AY About You September 2023

See Annie Leibovitz’s iconic pictures for Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Vogue, as well as daring new works commissioned for Crystal Bridges.

SEP 16 – JAN 29

Get tickets at CrystalBridges.org/Annie Museum members, SNAP participants, veterans, and youth 18 and under receive FREE admission.

BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS

ON THE COVER

Stunning rooms like this one can be yours with the help of our Innovative Home honorees. Check them out on page 40.

Space designed by Katie Grace Designs. Photo courtesy of Parkinson Building Group.

www.pcssd.org/register

STEM is Lit!

The Pulaski County Special School District boasts many dedicated educators and administrators from 26 schools across central Arkansas, which includes the DRIVEN Virtual Academy now starting its third year with the District. PCSSD Director of STEM, Dr. Justin Luttrell, is looking forward to another year of the STEM is LIT program and what is to come in the field of STEM.

“STEM is LIT! is an initiative to expose students to STEM experiences by aligning “challenges” to literary works, hence the play on the word LIT,” said Dr. Luttrell. “Throughout the year, our elementary students are given a modern literary children’s book accompanied by a STEM challenge. These challenges may focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math. In addition, we also seek to infuse Fine Arts into as many challenges as we can to create a well-rounded experience for our students.”

PCSSD is seeing success related to STEM with the implementation of these programs.

“Last school year, PCSSD increased math proficiency scores at 4 times the state average. This is a huge statistical feat for any district, particularly one as large as PCSSD! The numbers were even higher for several of our elementary schools. Individually, we have seen grade level proficiency grow at various schools by as much as 30 percentage points. We hope to see similar results for the 22-23 school year. Furthermore, as we move into a new state assessment system and new math standards for the 23-24 school year, we seek continued growth and achievement in both math and science.”

The benefits of STEM go beyond Science, Technology, Engineering, and math. STEM programs also provide students with opportunities and experiences that increase innovation, encourage curiosity, inspire creativity, build confidence and perseverance, and foster community and collaboration.

“These ‘side effects’ of STEM programs help secure our future by preparing students to not only work but also live in a more advanced society than their predecessors,” said Dr. Luttrell.

ABOUT PCSSD

All elementary students in PCSSD participate in the STEM is LIT! Program. On the secondary level we provide not only remediation opportunities for students who struggle in STEM, but also acceleration opportunities. Our goal is to include as many students in as many STEM experiences as possible.

Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 26 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927.

PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.

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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.

Amy Gramlich is a wife, mom, blogger and public school educator proudly planted in Arkansas. She loves to celebrate all occasions big and small with fun outfits, creative recipes and fresh home decor (which must always include plants). She enjoys all the details that go into planning the next trip or party.

Kelli Reep is a writer and public relations practitioner in central Arkansas. When she isn’t looking for the best pie in the state, she is being ordered around by three cats. She likes to read, cook, sleep and help out when she can.

Photography in Searcy, has been a professional photographer for more than 15 years. In her spare time, she and her husband, Chad, enjoy raising their two children, fishing, camping and engaging in volunteer ministry work.

Jason Pederson spent 20 years as KATV’s Seven On Your Side reporter. He is now Deputy Chief of Community Engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. He and his wife, Mary Carol, have two biological children and one bonus son. They are longtime members of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock.

Angelita Faller is the news director for the Office of Communications and Marketing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. A native of Newton, Ill., Faller holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree in digital storytelling from Ball State University.

Jamie Lee is a native of southwest Louisiana, now residing in Little Rock. She is a freelance photographer and writer, focusing on food and restaurants. Jamie has been a photographer for 15 years, shooting seniors, families, portraits, branding and food. She also has over 25 years’ experience with marketing in the travel and tourism industry.

Little Rock native Becca Bona has been writing professionally for a decade. A fan of all-things-local, she enjoys focusing on the restaurant and beverage industry in central Arkansas.

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 501-244-9700. The contents of AY are copyrighted ©2023, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AY should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AY Please recycle this magazine.

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Sarah Parsons, owner of Sarah Parsons

Changing Seasons

Welcome to the September issue of AY About You!

This month finds all of us in a period of transition from the lazy carefree days of summertime into the first days of school and kickoff to the high school and college football seasons. Soon the days will be cooler, the nights will be crisp, and all thoughts will be turning to the holidays right around the corner.

But for now, there are still plenty of September stories to tell, and we’ve got them in this jam-packed issue. This month we salute two industries that are all about the places where we live. We showcase Home Innovation and all the decor, gadgets and conveniences that make our homes the places we love most. Read all about the latest in home finishes from countertops to flooring to interior design.

Also in this issue we honor the best of the best Realtors® in the state. It’s been a crazy couple of years for the residential real estate business in Arkansas, and these professionals have shown they have what it takes to stand out from the crowd. We’re happy to showcase them and congratulate all of this year’s honorees.

As the weather starts to cool down, you’ll no doubt be looking for new places to visit and new things to do and we’ve got you covered! Check out our feature on The Grumpy Rabbit in Lonoke for a delightful restaurant in a charming out-of-the-way place. We visit our friends over at the Little Rock Marathon to learn more about this cherished community event. If you’ve never participated, September is the perfect month to start your training. And for the theater lovers out there, we give you a preview of Celebrity Attractions’ lineup for the coming season.

When life gets hectic, sometimes all you want to do is stay in and chill with the kids. Be sure to check out our Bucket List this month, focusing on the best pizza Arkansas has to offer. There’s nothing like a good pizza night with the family and we’ve got the hook-up!

Here’s to you, Arkansas!

Heather Baker, President & Publisher hbaker@aymag.com / heatherbaker_ar

READER FEEDBACK

CHANGES AHEAD FOR TODD YAKOUBIAN

“It won’t be the same without you! Best of luck!”

Phyllis Howell

BRAUM’S WORKING ON POTENTIAL CONWAY LOCATION

“I do hope this passes. We lived in Tuttle and nearby Newcastle in the 80's and have missed having a Braum’s nearby. Their ice cream is so good and the grocery area is great.”

Judy Williams Jones

SCOOTER’S COFFEE OPENING SOON IN MAUMELLE

“My favorite coffee.”

Carrie Hudson

ARKANSAS NATIVE ASHLEY MCBRYDE TO PERFORM IN LITTLE ROCK

“She is an epic songwriter!! One of the best to come along in decades.”

Dana Bailey

OL’ BART AT DIAMOND BEAR HOLDS RIBBON-CUTTING

“We ordered the Philly cheesesteak and it was so good! Can’t wait to be back and try the other items on the menu.”

Estefany Perez

THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR NEWS: JEFF ALLEN, THE POINT 94.1 “He plays the best tunes.”

Dave Leggett

TO SEE AND TO HEAR: SUZANNE RHODES, POET LAUREATE

“Suzanne is wonderful! She has been an encouragement to me.”

Alyssa Darby

TRENDING ON AYMAG.COM

Changes Ahead for Todd Yakoubian

Huddle House Expanding with 3 New Arkansas Locations

Braum’s Working on Potential Conway Location

George’s in the Heights

Arkansas State Fair Unveils Concert Lineup, Fair Frenzy Promo

The Bagel Shop, located at 1501 S Main St in Little Rock, held its grand opening Saturday, Aug. 5.

Servers are the lifeblood of every restaurant. In this Server Says, AY About You sat down with Joshua Hart, a server at The Fold.

Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame inductee David Bazzel revealed the speakers for the upcoming Little Rock Touchdown Club at War Memorial Stadium.

Elicia Dover, co-host of Good Afternoon Arkansas on KATV, has announced she will be leaving the company.

LeafGuard brand by Englert is the original and only one-piece gutter system, with a built-in hood that covers the gutter bottom and deflects leaves and other debris. This unique, seamless design keeps debris from collecting in your gutters which:

• Prevents clogs from forming

• Eliminates leaks and the threat of water damage

• Keeps water flowing freely

• Makes climbing ladders to clean gutters unnecessary

5Top you just can't miss!

ARKANSAS COMIC CON

Sept. 8-10

Arkansas Comic Con is back this September with special guests William Shatner, Shameik Moore and Christina Ricci, among others, making special appearances throughout the weekend. This convention hosts a number of cosplay, panels and vendor opportunities.

AN EVENING WITH JOHN CUSACK AND SCREENING OF “SIXTEEN CANDLES”

Sept. 15

Robinson Performance Hall - Little Rock

Actor John Cusack will host a very special screening of “Sixteen Candles” at the Robinson Center, followed by a live Q&A session and conversation about his life, career, making the film and more. Cusack will be back in Arkansas on Oct. 29 for a stop at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.

Statehouse Convention Center - Little Rock “SIX”

Sept. 15-17

Walton Arts Center - Fayetteville

If you enjoy history or the theater, “Six” has been dubbed one of the best musicals by Broadway, and is a winner of 23 awards. This show, which has a score similar to that of a pop concert, tells the stories of all six of Henry VIII’s ex-wives. This will be the tour’s Arkansas premiere before making its way to Little Rock in October.

FORMAT FESTIVAL

Sept. 22-24

The Momentary - Bentonville

For Music, Art and Technology, FORMAT Festival will be returning for its sophomore year in Bentonville this September. This year, the music festival will take place at The Momentary and will feature talent such as Alanis Morissette and Leon Bridges during the three-day event.

“WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY?”

Sept. 24

Walton Arts Center - Fayetteville

There’s no better day to catch an improv show than Sept. 24 at the Walton Arts Center. “Whose Live Anyway?” includes comedians Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray, who will be performing according to audience suggestions.

Jimmy Fortune

The Oak Ridge Boys

The Gatlin Brothers

The Bellamy Brothers Gene Watson

Daniel O’Donnell

WHERE STORY MEETS SPECTACLE

Each year, more than a million people from around the world come to experience a Sight & Sound® production. With nearly fifty years of bringing the Bible to life on stage, we’ve had quite a journey.

Growing up on a dairy farm in Lancaster County, PA, our founder, Glenn Eshelman, was inspired by the beauty of the world around him. As a young man, he spent many of his days painting and photographing the local Lancaster landscapes and farmland. Glenn was then asked to present a slideshow to his church. With a simple flashlight, record player and single projector, this was the first unofficial Sight & Sound production.

Then, they took the show on the road!

After years of traveling sideshows, Glenn and his wife Shirley, finally put down roots, opening their first theater in Pennsylvania. Those initial set pieces were built in the Eshleman’s garage and the stage was filled with their family and friends. By the early 1990s, we had grown significantly in scale, premiering our first wrap-around epic production, NOAH. And with that, the immersive experience of Biblical proportions was born!

Since then,we’ve witnessed seas part, and giants fall. But through it all, we’ve also experienced a love that rescues.

Throughout our history, God has seen us through fiery trials and expansion to new locations. In 2008, we officially opened our doors in Branson, MO. And while our story has been filled with challenges and monumental moments; we’ve seen God’s fingerprints on every chapter of our story.

But this is only the beginning! With the recent launch of Sight & Sound Films, we’ve been able to expand our library of Biblical productions to also include historical feature films. Coupled with our online streaming platform, Sight & Sound TV, we are thrilled by the opportunity to tell true stories of redemption that reveal the power of the gospel to families throughout the world!

This year, we invite you to take a seat inside the perilous Persian Empire as the captivating tale of QUEEN ESTHER comes to life on our Branson stage or take the stories with you on your own journey through a Season Pass on Sight & Sound TV.

SEPT. 25–OCT. 1, 2023

The Six Bridges Book Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Central Arkansas Library System gratefully acknowledges the support of the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau and the many other donors and partners who make this festival possible. The Junior League of Little Rock is a partner for the Little Readers Rock events.

Cooking and writing workshops plus a full day of family-friendly events. View the full schedule at SixBridgesBookFestival.org .

Christian Cooper, Better Living through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World

Jermaine Fowler, The Humanity Archive: Recovering the Soul of Black History from a Whitewashed American Myth

David Grann, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Less is Lost

Maureen Corrigan, “Banned Books; Burned Books: Forbidden Literary Works”—a unique program on the subject of book bannings and burnings in America and Great Britain.

Laura Freeman (illustrator), I’m an American by Darshana Khiani

Surface PERFECTION

Countertops provide beauty, durability, austainability to Arkansas surfaces

By KELLI REEP //

Photos submitted

ccording to HomesandGardens.com, there are 10 desirable kitchen countertop trends for 2023 that will elevate home interiors. They include warm colors, detailed edging and waterfall edges, among others.

We asked one of Arkansas’s top designers, manufacturers and installers of kitchen and bath countertops to tell us what trends are making the most impact in the state this year and how Arkansans can incorporate these ideas in their homes. David McDougall, co-owner and CEO of Countertop World in Bryant, has decades of experience helping homeowners bring their dream kitchens and baths to reality.

“Countertop World is central Arkansas-based and

is a family-owned stone fabrication and installation company,” he said. “We service the residential and commercial building and remodeling market throughout all of central Arkansas, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Cabot, Conway, Benton, Bryant, Maumelle, Hot Springs, Hot Springs Village and beyond.

“With almost 100 years of combined experience in our front office alone, Countertop World provides both homeowners and commercial clients with a team that defines professional grade. The knowledge that comes from our experience can only be taught with time. Collectively, our staff has grown into an incomparable source of expertise in the industry.”

McDougall said that some of the trends for 2023 happening throughout the country are also being installed in fashionable homes throughout the state. However, there are a few classics such as marble that will always be in style in Arkansas.

“In my opinion, marble is one of the most beautiful stones available for countertops and facades,” McDougall said. “However, durability does become an issue due to the porosity and softness of the stone. Proper care and sealant can aid in preventing these shortcomings of the stone, but quartz generally is the better option for durability in lighter color tones.”

McDougall also notes that when it comes to sustainability, quartz is the go-to for countertops.

“It checks most of the boxes people are looking for in countertops, and the pros generally outweigh the cons with quartz,” McDougall said. “We can generally fit the budget, aesthetic appetite and durability demands by using quartz. What I believe made quartz surge stems from supply and the ability of quartz manufacturers to create semi-natural looking products.

“For example, your favorite Italian marble slab was once just a rock on the side of a mountain or quarry. It requires an extensive amount of labor and resources just to be able to redact a block of that marble. The block then, essentially, gets sliced into slabs, loaded in containers, delivered on a cargo ship and distributed across various countries and states. This process is quite lengthy and labor-intensive. Whereas with quartz, it is produced in a factory using natural ground quartz crystals and resins to replicate the look of your favorite natural stone. This method leads to relatively quick mass production of identical slabs and allows homeowners to, as I like to say, ‘fit the budget, aesthetic appetite and durability demands’ with quartz that they may not be able to with marble.”

Another trend he is seeing more in Arkansas homes is using warmer colors in kitchen countertops.

The right countertop completes a room elegantly, whether in a gourmet kitchen or a half bath.

“We are beginning to see a shift there, and while whites and greys are still an industry staple, as well as color options we carry, I anticipate a major swing to warmer tones very soon,” he said.

Countertop World uses the best materials, machines and service to provide the finest countertops in the state. McDougall said as with other luxury finishes, a top-quality countertop makes a good home great.

“We have an exclusive curated collection, which has been precisely selected and provides our clients with access to the hottest stone slabs and designs on the market,” he said. “We stock the hard-to-find, highly desired patterns and colors, giving our clients exactly the materials they want to put in their homes. The collection is updated regularly to accommodate design trends and color demands.”

The company also uses state-of-the-art machinery to allow them to produce higher quality products in a faster time frame.

“These machines make the most precise cuts and leave the absolute smoothest, glass-like finish possible,” McDougall said. “Our vein-matching technology allows seamless waterfall edges and continues the natural flow of the stone throughout. We have invested heavily in stateof-the-art lasers, saws, polishers, finishers, edgers and other machinery so we can deliver stone products with the highest quality finish possible.”

Both HomeandGardens. com and Countertop World are seeing waterfall edges as a trend this year. A waterfall edge in countertops is a design feature that makes a 90-degree angle at the end of the countertop. Rather than a traditional finished edge, a waterfall edge creates a surface that extends toward the floor, continuing down the structure on which it rests.

“Our digital mapping technology allows us to design each piece to correspond with the natural stone’s flow throughout the house,” McDougall said. “The most accurate, beautiful waterfall edges are created with the combination of our laser-mapping and laser-cutting technology. Our new finishing machines give you the option to choose a custom finish of leathered, honed or polished. From slab to finish, all our countertops and surfaces are produced in-house, minimizing room for error.

“Textures also are a nice touch to countertops, as it gives a home a unique look. In most cases, leathering or honing a natural stone can aid in the durability of that particular stone. For example, etching is very common in marble. The etching you see is scuffs and scratches to the top polish of the stone. If you hone the material, which eliminates the shine, you would see less of the etching. Additionally, leathering creates a similar effect; however, it turns the stone into more of a rough textured finish instead of a smooth matte finish. Which one the client chooses to complete their dream space depends on the client’s needs, tastes and budget.”

McDougall noted that, just like carpets, countertop surfaces can be engineered for indoor-outdoor use. In general, engineered surfaces are a solid investment for both homeowners and commercial clients.

“A handful of manufacturers have begun to produce quartz-like slabs, which check the boxes ordinary quartz doesn’t,” he said. “For example, quartz cannot withstand heat or ultraviolet waves. This limitation used to force homeowners to select a natural stone for outdoor countertops, and those colors generally appear darker.

“Today, with new technology, homeowners and commercial clients can choose an engineered surface from an extensive palette of color op-

tions, including lighter colors. These engineered materials are not limited to outdoor environments, and they make for highly durable and beautiful indoor countertops as well. You essentially can mirror the exterior vibe to the interior vibe, which was not always possible.”

Arkansas homeowners and commercial clients alike are looking to stone countertops not just as a trend, but as a classic choice in the decor, sustainability and durability within their spaces.

“I believe Arkansas being the Natural State adds to the desire of have natural stone countertops,” McDougall said. “We still see granite, marble and quartzite often used in homes. Quartz companies have come a long way in creating beautiful, realistic and unique-looking slabs. For all of the other options out there, it is impossible to replicate natural stone’s unique characteristics and beauty. Therefore, for many people, natural stone remains the preferred choice for both homes and commercial buildings.”

McDougall said stone countertops are appealing for their timeless look, low-maintenance care, durability and how they increase the value of a home.

“The popularity of natural stone countertops has remained in style for decades, and that isn’t going to change anytime soon,” he said. “Most homebuyers want to see natural stone countertops in the homes they are looking to purchase, and premium countertops often become a deciding factor in the purchase of a new home.

“Stone countertops not only add value and appeal, but quartz countertops are the easiest to keep clean and sanitary as they do not need to be sealed. Granite countertops increase the value of the property because they are so luxurious. Installing granite countertops is a long-

A hot trend in countertops is the waterfall edge, seen here. This dramatic effect requires a high degree of craftsmanship to produce a seamless look.

“The popularity of natural stone countertops has remained in style for decades, and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.”

- David McDougal

term investment that will benefit you in the future.”

The longevity of stone, as well as its sustained popularity, have led many homeowners to replace their counters even if they intend on selling the home as new counters will increase resale value tremendously. McDougall said while new countertops cannot guarantee a higher selling price, it does show potential buyers they are investing in a property that has been maintained with care.

“Premium countertops make your home of higher quality and a worthy investment,” he said.

For customers are considering remodeling a kitchen, bathroom, restaurant or other commercial building, McDougall offers several factors to keep in mind.

“Upkeep is a big question to ask yourself when selecting countertops,” he said. “Knowing the level of care you are willing to commit to countertops will help guide you toward the appropriate materials. Children, pets and lifestyle should also be factored in when considering upkeep as well.

Another factor is the veining in the surface and the ability to match the veining to create a cohesive, seamless look. Here Countertop World shines, McDougall said.

“Matching veins can be a big deal whenever a seam is required,” he said. “Fortunately, with our advanced technology, we can showcase vein placement and allow our client to collaborate on this decisionmaking process.”

Of course, the factor that can make or break a decision for any investment is price. McDougall acknowledges countertops can be a costly purchase; however, Countertop World has built relationships and tapped into markets inside and outside central Arkansas to ensure it can help meet clients’ budgets, regardless of where they fall on the spectrum of most economical to most luxurious.

“Countertops are generally one of the most-used surfaces in the home,” McDougall said. “Investing in a quality countertop in an area where you spend most of your time is an investment you will reap rewards from in day-in day-out use. It’s one of the easiest ways to transform the appearance of your kitchen and bathroom.”

Countertop World features a 5,000-square-foot showroom and a state-of-the-art fabrication shop, both of which are easily accessed from Interstate 30 in Bryant. The experienced crew leverages the power of technology to deliver the highest quality of work to be had anywhere.

“We continually invest in the latest technologies such as digital templating and a full line of computer numerical control manufacturing equipment. We leave zero room for error,” McDougall said. “Our turn-around time is unmatched, and these machines also reduce waste, allowing us to pass the savings onto our customers.”

The company’s CNC manufacturing equipment is state-of-the-art, providing precision control and a superior finished product. Operators have years of experience using the computerized machinery, resulting in superior accuracy, speed, production, safety, efficiency and cost efficiency.

According to OMNICNC, a leading manufacturer of CNC cutting machines, a countertop job typically involves several pieces of counter material. Achieving a perfect finished product involves several factors, including cutouts for the sink, cabinet positioning and joining seams so the surface appears seamless. Because stone is heavy, proper supports are needed since the countertop needs to last a long time and ideally a lifetime.

Today, a digital template of the countertop is produced as a computer file, which ensures measurements are accurate. The software overlays an image of the stone slab with the image of the digital template, and everything is checked before cutting. The stone slab is then cut and edged while the undermount sink and holes for faucets are cut out.

Polishing the back side of the coarse stone slab, as well as the underside of the overhang, gives a smooth feeling. To make the seams as seamless as possible, the CNC machine uses polishing tools to smooth the surfaces of the joints.

“With the advances in technology, we at Countertop World can provide almost any look a homeowner or business owner is looking to achieve,” McDougall said. “Regardless of what is trending now, we can help clients achieve the look they want. We can show you the difference in the quality and customer service we provide and how it makes such a difference in the areas you want to make the most of in terms of looks and use.”

Choosing the right backsplash is a key step to bringing a kitchen design together with flair.

FinishingTouch

By Dwain Hebda | Photos submitted

ince 1987, Akel’s Carpet One Floor & Home has been making homes more beautiful one room at a time. Yet for the thousands of people, the company has delighted with its signature blend of customer service and expert advice, there are still many who come in having taken the name literally, expecting only carpet.

As one visit to any of the company’s three central Arkansas locations quickly reveals, carpet is only the beginning of Akel’s extensive line of merchandise.

“We’re more than just carpet,” said Erica Akel, manager. “A whole lot more.”

Simply put, anyone who has not been to Akel’s Carpet One Floor & Home recently may be surprised at the extensive inventory to be found here. In addition to a range of flooring options, from hardwood to tile to laminate and yes, carpet, the company also carries a line of kitchen and bathroom cabinets, floor-care products and even a commercial line to meet every need.

“Today’s homeowner appreciates being able to go into one place and get all of their needs taken care of,” Akel said. “They trust us to provide good advice, friendly service and a fair price, and that is what we strive to deliver. We’re only happy if the client is happy.”

For clients looking to refresh or remodel their living spaces, Akel recommends luxury vinyl flooring, the hottest thing going right now. Luxury vinyl is engineered to deliver good looks, long wear and ease of installation while delivering beauty and underfoot comfort to please even the most discriminating homeowner.

“Luxury vinyl plank is our No. 1 requested product,” Akel said. “It is 100 percent waterproof, with a lifetime warranty against water. It’s really durable, really easy to clean and very scratch resistant. That makes it ideal for homes that have dogs because as you know, dogs can scratch up a hardwood floor pretty quickly.”

The best part about the product is how good it looks. The advanced flooring delivers the appearance and feel of wood and comes in dozens of shades and finishes, from a rough-hewn plank to a casually elegant herringbone. Unlike vinyl flooring of the past, this advanced flooring installs easily, even for the do-it-yourselfer.

“It’s a floating floor featuring tongue-in-groove design,” Akel said. “It has a pad attached to it and goes in without glue. That make for a very quick install as opposed to other flooring options.”

The product can be installed on any level of the house and can be installed over a variety of surfaces, including the subfloor.

“Luxury vinyl can go in over concrete, and it can even go in over tile,” Akel said. “If somebody has a large room with tile flooring, that represents lot of work to remove. With our product, you don’t have the work and mess of taking that floor up.

Beautiful styles, professional design and second-to-none customer service make Akel’s the area’s top choice.

“TODAY’S HOMEOWNER APPRECIATES BEING ABLE TO GO INTO ONE PLACE AND GET ALL OF THEIR NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF. THEY TRUST US TO PROVIDE GOOD ADVICE, FRIENDLY SERVICE AND A FAIR PRICE, AND THAT IS WHAT WE STRIVE TO DELIVER. ”

- ERICA AKEL, MANAGER

“I have this product in my house, and I can say from personal experience, it looks and performs as well as it promises. It really is a fantastic flooring option for just about any room in the house.”

Tile is also a popular option for flooring, Akel said, especially in the bathroom. Akel’s Carpet One Floor & Home carries a line of durable and eye-catching tile that is warrantied for decades against fading, stains and wear. On top of that, Akel’s expert installation is guaranteed for the life of the floor.

“We employ the best subcontractors who handle our installs,” Akel said. “We’re an agency project manager, which means we will handle setting up your install, make sure it goes smoothly and ensure you satisfied with the finished job. If anything happens during the install, we take care of it for you and make it right. It’s definitely an A to Z experience with us.”

Perhaps most surprising to anyone who has not been in the market for flooring for a while is the sustained popularity of carpet. While home improvement television shows would have one believe that carpet went out in the 1990s, that is not the case. In fact, Akel said, carpet is as popular today as it has ever been, thanks to new designs, new fibers and weave construction to fit a contemporary home.

“Carpet is still a strong option. That and vinyl plank are our top two sellers,” she said. “People don’t put it throughout their entire homes like they used to. What people are doing now is they might install it everywhere throughout the upstairs for sound dampening, while downstairs you might only find it in the bedroom.

“The product itself has come a long way. We have a new product from Karastan that’s got a lifetime warranty against stains and a 25year wear warranty. Some of the carpet we carry even has silk in it. Plus, there’s so many different types of patterns now.

“Trends today lean toward a more textured carpet versus the plush models of past generations. This gives more character to the floor covering,” Akel said.

Another hot trend is to utilize rugs and runners to create a dynamic look.

“A lot of people will do a custom stair runner, which we will cut and install perfectly,” she said. “We also do custom-sized rugs, which are popular. That’s something I love to do because rugs are really fun with multiple prints and patterns to choose from.”

Rugs not only lend beauty, but perform functionally, as well.

“If we sell someone a whole house of vinyl plank, I will typically recommend a rug to go with it because it adds such decor value and it protects the floor, as well,” Akel said, “and of course, you want to

“IF WE SELL SOMEONE A WHOLE HOUSE OF VINYL PLANK, I WILL TYPICALLY RECOMMEND A RUG TO GO WITH IT BECAUSE IT ADDS SUCH DECOR VALUE, AND IT PROTECTS THE FLOOR, AS WELL. ”

- ERICA AKEL, MANAGER

Hundreds of cabinet options and hardware join traditional carpet selections in Akel Carpet One Floor & Home’s extensive inventory.

install a runner on stairs or down hallways to help improve traction and prevent slips and falls.”

Akel’s Carpet One Floor & Home brings the same attention to detail, commitment to quality and friendly expertise to its line of cabinetry for the kitchen or bath. The company offers an in-store designer who is an excellent resource for people on their first remodel or who have tackled such projects multiple times.

“We have a new kitchen and bath showroom called Kiba, and we have hired an in-house interior designer to assist clients in configuring their dream project,” Akel said. “Kristy Wilson is our designer, and she’s an amazing all-around design professional for your kitchen or bath remodel.”

A design appointment with Kristy at Akel’s Maumelle store gives the consumer access to hundreds of cabinet door styles plus countertop options, various fixtures and hardware for the bath or kitchen, back splashes, and more. She will even work with the client’s contractor or plumber to ensure things are handled right from start to finish.

“Kristy is a wonderful resource for someone thinking about a remodel,” Akel said. “She takes a lot of pride in what she does, she’s very good at what she does, and her eye is amazing. She’ll gut your entire kitchen and build it back. She can do it all. Customers remark all the time about how much fun they have working with her too.”

Akel said customers range from very specific to very vague when it comes to their remodeling ideas. For those who lack idea clarity, she recommends browsing Pinterest as an easy way to get started. Customers can also use Akel’s Carpet One Floor & Home’s new design app, the room visualizer, on the store’s website. This tool utilizes a photo of the room to be remodeled and lets the customer see exactly how a new floor will look in their space before making a purchase.

“The room visualizer allows the client to experiment with different flooring types, colors, patterns and textures to find the perfect match for their style and home decor,”

Akel said. “It is really a great tool — very easy to use and very useful. Plus, you do not have to spend a lot of time at the store. You can mix and match things at your convenience.”

The addition of in-house design services and the room visualizer app are just the latest example of the innovation and next-level service that has kept Akel’s Carpet One Floor & Home atop the home improvement market for decades. No matter what the job calls for in flooring, carpet, cabinetry or design services, the company has the right products, expertise and know-how for even the most extensive projects.

“We pride ourselves on the customer service side of things,” Akel said. “When you go to a big box store you are usually going there on price alone. If you have any issues, it is really hard to get them resolved. With us, you are working with one person the entire time, you have their cell phone number, and you know if you walk in with an issue, they’re going to be here.

“Working with us is a much more personalized experience with people you can trust. What’s allowed us to grow for the past 30 years, simply put, is our ability to create a positive experience for all of our customers.”

Hi, my name is Hunter Medlock, owner of Hunter Medlock Homes. It is truly an honor to carry forward a tradition of excellence and craftsmanship. I am proud to be a 3rd generation custom home builder located here in Central Arkansas. Through the years, learning from my grandpa and father, I’ve learned many, many things. Our dedication to making the best homes possible shines through in everything we do. Our homes feature cutting-edge designs and custom-made plans that adapt to your needs. We’re not just about meeting expectations; we’re all about exceeding them. With utmost care and precision, we create environments that you love to come home to.

For me, it’s more than just building houses. It is about every step of the process. From the foundation to the immensely thought out design. It’s about the relationships formed with clients that turn into family. It’s about finding that specific light fixture you’ve always dreamed of having. I have said it once and I’ll say it again…interior and exterior aesthetics are important! When designing a home, I think about what I would want if I was to live there myself.

If I had to choose my favorite thing about the home-building process, it would have to be the design aspect of it. It is so rewarding to take a blank canvas and turn it into a place homeowners can enjoy and be proud of for years and years to come. Overtime, my eye for design has flourished and has been brought to life in many custom and spec homes across Central Arkansas. I love curating homes that stand out and don’t look like every other one on the block.

At HMH, we specialize in custom homes and spec homes. Whether you are looking to build your dream home or ready to buy something move-in ready, we are the person for you! Our goal is to make the building process as easy as possible for you and ensure quality and satisfaction. We build homes that you can’t wait to show your friends and family.

AY’S 2023 INNOVATIVE HOME AWARDS

AYAboutYou is pleased to salute the men and women who turn houses into homes with our annual Home Innovation Awards. Ahome is a family’s most important asset and their biggest investment.More than that it is a space where life happens,where babies come from the hospital,where holiday celebrations are held and where significant life moments by the thousands join together to create the family story.

The Home InnovationAwards recognize those companies and professionals inArkansas that help make homes comfortable, inviting spaces.Whatever the need,these pros help to brighten rooms,boost efficiency,lend creature comforts and beautify exteriors for their clientele.This list represents the best of the best inArkansas,standing by their work with pride. Congratulations to this year’s honorees.

We’re a custom home building firm that is focused on your needs and desires. We work with you to identify the perfect lot, design a plan and budget, and build a place you’ll love to come home to forever.

See our best work

Homes Dream

Smart design, creature comforts

lead list of home innovations

By DWAIN HEBDA

Whether built from the ground up or remodeling a favorite space, home innovations are in high demand as families look to create customized spaces to suit their busy lifestyles.

“What people want out of a home is they are looking for something that fits them — their lifestyle, a dream they have or a season of life they may be going through,” said Bill Parkinson, owner of Parkinson Building Group in Little Rock. “We get to do fun things for people based on where they are in their life cycle and what their interests are.”

Across the country, residential construction is surging. Reuters reported last month that single-family homebuilding and permits both rose sharply, besting July 2022 numbers by 9.5 percent. The western region of the U.S. led the charge, with a 28.5 percent increase in new housing builds over last year, while the South saw a slight 1.3 percent decrease.

Remodeling activity has also been strong. The Joint Center for Housing Centers of Harvard University forecast home improvement spending will reach $485 billion this year, about $10 billion more than 2022 and $160 billion more than was spent in 2019.

Parkinson’s firm focuses on custom homes and selected large-scale renovation projects in midtown and west Little Rock. He said the things clients are looking for out of their dream spaces varies widely by neighborhood and life chapter.

“Even in Little Rock, as small as it is, you’ve got different interests in the groups out west where you’ve got some land and room and newer developments versus our group that works up in the Heights that does large-scale remodels and new constructions,” he said. “Out west we see a lot of people who have kids, and they’re looking for this larger home with more technology and pools and all the amenities that come with a household with children in it.

“Then we have a pretty large group of individuals who are your retired Gen Xers and baby boomers, and that’s a totally different group to build for. They’re building their dream. They’ve been saving all their life, and this is the last house they’re going to build. They’re less interested in what’s practical and more interested in getting a particular feature they want, like a huge chef’s kitchen or a greenhouse attached to the house.”

Parkinson said the style and footprint of homes can also be influenced by the neighborhood. In the more established Heights region, homes tend to follow more classic styling and more traditional finishes. Out in the western developments, meanwhile, homes trend toward sprawl and individuality.

“In the eastern part of town, it’s very consistent. People want [the house] to feel like it was always there,” he said. “Sizing varies but tends to stay between 3,500 square feet on the small side and between 5,500 to 6,000 square feet on our larger projects. It’s all about fitting into the neighbor-

hood. Out west you get some larger swings in square footage and some more individuality as far as style and finishes.”

According to Architectural Digest, the leading must-haves for both new builds and remodels can draw at least a dotted line to COVID pandemic lockdowns. Home offices, home gyms and the usual kitchen and bathroom remodels all led the list of what consumers wanted most. The magazine noted homeowners have also been willing to pay more for their custom spaces, as the average remodeling budget grew from $12,000 in 2020 to $15,000 in 2021.

Consumers are also bringing in design help to assist in assimilating new spaces or to provide a refreshed look that is in step with the family’s lifestyle. Debi Davis, owner of Debi Davis Interior Design in Little Rock, said effective interior design not only helps a new or renovated space in look and function, but can also rescue the homeowner from chasing trends.

“I’ve been in this business for 27 years, and my philosophy is this: When you are paying for your whole house to be renovated, or even part of it, you want longevity,” she said. “I never follow trends because my clients usually do entire houses and by the time we finish their house a trend is already over.”

Davis said avoiding trends means sticking to fundamental color groups that stand up over time, even as furniture and fixtures are updated. She said her firm is known for a lighter palette on the walls, floors and floor coverings.

“We have a lot of people that have families, teenagers, dogs, grandchildren, and when you start talking light colors, a lot of them say, ‘Oh no. I can’t because I have little kids,’” she said. “Oh, so you want dark carpet that every little thing in the world shows on? No.

“We were looking back at a house that we did 11 years ago in New Orleans. This house was red brick, big, colonial-style house. Big shutters, wood balusters, all this iron railing, awesome white house. Inside, it was originally black walls, and we went to all white and soft blue. When I say white, we have about 15 colors of white, some of them having a little more depth. We went in and opened up rooms and put in the white and the light blue, and it still works today.”

Davis said interior design gets a bad rap as something only the elite can afford or that only applies in mansions and estates.

When you are paying for your whole house to be renovated, or even part of it, you want longevity.

What people want out of a home is they are looking for something that fits them — their lifestyle, a dream they have or a season of life they may be going through.

— Bill Parkinson, Parkinson Building Group

— Debi Davis, Debi Davis Interior Design

“We do do a lot of high-end, but we kind of do stuff across the board,” she said. “We just got through doing a house in Des Arc; we have done a house out in Marianna in the middle of an alfalfa field. We have one client, a young couple, where they’re in their first home, and they definitely have a budget.

“My philosophy is, I don’t care if you’re high-end or low-end. I’m going to pay just as much attention trying to get a look put together for a young couple as I do for the project we just finished that was a 10,000-square-foot house.”

Davis’ best advice for making an immediate impact in any space is to declutter by sorting through keepsakes and knick-knacks.

“You don’t need to have all the little trinkets your grandmother had out, all the little figurines,” she said. “Less is best, as the old saying goes.”

By far the most-requested features for any new home or remodel these days are the advancements in technology. Smart home systems have been the rage for some time now, allowing homeowners to monitor heating and cooling, control lights remotely and direct the home to perform certain functions simply by asking Alexa.

But according to TechRadar, today’s homeowner ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Recapping the best new home gadgets from CES 2023, the world’s largest technology trade show, there’s a lot more coming to every room in the house. Ovens powered by AI, refrigerators that double as internet hubs, speakers and air conditioners disguised as wall art and a range of advanced security products promise to completely transform the American home in the very near future.

According to Keith Weeks, president of Gary Houston Electric of Little Rock, providing the backbone into which all of these gewgaws plug has kept the 42-year-old company busy.

“I wouldn’t say what we do is a lot different than in the past,” he said, “but the range of things that this system needs to support is much different than before. There are so many app-based things now that were never there before, and once you get them going, they kind of run themselves. The challenge is integrating everything to run smoothly, and that’s where customers still look to us for help.”

Weeks said this can be particularly tricky during remodels where older homes require a boost to electrical and internet capabilities. The company is handling a lot of such work these days as interest rates rise and people decide to invest in current spaces rather than moving or building anew.

“We definitely see a lot more remodels,” he said. “People who worked from home [during COVID] and who are continuing to work from home might require an upgrade to their internet and that can sometimes be complicated.”

Another big trend for the future is wider adoption of alternative energy, specifically solar, which requires trained expertise to integrate into the home’s electrical system.

“We don’t sell solar panels nor do we want to, but we have several companies that reach out to us to install and/or connect the power, either to a battery system or the main electrical switch,” Weeks said. “I think you’re gonna see more of that in the future. It’s still

a very costly expenditure right now, but that’s not going to slow down.”

As for the new build/remodel market overall, industry experts worry about the continued rise in interest rates and inflation and the potential dampening effect that will have on future business.

“Right now, [business] is at or maybe a little above 2019 levels,” Parkinson said. “Some of that has to do with lack of [existing home] inventory. There’s not a lot on the market, so people who want something nice are oftentimes driven to building it themselves. Our supply chain has started to fix itself a bit, but the elevated costs have not really changed much. Lumber has come back down, for example, but everything else that went through the roof is all still through the roof. You’re still going to pay an elevated price to build today.

“Our experience right now is there’s still plenty of people who want to achieve their dream home. We’re blessed to be able to help them do that and that’s what we’re focused on.”

There are so many app-based things now that were never there before, and once you get them going, they kind of run themselves. The challenge is integrating everything to run smoothly, and that’s where customers still look to us for help.

— Keith Weeks, Gary Houston Electric

David Bazzel

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For Ray Ellen, a passion for real estate came naturally from a love of the land. Fascinated by the property possibilities as he walked the family timberland in south Arkansas with his dad and grandfather, Ellen decided to turn that interest into a full-blown career. He got off to a strong start as a marketing professional in Northwest Arkansas before obtaining his license in 2007 – and selling his first listing in less than a day. Ellen has since solidified his place as an industry standout, consistently ranking among the top agents in sales volume and lending his expertise at conferences, shows and publications across the country.

Ellen is also the founder and lead of Pixel Properties® with REAL Brokerage in Little Rock. Thanks to savvy marketing strategies and an unmatched client experience, he and the Pixel Properties team have become a nationally recognized name in the real estate game. Serving all communities in the heart of The Natural State, Ellen works alongside fellow leaders Matt Ferrell and Sara Thorpe, as well as agent partners Hallie Dennis, Sissy Collins, Julia Sampson, Shanna Bartel, Kicia Mayes and the essential support staff who keep things running smoothly day in and day out.

Whether buying or selling, clients of Pixel Properties expect a “tell it like it is” approach that is equal parts honest and supportive. Everyone on the Pixel Properties team knows how crucial the right mindset is to making the process positive for everyone involved.

“Agents live day to day with their clients experiencing one of the top three most stressful times of their life: moving,” Ellen said. “An agent needs to have a positive but realistic outlook to be able to navigate this difficult time with their clients while also taking on many of those obstacles themselves so the client doesn’t have to.”

Pixel Properties is enjoying one of its best years ever in 2023, with more than double the number of families served compared to this time last year. The group’s strong reputation has meant that satisfied clients continue to recommend Pixel Properties to their friends and families.

“I love seeing my clients’ faces light up when they get an offer accepted, and I love hearing how excited they are when we accept an offer that allows them to move into their dream home or dream location!” Ellen said. “It never gets old.”

Pixel Properties® with REAL Brokerage 400 W Capitol Ave Suite 1700 Little Rock, AR 72201

pixelproperties.com

Afamily home is a lot of things – a big investment, a place of sanctuary, a setting where oncein-a-lifetime events take place. Homes come in all shapes and sizes, from petit starter houses with loads of charm to the family home where the kids grow up and come back to, year after year, to the empty nest space that has been dreamed of for years. There is a reason a home is part of the American Dream. Central to this dream are realtors, the professionals who put in the long hours and late nights to help families find the right house and make it their home. Realtors help thousands of people in Arkansas find just the right address every day, building communities as they go. Ay About You is proud to once again recognize the very best members of this honorable profession, listed in the following pages. We salute them for their hard work and congratulate them on their success.

