Style Issue S E P TE M B E R 2 02 6
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LIFESTYLE LETTER
The Art of Being You When it comes to style, the word itself holds a million different meanings. For me, the definition was painted, sculpted, and built long before I ever put it into words. I grew up in a family full of creative souls. My great-grandmother and grandmother expressed themselves through delicate watercolor landscapes, passing that creative spark down through the generations. My mother is a master potter with a talent for taking on virtually any craft imaginable. If you walk into my parents’ home today, you are guaranteed to find her latest project sprawling across the dining room table, surrounded by hundreds of her handcrafted pottery pieces lining the shelves and cabinets. My dad is a gifted speaker with a natural ability to stop people in their tracks and bring a room together through his words. My sister Megan works as an archivist and creates intricate, layered collages, while my sister Mary Kate shares her talents as an art teacher, filling canvases and sketchbooks with her own drawings and paintings. Look across the rest of my extended family, and you’ll find an architect, an aspiring interior designer, and an aunt who can bring virtually any craft to life. For a long time, I felt the pressure to fit into a specific mold, searching for the exact kind of "creative" I was supposed to be and trying to pinpoint my own personal style. What I eventually realized, however, is that style isn't about fitting into a neat box. It’s simply about how we express who we are in the spaces we inhabit, the work we do, and the ways we gather. Everyone possesses style and a spark of creativity—it just shows up in different ways. As you turn these pages, my hope is that you feel inspired by the talent around us and empowered to celebrate your own definition of style. Here’s to finding, and embracing, yours.
September 2026 PUBLISHER
Madelyn Massanelli madelyn.massanelli@citylifestyle.com E D I TO R I AL C O O R D I N ATO R
Bo Simpson bo.simpson@citylifestyle.com P U B L I S H E R AS S I STAN T
Hannah Loyd hannah.loyd@citylifestyle.com CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Erin Boiger C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R AP H E R S
Travis Smith, Kressa Phillips
Corporate Team CEO Steven Schowengerdt President Matthew Perry CRO Jamie Pentz CoS Janeane Thompson AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe LAYOUT DESIGNER Meredith Wilson QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
M A D E LY N M A S S A N E L L I , P U B L I S H E R @ S P R I N G DA L E C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E
Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com//franchise. Proverbs 3:5-6 Springdale City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Springdale area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle
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L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R
Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Springdale City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.
DAY BY DAY
A CENTER FOR HEALTH AND HEALING At Day By Day, we create a community where everyone feels welcome and supported throughout their healing journey. We believe healing happens through connection, movement, and community and we strive to create this environment for others! Visit our website to learn more on what Day By Day has to offer!
479.301.5290 | daybydayhealing.com 6815 Issac's Orchard Suite C Springdale
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inside the issue SE PTE M B E R 2 02 6 | STYL E
16 Featured
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16 22
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Print Prestige Meets Digital Power.
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WHY CHOOSE BETWEEN PRESTIGE AND PLACEMENT?
Departments
Where Beauty Meets Wellness
How Chantal Crosse-Sumlin built Aesthetica around confidence, connection and a different approach to care in Springdale
Finding the Common Rhythm
How Nando Garcia and Moment Theory are using music to bring cultures together in Springdale
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Lifestyle Letter
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Business Monthly
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Self Care WELLNESS
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Culinary Creations FOOD + BEVERAGE
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Inspired By ARTS + CULTURE
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Happy Hour FOOD + BEVERAGE
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Local’s Choice LIFE + CULTURE
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Must See HOME SERVICES
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How To HOME + DESIGN
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Expert Help ARTS + CULTURE
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Events
A New Spark on Emma Ave
Inside the family-built salon and head spa bringing luxury self-care to Downtown Springdale.
On the Cover Sophie Capps in a dress provided by Violets Bridal, located in the Bridal Suite at Ember House Photography: Kressa Phillips
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SEPTEMBER 2026
business monthly A R O U N D U P O F N E W S F R O M LO C A L B U S I N E S S E S
Radiant Eye Care Expands Services and Team September is Healthy Aging Month, making it an ideal time to prioritize your vision. Radiant Eye Care offers advanced retinal imaging and 3D OCT technology to help detect conditions such as macular degeneration and glaucoma early, while also screening for dry eye. The practice recently welcomed two technicians, two opticians, and a new front desk team member as it continues expanding care for patients across the community.
