitation area has its own dining area and day room. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled day areas to our beautiful outdoor areas, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us. You will also notice the pride we take in our facility by keeping our building sparkling clean from the inside out.

Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment. Robinson Nursing and Rehab offers modern conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by certified activity directors, like social events and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days.

Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment. Robinson Nursing and Rehab offers modern conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by Certified Activity Directors, like social events and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days.

To help you plan your visits, we provide a monthly event calendar and a monthly meal planner. Robinson Nursing and Rehab does not have set visiting hours. We view this facility as the “home” of each resident.

To help you plan your visits, we provide a monthly event calendar and a monthly meal planner. Robinson Nursing and Rehab does not have set visiting hours. We view this facility as the “home” of each resident.

We try our best to communicate with patients and families to help alleviate the anxiety that accompanies this journey. Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient but the entire family.

We try our best to communicate with patients and families to help alleviate the anxiety that accompanies this journey. Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient, but the entire family.

Briar wood Nursing and Rehab is a 120-bed skilled facility located in an urban setting within the heart of Little Rock, in the neighborhood of Briarwood. We are located just minutes from downtown Little Rock and are only one block off interstate 630.

We provide long-term care and short-term rehab care. All residents are monitored throughout the day with assistance in providing daily care as is needed: bathing, dressing, feeding and providing medications. Briarwood staff also work at ensuring the best care for residents through individual care plans of residents' needs, as well as daily activities, which allow for a variety of interests and abilities.

Nearly all - 98 percent - of our rehab residents return to the community as a result of positive, caring therapists. Briarwood's approach has provided healing to many people in the community.

At Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we are committed to ensuring that the best possible care is given to you or your loved one in an atmosphere that is calm, quiet and focused on healing. We endeavor to ensure that all aspects of your well-being — mental, physical and spiritual — are cared for in a peaceful and safe environment. Our staff strive to promote dignity, respect, and independence as much as possible, in a beautiful, soothing enviornment that was designed with our residents' comfort in mind. Briarwood's service-rich environment is made possible by its dedicated staff, from our nursing staff and therapists, to our operations and administrative employees. At Briarwood, our residents enjoy three generations of staff and families. That is over 30 years of service to the community!

Elephants

By Joe David Rice

Let’s face it — elephants are not among the first things that come to mind when people think about Arkansas. The only exception might be a handful of loyal card-carrying Republicans — to include several of my dear friends — who frequently browse the state’s antique shops and flea markets, looking for quaint elephant figurines to add to their collections. Even for this group, elephants are pretty far down their lists, unless it is an election year.

Since the 1930s, the Little Rock Zoo has displayed a succession of Asian elephants, typically animals that have outlived their usefulness as trained performers and are ready for less travel and a slower pace — and of course, elephants have regularly toured the state with various circuses that have entertained Arkansans for generations.

However, a few stunned residents of west central Arkansas got to see a pachyderm in the wilds of the Ouachita National Forest back in the late 1970s. After a carnival truck overturned on Arkansas 7 south of Ola, one of the company elephants had been engaged to right the vehicle, but was startled by the backfire of a passing truck and fled into the woods. For nearly a week, the emancipated creature — a 37-year-old named Barbara — wandered through the bottomland thickets along the Fourche La Fave River below Nimrod Lake, apparently feeding on native cane and drinking from the stream. The free-ranging behemoth made national news from coast to coast. According to local legend, the 5-ton fugitive even traipsed across the towering concrete dam a time or two before she was captured. Now that would have made a memorable photograph.

Elephant Experience Weekend. Activities ranged from bathing and feeding the elephants to going on walks or recording observations. Video presentations, discussions by zoologists, and the chance to help with toenail trimming or other elephant-related chores were also a part of the special weekend package.

There was also a unique elephant attraction available about an hour north of Little Rock near the town of Greenbrier. Established in 1990, Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary occupied a 330-acre site in the Ozark foothills where any and all elephants needing care and attention were welcomed. The safe haven for the majestic mammals offered a fascinating opportunity for folks wanting to knock a big item off their bucket lists: The

In addition, the Riddles hosted an annual International School for Elephant Management at their sanctuary, the only comprehensive course of its kind in the world. Two week-long sessions were offered — one for experienced elephant professionals and another for lay individuals with an abiding interest in the world of elephants. Research scientists, veterinarians, animal behaviorists and other experts shared their knowledge about elephant care and husbandry, reproduction, handling techniques, medical evaluations and similar topics. Participants from five continents completed the course, gaining insights each and every day from the dozen or so elephants residing in the sanctuary.

Unfortunately, the sanctuary is now closed.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director at the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, wrote Arkansas Backstories, a delightful book of short stories from A through Z that introduces readers to the state’s lesser-known aspects. Rice’s goal is to help readers acknowledge that Arkansas is a unique and fascinating combination of land and people — a story to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing.

Each month, AY About You will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give readers a new appreciation for this geographically compact but delightfully complex place we call home. These Arkansas Backstories columns appear courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. The essays have been collected and published by Butler Center Books in a two-volume set, both of which are now available to purchase on Amazon and at the University of Arkansas Press.

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