We are so proud of our agents who have been selected by their clients as top agents in the area based on customer satisfaction. We strive to create a better experience for consumers and we are delighted these agents have been recognized by AY and our clients for those efforts!

From left to right: Jessica Rogers, Lindsey Blaylock, Will Smith, Sarah Bailey, Elisabeth Roedel, Joanna White, and Barbara Jordan.

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By DWAIN HEBDA

Real estate professionals weigh in on market challenges and opportunities

Asked to assess current conditions in northwest Arkansas’ residential real estate market, Mike Parker, broker with Prime Real Estate & Development in Fayetteville, just chuckles.

“We are in a really unique market,” he said. “It’s so upside down as far as supply and demand.”

Parker has been in the real estate business for 46 years, so he is rarely at a loss for words to adequately describe the market and the forces that are moving the housing needle one way or the other. These days, however, things are unlike anything he has seen in his career.

“There’s no inventory, people are moving in like crazy,” he said. “I can remember a long time back, I used to run 50 listings myself and about 20 percent of them would be under contact at any given time. To compare how different it is now in the metro, in northwest Arkansas there are 4,021 Realtors. There’s only 2,152 active listings and there’s 1,738 pending listings. There’s not even one listing, active or pending, per Realtor.”

Given the scarcity of product, it is logical to think many Realtors are experiencing lean times right now just for want of something to sell, but unlike past eras, agents are showing more staying power, knowing if they can just get a listing, almost any listing, it is all but guaranteed to sell fast.

“On one end, Realtors have got to be starving to death. You can’t sell without inventory,” Parker said, “but for those with listings, it’s a fantastic opportunity. As soon as you get a listing, if you have a good marketing program through the internet, it’s going to sell, unless it’s just grossly overpriced.”

What makes the current market situation so hard to understand is how contrary it runs to fundamental market principles. Through 2019, mortgages had enjoyed extended

periods of historic or near-historic interest rates. During COVID, the Fed thinned the prime lending rate further, down to nearly nothing, to entice people to start borrowing and spending.

The impact on the nation’s housing market was pandemonium, and buyers threw armloads of cheap money at every property they saw. Houses sold in a week, then in days and often just hours after being listed, many fetching the asking price and an appreciable percentage far above asking.

Meanwhile, inflation began to spike, and by the dawn of 2022, it had reached a 40-year high. By March of that year, the Fed did what most economists expected it would, which was raise interest rates. The residential real estate market, being one of the industries most sensitive to changes in interest rates, should have slowed down as mortgages became more expensive, cooling off home prices in the process. Thus far, however, none of that has come to pass, leaving real estate pros like Shelby Finch, executive broker for the Sudar Group’s Fayetteville office, to try and make sense of things.

“We have a lot more new construction options that finally caught up with demand or even exceeded demand in some price points,” Finch said. “What we don’t have are any existing homes, and that has resulted in a huge increase of buyers being pushed out of our four major cities: Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale and Bentonville.

“In northwest Arkansas, you used to be able to buy a starter home back in 2018, 2019 for $150,000 to $200,000. Right now in northwest Arkansas, that doesn’t get you anything. Most starter homes up here, and by starter home, I’m thinking 1,500 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths, you can’t find that in the major four cities for less than $285,000 to $300,000.”

Mike Parker Shelby Finch

“We are in a really unique market. It’s so upside down as far as supply and demand.”

— Mike Parker

Finch said even homeowners who would entertain moving are caught between a rock and a hard place financially. Many bought or refinanced when rates were at their lowest, and to move now would spike their monthly payments substantially. So they stay put, which keeps their home out of inventory. Others who are desperate for more space are getting creative.

“We’re seeing a lot of people renting their homes instead of selling,” she said. “They’ve become what we’ve come to refer to as an ‘accidental landlord.’ They had no intentions on becoming a landlord, but they can rent their home for so much more than what their mortgage payment is, and they can then use the equity in their home to purchase their new home. We’re seeing a lot of people do this to hold onto their house because a 3% interest rate is hard to let go of.”

These strategies aside, recent statistics show a measure of normalcy may be starting to creep back into the Arkansas housing marketplace. Redfin’s July statistics for Arkansas show that while home prices are still up and selection is down, buyers are showing more restraint. The number of houses selling above list price was off 12% year over year while homes that sold after the price was reduced was up about 5%. The number of homes sold overall was off 18% in July compared to the previous year.

“The thing that stands out to me right now is that we still have a pretty hot seller’s market,” said Melissa John, executive broker with The Charlotte John Company in Little Rock. “I know it sounds great for these sellers, and everybody thinks these agents are out there making a bunch of money, but really when you deal with offers that throw the whole book at the person saying you’ve got to do all these things, it’s not always the best scenario. You don’t want your buyer paying over the value of the house. You don’t want your buyer saying, ‘I’m not doing an inspection,’ or giving all their cash away.”

John said central Arkansas is not pushing buyers to bedroom communities as was happening in the northwest. She said her firm has built up a comfortable number of listings despite the still-brisk demand as pockets of sanity and pragmatism are starting to take hold.

“In Little Rock, the Heights, Hillcrest, Pleasant Valley, they’ve always been hot and they’ll always be that way, just because they’re settled neighborhoods with a great location,” she said. “Little Rock has moved out to Chenal, and it’s amazing to live there with what’s out there now, but I think

the megahouse is not as popular as it used to be. People don’t feel that they have to go out and buy a 6,000-square-foot home. That trend has changed over the years as people focus more on their lifestyle versus the big house.”

Other things that are eating away at available home inventories include the cost of building a home from the ground up. The new build market took it on the chin during the pandemic due to supply chain issues and materials availability. While these factors have by and large returned to pre-pandemic levels, inflation is making it very expensive to build right now.

“There’s a lot of new construction homes on the market,” Finch said. “We’re seeing a lot of incentives and concessions being made from builders to get buyers into their homes to accommodate those higher interest rates. We’re seeing builders pay closing costs, and we’re seeing builders offer things like move-in packages with washers and dryers or refrigerators or fences.”

Real estate companies themselves have diversified over the years to offer far more client services than they once did.

“Our fantastic relocation department has helped many move here from out of state over the years, especially as of late,” said Susan Reynolds, vice president and sales associate with The Janet Jones Company in Little Rock. “Our relocation director, Melanie Orintas, has established relationships with national and regional companies that are relocating employees to our area.

“Since 1988, our firm has been affiliated with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Membership in this prestigious network is comprised of over 500 of the world’s top residential real estate firms. Together, we produce more annual home sales than any other real estate network.”

One trend that appears to be consistent in both areas of the state is clients’ preference for doing business with local firms, especially as technology has levelled the playing field between homegrown independent real estate companies and the national brands.

“Over the years, The Janet Jones Company has consistently ranked as the top real estate agency in our market, and our firm remains local, family-owned and proudly independent,” said Janet Jones, president of The Janet Jones Company.

“Our well-trained and experienced agents are renowned as the best of the best, and they are the most knowledgeable, hardworking and passionate professionals in town. Our

Susan Reynolds

Melissa John Janet Jones

agents are all full-time agents who serve on boards and committees, chairing fundraisers and volunteering in the classroom. We all live here, work here and raise our families here.”

“We really take some pride in being a boutique brokerage,” Finch said. “So many of these bigger brokerages are very transaction-based. It’s cold calling and working with people you don’t necessarily know because they’re going through the phone book and calling people and sending out mass mailers to people. We’re not turning and burning through transactions. We’re there every step of the entire process, we’re there afterwards, and we stay in contact.

“When you really take a look at a local boutique brokerage like Sudar Group, what we focus on is our relationships. We’re out there in the community, going to events and we’re meeting people organically and building those relationships with people. We’re working with people we know, and we’re working with people we like and want to work with. I think there is really something to that.”

Parker takes the comprehensive service model ever further, encompassing every step of residential real estate right down to bare ground. It is a strategy that is not without challenges.

“Over the next year I’m involved with building about 200 homes to keep and lease and some to sell. We’re having to create inventory,” he said. “I’ve always done that in my career, but recently the process has really become bogged down administratively to get new subdivisions through the process. In many cases it’s because infrastructure has not been able to keep up with growth.”

Parker said as many people continue look outside of the main cities of the northwest Arkansas corridor into smaller surrounding communities, available tracks are quickly being swallowed up by developers. Redfin reported three of the 10 Arkansas towns experiencing the biggest jump in home prices were all located in the northwest corner, including Prairie Grove, up 13%, and Tontitown and Pea Ridge, up 7% and 6%, respectively.

“It used to be open country between Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale but it’s all come together now and sprawling out of the city limits,” he said. “You’re seeing areas like Centerton, Goshen and all these little communities now becoming more of a metro center all the way around.”

Succeeding in such a topsy-turvy market has challenged even the most established firms. Many said they have turned to technology to help agents respond more quickly, especially when representing buyers.

“Basically everything we do right now, from writing contracts to uploading photographs to marketing content to social media, involves technology,” John said. “If you don’t have a good handle on how to use your computer and your phone, you can’t work in this industry. You just can’t do it. Technology has aged out some agents in recent years and brought everybody else’s skill level up a big notch to learn how to

get things out quickly from their computer and their phone.

“I just shared a picture on our company’s Instagram yesterday of one of our agents working an offer on the back of a boat. She has her laptop and her phone. That’s where we are now.”

Fortunately, the public is increasingly accepting of this manner of transaction, especially after what was experienced during COVID. This is particularly true for the younger demographic, who largely prefer to do things digitally versus face to face. John said her firm tries to strike a balance between the two modes when representing clients.

“Millennials are smarter buyers. They’re quicker. They know how to get online and look up houses and see them before they may even hit Realtor.com,” she said. “They’re quick with that kind of stuff, and that’s great because that helps us.

“The biggest thing with first-time homebuyers is getting them in and having that sit-down, going over exactly what they’ve got to do to be able to afford the house. The hardest thing for them to understand is what their dollar gets them or why it’s so important to work with a local loan officer instead of a computer-generated person saying ‘Scan this and send it to me.’ Younger people in the market are ready to buy, but there’s a learning curve they have to go through.”

Finch said she has noticed younger buyers are currently waiting longer for their first home than their parents did, but said this may have more to do with recent home prices than a hesitancy to do the deal. Redfin reports the average home price in Little Rock in July was $271,000, while the Northwest Arkansas Board of REALTORS® reported the average residential sale price in Benton County was $433,000 in June and $424,000 in Washington County.

“I do see [younger buyers] are buying homes later now,” said Finch, 32. “I think most people my generation bought homes fairly soon out of college. I’m afraid the people who hadn’t bought a home before COVID are waiting a bit longer due to the fact you can’t afford a starter home.”

If there is one group that is not particularly fazed by home prices, it is the growing number of buyers coming to Arkansas from out of state. The U.S. Census Bureau reported more than four million residents of California, New York, New Jersey, Michigan and Illinois moved out between 2010 and 2019 and continue to head for greener, safer and cheaper pastures. Arkansas gets its share of these transfers, in part because they view local home prices as the bargain of the century. Redfin reported in July northwest Arkansas saw the most influx from Los Angeles, Denver and Washington D.C., while central Arkansas attracted the most migration from Los Angeles, Detroit, Miami and San Francisco.

“We’re not the secret we used to be. We’re now seeing so many from all over the country, a lot out of California, New York, Texas and Florida,” Parker said. “We’re a great place, and so we’re going to keep seeing appreciation and growth, I foresee, for a long time to come.”

“We’re seeing a lot of people renting their homes instead of selling. They’ve become what we’ve come to refer to as an ‘accidental landlord.’”

— Shelby Finch

When it comes to real estate in Northwest Arkansas, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better agency than PRIME Real Estate & Development.

Principal Broker Mike Parker founded PRIME in 2008 and has spent the last 15 years developing a standout group of like-minded realtors. Every member of the PRIME team operates under the golden rule: “Treat others as you’d like to be treated.” PRIME can fulfill all of your real estate needs, from luxury and new construction to commercial, investment properties and land for development. Currently available properties include spots near the U of A, lakeside in Eureka Springs, some gorgeous new construction and even a few commercial lease opportunities.

Staci Medlock previously voted Realtor of the Year, served as President of the NPBR, and recognized as a Multi Million Dollar Producer for the past 15 years. She has also served as Pulaski County JP for district 15 since 2015. She specializes in working with first time home buyers as well as new construction with extensive experience helping both home buyers and sellers across Central Arkansas.

Whether you are looking to BUY OR SELL OR BUILD, give me a call. I can help.

501.944.8687

2411 McCain Blvd., Suite 4, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116

With a proven track record of almost 20 years of experience working with both buyers and sellers, Staci Medlock is one of the top real estate agents in Central Arkansas. She caters to a wide range of clients across the region, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Maumelle, Jacksonville, Cabot, Searcy and Beebe.

“As a native of Central Arkansas, I have a strong love for serving clients in this great state and love the relationships I have created over the last decade,” she says. “Referrals are the largest source of my business, and I am truly blessed to be able to serve so many people by helping them find their dream home.”

Medlock is an expert in negotiating contracts, explaining the buying and selling process and walking clients through their new home purchase or sale with confidence and ease. She has extensive experience in navigating new construction, custom home building and working with first-time home buyers, and is also able to identify and recommend easy updates that can be made to your home to sell it faster and for more money. As the recent pandemic has placed a lot of strain and changes on the market, her experience and expertise have been invaluable for her clients.

She employs a wide range of marketing strategies on every listing including professional photography, social media marketing and promoting homes on numerous online channels and websites. In addition, she establishes various offline marketing strategies such as creating flyers and printed materials, submissions to newspapers, real estate magazines and holding open houses for enhanced exposure to other real estate agents and potential buyers.

“There’s never a dull moment,” Medlock says. “There is a lot of extreme multi-tasking, but I love to take care of people. Real estate is one way I am able to help clients by assisting them with selling or purchasing their home.”

“REAL ESTATE IS WHAT I DO & I LOVE WHAT I DO!”

REALTORS® of the Year

Beinga real estate professional in today’s world requires a constant ability to adapt and to dedicate a significant portion of one’s life to the trade. From late-night and weekend home showings to the fielding of texts and phone calls 24/7 to the unprecedented nature of the ongoing pandemic, the best REALTORS are available, approachable and always ready to serve their clients. All of the following men and women exemplify each of these traits, and then some. Each has been nominated to be the Arkansas REALTOR of the Year by his or her local board or association for outstanding achievements and honorable service to the communities served.

JACOB MOORE JOEY MARKOWSKI

Jacob has been a successful real estate agent since 2016. He is currently the Designated Executive Broker of Moore and Company Realtors in Clarksville and is leading his team to new heights. This fall, he will be Vice President of the Valley Board of Realtors as he continues to serve his fellow board members through leadership at the local level. We are very proud of Jacob and all he has accomplished!

REALTORS® of the Year

Northeast Arkansas Board of REALTORS

TARA GATEWOOD

Halsey Thrasher Harpole Real Estate

Paragould Board of REALTORS

KIMBERLY DAVIS

Weichert, REALTORS Home Source

Southeast Arkansas Board of REALTORS

MICHELLE HEILES

Heiles & Associates Realtors

Tri-County Board of REALTORS

PHILLIP ORR

Coldwell Banker Ozark Real Estate

Northwest Board of REALTORS

CHANCE SHUBERT

South Central Arkansas REALTORS Association

KAYLA JONES

iRealty Arkansas - Benton

Texarkana Board of REALTORS

NextHome NEW Pro Realty Remax Preferred

BECKY EASLEY

Western River Valley Board of REALTORS

LEIGH WALKER

Quantum Real Estate, LLC

Laura is ranked #1 in her state and #40 out of Realtors across the United States on Social Media!

She specializes in exclusive off-market commercial real estate portfolios.

With over 15 years of hands-on experience in the intricate world of real estate, Laura Labay isn’t just any realtor. She’s a seasoned expert in buying, selling, and managing investment properties.

Laura’s academic pursuits led her to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Communication & Broadcast Journalism. But her passion didn’t stop at academics. Laura soon found herself in the bustling world of media. As an On-Air Reporter and later as the esteemed Spokesperson/Public Relations Officer for the Arkansas Secretary of State, Laura honed her communication and negotiation skills.

What does this mean for you?

With Laura as your realtor, you’re not just getting an agent; you’re gaining a partner with a diverse and rich background. She possesses a deep understanding of the local market dynamics and trends, ensuring that you’re always a step ahead. If you’re selling, Laura’s expertise in public relations and marketing ensures your property gets the attention it deserves. With the backing of EXP Realty, and her team, your listing won’t just be local; it’ll be showcased worldwide, and across all 50 states, thanks to Laura’s national and global partnerships. Embark on a seamless real estate journey, where professionalism meets personal touch…with Labay Residential and Commercial Realty!

Laura Labay: A Realtor Beyond the Ordinary! Thanks for the Love!

I am grateful for the nomination!

- Laura Labay

Hometown Proud

Lindsey & Associates Inc. is a homegrown force in NWA real estate

By Dwain Hebda

The old adage of the three most important things in real estate being location, location, location could have been written above Lindsey & Associates’ door. The company, which turned 50 this year, was founded in Fayetteville at a time far removed from the current boom northwest Arkansas currently enjoys.

Being located in that corner of the state, and only there, for that long has come with some perks. In 2023, the firm has grown to include offices in Bentonville and Rogers and boasts a headcount of about 250 agents, making it one of the largest and most successful compa-

nies in one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. Not bad for a company that started out in a little house on U.S. 71.

“Northwest Arkansas has been our home and our base all these years, and the Lindsey family is closely tied into the community here,” said Suzett Sparks, senior vice president and managing broker, who heads the Rogers location.

“I suppose if an opportunity presented itself to open an office elsewhere, we’d take a look at it. But there are currently no plans that I am aware of to branch out from this part of the state. We’re very proud to have been doing business as a local company all of these years.”

A long tenure shows its advantages in several ways, from decades-

“Northwest Arkansas has been our home and our base all these years and the Lindsey family is closely tied into the community here.”

long relationships with builders and developers to seeing the community under all manner of economic conditions. Sparks said such market wisdom has been particularly helpful in navigating the current residential market.

“It’s a very strange, very unusual market right now,” she said. “Properties in the lower end of the price range are still very much in demand, and certain properties still see multiple offers. At the same time, we are starting to see a little bit of a flip from the hot seller’s market in 2021 and 2022 to a more balanced market. Things are much more in line with what we saw in 2019 across the board, and with that comes a little bit of a learning curve for both agents and sellers. We’re figuring out how to get properties sold that maybe last year we would’ve had 27 offers on.”

Interest rates, inflation and available inventory have all complicated the residential real estate market, Sparks said, but economic factors are not all that is at play. Consumer preferences are also changing, forcing real estate companies to stay nimble.

“What’s been surprising is the number of what I’ll call ‘urban purchasers,’” Sparks said. “These are people who want to buy a home where they’ll be able to walk to work or ride their bike to work. Smaller properties are also very popular right now, which is a real change from the more traditional three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with the fenced yard.

“We see more millennials and other younger people not necessarily wanting what we’d call a traditional house. They want to put more effort into their quality of life and doing the things they want to do instead of having a big yard to mow on a Saturday.”

Whatever the challenges of the real estate market may be, they have not done anything to affect the growth of the real estate industry as measured by new agents setting up shop in northwest Arkansas. Sparks, who also currently chairs the Arkansas Real Estate Commission, said the boom in people looking to become agents is a trend that has happening statewide, but especially in Lindsey & Associates’ backyard.

“Other industries talk about the tight labor market and not being able to find good people, but that’s not the case in real estate,” she said. “We’re going against national trends. The National Association of Realtors has been predicting for a couple of years now that the number of [real estate] licenses would decline in the U.S., but that’s just not something that we’ve seen here in Arkansas, which tells you something. We had a meeting of the Real

Estate Commission recently, and they reported they’re processing 15 license applications a day in the state. We granted 363 licenses in the month of July alone. A large majority of those were for people operating in northwest Arkansas.”

Even before this modern-day land rush, Lindsey & Associates was having no trouble attracting quality personnel. Sparks said the company’s longstanding reputation in the community and its large pool of employees afforded it the luxury of hiring exclusively by referral. This helped promulgate the company’s already considerable talent pool.

“We have been very fortunate in that a lot of the new agents that we have hired are either friends or somehow know somebody who’s already at Lindsey,” she said. “A lot of the new agents that I hire are usually recommended to me or somebody will reach out to me because my listing agent or staff suggested that they do so. “

This hiring practice allows new hires to get off to a running start, while the company’s culture of supporting each other helps maintain morale and provide assistance where needed.

Suzett Sparks

“We don’t do a boot camp per se, but we do a lot of training,” Sparks said. “We’ve done three training classes just this week plus sales meetings here in the office. My IT manager is going to hold another class tomorrow. Training is something we have every day of the week.

“Beyond that, we just have a wonderful group of people working here. It’s very much a family atmosphere where everyone wants to see everybody do well.”

Another successful strategy the company employs is providing support services that help agents stay focused on their primary work responsibilities.

“What sets us apart from our competitors is we have support staff,” Sparks said. “I’m not competing with my agents by listing and selling, I’m here to train and manage my people and help them to be successful. We have an office manager and someone to put out signs and a relocation department and two full-time marketing people in the office. We provide a lot of help to agents so they can be out doing the things they need to do to generate business and help our clients.”

Technology also plays a role in making an agent more productive these days. Once utilized

"For every person who goes in with rose-colored glasses, there’s one that comes in with the sheer determination to be successful. That’s the type of people we attract, and that’s a big part of why we’ve been successful for so many years.”

only sparingly, online resources and apps have steadily become an indispensable tool for successful real estate agents.

“Everybody knows the biggest difference between 2023 and 2013 or 2003, of course, is technology,” Sparks said. “I remember in 2000 we barely used email. Multiple listing services might have just been coming online, but I think we still used books until 2005 or somewhere in there.”

The technological tools themselves have not only evolved, so have the number and demographic of agents using them.

“I would say every single agent here is comfortable with tech and texting to do all the things that we do every day,” Sparks said. “In the past that might have been true for the younger agents, but these days it’s the newer ones and the more seasoned ones alike. It’s so important because things change so quickly you can easily get left behind. Clients are also demanding that agents are more accessible than they once were, and technology helps them be reachable at any time, which is a good thing and can also be a bad thing.”

One constant among top producers Sparks has seen throughout her 30-year real estate career is how well they formulate and leverage relationships. She said a solid relational network will always be the single most effective weapon in a real estate professional’s arsenal.

“I had an agent who was one of the top agents in the state for years and years,” she said. “He would consistently do millions in volume each year, yet he was not tech savvy at all. He was just very, very good at building relationships.

“Now, could he have done a few more transactions if he had been able to use technology to his advantage? I don’t know. At some point, there’s a limit to what one person can do, but I can say that if there’s one constant in this business, it’s that you still have to build those relationships in order to be successful.”

Relationships have been the name of the game since Jim Lindsey launched the company in 1973 in Fayetteville, in conjunction with J. W. Gabel. The original office operated out of a small house with a handful of people but soon expanded to include a Rogers office. Over time Lindsey & Associates would branch into multiple sectors, including residential, commercial, land and rentals.

In 1996, John David Lindsey joined the agency as general manager. Sparks, who has

been with Lindsey & Associates for 25 years, developed the company’s formal relocation department in 2006. She moved into her current role in 2009. Continued growth across all business sectors, paced by residential sales which topped $675 million in 2020, led the company to open its third office last year in Bentonville.

Sparks said it has been a fun ride watching the company grow and develop over the years. She added the best part of her job is building a team of successful individuals who care about their customers and deliver extra-mile service on their behalf. That may sound old-fashioned in an era of digital documents and remote transactions, but it’s the secret ingredient to Lindsey & Associates’ sustained success.

“Everyone who works here is invested in the same thing, taking care of our clients,” she said. “Agents know they can call on me at any time. I’ve answered questions in the middle of the night. I’ve e-signed documents in the middle of the night. I never want to be a reason that a client doesn’t get the property they want or misses out on an offer.”

As for the future, Sparks has been in the business long enough to know better than to hazard any predictions, but just going strictly by the numbers, she said interest in the industry is at near-record levels which bodes well over the long term.

“Everybody wants to live the American Dream, and selling real estate is a wonderful way to do it,” she said. “This business is so fun and exciting, and no two days are alike.

“There are some people who don’t know what they’re getting into and who aren’t really informed about how demanding this career can be. This is a business that’s just so easy to get into, they don’t always have somebody to train them properly, but for every person who goes in with rose-colored glasses, there’s one that comes in with the sheer determination to be successful. That’s the type of people we attract, and that’s a big part of why we’ve been successful for so many years.”

"At some point, there’s a limit to what one person can do, but I can say that if there’s one constant in this business, it’s that you still have to build those relationships in order to be successful.”

- Suzett Sparks

pro entrepreneur

New company, seasoned Realtors a testament to success

By Sarah DeClerk | Photo submitted

During her 21 years in real estate, Sarah Bailey, owner and principal broker at Bailey & Co. Real Estate in Little Rock, has learned that every deal presents unique problems that require clever solutions. That is exactly what she likes about her work.

“I like the challenge,” she said. “I like to come up with the solution for all these problems, and being in the business for so long, I’ve learned so much from all the many deals I’ve done and the different people that have been in my life and have taught me things.”

Bailey said she has always had an interest in real estate. When she moved back home to Benton after earning a bachelor’s degree in health science from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway in 2002, family friend Mike Duke asked if she would be interested in working for his company, Phillips-Moudy-Duke Real Estate in Benton.

She joined the company, which is now Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors, in 2003. She also moved to Little Rock that year, commuting back and forth for work. She said the company set her career on the right track.

When Rector Phillips Morse opened a Bryant branch a few years later, they looked to Bailey to be the executive broker of the new branch. She earned her broker license in response to their offer. The company later merged to become Coldwell Banker RPM Group.

“They gave me an opportunity and encouraged me to get my broker license because they really wanted to open a branch down there,” she said. “They knew I was from there and knew that area, and they hoped that I could grow that office and recruit some agents.”

Brokers have additional hours of education and have passed the broker exam, she said. A principal broker is the main broker responsible for all the agents at a company, and an executive broker is someone the principal broker has designated to sign contracts and oversee certain agents at a branch, she added.

“It’s an interesting career. Every single sale is different,” she said. “There are going to be different problems that come up and different positives and negatives that you learn from every single situation, and a lot of times it’s very challenging.”

In 2013, Bailey was offered yet another opportunity to expand her career when Erik Bailey and Matt Lamb approached her about starting iRealty Arkansas in Little Rock. Although she was hesitant to leave her job, she eventually decided it would be neat to own a company. In addition to the Little Rock branch, the partners opened a Benton branch that year.

“I think opening iRealty was a really big accomplishment,” Sarah Bailey said. “That was pretty big, just starting from scratch back then.

That was 10 years ago, so I was 33. That’s pretty young to do that, and it was definitely a successful company.”

As a busy wife and mother of four, she works to stay organized and devote her time equally to the many people in her life.

“Every day, I make a very specific list of everything I have to do that day, and my goal is to get everything done that’s on that list,” she said. “Whether it’s work, family, date night with my husband — whatever the case may be — I just try to spread that all out to where everybody has equal time. If I can keep everybody happy, I say I did a good job that day.”

In 2016, the partners sold the company to Kristen Kennon, who asked Bailey to stay as principal broker. Bailey retained part of her ownership and continued working with the company until 2017.

She opened Pixel Properties in Little Rock with Ray Ellen in 2018. The duo opened a Benton branch in 2019 and a Fayetteville branch in 2020. When she and Ellen dissolved Pixel Properties last year, Bailey founded Bailey & Co. The company has about 25 agents at its Little Rock office and about 10 agents at its Fayetteville branch.

“My agents have been with me a long time,” Bailey said. “Most of them have transferred from iRealty to Pixel to Bailey & Co. and moved with me, so just a loyal, good group of people. Most of my agents are pretty seasoned.”

Although she employs some executive brokers, Bailey said she takes an involved approach to her work so that she can ensure everyone does the right thing and has the training and tools they need to be successful.

“My phone rings all day with questions,” she said.

She added that she signs every document the company touches, from listing agreements to inspection addendums. She also ensures the Realtors’ licenses are up to date, attends a monthly sales meeting and conducts training on topics such as comparative marketing analysis, handling internet leads and yearly changes made to the Arkansas Realtors Association’s real estate contracts.

However, the best lessons are learned in the field. There is no single way to teach someone the real estate process because every deal is so different, she said, and almost every problem has a solution.

“I tell my agents, ‘Don’t send me a termination. Tell me what’s the problem, and let’s try to fix it,’” she said. “We don’t do too many terminations at my company. I just feel like there is a solution, not to every problem, but nine out of 10 times, I’ve probably seen it and can come up with some kind of solution to make the deal work.”

She also prides herself on maintaining high ethical standards at the office. Even small changes to deals must be made in writing, she said, and her agents work to inform clients about comparable properties so they can make informed decisions.

“I’m not playing around when it comes to ethics,” she said. “We make the situation right if it’s our fault. If you forgot to write in there that the refrigerator conveys, you better believe we’re buying a refrigerator. We’re not leaving anybody high and dry.”

In addition to her many duties as principal broker, she still works with clients, most of whom are people she has helped in the past or are referrals.

“It’s always a good feeling when people think that you do a good job for them and they trust you,” she said, adding that she has sold five or six homes for one client over the past 15 years. “He always calls me back. It gives you a little boost of confidence that people think you do a good job for them.”

What she looks at when it comes to homes depends on the buyer’s needs, she said, but she tends to check for repairs and resale value. Some key structural issues she might notice include roof age and cracks in the walls or foundation.

When it comes to resale, homes with a master suite apart from other bedrooms and homes with two bedrooms on the main level tend to do well because they can accommodate growing families or in-laws, she added.

Location is also a priority.

“You can’t, obviously, change the location,” she said. “You can change the paint. You can change the light fixtures, but the location is big for a lot of people.”

She said she tends to work with sellers more than buyers. Her main advice to sellers is to clear away personal items and clutter so that the home seems staged, and her No. 1 piece of advice for buyers is to get preapproved for a home loan.

“I truly like to help people,” she said. “Some of my favorite deals that I’ve done are helping somebody buy their very first home, just to see how excited they are. It’s something they’ve really worked hard for and saved money for, and they’re just so excited to buy a house. I just feel good when I get to help people with that.”

The most successful Realtors are self-motivated, manage their time well and have what it takes to adapt to changes in the market, she said.

“You have to definitely be self-motivated,” she said. “Like I always say, nobody’s going to make you get out of bed. Nobody’s going to make you do this job. Nobody’s going to make you come to work.”

The proper training and tools are essential, she said, and Realtors should be sure to learn every detail of the houses they sell and the contracts they sign.

“Whatever house you’re showing, you need to make sure you know all about it before you get there to show someone,” she said. “Know our contracts backward and forward. Read those and make sure you understand those.”

Being visible to potential clients and available to current clients is essential to Realtors who are just beginning their careers, she added. She advised new Realtors to be active in their community so they can cultivate new leads. Newbies who find themselves short of listings could make contacts by holding open houses for other Realtors, she added.

“You have to be available, especially if you’re brand new,” she said. “If someone calls you and wants to see a house at 8 o’clock on a Saturday, if you don’t go, someone else will.”

Social media marketing has become more integral to the business since 2017, she said, adding that, in the mid-2000s, Realtors rarely had to spend money marketing homes. At that time, there was an abundance of housing inventory that made it necessary for agents and agencies to distinguish themselves.

Now low inventory coupled with high interest rates have created a slow market, she said. At an average of 7%, she added, the rates are higher than they have ever been during her career.

“That’s going to slow some people from moving, so there’s not as many houses for sale,” she said. “Therefore, when a house does come on the market that’s priced where it should be, it usually goes fast and with multiple offers, sometimes more than list price.”

The rates had previously held steady at 4% or 5%, she said, adding that

if the rates returned to that level, more people would feel comfortable selling their homes and buying new ones, which would add inventory and generate more market activity.

High inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic have also deterred movers, so it might not be the best time to jump into real estate.

“It’s never a bad time to get into real estate and have your license, for sure. It’s not super expensive to maintain,” she said. “I would just say you might not get a paycheck for six months, so plan on that.”

One interesting change in buyers’ requests is the uptick in backyard swimming pools, which was brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pools became a huge demand and need right when COVID hit and kind of after because everybody got stuck at home with nothing to do,” she said.

Central Arkansas experiences milder, delayed economic changes compared to larger markets such as California and Arizona, she added.

“We definitely notice a change but it’s not terrible,” she said. “We don’t really see the absolute peak like these other states, but we don’t really see the absolute lows either.”

When the market is doing well, the potential for financial success is one of the best things about being a Realtor, she added.

“You’re making money, and you’re staying busy,” she said. “When there’s inventory and lower rates, you should have probably an average of four pending transactions each month if you’re really doing it full time.”

This is not the first time Bailey has experienced market woes. She said she is proud she overcame the struggles of the subprime mortgage crisis, which affected her career from 2009 to 2011.

“Those were very tough years,” she said. “There are a lot of people that come and go in this career, so being in this career for over 20 years is a pretty big accomplishment.”

Looking back over the past two decades, Bailey said she is happy with how she has grown and she is happy where she is. She said she plans to remain at Bailey & Co. for the long haul, and she still gets a kick out of real estate.

“I love to work with sellers and buyers,” she said. “I still have a passion for that.”

Sarah Bailey

BRANDY HARP Principal Broker

501.580.4277

brandy@jonunderhill.com

Brandy Harp’s goal has always been and always will be superlative customer service. As the Principal Broker at Jon Underhill Real Estate, Brandy has learned from the best since a mentorship with Jon Underhill and working with her husband growing Richard Harp Homes. She humbly credits them for helping her soar as the perennial top three performing agent in Little Rock. Brandy’s drive for excellence is seen with her repeat clients who depend on her home selling expertise.

jonunderhill.com

By John Callahan

Every Day is

Kevin Daugherty: Different

The world can change quickly, and you never know quite which way things will go. Kevin Daugherty, residential real estate agent at Coldwell Banker RPM, knows that well. Yet he also knows that if you hold on to the things that are constant and adapt to the things that are not, you can stay on top of the game, even when the world seems unstable.

A Little Rock native, Daugherty left the Natural State for college, earning a marketing degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He stayed in North Carolina after graduation and started both his family and his career in sales. Rather than selling homes, however, he sold phones for Verizon, a career spanning 15 years.

He got a first glimpse at his current profession when he earned a promotion that took him back home to Little Rock. Daugherty got his first taste of the real estate world when he put his own home up for sale by owner.

“It got me interested, [I thought] I could probably do this,” Daugherty said. “Now, I had some guidance, and I would never advise anybody to sell a home for sale by owner, but I think that was the first time I realized that I kind of enjoyed this.”

Between 2015 and 2016, Daugherty made use of his extensive sales experience to transition from Verizon into a new career in residential real estate. He had two friends in the industry, both of whom worked at Coldwell Banker RPM, and after having a conversation with principal broker Robin Miller, Daugherty was totally sold on the company. He has been working there ever since.

“I’ve always had a sales operations background, so I’ve always enjoyed interacting with people and being able to help sell them a product that they can benefit from,” Daugherty said. “With real estate, people are always going to need a place to live. There’s always going to be a market for buying and selling homes, that’s never going to change. So I’ve always thought it would be a great industry to be a part of because the supply and demand is always going to be there.”

Daugherty’s natural affinity for sales is augmented with a genuine desire to help others.

“I love working with people,” he said. “For most people, a home is going to be the biggest, most expensive purchase they

are going to make in their lives. Knowing that they’re entrusting you to help them with that purchase or with the sale of a home, knowing that they trust you to guide them through that, is very satisfying. It’s a huge compliment.”

The Coldwell Banker office is quieter than it used to be, with many agents choosing to take advantage of work-from-home opportunities. Daugherty still drives in to work most days, and it is not hard to see why, with his eighth-floor office providing a view that is hard to beat. That is far from saying he stays cooped up all day, since the job description comes with plenty of appointments and home visits. In the real estate world, Daugherty explained, every day is different. It may seem like tomorrow will be a slow day, but he is always one phone call away from suddenly having a full plate.

“I had a client call me a week and a half ago that said, ‘Hey, I know we talked about me listing my house,’ and that had been about a year ago when we had originally talked about it,” Daugherty said. “He called me and said, ‘I’m ready to sell, and I want to get it sold quickly.’ So I dropped everything and did what I needed to do to get the information and set up an appointment with him that afternoon. We had his house on the market the next day.”

On more ordinary days, Daugherty does have something of a routine. When he does not have an early appointment, he uses his morning to stay on top of the market, keeping tabs on what houses have been newly listed or sold, as well as taking care of the all-too-necessary business of handling the extensive documentation and paperwork that comes with every real estate transaction.

He also takes time to call on potential new clients and check in with old clients, which he considers to be a particularly important step.

“Your service to them doesn’t end when the sale closes,” Daugherty said. “You’re always there as a resource to them, and it’s not just if they’re looking to buy or sell in the future – they may need a plumber, or they may need an electrician or something for an issue they have.

“Not everything is a sales call. I just reach out and say, ‘Hey, I was driving through your neighborhood and was thinking about you guys, just want to see how things are going. ‘Then you can always ask if they know of anybody looking to buy or sell soon and tell them, I'd love to chat with them and let them know what I can do to help.’”

It is essential to be flexible in order to meet the unique demands that every day on the job will bring, but even if a dozen different issues demand his attention, Daugherty makes it a rule to treat every client

Photos by DeWaine Duncan

like a priority, staying in contact and keeping them informed throughout the entire process as if they were his only client.

“The rest of the day, after doing my office work, I’ll even do some things on social media,” Daugherty said. “Having a good social media presence is a big part of real estate these days. It opens up my sphere of influence and referral base and allows me to connect with an unlimited number of people. It’s essential in helping me promote my business and build my brand.”

“Then, depending on the day, I might have showing appointments, potential listing appointments. There’s always something you can be doing. If there’s ever any downtime, there’s always training you can do, extra things. At the end of the day, the real estate industry is always changing, and exposing yourself to any type of learning opportunities is key.”

There is also a continuing education element to success in real estate, something Daugherty uses to stay sharp and up to date.

“We have access to various forms of training, whether it’s a video, a course, even a podcast or something you can listen to,” he said, “but one thing I’ve learned with real estate is that there is no blueprint, no training manual saying. ‘This is how you do real estate,’ that is going to work for everyone. So what I try to do is get as much training and information as I can, then I pick what would work for me. It’s always evolving, and as the market changes, you have to evolve with it.”

Daugherty listed adaptability as one of the most important qualities for someone considering the real estate business. That means not only adapting to changes in the wider market, which requires continual study and understanding, but also being able to adapt to different types of clients with different needs and the different requirements of each transaction. It is not a matter of being able to work on the fly, but a matter of doing enough preparation and training to know how to adjust to any situation that may arise.

Change is one of the few constants in real estate, and supply and demand is another. A third constant is the necessity for communication, which Daugherty listed as another important ingredient for success.

“Communication is key on so many levels with a real estate agent,” Daugherty said. “There are so many moving parts in any transaction, and every transaction is different. Communicating not only your client, which is a no-brainer, but also having good communication with the agent on the other side of the transaction and the title company that’s going to be closing the sale, just to make sure everybody’s on the same page.

“There is so much documentation within a transaction, so many moving parts, that if the communication isn’t there, things can easily get delayed. It can hamper the timeline. It can really cause problems throughout. A big part of communication when you meet with a client, whether they’re listing a house or buying a house, is setting realistic expectations for moving forward. That way, everyone starts off on the same page, and that’s a big key.”

Even though real estate has a degree of permanence compared to other products, anyone who remembers the 1990s can probably remember a few examples of just how volatile the housing market can be. Even in just seven years as a real estate agent, Daugherty has seen his fair share of agents who did not make it through the rough patches.

Today, the market is in something of an odd spot. Last year, low interest rates prompted a surge in buying and selling that saw some homes purchased within hours of going on the market. This year has seen prices remain strong due to high demand, Daugherty said, but sales have slowed due to a lack of inventory. It takes an aggressive approach and a careful eye to stay on top of such a market and find an option for your buyer as soon as it is listed.

“It’s a challenging market,” Daugherty said, “but I think if you’re

doing the right things, staying in communication with your clients, adapting to changes and knowing the market, I think that you can continue to be successful through any volatility. In fact, I think that’s where you can stand out.”

Daugherty is consistently recognized as a multi-million-dollar producer, yet his determination to treat every client as a priority makes it difficult for him to choose any particular transactions of which that he is most proud. What he can say with certainty, however, is that nothing gives him more satisfaction than getting a referral from a former client.

“That shows me that they were happy and they value my service enough to put their name behind me and recommend me to a friend, a family member or a co-worker,” Daugherty said. “What gets me the most excited is when I get a call out of the blue saying ‘Hey, so-and-so told me you helped them purchase their home. We were looking to get a house now too. Can you help us?’”

In a similar vein, he finds a lot of joy in helping first-time home buyers. It is a totally new process for those people and likely one they will always remember as they make the largest financial decision in their lives. Making that process as smooth as possible and getting to the finish line is a satisfying experience in any transaction, and being able to hand them the keys to their first home makes it all the more special.

Outside of his career, Daugherty has been involved in the central Arkansas community by volunteering for efforts like Habitat for Humanity, the Little Rock Marathon and Quapaw Quarter Tour of Homes, an annual tour showcasing some of Little Rock’s oldest and most historic properties. He plans to get even more involved with local organizations moving forward; where opportunity abounds, and every day is different.

Kevin Daugherty

AY's Best Realtors®

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Kevin Daugherty, Allison Pickell, Carolyn Cobb, Kim Floyd, Marva Caldwell, Andrea Bakewell, Pat Hitt, Angelica Rogers

Angela Rhodes, Inez Reeder, Jamie Grantham, Eleanor Foltz Day, Jean Hurst, Becky Biggs, Linda Willhite, Stacy Hamilton, LaKesha Crow

She’s the

BOSS

Brandy Harp gets real about real estate

By Kelli Reep | Photo submitted

Did you know more than half of all Realtors are women? According to National Association of Realtors, 66% of all Realtors are female, and among broker licensees, 61% are female, compared with 68% of sales agent licensees. Among part-time sales agents, 70% are female, while 67% of full-time sales agents are female.