Scan to read more
Flutter into Fun! Mark your calendar for the Monarch Festival at Luther George Park on Saturday, September 19th, from 11 AM to 4 PM! Bring the whole family to celebrate the monarch butterfly migration with live music, local artisan pop-ups, delicious food trucks, and hands-on activities. Grab a lawn chair, soak up the sunshine, and flutter on over for a gorgeous day downtown!
Photography by Downtown Springdale Alliance
Fall in Love with Fresh Skin As summer fades, it is time to give your skin a fresh reset for the new season! Sun, heat, and humidity take a toll, making fall the perfect moment to repair and hydrate. Visit Aesthetica Med Spa for customized chemical peels and collagen-boosting microneedling treatments designed to lift sun spots, restore radiance, and keep you glowing all autumn long.
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Want to be featured? G E T I N T O U C H AT C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E . C O M / S P R I N G D A L E
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B USIN E SS M ON T H LY
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www.YourAesthetica.net | 479.320.8588 3291 S Thompson St Suite G102 Visit Our Website
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WHERE BEAUTY Meets Wellness
HOW CHANTAL CROSSE-SUMLIN BUILT AESTHETICA AROUND CONFIDENCE, CONNECTION AND A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO CARE IN SPRINGDALE ARTICLE BY BO SIMPSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRAVIS SMITH
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S ELF CA R E | WEL L NESS
She hands the client the mirror and holds her breath. It’s in these moments that Chantal Crosse-Sumlin loves her work the most. “When you hand someone the mirror and see the smile on their face, just the feeling that you’ve given them the confidence,” she said, “that’s what I love most about what I do.” It’s a small ritual, repeated dozens of times a week at Aesthetica Health and Wellness, and it captures what her practice is built around: helping people feel like the best version of themselves. Although it’s apparent Chantal is in her element at Aesthetica, she didn’t start her career in aesthetics. While studying to become a nurse and family nurse practitioner at Columbus State University in the late ‘90s, she received a clinical placement in an underserved part of town. There, she discovered a passion for caring for patients who were uninsured, underinsured, or navigating low health literacy. She carried that work from Georgia to Northwest Arkansas in 2004, remaining in community health until COVID-19 arrived. Things changed with the pandemic. Long shifts, quarantining from her family, and the emotional weight of losing patients left her searching for a different way to provide care. “COVID really broke me as a provider,” she admitted, and in the stillness of quarantine, she started asking herself what she actually wanted her career to look like. CONTINUED >
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The answer surprised her. She’d long been interested in aesthetics and noticed a lack of providers who understood how to treat and honor a full range of skin tones and features. In 2020, she left primary care to pursue it seriously, only to find herself missing the wellness side almost immediately. Rather than choose one, Chantal built a practice that could hold both. Aesthetica now operates as a subscription-based concierge practice that combines direct primary care with medical aesthetics and wellness services. Patients have access to advanced skin rejuvenation, brow styling, medical-grade skincare, wrinkle relaxers, structural dermal fillers, collagen biostimulators, custom IV therapies, weight management, nutritional counseling, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Members also receive same-day or nextday appointments, longer, unhurried visits tailored to their wellness goals, and direct access to their provider by phone, text, email, or telemedicine. Like most things in life, however, getting here wasn’t easy. Chantal’s first real office was a single rented suite in Rogers. But that was before the tornado. This year, Aesthetica found its current home in Springdale, expanding its team and creating more room for patients. What Chantal didn’t expect was how naturally her two client bases would merge. “Once people come in and experience a service here, they seem to naturally flow to the others,”
she said. A weight-management client becomes a primary care patient; an injectables client discovers IV therapy. Aesthetica’s weight management program has become a point of pride for Chantal. She treats it as a partnership, starting with full labs and addressing the hormonal and genetic factors clients rarely hear about elsewhere. Together, they watch blood pressure and diabetes numbers improve as the weight comes off. Her advice to anyone starting out is simple: skip the allor-nothing mindset and just do “a little bit more” than yesterday. That same philosophy shows up in her approach to aesthetics. “When aesthetics are done well,” she said, “no one should be able to notice you’ve had any type of enhancement. Doing one little thing at a time, it should look natural.” Balance and proportion guide every appointment, honoring each client’s natural features and helping explain Aesthetica’s diverse clientele in Springdale. As for what’s next, Chantal isn’t chasing multiple locations. She’d like to bring laser treatments in-house and help her new nurse injector build a practice of her own, but only in a way that keeps Aesthetica feeling the way it did in that first rented room: personal, unhurried, and built around the person in the chair. For all that’s changed, what matters most to Chantal is handing a client the mirror and watching them smile.