Real estate is a solid career choice for women in Arkansas particularly. While the housing market is slowing in the state, it remains one of the most affordable markets in the nation. According to FortuneBuilders, with an attractively low price-to-rent ratio, most real estate in Arkansas is cheaper to own than rent.

That, combined with an improving economy, new indicators left in the wake of the pandemic and promising job growth opportunities, should facilitate the increasing demand for the foreseeable future, experts say. Overall, while the Arkansas real estate market could not avoid setbacks onset by the pandemic, Arkansas’ relative affordability is now benefiting its real estate sector.

NAR also notes that since 1978, women have made up most real estate professionals because of the industry’s flexible work schedule and opportunities to help families. However, even with this majority, few are represented in executive roles. Many women have had careers in other fields prior to real estate, the most common being in management, business and finance.

With a relatively stable market and plenty of opportunity to become a realtor and scale it as large or small as desired, real estate affords women career possibilities that fit around their personal and household schedules while still allowing them the opportunity to make a comfortable living. Here is one profile of the state’s best, Brandy Harp, who began as an agent realtor and is now a principal broker with Jon Underhill Real Estate.

AY: What is a snapshot of your career? How did you get started, and what do you enjoy most about your career?

Brandy Harp: My career started at Alltel in May 1995 right after graduating high school. Every step throughout my 18-year career at this Fortune 500 company taught me invaluable skills that serve me today. Scott Ford was an extraordinary leader who valued the customer and employee experience while balancing and never losing sight of financial goals.

I met and married the love of my life, Richard Harp, in 2000. Richard owns Richard Harp Homes, and in our 22-year marriage, we have built and designed six homes together. My passion, appreciation and love of homes naturally lead me into real estate. The saying, “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” is true for me.

My family currently lives in Hickory Creek in a home we all collaborated on, designed and built together. We created a home to entertain family and friends, including our two Yorkshire pups. The location of our home was strategic, as it is positioned conveniently from where we spend most of our time in the Heights and west Little Rock and our children’s school at Little Rock Christian Academy.

In looking back over the past 28 years of my career, God’s blueprint for my life was carefully constructed, planned and designed. I don’t take for granted what a blessing it is to work in a profession that I love. I am grateful to help customers with what I believe is the most important investment of their life – finding a home they love.

AY: What is the oldest property you ever sold?

Harp: The oldest home I sold was located in the Heights. It was built in 1926. I loved learning and researching the history of this home! The previous owners had carefully maintained some of the original, important architecture of this home, including the post located in the front yard previously used for the owners and guests to tie their horses to when visiting.

AY: How long have you been a real estate broker?

Harp: I served as a Realtor prior to becoming a real estate broker. I obtained my broker’s license in 2015 and became the principal broker of Jon Underhill Real Estate in 2016.

AY: What is your secret to being successful in real estate?

Harp: I never lose sight of the most important aspect –serving my clients with integrity and respect.

AY: Why is being a real estate broker a good career for women in Arkansas?

Harp: Flexibility. Being a present mom is a significant priority to me. My career affords me the flexibility to manage my schedule around family priorities.

AY: What trends do you see in the real estate market in central Arkansas?

Harp: We have not returned to a normal market yet in Little Rock. The pandemic and tornado have resulted in a shortage of homes. In my opinion, we are at least a year away from returning to a well-balanced market. Given the shortage of inventory, we are experiencing a bottleneck. Sellers do not desire to sell without having a home to buy. With higher interest rates, many consumers are not interested in owning two homes. This creates a challenging environment to navigate, making it even more important for consumers to hire a realtor who will patiently serve as their advocate and trusted advisor.

AY: What do you like most about working at Jon Underhill Real Estate?

Harp: I work alongside incredible people who are experienced professionals. We all share the common goal of a service-minded approach to business, which is significantly different than most. Jon Underhill and I continue to be recognized among the topproducing realtors exceeding $15 million in sales volume in Little Rock.

As a full-service real estate company, what distinguishes Jon Underhill Real Estate from other Little Rock firms is the Realtors’ commitment to delivering an unparalleled level of service to each client. We are a collective group of dedicated and knowledgeable professionals who work to provide a seamless real estate experience. Customer service is at the heart of everything we do. It is our mission to provide clients the highest level of professionalism and integrity.

We do not just specialize in helping someone buy and sell a home. We understand it is much more than that. To us, it is helping customers achieve the American Dream of owning their own home, whether it is their first home or their last. Throughout the home buying or selling process, we assist in every detail of the transaction from beginning to well past closing. We ask, we listen, and we problem-solve. We stay on top of the changing real estate market and trends, as we constantly adapt to stay one step ahead to deliver positive results.

In 2020, Jon Underhill Real Estate sold more than $100 million in residential real estate, and over the past decade, nine of our agents continue to be recipients of a Realtor Award of Distinction from the Little Rock Realtor’s Association for top performance in multi-million-dollar sales volume.

Whether you are buying or selling, we at Jon Underhill Real Estate promise to provide you with the highest quality service to help you succeed with your real estate investment.

AY: What tips would you give Arkansans looking to purchase a home, whether a first-time buyer or anyone in the market?

Harp: First, I would recommend that a homebuyer know their budget. Knowing how much you can afford will save you time, money and hassle, and it will make the homebuying process much smoother. Next, knowing what you must have, like space for kids and pets, versus what you’d like to have but can live without. Understanding these things can help you narrow down the options available within your budget.

Next, make sure your credit is in undamaged shape before applying for a mortgage. This allows you lots of mortgage options. If you go into the process knowing you have a solid financial beginning, it makes buying your home a dream instead of a chore.

AY: If I am interested in becoming a Realtor, what is my first step?

Harp: The first thing to do is research the prerequisites for Arkansas. You can find those requirements at the Arkansas Real Estate Commission. You must be at least 18 years old and complete 60 hours of real estate education. You then apply and sit for an exam by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission.

For brokers, you also must be at least 18 years old and complete 60 hours of real estate education, but you also must have been licensed as an active real estate salesperson or broker for a period of not less than two years within the previous four years.

To be successful in real estate, you must be concerned with what your customer wants. You must understand that buying a home is a major life event, and you get to be a part of that. Like anything, there is an ebb and flow to it, but if you can stick with it, understand you are helping people find one of the most significant parts of their lives, and find pleasure in learning all about your community, you will be the best there is.

Brandy Harp

Front row: Mandy Jackson, Courtney Corwin, Jenn Cook, Michelle Miller, Emily Young, Heather McNeil, Sheryl McKelvey.

Second row: April Findlay, Jonie Burks, Stacie Corbitt, Brandy Jones, Michelle Blalock, Mollie Birch

Third row: Matty Ross, Gayle Doll, Jowaun Wright, Tami Cooper, Melissa John

2023 Little Rock REALTORS ® Association Awards of Distinction

LITTLE ROCK ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS

Level 1: Bronze--$1,000,000 Level 2: Silver--$2,000,000

INDIVIDUALS

Double Diamond

Jonie Burks

The Charlotte John Company

Jay Calhoun

Signature Properties

Scott Deaton

Deaton Group Realty

Diana Dominguez

Aspire Realty Group

Gregory and Betsy Eglash

Keller Williams Realty

Becky Finney

Keller Williams Realty

Conley Golden

The Janet Jones Company

Brandy Harp

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Casey Jones

The Janet Jones Company

Lawson Maddox

Arkansas Land and Realty

Valerie Moran

Crye-Leike REALTORS Kanis

Mary Kay Palmer

TMK Properties

Michele Phillips

Michele Phillips & Company, REALTORS

Allison Pickell

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Level 3: Gold--$3,500,000 Level 4: Platinum--$5,000,000

Level 5: Diamond--$7,000,000 Level 6: Double Diamond--$14,000,000 and up

Susan Reynolds

The Janet Jones Company

Shelli Stine EPIC Real Estate

Debbie Teague The Janet Jones Company

Jon Underhill

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Suzanne Waters Diamond Rock Realty

Amber Wood Mid South Realty

Diamond

Dennis Adkins iRealty Arkansas

Margaret Bell Hughes The Property Group

Mollie Birch The Charlotte John Company

Bob Bushmiaer The Janet Jones Company

Marva Caldwell

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Donna Carlson

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Langston Carr Keller Williams Realty Little Rock

Jojo Carter Engel & Völkers

Lauren Clark The Charlotte John Company

Trey Clifton

Arkansas Land & Realty

Jennifer Cook

The Charlotte John Company

Missy Cozzens

The Janet Jones Company

Tanya Craft

The Janet Jones Company

LaKesha Crow

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Donna Dailey

The Janet Jones Company

Walt Dickinson

RE/MAX Affiliates Realty

Whitney Elmore

CBRPM Group-Midtown

April Findlay

The Charlotte John Company

Amanda Galbraith

Capital Sotheby's International Realty

Tracy Gill

CBRPM Group-Maumelle

Melissa Glidden

Capital Sotheby's International Realty

Jacob Hall

Michele Phillips & Company, Realtors

Stacy Hamilton

CBRPM Group-WLR

Tara Helgestad Lotus Realty

Kristen Hinson

The Property Group

Kristen Honea-McCready

Keller Williams Realty

Stephaine Hurst

CBRPM Group-WLR

Jeannie Johnson

Capital Sotheby's International Realty

Kerrie Joiner

Century 21 United

Ron Jones

RE/MAX Affiliates Realty

Catherine Langley

The Janet Jones Company

Jerry Larkowski

ESQ. Realty Group, Little Rock

Kevin Marsh

ReMax Affiliates Realty

Clark Marshall

CBRPM Group-WLR

Emily McCarty

The Charlotte John Company

Kelly McConnell

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Johnny Mitchum

Keller Williams Realty

Karen Moulton

Capital Sotheby's International Realty

Allen Myers

CBRPM Group-WLR

Kevin Newcomb

The Janet Jones Company

Lynn Pangburn

CBRPM Group-WLR

Elizabeth Phillips

Michele Phillips & Company, Realtors

Inez Reeder

CBRPM Group-WLR

Robert Richardson

CRYE-LEIKE REALTORS Kanis

Kimberly Robbins

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Christy Robinson

Keller Williams Realty

Little Rock

Jordan Roehrenbeck

The Charlotte John Company

Matty Ross

The Charlotte John Company

Linda Sanders

CRYE-LEIKE REALTORS KANIS

Sandy Sanders

iRealty Arkansas

Scott Sandlin

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Dawn Scott

The Janet Jones Company

John Selva

Engel & Völkers, Little Rock

Lee Smith

Signature Properties

Abbie Stalnaker

The Property Group

List provided by Arkansas Realtor Association.

Ryan Stephens

Engel & Völkers

Barbara Swesey

iRealty Arkansas

Stephanie Tharp

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Karen Thornton

Michele Phillips & Company, Realtors

Shannon Treece

The Janet Jones Company

Kenny Van Patten

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Cassie Wells

Keller Willaims Realty

Brenda White

Keller Williams Realty

Joanna White

Bailey&Company Real Estate

Brian Winstead

iRealty Arkansas

Yanyan Xie

Keller Williams Realty, Little Rock

Emily Youn

The Charlotte John Company

Platinum

Sharon Adkins

iRealty Arkansas

Angela Allen-Eggers

CRYE-LEIKE REALTORS

FINANCIAL CENTRE BRANCH

Todd Armstrong

Todd Armstrong Real Estate

Madeline Balgavy

RE/MAX ELITE LITTLE ROCK

Arlene Blann

CBRPM-WLR

Teresa Burl

Michele Phillips & Company, Realtors

Stephanie Caldwell

EPIC Real Estate

Barbara Cherry

The Janet Jones Company

Michael Couch

CBRPM Group-WLR

Haley Davis

Signature Properties

Marybeth Dockery

The Charlotte John Company

Ashley East The Janet Jones Company

Ryan Elledge

RE/MAX Affiliates Realty

Ireon Gaines

CBRPM Group - WLR

Jerald Gardner

CBRPM Group - Midtown

Amber Gibbons The Charlotte John Company

Kimberly Guyor

Michele Phillips & Company, Realtors

Monica Hale Plush Homes CompanyRealtors

Rick Hatfield DiamondRock Realty

Karen A Hayes

Crye-Leike Realtors

Maumelle Branch

Cara Hazlewood The Property Group

Keith Hill Keller Williams Realty

Brittany Hopkins Michele Phillips & Company, Realtors

Jean Hurst CBRPM Group-Midtown

Erica Ibsen The Charlotte John Company

Kelly Johnson The Janet Jones Company

Robert Klein The Property Group

Milicent McDonald

ERA TEAM Real Estate

Michelle M. Miller The Charlotte John Company

Judy Nelsen

iRealty

Nate Perry The Property Group

Melinda Purvis

CBRPM Group - WLR

Terry Quinn

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Angelica Rogers

CBRPM Group - Midtown

Casey Rucker

CMR Real Estate

Kimberly Santos

Innovative Realty - Little Rock

Jonathan Sketas

Carle Properties

Trey Stevens III

TMK Properties

Michael Teague The Janet Jones Company

Joel Tvedten River Rock Realty Co

Gold

Nathan Angel

McGraw REALTORS - Little Rock

Crystal Beatty

Modern Realty Group

Patti Bennett

Modern Realty Group

Kaye Chambers

Keller Williams Realty

Lana Clifton

Keller Williams Realty

Carolyn Cobb

CBRPM Group-WLR

Dana Crowell

CBRPM Group - WLR

Kevin Daugherty

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Sarah Duke

The Janet Jones Company

Aundrea Ellis

CBRPM-WLR

Austin Evans

Signature Properties

Selina Felton

DANALI Real Estate

Janet Flegal

The Charlotte John Co.

Cydney Fullen

CBRPM Group - Midtown

Owen Gazette

The Janet Jones Company

Philip Glover

Crye-Leike Kanis Office

Amy Glover Bryant

CBRPM Group - Midtown

Scott Goodrich

The Janet Jones Company

Jamie Grantham

CBRPM Group - Midtown

Kirke Rocky Herman

Access Realty, Inc.

LaJauna Herrin

The Janet Jones Company

Ryann Hilson

CBRPM Group - WLR

Hannah Howe

The Property Group

Mandy Jackson

The Charlotte John Company

Brooks Jansen

iRealty Arkansas

Brandy Jones

The Charlotte John Company

Victoria Killough

Engel & Völkers, Little Rock

Margaret King

The Janet Jones Company

Laurel Lawrence

The Janet Jones Company

Chris Marsh

Capital Sotheby's International Realty

Alicia McDonald

Engel & Völkers

Sheryl McKelvey

The Charlotte John Company

Kris McKenzie

The Property Group

Jennifer McNally

Capital Sotheby's International Realty

Vanessa Morris

Plush Homes CompanyRealtors

Ashley Parker

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Katherine Patton

Crye-Leike REALTORS Kanis

Renee Pierce

The Janet Jones Company

John Porter

The Property Group

Johnny Reynolds Superior Real Estate, Inc.

Courtney Rice

CBRPM Group - Midtown

Marlisha Rochell

Brokers Guild Real Estate

Jalisa Sloan

CRYE- LEIKE REALTORS KANIS

Victoria Spears

CBRPM Group - Midtown

Anita Strange

CBRPM Group-WLR

Mitsy Tharp

Signature Properties

Erin Tripcony

Carle Properties

April Wingfield

Capital Sotheby's International Realty

Doug Woodall

CBRPM Group - Saline County

Ashley Wurtz

CBRPM Group - Midtown

Broderic Armstead

Keller Williams Realty

Amber Baugh

CRYE-LEIKE REALTORS

FINANCIAL CENTRE BRANCH

Carmen Brown

CBRPM Group-WLR

Estefany Castillo

Vylla Home

Jill Childers

The Charlotte John Company

Norma Crawford

Michele Phillips and Company, Realtors

Steven Culliford

DANALI Real Estate

Laura Dean

Century 21 United

Lynn Dickey

The Janet Jones Company

Gayle Doll

Gayle Doll

LaTunda Edwards

Brokers Guild Real Estate

Pamela Garner

DANALI Real Estate

Michael Griffin

Mid South Realty

Brenda Guilett

The Charlotte John Company

Sara Hodge

The Charlotte John Company

Danny Holt

Mid South Realty

Sabrina Honorable Innovative Realty

Nikolas Jefferson

The Property Group

Kayla Lewis

CENTURY 21 Sandstone Real Estate Group

Marquise Lovelace

Keller Williams Realty

Sarah Beth Lowe

The Janet Jones Company

Karena Malott

Keller Williams Realty

Spencer Manus iRealty Arkansas

Susan Meador

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Silver

Paul Amponsah

Access Realty, Inc.

Celeste ONeal

Keller Williams RealtyLittle Rock

Walter ONeal

Keller Williams RealtyLittle Rock

Jana Parish

Superior Real Estate, Inc.

Lisa Ray TMK Properties

John Rogers

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Mylan Sides

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Dieresha Smith

CENTURY 21 Sandstone Real Estate Group

Shannon Smith Keller Williams Realty

Phiffany Spruil Plush Homes CompanyRealtors

Allen Trammell Trammell & Co Real Estate

Jessica Vaught

Home Design and Realty

Jennifer Williams

Century 21 United

Jennifer Winstead

Michele Phillips & Company, Realtors

Bronze

David Austin

The Charlotte John Company

Michelle Blalock

Michelle Blalock

Melissa Bond

United Real Estate Central Arkansas

Lesa Gaydos

Michele Phillips & Co.

Belinda Grace

Jon Underhill Real Estate

Pat Hitt

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Joyce King

Brokers Guild Real Estate

Kevin McHenry

CBRPM Group-WLR

Tennille Merritt PLUSH HOMES COMPANYREALTORS

Shelby Norfleet

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Kevin Riley

IHP Real Estate

Leigh Spann CBRPM Group-WLR

Hosetta Washington Brokers Guild Real Estate

Victoria Wilbanks

CENTURY 21 Sandstone Real Estate Group

Danieal L Williams Plush Homes Company Realtors

Dorothy Willoughby

CBRPM Group-Midtown

Jowaun Wright The Charlotte John Company

TEAMS

Double Diamond

Blue Whale

Edward Bailey,James Harkins, Jarrod Coleman

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Charles Keener Team

Brian Lee

RE/MAX Affiliates Realty

Coney Campbell Team

Tina Coney, Angela Campbell

Keller Williams Realty

Hoffman Team

Jamie Hoffman River Rock Realty Company

Jennifer Adkins Team

Jennifer Adkins, Bryan Pitts, Stanton Robinson, Jessica Suen, Erick Gotham iRealty Arkansas

MOVE Realty

Claire Brown, Maria Olmos, Jennelle Primm, Charmagne Bass, Kylea Buckley MOVE Realty, LLC

Pixel Properties

Ray Ellen, Matt Ferrell, Sara Thorpe, Hallie Dennis REAL Broker, LLC

RE501 Partners

Charlene Lee, Tiffany Hoffman Smith, Lila Pearsall Quinn, Kathy Kane, Maryanne

Campbell, Joanne Homeyer, Jeff Burton, Lisa Coulter, Andrew Webre

RE501 Realtor Partners

2023 Little Rock REALTORS ® Association Awards of Distinction

The Ellison Group

Kerry Ellison, Hannah Thomas, Samantha Crawford, Lauren Gonzalez, Stephen Bell, Jessica Shaw, Angela Stowell, Nancy Gregory, Betsy Eglash Keller Williams Realty

The Holly Driver Team

Holly Driver, Heather Stuart, Barb Raney, Megan Seyler, Amy Bush, Lanie Driver Signature Properties

The Kennon Team

Kristen Kennon, Jon Kennon, Brandon Owens, Kristen Kennon iRealty Arkansas

The Sumbles Team

Kathe Sumbles, Lila Riggs, Robert Fisher, Cameron Phillips, Kevan Moore, Cortney Pitts

The Sumbles Team Keller Williams Realty

The Sutton Group

David Sutton, Susan Sutton RE/MAX Elite, Little Rock

The Val Hansen Team Valentine Hansen, Wendy Pruett, Lori Evans, Troy Shelton, Christopher Scribner, Kevin Kelley, Jack Hansen RE/MAX Properties

Diamond

Sarah Bailey

Ches Tolson

Bailey&CompanyReal Estate

The Brunson Team Undre Brunson, Tewanna Brunson

Keller Williams Realty

JJC Real Estate Group

Jacob Campbell, Jordan Campbell Keller Williams Realty

Curry-Ledbetter

Jeffrey Curry-Ledbetter, Sherry Curry

The Charlotte John Company

The Executive Team

Karen Hall-Fore, AJ Hall iRealty Arkansas Sherwood

The Honea Team

Michelle Honea, Lolly Honea

Keller Williams Realty

Lawson Group

Courtney Lawson, Leigh

Lawson

TMK Properties

The Loveless Team

Edward Loveless, Wally Loveless

iRealty Arkansas

Maier Team

Amanda Maier, Ken Maier

Keller Williams

Cece & Johnny McKay

Cece McKay, Johnny McKay

Crye-Leike REALTORS Kanis

Stan McLellan Team

Stan McLellan, Jane McLellan, Amy Henry, Whitney McLellan

McLellan & Associates Real Estate Group

Livian

Madison Ralph

Keller Williams Realty

Stringfellow Team

Tom Stringfellow, Drew

Stringfellow RE/MAX Affiliates Realty

Tracie Walker

Walker-Williams Team Tracie

Walker, Bill Williams

Signature Properties

Platinum

Brookbarr Team

Melinda Barranco, Shannon Brooks

Michele Phillips & Company, Realtors

NewG Group

Gwendolyn Parker, Clinton T Richardson, Valerie Young, Deidra Martin Jones, Ronald Hampton

Keller Williams Realty LR

The Perry Team

Amber and Wade Perry

The Property Group

Sudduth Richardson Team

Rebecca Sudduth, Marci Richardson

iRealty Arkansas

The Roberts Team

Tracey Roberts, Brant Roberts Michele Phillips and Company, Realtors

The PowerHouse Team, LLC

Rachel Vann, Hunter Penfield, Joshua Albat Real Broker, LLC

Silver

The Campbell Real Estate Team Megan Campbell, Jonathan Campbell CRYE-LEIKE REALTORS

FINANCIAL CENTRE BRANCH

EC Withers Team

Candace Withers, Eric Withers

Keller Williams RealtyLittle Rock

Gold

The Armstrong Team

Rusty Armstrong, Jerry Hill ERA TEAM

Casa Americana@iRealty Arkansas

Vanessa Muffoletto, Reina

Fajardo, Roberto Ramirez

iRealty Arkansas

CROSS PROPERTY SALES INDIVIDUALS

Triple Diamond

Linda Marquess

Riverwood Homes Real Estate

Heather Campbell Weichert, REALTORS Griffin

Company Bentonville

Kendall Riggins

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Meza Harris

Lindsey & Assoc Inc Branch

Delton Williams

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Gentry

Kaci Johnson Realty Mart

Dee Rodes

Portfolio Sotheby's International Realty

Misty McMullen

McMullen Realty Group

Toby Crawford

Crawford Real Estate and Associates

Lauren Boozman Northey

Portfolio Sotheby's International Realty

Somer Adams

Lindsey & Assoc Inc Branch

Melissa Sims

First Star Realty

Doug Gibson

Crye-Leike REALTORS Rogers

Aaron Hawes

Landmark Real Estate and Investment LLC

Michael Hodges

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

Melanie Gabel

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Greg Taylor The Griffin Company

Commercial DivisionSpringdale

John Carpenter

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Chase White

Collier & AssociatesBentonville Branch

Jackson Williams

Weichert REALTORSThe Griffin Company Fayetteville

Northwest Arkansas Board of REALTORS ®

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS

Brandi Mallard Collier & Associates -

Rogers Branch

Jan Holland

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteBentonville

Erin Hemme

Carlton Realty, Inc

Sean Morris Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteFayetteville

William Payne Flat Fee Realty

Sam Niccum Riverwood Homes Real Estate

Martha Haguewood

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Jared Smith

Gibson Real Estate

Marcus Necessary

Weichert, REALTORS Griffin

Company Bentonville

Leah Childress

Elevation Real Estate and Management

Jennifer Huffaker

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteBentonville

Keith Marrs Legend Realty Inc

Natalie Edwards

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey Bentonville

John Coger Collier & Associates

Double Diamond

Lily Dighero Sudar Group

Katherine Voldeng

McGraw REALTORS

Eden Mejia Ashburn Collier & Associates -

Rogers Branch

Blake Smith Lindsey & Associates Inc

TJ Mohler Mohler NWA Homes

Krishna Verma Verma and Associates

Jennifer Castro

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

Cammi Hevener

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty - Siloam Springs

Duane Wright

Equity Partners Realty

Scott Waymire

Berkshire Hathaway

HomeServices Solutions

Real Estate

Ryan Hill

The Virtual Realty Group

Tina Waggener

Weichert, REALTORS Griffin Company Bentonville

Lenore Cottrell

Concierge Realty NWA

Mike Parker

Prime Real Estate and Development

Greg Hughes Elite Realty

Dan Schwieder

Twin Oaks Realty, Inc

Tiffany Cox

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteBentonville

Jennifer Welch

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Gentry

Beckie Seba

Weichert, REALTORS Griffin Company Bentonville

Kelley Shearin

Portfolio Sotheby's International Realty

James Gibson

Gibson Real Estate

Amanda Gainey

Concierge Realty NWA

Jill Marley

Berkshire Hathaway

HomeServices Solutions

Real Estate

Kristin Sumpter

Leadership Legacy Realty

Heather Keenen

Team Ag Real Estate Inc

Nishanthi

Abeyagunawardene

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette-Rogers

Dale Carlton-Jr

Carlton Realty, Inc

Jerry Dou

Collier & AssociatesBentonville Branch

Amber Nye

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette - Rogers

Christine Cook

Collier & Associates

Dave Layman

Mathias Real Estate

Chuck Simmons

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette - Rogers

Matthew Bastian

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey

Melinda Cox

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey Bentonville

Dave Armstrong

Crye-Leike REALTORS -

Bella Vista

Lindsey Clark

Homes & Spaces Real Estate

Jim Sellers

United Country Sellers

Properties

Charles Difani

Rausch Coleman Realty Group, LLC

Jason Smith

Smith and Associates Real Estate Services

Misty Barnes

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteFayetteville

Misti Stephens

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Siloam Springs

Blaine Elliott

Lindsey & Assoc Inc Branch

Nicki Rogers

Lindsey & Assoc Inc Branch

Michael Sims

Bassett Mix And Associates, Inc

Ryan Blackstone

eXp Realty Natural State

Ellie Combs

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey

Clay Porter

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Phillip Shepard Collier & Associates

Matthew Dickhut

Collier & Associates

Gene Tabor

TABOR Real Estate

Curtis Stewart

Legend Realty Inc

Kate Cox

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

Diamond

Terrah Barber

Buffington Homes of Arkansas

Dani Tolbert

Rausch Coleman Realty Group, LLC

Adam Steenken

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteFayetteville

Peggy Lucero

RE/MAX Associates, LLC

David Mix

Bassett Mix And Associates, Inc

Ray Heflin

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Deanna Crook Homescape Realty

Kelley Baertsch

Buffington Homes of Arkansas

Kyle Atkins

Arkansas Real Estate Group

Fayetteville

Katherine Hudson

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty

Jim Brandon

RE/MAX Real Estate Results

Lisa Darling Keller Williams Market Pro Realty

Sandy Mecca

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey Bentonville

Jana -Wrenay Elkins

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Zachary Stanley

Arkansas Real Estate Group

Fayetteville

Becky Carter Urban Cottage

Jillian Chamberlin

Buffington Homes of Arkansas

Chad O'Malley Collier & AssociatesBentonville Branch

Steve Fineberg

Steve Fineberg & Associates

Sarah Brothers

Weichert REALTORS - The Griffin Company Springdale

Kelly Crenshaw

Collier & Associates

Dominick Hinds

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Shane Macias

Rausch Coleman Realty Group, LLC

Adam Reynolds

Buffington Homes of Arkansas

Amy Hinkson

Carlton Realty, Inc

Marcy Chavez

Weichert REALTORS - The Griffin Company Springdale

Joel Treat

Weichert REALTORS - The Griffin Company Springdale

Austin Bivens

eXp Realty NWA Branch

Milton Lamar

Rausch Coleman Realty Group, LLC

Mindy Foster Collier & AssociatesFarmington Branch

Veronica Marrufo

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteBentonville

Sherry Hardie

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette - Rogers

Paige Ferguson HOWSE Real Estate

Tamera Holmes Sanderson & Associates

Real Estate

Marion Aust

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey

Jean Lance

Crye-Leike RealtorsBentonville

Amber Latimer Gibson Real Estate

Jacki Hudak

Riverwood Homes Real Estate

Emiley Horton

Rausch Coleman Realty Group, LLC

Jennifer Skoff

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteFayetteville

Krystal Tronzano

Collier & AssociatesBentonville Branch

Sheryl Carman

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteBentonville

Cindy Switzer

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette - Rogers

Mike Carey

Prestige Management & Realty

Jennifer Cristofaro Gibson Real Estate

Robert Winkel Fathom Realty

Beth Hey

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Solutions

Real Estate

Matt Blood McMullen Realty Group

Jesselyn Lising Collier & AssociatesBentonville Branch

Tania Mahoney-Vazquez

Collier & Associates

Alta Felix Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette-Rogers

Robin Collins

Weichert REALTORS - The Griffin Company Springdale

Nicole Chervenyak

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey Bentonville

Mitzi Taylor

NWA Taylor Real Estate

Jenny Miller Collier & AssociatesBentonville Branch

Patrick Quinn Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette-Rogers

Michelle Dearing Engel & Volkers Bentonville

Denise Contreras-Serrano

Lindsey & Associates Inc Bentonville

Charla White Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette-Rogers

Lou Ann Davis Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Solutions

Real Estate

Ralph Harvey listwithfreedom.com

Brent Owens Owens Realty and Auction

John Teague

Rausch Coleman Realty Group, LLC

Jerl Swofford Kings River Realty LLC

Briana Ruff

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Mandy Nickell

Lindsey & Assoc Inc Branch

Ryan Russell Equity Partners Realty

Tong Sing Puang Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

Joseph Duggar Good Neighbor Realty

Brenda Parker RE/MAX Real Estate Results

Kelsey Roemer Lindsey & Associates Inc

Tina Stanley

Arkansas Real Estate Group

Fayetteville

Chris Hinkle

True North Realty Group

Donna Bermingham

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette-Rogers

Sherry Laemmle

Crye-Leike REALTORSBella Vista

Tina Hodne

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteFayetteville

Stephen Smith

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey Bentonville

Jonathan Bayona Southern Tradition Real Estate, LLC

Topher Moore

Lindsey & Assoc Inc Branch

Christopher Brandon

The Brandon Group

Brenda Lee RE/MAX Real Estate Results

Monica Goode Collier & AssociatesBentonville Branch

Brenda Sullivan

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Siloam Springs

Tyler Royal Weichert REALTORS - The Griffin Company Springdale

Gene Joyce

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey

Kristine Sherry Holiday Island Realty

Randall Carney RE/MAX Associates, LLC

Gunner DeLay

eXp Realty NWA Branch

Darohnn Pender RE/MAX Real Estate Results

Rhonda Balmer

Bassett Mix And Associates, Inc

Terri Russo

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteBentonville

Paula Prince

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey Bentonville

Michelle Brock

Collier & AssociatesRogers Branch

Lorrie Crook

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Springdale

Paige Young

First Star Realty

Janice McKelvey

Kings River Realty LLC

Bailey Tahy

Riverwood Homes Real Estate

Susan Gleghorn

Keller Williams Market Pro

Realty Branch Office

Cynthia Salisbury

Twin Oaks Realty, Inc

Jody Cohen Keller

Williams Market Pro Realty

Jordan Eddleman

Collier & Associates -

Rogers Branch

Stephen Sohosky

Beaver Lake Realty

Courtney Long

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette-Rogers

Bleaux Barnes

Mathias Real Estate

Chanika Ogle

Wheelhouse Real Estate Management

Letitia Washburn

Crye-Leike REALTORS -

Bella Vista

Desiree Stock Collier & Associates

Alexus Main Eagle Rock Realty NWA

Melanie Silvey

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Siloam Springs

Robert Daugherty

Legend Realty Inc

Tonya Cline Collier & Associates

Anthony Mosley Real Broker LLC

Kitrina Napier

Heartfelt Homes

Robert Smiley

Rausch Coleman Realty Group, LLC

Larry Boling

Benton County Realty

Michael Subbert

Prestige Management & Realty

Erin Porter

Collier & Associates

Steven Tucker

Berkshire Hathaway

HomeServices Solutions Real Estate

Steve Neja

NWA Realty Group, LLC

Karen Willems

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteFayetteville

Shannon West

Sudar Group

Michael Lamm

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey

Margie Ivy

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey Bentonville

Jackson Hogue

Collier & Associates

Jennifer M. Sims

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Jamie Crouch

Home Adventure Real Estate

Jarred Blackstone

eXp Realty Natural State

Christopher Dinwiddie

The Exclusive Real Estate Group LLC

Elizabeth Oxford

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Springdale

Eric O'Bryan

Smith and Associates Real Estate Services

Stephen Rodgers

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Margaret Schloss

Collier & Associates

Carmen Hennelly

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteFayetteville

Brad Bruns

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Brande Weidler

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey Bentonville

Eric Eby HomeQuest Realty

Ngoma Hantuba

Fathom Realty

Tina Presley

Dan Hein Homes Realty

Mary Bassett

Bassett Mix And Associates, Inc

Reagen Kirkland

Bassett Mix And Associates, Inc

Amanda Wells

Collier & Associates

Ashley Fox

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette - Rogers

Holly Pequette

Crye-Leike REALTORS -

Bella Vista

Regina Zeigenbein

Crye-Leike REALTORS -

Bella Vista

Melanie Moreau

Fathom Realty

Manuel Cervantes

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette - Rogers

Hiedi Shively

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & FaucetteBentonville

Craig Thompson

U.S. Land And Home -

Ranch One Realty

CROSS PROPERTY SALES TEAMS

Triple Diamond

The Limbird Team

Limbird Real Estate Group

Curtis Realty Group

HomeQuest Realty

The Duley Group

Keller Williams Market Pro

Realty - Rogers Branch

Schuber Mitchell Team

Limbird Real Estate Group

NWA ProTeam

NextHome NWA Pro Realty

The Moldenhauer Group

RE/MAX Associates, LLC

Howard Group

eXp Realty NWA Branch

The Home Team

Coldwell Banker Harris

McHaney & Faucette - Rogers

Ruby Poole Team

Collier & AssociatesBentonville Branch

The EJ Johnson Group

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

Mayer Team

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey Bentonville

Koenigseder Realty Group

RE/MAX Real Estate Results

Johnson Smith Team

Lindsey & Assoc Inc Branch

Joseph Hayes & Associates

Keller Williams Market Pro

Realty Branch Office

Team Nina Clare and Dave

RE/MAX Real Estate Results

McNaughton Team

McNaughton Real Estate

Taylor Team

Keller Williams Market

Pro Realty

Annette Gore Team

eXp Realty NWA Branch

Jose Esparza & Associates

eXp Realty NWA Branch

H&R Group

Thrive Real Estate

Beebe Group

Weichert REALTORS - The Griffin Company Fayetteville

Collective Team

Collective Real Estate Partners

Roe Team

Crye-Leike REALTORSPleasant Grove

Tim Wang Team

Prestige Management & Realty

Sapphire Team Sapphire Realty

Great Team Win Group

eXp Realty NWA Branch

Salmonsen Group Realtors Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

Boyd Sudar Team

Sudar Group

Joshua Hagan Team

eXp Realty NWA Branch

Hartwick & Associates

eXp Realty NWA Branch

Prowell Team

Lindsey & Assoc Inc Branch

Burnett Real Estate Team

Burnett Real Estate Team ConnectRealty.com

NWA Metro Group

Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & FaucetteFayetteville

Double Diamond

Lighthouse Group NWA

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

Main St. Team

Main St. Real Estate

Market Edge Realty-NWA

1 Percent Lists Arkansas

Real Estate

Motus Group

Keller Williams Market

Pro Realty

NWA Real Estate HUB

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty

Dave Hodges Team

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty

12 Stones NWA

eXp Realty Rogers

Robison Realty Group

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty

MG Realty Group

Keller Williams Market

Pro Realty Branch Office

Trina Team

Keller Williams Market

Pro Realty Branch Office

The Hutcherson Team

Lindsey & Associates Inc

Diamond

Ronnie & Christy Whiteley

Montgomery Whiteley Realty

Hunt Homes Collier & Associates

Arlene Urquizu & Associates

Collier & Associates

NWA Real Estate Solutions

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

Patrick Pulliam & Grant

Fazekas

eXp Realty NWA Branch

Harris Group

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

The Diaz Team Fathom Realty

Funk Group

Engel & Volkers Bentonville

NWA House Hunters

RE/MAX Real Estate Results Branch Office

My NWA Home Team

Fathom Realty

Jean Ann and Ron Gilbert Team

Crye-Leike RealtorsBentonville

Talk to Tuck

Weichert REALTORS - The Griffin Company Springdale

Demarest Team

Lindsey & Associates Inc

District III

McMullen Realty Group

Five Doors NWA

eXp Realty NWA Branch

The Redman + Madigan

Group

Engel & Volkers Bentonville

The Toro Team

eXp Realty NWA Branch

The Summit Home Team Equity Partners Realty

Empower Home Team

eXp Realty NWA Branch

Ozark Group

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

Bespoke Sales Team

Bespoke Homes

Schmiegelow Team Equity Partners Realty

Emerald

Janice Eaton-Reed & Mel Reed

Keller Williams Market

Pro Realty

NWA Native Team

Blue Canopy Realty

Watkins Team Lindsey & Assoc Inc Branch

We Sell It NWA

Fathom Realty

Team Bell

Lindsey & Assoc Inc Branch

Sapphire

Empire Team Sudar Group

NWA Impact Team

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty

Janie & Mike Robinson Team

Crye-Leike REALTORS -

Bella Vista

Shawna Cavette & Whitney Leichner

Thrive Real Estate

Amethyst

Signature Property Group

Smith & Associates Real Estate Services - Bentonville

The Ginder Group

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty

Onyx Boyle Team Lindsey & Associates Inc

RESIDENTIAL RENTAL INDIVIDUALS

Double Diamond

Shonnie Gilbreath McNaughton Real Estate

Emerald

Michael Subbert

Prestige Management & Realty

Amethyst

Juanita Reeves NWA Realty Group, LLC

John Mullins Lindsey & Associates Inc

John Rhine RE/MAX Real Estate Results

Brooke Hurst Collier & Associates

Dale Kelsey Lindsey & Associates Inc

Onyx

Sheila Robinson A-1 Realty

RESIDENTIAL RENTAL TEAMS

Diamond

HM Property Management Harris McHaney REALTORS

Onyx

Metro Property Management Limbird Real Estate Group

COMMERCIAL SALES INDIVIDUALS

Diamond David Erstine CBRE, Inc-Fayetteville

Sara Posey Collier & Associates

Cameron Clark Bennett Commercial Real Estate

Britnee Stearman The Griffin Company Commercial DivisionBentonville

Palmer Hays Bennett Commercial Real Estate

Onyx

Susan Gleghorn Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

COMMERCIAL SALES TEAMS

Double Diamond Salmonsen Group Realtors Keller Williams Market Pro Realty Branch Office

Sapphire The Moldenhauer Group RE/MAX Associates, LLC

Back Row: Margaret King, Donna Dailey, Catherine Langley, Susan Reynolds, Casey Jones, Kelly Johnson, Bob Bushmiaer, Front Row: Sarah Duke, Debbie Teague, Shannon Treece, Lynn Dickey, Conley Golden, Dawn Scott, and (not pictured) Shawn Clark

Lindsey Roddy

2023 Arkansas Board of REALTORS® Awards for Excellence

Aaron

Choice Realty

Residential Volume

Robin Brock

Crye-Leike

Residential Volume

Shalyn Carlile

Venture Realty

Residential Volume

Sarah Beth Perkins

Weichert Realtors, The Property Shoppe

Residential Volume

Susan Vaulner

Rich Realty

Residential Volume

Gold

Lackey Moody Jr.

Crye-Leike

Residential Volume

Tammy O'Cain

Choice Realty

Residential Volume

William B. Olson

Weichert Realtors, The Property Shoppe

Residential Volume

Joshua Settimio Rich Realty

Residential Volume

Charra Wolfe

R.M. Weaver Real Estate

Residential Volume Silver

Silje Antonsen

Weichert Realtors, The Property Shoppe

Residential Volume

Patti Hudson

R.M. Weaver Real Estate

Residential Volume

Linda Meredith Rich Realty

Residential Volume

Hayes Olson

Weichert Realtors, The Property Shoppe

Residential Volume

Enith Sensabaugh

Choice Realty

Residential Volume

Melissa Thompson Choice Realty

Residential Volume

Chelsea Varnell

R.M. Weaver Real Estate

Residential Volume

TEAMS

Double Diamond Team Markowski

Joey Markowski, Jeanne Markowski

Rich Realty

Residential Volume

Platinum

Taylor Team

Joe Taylor

Crye-Leike, Batesville Real

Estate Center

Residential Volume

CENTRAL OZARKS BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Diamond

Adam Biossat

Bay Realty

Residential Volume

Kyle Box

All Seasons Real Estate

Residential Volume

Ruby

Glenn Crenshaw

All Seasons Real Estate

Residential Volume

Karen Kinsel

Century 21 Woodland

Real Estate

Residential Volume

Robin Phillips

United County

Little Switzerland Realty

Residential Volume

Platinum

Lyla Allison

Century 21 Woodland

Real Estate

Residential Volume

Beth Martin

All Seasons Real Estate

Residential Volume

Mark Mattmiller

New Horizon Realty

Residential Volume

Diane Murphy

Century 21 Woodland

Real Estate

Residential Volume

Ken Riley

Century 21 Woodland

Real Estate

Residential Volume

Gold

Missy Jackson

McClung Realty

Residential Volume

Silver

Haley Anderson United County

Little Switzerland Realty

Residential Volume

Evelyn Cross

New Horizon Realty

Residential Volume

Aspen Vaught

Keller Williams

Market Pro Realty

Residential Volume

CLEBURNE COUNTY

BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Triple Diamond

Mark McKenzie

McKenzie Realty Group

Residential Volume

Pamela Welch

Mossy Oak Strawberry

Residential Volume

Double Diamond

William Hardin

Habitat Land Co

Residential Volume

Tammy Landry

Landry GF Lake Realty

Residential Volume

Lee Ann Thomas

ReMax Edge

Residential Volume

Diamond

Chad Carger

Habitat Land Co.

Residential Volume

Luke Cullins

Habitat Land Co.

Residential Volume

Randall Nichols

Nichols Realty Express

Residential Volume

Cheryl A. Shook

Remax Advantage

Residential Volume

Chad Carger

Habitat Land Co.

Residential Volume

Ruby

Sandra Ballew

EXP Realty

Residential Volume

Bonita Goodnight

Remax Edge

Residential Volume

JoAnne Wyatt

Crye-Leike Brock RE

Residential Volume

Platinum

Amy M. Bromley

Nichols Realty Express

Residential Volume

Chelsie Brooks

Remax Advantage

Residential Volume

David Carlton

Real Estate Center

Residential Volume

Jan Hearn

Crye-Leike Brock RE

Residential Volume

Pamela Huffty

Heber Springs Realty

Residential Volume

Delrae McGee

Crye-Leike Brock RE

Residential Volume

Heather Nichols

Nichols Realty Express

Residential Volume

Angela Smith

Coldwell Banker H H

Residential Volume

Molly Steely

Donham Realty

Residential Volume

Gold

Krystal Allen

Mossy Oak Properties

Residential Volume

Boyd Anderson

Crye-Leike Brock RE

Residential Volume

Cheryl Bailey

Crye-Leike Brock RE

Residential Volume

Terri R. Douglas

Remax Advantage

Residential Volume

Carolyn Hall

Preferred Realty

Residential Volume

Fred Hubbard

Remax Edge

Residential Volume

Missy Jenkins

Coldwell Banker H H

Residential Volume

Nathan Mays

Remax Advantage

Residential Volume

Shannon Morman

Varvil Real Estate

Residential Volume

Megan Murray

Varvil Real Estate

Residential Volume

Cecil Oursbourn

Mossy Oak Properties

Residential Volume

Cheryl Reed

Remax Edge

Residential Volume

Ruby Russell

Crye-Leike Brock RE

Residential Volume

Clayton Shumate

Remax Advantage

Residential Volume

Billie Smith

Crye-Leike Brock RE

Residential Volume

Silver

Connie Flowers

Preferred Realty

Residential Volume

Jaime Levecchia

Michele Phillips & Co.

Residential Volume

Allen Dale Roberson

Roberson RE & Auction

Residential Volume

Brady Shannon

Remax Edge

Residential Volume

Mark Virden

Remax Edge

Residential Volume

CONWAY/PERRY COUNTIES

REALTORS ® ASSOCIATION

INDIVIDUALS

Platinum

Joy Howell-Rickett

Howell-Rickett Real Estate

Professionals, Inc.

Residential Volume

Casey Rucker

CMR Real Estate

Residential Volume

Gold

Rebecca L. Griffey-Walters

Moore & Co. Realtors

Residential Volume

EASTERN ARKANSAS REALTORS ® ASSOCIATION

INDIVIDUALS

Diamond

Karen Carter

Carter Realty

Residential Volume

Michael Ford

Coldwell Banker -

Heritage Homes

Residential Volume

Jena Vansickle

Remax Real Estate Today

Residential Volume

Linda Williams

Remax Real Estate Today

Residential Volume

Ruby

Pamela Capps

Carter Realty

Residential Volume

Shavona Davis

United Real Estate

Residential Volume

Robin Fesmire

Laughter Realty

Residential Volume

Rita Fong

Remax Real Estate Today

Residential Volume

Carolyn Foster

Remax Real Estate Today

Residential Volume

Dana Green

Coldwell Banker -

Heritage Homes

Residential Volume

Sharon Howard

Coldwell Banker -

Heritage Homes

Residential Volume

Pat Lackey

Crye-Leike Realtors

Residential Volume

Lisa O'Neal

Crye-Leike Realtors

Residential Volume

Russell Wren

Coldwell Banker -

Evett Furr

D. C. A Realty

Residential Volume

Matthew Henriques

Coldwell Banker -

Heritage Homes

Residential Volume

Sharon Jeter

Carter Realty

Residential Volume

Sherrye McCoy

Diamond State Real Estate

Residential Volume

Dianne Person

Crye-Leike Realtors

Residential Volume

Kathryn Pirani

Coldwell Banker -

Heritage Homes

Residential Volume

Jackie Snelson

Laughter Realty

Residential Volume

Britney Turner

Laughter Realty

Residential Volume Gold

Darrell Anthony

D. C. A Realty

Residential Volume

Ashley Cooper

Coldwell Banker -

Heritage Homes

Residential Volume Silver

Kristi Brawley

Crye-Leike Realtors

Residential Volume

Maria Townsend

Crye-Leike Realtors

Residential Volume

TEAMS Diamond

Thula Thomas

All Seasons Realty

Residential Volume

Lesia Harris

Elizabeth Laughter

Laughter Realty

Residential Volume

Gold

Anita Bell

Crye-Leike Realtors

Residential Volume

Don Bell

Crye-Leike Realtors

Residential Volume

EL DORADO BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Diamond

Ashlee Allen

Southern Realty Group

Residential Volume

Hannah Moore

Southern Realty Group

Residential Volume

Netasha Williamson

Jan's Realty

Residential Volume

Ruby

Janice Long

Jan's Realty

Residential Volume

Platinum

Cynthia Meadows

Southern Realty Group

Residential Volume

Kalie Owens

KO Realty

Residential Volume

Blaklee Ramsey

Southern Realty Group

Residential Volume

Jason Reed

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Patti Reed

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Silver

Brandy Chapman

Howell-Rickett Real Estate

Professionals, Inc.

Residential Volume

Tracie Flowers-Stobaugh

Moore & Co. Realtors

Residential Volume

Heritage Homes

Residential Volume

Platinum

Kindale Briggs

Coldwell Banker -

Heritage Homes

Residential Volume

All Seasons Realty

Residential Volume Ruby

Kim Foley

Laughter Realty

Residential Volume

Victoria Templeton

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Gold

Marquita Bailey

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Naomi Garretson

KO Realty

Residential Volume

Erin McMurrian

Empact Realty

Residential Volume

Alexandra Vaught

Jan's Realty

Residential Volume

Terry Webb

Southern Realty Group

Residential Volume

Todd Whatley

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Conner Wilkerson

Jan's Realty

Residential Volume

Bruce Woolsey

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Silver

David Bridges

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Barbara Dumas

Southern Realty Group

Residential Volume

Nell Hannegan

Jan's Realty

Residential Volume

Caylie Lambert

Southern Realty Group

Residential Volume

Shasta Mills

Southern Realty Group

Residential Volume

Kendra Smith

Jan's Realty

Residential Volume

Pamela Wilson

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Patti Reed

C-21 United

Residential Volume

FAULKNER COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Double Diamond

Laura Davis

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Drew Lawson Arkansas Real Estate

Solutions

Residential Volume

Kevin Watson RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Diamond

Sena Crafton Arkansas Real Estate

Collective

Residential Volume

Velda Lueders

Coldwell Banker RPM

Residential Volume

Tarren Pettigrew

Eagle Rock Realty & Residential Volume

Residential Volume

Christopher Siler

Keller Williams Realty Central

Residential Volume

Anthony Walker

Homeward Realty

Residential Volume Ruby

Sue Leavell RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Pam McDowell

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Gelinda Mudgett

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Claire Carter Smithson

Homeward Realty

Residential Volume

Jesse Sullivan

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Dara Tapley RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Misty Varvil

MVP Real Estate

Residential Volume

Jennifer Brown

2023 Arkansas Board of REALTORS® Awards for Excellence

Tracy Thomas

Kim Ward

Triple Diamond

Evelyn Dean

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Platinum

Mike Argo

Moore & Company, REALTORS

Residential Volume

NextHome Local Realty Group

Residential Volume

Megan Cain

Keller Williams Realty Central

Residential Volume

Cindy Drye

Crye-Leike REALTORS Conway

Residential Volume

Luke Goodman

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Wanda Goodrich

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Casey Hearn

Keller Williams Realty Central

Residential Volume

Diane Henson

501 Professionals Realty and Investments

Residential Volume

Patricia Hepner

Faulkner County Realty

Residential Volume

Robin Jones (Sanders)

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Janet Martin

501 Professionals Realty and Investments

Residential Volume

Lisa Martin

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Tamra McMahon

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Kathy Nickles

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Denise Perry

C21 Sandstone Realty Group

Residential Volume

Stefanie Schrekenhofer

Arkansas Real Estate

Collective

Residential Volume

Jonna Shaw

Coldwell Banker RPM

Residential Volume

Jennifer Starr

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Jamie Stratton

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Heather Sutterfield

Roberts Real Estate

Residential Volume

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Laura Hiegel-Williams

Crye-Leike REALTORS Conway

Residential Volume

Gold

David Broadaway

Arkansas Property Brokers

Residential Volume

Robyn Bullock

Crye-Leike REALTORS Conwa

Residential Volume

Brittney Burks

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Gerald Craig

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Vickie Crutchfield

Arkansas Property Brokers

Residential Volume

Morgan Drayton

C21 Sandstone Realty Group

Residential Volume

Comeatrieze Ester

C21 Parker & Scroggins

Residential Volume

Lisa Ferguson

Moore & Company, REALTORS

Residential Volume

Mahlon "Scott" Hayes

Crye-Leike REALTORS Conway

Residential Volume

James Houston

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Tamara Marsh

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Jordan McKay

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Johnny Passmore

Coldwell Banker RPM

Residential Volume

Angela Sewell

Moore & Company, REALTORS

Residential Volume

Megan Sorrels

NextHome Local Realty Group

Residential Volume

Victoria Stender

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Lori Stephens

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Tina Wilson

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Lou Zamora

Eagle Rock Realty &

Residential Volume

Residential Volume

Silver

Kim Alexander

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Elizabeth Cabradilla

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Shawn Cervantes

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Jan (Janice) Clark

Arkansas Property Brokers

Residential Volume

Melissa Evans

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Lisa Smith-Jones

Arkansas Property Brokers

Residential Volume

Rick Ketchum

NextHome Local Realty Group

Residential Volume

Donald Marple

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

James "Glen" Rega

Crye-Leike REALTORS Conway

Residential Volume

Jamille Thomas

C21 Sandstone Realty Group

Residential Volume

TEAMS

Triple Diamond

Team Elite

Coldwell Banker RPM

Residential Volume

Double Diamond

Dryer & Dorey Homes

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Encore Realty Group

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Leah Brown & Tracy Tidwell

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Parsley-Tucker Team

Moore & Company

Residential Volume

The Savvy Team

NextHome Local

Residential Volume

Diamond Hawks Family Team

Coldwell Banker RPM

Residential Volume

Karen Ferguson Team

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Local Realty Group

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Roussel Team Realtors

C21 Sandstone

Residential Volume

Summit Team

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

Tami Blakeman & Kelley Chism

J.C. Thornton & Co. LLC

Residential Volume

The Emily Walter Team

RE/MAX Elite

Residential Volume

The Henleys

ERA Team Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

The Smith Team

C21 Parker & Scroggins

Residential Volume Ruby Watkins-Moore Team

Arkansas Real Estate Solutions

Residential Volume

Platinum

Taleda McKee & Nacole Fulfer

JC Thornton & Co, LLC

Residential Volume

The Sting Team

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Conway

Residential Volume

Roussel Team Realtors

C21 Sandstone Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

FORT SMITH

BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Double Diamond

Shawn Looper Looper Auction and Realty II, LLC

Residential Volume

Diamond

Vicki Bush Linsey E. & Co. Realtors

Residential Volume

Hollie Byers

Bradford & Udouj Realtors

Residential Volume

Lisa Elmore Weichert, REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Amy Hall

Century 21 Homestead Realty

Residential Volume

Amanda Hester

RE/MAX Executives

Real Estate

Residential Volume

Rebecca L. Ivey

Chuck Fawcett Realty

Chaffee Crossing Branch

Residential Volume

Jeanette Jones RE/MAX Executives

Real Estate

Residential Volume

Michelle A. Linam

Jimmy Bell Real Estate Company

Residential Volume

Colby Martin eXp Realty LLC

Residential Volume

Bobbie Miller

Bradford & Udouj Realtors

Residential Volume

Blake Rogers

Jim White Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Michelle White RE/MAX Executives

Real Estate

Residential Volume

Linsey Yates

Linsey E. & Co.

Residential Volume

Ruby

Linda Chambers

Keller Williams

Platinum Realty

Residential Volume

Tracy Cravey

McGraw REALTORS

Residential Volume

Rosalba DeMondesert

Warnock Real Estate, LLC

Residential Volume

Marc Dietz

e-Cloud Realty

Residential Volume

Kelci Fulmer

Jim White Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Jordan Johnson

Weichert, REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Justina Johnson

The Heritage Group

Real Estate Co.

Residential Volume

Laura McLean

Keller Williams

Platinum Realty

Residential Volume

Michelle Pendergraft

Keller Williams

Platinum Realty

Residential Volume

Justin Rogers

Weichert, REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Jennifer Schmidt

Weichert, REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Mason Shirey

Jimmy Bell

Real Estate Company

Residential Volume

Gina Washburn

Sudar Group

Residential Volume

Jimmy Wright

Arkansas Valley Real EstateBooneville

Residential Volume

Donna Young

Keller Williams

Platinum Realty

Residential Volume

Platinum

Ethan Adams

RE/MAX Executives

Real Estate

Residential Volume

Leticia Ahuyon

Chuck Fawcett Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Ashley Beasley

The Heritage Group

Real Estate Co.

Residential Volume

Patricia Branson

Chuck Fawcett Realty

Van Buren

Residential Volume

Wanda Brown

Century 21 Homestead Realty

Residential Volume

James Candelaria

Kevin Clifton Real Estate Inc.

Residential Volume

Cody Capell

Keller Williams Realty

Preferred

Residential Volume

Angel Clifton

Weichert, REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Kevin Clifton

Kevin Clifton Real Estate Inc.

Residential Volume

Laura Colburn

Weichert, REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Jan Dyer

Warnock Real Estate, LLC

Residential Volume

Chuck Fawcett

Chuck Fawcett Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Nate Goodlin

Ascend Real Estate

Residential Volume

Bobby Hill

Keller Williams Realty

Preferred

Residential Volume

Tonia Hobbs

McGraw REALTORS

Residential Volume

Carie Holloway

Coldwell Banker Flemming -

Lau Realty

Residential Volume

Venus Tara Johnson

5 Star Realty LLC

Residential Volume

Tina LaRoche

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

Ashlee Milton

Chuck Fawcett Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Krisha Myers

Kevin Clifton Real Estate Inc.

Residential Volume

Chanda Price

O'Neal Real Estate LLC

Residential Volume

Kent Reading

e-Cloud Realty

Residential Volume

Devin Rogers

Pillar and Post Realty

Residential Volume

Terri Smith

Keller Williams Platinum Realty

Residential Volume

Adam Spradlin

Assurance Realty

Residential Volume

Larry Stanfill

Chuck Fawcett Realty

Greenwood Branch

Residential Volume

Renee Tedford

Sagely & Edwards Realtors

Residential Volume

Clif Warnock

Warnock Real Estate, LLC

Residential Volume

Jeannie Wester

Chuck Fawcett Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Keith Williams

O'Neal Real Estate, LLC

Residential Volume

Marshall Yantis

Warnock Real Estate, LLC

Residential Volume Gold

Clint Avaritt

Ascend Real Estate

Residential Volume

Lana Bailey

Quantum Real Estate, LLC

Property Management

David Barnes

Century 21 Homestead Realty

Residential Volume

2023 Arkansas Board of REALTORS® Awards for Excellence

Jeff Beauchamp

Sagely & Edwards Realtors

Residential Volume

Tammy Best

Chuck Fawcett Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Linda Black

Chuck Fawcett Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Chaney Brewer

Jim White Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Linda Brixey

McGraw REALTORS

Residential Volume

Shana Brown

Weichert, REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Wanda Carolan

Carolan Real Estate

Residential Volume

Tammy Crites

O'Neal Real Estate LLC

Residential Volume

Josh Daves

e-Cloud Realty

Residential Volume

Amy Durham

Assurance Realty

Residential Volume

Suzanne Easley

Sagely & Edwards Realtors

Residential Volume

Lacy Flanagan

Fathom Realty

Residential Volume

Ann Hill

Century 21 Homestead Realty

Residential Volume

Becky Hoopengarner

Chuck Fawcett Realty

Greenwood Branch

Residential Volume

Cindy Hughes

Keller Williams

Platinum Realty

Residential Volume

Amy Jo Hutcherson

McGraw REALTORS

Residential Volume

Brandon Inge

The Heritage Group

Real Estate Co.

Residential Volume

Emily Jacks

Ascend Real Estate

Residential Volume

Elizabeth Jones

Keller Williams Realty

Preferred

Residential Volume

Polina Larson Weichert, REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Zack Looper

Looper Auction and Realty II, LLC

Residential Volume

Ashley Love

Pillar and Post Realty

Residential Volume

Mark McDaniel Keller Williams Platinum Realty

Residential Volume

Alice Medlock

Medlock & West Realty

Residential Volume

Christi Moore

Warnock Real Estate, LLC

Residential Volume

Lisa Mundai-Yeakley

Bradford & Udouj Realtors

Residential Volume

Terry M. Pate

eXp Realty LLC

Residential Volume

Sara Peters Jim White Realty

Residential Volume

Belva Ross

Warnock Real Estate, LLC

Residential Volume

Pat Satterfield

Pat Satterfield Realtors

Residential Volume

Dianne Schneider

Pat Satterfield Realtors

Residential Volume

Darrin Smith

Sagely & Edwards Realtors

Residential Volume

Robert Steel

e-Cloud Realty

Residential Volume

Tina Stratmann

RE/MAX Executives

Real Estate

Residential Volume

Joshua (JJ) Sweeten

Kevin Clifton Real Estate Inc.

Residential Volume

Tiffiney Tilbury

McGraw REALTORS

Residential Volume

Silver

Brad Alverson

Bradford & Udouj Realtors

Residential Volume

Alicia Arnold

Quantum Real Estate, LLC

Property Management

Danyell Barker

RE/MAX Executives

Real Estate

Residential Volume

Katherine Bottoms

Sagely & Edwards Realtors

Residential Volume

Rebecca Brown

Bradford & Udouj Realtors

Residential Volume

Gaylene Calhoun

Keller Williams Platinum Realty

Residential Volume

Sarah Conley

Century 21 Homestead Realty

Residential Volume

Tyler Dunavin

McGraw REALTORS

Residential Volume

Cheryl A. Gentry

Pat Satterfield Realtors

Residential Volume

Melissa Hallmark

Chuck Fawcett Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Ronnie Hemphill

McGraw REALTORS

Residential Volume

Brian Hutton

Ascend Real Estate

Residential Volume

Kristi Jackson

Chuck Fawcett Realty

Greenwood Branch

Residential Volume

Emily King

Warnock Real Estate, LLC

Residential Volume

Steven Layne

Chuck Fawcett Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Elaine Leonard

McGraw REALTORS

Residential Volume

Mitzy Lynn

Keller Williams Realty

Preferred

Residential Volume

Jeff Marks

Weichert, REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Laura Moser

Warnock Real Estate, LLC

Residential Volume

Mika Mulhern

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

Jan Nordin

Weichert, REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Susie Sparkman

McGraw REALTORS

Residential Volume

Joe Stanfill

Chuck Fawcett Realty

Greenwood Branch

Residential Volume

Theresa Sturgeon

Bradford & Udouj Realtors

Residential Volume

Sharon Taylor

Booneville Realty

Residential Volume

Charlene Wade

Sudar Group

Residential Volume

Charlotte West

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

Tim Worgan

Sagely & Edwards Realtors

Residential Volume

Mallory Workman

Accel Real Estate

Company, LLC

Residential Volume

TEAMS

Double Diamond

Robison Realty Group

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

Team Shoppach

O'Neal Real Estate

Residential Volume

The Cassie Elwonger Team

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

The Price Group

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

Diamond

Aimee Edens/Rodney Oden

Sagely & Edwards Realtors

Residential Volume

Cannava Brown Team

Bradford & Udouj Realtors

Residential Volume

Copeland Stutton Team

Sagely & Edwards Realtors

Residential Volume

Ibison Realtors & Co.

Keller Williams Platinum Realty

Residential Volume

Mont & Angel Sagely Team

Sagely & Edwards Realtors

Residential Volume

Smart Agents

Weichert, REALTORS -

The Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Team Mosby

All Pro River Valley Realty

Residential Volume

Thomas Team

Kevin Clifton Real Estate Inc.

Residential Volume

Wise Baker Real Estate Group

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

Team Shoppach

O'Neal Real Estate

Residential Volume

Ruby H&N Co.

Weichert REALTORSThe Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Team Hubbs

Chuck Fawcett Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

The Harvel Team

Bradford & Udouj Realtos

Residential Volume

Wilson & Burton

Chuck Fawcett Realty

Residential Volume

Platinum

Cosner/Berry Team

Coldwell Banker

Fleming Lau Realty

Residential Volume

Edwards & Blaylock

River City Realty, LLC

Residential Volume

Joe Craine Team

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

Johnson Realty Group

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

Team Salsbury

Quantum Real Estate, LLC

Property Management

Team Town & Country Realty

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

The Cluck Graham Team

Pillar and Post Realty

Residential Volume

The Nick & Ellie Glidewell

Team

River City Realty, LLC

Residential Volume

Wayne & Charlotte King

Team

Weichert, REALTORS -

The Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Gold

McKnight Realtors

Keller Williams Platinum

Realty

Residential Volume

Scott & Anne Campbell

Bradford & Udouj Realtors

Residential Volume

Team Graham

All Pro River Valley Realty

Residential Volume

The Bravo Team

Weichert, REALTORS -

The Griffin Company

Residential Volume

Silver

Brunk Team

McGraw REALTORS®

Residential Volume

Doug & Haley Malena Team

Sagely & Edwards Realtors

Residential Volume

McClendon Team

River City Realty, LLC

Residential Volume

The JK Team

Kevin Clifton Real Estate Inc.

Residential Volume

HOT SPRINGS

BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Triple Diamond

David Hall

The Gold Group

Real Estate Company

Residential Volume

Double Diamond

Shelly McDonald

Hot Springs 1st Choice Realty

Residential Volume

Amber White White Stone Real Estate

Residential Volume

Diamond

Nancy Bergeron

Keller Williams Realty -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Dani Blair

Crossroads Realty Group

Residential Volume

Tammy Browning

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Jan Culp

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

George Doole

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Beau Durbin

ESQ. Realty Group -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Karen Hudspeth

McGraw Realtors

Residential Volume

Wendy Landes

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Melissa Lax

Hot Springs Realty

Residential Volume

Nedra Plumlee

Crye-Leike RealtorsHot Springs

Residential Volume

Lain Rodgers

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Bobbie Schroeder

Signature Homes Real Estate

Residential Volume

Archie VanGorder

Hot Springs 1st Choice Realty

Residential Volume

Kim Walker

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Tracey Wheelington

ESQ. Realty GroupHot Springs

Residential Volume

Todd Woerpel

Coldwell Banker RPM GroupHot Springs

Residential Volume

Ruby Kay Bancroft

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Bethany Brasfield

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Colista Cevela

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins - Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Serethia Crawford

Coldwell Banker RPM GroupHot Springs

Residential Volume

Tara Clark Dixon

iRealty Arkansas - Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Harolyn Holmes

Hot Springs Realty

Residential Volume

Debi Jones

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Shirley Anderson Jones

Meyers Realty Company

Residential Volume

William "Todd" Lucas

Southern Homes RealtyHot Springs

Residential Volume

Andrea Marks

Hot Springs 1st Choice Realty

Residential Volume

Rachel Mundy

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Charlene O'Neal

Crye-Leike RealtorsHot Springs

Residential Volume

Nikki Reed

Crye-Leike Realtors -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Bethel Sanders

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Steve Street

Lake Hamilton Realty

Residential Volume Platinum

Jennifer Abbott

Coldwell Banker RPM Group -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Sally Adams

Lake Homes Realty, LLC

Residential Volume

Karol Bailes

Crye-Leike RealtorsHot Springs

Residential Volume

Sarah Bentley

Meyers Realty Company

Residential Volume

Jenny Bledsoe

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Travis Brown

Southern Realty

Residential Volume

Joy Bush

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Natalie Caldwell

Crye-Leike Realtors -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Kayla Casada

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Melissa Chadwick

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Mary Anne Couch

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Kathleen DeVilbiss

Diamondhead Realty

Residential Volume

Jean Clare Dickerson

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins

Realty - Diamondhead

Residential Volume

Christine Durham

ERA TEAM Real Estate

Residential Volume

Sean Edds

Coldwell Banker RPM Group -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Sonya Harmon

Caddo River Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Kenny Harris

Lake Hamilton Realty

Residential Volume

Stephen Inman-Crawley

Rix Realty - Advantage

Team Realtors

Residential Volume

Ben Kilgore

Lake Hamilton Realty

Residential Volume

Will Lindsay

Hamilton Shores Realty

Residential Volume

Tambra Lucas

Hot Springs Realty

Residential Volume

Kathi Maffit

Lake Hamilton Realty

Residential Volume

Terry May

Lake Hamilton Realty

Residential Volume

Candy McCarthy

Hot Springs Realty

Property Management

Rachelle McClard

Lake Homes Realty, LLC

Residential Volume

Darin Meyers

Meyers Realty Company

Residential Volume

Jean R Miller

Crye-Leike RealtorsHot Springs

Residential Volume

Tara Norwood

ESQ. Realty GroupHot Springs

Residential Volume

Paul Roberts

Crye-Leike RealtorsHot Springs

Residential Volume

Lindsey Roddy

Taylor Realty Group - HS

Residential Volume

Karen Shaw

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Svetlana Simmons

McGraw Realtors

Residential Volume

Shelley Smith

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Kyleigh Taylor

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Kris Tortorice

Lake Hamilton Realty

Property Management

Jeffery Vaughn

ESQ. Realty Group -

Hot Springs.

Residential Volume

Gary West

Crye-Leike Realtors -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Gold

Lance Arguello

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Marsha Baker

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Mark Braziel

Evermark Realty Group Inc.

Residential Volume

Tonya Brown

Signature Homes Real Estate

Residential Volume

Chuck Carelock

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Jerry Cochran

Rainbow Realty

Residential Volume

Stephanie Collie

Hot Springs 1st Choice Realty

Residential Volume

Mary Currey

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Brian Hughes

Rix Realty - Advantage

Team Realtors

Residential Volume

Gina Jennings

Crye-Leike Realtors -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Mark McFarland

Evermark Realty Group Inc.

Residential Volume

Cortney Nanney

McGraw Realtors

Residential Volume

Robert Pfautz, Jr.

Hot Springs Realty

Residential Volume

Vianey Soria

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Stevie Spargo

Crye-Leike Realtors -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Olga Ward Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Vickie Weston

Crye-Leike Realtors -

Hot Springs

Property Management

Clay Wilson

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume Silver

John Criss Jr.

Hometown Realty Co.

Residential Volume

Angie Jenkins

Caddo River Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Cara Long

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins - Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Erin Morvant

Coldwell Banker RPM Group -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Ronnie Pardue Jr.

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Miranda Redman

Meyers Realty Company

Residential Volume

Chris Rix

Rix Realty - Advantage

Team Realtors

Residential Volume

Lecie Sanders

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Tom Shelton

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Lana VanBibbe

Signature Homes Real Estate - Glenwood

Residential Volume

TEAMS

2023 Arkansas Board of REALTORS® Awards for Excellence

Jeff Kennedy Team

Hot Springs 1st Choice Realty

Residential Volume

Smith Team

Crye-Leike RealtorsHot Springs

Residential Volume

Team Caddo

Caddo River Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

Team Galloway

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Team Hanson

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Platinum

Hot Springs Elite Team

Hot Spring Realty

Residential Volume

Polychron Team

The Gold Group Real Estate Company

Residential Volume

Team Matlock/Mills

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Team McKay

Trademark Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Team Meyers

Meyers Realty Company

Residential Volume

Team Polk

ERA TEAM Real Estate

Residential Volume

Team Shannon

Hot Spring Realty

Residential Volume

The "A" Team

Hot Spring Realty

Residential Volume

Gold

Garner - Malone Team

Hot Springs Realty

Residential Volume

The Carpenter

Real Estate Team

Coldwell Banker RPM GroupHot Springs

Residential Volume

Team Thomason

Hot Springs 1st Choice Realty

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE BOARD

OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Double Diamond

Susie Burns

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Diamond

Patricia Bollier

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

B. J. Conner

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Jim Harbour

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Charlotte Hitchens

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Brenda Langley

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Alissa Nead

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Janae Cook Richards

Taylor Realty Group HSV

Residential Volume

Holly Robertson

Southern Realty of Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Debra 'Deb' Seibert

Hot Springs Village Real Estate

Residential Volume

Kimberly Taylor

Taylor Realty Group HSV

Residential Volume

Connie Vaden

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Residential Volume Ruby

Clara Nicolosi

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Property Management

Dana Smith

Platinum

Candace 'Candy' Adams

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Residential Volume

Angela Banks

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Residential Volume

Sarah Barnett

Taylor Realty Group

Residential Volume

Cheryl Bourland

C21 HSV Realty

Property Management

Lisa Cates

C21 HSV Realty

Residential Volume

Ray Clem

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

DuWayne Futch

Big Red Realty

Residential Volume

Linette Galbraith

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Residential Volume

Lisa 'Beth' Graves

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Residential Volume

Michael Holdiness

Taylor Realty Group

Residential Volume

Richard 'Rick' Marshall

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Residential Volume

Joe Stewart

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Residential Volume

Sharon Tremor

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Residential Volume Gold

Deborah Bryan

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Nona Burns

C21 HSV Realty

Residential Volume

Sandra Carle

Hot Springs Village Real Estate

Residential Volume

Monita Collins

Diamond

Dover + McAdams

Coldwell Banker RPM Group -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

Residential Volume

Whisenhunt/Davis Team

Crye-Leike Realtors -

Hot Springs

Residential Volume

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Robert "Bob' Sweeten

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Residential Volume

C21 HSV Realty

Residential Volume

Stacy Dixon

Taylor Realty Group

Residential Volume

L. D. Livesay

C21 HSV Realty

Residential Volume

Anthony Nicolosi

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Phillip Pierce

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Vicki Teel

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Residential Volume

Blanche Thornhill

C21 HSV Realty

Residential Volume

Hamilton 'Hamp' Wilson

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Silver

Tiffany Taucher

Taylor Realty Group HSV

Residential Volume

TEAMS

Double Diamond

Hollansworth Team

RE/MAX of Hot Springs Village

Residential Volume

Platinum

The Perry Team

Hot Springs Village

Real Estate

Residential Volume

JEFFERSON COUNTY

ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

INDIVIDUALS

Triple Diamond

Melissa Attwood

Lunsford & Assoc

Residential Volume

LaRhonda Glover

Premier RE Services

Residential Volume

Conner Lunsford

Lunsford & Assoc

Residential Volume

Gold

Theresa George

Lunsford & Assoc

Residential Volume

Lynda Jaggers

Real Estate Solutions

Residential Volume

Jeffrey Neal

Jeffrey Neal Realty

Residential Volume

Lynda Pickler

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Rodney Rodgers

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Silver

Verna Puckett

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Marty Reed

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Lisa White-Wiley

C-21 United

Residential Volume

Tamara Works

Lunsford & Assoc

Residential Volume

Jenny Wynn

Real Estate Solutions

Residential Volume

JOHNSON COUNTY

BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Diamond

Ken Stall

Stall & Associates

Residential Volume

Gold

Crystal Harderson

Century 21 Glover

Town & Country

Residential Volume

Grasyn Langley

Moore & Co. Realtors

Residential Volume

Brittany Pruett

Coldwell Banker

Premier Realty

Residential Volume

Teresa Smith

Coldwell Banker

Premier Realty

Residential Volume

Sharon Wheeler

Coldwell Banker

Premier Realty

Residential Volume

Silver

Malinda Kay Alexander

Coldwell Banker

Premier Realty

Residential Volume

Corey Archer

Coldwell Banker

Premier Realty

Residential Volume

TEAMS

Diamond

The Matt Hurst Team

Century 21 Glover

Town & Country

Residential Volume

MENA AREA

BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Diamond

Hershel Bell

Holly Springs Real Estate

Tiffany C. Lane

Century 21 Perry Real Estate

Residential Volume

Deborah Pate

RE/MAX Mena Real Estate

Residential Volume

Nancy Wright

RE/MAX Mena Real Estate

Residential Volume Gold

Don Brewer

Holly Springs Real Estate

Residential Volume

Deana Dixon

Select Realty

Residential Volume

Derenda King

Select Realty

Residential Volume

Amanda Warrington

Century 21 Perry Real Estate

Residential Volume Silver

Michelle Cole

Century 21 Perry Real Estate

Residential Volume

Nan Gaddis

RE/MAX Mena Real Estate

Residential Volume

TEAMS Double Diamond

The Alston Team

RE/MAX Mena Real Estate

Residential Volume Diamond

Team Smallwood

RE/MAX Mena Real Estate

Residential Volume

Team Titsworth

United Country

Arkansas Properties

NORTH CENTRAL BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Triple Diamond

Joey Peglar

Peglar Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Double Diamond

Steve Burges

Gilbert Realty

Residential Volume

Dauna Powell

Peglar Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Diamond

Tony Dibble

Baxter Real Estate Company

Residential Volume

Matt Hershberger

Peglar Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Kelly Horne Johnson

Century 21 LeMac Realty

East Branch

Residential Volume

Kimberly Koenen

Southern Breeze Real Estate

Residential Volume

Loretta Lawhead

Peglar Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Scott Poush

Baxter Real Estate Company

Residential Volume

Alex Stubenfoll

Beaman Realty

Residential Volume

Gary Stubenfoll

Beaman Realty

Residential Volume

Tim Walker

Peglar Real Estate Group

Residential Volume

Double Diamond

Hayley Wreyford

Lunsford & Assoc

Residential Volume

Platinum

Jerald Gardner

CB-RPM

Residential Volume

James Stanley Coldwell Banker

Premier Realty

Residential Volume

Platinum

Crystal Cowell

Coldwell Banker

Premier Realty

Residential Volume

Residential Volume

Platinum

Tabitha Booher

Holly Springs Real Estate

Residential Volume

Shannon Hunter

Holly Springs Real Estate

Residential Volume

Residential Volume Silver

Himel-Holmes Team

Select Realty

Residential Volume

Ruby

Sandy Davenport

Davenport Realty

Residential Volume

Penny Green

Century 21 LeMac Realty

East Branch

Residential Volume

Terri Riley

RE/MAX Advantage

Residential Volume

Cindy "Marjorie" Shands

Dalrymple

Residential Volume

Silver

Caran Pitts

Dalrymple

Residential Volume

Matt Velasco

RE/MAX Advantage

Residential Volume

TEAMS

Double Diamond

Howell Team

Graywalt Realty

Residential Volume

Diamond

Team-Merritt

RE/MAX Advantage

Residential Volume

Ruby

Team Philpott

RE/MAX Advantage

Residential Volume

The Dillards

RE/MAX Advantage

Residential Volume

Platinum

Lorton Team

Searcy Hometown

Residential Volume

Silver

Lercher Team

RE/MAX Advantage

Residential Volume

SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS

REALTORS ® ASSOCIATION

INDIVIDUALS

Terri Summers

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Bryant

Residential Volume

Double Diamond

Amanda Elrod

CBRPM Group, Saline County

Residential Volume

Buffie Howard

Truman Ball Real Estate

Residential Volume

Toni Knowles

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Bryant

Residential Volume

Diamond

Jennifer Carter

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Kim Creighton

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Mary Crismon

The Janet Jones Company

Residential Volume

Morgan Gullett

Rausch Coleman Realty, LLC

Residential Volume

Misty Holland

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Benton

Residential Volume

Amy Hubbard

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Dione Jessup

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Yoni Johnson

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Kayla Jones

iRealty Arkansas

Residential Volume

Layne Penfield

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Falicia Samuels

Haley Ward

Truman Ball Real Estate

Residential Volume

Amanda White

Re/Max Elite

Residential Volume

Michele Woods

McGraw REALTORS

Residential Volume

Ruby

Betsy Arey

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Benton

Residential Volume

Jesse Baxley

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Lindsey Blaylock

Bailey & Company

Residential Volume

Kim Byrd

Crye*Leike Pro Elite Realty

Residential Volume

Greg Calaway

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Jenica Clement

Jenica Clement Properties

Residential Volume

Teresa Cogovan

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Kelly Denney

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Amy Eden

CBRPM Group, Saline County

Residential Volume

Jonathan Elliott

Black Rock Realty

Residential Volume

Joshua Hester

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Butch Higginbotham

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Devan Hope

Tonia Matthias

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Amy McGavran

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Debbie Orton

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Benton

Residential Volume

Laura Osborne

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Kim Phan

Crye-Leike REALTORS, Bryant

Residential Volume

Frankie Rivers

Re/Max Elite

Residential Volume

Carlie Ross

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Eric Shepherd

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Platinum

Vicki Baldridge

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Nicole Barnett

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Cason Barnhill

Keller Williams

Residential Volume

Tim Bennett

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Ava Brown

Re/Max Elite

Residential Volume

Mark Chilton

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Georgina Daniel

Jonathan Dixon

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Jason Edington

Keller Williams

Residential Volume

Brandy Garner

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Jennifer Green

iRealty Arkansas

Residential Volume

Anita Gough

Michele Phillips and Company

Residential Volume

Frances Harper

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Amanda Elrod

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Courtney Jones

Truman Ball Real Estate

Residential Volume

Kim Marcussen

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Aleisha McIntire

iRealty Arkansas

Residential Volume

Laithe Massey

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Stephanie Nagle

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy REALTORS

Residential Volume

Jody Petty

Re/Max Elite

Residential Volume

Sheri Rich

United Real Estate

Residential Volume

Michelle Riggan

McClure Real Estate

Residential Volume

Triple Diamond

Lance Penfield

Baxley-Penfield-Moudy

REALTORS

Residential Volume

Crye*Leike Pro Elite

Realty Residential Volume

Courtney Stott

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Lorie Lemley

Re/Max Elite

Residential Volume

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins Realty

Residential Volume

Lyndria Dillon

iRealty Arkansas

Residential Volume

Rachel Rushing

iRealty Arkansas

Residential Volume

Eric Rytima

CBRPM Group Saline County

Residential Volume

TEAMS

Silver

Gibson/Woods

Heiles

Residential Volume

TEXARKANA BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Double Diamond

Teresa Liepman

Better Homes & Gardens

Real Estate Infinity

Residential Volume

Diamond

Lauren Callaway

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Ashley Goodman

Goodman Group Realty

Residential Volume

Monica Kelley

Coldwell Banker Elite Realtors

Residential Volume

Laura Long

Better Homes & Gardens

Real Estate Infinity

Residential Volume

Virginia Ann Prazak

Raffaelli Realtors/ TXK Homes

Residential Volume

Amy Warren

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume Ruby

Kelly Eaves

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Pam Hollingsworth

Impact Realty Group

Residential Volume

Connie Nations

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Hunter Smith

NextHome Realty Advisors

Residential Volume

Angela Son

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Platinum

Becky Easley

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Shamille L. Hendrix

Texarkana Star

Real Estate, Inc.

Residential Volume

Gloria Hogie

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Jennifer Jones

NextHome Realty Advisors

Residential Volume

Annette Kilker

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Ashly King

NextHome Realty Advisors

Residential Volume

Linda Leach

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Doris Morris

Doris Morris Real Estate

Residential Volume

Daphne Roberson

Real Estate Listing Boutique

Residential Volume

Teri Smith

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Sydney Wicks

Better Homes & Gardens

Real Estate Infinity

Residential Volume

Linda Womble

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume Gold

Lorraine Bell

Raffaelli Realtors/ TXK Homes

Residential Volume

Brian Carrell

NextHome Realty Advisors

Residential Volume

Kristi Crane

Raffaelli Realtors/ TXK Homes

Residential Volume

Karen Hammonds

NextHome Realty Advisors

Residential Volume

Cheryl McCombs

NextHome Realty Advisors

Residential Volume

Crystal McDonald

NextHome Realty Advisors

Residential Volume

Karen Mote

Raffaelli Realtors/ TXK Homes

Residential Volume

Krystal Osborne

NextHome Realty Advisors

Residential Volume

Joseph Sterle

Raffaelli Realtors/ TXK Homes

Residential Volume

Nancy Tate

Century 21 All Points Realty

Residential Volume

Heather Thompson

Better Homes & Gardens

Real Estate Infinity

Residential Volume

Vickie Treece

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Darla Wilf

Trova Real Estate Services

Residential Volume Silver

Michael Donovan

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Creamalia Hopkins

Better Homes & Gardens

Real Estate Infinity

Residential Volume

Margrett Jones

Griffin Realtors

Residential Volume

Georgiana Laney

Re/Max Preferred

Residential Volume

Susan Taylor

Griffin Realtors

Residential Volume

TEAMS Diamond

Team Spradlin

Impact Realty Group LLC

Residential Volume

Team Texarkana

Century 21 All Points Realty

Residential Volume Silver

Hawkins Group

NextHome Realty Advisors

Residential Volume

TRI COUNTY

BOARD OF REALTORS ®

INDIVIDUALS

Double Diamond

Phillip Orr

Coldwell Banker Ozark

Real Estate Company

Residential Volume Diamond

Cody Cooper

United Country Ozark Realty

Residential Volume

Brandy Corter

Re/Max Edge Realty

Residential Volume

David Sharp

United Country Ozark Realty

Residential Volume Ruby

Yvonne Cooper

Video Real Estate Agency

Residential Volume

Jason Rhodes

King-Rhodes & Associates, Inc.