“For all that's changed, what matters most to Chantal is handing a client the mirror and watching them smile.”
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S ELF CA R E | WEL L NESS
Connect with us
Wellness, Reimagined Our practice centers on somatic mental health therapy, an approach that explores how stress and trauma live in the nervous system. Together, we build awareness, safety, and connection so healing can happen at your own pace.
Shelly Gutensohn (310)-564-6749 www.rt-project.org @restorative_therapy_project
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A LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL TREAT
APPLE CIDER
sangria
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C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE
As the season transitions into fall, it still features the warm, sunny days of summer but nights start to drop into the crisp temperatures. That leaves us in the limbo of wanting cool, refreshing drinks part of the time but also craving the deeper, spice-infused flavors of autumn. This recipe for apple cider sangria is the perfect blending of the seasons, leaving you feeling both refreshed and warmed through the deep flavors and interesting hints of spice. It’s a great drink to add to any dinner party, cocktail gathering, back deck after-hours get-together, or birthday bash. Here’s what you need to make the perfect mid-season cocktail to enhance whatever event you have planned.
ARTICLE BY ALLISON BANKSTON | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
• • • • • •
Combine all ingredients together and stir. Refrigerate for an hour or so (or longer) before serving. The drink can be enjoyed immediately, if desired, but the longer you let the ingredients sit and mix, the deeper the flavors will be. Giving it time to develop will make the drink more captivating and interesting.
1 bottle, standard size, of pinot grigio 2 1/2 cups fresh apple cider 1 cup club soda 1/2 cup ginger brandy 3 honey crisp apples, chopped 3 pears, chopped
NOTE: Regular brandy can be used, but ginger brandy gives it an extra kick of flavor.
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Finding the
Common Rhythm
HOW NANDO GARCIA AND MOMENT THEORY ARE USING MUSIC TO BRING CULTURES TOGETHER IN SPRINGDALE ARTICLE BY BO SIMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED “We put a lot of effort into each set,” Nando said. “We’re thinking them through, we’re planning them out, but they’re supposed to feel like they organically happened out of nowhere.” That’s Moment Theory in Fernando “Nando” Garcia’s own words—the philosophy before the name, and the name before the business. Moment Theory is a local DJ and live music production company specializing in community events, weddings, and energetic multi-cultural gatherings. When asked to describe what he does as a DJ, he doesn’t start with turntables. He starts with a wedding couple wanting a rap battle instead of a first dance, or a groom who loves Pokémon replacing the traditional garter toss with a thrown Pokéball. CONTINUED >
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I NSP IR E D BY | ARTS + C U LT U RE
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“WE'RE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STEP OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE, TO BE THEIR TRUE SELF, AND TO WATCH PEOPLE'S EYES LIGHT UP AROUND THEM BECAUSE THEY FINALLY FEEL SEEN.” 18
I NSP IR E D BY | ARTS + C U LT U RE
“We’re encouraging people to step out of their comfort zone,” Nando said, “to be their true self, and to watch people’s eyes light up around them because they finally feel seen. Music has a way of allowing people to express themselves.” Music was part of his life from the beginning, from making tortillas in the kitchen with his mom, to sitting through cousins’ baptisms as songs lulled him to sleep on a couple of chairs in the back of the room. Before Moment Theory, music was simply what his family’s Mexican heritage sounded like. In college and through youth ministry, he discovered new styles of music and culture while learning to DJ from a group of older mentors. Together, those experiences shaped the approach that sets him apart today. “I not only love mixing generations of music, but I love mixing cultures,” Nando said. “You’ll hear cumbias mixed with Kanye West mixed with Brazilian funk—or the acapella of a French song over the instrumental of a Portuguese song—and at the root of it, a feeling is evoked because it’s movement, it’s dance, it’s the same rhythm from one song to the next, flowing together so seamlessly.”