Residential Volume Platinum

Amanda Burns

Re/Max Edge Realty

Residential Volume

Debra D. Galkoski

Southern Pines Realty of the Ozarks, Inc.

Residential Volume

Clifford Dale Ivy

United Country Ozark Realty

Residential Volume

Deanna McGinnes

Century 21 Portfolio SRAB

Residential Volume

Ron Rhondes

King-Rhodes & Associates, Inc.

Residential Volume

John R. Tate

Ozark Gate Realty

Residential Volume

Frances J. West

Video Real Estate Agency

Residential Volume

Gold

Jessie Friend

Coldwell Banker Ozark

Real Estate Company

Residential Volume

Jeffrey Stone

Coldwell Banker Ozark

Real Estate Company

Residential Volume Silver

Brock Conley

Coldwell Banker Ozark

Real Estate Company

Residential Volume

Erin Dail

Coldwell Banker Ozark

Real Estate Company

Residential Volume

TEAMS Platinum

Team Shackleford

Coldwell Banker Ozark

Real Estate Company

Residential Volume Gold

The Wright Team

United Country Moody

Realty, Inc.

Residential Volume

G i n a W a s h b u r n R e a l t o r

( 9 1 8 ) 2 2 1 - 4 2 8 4

B r e n d a M a x w e l l

R e a l t o r

( 4 7 9 ) 7 9 9 - 7 4 3 4

R h o n d a P o r t e r

R e a l t o r

( 4 7 9 ) 9 5 7 - 2 7 2 1

C h a r i t y S t e v e n s

E x e c u t i v e B r o k e r

( 5 0 1 ) 2 4 0 - 9 1 3 2

C o r r i n e S u d a r

P r i n c i p a l B r o k e r / O w n e r

( 4 7 9 ) 2 1 8 - 2 3 9 5

S h e l b y F i n c h

E x e c u t i v e B r o k e r

( 4 7 9 ) 2 3 6 - 2 6 3 9

C h a r l e n e W a d e

R e a l t o r

( 4 7 9 ) 8 3 1 - 8 0 3 1

A s h l e y B o y d

R e a l t o r

( 4 7 9 ) 2 2 1 - 3 1 2 9

L i l y D i g h e r o

R e a l t o r

( 4 7 9 ) 7 9 9 - 7 8 4 2

S h a n n o n W e s t

R e a l t o r

( 4 7 9 ) 2 7 0 - 9 5 1 8

sudar the group

Serving Northwest Arkansas, the River Valley & Eastern Oklahoma, The Sudar Group is one of the state's top producing boutique brokerages. Founded by Doug and Corrine Sudar in 2021, their elite team of agents offer a curated approach to the real estate process.

AY About You is proud to present its 2023 Best Realtors listing, celebrating the best that Arkansas’ real estate market has to offer. The following professionals occupy an industry that we are proud and humbled to admire. For as much as we staple ourselves on being about you, the best Realtors® operate under the same mission, delivering families forever homes while at the same time turning partnerships into lifelong relationships.

AY’s Best Realtors is a list tallied from hundreds of nominations and votes cast by you, our readers. If you're in the market to buy or sell a home, these honorees will get the job done.

Congratulations to this year's honorees!

Tara Dixon

1st Choice Realty, Hot Springs

Kelly Thomason

1st Choice Realty, Hot Springs

Dennis Adkins

Adkins & Associates

Jennifer Adkins

Adkins & Associates

Kassi Bell

Back Porch Realty

Sarah Bailey

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Jessica Baxter

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Lindsey Blaylock

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Rachel Furrer

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Barbara Jordan

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Elisabeth Roedel

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Jessica Rogers

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Will Smith

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Kirt Thomas

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Francesca Tolson

Bailey & Company Real Estate

Joanna White

Bailey & Company Real Estate

eXpert Agents

Bespoke Realty NWA

Marion Aust

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey

Ellie Combs

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey

Natalie Edwards

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey

Mayer Team

Better Homes and Gardens

Real Estate Journey

Burnett Real Estate Team

Burnett Real Estate Team

ConnectRealty.com

Susan Desselle

Capital Sotheby’s International Realty

Melissa Glidden

Capital Sotheby’s International Realty

Chris Marsh

Capital Sotheby’s International Realty

Karen Moulton

Capital Sotheby’s International Realty

Dale Carlton, JD

Carlton Realty, Inc.

David Erstine

CBRE, Fayetteville

Justin DuBar

Century 21

Carla Thomas

Century 21 Parker & Scroggins

Stacy Murry

Century 21 Wright-Pace

Leslie Morris

Chenal Properties

Michelle Sanders

Chenal Properties

Sherry Hardie

Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette, Rogers

Patsy Simmons

Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucett, Rogers

Russell Wren

Coldwell Banker Heritage Homes

Andrea Bakewell

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Becky Biggs

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Mar va Caldwell

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Carolyn Cobb

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

LaKesha Crow

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Amber Cullipher

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Kevin Daugherty

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Eleanor Day

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Whitney Elmore

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Kim Floyd

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Jamie Grantham

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Stacy Hamilton

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Spencer Hawks

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Pat Hitt

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Jean Hurst

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Sarah Kemp

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Robin Miller

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Shelby Norfleet

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Lynn Pangburn

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Allison Pickell

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Inez Reeder

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Angela Rhodes

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Angelica Rogers

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Scott Sandlin

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Kitty Smith

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Linda Willhite

Coldwell Banker RPM Group

Calah Andelman

Collective Real Estate Partners

Jim Irwin

Colliers | Arkansas

Todd Rice

Colliers | Arkansas

A manda Gainey

Concierge Realty NWA

Toby Crawford

Crawford Real Estate and Associates

Annette Gore

Crye-Leike Realtors, Bentonville

Jean Lance

Crye-Leike Realtors, Bentonville

DelRae McGee

Crye-Leike Realtors, Brock Real Estate

McMullen Realty Group

Crye-Leike Realtors, Brock Real Estate

Delton Williams

Crye-Leike Realtors, Gentry

Karol Bailes

Crye-Leike Realtors, Hot Springs

Valerie Moran

Crye-Leike Realtors, Kanis Road

Lisa Holloway-Sugg

Crye-Leike Realtors, Maumelle

Brad Miles

Crye-Leike Realtors, North Little Rock

Roe Team

Crye-Leike Realtors, Pleasant Grove

Doug Gibson

Crye-Leike Realtors, Rogers

Scott Deaton

Deaton Group Realty

Amber Wilson

Donham Realty

Corbin Kidd

Edge Realty

Leah Childress

Elevation Real Estate and Management

Greg Hughes

Elite Realty

Bethany Adams

Engel & Völkers

Lindsey Binz

Engel & Völkers

JoJo Carter

Engel & Völkers

Laura Gerstner

Engel & Völkers

Victoria Killough

Engel & Völkers

Jena Selva

Engel & Völkers

John Selva

Engel & Völkers

Ryan Stephens

Engel & Völkers

David Turner

Engel & Völkers

LD Westendorf

Engel & Völkers

Ron White

Engel & Völkers

Shelli Stine

EPIC Real Estate

Taylor Baker

Equity Partners Realty

Telicia Wade Perry

ERA Doty Real Estate

Beau Durbin

ESQ Realty Group

Christopher Dinwiddie

Exclusive Real Estate Group, LLC

Michael Dang

eXp Realty

Laura Labay

eXp Realty

12 Stones NWA Team

eXp Realty Rogers

Market Edge Realty Team

First Real Estate

Melissa Sims

First Star Realty

William Payne

Flat Fee Realty

James Gibson

Gibson Real Estate

Amber Latimer

Gibson Real Estate

Jared Smith

Gibson Real Estate

Amber Green

Heartfelt Homes

Brian Curtis

HomeQuest Realty

Deanna Crook

Homescape Realty

Hope Hartness

Hope & Co. Realty

Scott Garibay

Hot Springs Realty

Fay Garner

Hot Springs Realty

Tambra Lucas

Hot Springs Realty

Callie Bell

iRealty Arkansas

Sam Carrasquillo

iRealty Arkansas

Tamika Edwards

iRealty Arkansas

Alexia Frederick

iRealty Arkansas

Denise Hipskind

iRealty Arkansas

Christine Johnson

iRealty Arkansas

Kayla Jones

iRealty Arkansas

Jon Kennon

iRealty Arkansas

Kristen Kennon

iRealty Arkansas

Alice King

iRealty Arkansas

Aleisha McIntire

iRealty Arkansas

Brittany Rasdon

iRealty Arkansas

Jennifer Smart

iRealty Arkansas

Blake Sumner

iRealty Arkansas

Elise Thrasher

iRealty Arkansas

Kristi Reed

iRealty Arkansas, Sherwood

John Tate

Ozark Gateway Realty

Donna Carlson

Jon Underhill

Sara Gardner

Jon Underhill

Meg France

Jon Underhill

Belinda Grace

Jon Underhill

Brandy Harp

Jon Underhill

Rennie Jenkins

Jon Underhill

Kelly McConnell

Jon Underhill

Susan Meador

Jon Underhill

Terry Quinn

Jon Underhill

Ashley Schwander

Jon Underhill

Steele Strauss

Jon Underhill

Stephanie Tharp

Jon Underhill

Jon Underhill

Jon Underhill

Catherine Young

Jon Underhill

The Hagan Group

Keller Williams Market Pro

Trina Team

Keller Williams Market Pro Realty

Kerry Ellison

Keller Williams Realty

Becky Finney

Keller Williams Realty

Karl Freeman

Keller Williams Realty

Lolly Honea and Michelle

Honea-Frueauff

Keller Williams Realty

Johnny Mitchum

Keller Williams Realty

Gwendolyn Parker

Keller Williams Realty

Monica and Jeremy Ibison

Keller Williams Realty, Fort Smith

Carl Bell

Keller Williams Realty, Little Rock

Tracy Cryder

Keller Williams Realty, Little Rock

Carly Garland

Keller Williams — Trina Team

Aaron Hawes

Landmark Real Estate and Investment, LLC

Keith Marrs

Legend Realty, Inc.

Tara Helgestad

Lotus Realty

Main St. Team

Main St. Real Estate

Lisa Kraps

McGraw Realtors

Lindsey Roddy

McGraw Realtors

Nikki Scheafbauer

McGraw Realtors

Svetlana Simmons

McGraw Realtors

Suzette Elmore

McKimmey Associates, Realtors

Brooks McRae

McKimmey Associates, Realtors

Stan McLellan Team - Stan McLellan

McLellan & Associates

Real Estate Group

Misty McMullen

McMullen Realty Group

Don McNaughton

McNaughton Real Estate

Shirley Anderson-Jones

Meyers Realty

Gina Myers-Gunderman

Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors

Lizzi Phillips

Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors

Karen Thornton

Michele Phillips & Co. Realtors

Crystal Beatty

Modern Realty Group

Patti Bennett

Modern Realty Group

Amanda Mercer

Modern Realty Group

Tiffany O'Dwyer Modern Realty Group

Aaron Brewer

Mountain Vista Real Estate

Claire Brown

MOVE Realty

NWA ProTeam

NextHome NWA Pro Realty

Brent Owens

Owens Realty and Auction

Jo s e Esparza and Associates

PAK Home Realty

Ray Ellen Pixel Properties

Monica Hale

Plush Homes Co. Realtors

Alicia Averitt Haley

PorchLight Realty

William Michaels

PorchLight Realty

Tonya Perkins

PorchLight Realty

Tim Wang Team

Prestige Management & Realty

Mike Parker

Prime Real Estate & Development

Megan Cain

RE/MAX Elite

Dana Patterson-Sims

RE/MAX Elite

Robin Jones

RE/MAX Elite, Conway

Staci Medlock

RE/MAX Elite, North Little Rock

Jane Hollansworth

RE/MAX of Hot Spring Village

Kimbery Taylor

RE/MAX of Hot Spring Village

Val Hansen

RE/MAX Properties: Val Hansen Team

NWA House Hunters

RE/MAX Real Estate Results

Kim Minor

RE/MAX Real Estate Results,

Bentonville

Bob Dodson

RE/MAX Unlimited

Mac Campbell RE501 Realtor Partners

Lisa Coulter

RE501 Realtor Partners

Mike Hoffman

RE501 Realtor Partners

Joanne Homeyer

RE501 Realtor Partners

Kathy Kane

RE501 Realtor Partners

Lila Pearsall

RE501 Realtor Partners

Allison Phillips

RE501 Realtor Partners

Tiffany Hoffman Smith

RE501 Realtor Partners

Andrew Webre

RE501 Realtor Partners

Jamie Hoffman

River Rock Realty Company -

Hoffman Team

Jay Calhoun

Signature Properties

Diana Dominguez

Signature Properties

Holly Driver

Signature Properties

Andy Newberg

Signature Properties

Tracy Norwood

Signature Properties

Megan Seyler

Signature Properties

Lee Smith

Signature Properties

Mitsy Tharp

Signature Properties

Tracie Walker

Signature Properties

Bill Williams

Signature Properties

DJ Williams

Signature Properties

Lauren Boozman Northey

Sotheby's International Realty

Dee Rodes

Sotheby's International Realty

Gene Tabor

TABOR Real Estate

Sarah Barnett

Taylor Realty Group

Lenore Cottrell

The Brandon Group

Mollie Birch

The Charlotte John Company

Michelle Blalock

The Charlotte John Company

Jonie Burks

The Charlotte John Company

Jenn Cook

The Charlotte John Company

Tami Cooper

The Charlotte John Company

Stacie Corbitt

The Charlotte John Company

Courtney Corwin

The Charlotte John Company

Gayle Doll

The Charlotte John Company

April Findlay

The Charlotte John Company

Mandy Jackson

The Charlotte John Company

Melissa John

The Charlotte John Company

Brandy Jones

The Charlotte John Company

Charlotte John

The Charlotte John Company

Jeff Ledbetter

The Charlotte John Company

Sheryl McKelvey

The Charlotte John Company

Heather McNeil

The Charlotte John Company

Michelle Miller

The Charlotte John Company

Matty Ross

The Charlotte John Company

Jowaun Wright

The Charlotte John Company

Emily Young

The Charlotte John Company

Greg Taylor

The Griffin Company Realtors

Commercial Division in Springdale

David Hall

The Goff Group Real Estate Company

Bob Bushmiaer

The Janet Jones Company

Shawn Clark

The Janet Jones Company

Donna Dailey

The Janet Jones Company

Lynn Dickey

The Janet Jones Company

Sarah Duke

The Janet Jones Company

Conley Golden

The Janet Jones Company

Kelly Johnson

The Janet Jones Company

Casey Jones

The Janet Jones Company

Margaret King

The Janet Jones Company

Susan Reynolds

The Janet Jones Company

Dawn Scott

The Janet Jones Company

Debbie Teague

The Janet Jones Company

Shannon Treece

The Janet Jones Company

Cara Hazlewood

The Property Group

Kristen Hinson

The Property Group

Margaret Bell Hughes

The Property Group

Robert Klein

The Property Group

Maradyth McKenzie

The Property Group

Nate Perry

The Property Group

Abbie Stalnaker

The Property Group

Dana Yates

The Property Group

Hayes Olson

The Property Shoppe

Ashley Boyd

The Sudar Group

Lily Dighero

The Sudar Group

Shelby Finch

The Sudar Group

Brenda Maxwell

The Sudar Group

Rhonda Porter

The Sudar Group

Corrine Sudar

The Sudar Group

Chanty Stevens

The Sudar Group

Charlene Wade

The Sudar Group

Gina Washburn

The Sudar Group

Shannon West

The Sudar Group

Alexis White

The Sudar Group

Ryan Hill

The Virtual Realty Group

Bart Hester

Third Street Realty Services

Tammy Browning

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Team Gallaway

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Sharon Tremor

Trademark HSV Real Estate

Jenny Bledsoe

Trademark Real Estate

Jan Culp

Trademark Real Estate

Dan Schwieder

Twin Oaks Realty

Travis Martin

VineBrook Homes

Beebe Group

Weichert REALTORS -

The Griffin Company

Heather Campbell

Weichert REALTORS -

The Griffin Company

Marcy Chavez

Weichert REALTORS -

The Griffin Company

Yuliya Colvin

Weichert REALTORS -

The Griffin Company

Marcus Necessary

Weichert REALTORS -

The Griffin Company

Beckie Seba

Weichert REALTORS -

The Griffin Company

Jackson Williams

Weichert REALTORS -

The Griffin Company

Sandra Kelley

Weichert REALTORS - Home Source

Amber White White Stone Real Estate

Michelle Heiles, principal broker of Heiles and Associates Realtors and president of the Southeast Arkansas Board of Realtors, is honored to be named the SABR Realtor of the Year.

ASoutheast Arkansas native, Heiles moved back home to Star City in 2018 to open Heiles and Associates Realtors. Her passion for real estate began over 20 years ago, when she started investing in, designing and flipping properties, bringing them back to life for new families and designing custom spaces for individual clients.

Heiles quickly moved from flipping houses to selling them. She holds real estate licenses in Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma, and her desire to learn everything about buying and selling properties even led her to obtain her mortgage license. Heiles still knows her way around a power tool, and though she doesn’t do as many of the renovation projects herself anymore, she still has the knowledge and skill to pull them off. Her design company has its own Facebook page, “It’s about flippin’ time,’ which chronicles flips from beginning to end and features designs from Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Florida.

“It’s a fun way to involve the public for educational purposes – and we can be very entertaining while doing renovations!” Heiles said. “It’s not as easy as it looks on HGTV, and we try to show the reality of taking on these projects, starting with the purchase, the story behind the home and its intended design.”

In summing up what motivates her to keep learning and adding to her tool belt, Heiles put it best: “I love helping people!”

“I love watching a first-time home buyer at the closing table when they realize their dream is actually coming true,” she said. “I’ve also sat with families who have sold their lifelong home and held their hand as they cried. Real estate is a very emotional profession, and listening is probably the most important quality a realtor can have.”

Each transaction comes with its own unique challenges, and Heiles knows how vital it is to be available and empathetic with clients in order to best serve their needs. The Southeast Arkansas Board of Realtors covers a large area encompassing farmland, ranches, timber and small communities; Heiles and her team strive to keep an open line of communication so they can help clients all over the southeast quarter of the state make their dreams into reality.

Heiles also relies on an amazing support system made up of her wonderful team of realtors and supportive husband. Heiles and her husband are both very involved in their respective professions, so they understand the odd hours and demands that come with being there for the people who need them.

Heiles is also a member of the Arkansas Realtors Association Board of Directors as Zone 7 director and an ARPAC contributor. She has previously served on the Arkansas Realtors Assocation’s Convention and Professional Standards Committees. In 2019, she was honored as the Star City Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year.

Heav e n AeSliceeof

There are a lot of debates in life that we mere mortals simply cannot resolve, no matter how hard we try. The meaning of life, for example, or why bad things happen to good people or the sustained, highly lucrative reign of “The Kardashians.”

The supremacy of pizza in the universe, however, is not up for discussion. Not to put too fine a point on it, but pizza is nothing less than the world’s perfect food. Yes, I said it. I’m glad I said it, and I can’t wait to say it again.

With all due respect to the many delightful dishes we have at our disposal, of which I have had my share and then some, none can challenge pizza on the food chain. As versatile as burgers, as regional as barbeque and as portable as tacos, a good pizza pie checks all these boxes and then some.

Think back to some of the best get-togethers of your life – the endof-the-year Little League feed, the scary-movie high school sleepover, the first date in college with your future spouse, or one of a thousand Hogs games. Chances are that pizza was on the menu for most, if not

all, of them — maybe held at your favorite pizzeria to boot.

The pizza pie is the most democratic of all dishes, as easily shared as it is individually customized. Order a steak however you like it done, and it is still a steak. Order a half-and-half pizza, and you are one step closer to world peace.

Pizza is the best don’t-judge-me food. You want six different types of meat? No sweat. You want the garden? Done. You want something fancy and elegant enough to match any special occasion? They are out there. If you want to stock a cheap home buffet, that is out there too.

My relationship with pizza started early in life. We didn’t have any pizza parlors in the small farming community where I grew up, but the school lunch menu did include the delicacy from time to time, its rectangular slices filling a corresponding space on the cafeteria tray. In hindsight, it was probably awful, yet at the time, it was divine.

Growing up, we made our own pizza using the Chef Boyardee Pizza Kit by which, for those who remember, you mixed dough, rolled out the crust and topped it as you pleased. Again, it was not the height of the art form, but I remember making it with my mother with joy, and there

IN THE DEBATE OVER THE PERFECT FOOD THERE’S ONE CLEAR WINNER

were never any leftovers.

In high school, I kicked off a 39-year love affair by taking my wife on our first date, a blind double, to a Pizza Hut two towns over. For years thereafter, the Hut was a source of cheap eats and, once the kids came along, family movie nights. More recently, we have shared favorite slices in favorite places with a future son-in-law and daughters-in-law, and I hope to one day spend time similarly with my grandchildren.

None of this sentimentality substantiates my claim of pizza’s superiority, of course. For that, we have to turn to science where — spoiler alert — there are plenty of opinions to back me up.

“I believe that pizza is the perfect food,” chef Timothy Harlan wrote for Dr. Gourmet. “I say this all the time to patients. Most are shocked by the statement, but it’s true. A couple of slices of pizza have about 60 grams of carbohydrates in the crust. That’s in the range of a dinner portion for most people … There’s a lot of fiber in that crust too — four grams if the dough is made with white flour, and by using whole wheat flour, there’s twice as much.”

Insider reported that, of the 350 million slices of pizza eaten every

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos By JAMIE LEE

second in the U.S., an average slice has 12 grams of protein and is a good source of the lycopene antioxidant found in tomatoes that may lower blood pressure. The New York Times lauded pizza as a hero of the pandemic, thanks to the dish’s affordability and the portability that made it easily delivered.

“Over the first nine months of 2020, the combined revenue of Domino’s and Papa Johns grew so much that it was roughly equivalent to their selling about 30 million more large cheese pizzas than they had the year before,” the paper reported.

So, there you have it: incontrovertible evidence presented in an airtight argument, wrapped in common sense. Now that we have laid this debate to rest, we can celebrate with a double pepperoni and cheese from any of the four glorious pizza parlors that follow. Located in central Arkansas, each one produces a pie that is different from the others. Give them all a try, and see for yourself. When you are done, check out the other pizza restaurants listed on this month’s bucket list. They are as near as Main Street and as great as any pizza joint you remember.

Shotgun Dan’s Pizza

If a restaurant has been serving up slices for almost five decades, there is a good chance that business is doing it right.

No matter how many years guests have been dropping in, a visit to Shotgun Dan’s Pizza still looks, smells and tastes the way it did when Paul Woodard served his first pie in 1976. This record of consistency is one few businesses — restaurant or otherwise — can match, and it is the cornerstone of the company’s success, said second-generation owner and Woodard’s son, Josh.

“I would say from the first 60 days [the restaurant] was open, the pizza has not changed at all,” Josh said. “When you walk into our restaurants, you also get the same smell. We make their dough fresh every day at lunch for the next day, and you’re smelling the yeast that’s in the back, proofing. It’s like walking into a barbeque restaurant and smelling the smoke.”

The pizza is a marvel: a soft dough that is never too bready, a brightly acidic tomato sauce, fresh toppings and a blanket of premium cheese. The company’s tagline — “No Skimpin’” — is apt, manifested in a substantial, satisfying, working-class pie that knows its job and does it well.

“We don’t weigh anything,” Josh said. “We don’t try to cut corners on cheese on the bottom or cheese on the top. We don’t teach to only put on 30 pepperonis because we don’t even count them. You’re trying to build it by sight.”

To say the company’s patrons are loyal is a colossal understatement. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, when many restaurants were wondering how they would pay the bills, the line at the Shotgun Dan’s pickup window coiled twice around the building. The pickup line has yet to abate much, even though dining rooms have opened back up.

“It’s an example of the customers’ loyalty to us and us, in turn, trying to give the loyalty back to them, trying to deliver what they expect each and every time,” Josh said. “We had a really rough month in March 2020, and then, man, from April forward, it just blew up.

“A big part of that is we were offering something that’s reheatable. It’s deliverable. Leftovers are good the next morning; in fact, some people believe it’s even better for breakfast the next day. You get a steak home after it’s traveled 20 minutes, and it’s just not the same.”

The Loaded Barrel is the way to go here, offering a signature combination of beef, sausage, pepperoni, onion, green pepper and mushrooms. It is a house favorite for a reason. There are not one, but two all-meat varieties and even a chicken-and-bacon number that uses alfredo sauce in place of marinara.

Diners can also build their own pies by choosing from eight meats and a dozen fruits and veggies, including polarizing pineapple. For the record, Woodard’s in the pro-pineapple camp, which strikes a nerve among some pizza nerds.

“If I’m making the pizza and I’m building it custom, it’s gonna be pepperoni, Canadian bacon, jalapeno and pineapple,” he said. “I know that’s controversial. We’ve made Facebook posts about it before, and it’s pretty fun to do a poll and let people kind of rip and roar about it.”

“I would say from the first 60 days [the restaurant] was open, the pizza has not changed at all.”

U.S. Pizza Co.

There is something to be said for sticking to your guns, and that is exactly what Little Rock-based U.S. Pizza Co. has done for 51 years. From its original improvised space in Levy, the chain has adhered to a gospel of thin-crust pizza pies made from scratch just so. While the combinations to be had are many – one of the larger pizza menus around, in fact – do not look for a hand-tossed, pan, Detroitstyle or foldable New York versions. Here, diners take the original cracker-thin base (available gluten-free), or they don’t take it at all.

“It’s just a really simple product,” said Mark Lukas, franchisee. “I think because we have stuck to just thin crust only, we have to make sure that we’re doing it the right way. We’re sticking to what we know and what we do best, and it has proven to sustain us this long.”

Lukas started as a waiter for the company. A few years ago, he heard the chain was branching into franchising, and he now owns the sprawling Chenal location across the street from the Promenade at Chenal. Yet even he cannot get a wild hair one day and create something in the kitchen that does not meet the brand standard — not that he really wants to do that anyway, given the product’s intensely loyal following.

“One story, a guy from Dallas told me years ago,” Lukas said. “He said when he found out he was going to Memphis for work, the first thing that crossed his mind was stopping at U.S. Pizza. He texted his wife after he got there, and she was so

jealous of the fact that she’s wasn’t with him. It’s a treat for a lot of people.”

The diversity of U.S. Pizza’s menu is such that it is hard to imagine any reasonable combination a patron could want that is not doable. There are 25 combo pizzas to choose from, counting the five breakfast varieties available on weekends, plus a roster of more than 40 individual options that run from familiar to exotic. Want to combine corned beef, hardboiled eggs and Swiss; anchovy, roasted garlic and feta; or genoa salami, artichoke hearts and pepper jack? This is the place.

“I am traditional,” Lukas said. “I love the supreme. When I want to go a little nontraditional, I’ll get Dave’s Favorite. To me, it’s the best pizza on our menu.”

U.S. Pizza is equally noteworthy for its signature house salad dressing that to many people is every bit the restaurant’s calling card as the pizza pies. The concoction, about 12 gallons of which are made fresh and consumed daily, Lukas said, is also an Arkansas citizenship test of sorts, on par with properly calling the Hogs or pronouncing Rodney Parham correctly. Real Arkansans know it is creamy Italian; call it ranch, and it shows you’re not from around here.

“It’s funny. You’ll have a table come in, and one orders ranch, one orders creamy Italian, one orders house dressing. We’re like, ‘You got it,’” Lukas said. “Whatever they call it, we don’t argue anymore. We know what they want.”

U.S. Pizza Co. – Chenal

12 Rahling Circle, Little Rock uspizzaco.net

“We’re sticking to what we know and what we do best, and it has proven to sustain us this long.”

Arkansas is a land that constantly surprises outsiders, be it with the beauty of its outdoors, the warmth of its people or the richness of its cuisine. So when Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports’ massively popular One Bite Pizza Reviews came to Hot Springs during racing season this year, locals could be sure he was going to find something he did not expect. That something was Deluca’s Pizzeria.

Portnoy, whose YouTube pizza reviews are followed by millions of hardcore pizza lovers worldwide, was blown away by owner Anthony Valinoti’s eatery, awarding it a score of 8.7 out of 10. (For the One Bite uninitiated, 8.7 is a spectacular score. A mere handful have been 9s, and nobody scores a 10.)

“This is the real deal,” Portnoy said in the video while Valinoti rejoiced behind him. Later, he told the local news, “[Deluca’s] blew my socks off. It can compete with anybody in the country.”

Just like the Buffalo River, the Ouachita National Forest or the skies over Stuttgart in November, another great thing Arkansans already knew about was out there for the world, and the world responded. After Portnoy’s anointing, Deluca’s business doubled overnight. Getting a table was already challenging at peak times but became nearly impossible as One Bite fans came to town for the

Deluca’s Pizzeria

sole purpose of tasting the restaurant’s pies for themselves.

“Complete and total insanity,” Valinoti said. “We had people come from Seattle, New York, California. We had someone come from Canada, which was the craziest thing to me. It was incredible.”

The secret behind Valinoti’s masterpieces is the very essence of simple-but-not-easy. Making dough fresh every day and marrying it with the finest in oil, toppings and cheese are time-tested strategies, and few have mastered them like Deluca’s. The result is a pie unlike anything to be had in Arkansas or most other places, for that matter. Any of the pies on the menu are life-changing. To get the Portnoy experience, order the Sidetown.

In a relatively short time, Deluca’s has rocketed from best-kept secret to Top 50 in the U.S. status, and that is just one of the coast-to-coast accolades that clog the restaurant’s trophy case. The ongoing acclaim leaves the gregarious Valinoti at a loss for words when he knows his restaurant is being mentioned in the same breath as the cathedrals of pizza back home in his native New York.

“It’s hard to wrap your head around,” he said. “There’s hallowed places that I always believed are a hundred times better, that I could never, ever touch. I tell people to eat there, and they come back and go, ‘There’s really no difference; yours is right up there with them.’

“When I started, I just wanted to make the best pizza in the world. That was my intention. That was what I was going to go out and try to attain. I tell you what, man, this is pretty funny, but that might not have been that crazy of a statement.”

Deluca’s Pizzeria

833 Central Ave., Hot Springs delucaspizza.net

“When I started, I just wanted to make the best pizza in the world.”

Old Mill Pizza

One of the best things about pizza is the neighborhood joints they spring from. They are the kind of places that always have a welcoming seat and where the aromas of the kitchen lend an ambiance of familiarity and home. Having opened in mid-2020, Old Mill Pizza is far from the oldest restaurant on this list, but the small North Little Rock labor of love has already earned its stripes in the local marketplace by establishing a base of regulars and winning new fans, as well.

At the heart of the operation is co-owner Jake Lasiter, who opened the place with business partner Joe Adams. Lasiter is a born host who is as adept at telling a story as he is at bringing a delicious pizza pie to life. Spend a few minutes in his orbit, and guests may feel like they have known him forever.

“Everybody likes different kinds of pie,” he said. “Here’s what I’d say about ours: It’s simple. It’s tasty. It goes great with beer.”

Nowhere does Lasiter’s sense of humor come through more clearly than on the menu, which, here and there, contains a sly media reference for the baby boomer and Gen X crowd. The meat lover’s combination pie is named the Rob Reiner, for example, and there is also the Spicoli, a double cheese and sausage number. If you know, you know.

Another specialty of the house, the smoked turkey and jalapeno-laced Harvey Special, has an even more obscure backstory that Lasiter is quick to share.

“That’s my go-to,” he said. “A guy named Harvey Gardner was my manager at U.S. Pizza in 1992 on Rodney Parham, and that’s the pizza he invented. Why no one else in town ever put that on a menu, I don’t know.”

At this, Lasiter gives off another of his hearty laughs. It is just the kind of inside joke upon which neighborhood pizzerias are built, along with cold beer and a warm welcome. That, he said, is precisely what Old Mill aspires to be and what it is quickly becoming.

“I like seeing people come in and knowing that we’re making them happy with the food and with the vibe and the atmosphere and by calling them by name,” he said. “If you come in often enough, we’re going to know your name, and if you come in even more often, we’re going to know you right down to what kind of beer you drink.”

Old Mill Pizza

4000 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock oldmillpizzanlr.com

“Everybody likes different kinds of pie. Here’s what I’d say about ours: It’s simple. It’s tasty. It goes great with beer.”

l 1812 Pizza Company

Jonesboro, Manila, Paragould

l American Pie Pizza

Maumelle, Little Rock, North Little Rock

l Bear’s Den Pizza

Conway

l Bernard Pizza Co.

Ward

l Big Banjo Pizza

Pine Bluff

l Cavanaugh Pizza

Fort Smith

l Certified Pies

Little Rock

l Chelsea’s Corner Cafe

Eureka Springs

l Choo Choo's Pizza Rogers

l Damgoode Pies

Fayetteville, Little Rock

l Deluca’s Pizzeria

Hot Springs

l Different Dough Pizza Co.

Bryant

l Fox’s Pizza Den

Lake Village

l Geraldi’s

Fayetteville

l Grady’s Pizza & Subs

Little Rock

l Grateful Head

Hot Springs

l Gusano’s Chicago Style

Pizzeria

Various Locations

l Iriana’s Pizza

Little Rock

l Jim’s Razorback Pizza

Various Locations

Pizza ’s

AY ARKANSAS Bucket List

PRESENTED BY

l Larry’s Pizza

Various Locations

l Lazzari Italian Oven

Jonesboro

l Loca Luna

Little Rock

l Lost Pizza Co. Benton, Jonesboro

l MoJo’s Hometown Pizza

Greenbrier

l Old Mill Pizza North Little Rock

l Oven & Tap Bentonville

l Papa’s Pub & Pizzaria

Fort Smith

l Paxton’s Bryant

l Pedalers Pub

Bentonville

l Pizza Cafe

Little Rock

l Pizza Cafe West

Little Rock

l Pizza Chef

Jonesboro

l Pizza D’Action

Little Rock

l Pizzeria Ruby

Springdale

l Priato Pizzeria

Bentonville

l Raduno Brick Oven and Barroom

Little Rock

l Rebel Time Out Hardy

l Rocky’s Corner

Hot Springs

l Roper’s Restaurant Beebe, Greenbrier

l Sam’s Pizza Hot Springs

l Sauced Bar and Oven Little Rock

l Shotgun Dan’s Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood

l SQZBX Brewery & Pizza

Hot Springs

l Steffey’s Pizza

Lavaca

l Stella’s Brick Oven Pizzeria and Bistro

Batesville

l The Owl Pizza & Pub

McGehee

l The Pizza Den Hoxie

l The Pizzeria

Little Rock

l Tim’s Pizza

Fayetteville

l Tommy’s Famous Mountian View

l Upper Crust Pizza Co. Jonesboro

l US Pizza Co. Bryant, Little Rock, North Little Rock

l Valhalla :: Kitchen + Bar Benton

l Vino’s Little Rock

l WOOD | STONE Pizza + Bar

Fayetteville

l ZAZA

Conway, Little Rock

3 Check off the Pizza Food list as you visit a small sample of our favorite places.

The Grumpy Rabbit small town from a BIG

FLAVORS

By JAMIE LEE // Photos By JAMIE LEE

Bright colors meet bold favors at The Grumpy Rabbit.

Welcome to Lonoke, population around 4,100. It is a polite and welcoming area where quaint sidewalks and mom-and-pop businesses line Main Street, friendly locals give you a wave, and everyone knows their neighbors.

But do not let the small-town setting fool you; there is a restaurant here serving up something special. The Grumpy Rabbit, housed in a downtown space, opened its doors in January 2021 and has been offering a first-class dining experience that has created a lot of buzz in the area food scene ever since.

Lonoke native Gina Wiertelak, owner and operator, brought the restaurant to its antique home, a building dating back to 1905, with no idea what she was getting into.

“It’s been an adventure. I’ve learned so much,” she said. “The renovation took 13 months. We hauled seven and a half tons of waste to the dump. Lonoke was my go-to first for anything we needed. Our flooring guy is from here. The architect and designer are also from Lonoke. We had so many people helping us out. It really was a community project.”

The idea for Grumpy Rabbit was born of a desire to create a space for locals and visitors to share a meal and make connections. Gina and her husband, Jim, envisioned the restaurant as an anchor for revitalization that would draw more foot traffic to historic downtown Lonoke. Gina said she wanted to do something that would give back to her community and attract new investment and jobs.

“I grew up six miles south of Lonoke at the end of a dirt road,” Gina said. “We used to come to town on Saturdays when I was younger and shop and see everyone. Then I noticed, all through the years when I would come back home, I would see another store boarded up. It made me sad.

“I always said, ‘If I can ever come back home, I want to do something to try to help revitalize Lonoke.’”

It took a while – 41 years to be exact, during which time she lived in Little Rock and Memphis – but Wiertelak finally got a chance to make good on her long-held promise when she moved back to town to be closer to her father.

“I remember telling the architect and the contractor when we were initially meeting, ‘It’s not that I want to make money with this. I would like to recoup our investment someday and just break even. I just want the jobs and the people to come to Lonoke,’” she said. “It just feels good.”

Wiertelak did not come from a restaurant background and spent her career in the corporate world. She only had a desire to open something that would bring value to her community. What she got was a business that not only reflects the love she has for her hometown, but the family bonds that run deep there. Laura Park is the marketing director for The Grumpy Rabbit and Gina’s first cousin.

“We have always been best friends and more like sisters than cousins,” Park said. “I coached high school volleyball and softball for 36 years in Lonoke and retired last August. Gina’s main goal was to help the community with having a place for people to come and work. She had a survey done with a company and asked what local people would want, and many said they wanted a nicer place to eat.”

Enter Alain Piraux, restaurant consultant, a professional with a resume that stretches from Little Rock to Tokyo and Africa. As former executive chef, food and beverage director, and hotel manager for Ritz-Carlton Hotels who apprenticed at a two-star Michelin restaurant in Paris, Piraux is, at first blush, as out of place in Lonoke as the dream of Grumpy Rabbit once seemed.

“I met Gina through her chef,” he said. “At the time, he was a chef at the Capital Hotel. He called me with concerns about them opening on time and asked me to come and look at the restaurant. He wanted to show me where he would be working. When I came, Gina offered me a job.”

Piraux was only supposed to be with the restaurant for three months but remains there today, as does the Grumpy Rabbit itself, more successful and popular than ever.

“We have about 60 percent locals and 40 percent out-of-towners, some from Cabot and the Little Rock area,” he said. “We want to make everyone feel comfortable when they open the door. We are not too fancy; we aren’t too casual.”

“It’s a great place if you want someplace to come and have a drink, but then you can also bring your whole family and sit down for a nice supper,” Park said. “We have couples that come dressed up for prom, all types of family events, engagements — pretty much anything. Everyone is welcome.”

The Grumpy Rabbit is all about local. Wiertelak sources as much locally as she can, from ingredients to furnishings. She has hired local craftsmen and artists for the decor and is a familiar face at area farmers markets. Even the name of the place has local connections.

“Gina played basketball in junior high and high school in Lonoke and was a key member of the state championship basketball team in 1977. That is the only state championship in basketball the girls have ever won,” Park said. “The mascot is the Jackrabbits. She has always supported them, even when she was living away. The rabbit part of the name comes from that. Grumpy comes from her husband because that is his grandpa name.”

Walking into the restaurant, patrons are immediately greeted with bright and vibrant colors. The decor is fun and whimsical. Mixed in are refurbished items, many from the original building. There are two dining rooms, upstairs and downstairs. From the second-story dining room, diners can see the original Lonoke train depot. Outside features a two-story

patio surrounded by colorful murals and featuring TVs that make it a great place to watch a game.

The Grumpy Rabbit menu leans into American dishes with a local twist expressed in frequently changing lunch and dinner specials and unique takes on classic favorites. Top sellers are the Grumpy Burger and the blackened redfish, the latter being served with a crawfish and Creole tomato cream sauce spooned over cheddar house grits. The fish is seasoned to perfection — not overly spicy for those who do not care for spice, but just enough to have a Cajun flavor that is about as authentic as it gets. The grits are creamy, and the cream sauce is decadent with crawfish mixed in.

The Grumpy Burger is a classic burger with a homemade seasoned patty topped with melted American cheese and smoky, local bacon. The brioche bun is fresh and hearty enough to support the burger without falling apart, while the garlic aioli is the ideal condiment. It is served with fresh, hand-cut fries.

And as if food this good in a place this remote is not enough to make foodies' heads spin, the unquestioned specialty of the house – tater tots –

The restaurant brought new life to Lonoke's downtown.

defines culinary quirkiness.

“The No. 1 thing on the menu that Gina will never change is the tater tots. That was something her mother made, and [Gina’s] two dogs are even named Tater and Tot,” Park said.

The tots are an appetizer – fried, smashed and served with a choice of ketchup, cheese sauce, garlic aioli, spicy ketchup, ranch or fry sauce. A standard order comes with three sauces, but if diners cannot decide, they can upsell and get all six. The tots come out crispy and hot. They are meant to be shared — if patrons are in a generous mood.

Desserts are not forgotten on the menu, and the award-winning carrot cake can make fans of those who do not like carrot cake. This homemade gem is not too spicy, not too sweet and served with a delicious cream cheese frosting topped with a caramel drizzle and crowned with local pecans. It deserves all the praise.