Nando’s work is deeply embedded in community-forward efforts during the day as much as it is during the night. As Director of Events for Downtown Springdale, he spends hours in the studio testing blends before taking them to public events like Cafetón, the daytime coffee rave at Onyx on Emma Ave. After the group’s first Latin-themed night in downtown Springdale, messages poured in: “We’ve been waiting for our downtown to look like this.” When downtown Springdale hosted a World Cup watch party for Mexico’s match against England, 12,000 people filled Luther George Park—a space that had never held more than 3,000. Nando FaceTimed his father, an immigrant from Mexico, from the middle of the crowd. “This is what I get to do,” he told him. What he wants, in his words, is simple: to create spaces where people show up “no matter their background, no matter their language, no matter their skin color,” find the door open, and leave a little less alone than when they arrived. S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/S P R I N G DA L E
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DRESS UP YOUR DRINK THESE BEAUTIFUL BEVERAGES ARE SURE TO TURN HEADS
BLU E M A RTI N I
W ITH FLOR A L ICE CUBES
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H AP PY H OU R | FO O D + BE VE RAGE
BOLD COLORS. Fresh florals. An eye-catching shimmer. The perfect embellishment. We’re talking cocktails, not the catwalk. But like fashion, the art of mixology is full of ways to push the limits with creative twists on classic recipes, and unique adornments guaranteed to turn heads. There’s no reason your personal style can’t extend to the drink in your hand, and this botanical beverage is bound to taste as delicious as it looks.
INGR EDIENTS: • • • • •
2 ounces Absolut Citron 1/2 ounce Blue Curaçao 1/2 ounce lemonade 1 ounce Sprite Edible flowers such as rose, lavender, hibiscus and nasturtiums
DIR ECTIONS: Pour Sprite into ice cube trays and add edible flower combinations. Let freeze overnight. Combine Absolut Citron, Blue Curaçao, lemonade and ice cubes in martini shaker. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Allow ice cubes to melt, gradually filling the glass with Sprite and garnishing the drink with beautiful botanicals.
ARTICLE BY CATE MARIAN
FIG + THYME S PA R K L I N G L E M O N A D E INGR EDIENTS:
DIR ECTIONS:
• thyme simple syrup • 1/2 cup sugar • 1/2 cup water • 1 bunch thyme • 2 fresh figs • 3/4 ounce lemon juice • 3/4 ounce thyme syrup • 3/4 ounce Sprite
In a small saucepan, simmer sugar, water and thyme leaves over low heat for 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let the thyme infuse into the syrup for at least 10 minutes. For the cocktail, muddle figs and lemon juice in the bottom of a glass. Add ice, 3/4 of the thyme syrup and Sprite. Stir and garnish with fig and a sprig of thyme. S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/S P R I N G DA L E
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Photo by Kressa Phillips, Krescent Photography
A NEW SPARK ON EMMA AVE Inside the family-built salon and head spa bringing luxury self-care to Downtown Springdale.