Also be on the lookout for Emma’s OldFashioned strawberry shortcake, a dessert special the day AY visited. Made with sweet, whipped cream, local strawberries and a homemade biscuit, it is sure to join the carrot cake as a favorite of customers.

Hospitality and customer service accom-

pany the great food. Piraux says Wiertelak is a natural at anticipating her customers’ needs, as seen through thoughtful touches such as installing a bike rack out front and providing a basket of toys to help soothe fussy toddlers.

“Gina is great at that. She’s always ahead of things that our guests may need,” he said. “She wants everyone to leave happy.”

“Gina wants to talk to every table,” Park said. “We get a lot of out-of-towners that come in. She wants to meet them and hear their stories. She is appreciative of every person that walks through our doors, whether it’s the local who comes in for lunch every day or the person just passing through. She wants to serve others and has always been that type of person.”

The Grumpy Rabbit is a testament to a true community spirit. By using local ingredients and artisans, Wiertelak has created an authentic hometown establishment for the community to be proud of and have a first-class dining experience. Their slogan is ‘Come grumpy. Leave happy,’ and anyone who eats here should leave with a smile on their face and a plan to return. It is worth the drive from anywhere.

The Grumpy Rabbit features multiple spaces to suit any mood.

The restaurant's entrees, desserts and appetizers have all drawn rave reviews.

Coffee WARS

Coffee WARS

Arkansas coffee boom takes drive-thrus by storm

Most folks have a routine punctuated by caffeine. From coffee to tea and soda to energy drinks, everyone has their go-to drink. Coffee drinkers know the one — the one the local coffee shop knows before they even know the patron’s name.

Just as each person likely has a go-to drink, everyone probably has a go-to place, as well. Luckily for caffeine lovers, there is nothing short of a coffee boom happening across The Natural State, from Onyx Coffee Lab in Rogers to Fidel & Co. Coffee Roasters in east Little Rock.

But what about the drive-thru options? The rise of Scooter’s? Or 7 Brew?

We decided to dive into the drive-thru craze headfirst, exploring drink options and unraveling the experience for readers firsthand. The verdict? There is room for every type of caffeinated beverage and every way to purchase it in Arkansas.

By BECCA BONA // Photos submitted

The Phenomenon: 7 BREW

The first 7 Brew opened its driving lanes in Rogers in 2017. Oregon native Ron Crume believed northwest Arkansas was the ideal environment to start a coffee operation. He knew beans sporting West Coast vibes would do well in the area, but the idea to offer it to customers in a fast, convenient way while cultivating kindness came later.

The 7 Brew craze didn’t take long to catch fire and has been reaching new heights ever since, expanding across the Midwest all the way to the East Coast. The chain is about convenience, but it is convenience dripping in experience. Those who haven’t driven through one yet you should give it a try.

Upon entering the queue, guests met with fun colors, bright lights, contagious smiles and nonstop music. The service is friendly, efficient and, brace yourself, carried out by actual humans who actually care about what goes in your cup.

Brandon Sebald is the owner of multiple locations of 7 Brew in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Missouri. A former franchisee owner of Planet Fitness, Sebald decided to throw his hat into the 7 Brew arena not only because he could see the electricity of the brand itself, but also because he was a customer first.

“I knew what the brand was about. It was a great product, a great experience, plus it’s super-fast customer service,” he said. “What brought me to franchising in general is you find a really great brand that’s scalable, like 7 Brew, and it’s centered around coffee and energy drinks. So it’s something that everybody knows. There’s minimal [customer] education around it.”

As soon as he discovered that 7 Brew was making a push to franchise, Sebald set out to tour one of the “stands,” as they are called. After that, he was hooked.

“I said, ‘Game over. I’m doing this brand, so long as they’ll let me be a part of it,’” he said.

Part of the contagiousness of the brand is the hip vibe. It skews young, and although there is definitely something on the menu for anyone, regardless of age or even how they prefer to enjoy their caffeinated (or noncaffeinated) beverages, the attendant “Brew Crew” tends to be in their 20s.

“They’re in there. The music is playing. They’re having a

good time serving customers, and it’s all about kindness,” Sebald said. “Our employees just love it. I mean, they’re just fanatical about putting smiles on people’s faces.”

Diners are greeted by one Brew Crew member who walks guests through the menu and takes their orders. You’re then met by another individual who takes the payment. Finally, guests will likely interact with a completely different team member who hands out the special, one-of-a-kind, customized drink.

Sebald said each 7 Brew location can sometimes employ up to 40 or 50 people and these touchstone face-to-face interactions with Brew Crew members are all part of the experience. Conversations included, you’re still going to be in and out of the line incredibly fast.

“You go through there, and you are automatically getting a smile for your day, and you’re off on your way,” Sebald said. “Even if there’s 20 cars in there, you know that they’re going to be fast. I mean, our ticket times are industry-best in under four minutes.”

This personal touch is welcomed, especially for newcomers looking to navigate the menu for the first time.

“We literally have 20,000 different combinations,” Sebald said.

To help with the almost endless choices, the menu sports the seven OG Faves, which include the chain’s most popular coffee drink, the Blondie, a caramel and vanilla espresso-based breve.

There are also Seven Energy options, Seven Fizzes (sparkling water infused with any flavor), teas, smoothies and shakes. The best part? Guests can make each drink their own, regardless of their health journeys and whether they drink caffeine or not.

“I’ve got friends who are keto or paleo or this or that, and the menu is customizable for everybody,” Sebald said. “That’s something I really appreciate because I like to drink pretty clean ingredients myself too.”

And while energy drinks themselves aren’t a new way to consume caffeine, they are having a bit of a heyday in 2023. Some people claim they can enjoy energy drinks without the jitters that tend to come with traditional coffee-based or espresso-based

“Our employees just love it. I mean, they’re just fanatical about putting smiles on people’s faces.”

- Brandon Sebold

drinks. Others who do not enjoy coffee- or espresso-flavored drinks, even with all the syrups and milks available to give it a smoother taste, reach for energy drinks. Either way, 7 Brew is on top of the trend, even creating its own branded energy drink.

“We were using Red Bull for forever, and then we tested the Seven Energy, and it was a hit,” Sebald said. “The Seven Energy pairs better because it doesn’t have a certain aftertaste, so we can make it into any flavor that we want. Having our own brand of energy drink on the menu makes it a lot easier for the customization piece.”

The Transplant: SCOOTER’S

For those looking to scoot in and scoot out, Scooter’s Coffee has a space in their drive-thru. The flagship location was founded in Bellevue, Nebraska, in 1998 by co-founders Don and Linda Eckles. Scooter’s prides itself on the relationships they have cultivated over time with their selected coffee growers, baristas and customers alike.

The first Arkansas location opened in 2018, when Crystal Ude-Stall and her husband, Alan Stall, took the plunge into bringing a little bit of the Cornhusker State to the Natural State. When Alan retired from the car business back in Nebraska, the two found themselves visiting Arkansas quite a bit.

“We loved coming down here and visiting our friends, who are also our business partners now,” Crystal said. Once the couple decided they wanted to make the move down South, they began to toy with the idea of a coffee operation. They didn’t have farther to look than the Scooter’s model.

“We were very familiar with Scooter’s and knew how great it was,” Crystal said.

The couple co-owns three locations in Northwest Arkansas, including their flagship on 206 S. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville. Currently nearly a dozen Scooter’s locations can be found across Arkansas from Van Buren to Maumelle.

Opening a coffee shop in NWA might have seemed like a gamble to an outsider looking in, but the transplants knew what they were doing. Even though there are quite a few delicious options for patrons to purchase coffee, Scooter’s has a slightly different angle to offer patrons beyond quality coffee provided amazingly fast.

“All of our beans are roasted in Omaha,” Crystal explained. “Scooter’s purchases directly from the coffee farmer, so there is no middleman. This is great for the farmer, because they make more money and grow more coffee, and we get the best coffee.

The formula is proven by the company’s considerable growth. Boasting just 30 locations at the beginning of this year, 7 Brew has over 100 stands now and will likely have close to 200 by the end of the year. Will it take over traditional, sit-down coffee shops? Sebald doesn’t think so.

“There’s plenty of space for both,” Sebald said. “You might want an environment to be able to sit down, plug into Wi-Fi and just be there for hours. With us, we’re the other end of the spectrum, where it’s all about speed.”

“Our coffee beans and espresso beans are superior. We roast our beans low and slow so you don’t get that bitter taste. It’s very smooth.”

Scooter’s expansions have taken the brand all across the Midwest and to both coasts — and the expansion is not likely to stop anytime soon.

“They just opened about their 676th location,” Crystal said. “They could be at 1,000 by the end of this year. There are so many locations now across the U.S. It’s just an awesome company. It started like a family, and it still kind of feels like that.”

“Scooter’s purchases directly from the coffee farmer, so there is no middleman. This is great for the farmer, because they make more money and grow more coffee, and we get the best coffee.”

- Crystal Ude-Stall

Even with the push to expand, however, Crystal said she and her husband are not likely to open any more Sooter’s locations. The three stores they currently operate keep them busy enough.

“The quick-service industry is not easy. Trying to find employees and keep good employees since COVID, as everybody always says, is tough,” Crystal said. “We’ve got good teams at all of our stores.”

Scooter’s locations tend to find a niche in their local community, and the couple’s three Arkansas locations are no exception. They have plenty of local fans, including those from the nearby Walmart headquarters.

“We definitely have a lot of regulars,” Crystal said. “Sometimes they can pull up and start talking, and we’ve already got their drink halfway made because we’ve already got their orders. When school is in session, we are busier, of course. Vacation and summer time slows us down a bit.”

The menu alone is a draw enough for anyone to become a fan of the coffee chain. Scooter’s has plenty to choose from, from delicious coffee to flavored espresso drinks and energy drinks, as well as freshly baked pastry options. By

fresh baked, they mean fresh baked.

“All our pastries are made at Omaha in the bakery, and they only have a shelf life of two days,” Crystal explained. “Our everything bagel sandwich is the most popular.”

As far as beverages go, the menu is relatively streamlined and approachable. The Caramelicious is the most popular item on the menu, made with an espresso base, creamy caramel sauce and a choice of milk. Infusions — drinks made with Scooter’s own branded energy drink — are also popular.

“A lot of times, people are at first intimidated,” Alan said. “They really don’t know what they want. Our employees are trained, if there’s a hesitation, to ask, ‘What kind of flavors are you looking for?’ ‘Would you like that hot, iced, or blended?’ We help you out at the window.”

Alan said it best: “At Scooter’s we are amazing people serving amazing coffee, amazingly fast.”

The O.G.: GUILLERMO’S

Astaple in Little Rock, Guillermo’s Gourmet Coffee first entered the scene in 2006 when then-owner Hans Oliver was dedicated to roasting the perfect coffee bean. The coffee shop has changed hands more than a few times since then. However the dedication to provide the best cup of coffee remains at the forefront.

Located in the Village strip mall in west Little Rock, drivers could almost miss the front of the shop. Upon entering, you’re met with a cozy, inviting interior that begs them to sit and stay for a while.

On a recent Tuesday, every single chair was occupied by 9:05 a.m. Lindsey Kendrick, director of retail operations, said.

“I feel like the shop itself has a really good vibe to it,” she added. A lot of people ask if this volume is normal for a Tuesday, but we continuously have a bustle going on.”

At Guillermo’s, guests can enjoy coffee and espresso drinks, as well as teas, lemonades and smoothies. The shop is a wholesale bean provider, so not only do they have tasty, fresh beans at the shop, but they also provide them to other local shops. Plus, if guests find a particular roast they prefer, they can take the beans home with them, as well.

“We create our own seasonal menus,” Kendrick said. “Right now, on our summer menu, I would say the coconut lavender latte is one of the most popular drinks. Plus, we try to have things for non-coffee drinkers, like our honeysuckle iced tea.”

For those who are hungry, there are pastries and other delights locally sourced from Community Bakery and the Croissanterie. More substantial items include breakfast burritos, quiches and sandwiches.

The influx of drive-thru coffee options has not affected Guiller-

“We know a lot of our regulars by name. We know a lot of regulars by their drink.“

- Lindsey Kendrick

mo’s so far, Kendrick said, adding that there are regulars, and then there are Guillermo’s regulars.

“A lot of our regulars will jokingly talk about our competition, but we haven’t seen any drastic margins happen because of them,” she said. “I just feel like you go to 7 Brew for a certain reason and you go to Guillermo’s for a certain reason.

“I really just think that we have such a sense of community. We have a lot of the same people come every day. It’s kind of like your hometown Cheers. We know a lot of our regulars by name. We know a lot of regulars by their drink. We’ll know their drink before we know their name.

“I think that I would just want them to know that we’ve got a little something for everybody, coffee drinkers and non alike. We’re more than willing to explore options for those who don’t know what they might like to try.”

The Future: PETTAWAY COFFEE

Perched on the corner of Pettaway Square on 21st Street in downtown Little Rock, Pettaway Coffee recently opened its doors this past summer. Coowner and developer Michael Orndorff, the brains behind the Pettaway Square revitalization project, lives and works in the area. He promised his neighbors there would be a coffee shop when he first broke ground on Pettaway Square, and when a few different tenants fell through, he kept that promise by getting involved himself.

Luckily, Orndorff was connected to Aaron Long, former owner of the now-closed Revival Coffee in the Regions Bank Building and a coffee consultant. Orndorff will be the first to tell you that Long is the brains behind the coffee menu.

“Aaron is a coffee nerd. He wants you to really enjoy the coffee,” Orndorff said.

The shop offers coffee and espresso drinks, plus teas. It is also fast becoming known as one of the best places to work remotely in Little Rock. The store is also at the forefront of the non-alcoholic movement in the city, making it one of the first establishments to take mocktails to a whole new level.

As far as the drive-thru craze, Orndorff knows there is a place for that, but there is also a place for the Pettaway Coffees of the world too.

“If you’re in a hurry, a drive-thru works,” he said, “but we’re a third place model. We’re not offering convenience; we’re offering experience.

“We’re not offering convenience; we’re offering experience.”

- Michael Orndorff

How ‘Bout Them Apples?

Treat yourself to a sweet and satisfying dessert

By AMY GRAMLICH // Photos By AMY GRAMLICH

What better way to celebrate the autumnal season than by cozying up to a delicious apple crumble? This classic dessert is a crowd-pleaser that marries the sweetness and tartness of baked apples of different varieties with the crunch of a buttery topping.

While there are many different types of crisp and crumble desserts, apple crumble is undoubtedly a great choice for fall. The warmth of cinnamon and nutmeg evokes the

Best Types of Apples for Apple Crumble

The choice of apples is crucial to achieving the best balance of sweetness and tartness in a crumble dessert. While most any type of apple will work in this dessert, some varieties are better for baking than others. A mixture of apple varieties works very well.

• Granny Smith apples are a popular choice for apple crisp due to their tartness and firm texture, which holds up well during baking. They also pair well with the warm spices used in the topping.

• Honeycrisp apples are known for their crisp and juicy texture, as well as their natural sweetness. They are a bit sweeter than Granny Smith apples, so using them in combination with tart apples such as Granny Smith creates a wonderful balance of flavors.

• Other options include Braeburn and Gala apples which boast a firm texture and a good balance of sweetness and tartness.

flavors of the season. Whether enjoyed as is or topped with vanilla ice cream, apple crumble is a fall dessert that is sure to warm the heart and soul.

Not only is this dessert easy to make, but it also fills the air with the warm and inviting aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg. Whether one is hosting a gathering or simply craving a sweet treat on a chilly evening, apple crumble is the perfect indulgent dessert.

Best Knives for Chopping Apples

When it comes to chopping apples, using the right knife can make all the difference. Different professional and home chefs have varying preferences when it comes to choosing knives for fruit.

• A chef’s knife is a great all-purpose option for chopping apples since it has a sharp, tapered blade, making it easy to glide through the flesh of fruit.

• A paring knife is another good option, especially for smaller apples. The bird’s beak paring knife is a popular choice because it handles the curves of the apples well with its concave blade.

• Some people opt to use a serrated knife for apples, as the teeth of the blade grip the skin and make it easier to slice through the fruit.

• A fruit-and-vegetable peeler is preferred by some for peeling the skin of the apples. However, a paring knife can easily take the skin off apples, as well.

In the end, the best knife for apples is one that is comfortable in the hand and has a sturdy handle.

A Proper Chop

When preparing apples for apple crisp, it is important to cut the fruit into consistent, small squares to ensure even baking and a uniform texture.

Start by washing and peeling the apples. Afterward, core them and slice them into thin wedges. Next, stack the wedges and cut them into small, bite-sized cubes. Make sure all the apple pieces are roughly the same size to prevent some from becoming mushy while others remain hard and undercooked.

If you are cutting the apples ahead of time, be sure to toss them with some lemon juice to prevent browning before proceeding.

The Perfect Build

Apple crumbles can be prepared in varying types of baking pans with varying depths. Layering a thin apple filling ensures the apples cook evenly and the crumble topping does not become too brown or burnt from overbaking. Layering apples in a thin, even layer also allows the heat to penetrate the fruit more effectively, resulting in a perfectly baked filling that is tender and juicy.

Another benefit of layering a thin apple filling is it provides better control of the mix of apples in each area of the pan, which helps balance the tartness and sweetness. This is especially important when using different types of apples, since some varieties are naturally sweeter or more tart than others. By layering the apples in a thin layer, you can ensure that each serving includes a blend of the different apples and spices.

Apple Crumble Topping

The crumb topping is just as important as the filling. Oats are a popular ingredient to use when making crumble topping, but that is not the only option. For those who prefer a topping without oats, a simple crumble made with flour, sugar and butter can be just as delicious.

After following the steps for the crumble mixture, evenly top the apple filling with the coarse crumbs and bake until golden brown and bubbly. This type of crumble topping is ideal for those who prefer a more buttery and crunchy texture. A bonus is this type of crumb topping pairs well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients

Apple filling

4-5 medium to large apples

1 tablespoon lemon juice

3 tablespoons cornstarch

¼ cup white sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

Crumble topping

1½ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

• Core the apples; peel all but two.

• Dice all the apples into ½ inch size pieces, enough to yield 2½ cups.

• Coat a baking dish 8x8 or larger with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer the diced apples to the bottom of the dish and sprinkle with lemon juice, cornstarch, ¼ cup sugar and salt. Toss to coat. Allow filling to set while making the topping.

• Mix flour, baking powder, remaining ¼ cup sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl.

• Add melted butter to the bowl. Stir to combine until the mixture is crumbly in consistency. There should be some large and some small clumps. Do not overwork the mixture.

• Sprinkle the crumble topping evening over the apple mixture. If the mixture levels near the top of the baking dish, place the baking dish on a sheet pan to prevent an oven mess in case the mixture bubbles over the sides while baking.

• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until the crumble topping is slightly browned and the apple mixture shows some bubbling activity around the edges of the dish.

• Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

Crisp Tips

To allow for a bit of color in the apple filling, opt to leave some apples with peels on so that a bit of red and green can peek through.

• Mix flour, baking powder, sugar and spices before adding the melted butter to ensure the dry ingredients are evenly distributed and prevent clumping.

• Be sure to mix the topping thoroughly with hands or a fork until it forms clumps, then sprinkle it evenly over the fruit before baking.

• To reheat the apple crumble, use the oven rather than the microwave. The microwave will yield a soft crumble topping. Pop the dish back into the oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove the pan when the crumble appears warm, being careful not to overbake so as not to dry out the apple mixture.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF ARKANSAS

Good times for a Great CAUSE

By BRIAN SORENSEN // Photos courtesy of Ronald McDonald House

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas (RMHCA) is gearing up for a slate of fall events that will help the organization sustain its support of families with critically ill children. Janell Mason, chief executive officer, said promoting the organization’s mission is an ongoing challenge and events such as RMHCA’s fundraisers are an important way to stay in front of the public.

“Everyone has certainly heard of Ronald McDonald House,” she said. “It tends to be a household name, but until you’ve taken a tour or heard a family’s story, you can’t really begin to grasp all that happens here.”

The Arkansas chapter of Ronald McDonald House started in 1981 in an eight-bedroom house two blocks from where the charity now calls home. The current 32,000-square-foot, 32-suite house opened its doors to families in 2016. It provides families with a place to find comfort during extended stays at nearby hospitals. Rooms, meals, snacks and play areas for young siblings provide a welcome respite from hectic schedules and days full of stress and anxiety related to the wellbeing of a child.

The staff of RMHCA maintains offices inside the home, which puts them face to face with the families they serve every day.

“We see the mission of Ronald McDonald House in action,” Mason said. “We see the struggles our families are experiencing. When they come in at the end of the day, they tell us what happened at the hospital, and we lift them up the best we can.”

Last year, RMHCA studied the impact of its services, and the numbers were astounding. More than 46,000 families have stayed onsite since

the charity’s inception, for a total of more than 410,000 nights.

“Based on our analysis, the value of services received – rooms, meals, snacks, toiletries, etc. –equates to $43 million in free services that our families have received over the years,” Mason said.

It takes an army of volunteers and a constant focus on fundraising to sustain operations at RMHCA, and while the donor wall is studded with the major benefactors in the community, support comes in all sizes and denominations.

“The $5 gift we receive in the mail is just as meaningful to us as a $100,000 gift,” Mason said. “To think about someone writing a small check and finding a stamp to mail it to us, it just means the world to me.”

EVENTS CULTIVATE COMMUNITY

For many nonprofit organizations, events are an important part of the overall fundraising strategy. It is no different for RMHCA, which hosts get-togethers throughout the year in order to cultivate relationships with donors, volunteers and friends in the community.

“We don’t have a product to sell, so 100 percent of our budget is raised and donated,” Mason said. “Our events play two significant roles for us, and one of those is obviously fundraising, but the other purpose is to raise friends. Events give us an opportunity to introduce our mission to people who maybe haven’t thought of getting involved with Ronald McDonald House.”

The event schedule heats up this fall with an annual golf scramble Sept. 25 at Pleasant Valley Country Club, of which 100 percent of the proceeds go toward advancing the mission of Ronald McDonald House.

“The golf tournament has been happening for more than 30 years,” Mason said. “It’s a great event because our golfers are treated first class, and they really enjoy themselves.”

Just three days after putters are put away, friends of Ronald McDonald House will gather to cut the cards and play casino games.

“What we’re really excited about is A Night in Vegas,” Mason said. “Our first year for the event was in 2019, and it was a huge success. It’s fun for people who don’t necessarily enjoy standing around and talking for hours. Having the energy and excitement of casino games breaks things up a little bit and makes it fun for everyone.”

This year, A Night in Vegas will be held Sept. 28 at the popular music venue, The Hall, near downtown Little Rock.

“Simmons Bank is our sponsor, and Sharmane Andrews from Simmons is the event chair,” Mason said. “We have worked with her on several things in the past, including last year’s Blue Jeans and Bubbles event, and she is just a wonderful human being.”

A NIGHT IN VEGAS

Andrews has been attending RMHCA events since joining Simmons Bank as its chief compliance officer in 2016.

“My husband and I always go to the Chocolate Ball,” she said. “Eventually I decided I wanted to contribute more, so I joined a committee.”

Working on Blue Jeans and Bubbles challenged Andrews to find ways to get younger members of the community involved with the charity. The night was informal but full of energy, benefiting from the picture-perfect October weather in Argenta Plaza. This year’s edition will return to Argenta on Oct. 19.

Andrews said the no-fuss-no-muss vibe of Blue Jeans and Bubbles will be the approach for A Night in Vegas.

“We are so used to getting dressed up for galas and events like that,” she said. “This one is less formal and is intended to be a night of fun and games and people enjoying each other’s company. It’s supposed to be a night out on the town without all the work that goes into going out on the town.”

Andrews is leading a committee of around 25 volunteers to organize the event.

“We’ve been planning since May, and we’ll be doing things all the way up to the night it takes place,” Andrews said. “We’ve been working hard to make it seem like a genuine night in Las Vegas, with casino games and card tables. It’s business casual and definitely not ritzy, but we’ll have ladies using aerial silks and walkers on stilts to spice things up. It has been really fun to plan.”

Andrews is a native Arkansan from Helena who moved to Atlanta as a high school senior. She spent the next 20 years of her life away from home. She returned to the state in 2011 and, after joining Simmons Bank five years later, began to blossom in terms of community involvement.

“Simmons is a community bank,” Andrews said. “The bank has always supported its neighbors. That’s something that’s at the heart of Simmons as a whole. We expect our employees to serve as volunteers and give back. I’m fortunate to work for such a giving organization.”

Helping with last year’s Blue Jeans and Bubbles and chairing this year’s A Night in Vegas committee has given Andrews a new appreciation for nonprofit fundraising. The committee’s goal is to raise enough money to pay for the equivalent of 4,000 nights for families of critically ill children.

“All of a sudden, I’m the one asking for sponsorships,” she said. “It’s a lot of work, and I certainly have a new appreciation for what Janell and her team do to keep the lights on, but it’s so worth it to help families in need.”

PAST FAMILY PERSPECTIVE

Stephanie Fletcher’s family is one that needed help and found it at RMHCA. Her daughter, Annabelle, was born with a congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which required open heart surgery shortly after arriving home from the hospital. The diagnosis was missed during Fletcher’s pregnancy, so the whole ordeal was an unexpected whirlwind.

“We live in Independence County near Batesville,” Fletcher said. “It’s two hours to Little Rock, and we farm for a living, so it was a real challenge when we had to be at Arkansas Children’s Hospital with Annabelle.”

The first few nights were spent in the hospital before Ronald McDonald House called and offered a suite in its new facility. The family arrived at 10 p.m. for a tour, and they were blown away by what they saw.

“The place is amazing,” Fletcher said. “It wasn’t at all what we were expecting. It’s really nice, kind of like a souped-up hotel with all the services and amenities that families in our situation need. We stayed for over 70 nights during the time surrounding Annabelle’s first surgery. Ronald McDonald House was a lifesaver for us.”

Fletcher said the home was a comfortable escape from the emotional roller coaster that she rode every day in the hospital environment. A hot meal was provided every night at 6 p.m., and coffee and snacks were available throughout the day.

Sharmane Andrews Janell Mason

The $5 gift we receive in the mail is just as meaningful to us as a $100,000 gift.

— Janell Mason, CEO of Ronald

McDonald House

Photo supplied by Simmons Bank

“Our oldest daughter, Madeline, is 12 now and only knows Ronald McDonald House as a place that brought her happiness,” she said.

The Fletchers returned to RMHC as Annabelle underwent two more surgeries to correct her condition. In total, the family stayed at the house for nearly half a year over the course of their three visits.

“Ronald McDonald House served us so well,” Fletcher said. “The people there are such a wonderful asset. You find yourself leaning on them during your most traumatic times, and they go out of their way to provide love and support so that you can put all of your focus on your child’s recovery.”

Fletcher’s experience at RMHCA was so impactful that, in 2020, she decided to join its board of directors as the past family representative. In her role, she provides the perspective of the families

Families dealing with the illness of a child enjoy warm meals, a quiet night's rest and loving support for siblings at Ronald McDonald House.

receiving support from the charity. She is the voice of the thousands of people who have felt Rondald McDonald House’s loving embrace.

“My husband says it best. He says, ‘Ronald McDonald House puts its money where its mouth is,’ and it truly does,” Fletcher said. “The people here give families a safe zone during their most trying times. It’s a place to rest and relax and prepare to provide care for your child day after day, until it’s time to go home.”

GETTING INVOLVED WITH RMHCA

There is much on the horizon for RMHCA. Several programs are under development and at least one major announcement is coming soon. The new activity points to an exciting future, as well as a lot of work for the organization’s distinguished board of directors.

“Our board is a strategic board,” Mason said. “I am so honored to be able to work with them and to have their guidance and support with the decisions we make.”

The organization has expanded in the past, opening a family room at UAMS that operates in much the same way as the regular house, but on a smaller scale. While she is not prepared to discuss the future developments in detail, Mason said once they are announced, people

will immediately see their importance to families of critically ill children.

“Opening the family room at UAMS on the NICU floor was a big moment for us, as was opening this house in 2016,” she said, “but I think the best thing is how our board has positioned this organization for program growth and expansion of services to families.”

For people who connect with RMHCA’s mission and want to help, there are numerous ways to get involved. Mason said one of the best first steps people can take is to tour the house and see the mission in action for themselves.

“As you look around, you’ll see several volunteer opportunities,” she said. “You can volunteer at the front desk, you can cook a meal or put together toiletry kits for families. People can find their niche, no matter what their skills or interests might be.”

There are donation boxes onsite, and of course, monetary gifts go a long way toward helping RMHCA meet the needs of families. Donations can be substantial or small. As Mason said, $5 checks are just as meaningful as those written for much larger amounts.

Those interested in volunteering can do so by joining a committee, just as Andrews did last year when she helped plan Blue Jeans and Bubbles. Now she has her sights set on A Night in Vegas, which is really just the next piece of what is shaping up to be a long-term commitment to the charity.

“Once I retire from my career in banking, I plan to do volunteer work for my favorite charity, Ronald McDonald House,” she said.

Powerful Painting

Lisa Krannichfeld empowers central Arkansas community in big way with public art murals

By KELLI REEP // Photography By STEVE LEWIS

Krannichfeld in front of her latest mural creations in North Little Rock.

Lisa Krannichfeld has always been an artist. A calling from as far back as her childhood, Krannichfeld pursued painting ever since.

“I was always really creative as a child,” she said. “I went to Parkview, an arts high school in Little Rock, where I took my first ‘real’ art classes. I won a scholarship my senior year to go to Colorado College and study both art and biology, a double major. When I came back, I returned to Parkview as an art teacher.”

She now pursues her art full time, in addition to being a full-time mom to two toddlers. Normally a two-dimensional painter using acrylics, inks and watercolors, Krannichfeld has taken her art to a much larger scale – literally – by painting murals in the downtown areas of Little Rock and North Little Rock.

“Both of my murals are larger versions of my regular art,” she said. “I shifted materials to better suit outdoor surfaces and made them really large to be a mural.”

The mural in Argenta, the oldest part of downtown North Little Rock, was her first time creating something to that scale. “It starts with projecting the image on the building,” Krannichfeld explained. “What you do is go out to the site at nighttime when it’s dark, so you can see the projection. You take your mock-up and project it onto the area you’ll be painting.

“That’s how I got the main composition on the wall – the outline of the figures. I used a pencil or small paint brush just to get the outlines up on the building. After that, I go in with more specific brushes to do certain areas, and I’ll use a lot of stencils for the patterns, mix colors on site.”

Krannichfeld used outdoor, exterior-specific paint protected by anti-gravity and UVprotective coatings on both murals.

“A lot of times, the property owners where the mural is painted will want these coatings as a safety precaution,” she said. “I’ve never had any issues with graffiti, actually.”

The Argenta mural can be viewed at 15th and Main streets in downtown North Little Rock where the cosmetology and aesthetics school, Esthetic Excellence Academy, is located. The Argenta Downtown Council partners with the city of North Little Rock,

the North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, and community leaders to spotlight local artists and add to the beauty of the Argenta Arts District.

“The owner of that school and the property partnered with the Argenta Downtown Mural Project to make this mural possible,” Krannichfeld said.

Maranda Davis, owner of Esthetic Excellence Academy, is a licensed master aesthetician, and her goals within the academy are for her students to enjoy a respectful, wholesome environment — women supporting women training on top-end equipment. When Krannichfeld learned about this public art project, she knew she wanted to do it. The city funded the mural, and Davis provided the space.

“As an artist, as an art major in college, and after taking a lot of art history classes, I realized the way women were painted in art history books did not really click with me,” Krannichfeld said. “They just seemed inauthentic. I wanted to pursue a more genuine, authentic and powerful way of portraying women in art. That is what has led me to paint women the way I do. The mission for the school is helping women become owners of their own businesses, educating them in their careers, and it fit really well with my style of feminist art.”

John Gaudin, one of the visionaries responsible for the public art in Argenta, reached out to Krannichfeld to design and paint the mural, which is of five women of diverse colors, ethnicities and backgrounds. He and Corky Patton lead the Argenta Mural Project.

“John is familiar with my work as an artist and asked me if I wanted to do a mural,” Krannichfeld said. I said, “ ‘Of course.’ I’d wanted to start in the mural business, so I jumped at the opportunity. He introduced me to the property owner in Argenta, and everything kind of fit from the beginning.”

In 1890, the community of Argenta filed papers to incorporate as a city. However, Argenta’s southern neighbor across the Arkansas River – Little Rock – quickly passed legislation to annex the little town and make it the eighth ward of that city.

Years later, a group of north-side businessmen led by William C. Faucette, who was elected to the Arkansas state legislature, introduced a bill to allow a new city to be created. In 1903, North Little Rock and Argenta town residents voted to merge, and in January 1906, North Little Rock changed its name to Argenta. It renamed itself North Little Rock in October 1917.

Today, the Argenta Arts District is one of North Little Rock’s oldest and most eclectic neighborhoods, one where the buildings are more than a century old, but the lifestyle is cutting edge. According to the Argenta Arts District organization, the Argenta Historic District encompasses significant historic elements of central North Little Rock, the area that was first to connect Memphis and the Little Rock area by railroad.

“I started the Argenta mural in mid-June of 2021, and it got really, really hot, really fast,” Krannichfeld said. “I became pregnant while I was painting it, and I got really sick and had to stop. I finished the first three women in the mural in the first month, took a break, then finished the last two figures in September that year.”

This did not deter her from tackling more mural projects, however. Her second mural is on Chester Street between 5th and 6th streets on the building owned by Chuck Hamilton of Chuck Hamilton Construction.

“I just finished this mural this year, and it was made possible by a public art grant from the Downtown Little Rock Partnership as well as a match with the property owner,” Krannichfeld said.

“This one I was able to finish in two weeks. It’s of three women, and while it’s smaller than the one in North Little Rock, it is in the same style. I’ve been really fortunate with these mural experiences as they have pretty much just let me loose, which is amazing as an artist. I had full creative agency. I sent a digital mock-up to both property owners, and they said, ‘Yeah, this looks great.’ I was free to take on both projects as I saw fit then.”

According to the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, public art is vital to any city’s quality of life. Art can inspire and comfort. It can compel and be the background to a thousand different memories. The Downtown Little Rock Partnership has played a pivotal role on several major projects and is always looking, especially through its public spaces committee, for ways to add more public art.

From large to small, murals are the first thing people probably think about when it comes to public art. Paint and an artist’s vision can transform a wall into a doorway of imagination. The

wanted to pursue a more genuine, authentic and powerful way of portraying women in art."

front of one of her creations.

"I

Krannichfeld in

“When people can see themselves in art, it multiplies the empowerment of the community.”

Downtown Little Rock Partnership has worked with many talented muralists and groups who partnered to bring a vision to life. Today, there are about 20 murals throughout the city and plans to add more.

Right now, Krannichfeld does not have any mural projects in her immediate future, but she says she loves to paint them because they are fun to bring from concept to creation.

“It’s so fun to see my work at such a large scale,” she said. “I’m always on the lookout for a new opportunity to create a mural.”

When not painting murals and raising her kids, Krannichfeld is painting canvases she shows at art fairs, M2 Gallery and Saatchi Art. She also hears a great deal from the community about her murals.

“Just the amount of feedback I’ve gotten from both murals has been immense,” she said. “Whether it’s from people driving by or from messages I receive from social media, people say they how much they enjoy the murals, which is really heartwarming for me to hear.

“This is evidence of how important public art is, which is art for everyone. I think every city on the planet could use more public art. I would love to get into public art more. Finding the right funding and right space and making it happen is challenging when you are trying to mesh all three together. It can be done and done well, and I definitely want to pursue more of it.”

Krannichfeld's work has been featured in numerous exhibitions nationally and internationally, including exhibits across the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe. She has won prestigious awards for her works, including the Grand Award in the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts’ juried Delta Exhibition. Her work also is included in prominent collections such as the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Bennett Collection, Hot Springs National Park, the Belmond Cadogan and the OZ art collection. She

has also been featured in many media outlets, including The Arkansas Arts Scene Blog, Domino Magazine, Canvas, a blog by Saatchi Art, Arkansas Money & Politics, Nylon Magazine, Anthology Magazine, Rock City Life, Arkansas Life and more.

“A lot of people ask why I cut off the faces of the women that I paint, and I like to make art that makes the viewer see themselves as part of the painting,” she said. “If there is not a specific space for that in the art, the viewer is more likely to see themselves in it. I also embrace the empowering quality of my art. When people can see themselves in art, it multiplies the empowerment of the community.”

Krannichfeld at work in the studio. The artist works in acrylics, ink and watercolors in addition to painting murals.

arts & culture

Mississippi native Little MS Cosplay (Instagram: littlemscosplay) in full costume as Jester from "Critical Role."

Get Your COMIC ON

Get Your COMIC ON

The stars align at 2023 Arkansas Comic Con

By John Callahan // Photos submitted

t locations across the country and throughout the year, fans, vendors and celebrities flock to comic cons, or comic book conventions. Despite the name, comic cons have expanded beyond their roots to become hubs for lovers of everything super hero, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, video games and beyond, be they beloved blockbusters or cult classics.

Many of these conventions have been held for decades, and the largest make their homes in places like New York, San Diego and Denver. But a relative newcomer, held since 2017 at Little Rock’s Statehouse Convention Center, has been swiftly growing in size year after year and is making a name for itself among both fans and stars alike.

Arkansas Comic Con is promoted and organized by VXV Events, which organizes numerous similar events such as the Little Rock Anime Festival and comic cons in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri. From its humble beginnings with an attendance of about 5,000 in 2017, the Arkansas Comic Con has grown to one of VXV’s largest events in terms of both attendance and space.

“This will be the sixth year for Arkansas, and it has grown every year,” said VXV owner Jay Branch. “Last year, it doubled in size from the year before. We’ve gone up to having almost 20,000 attendees. For a Southern city, it’s incredible to have that many people come out.”

For this year’s event, which will be held Friday, Sept. 8 to Sunday, Sept. 10, the number of attendees is expected to grow yet again, to 25,000.

One of the biggest draws to any comic con is the lineup of guest stars who will be at the event for autographs, photos, Q&As, panels and more. For a young event in a Southern state, the Arkansas Comic Con’s celebrity roster is at least as impressive as its attendance numbers. When the convention first began, many stars were hesitant to take part in an

event with no history, but as its reputation has grown, VXV Events has brought in more and more major names.

“Last year, we had attendees from all four corners of the United States — from southern California, southern Florida, Washington, Maine and almost everywhere in between,” Branch said. “That was incredible to see because Little Rock isn’t necessarily a destination city, but it has become that for Comic Con. We had people saying that they drove 12 hours last year to bring their kid to see Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.

“Celebrities always comment on just how nice everyone is. They do shows all over the world, so they’ve seen many different experiences in different places, and celebrities always comment to us before they go, ‘I can’t believe how many people came out, and they were all so nice.’ They go home with some Southern hospitality. They talk to their agents and other celebrities and say, ‘You’re not going to believe this, but I just did a show in Little Rock, Ark., and it was packed. I had the greatest time, and you should go check it out.’ ”

Through that word of mouth, the Arkansas Comic Con has been able to get bigger and bigger celebrities each year. In addition to Tom Kenny, previous years have featured heavy hitters such as Sean Astin, who played Samwise Gamgee in the "Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and Charles Martinet, the voice actor of both Mario and Luigi from the Super Mario games. VXV tries to make sure to have celebrities that every generation can connect with, and Branch is confident that this year’s lineup has something that everybody can enjoy.

Those looking for a nostalgia factor might consider getting an autograph or photo with William Shatner, the original Capt. Kirk, Christina Ricci, who played the iconic Wednesday Addams in “The Addams Family” (1991), and Karan Ashley, the second Yellow Power Ranger in the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” series. Also on hand will be Jim Cummings, the voice of too many beloved characters to name, including Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and the Tasmanian Devil, and musician Paul Williams, a singer-songwriter who wrote pieces performed by the likes of the Carpenters, Helen Reddy and Kermit the Frog, including “Rainbow Connection” from 1979’s “The Muppet Movie.”

Those interested in celebrities known for more recent work can wait in line to meet Shameik Moore, voice actor for Miles Morales/ Spider-Man in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018) and its

sequel. Also featured will be Felicia Day, who played the recurring role of Charlie Bradbury in “Supernatural” and helped found Geek & Sundry, original host of Dungeons & Dragons web series “Critical Role.”

Fans of cartoons and anime can also meet a number of iconic voice actors, including Maile Flanagan, voice of Naruto in the English dub of the show of the same name. John Glover, who voiced the Riddler in “Batman: The Animated Series” and played Lionel Luther in the live-action “Smallville” will also appear, as will Steve Blum, who voiced Spike Spiegel in “Cowboy Bebop” and Wolverine in “Wolverine and the X-Men.”

Gamers will have the chance to meet the voice actors of two of the most iconic characters in video game history: Steve Downes, who voiced Master Chief from the Halo series, and Steve Burton, voice of Cloud Strife in the Final Fantasy series. Other highlights include comic book artists/writers Michael Golden, Renée Witterstaetter and Jeremy Clark, as well as professional wrestlers Lex Luger and Ron Simmons.

“If you aren’t into celebrities, there’s so many other aspects of the show,” Branch said. “There’s fan panels about everything from making costumes to discussing different genres to comic book creation. There’s tabletop games, video games. There’s an old-school arcade with games that are set up to free play. If you’re from the ’80s or ’90s like I am and you want to relive that, you can leave the quarters at home and go out and play arcade games.”

Last year’s event boasted vendors and artists selling everything from comic books to posters, board games to plushies, handmade artwork to Japanese candy and all of the merchandise, memorabilia and knickknacks a person could ever want. The 2023 Comic Con will include about 150 vendors and artists, and those were just the lucky ones. So many more vendors wanted to be a part of the event that Comic Con VXV had to set up a waitlist for 2024. Between all of these vendors and activities, the event has grown to occupy all three floors of the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock.