ARTICLE BY ERIN BOIGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRESSA PHILLIPS AND TIM CASEY
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LOCA L’S CH OICE | L I FE + CU LT U RE
Something special is happening in Downtown Springdale. Historic Emma Avenue is experiencing a remarkable revival as restored storefronts, locally owned businesses, and renewed energy shape the city’s future. Drawn to the downtown area’s rich charm, strong sense of community,
Bride wearing an Allure with style Number A1366NC from Violets Bridal
and historic character, Mike and Lindsay Embrey chose to make Ember House a vibrant part of that story. Walk through the front doors, and the bustling pace of everyday life begins to slow. Natural light pours through the windows as guests settle into their salon chairs, unwinding over easy conversation while stylists bring their beauty visions to life. Tucked away nearby, guests ease into the signature luxury Head Spa ritual, an immersive and deeply restorative experience for both scalp and mind. By honoring the building’s original character while layering in thoughtful, elevated touches, the space speaks for itself while ensuring guests feel genuinely known, valued, and instantly at home. That warm, welcoming feeling did not happen by chance. It is the result of a shared dream that Lindsay and Mike brought to life together. While Lindsay envisioned a space where beauty felt less rushed and more intentional for over twenty years, marrying Mike last November at Fairlane Station in Downtown Springdale brought that vision into full focus. Together, they combined their professional backgrounds, creative talents, and shared
devotion to hospitality to create a luxury destination where exceptional service meets genuine care. “We hope Ember House becomes a place people genuinely look forward to visiting, whether they are here for an afternoon of self-care, getting ready for their wedding day, or simply taking a moment for themselves,” Lindsay said. “If people leave feeling cared for, then we have accomplished exactly what we always set out to create.” Seeing guests experience what they built together has made every late night and long weekend worthwhile. Many guests have quickly become familiar faces, a true testament to the warm, personal, and welcoming atmosphere that defines Ember House daily. Whether visiting for a haircut, a signature luxury Head Spa ritual, or celebrating one of life’s biggest milestones, every guest experience is intentionally designed to foster lasting relationships and meaningful moments. The private upstairs bridal suite gives brides and their closest friends a dedicated place to gather, laugh, and prepare together, making the morning of the wedding just as memorable as the celebration that follows. CONTINUED > S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/S P R I N G DA L E
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Bringing that shared dream to life was a true family effort. Mike personally handcrafted the salon’s custom styling stations, while parents painted walls, measured spaces, and installed mirrors. Friends spent evenings assembling furniture, and even the couple’s young children proudly pitched in wherever they could. What began as an idea grew into a project built by many hands and deeply rooted in the heart of the community. Although Ember House occupies one of Emma Avenue’s landmark historic buildings, the goal was never to overshadow its rich history. Instead, Mike and Lindsay chose to let the original structure’s great bones and craftsmanship speak for itself while creating a warm, inviting space where beautiful new memories are made every single day. As Downtown Springdale continues to evolve, the Embrey’s hope Ember House becomes an enduring part of the neighborhood’s story for many years to come, not simply as a salon, but as a welcoming place where people gather, celebrate, and feel completely at home.
“What began as an idea grew into a project built by many hands and deeply rooted in the heart of the community.”
Photo by Kressa Phillips, Krescent Photography
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LOCA L’S CH OICE | L I FE + CU LT U RE
Photo by Tim Casey
Photo by Kressa Phillips, Krescent Photography
ARKANSAS
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Join us as we walk for a world without Type 1 Diabetes For More Info Contact: Michelle Summers, AR Chapter Director msummers@bt1d.org | 479-650-1628
nwafunctionalhealth.com 252 S. Maestri Rd #4, Tontitown, AR 72762 S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/S P R I N G DA L E
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FROM ONE ARTICLE BY BO SIMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Door
TO THE NEXT How a competitive streak and a talent for building relationships shaped Sara Posey's Northwest Arkansas real estate career Five or six years ago, a client walked into Sara Posey’s office needing help buying a commercial property in Fort Smith. Today, she has sold that same man a second commercial building, then a third, and eventually his house. Later, his children needed houses—three of them. After that, it was his brother-in-law. And then his nephew. “That, to me, is like everything that I need in real estate,” Sara said. “Someone that has thought that I did a good enough job for them, that their whole family is now invested in me.” It’s the story she reaches for when asked what keeps her in the business. But it’s less a story than evidence of the way Sara works. Real estate, she’s quick to point out, runs almost entirely on referrals, the same way most service industries do. Do a bad job, and the recommendations simply stop. “It’s like a bad pool builder,” she said. “No one’s like, ‘Well, we had a terrible experience with him, but here’s our pool guy.’” When one family trusts her enough to send another relative her way, the referral system is working exactly as it should. The road to becoming a real estate agent wasn’t a straight line. Sara grew up riding along with her mother, a longtime realtor, and later played basketball through junior college in Harrison before transferring to the UofA. A business degree and a handful of real estate electives planted an idea she wouldn’t act on for years. She spent time managing restaurants in Fayetteville and nearly a decade in outside sales in the liquor industry, watching as a glass ceiling closed in on her. When she and her husband, Brock Posey—founder of Southern Brothers Construction—picked up a few rental properties, becoming a real estate agent, as she puts it, just kind of fell in her lap. She left a career she’d spent more than a decade building to start over.
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M UST SE E | HO ME SERVICE S
Starting from scratch left little room for shortcuts. Every client mattered, and every relationship became an opportunity to earn the kind of trust that eventually grows into referrals. She trained at Keller Williams before moving to Collier & Associates, where she could take commercial deals. The move expanded her referral network beyond residential real estate and into the commercial market, making her one of few realtors to do both. She wanted to be a one-stop shop for her clients, just like an attorney, an accountant, or a banker. Her liquor-industry background turned out to be its own referral engine. Knowing permitting and ABC regulations made her the obvious call for a few early commercial deals, including a million-dollar sale on Dickson Street that put her on the map fast. Now, she proudly sits in the top one hundred real estate agents in NWA. A certain competitive edge has followed Sara throughout her life and into real estate. Being told she can’t do something, she says, tends to have the opposite effect, making her more excited, determined, and successful in getting the job done for her clients. Much of Sara’s success is tied to the community she serves. She sees Springdale as the true crossroads of Northwest Arkansas— close enough to the UofA to draw in young professionals and close enough to Benton County’s corporate growth to keep them here. Investors are catching on too, Sara says, pointing to the Walton family and local investment reshaping the area. Through a commitment to her clients, a competitive streak that’s followed her since her college basketball days, and an understanding of the region, Sara Posey has built her business the same way she started it: one relationship, and one referral, at a time.
“Sara Posey has built her business the same way she started it: one relationship, and one referral, at a time.” S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/S P R I N G DA L E
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DIY textured ART
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
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H OW TO | HO M E + DES I G N
ROPE TEXTURE ART
Supplies needed: • Window insulation strips • Canvas • Kilz Interior primer • Staple gun • Spray paint, color of choice • Super glue, optional
Instructions: Create the desired design using insulation strips. Simply peel off the sticky backing and attach to the canvas. Be sure to wrap each strip around the back and press firmly. Use a staple gun to secure strips to the back of the canvas. Add a dap of super glue to any curved areas that appear to loosen. Once your desired design is created, apply a thin coat of Kilz interior primer. Spray paint the entire canvas the color of choice that you would like. Allow to dry for a minimum of 24 hours.
This trend-forward DIY art piece adds texture and dimension to your walls and is easy enough for anyone to do regardless of artistic ability.
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T HE A R T OF S TA NDING B E HIND T HE C UR TA IN AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS AS A WALMART SPOKESPERSON, ERIN BOIGER IS HELPING NORTHWEST ARKANSAS BUSINESSES FIND A VOICE OF THEIR OWN
ARTICLE BY BO SIMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE BAZIS For almost two years, Erin Boiger’s job was to be the voice of the world’s largest retailer. As a spokesperson for Walmart, many of the words she said in public were by design not really her own. She spoke for a corporation with global reach and a reputation to protect. Today, running her own boutique marketing and communications agency, Magnolia Communications, in Northwest Arkansas, she’s built a career on the exact opposite approach: staying invisible so someone else’s story can be the one that shines. “It’s not about me,” she said. “I love helping my clients and sharing their stories. That’s why I do what I do.” The path to getting here took time. Erin’s first role at Walmart wasn’t in public relations at all, but working with the company’s small-format neighborhood market team under the mentorship of Vice President Marc Lieberman and SVP Debra Layron. “Very good leaders, very good examples,” she called them. They were the kind of mentors who handed her real work early. She absorbed whatever skills and information they were willing to teach her: strategy, honesty, listening before speaking, aligning goals, and respect. That early willingness to learn, she said, became the foundation for everything she built after.
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None of this was the plan she started with. Erin once pictured a career in international law, working for the United Nations. What pulled her toward corporate communications instead was simpler: a lifelong love of storytelling, a love of learning not just what people do, but what drives them. That passion carried her from Walmart’s small-format division into corporate communications, and eventually into the role of spokesperson. The job of being a spokesperson for Walmart, however, was all consuming. Erin said that she learned a great deal from this position, but she knew it wasn’t sustainable long-term. The jump from a stable corporate career to building something of her own wasn’t an obvious one. Erin comes from a family of corporate climbers, and stepping outside that mold felt unfamiliar. The push came from her husband, John Boiger, who has run his own companies for nearly two decades. Deep into work late one night, well past normal hours, he told her, “You can do something different.” She wasn’t convinced at first, but he was. That late-night conversation became the blueprint for her firm’s entire philosophy.