As the event grows, so does the number of cosplayers – highly dedicated fans who attend costumed as characters from their favorite media. These costumes are often handcrafted and represent dozens or even hundreds of hours of painstaking labor. Some people-watching at the event will yield something as simple as a jumpsuit from Star Trek or as complex as an entire suit of dramatically oversized armor. Most amazing of all, most of the cosplayers tend to be regular people who put together their costumes in their spare time. Take, for example, Little MS Cosplay, a cosplayer from Mississippi, is a regular attendee at Arkansas Comic

Little MS Cosplay as Geralt of Rivia from "The Witcher" series (above) and Junkrat from video game series Overwatch (right).

Con. She attended her first comic con in 2016 wearing a costume put together by her friends and quickly fell in love with the hobby, planning her first costume even while she was leaving the event.

“The majority of my cosplays are made by hand,” Little MS Cosplay said. “The amount of time it takes to make them varies from costume to costume. I used to count how many hours I spent on each one, but once I had a costume that had over 400 hours invested in it, I decided to not count anymore.

“When I’m planning my time accordingly, it usually takes a couple of months or more to make one. When I’m being my full chaotic self and living in con crunch mode, I can make one in a month. I work a full-time job, so I usually work on costumes on nights and weekends.”

Serena Saylor, a cosplayer from Malvern, got into cosplay in 2019 thanks to the online community on TikTok, where she was fascinated by the artistry and creativity of the craft. Rather than make her costumes, she gets many of them secondhand from cosplay resale groups

“Last year, it doubled in size from the year before. We’ve gone up to having almost 20,000 attendees. For a Southern city, it’s incredible to have that many people come out.”

- Jay Branch

on social media or from websites dedicated to quality costumes. She then makes alterations to the costumes to improve their accuracy, a process that can take several hours of work.

“The 2019 Arkansas Comic Con will always stand out to me,” said Saylor. “It was my very first convention, and not only did I get to meet Sean Astin, but I also won the cosplay masquerade competition in the noncraftsmanship category, which was a huge surprise and very exciting.

“I’ve been to both smaller and larger conventions, and they each have their pros and cons. I’d say that Arkansas Comic Con is a nice-sized event for those that are just getting started in the cosplay community. It’s an event that is continuing to grow, but it’s still at a point to not be terribly overwhelming for cosplayers and non-cosplay attendees alike.”

Cosplayers often have vibrant communities of their own, sharing their latest designs and costume-creation techniques. Some form entire organizations such as a world-wide cosplay group called the 501st Legion, who wear movie-quality costumes of villains from the “Star Wars” universe. Numerous members of the organization’s Arkansas branch, the Diamond Garrison, were featured at last year’s Comic Con, alongside a First Order-

themed jeep.

“One of my favorite things about conventions is being able to talk with other cosplayers about cosplay and sharing the things I’ve learned so that I may be able to help them on their cosplay journey,” Little MS Cosplay said. “It always warms my heart to hear from cosplayers who have attended my panels, and they tell me how helpful the panel was and what they are excited to do with what they learned.”

“The cosplay community in Arkansas is vey open and supportive of everyone, no matter their skill level,” Saylor said. “One of the reasons I continued cosplaying after my first year was having so many people be friendly. Initially, I knew absolutely no one else that cosplayed, but over the years, I’ve developed multiple friendships and acquaintances that I look forward to seeing at conventions.”

Large numbers of cosplayers are a good sign of a healthy comic con; it shows fans are willing to invest months of planning and preparation for the event. This level of

dedication makes cosplayers a pillar of the fan community and a boon to any comic con they participate in. Milling about in a crowd of thousands of strangers is not something most people enjoy, but seeing hundreds of people in costumes show off their love for a character makes for an experience that can be most closely compared to being a kid on Halloween night. If the actor or voice actor behind a favorite character will not be part of the event, there are decent odds you might still see someone dressed as them.

“Just the sight of it all is so incredible,” Branch said. “You see people in costumes that are so obscure you’d never think someone would make a costume of it, and then there are some so elaborate that you’d think no one could ever remake this, then there they are in some huge costume.”

Cosplayers’ getups can become so elaborate, in fact, that the event’s website has to have a list of cosplay rules banning costumes that are too large to fit through a standard door, props with functioning projectiles and costumes that can produce fog or smoke. If a cosplay is good enough to be worthy of a photo, just ask; most cosplayers will be happy to strike a pose.

With an expected crowd of 25,000 or more people coming for this year’s Arkansas Comic Con, it is important to note that they will not just be coming to the convention –they will be visiting Little Rock itself. That means thousands of people moving through downtown, eating at restaurants and staying in hotels for the weekend. The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau has made sure to take steps to capitalize on the tourist opportunity.

“The city has been great to us and has helped us grow,” Branch said. “The city runs the convention center, so not only are they helping us preshow, but they’re there on site, helping us during the show, as well. It’s nice to have that connectivity because for some cities, it’s just another event, whereas Little Rock has been behind it from day one and has been excited to have it.”

Support for the Arkansas Comic Con has not just come from cosplayers, celebrities or the city of Little Rock, but from the wider Arkansas community, as well.

“We do a lot of street promotion,” Branch said. “We also do billboards, Facebook, Instagram, TV, but we do a lot of going into stores and putting up posters, and you can’t do that unless people are supportive of it. In Arkansas, I think we’ve put out over 3,000 posters, so that’s 3,000 stores or locations that are letting us come in and put up posters or give them handouts.

“When you have that kind of backing from locals, it means the world to a growing show. Without that support from all of those different businesses and all of the people, we couldn’t have a show like this.”

Malvern cosplayer

Serena Saylor

(Instagram: that1girl_ serena) as Asuna from anime "Sword Art Online" (above) and Ereshkigal from video game Fate/Grand Order (left).

Brav !

Broadway in Little Rock: ‘A season fit for royalty’

By SARAH COLEMAN // Photos submitted

elebrity Attractions announced its 2023-2024 Broadway Season, for which tickets are now officially available online and at the Robinson Center Box Office in Little Rock. This year’s season includes five hit Broadway musicals, including “Six,” “Mean Girls,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Pretty Woman: The Musical” and “Come From Away.” These performances all have the common ground of sharing incredible and hilarious stories that anyone can enjoy. The season will officially begin on Oct. 24 when “Six” opens.

Broadway season subscriber tickets are priced at $158, $228, $316, $448 and $504, depending on the seat availability and location. Single-ticket sales will begin about a month to six weeks before a performance is scheduled to happen, and interested guests are encouraged to check in often with Celebrity Attractions about details pertaining to single-ticket sales.

“I think that one of the best ways to look at becoming a subscriber is seeing it as a guaranteed night out. You have an automatic date night or girl’s night out every time there’s a show, and you can just set a date, put it on your calendar and enjoy live entertainment,” said Deana McCormack, marketing director for Celebrity Attractions. “When you become a subscriber to the Broadway season, you get the best seats at the best prices with easy exchange and priority access to other shows.”

According to McCormack, Broadway subscribers are given the first opportunity to buy tickets to additional shows outside of the Broadway season. This season, subscribers will be the first to choose tickets to “Johnny Cash — The Official Concert Experience,” which will show in November, and “Shrek The Musical,” which will show in March.

With ticket scalping seemingly at an all-time high, it is becoming more difficult for show-goers to enjoy nights on the town with

authentic tickets priced fairly, McCormack added.

“Unfortunately, there are now a large number of ticket brokers who sell tickets at inflated prices, so we do the best we can to educate Arkansans so they are aware of where they can get real seats in real locations at the best prices,” she said, adding that single-show tickets go on sale between four and six weeks prior to date of the show.

Robinson Center is, according to McCormack, a premier location to view a Broadway show locally.

“These shows are part of the national tours featuring the best of the best, and this is [a guest’s] chance to see excellent performances right here in Arkansas,” she said, adding that Broadway tours provide quality entertainment outside of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. “The venue is great, with seats that offer a lot of legroom, an amazing sound system and great customer service.”

McCormack said the theater offers an experience that is unlike any

Six Oct. 24-29

For those who love history and are enamored with the story of Henry VIII, “Six” is just the ticket. The wives of the famous king will take to the stage to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into a celebration of 21st-century girl power. Experience Tudor queens transformed into pop princesses during this special musical, which is noted by the Chicago Sun Times as a “fiercely irresistible and electrifying experience.”

“‘Six’ is one of the hottest shows on Broadway, and it’s a fun take on the challenges that the six wives of Henry VIII endured,” McCormack said. “It’s like going to a pop concert. There’s no intermission, and everyone from six to 60 will love this show.”

Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the musical tells the story of six amazing queens who were married to the less-than-incredible Henry VIII. According to Broadway, this musical features heartbreak and euphoria when the tales of the six ex-wives of Henry VIII take center stage. Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded and survived — all of these women make this musical “a global sensation that everyone is losing their head over.”

As a new and original musical, “Six” won 23 awards during the 2021-2022 Broadway season, including a Tony Award for Best Original Score in music and lyrics and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

other form of entertainment, and being able to enjoy state-of-the-art shows in Arkansas is an experience that everyone should try to take advantage of.

“There is absolutely no substitute for live entertainment, because when you sit in that theater and you have others around you, you laugh together, cry together, celebrate together and dance together,” McCormack said. “It is so much more than sitting and watching something on a screen because live performance allows you to become part of the show with two-way communication with actors on stage.”

For more information about becoming a 2023-2024 season subscriber or to purchase tickets to single shows, register at celebrityattractions.com, call 501-244-8800 or visit the Robinson Center Box Office, located at 426 West Markham St.

Without further ado, here is a taste of the upcoming Broadway performances that will be shown at the Robinson Center this year.

“Six” has also been named as a Critic’s Pick by the New York Times and has been highly regarded by The Washington Post, which called the musical “exactly the kind of energizing, inspirational illumination this town aches for.”

Part of the Boleyn Tour, the cast will include Gerianne Pérez as Catherine of Aragon, Zan Berube as Anne Boleyn, Amina Faye as Jane Seymour, Terica Marie as Anna of Cleves, Aline Mayagoitia as Katherine Howard and Sydney Parra as Catherine Parr. Alternates for this tour include Aryn Bohannon, Marilyn Caserta, Jana Larell Glover, Taylor Pearlstein and Cecilia Snow, who is also serving as dance captain.

Mean Girls

Feb. 2-4

The classic movie “Mean Girls” will turn 20 in 2024, making next year a fitting opportunity to relive Tina Fey’s iconic movie in musical form. Fey wrote the book for the hit musical, and Jeff Richmond of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” composed the musical. In addition to Fey and Richmond, the award-winning creative team includes the musical’s original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw, who directed “The Book of Mormon,” and lyricist Nell Benjamin of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” fame.

The character Cady Heron, made famous in the movie by Lindsay Lohan, is front and center as is a trio of lionized frenemies led

by none other than the ruthless Regina George. The musical delivers a winning mix of humor, nostalgia and high-energy antics. New York Magazine called it “hilarious and joyful,” and USA Today marked this musical as a must-see.

Jesus Christ Superstar

March 1-3

More than 50 years ago, “Jesus Christ Superstar” premiered, a musical set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events that occur in the final weeks of Christ’s life.

Originally staged by Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London, “Jesus Christ Superstar’’ was directed by Timothy Sheader, who is known for “Crazy for You” and “Into the Woods.” This revival will bring a new, mesmerizing production of the exemplary rock opera to the stage.

“Jesus Christ Superstar’’ has won many awards, including the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival, and is appealing to concert-goers and theater audiences alike. While paying tribute to the historic 1971 Billboard Album of the Year, “Jesus Christ Superstar” has created a modern theatrical world that is fresh and inspiring, according to Celebrity Attractions.

Drew McOnie has served this production as choreographer and is celebrated for his work in “King Kong” and “Strictly Ballroom.” Lyrics and music for this production were written by Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony-award winners Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

March 1-3

Pretty Woman: THE MUSICAL

April 26-28

Taking its title from the Roy Orbison international hit “Oh, Pretty Woman” and based on the hit movie, “Pretty Woman: The Musical” brings one of the biggest romantic comedies of all time to the stage. Debuting more than 30 years after the film, this musical was noted for “big romance and big fun” by Broadway.

The musical tells the story of a classic romance and is led by a powerhouse creative team that includes Jerry Mitchell, a two-time Tony-Award-winning director and choreographer. Fans of “Hairspray,” “Kinky Boots” and “Legally Blonde: The Musical” are probably familiar with Mitchell’s extraordinary work.

The musical also features an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. The book was written by Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton. For the musical viewer who wants lifted spirits, this show is a must to attend.

Come From Away

Aug. 2-4

Broadway’s “Come From Away” tells the true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that gave them a home. A Best Musical winner in North America, “Come From Away,” is a New York Times Critic’s Pick and shows the reality of nerves running high, cultures clashing, uneasiness turning into trust and gratitude in friendship.

Written by Tony nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein, “Come From Away” is directed by Christopher Ashley, a Tony-winning Best Director, and has music staged by Tony nominee Kelly Devine. Based on the original Broadway direction and choreography, the tour is directed by Daniel Goldstein with musical staging by Richard J. Hinds.

Image: Iwan Baan

THE SOUN

By Sarah Colman // Photography

Submitted

NOSTALG J a ke Scott

ake Scott first garnered the attention of the music industry after releasing his EP, “Of Life and Love and Longing,” in 2013. A decade later, Scott is still capturing the eyes of industry professionals and the hearts of fans from Arkansas to California.

Scott is known for performing live on “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America” and“The Kelly Clarkson Show,” in addition to serving up catchy pop singles and sold-out shows. Named as one of People Magazine’s” Emerging Artists in Spring 2022, Scott has been noted as humble and extremely talented by “American Songwriter” and is known to have lyrical sincerity per Consequence of Sound. He has more than 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

The Fayetteville native co-produced, mixed and co-wrote the RIAA Certified Platinum song “She Likes It,” sung by Russell Dickerson, which has more than 300 million worldwide streams. Scott’s work on this single received additional recognition when it was nominated for Collaborative Video of the Year at the CMT Awards in April 2023.

The singer and songwriter attributes much of his success in life to his upbringing in the Ozarks, which brought him the experience needed to create art.

“Having the ability to grow up in a city that isn’t that big in the grand scheme of things but big enough to where I had access to bigger city amenities was really great for me,” Scott said. “I think I was exposed to so much culture, and I was allowed to really pursue anything in sports culture, in the outdoors, from hunting, fishing and floating on the Buffalo. Fayetteville has such a great artistic culture that has been really celebrated.”

Scott grew up visiting the Fayetteville Farmers Market on Saturday mornings and would watch the local painters paint and hear the music performed live. He grew up encouraged by art and involved in that aspect of his community.

“It definitely shaped a lot of who I am today, and it shaped who I was as a teenager,” Scott said I was so interested in the arts and in music at that time of my life, and it made for a really cool experience to live in Fayetteville.”Although he currently resides in

Los Angeles, Scott said he is not opposed to enjoying what he considers the perfect day in northwest Arkansas, which consists of celebrating local businesses and enjoying the great outdoors above all else.

“The most important thing anyone could know about me is that I am an Arkansas boy through and through,” Scott said.“I love Fayetteville and the Razorbacks. I grew up calling the Hogs at football games every week, and I still do. I am so loyal to Arkansas and everything that makes it what it is.”

When Scott was about 6 years old, he first was introduced to music through the movie, “That Thing You Do!” and immediately wanted to be a drummer. He got a set of drums for Christmas that year, and his love of music became apparent to his entire family.

“I was decent enough at drumming, so my parents decided to get me some drum lessons,” Scott said “I really just did it for fun as a kid. It was never really more than a hobby.”

Although his early years were spent banging on a drum set, he did not start playing music with others until he was a preteen. At that time, Scott still considered his music a hobby.

“When I started playing at my church, I started figuring out how to play with other people, and that’s when I started figuring out how songs really work and what that process looks like,” he said. “I was fascinated by it.”

While playing in the church band, Scott enjoyed his role, but he said he still did not truly feel like music was what he would do full time. The hobby became a full-fledged passion for Scott when he was 16 and heard John Mayer for the first time.

“I remember selling the drums at that time and buying a guitar because I wanted to be [John Mayer] more than anything in the world. I realized pretty quickly that I’m never going to be him because he’s insanely talented, but I still looked up to him,” Scott said. “I still played in church a lot though, and I still had fun with music as a hobby.”

It wasn’t until Scott found himself on a new adventure, stuck in his college dorm at the University of Arkansas, mere miles from his childhood home, that he felt courageous enough to start writing songs.

“A lightbulb turned on, and I remember thinking ‘OK, yeah, this is what I want to do forever,’ and from there, I wasn’t sure I could make it happen, but I knew that if I did, it would be the dream,” Scott said, adding that he feels fortunate to be able to

“The most important thing anyone could know about me is that I am an Arkansas boy through and through. I love Fayetteville and the Razorbacks. I grew up calling the Hogs at football games every week, and I still do. I am so loyal to Arkansas and everything that makes it what it is.”

make music full time.

The first song Scott ever wrote is titled “Truth Be Told” and is featured on his first EP. This song was created right where Scott spent a lot of his days in college — his dorm room.

“It was the first time I ever wrote a song, and I was so scared of being bad at it, but I was so determined in wanting to be great at it. I knew that if it was bad, I would be so disappointed, but I wrote the song anyway and realized I didn't hate it,” Scott said. “I knew then that I could probably keep doing that, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Since 2013, Scott’s sound has changed in a lot of ways, but at its core, all of his music is made in a similar way. As an acoustic-based singer-songwriter, his music relies mainly on a pop music influence, as shown through catchy melodies that resonate with listeners.

Billboard has described Scott’s voice as “buttery” and his songs as “easy listening supported by heartfelt narratives.”

Over the last decade, Scott has only become more aware of the beauty of everyday life and how to capture these moments of nostalgia as lush melodies and strong guitar chords.

“Normally, the way songwriting starts for me is always with a melody, and that is the genesis of the song. The way that the melody feels to me emotionally influences how I’m going to approach the song lyrically,” Scott said. “It’s like a sophisticated game of hangman. I have this amount of time and that amount of syllables, and it’s all about making those things work together. I love it. Every time, it feels like magic.”

Scott looks up to many musicians that have been undeniably influential to pop and alternative music genres in the industry.

“I love Coldplay, and I think Chris Martin is one of the greatest songwriters ever,” he said. “I also love Taylor Swift shamelessly, and my favorite song by her of all time has to be ‘All Too Well.’”

Scott, like many others, said he was deeply impressed by Swift’s 10-minute short film that accompanied the popular song but finds the most joy in listening to the original, which is a classic Swiftie favorite.

“I also love a lot of people who play in the folksy genre. I listened to a lot of Mumford & Sons back in their prime, and I love a lot of old singersongwriters such as Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne and Neil Young,” Scott said. “These artists never get old to me.”

In an effort to make his younger self proud, Scott said he plans to be as authentic of an artist as he can possibly be.

“For the longest time, my biggest goal was to be the biggest artist of all time and to play in football stadiums. That would be unbelievable, and of course, I would love for that to be the case, but the longer I've been a musician, the more I’ve realized that my music has to feel authentic to me or it won’t resonate with others,” he said. “The world is so saturated with music and content in all forms, and I think because of that, people can tell when things don’t feel real.”

The process of creating genuine music causes fear at some moments, he added, but it has allowed him to make music that others love just as much as he does.

“Growing up, I was so scared to try to write songs because I was afraid of failing,” he said. “If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to start trying sooner. I would tell myself that, ‘Yeah, a lot of the songs you write will be garbage, but you should still be proud to work through the process.’

“Marathon runners don’t just wake up one day and run 26 miles. They have to train for it and build up to running a race of that length. They

don’t start out winning, but they get better over time. It’s the same way in any creative process. The more you practice, the better it gets, so I think I would just tell myself to be brave and to go for it.”

Scott is no longer a 20-something fueled by the dreams of a college student, but now lives the dreams he once thought were impossible. His debut album, “Lavender,” will be released to the public on all streaming platforms in October, but until then, Scott plans on rolling out singles. Scott recently released “Burn,” which features John K. The release came in the wake of “Married Young,” which will be featured on his new album.

“The big inspiration behind this album is this feeling of nostalgia. It’s inspired by the way you feel when you’re first falling in love with someone or the heartbreak you feel in the midst of a breakup,” Scott said. “It’s about the seasons of life where there is nothing but intensity and the times you look back on fondly, even if they were sad, because they were the moments you felt most alive.”

sperfectdayin northwestArkansas:

Love the Skin You’re In

EXPERT ADVICE ON PUTTING YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD

By KEN HEARD // Photos submitted

For some, the concept of skincare and dermatology brings the images of celebrities with perfect makeup and expensive hairdos. TikTok and other social media sites are overflowing with new beauty trends and photographs of bronzed models with gorgeous skin and hair.

Others think of failed Botox injections, botched face lifts and errant cosmetic surgeries seen on the internet and pictures of stars with tightened eyes and swollen faces.

Based on some public perceptions, skincare is seen as some form of excessive vanity, but taking care of one’s skin and hair is much more than that; it is a health-conscious practice that can even save lives, Arkansas dermatologists say.

“When I tell someone I’m a dermatologist, there’s a misconception,” said Dr. Kayla Mohr with Pinnacle Dermatology in Little Rock. “They say, ‘Oh, you do makeup and hair?’ No, I went to medical school.”

Even Mohr’s grandmother wondered about her profession at first.

“She asked me, ‘How do you make money doing Botox?’” Mohr said. “I told her that [Botox] was a very small part of what we do. We offer full-service dermatology.”

As Arkansans bask in the baking summer sun, skin issues are even more prevalent. The American Academy of Dermatology reported that doctors diagnose about 9,500 cases of skin cancer in the U.S. each day, and the American Cancer Society has estimated that nearly 8,000 people will die this year of melanoma. One in five Americans is expected to develop some type of skin cancer at some point in their life.

“It’s becoming an epidemic,” said Matt Reynolds, a physician’s assistant with Arkansas Dermatology. “There’s an image that the darker the skin is, the better you look, but done in excess, it can be dangerous.”

Reynolds said that in 2015, the risk of getting melanoma was about one in 40 people. Scientists now estimate that that risk will grow to one in 25 people by 2025. The average age for a person to receive a diagnosis of melanoma is 65 years, but people ages 30 and younger are also diagnosed with the condition.

“The risk is supposed to go down with more information,” Reynolds said. “We want to create awareness of these dangers.”

Reynolds said he is concerned about seeing the number of younger people coming to his practice who are developing more high-risk skin cancers. He said

tanning beds, while continuing to be popular, are dangerous.

“Tanning beds have no filters from the radiation,” he said. “The ozone layer provides some filter for the sun, but these tanning beds don’t. Imagine taking a DNA molecule strand and cutting it up with scissors. That’s what sun beds are doing. They’re chipping up the body’s defense mechanisms.”

Doctors diagnose more than 5 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancers each year, the American Cancer Society reported. There are various types of skin cancers, and most are curable when diagnosed and treated early. Basal cell carcinoma typically develops on the face, neck, scalp, back and ears – areas most likely to be exposed to the sun.

“Basal cell carcinoma also loves to grow on the nose,” Reynolds said. “About one out of every two BCCs I see is on the nose. Thankfully, this cancer tends to grow slowly and is less likely to spread to other parts of the body.”

Squamous cell carcinoma is a more aggressive type of skin cancer. It appears on sun-exposed areas of the face, neck, ears, hands and forearms. It grows quicker than basal cell carcinoma, Reynolds said, and has a slightly higher potential to spread to lymph nodes or distant organs.

Other types of rare skin cancers include dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and Kaposi’s sarcoma.

Avoiding skin cancer is “all about prevention and sunscreen,” Mohr said. She suggested people who go outdoors

Dr. Kayla Mohr

“Each person has a different skin type.” We have to treat each case differently; each comes with its own set of challenges.”

in the Arkansas summer should use a broad-spectrum-based sunscreen.

Sunscreens are rated based on their protective values. Mohr suggested people use a 7-, 8- or 9-rated screen for maximum protection. She said people should apply it liberally and, as in the case of those who visit the state’s lakes and opt to cool off by jumping in the water, to reapply the sunscreen if it washes off.

“Summer increases sun spots on the skin too,” she said. “They get darker in the sun. People should take notice of that. The sun is hard to battle. Summer is not a good time for skin.”

Climate also plays a role in skin problems. Mohr suggests those living in more humid states like Arkansas should use lighter moisturizers. In dry climates, such as Arizona, people should use heavier moisturizers, but that’s not always an ironclad rule.

“Each person has a different skin type,” she said. “We have to treat each case differently; each comes with its own set of challenges.”

Mohr grew up in San Antonio in a drier climate and moved to Arkansas 14 years ago. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, and then received her medical degree with honors in research from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where she was the chief resident during her final year of residency there. She joined Pinnacle Dermatology three years ago.

“With more humid climates, you see more pore clogging,” Mohr said. “Rashes are more likely.”

Reynolds is from Bentonville. He left the state for his undergraduate studies at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, then returned to Arkansas, where he received his master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He completed his medical education through the physician assistant program at UAMS and graduated in 2015.

He joined Arkansas Dermatology in Little Rock after his graduation and has been there since. Arkansas Dermatology

has 16 health care providers and sees patients in 11 clinics in the state.

Both Mohr and Reynolds agree that creating a simple skincare routine at home can help people avoid problems. The three main elements of a good routine include cleansing, toning and moisturizing.

“Probably the most important element at the end of the day is to wash your face from all of the debris, bacteria and oil, as well as other irritants and allergens that tend to embed themselves in your skin with normal daily activities,” Reynolds said.

Proper cleansers are based upon the type of a person’s skin. Is it dry? Is it oily? Dermatologists also consider any underlying skin conditions when recommending cleansers. If a person has acne, rosacea, eczema or other conditions, they may be recommended a foaming or hydrating type of wash as a result.

“Toning your skin with a good toner regimen is also extremely essential for most individuals,” Mohr said. “My theme is that you have to do this with a long-term consistency.”

Mohr added that people do need to wash their faces, but they should avoid harsher soaps. Those create a breakdown of skin barriers that protect from UV rays and other hazards. She is quick to advise clients against breaking the bank on products; the products for her daily cleansing routine cost about $15 to $20.

People should focus more on preventative measures during the summer, she said, and more on treatment of problems during the winter. These include anti-dandruff shampoos with zinc, including Head & Shoulders and Selsun Blue, plus body washes to help cleanse.

“Balancing your skin with a good toner regimen is also extremely essential for most individuals,” Reynolds said. “Toning your skin restores the homeostatic pH balance which not only keeps your skin looking youthful, but also provides a healthy optimal environment which reduces inflammation.”

He said moisturizing is “paramount” to the routine.

“Hydrating and softening your skin with a good moisturizer routine is something that I always recommend for patients of all types of skin and of all ages,” he said.

Both physicians promote a minimalist approach to routine skincare rather than a “maximum” routine. Mohr said some may use a multi-step routine that ends up stressing the skin.

“Instead of using all the products each night, people can do ‘skin-cycling,’” she said. “They could rotate their routines every four nights. Maybe they can use products A and B at first, and then let the skin recover and use products C and D. You don’t have to do the same A, B, C routine every night.”

Reynolds said he tells his patients to first use a good sunscreen containing an SPF 50 or higher rating and reapply it every hour and a half to two hours while outside. He also recommends a prescription retinoid or over-the-counter retinol product to help normalize the skin’s collagen and reduce lines and wrinkles caused by the sun, smoking and other irritants.

His favorite product, he said, is a vitamin C serum applied to the face each morning and a medium strength hyaluronic acid.

“Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals,” Reynolds said. “Free radicals are unstable

One in five Americans is expected to develop some type of skin cancer at some point in their life.

molecules produced by UV radiation, pollution and cigarette smoke. They can damage skin cells and contribute to premature aging.”

He said by using a vitamin C serum, patients can protect their skin from oxidative stresses and gain a more youthful appearance. The serum also promotes the synthesis of collagen, which is a protein that provides firmness in the skin.

The vitamin C serum also enhances the effectiveness of sunscreen, Reynolds said. It can create an additional layer of protection against UV damage. Finally, he said, the serum has antiinflammatory properties that can soothe skin irritations and reduce redness.

Reynolds touts the addition of hyaluronic acid to a cleansing routine. The acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water and it can keep the skin hydrated and moisturized.

“Properly hydrated skin just looks smoother and radiant,” he said.

When people age, their natural hyaluronic acid levels decrease and cause skin elasticity to decline. Lines and wrinkles can then appear. Reynolds said hyaluronic acid treatments can reduce the signs of aging. They also support the overall skin barrier support.

“Hyaluronic acid helps to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier function,” he said. “Protecting against environmental irritants, pollution and moisture loss is paramount. There are many other benefits I see when patients use this on a daily basis, but it does take some diligence.

“I generally love the product since it’s compatible with a wide range of skincare ingredients, including retinoids creams.”

There is also a push for more natural products.

“I’ve found myself recommending more natural-based surfactants and moisturizers such as … micellar water, which can help remove dirt and oil from your skin without stripping away some of those natural oils your skin produces,” Reynolds said.

He gives his patients argan oil, which contains vitamin E, natural antioxidants and rose hip oil, which helps minimize signs of aging.

Mohr’s surgical procedures at Pinnacle Dermatology include doing PDO thread lifts, a nonsurgical alternative to facelifts in which threads are inserted under skin layers to stimulate collagen production.

She also uses lasers to remove hair and to resurface for skin concerns such as scarring, sun damage, lines and wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.

Mohr uses peptides, a short chain of amino acids that are building blocks of protein, to help repair and heal bones, tendons and other tissue. Other peptides help with weight loss, increase muscle mass, improve depression and anxiety, and lift energy levels.

While the internet continues to bombard viewers with pictures of vanity gone wrong, giving people misconceptions about all things skin-related, dermatologists urge people to not be swayed by those images.

“There’s so much more than cosmetics,” Mohr said. “I think people underestimate the importance. They don’t think

of chronic skin cancers.”

Reynolds said he agrees that some patients do perceive that the more one does for his or her skin, the more cosmetic concerns they may have.

“This is just not accurate,” he said. “A good skincare routine is not just focused on appearance alone. It’s focused on creating a healthy environment for your skin, as well as minimizing damage, focusing on repairs of old damage and minimizing the overall risk to future damage from the sun and the elements.”

Matt Reynolds, PA-C

Hydrating and softening your skin with a good moisturizer routine is something that I always recommend for patients of all types of skin and of all ages.

NE W SPECIAL IZED INPATIEN T PRO GR AM DE SIGNED JUST FOR WOMEN

SPECIAL IZED IEN T PRO GR AM DE SIGNED FOR WOMEN

DECADES OF CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Since 1983, The BridgeWay has provided behavioral healthcare services to our surrounding communities. Our programs are designed to give each patient individualized care to help manage their symptoms, resolve problems, recognize life stressors and effectively cope with their condition.

Our programs can include:

• Medical and psychological evaluation

Meeting the needs of our community

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healthcare services to our surrounding communities. Our programs are designed to give each patient individualized care to help manage their symptoms, resolve problems, recognize life stressors and effectively cope with their condition.

• 24-hour nursing care

women by prov iding a ca r ing, suppor t ive, st r uctu red env iron ment to help add ress past exper iences a nd

Our programs can include:

Meeting the needs of our community women by prov iding a ca r ing, suppor t ive, st r uctu red env iron ment to help add ress past exper iences a nd

• Medical and psychological evaluation

women by prov iding a ca r ing, suppor t ive, st r uctu red env iron ment to help add ress past exper iences a nd

• Medication management and education (as needed)

• Structured daily clinical program

• Group and family therapy

• Individualized treatment plan

• 24-hour nursing care

• Medication management and education (as needed)

• Structured daily clinical program

• Group and family therapy

We offer a va r iet y of featu res specia lly designed w it h women in m ind Treat ment ca n include a r t, music, a romat herapy, jou r na ling a nd yoga The indiv idua lized t reat ment pla n ca n include assessment, stabilizat ion, focused t reat ment inter vent ions (t rauma-infor med ca re a nd solut ion-focused t herapy) a nd help w it h establishing lin ks to outside com mun it y resou rces so

We offer a va r iet y of featu res specia lly designed w it h women in m ind Treat ment ca n include a r t, music, a romat herapy, jou r na ling a nd yoga The indiv idua lized t reat ment pla n ca n include assessment, stabilizat ion, focused t reat ment inter vent ions (t rauma-infor med ca re a nd solut ion-focused t herapy) a nd help w it h establishing lin ks to outside com mun it y resou rces so

• Scheduled visitation

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• Scheduled visitation

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We offer a va r iet y of featu res specia lly designed w it h women in m ind Treat ment ca n include a r t, music, a romat herapy, jou r na ling a nd yoga The indiv idua lized t reat ment pla n ca n include assessment, stabilizat ion, focused t reat ment inter vent ions (t rauma-infor med ca re a nd solut ion-focused t herapy) a nd help w it h establishing lin ks to outside com mun it y resou rces so

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21 Bridgeway Road • North Little Rock, AR 72113 800-245-0011 or 800-274-3439

• thebridgeway.com

W e c an b e th e answ er you have b ee n look ing fo r. If you o r som eone you k no w n eeds help , we ar e her e Call 800-245-0011 tod ay o r v is it thebridgeway.com.

Physicians are on the medical staff of The BridgeWay, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of The BridgeWay. The facility shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.231468-1588 6/23

thebridgeway com

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Physicians are on the medical staff of The BridgeWay, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of The BridgeWay. The facility shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.

Meeting the needs of our community

What does it mean to be taken care of? At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, it means providing peace of mind. We’ve been taking care of Arkansans for over 70 years, providing affordable, reliable health insurance … to keep you healthy and help you heal. We’re investing in your community to keep this diverse and wonderful state strong. And looking out for your physical, emotional and social health, connecting you with resources, and helping you navigate the healthcare system — so you and the ones you love can live your best life, your whole life long. Take good care, Arkansas.

Take it on the run, BABY

Little Rock Marathon opens registration for 2024 event

By BECCA BONA // Photos submitted

Little Rock’s biggest running event plays host to thousands of athletes.

Just imagine the grit it takes to run so many marathons that you eventually lose count, not to mention the energy and staying power. Although it sounds outlandish, Little Rock Marathon Executive Director Geneva Lamm knows the feeling intimately.

Lamm has been a runner for years. She said she loves the joy that comes with crossing the finish line, and she’s always been an athlete — although she preferred swimming in her younger years. Even though she has had to pull back from running full marathons due to an injury, she remains steeped in the environment, continually working to make the Little Rock Marathon epic, year after year.

How did she get to this point? When did the Little Rock Marathon begin? What can runners expect this year? Read on for all the details from an insider’s perspective.

TRAINING FOR THE PART: LAMM’S JOURNEY TO THE STARTING LINE

Originally born in Kansas, Lamm grew up in Oklahoma before making her way to Dallas to start a career in investment banking. Even then, she gained invaluable skills she would later employ to keep the Little Rock Marathon in check and fully operating.

She said she loved the industry and thrived in her work environment. “When you’re in the investment world, there’s not a tangible thing you’re selling,” she said. “Instead, you’re selling the potential for companies, so it’s the use of blue sky.

“I sell blue sky now [via the marathon]; it’s just that the thing that I’m selling is the opportunity — the hope, the dream — and I care about that because I’ve seen it change people’s lives.”

Lamm made the move to Arkansas after she met her nowhusband. Around the same time, she changed careers and began working as director of development for the Arthritis Foundation. The foundation was a chosen cause for her, having previously been diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Part of her duties, interestingly enough, included helping start the organization’s national running group, Joints in Motion.

Through this, she was involved with taking teams all over the world to run various races and eventually decided she wanted to be on the starting line instead of the sidelines. She started training for the next marathon on the schedule, which happened to be in Dublin in the late 1990s. All that time spent on logistics and getting teams to and from races didn’t necessarily prepare her for what it was like to actually run one herself. She remembers nearing the end of that first race as clear as day.

“It used to finish on O’Connell Street, which is a main street in Dublin, and mile 26 was down this alleyway. I was like, where’s the finish line?” she said, laughing.

“This guy — I don’t know who he was. I still don’t know. I just must have had that

look — he just jumped right in the middle of the street. He’s like, ‘You are awesome!’”

She quickly rounded the corner, and there was the finish line, complete with a feeling Lamm never forgot. “I am not kidding you. I felt like an Olympian,” she said. After that, she said she knew she wanted everybody to feel that way.

It was 2002 when she was roped into spearheading the Little Rock Marathon, which at that point, didn’t exist. Bryan Day, director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation at the time, asked if she would get involved. The first race occurred in 2003, and Lamm hasn’t looked back since.

In those early days, she worked closely with her small team, which included fellow Executive Director of the Little Rock Marathon Gina Pharis, who recently retired.

The duo was a powerhouse team. Pharis tended more to the operational side of things, as well developing and cultivating relationships. Lamm primarily focused more on the business and money side, as well as the creative elements that went into putting on the themed regional event.

For the last few years, she has worked closely with race director Mike Garrity who specializes in event management and safety.

“He’s been my partner in crime for a while now,” Lamm said. “Mike is such an asset ... The safety of the race is very, very important.”

Fast forward to 2023, and her staff includes her family, as well, from the starting gun to the finish line.

“I’m part of a crew, you know. It most definitely is a family affair,” she said. “My son is the race announcer, and my husband is part of the ops crew until the race starts and then he morphs into the DJ. My stepsons also work as the finish-line coordinator and the runner services coordinator.”

ALMOST HALFWAY THERE: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE LITTLE ROCK MARATHON

There are tons of moving parts that put the Little Rock Marathon into motion each year. The list includes everything from choosing the theme to ensuring the training schedule is available and making sure registration is running smoothly, and these are only a few of the long list of to-dos.

First off, the financial aspect is a huge lift. The staff dedicated to the Little Rock Marathon is housed under Little Rock Parks and Recreation, however the race is not paid for with city funds. It is quite the opposite. The Little Rock Marathon gives money back to the department.

“You know, it puts parks out there, and there’s some recognition for parks,” Lamm said. “I think our department is the worst at telling its own story, and it does so many good things.”

All across the country, parks and rec departments are experiencing the unfortunate realities of shrinking budgets and reduced staffs. Lamm’s seasoned staff get things done thanks to a pervasive sense of teamwork. Case in point: the ever-changing theme.

“You know, the first, I don’t know, 10 to 15 years, it was easy to come up with a theme. Now it gets a little more challenging,” she said. “People don’t understand. It’s not something that we just kind of throw out there and see if it sticks.”

Research, color analysis and various trends go into the big decision, all to come up with a banner that people enjoy and can have fun with. The task is so big, the team works ahead and is already well into planning 2025’s race, even while runners from across the region prep for the 2024 dinosaur-themed run.

I don’t care if they run, walk or skip. I want people to feel their finish is just as important as the people that win the race.

- Gina Lamm Executive Director

Under Gina Lamm's leadership, the Little Rock Marathon has become a city-wide celebration in which runners are greeted by citizens of all ages in multiple neighborhoods.

Like all outdoor events, the Little Rock Marathon is somewhat at the mercy of the weather, but it takes some pretty awful conditions to derail the event. Experience has helped the team build various contingencies for Mother Nature. In fact, Lamm used to run the course every year in February before the big event in March to get a participant’s perspective.

“When people come to our race, they have come to test themselves,” she said. “When you have something like the weather or a change in routes, even if it’s for their own safety, we have to look at the bigger picture for that.”

Those wondering if they should run the race can feel encouraged from both a safety standpoint and a community standpoint. The Little Rock Marathon distinguishes itself by its welcoming attitude toward to runners of all types, including newbies.

“Forty percent of our marathon and half-marathon are firsttimers,” Lamm said. “I am very proud of that because they’re trusting us with that first-time race experiences, and we always try to deliver all those extra little surprises that people get. That’s the fun part.”

Beyond rookies, the event is inclusive in other ways. The Little Rock Marathon has an eight-hour time limit to complete — one of the few in the entire world that long. Lamm and the team want to reach as many groups as possible who might be interested in running.

“We don’t have a running division or walking division,” Lamm said. “You’re all athletes, and, you know, we’re trying to embrace everybody now. I want to expand the groups that we touch where people may be afraid or don’t think they can do it.

“We just want to reach out more to people in different communities. I don’t care if they run, walk or skip. I want people to feel their finish is just as important as the people that win the race.”

This desire to make participants’ accomplishments special is reflected in the awards, something for which the Little Rock Marathon is nationally known. Finisher’s medals across all distances are large, and the longer the race, the more eye-popping the medals become. The outrageous medal sizing – the marathon version is roughly the size of a salad plate – came about in the early days of the run, after Lamm and a friend ran a race where the marathon and 5K medals were the same size.

“We decided you should get a medal that’s the size of your achievement,” Lamm said. As for the 2024 event, she’s excited to

hang the new medals, a dinosaur in both theme and dimensions. “Who doesn’t love a dinosaur?” Lamm asked, smiling. “I think this thing is going to be fun.”

LET IT RUN ITS COURSE: BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY BAKERY

There are countless volunteers, as well as an entire committee, that make the event dynamic. Perhaps the best part, though, is its economic impact and burgeoning running community of welcoming enthusiasts.

Community Bakery’s owner, John Brandenberger, will be the

first to tell you that he loves running, although he can’t do it as much these days. He has participated in three half-marathons, but he was not ready for the comradery that punctuates the Little Rock Marathon experience.

“I have had pretty amazing experiences running in the Little Rock Marathon,” Brandenberger said. “The connection you feel in the rest of the pack, as I call them, is pretty magical to me.”

The race’s route closes the street in front of Community Bakery’s downtown location. This alone should warrant Brandenberger’s distaste for the event; however, quite the opposite rings true.

“The challenge for any restaurant when you hear that your street is going to be closed down for a day and a half is, people go into panic mode,” he said. “What honestly we found is that actually it has a significant impact on our business before and after the event.”

Brandenberger is a huge supporter of the Little Rock Marathon, especially because of its impact on the city and The Natural State at large.

“It’s smart for any local business to be involved with these events,” he said. “You’re attracting a bunch of people who aren’t familiar with Little Rock and central Arkansas.”

Brandenberger and his team go all-in: think a special-release cookie based on the marathon’s theme or a coffee for those runners still wearing their bibs.

Hundreds of volunteers help provide runners the ultimate marathon expereince.

“As corny as it sounds, it’s in our name, Community Bakery. We want to do things that impact our community,” Brandenberger explained. “When you do stuff that puts money and interest in your own community, it eventually comes back to you in some form or fashion.”

FROM THE TRAINING ROUTE: A RUNNER’S PERSPECTIVE

Little Rock local Shannon Lausch originally moved to The Natural State to work at a local archive. Her foray into running came about six years ago by accident — something she credits to the Little Rock Hash House Harriers.

Hash House Harriers is an international running club of the social ilk that originated in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1938. Laid-back runs have ensued ever since throughout the world with the favored epithet, “A drinking club with a running problem.”

The Little Rock chapter was founded in 1974. The local Hashers can be found like clockwork every Sunday and Wednesday evening throughout the city wearing brightly colored costumes, hashing in a pack.

Since her introduction to the running club, Lausch has found her stride in running. She has since participated in three marathons and also enjoys supporting runners from the sidelines.

“I think the one thing that really separates the Little Rock Marathon from others — besides the giant shiny medal — is the unadulterated enthusiasm from spectators,” Lausch said. “It’s motivating to see people cheer you on at almost every segment of the course.

Littles Rock’s giant finisher medals are the stuff of legend.

“People even improvise unofficial aid stations to help out, the best being the Little Rock Hash House Harriers about a mile from the finish. If you know, you know.”

Similar to Lausch, runner Francisco Perez Colon said the medals are a huge draw for runners. Originally from Puerto Rico, Perez Colon is a member of the United States Air Force and is currently stationed at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville.

An avid runner, he has participated in 26 marathons, 36 ultramarathons and more than 10 half-marathons. He was particularly proud, however, of being able to run with a friend.

“This year was my first Little Rock Marathon,” he said. “I think the most special thing about the Little Rock Marathon is the medal, but the standout memory I have is that I paced a friend on her second marathon ever.”

Perez Colon’s hot take for potential runners: 1) sign up and 2) always prepare for the weather.

LITTLE ROCK MARATHON STATS

- The Little Rock Marathon began in 2003.

- Participants since inception: more than 320,000.

- There have been participants from all 50 states and 41 different countries since the inception.

- Estimated $3 million in local spending annually.

- Benefits Little Rock Parks and Recreation (estimated $1.3 donated since inception).

- Average distance traveled to participate: 244 miles.

-

Acclaimed by Runner’s World, Marathon & Beyond, marathonguide.com, Fitness Magazine and numerous media outlets around the world.

- Fastest men’s marathon finish: Mark Chepses, 36, Des Moines, IA (2:19:45).

- Fastest women’s marathon finish: Leah Thorvilson, 35, Little Rock (2:42:39).

March 2-3, Downtown Little Rock Registration is open! Visit littlerockmarathon.com.

2023 PARTICIPANTS AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN

- 19 & younger: 5%

- 20 - 34: 22%

- 35 - 49: 39%

- 50 - 64: 26%

- 65 & older: 7%

- Male: 39%

- Female: 60%

- Nonbinary: 1%

2023 PARTICIPANTS RESIDENCY BREAKDOWN

- Tourists: 48% (60 miles or more)

- Local: 52% (60 miles or less)

- 50 States

- 14 different countries

- Top six states:

Arkansas

Texas

- Oldest finisher: 88 years old, 2023 half marathon.

- Estimated 20,000 spectators.

- Vendors: 51 (2023).

- Volunteers: 1,041 (2023).

2024 Little Rock Marathon

The

By Nichole Singleton // Photo submitted

Baseball, political campaigns and law school aren’t topics that immediately illustrate a collective synergy. In fact, the connection among the three may be too elusive for one to recognize. For Pulaski County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Drew Dorsey, however, the intertwining of this trio has guided her education and career pathways and recently earned her recognition as a 2023 Future 50 honoree by Arkansas Money & Politics.

Of the three, baseball has always been a defining constant throughout Dorsey’s life. As a child, Dorsey recalls spending many games at Ray Winder Field in Little Rock watching the Arkansas Travelers with her father, Keith Dorsey. The Little Rock native also inherited her father’s love for the Atlanta Braves, he being a native of Georgia. The duo rarely missed watching Braves games together.

In fact, of all the joyful memories she holds of baseball that strengthened her love of the sport, she said the “craziest joy” she has experienced was witnessing the Braves win the 2021 World Series with her dad, an event coming full circle from their father-daughter moments at Ray Winder Field.

“A few years back, when I was in college, Major League Baseball made the MLB TV app where you could subscribe and watch all of the games that weren’t on TV in your local area,” Dorsey said. “Which was great for us since the Braves are hardly ever anywhere near Arkansas.”

For Dorsey, some of her favorite memories with her family, as both a child and an adult, are attending Braves games. She’s even named one of her dogs after current Braves’ second baseman Ozzie Albies. It’s an attachment she has held literally all of her life.

“My mom, Coco Dorsey, was actually pregnant with me at the 1995 World Series-winning game for the Braves,” she said. “When you have those huge, fond memories, and have something that connects you to the people you love most, it makes it easy to fall in love with that thing, which, for me, is baseball.”

The community and camaraderie that encompasses the game is what Dorsey gravitates to most. Fans from different backgrounds fill the stands to watch players from contrasting cultures and experiences, all for a common enjoyment.

“Like all sports, [baseball] brings people from all walks of life together on the field and in the stands,” Dorsey said. “I can’t tell you the type of joy I’ve felt watching fireworks go off at a ballpark because someone hit a home run or watching my little brother pitch lights-out in a Little League game when we were kids.”

The joy of America’s pastime also charted her course towards professional opportunities. After graduating from Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock in 2014, Dorsey enrolled at the University of Arkansas to pursue a degree in journalism with a focus on advertising and public relations. Looking to combine her degree with her love of the game, Dorsey elected to follow a career in sports, but through a different pathway.

“I decided I wanted a career in sports, but it wasn’t until some work in sports broadcasting that I realized sports journalism wasn’t really my thing,” she said. “So, I began considering the business side of sports.”

Her career path started with two key pieces of advice. Her father encouraged her to be the driver of her career rather than letting it pick her, emboldening her to follow her own path. A family friend, a baseball player representative, helped channel her energies into pursuing a career

"You have to believe ... that you are totally capable of kicking butt."

Drew Dorsey brings diverse skill set to legal career

as an agent, noting if he were to do it over, he would have started in law school.

On that advice, Dorsey began researching the sports representation profession and law, ultimately making the leap to law school.

“This seemed like a big commitment to make, not knowing if I would ever be able to work for an agency,” she said. “But when it came down to it, it would give me a degree that I could do a lot of things.”

Ambition and an eye for opportunity steered Dorsey through each avenue of her academic and professional journey to come. She graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2018 before enrolling in law school at William H. Bowen School of Law in Little Rock. During two summers of law school, she worked internships at ESQ Agency in Nashville and Rosenhaus Sports Representation in Miami.

The relationships Dorsey established during her internships are still valued in her work today. One of the fondest moments she experienced at Rosenhaus was seeing Shane Bieber, a right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians and RSR client, receive the call-up for the 2019 MLB All-Star Game. Making the pitching roster as a late replacement required some last-minute marketing heroics from Dorsey and the RSR team, but Dorsey said seeing Bieber come into the game during the fifth inning before earning the game’s Most Valuable Player recognition made it all worth it.

“I can remember my dad calling me and saying, ‘That’s your guy’,” Dorsey said. “In truth, I had never met [Bieber], but I still felt so proud and so happy that I could be a part of his All-Star week, even if he had no idea who I was and still doesn’t.”

Dorsey was set to spend a second summer with Rosenhaus until COVID-19 halted the sports industry. While most of the world waited for doors of opportunity to open, Dorsey got to work reaching out to contacts via LinkedIn. Needing an internship for the fall semester, she connected with a close friend who was campaign manager for French Hill’s reelection bid to Congress. She was brought aboard as an intern and spent a lot of her time writing and attending events. The experience provided an opportunity to stay on in 2022 as a political director.

“I really loved that role,” Dorsey said. “It was

so interesting, insightful and entertaining to meet people from all over central Arkansas who are community leaders and stand up to make their community and area of the state better.”

Never one to waste a mentor, Dorsey said her time working for Hill was invaluable from a growth perspective.

“[Hill] loves Arkansas and wants what is best for its people, as I do too, which is how I think I ended up in the prosecutor’s office,” Dorsey said. “I passed the bar while working on the campaign, so I knew I was going to start practicing once it was wrapped up, but I didn’t know where. I knew that I wanted to do something that would make a difference to my community that has been home to many generations of my family and hopefully more to come.”

Dorsey serves her community both professionally, as deputy prosecuting attorney, and by devoting time through volunteering and service. Community impact isn’t a new concept for Dorsey; as a student of Mount St. Mary, she volunteered often as part of the institution’s core values. It was also something intensely personal, stemming from her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis when Dorsey was 10 years old, leading the family to volunteer with the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

“Between my parents, the Mount, my college sorority and the student body government at [University of] Arkansas, they’ve instilled in me that part of the reason I am here on this earth, and have gone through the experiences that I have and have the blessings that I have is all to help others,” she said.

Another impactful volunteer opportunity has been her work with Miracle League, something that goes back to her college days. The organization allows children with mental and physical disabilities to play baseball on a modified field. It’s a cause that combines many of the things Dorsey is most passionate about, and with her sister, Lilly, she spends the day at the ballpark with the kids a few times a year.

“This is my favorite volunteering opportunity,” Dorsey said. “These kids get to spend a day doing what society deems ‘normal’ – playing in a Little League game – and the joy they have, even with all they have going on, radiates to everyone around them.”

Dorsey also devotes time to Mount St. Mary's by speaking with students. She said

she wants to present herself as an example for them to follow, and as someone closer to their age, she can offer them real-world insights about what awaits them and what they can accomplish in life.

“I think being a teenager is really hard, and being a student at Mount is also hard,” Dorsey said. “Mount expects a lot from its students, but it also made me totally prepared for college and even law school. I want the girls at Mount to know that it’s okay to not know what you want to be when you grow up, it’s okay to not be good at a certain subject, and it’s okay to not go to some fancy or far-off college.”

As a woman in the legal field and part of a younger generation of attorneys, Dorsey wants to encourage and reach others in the same way her mentors poured into her through the years. The biggest attribute one can have as a prosecuting attorney, she said, is believing in themselves and believing in what they can do.

“As a prosecuting attorney, I think you have to know that at the end of the day, you are making your community safer, even if things don’t always go the way you hope they will,” she said. “You have to believe that you are doing the best you can, and that you are totally capable of kicking butt at your job, win or lose.”

As for the secret ingredient to her success, Dorsey said the ability and willingness to listen is vastly underrated, something she herself had to learn through experience. It's the best way to learn and ensure the job is done professionally, she said, which is why she reminds herself do it every day.

“This has been, sometimes, the hardest thing for me because I like to talk things through and analyze everything in a very logical way,” she said, “but it is so vital to the legal profession, and especially as a prosecutor, to stop talking, stop trying to think of what you’re going to say next, stop trying to make it all make sense and instead, listen.”

Baseball, political campaigns and law school may be the surface of Drew Dorsey, but dive deeper and it is clear that her true superpowers lie in passion, service and community. Looking ahead, she said she believes there is always room for improvement – of herself, her job and her commitment to others.

“I always want to be someone my friends, family and colleagues are proud of and proud to know,” she said.

MILLERS We’re the

Searcy family bonds over faith, football

By DWAIN HEBDA // Photos By SARAH PARSONS

Todd Miller is the King of Dad Jokes. Talk to him about his wife, Marcie, who ran track in college, and he can’t resist telling you he “married a fast woman.” Get him going on his family, which includes four sons Easton, Isaac, Andrew and Owen, and he proudly refers to the household as the Miller Six-Pack. It’s an endearing quality, this mild-mannered goofiness, and one that instantly paints a picture in one’s mind of the kind of parent he’s been to his four sons, hand in hand with Marcie.

“We want them to be confident, believe in themselves, believe in a big God,” Todd said. “But confidence without humility leads to arrogance. We talk about that a lot: don’t get too high, don’t get too low.”

There have been far more highs than lows for the Miller boys in life, thanks in large part to sports, particularly football. The three older boys are all college-grade athletes, making the football roster at Harding University in Searcy while Owen, a high school junior, is the starting quarterback at football powerhouse Harding Academy, which took second in the state last season.

The brothers share six state titles among them – three in football and one in baseball for Andrew; one each in football for Owen and Isaac, all

at Harding Academy. Easton was a member of the state runner-up team his senior year in Bentonville, right before the family moved back to Searcy where their mom spent some of her growing up and where their parents met while attending Harding University.

“Marcie and I had classes together freshman year and I noticed her quickly,” Todd said. “Then a lot of other guys did, so I had to wait in line. But I got to know her brother, a teammate of mine on the baseball team. He was our best pitcher, and he’s an incredible guy. Once I got to know him, I knew what kind of guy she’d be looking for because they were really close. He approved of me, and that’s the only reason we could start dating.”

Marcie’s brother may have felt the need to be protective, but talk to her a little and you get the impression she’s no one’s damsel in distress. Not only could she hold her own growing up in a family that included two sisters who were collegiate basketball players (at, where else, Harding University) but she also had the mettle to home-school her four boys during their formative years. Back then, sports were less about future state titles or scholarships than it was running off their energy.

“Our boys are all boy and I’m so thankful for that,” she said. “They’re not really designed to just sit at a desk all day. For five years, I really knew I was supposed to keep them home for more than just education purposes, and there were times we all needed to go have a release. I would say, ‘Everybody get your shoes on and head outside. You’re going

Easton, Issac, Marcie, Todd, Andrew and Owen Miller

to run, you’re going to jump, you’re going to climb.’

“You learn that way, too. It wasn’t about necessarily training them for a sport; it’s just you see the value in letting them have that release, gain strength, even compete with each other. Valuable stuff and you always feel better afterwards. Sometimes you don’t want to do it at the time, but they would usually get refocused, and me too.”

Given the kids’ concentration on, and success in, football it is easy to assume they were pushed into it by parents or other relatives. Yet to a man, the four boys say as much as they chose football, the game chose them.

“I first started playing football in fourth grade,” said Easton, 24. “My dad and my mom wanted me to try out every sport and see if I liked any of them. Once I started playing football when I was younger, I really liked it and decided that was the one for me. I just kind of fell in love with the game.”

During his career, Easton played a number of positions, but always had an affinity for running back. At Bentonville, his speed and hands landed him at running back, wideout and in the defensive secondary, but nothing compared to carrying the ball.

“I love the running back position,” he said. “When I was little, we lived in Alabama. I went to some Alabama games and got to watch Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. That just looked really fun to me, carrying the ball. I wanted to do that.

“I modeled my game completely after Christian McCaffrey (now with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers). Even his freshman year, when he didn’t really play at Stanford, I watched whatever film I could of him. I tried to be a very patient runner who let blocks develop and really worked on pass protection. I also tried to be a good blocker because I was never the fastest guy, but I had quick feet and I ran good routes. I just ran really hard.”

Isaac, who’d make a name for himself at wide receiver, initially stuck to the backyard variety of football until sixth grade when “we realized we could put pads on and actually hit people. Then I was like, ‘Yeah I’ll do that.’”

There’s something in Isaac’s tone that sets him apart from his brothers, a polite but palpable bluntness that has come from the unfortunate reality of multiple football injuries that have hampered his career. More raw than rah-rah, he tends to keep his brothers grounded in reality. So when he describes how much it means to him to be able to share the field with his brothers, you know it’s coming from the heart.

“I could see my brothers as being my best friends, even if they weren’t

my brothers,” said Isaac, 22. “We’ll work with each other in the summer. We go to the weight room, we sweat together we go to practice together. We’re just always around each other and luckily we actually like each other, too. It’s awesome, it’s pretty cool.”

Given the age spread, there was never a season where all four brothers played on the same squad. Last year came closest when Easton and Isaac were joined on the Harding University roster by Andrew, fresh off of three straight state championship runs and holder of a fistful of individual Harding Academy rushing records.

Easton and Isaac talk about seeing early signs of athletic greatness in Andrew as he plowed over hapless would-be tacklers from the backyard all the way through high school. Now standing 6’1” and 220 pounds, Andrew, 20, is built like a superhero in shoulder pads, as fast as Isaac and more chiseled than Easton. The thought of one defender bringing him down at full steam is laughable.

Easton, Issac, Andrew and Owen Miller

“[The boys] are all strong, but he’s got a little different level,” Todd said of the third-born. “God smiled on him a little extra.”

“It was always fun as kids because I had people to compete against to make us better, both me and my brothers,” Andrew said of his growing up. “We’re always competing against each other, but in the end, you know, we’re on the same team. I got to play with all my brothers, got to play with my youngest brother for a year in high school. I got to play with my second oldest brother for a year in high school and I got to play with [Easton and Isaac] both in college. We all want to be the best, but we also want each other to succeed.”

“We all beat up on each other. We didn’t care how big or small the other person was,” Isaac said. “I think it definitely helped Andrew and Owen more than they realized at the time. Once they got older and they went up against guys that were bigger and stronger, they wouldn’t get down on themselves, they would find a way to win. They were doing that with Easton and me all the time. We were always just really competitive.”

For Andrew’s part, he’s tried to hand down the unique brand of brotherly love to baby brother Owen, who’s already getting some attention of his own from college programs.

“It’s just like my brothers supported me and how much they wanted me to succeed. I learned from them,” Andrew said. “The encouragement that they give me I kind of hand that on down to Owen so he knows and feels like he’s one of the best athletes on the field, so that he can play like it.”

Easton, Isaac and Andrew all conceded that Owen might just turn out to be the best of the bunch. In his debut season as a starter, Harding Academy’s first year stepping up to 4A classification, Owen threw for 3,700 yards, 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions while running for five more scores. His 79.1 percent completion percentage set an Arkansas record for accuracy and was one of the top percentages in the country.

“I always knew in the back of my mind that QB was probably what I was going to be, but I didn’t always get to play that early on,” said Owen, 17. “The first year, in fourth grade, when I got to play quarterback, it kind of scared me. I was always nervous because I was on a travel team and I wasn’t really ready for it. Then, the next couple years, I played running back, receiver and safety and a lot of other positions. When I moved back to Searcy, I’ve been quarterback since seventh grade. It’s been good.”

Owen gives a lot of the credit for his development to Easton, who saw his kid brother’s gift early and worked to develop it.

“I had a decent arm as a kid,” Owen said. “I don’t remember super well from when I was young, but Easton could see the potential and thought I was going to be a quarterback, so he would work with me. From then on, I just would throw around for fun and stuff during recess and in the backyard. I would say it clicked early on.”

“Isaac and I always knew that [Andrew and Owen] were going to be the two best among us, partly because of their athletic ability and their work ethic, but also because we were there to help them,” Easton said. “Andrew was just a lot more jacked than all the other kids and was just faster. He just really paid attention to everything. His attention to detail is so great.

“Owen, from the time he was really little, I knew he was going to be pretty special as well. He just loved the game, and he could sit all Sunday and watch football with me all day. We could talk ball all day. He just had the mind of a quarterback as a young kid, and he could throw the football further than any other kid his age. That kind of stuck out to me as well.”

If Eastin sounds like a coach, it’s because in the next chapter of his

life that’s what he hopes to be. Now a graduate student whose organized football days are behind him, he is studying strength conditioning with the hopes of being a personal trainer. He has already taken on clients in the MMA world, training Arkansas-born UFC professional Bryce Mitchell.

“I’m sparring, I’m rolling with them. I get beat up a lot. It’s really fun,” Easton said. “It’s also an opportunity for me as a mission. I’ve been able to connect with some fighters and talk with them about the Lord and be able to just befriend them and show kindness. Those guys all come from pretty rough backgrounds. It’s been a good part for me this year.”

If Easton is the coach, Andrew the specimen and Owen the natural, Isaac is the acknowledged inspirational leader of the four. A walk-on at Harding University, Isaac has lost several years to injuries, only to fight his way back every time. While he shakes off any accolades, calling his attitude “just pure stubbornness,” his family sees it differently.

“Isaac’s definitely the most inspiring out of all of us, just because of everything he’s had to go through,” said Easton, who’s had his own share of dings in his career. “He’s had so many injuries, and he’s just never stopped. He just kept going. I think if he was healthy his whole career, he would have had a much better high school career and a better college career as well.”

“I knew pretty early on that I really wouldn’t care who else offered; I still wanted to go to Harding [University] because both my brothers were there and I have three cousins on the team as well,” Andrew said. “To me it was obvious. I was like, ‘I’m going to go play with my brothers and live the dream.’”

It might be fitting for Owen to echo that refrain when the time comes, but the fact hanging over the head of the Miller family is that Harding University’s offensive scheme doesn’t play to Owen’s strengths as a passer. This fact creates the possibility, however premature, that the story of the Miller boys and football won’t end as neatly as any of them might have hoped.

“It’s a couple years down the road,” Owen said with a shrug. “I really don’t know how good I am yet compared to other people when it comes to the collegiate level and playing quarterback. I guess after the next year or two, I’ll see if it’s really something I want to go after and do. But it would be pretty cool to play at Harding with my brother again.”

Todd and Marcie stay mum on the possibility of Owen playing for Harding University or anywhere else for that matter. That bridge will be before them soon enough, and so for right now, it’s enough to spend these precious Friday nights cheering for the Wildcats and those glorious Saturday afternoons rooting on the Bison. Through every up and down, every win and loss, every leaping catch and minute of rehab, they’ve done what they could to do right by their boys. What happens next is up to God, from whom their sons are on loan and for whose glory they live.

“Our boys, they’re not going to just let somebody run all over them, but they’re also going to play with respect,” Marcie said. “We always expected them to be good teammates and lead well. We’re not trying to have them be somebody else, but to realize you need to find somebody you look up to and find somebody to mentor as well. Be a good teammate. Compete. Don’t get run over. Don’t be a doormat, but you’re going to stay humble. That hasn’t been a problem.”

“Sometimes you have losses and sometimes you have injuries, and our kids have had to persevere through some injuries,” Todd said. “It’s not fun. We know God turns setbacks into comebacks, but in the meantime, it still stinks. That’s where you really find out what kind of a man you are. It’s good to have adversity. You don’t ask for it or like it. But how do you navigate through that? How do you respond? We talk about it a lot in our family: Complain or compete – what are you going to do?”

“WE ALWAYS EXPECTED THEM TO BE GOOD TEAMMATES AND LEAD WELL. WE’RE NOT TRYING TO HAVE THEM BE SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT TO REALIZE YOU NEED TO FIND SOMEBODY YOU LOOK UP TO AND FIND SOMEBODY TO MENTOR AS WELL.”

- MARCIE MILLER

– By Jason Pederson

This side of SEVEN A Novel approach Lifeto

When she was 9 years old, Lana Manry read the book “ Runaway Alice.”

Written by

Frances

Salomon Murphy

and published in 1951 by Scholastic Book Services, its 118 pages tell the story of Alice Wright, who is “about 12 years old.” We’re not sure about Alice’s age, because a child’s parents usually keep track of that kind of stuff and, well, Alice doesn’t have any parents. Her mother is dead and Alice’s father took a job out-of-state, leaving Alice behind with another family. Six years later he has remarried and is driving back to reclaim Alice when both he and his new wife are killed in a terrible car accident.

The book is titled “ Runaway Alice ” because after Alice becomes a ward of the state and placed in foster homes, she has a tendency to run. When asked by a social worker why she keeps running away, Alice explains, “They were awfully good to me. It just doesn’t seem like my home.”

“My take on the book at that age was that there was a child in foster care and she kept running from home to home to home,” said Manry, who read the book nearly 60 years ago. “A caseworker finally cared enough and got involved in her life. And when she did, that child

stopped running because she finally had someone that connected and truly cared about her. And, oddly enough, at 9 years of age, I said I’m going to be like that someday.”

Manry did turn out like a character in the book but not the character she remembers, Miss Cannon, written as a truly devoted and caring caseworker. Instead, Alice finally stops running only after she is placed with the Potters, an older couple willing to foster children on their farm, now that their three boys have grown and moved away.

Mrs. Potter really only wants to foster boys, since that is all she has ever known. Cannon convinces the Potters to take Alice just for a few weeks to help buy her some time while she searches for another placement. Alice, their first foster child (but not their last) finally finds her home.

Jeremy Loftis was the first foster child placed in Lana and Steven Manry’s home. It was 1999.

“My mom was an alcoholic and on drugs,” said Loftis, now 43. “I got beat up by my momma and DHS was called. Northside Elementary School (Cabot) called DHS on me when I was in school. That is when they took me … and put me in foster care.”

Ten years later, at the age of 18, Loftis was placed with the Manrys.

“I was defiant,” said Loftis. “Disobedient. I wasn’t what you would call easy. I wasn’t a very good child, I know that. I had a lot of anger issues, you know what I mean? A lot of hard-headedness.

“I was probably in 100 or something foster homes. But I had never been in a foster home with people who cared as much [as the Manrys], you know? Mom and Dad had very loving hearts. A lot of people looked at me as a foster child, but in Mom and Dad’s eyes, there wasn’t no ‘foster.’ I was just their child.”

And just as more foster children followed Alice into the Potters’ home, many more followed Loftis into the Manry home. How many? To date, around 375.

“Back then, there were no limits in the home,” Manry said. “There were weekends when we had 13, 14 kids. And that was OK; as long as you had 50 square feet per child and a bed for each child, you could have as many as your home could support.

“It’s kind of a running joke that it is my fault that they had to set limits, because I would say yes every time. But, I mean, if they called and told me a sibling group was going to have to stay at the office, no! We’re not going to do that.”

For most of her fostering journey, Lana had her husband at her side. Fostering was always her thing, but he was Lana’s support system. Steven was overweight and suffered from chronic pain, and by 2014, he started having kidney problems. On Dec. 23, 2016, he went in for hernia surgery and to begin kidney dialysis. Steven died three days later.

“Things changed, but life went on,” said Lana. “It changed in that – you’re going to make me cry – I didn’t have my person. The person you can say anything to, and they still love you. You can tell them anything and there is no judgment. I miss him dearly. I didn’t want to continue fostering alone, I didn’t think I was capable of doing it alone.”

“Her heart is like gold,” said Loftis. “She knows how to keep going, keep moving, keep helping. She’s an amazing woman.”

When it comes to the short time he spent with Steven and Lana, Loftis’ rough edges melt away. (“She’s my angel,” he said. “I know that.”) Today, he’s father to four of his own kids, three daughters and a son, ages 24 to 12. He has lived in northwest Arkansas since 2017 and works for Tyson foods.

“The No. 1 chicken supplier in the world. I keep feeding America, you know?” he said with a laugh.

In addition to the kindness shown by the Potters, other truths in the fictional account of “ Runaway Alice ” have stuck in Lana’s subconscious. On

page 4, it states children wind up in state custody “through no fault of their own,” and on page 86, Miss Cannon states “Alice is a fine girl, but unfortunately she’s a little too old to be adopted. Everyone seems to want babies.”

Steven and Lana adopted nine kids out of those hundreds of children who passed through their home, most of them teenagers or close to it. And in the years since Steven’s passing, Lana has adopted two more. As far as babies versus teens, her stance is clear.

“My pitch is, take in teenagers,” she said. “With teenagers, you know what you got. You can reason with them. The hardest part about teenagers is convincing them that you love them, no matter what.

“I have one, she kept running away. And she said, ‘Why do you keep chasing me down?’ ‘Because I love you.’ ‘Why do you love me when my own parents don’t?’ ‘Because I’m not them. I am who I am.’ I mean, It was the hardest thing for her, to accept that.”

A book about a girl, read by a girl 60 years ago, continues to impact the lives of Arkansas girls and boys today.

Arkansas Foster Parents of the Year Winners

For her many years of service to the children of Arkansas, Manry was named a 2023 Foster Parent of the Year by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, one of 10 foster families around the state to be so honored.

Other area winners include:

• Patrick and Becky Stewart of Fort Smith (2023 Arkansas Foster Parents of the Year)

• Jimmy and Cara Gulledge of Fayetteville

• Dennis and Natalie Berry of Pearcy

• Michael and Tisha Launius of Magnolia

• Robbie and Megan Hurtt of Conway

• John and Carolyn Tyler of Little Rock

• Junior and Sheila Hancock of Paragould

• Blake and Amy Headley of Searcy

• Don and Amy Edmondson of Stuttgart

JASON PEDERSON

For two decades, Jason Pederson served as KATV-Channel 7’s Seven On Your Side reporter. Now on the other “side” of his award-winning time on the news, he now serves as Deputy Chief of Community Engagement for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. His perspective-filled and thought-provoking column, “This Side of Seven,” publishes exclusively in AY About You magazine monthly.

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MURDER MYSTERY: STRANGERS AMONG US

– By Sarah Russell –

There are strangers among us, and some of them are evil. As we go about our busy lives, they slip into our communities unnoticed. Then they watch. Theirs are not crimes of passion but of opportunity. And what better opportunity for a crime than a small-town jewelry store at closing time?

The family behind Staton’s Jewelry were people of quiet grace and unrelenting determination. Rheumatoid arthritis dominated Kenneth Staton’s life. Marrying him, he had warned Ruth, would not make for a fairytale. Undaunted, she said her vows and, in better and worse times, she remained his wife for 30 years. That is, until the strangers came to town.

Even after he became wheelchair-bound, Kenneth was determined to provide for his family. Despite unrelenting pain, he became proficient in watch repair, a skill that led to owning a jewelry store. A true family business, Ruth and two of the couple’s daughters often worked alongside him. None of them were naive to the dangers that such a store invited, especially at closing time. But Kenneth just could not bring himself to buy a gun.

Then they came – two strangers who pulled off Highway 64 into Van Buren’s Cloverleaf Plaza Shopping Center. They did not wander into Staton’s store at random, but casually looked around and lingered in the store for a bit. Today would not be the day for their crime. Instead, they turned back onto the highway, heading to a campground on Beaver Lake near Horseshoe Bend.

By the time Damon and Loralei Peterson pulled into their campsite, that old Cadillac of theirs was about to give it up. The young guy at the next campsite looked like he was too. Camping was not really Rick Anderson’s thing – drinking and drugs were.

Anderson and his girlfriend had been working a carnival which was reopening soon in Fort Smith. For now, all they had was a Harley-Davidson, two sleeping bags and very little money. Damon Peterson made sure none of that was a problem, sharing food, beer, weed and even his pop-up camper with the couple.

After a few days of Anderson steadily taking his bait, Peterson gave the line a good yank. I'm doing a jewelry store heist, Peterson said. How about you help with that? Anderson immediately realized that

Peterson’s tone meant it was not really a question.

The two men headed to Van Buren, this time parking at Safeway directly across the highway from Staton’s. Anderson might have been a novice at this, but Peterson certainly was not. There was still prep to be done, including Anderson going into Staton’s to see the store’s layout. Then late in the day, Peterson called out to a woman crossing the simmering blacktop of the parking lot, “Hey, do you want to get some beers together?” It began that way – the woman joining them for beers at the Terry Motel. Anderson was usually catnip to women, but it was Peterson who she took home for the night.

Peterson was all business when he met up with Anderson the next day. In the motel room, he laid out guns and a silencer on the bed, telling Anderson to grab a couple of washcloths to gag their victims — just to keep them quiet, Peterson told Anderson. They rode back over to the Safeway, watching and waiting. Soon it would be closing time. They crossed the highway on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1980.

Those who came upon the scene later saw the robbery was the least of it; Kenneth Staton and his youngest daughter, Suzanne, had been shot execution style. The cops had a crime scene, Ruth Staton had a husband and child to bury, and two couples up at Horseshoe Bend had a party, complete with a jewelry show.

Peterson moved methodically the next day, burning the price tags and ring holders in the fire pit, trading the Cadillac for an inconspicuous four-door older-model Plymouth, and storing the Harley and the camper in a storage unit. Then, high on uppers, the strangers slipped out of town.

In Atlanta, Peterson had friends who could make stolen goods disappear. Business was not over for Peterson though. You kill Loralei, he told Anderson. I’ll take care of the other one.

Anderson had been blindsided once, but now he quickly put his girlfriend on a Greyhound for home. Loralei also lived to make another stop – Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

A little over a week after the Staton robbery, the money, like the road from Van Buren, was in the rearview mirror. Peterson had another jewelry store targeted and, like before, the thieves hunkered down in a

Happier times: Murder victims Kenneth and Suzanne at Christmas.

sketchy motel complete with a honky-tonk next door.

Standing in the parking lot one night, drunk beyond reason, Anderson began to make target practice of the bar. Hearing gunfire, Peterson rushed out of his room, blasting away. Responding officers were not amused, putting him down with one shot to the shoulder.

The question now became just who had the officers nabbed? The so-called Peterson, 35, had a four-page rap sheet that came complete with a list of aliases: Damon Malantino, Jim Jackson, Eugene Wallace Hubbard and Marvin Allen Williams. Already setting up his dodge, the man claimed he was not Peterson, just someone who fenced jewelry for him. Eugene Wallace Perry was his name.

That part was true, as was the fact that in Alabama he had an ex-wife, two teenage daughters and devoutly religious parents whose prayers for him never got answered.

Anderson, the son of a high-level IBM executive, first got in trouble at age 13, getting expelled from his Seventh Day Adventist boarding school for doing drugs. By 16, Anderson was a runaway. At the time of his first arrest, he was 23 years old, a father once and a husband twice. When the last wife decided she could pimp herself, thank you, he was reduced to working odd jobs, the last of which was at the carnival.

Anderson had no rap sheet, but Perry’s past gave cops the itch to learn more. The men’s names, aliases and descriptions went out on teletype, and they got rapid responses from Arkansas and Georgia law enforcement. These two men were in high demand.

The morning after the Staton murders, a frightened but determined woman in Van Buren came to police. She was the woman who had taken the man who said his name was Peterson home with her the night before the jewelry store robbery. Before he left that morning, her onenight stand had asked if she had a gun in the house. No, she said, her intuition leaving her unnerved.

Afterward, she made the crucial connection, what with Staton’s store being directly across from the Safeway. It was a critical tip; had she not come forward, the Staton murders might very well have joined the multitude of cold cases across the country.

Instead, the information she provided had a domino effect on the investigation. Armed with their names, descriptions and details of the Terry Motel stay, officers compiled evidence that built capital murder charges. They found unburned price tags at the campsite, the car lot which traded another vehicle for the Cadillac and even the storage unit.

Then there was this: three weeks prior to the Staton murders, Perry, then traveling under the alias of Jim Jackson, had killed a woman and her son execution style at a Tyrone, Ga., campsite. Originally Anderson was also charged with that crime as well.

Perry was in Florida’s custody, but Anderson ran for Canada, always staying on the move. In January 1981, Canadian authorities in Vancouver arrested bank robber Ivo Shapox. His ID was Canadian, but his accent was not. Not that he was talking much. For the duration, he was given a jail cell, complete with a roomie who was an undercover officer.

While Shapox did not reveal his true identity to the man, he did talk of murders, the jewelry store and Arkansas. It was enough. Soon, Anderson (aka Shapox) was heading south.

Perry's case was tried separately in July 1981. Despite the testimony of his desperate family members who claimed he was in Alabama at the time of the murders, the jury gave swift justice for the Staton family. In eight months, Perry was to be executed. Determined to stay alive, he filed multiple appeals, all the while maintaining he was not Damon Peterson.

Also on death row was a highway killer by the name of Mad Dog Pruitt. He had committed murders across a wide swath of states before Arkansas took him down for the killing of Fort Smith convenience store worker Bobbie Jean Roam Robertson.

Conspiring with Perry to create more delays, Pruitt swore to authorities that he and Anderson were behind the Staton murders, Perry just being their fence in Atlanta. That story had a short flight; as it turns out, Pruitt was being interrogated by the FBI in New Mexico on that particular September day in 1980.

His avenues for appeal finally exhausted, Perry was executed in 1997 while the Staton women stoically watched.

“Tonight wasn’t as bad as what Suzanne had to watch,” Ruth said. “[Perry] forced Suzanne to watch as her father was shot, all the time knowing that she was next.”

In October 1981, Anderson was sentenced to life in jail with no chance of parole. It would be almost 10 years later that Canadian authorities would connect him to the murder of a businessman in Vancouver. He has never been tried for that case.

Meanwhile, Georgia authorities tracked down and convicted Cindy Sue Brown as an accessory to Perry’s campground murders. Once she served her time there, she was then convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery in the Staton case. Who was this woman? Raised in Alabama by her grandmother, she was a kid who became easy prey due to her drug habits. Eugene Wallace Perry created for her the alias of Loralei Peterson, but she was never anyone’s wife.

Years later, at a signing for her book “Blind Rage,” a woman approached the author, Anita Paddock. It was Ruth Staton, and she wanted Paddock to write about her family. The book, “Closing Time,” was released in 2017 and is the basis for this article. And yes, it is all Ruth could have hoped for, as it goes beyond the murders to reveal some strange twists that occurred later.

After Anderson’s trial, one of his defense attorneys, Sam Hugh Park, was implicated in the murder of his own mother, the case detailed in Paddock’s “Blind Rage.” Anderson’s father, who, in retirement, had moved to Arkansas to be near him, was bludgeoned to death during a robbery of the business he had established. The killer slipped away.

There was another robbery at Staton’s Jewelry, but those thieves escaped justice. In June, 90-year-old Ruth Staton died, having outlived her husband, three daughters and one murderer. She was a woman who had long lived with a truth etched in her soul: evil often wears everyday faces. Strangers slip in among us. Beware.

Convicted murderer Eugene Wallace Perry, executed in 1997.

A news photo captured Anderson following his murder conviction.

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Razorbacks

By Joe David Rice

No way could I write this book without a mention of razorbacks. First, the fiercely beloved wild hog is the mascot of my alma mater, not to mention the University of Arkansas’s other 150,000+ alumni. But more importantly, the background story on this unique symbol presents a fascinating tale.

Following its establishment in 1894, the University of Arkansas soon fielded a football team known as the Cardinals. John C. Futrall, the first coach, won five games while only losing two during his brief tenure, not bad for a guy initially hired to be a Latin and Greek professor. Futrall went on to serve as president of the University of Arkansas from 1913 through 1939 and, among other matters, successfully fought a proposal to move the institution from its northwest Arkansas site in Fayetteville to centrally-located Little Rock.

After Futrall’s departure, Arkansas’s teams saw six coaches come and go during the 1897-1907 span – producing a combined tally of 32 wins, 32 losses, and 6 ties. In 1908, Hugo Bezdek was hired as head coach, leaving the University of Oregon where he had compiled an attention-getting 5-0-1 record in one season with the Webfoots (now the Oregon Ducks).

The 24-year-old Bezdek brought invaluable experience and insights to the Arkansas athletic program. An All-American fullback at the University of Chicago, he had played under legendary coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. In those days, the University of Chicago was a powerhouse on the gridiron, no doubt partly due to Coach Stagg’s imaginative innovations such as the lateral pass, man in motion, the reverse, and – believe it or not – the huddle. Stagg’s also the man who came up with the ideas of tackling dummies, numbered uniforms and varsity letters.

Bezdek’s second Arkansas team, the 1909 Cardinals, won all 7 of its games, including a 15-0 victory over the formidable Louisiana State University Tigers. When the team returned by train to Fayetteville, a throng of enthusiastic students awaited at the station to greet their heroes. Coach Bezdek addressed the crowd, praising his players, and said they fought “like a wild band of Razorback hogs.” After that momentous pronouncement, the Cardinals nickname never stood a chance. It’s been Razorbacks ever since, often shortened to simply “the Hogs.”

Although there’s no evidence Bezdek uttered other memorable similes, he went on to have a wide-ranging career in athletics. He led the Razorbacks a few more years before the folks at Oregon lured him

back where he coached from 1912 through 1916. He later served as head football coach at both Penn State University and Delaware Valley College. The versatile Bezdek also managed a major league baseball team (the Pittsburgh Pirates) before taking over the head coaching slot for the National Football League’s Cleveland Rams (now the St. Louis Rams).

The University of Arkansas Razorbacks have played nearly 1,100 football games since Hugo Bezdek inadvertently bestowed a new name on the school’s team back in 1909. With generation after generation proudly calling the Hogs over the years, the Razorbacks have won almost 60% of those contests. If you’ve not experienced hog-calling, attend a Razorback game in Fayetteville and listen to the distinctive “WOOOOO . . . PIG … SOOIE!” of 75,000 frenzied fans.

But some may ask, what exactly is a razorback of the non-mascot variety? It’s a good question.

The wild boars of Europe and Asia had no counterparts in the Western Hemisphere. North America remained pigfree until about half a millennium ago. Historians generally agree that Columbus brought over some porcine stock when he arrived on this side of the Atlantic, but give De Soto credit for introducing domestic swine to the continent when he and his entourage landed on Florida’s west coast in 1539. A few of the more curious and elusive among his herd of hogs managed to escape – and thus was born the legendary razorback.

Today, feral hogs can be found in all 75 Arkansas counties – and that’s not a good thing. These wild pigs destroy native habitat, wreak havoc on indigenous wildlife, and carry dozens of diseases, several of which pose serious health threats – such as brucellosis – to humans. Compounding an already bad situation, feral hogs are extremely prolific. Sows, which can bear two litters (six piglets per litter, usually) a year, are capable of reproducing when they reach six months. To make matters even worse, unscrupulous individuals have illegally released wild hogs on the state’s public lands for “sport hunting.” With thousands of feral hogs annually inflicting millions of dollars of damage across the state, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is searching for solutions.

Joe David Rice, former tourism director of Arkansas Parks and Tourism, has written “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 – one to be proud of and one certainly worth sharing.

Each month, AY will share one of the 165 distinctive essays. We hope these stories will give you 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 at Amazon and the University of Arkansas Press.

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