“We’re not a traditional agency in the sense that we’re not standing in front of our clients,” Erin said. “We’re standing behind them.” There’s no cookie-cutter package, no single campaign built in isolation. Branding, communication, and strategy move together with an eye toward where a client will stand a year from now, not just this quarter. Outside the office, Erin and John run four separate companies together, plus a nonprofit supporting Northwest Arkansas first responders that’s relaunching this fall. For the Boiger’s, mornings start around four a.m., before the rest of the day takes over with kids, meetings, and work for clients. Through it all, Erin has remained rooted in Northwest Arkansas, a region she describes as being built around family-first values and a sense of community. Erin tries to reflect these same values in how she treats her clients at Magnolia Communications. For a time, Erin Boiger was a voice for others. Now, she helps to give others a voice for themselves. Though her role may have changed, her purpose has remained the same: helping people communicate what matters most.
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SEPTEMBER 2026
events A S E L E C T I O N O F U P C O M I N G LO C A L E V E N T S
SE PT E M BE R 9 T H
Dawn Larsen: Mixtape Series The Medium | 7:00 PM Ozark singer-songwriter Dawn Larsen brings her roots-inspired music to The Medium as part of the Mixtape Series. Featuring original songs influenced by folk, blues, and Americana traditions, the performance celebrates the stories, landscapes, and musical heritage of the Ozarks through heartfelt songwriting. SE PT E M BE R 1 1 T H
Community Campout Jones Center | 6:00 PM Pitch a tent and spend the night under the stars during the Jones Center's annual Community Campout. Families can enjoy campfire cooking, outdoor games, nature activities, live music, a family movie, and a morning yoga session in a fun, beginner-friendly camping experience. SE PT E M BE R 1 2 T H
48th Annual Ozark Quilt Fair Shiloh Museum of Ozark History | 10:00 AM Celebrate one of Springdale's longest-running traditions at the Ozark Quilt Fair. Browse handcrafted quilts, enjoy live music and family activities, and vote for your favorite entries while exploring the craftsmanship and history behind this beloved community event. SE PT E M BE R 1 9 T H
OZ Kids™ Crit Championship Downtown Springdale | 1:00 PM Young cyclists ages 2–10 can test their skills during the OZ Kids™ Crit Championship Series. With divisions for balance bikes and pedal bikes, racers will compete on a downtown course for medals, podium finishes, and championship points in this exciting family-friendly event. CONTINUED >
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SARA POSEY
events
CONTINUED
NWA REAL ESTATE BROKER SEPTEMBER 20 TH
Miracle League Burger Competition Shiloh Square | 12:00 PM Home cooks, chefs, and burger enthusiasts will fire up the grill in hopes of earning a coveted Golden Ticket to the World Food Championships. Sample creative burgers, vote for the People's Choice Award, and enjoy a lively afternoon celebrating great food and community. SEPTEMBER 25TH
Visual Art Night The Medium | 6:00 PM
MORE THAN A GARAGE. A DESTINATION. Introducing Marque Collection Suites – Northwest Arkansas’ premier luxury collector suites, designed for those who appreciate the extraordinary.
Experience an evening of contemporary art during Visual Art Night at The Medium. Guests can explore exhibitions, visit artist studios, and meet creators participating in the Creative Exchange Fund while discovering new work in an interactive community setting.
Whether you’re showcasing a prized vehicle collection, creating the ultimate hobby space, entertaining friends, or building your dream office or studio, Marque offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to own a fully customizable luxury suite in a secure, gated community. Featuring modern architecture, premium finishes, and flexible layouts, these suites are built for your passion—whatever drives it.
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O: 479.445.6228 | D: 479.264.2471 saraposeyrealestate.com saraposeyrealestate@gmail.com B saraposeynwarealtor V @Saraposey_nwa_realestate
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