Bonus Episode | NWA Tech Summit Live, Featuring Jennifer Thomas, Amy Hopper Swan, Clark Cogbill, David Sanders & Andy Martin
11/25/22 • 50 min
Summary
The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference and serves to enhance, prepare, and diversify the local Northwest Arkansas economy. In its ninth year, the NWA Tech Summit came back with 1,700 registered attendees when it returned in-person to downtown Bentonville. The NWA Tech Summit is an event hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and it is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, Northwest Arkansas Council, Walmart, J. B. Hunt, Tyson Foods, Salesforce, and the University of Arkansas Blockchain Center of Excellence.
Show Notes
(0:55) Introduction to Jennifer Thomas
(13:11) Introduction to Amy Hopper Swan
(22:25) Introduction to Clark Cogbbill
(32:10) Introduction to David Sanders
(41:58) Introduction to Andy Martin
(49:28) Closing Thoughts
Links
Bentonville Economic Development
2022 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Innovate Arkansas at Winrock International
Arkansas I-Fund & Delta I-Fund at Winrock International
Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce
The Preacher’s Son
Quotes
“Now we have this robust market of startups that are providing new opportunities for chronic health, are meeting consumers where they are and are changing how you approach healthcare...consumers have started driving their own healthcare in ways they hadn’t previously.” - Jennifer Thomas, (3:44)
“Arkansas Research Alliance has been around for fifteen years, and we exist to keep scientific talent in our state and recruit scientific talent here. We see this as a means to economic development. It’s a long-term outlook, but our scientists are pushing research forward, partnering with industry and creating their own companies and jobs for Arkansas.” - Amy Hopper Swan, (17:28)
“The whole mission and goal of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission is to increase jobs in the state and increase the average salary. To do that we help businesses that are already here grow, and we recruit businesses to the state.” - Clark Cogbill, (23:15)
“...it’s a wonderful program that really is a lead commercialization agent for the state. Our team of business and industry advisors help knowledge-based ventures grow in Arkansas. We focus on accelerating the business model and how we develop the talent and get founders and CEOs investible.” - David Sanders, (33:20)
“The ideal customer is selling the higher-end jewelry for us, and that’s because they’re probably a bigger store and just a little more sophisticated...A one to two store company, ten to twenty staff selling high-end jewelry items. That’s the exact type of company we’ve helped a few times already.” - Andy Martin, (44:05)
Summary
The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference and serves to enhance, prepare, and diversify the local Northwest Arkansas economy. In its ninth year, the NWA Tech Summit came back with 1,700 registered attendees when it returned in-person to downtown Bentonville. The NWA Tech Summit is an event hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and it is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, Northwest Arkansas Council, Walmart, J. B. Hunt, Tyson Foods, Salesforce, and the University of Arkansas Blockchain Center of Excellence.
Show Notes
(0:55) Introduction to Jennifer Thomas
(13:11) Introduction to Amy Hopper Swan
(22:25) Introduction to Clark Cogbbill
(32:10) Introduction to David Sanders
(41:58) Introduction to Andy Martin
(49:28) Closing Thoughts
Links
Bentonville Economic Development
2022 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Innovate Arkansas at Winrock International
Arkansas I-Fund & Delta I-Fund at Winrock International
Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce
The Preacher’s Son
Quotes
“Now we have this robust market of startups that are providing new opportunities for chronic health, are meeting consumers where they are and are changing how you approach healthcare...consumers have started driving their own healthcare in ways they hadn’t previously.” - Jennifer Thomas, (3:44)
“Arkansas Research Alliance has been around for fifteen years, and we exist to keep scientific talent in our state and recruit scientific talent here. We see this as a means to economic development. It’s a long-term outlook, but our scientists are pushing research forward, partnering with industry and creating their own companies and jobs for Arkansas.” - Amy Hopper Swan, (17:28)
“The whole mission and goal of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission is to increase jobs in the state and increase the average salary. To do that we help businesses that are already here grow, and we recruit businesses to the state.” - Clark Cogbill, (23:15)
“...it’s a wonderful program that really is a lead commercialization agent for the state. Our team of business and industry advisors help knowledge-based ventures grow in Arkansas. We focus on accelerating the business model and how we develop the talent and get founders and CEOs investible.” - David Sanders, (33:20)
“The ideal customer is selling the higher-end jewelry for us, and that’s because they’re probably a bigger store and just a little more sophisticated...A one to two store company, ten to twenty staff selling high-end jewelry items. That’s the exact type of company we’ve helped a few times already.” - Andy Martin, (44:05)
Previous Episode
Transforming Workplace Mobility with Kourtney Barrett of Walmart
Show Notes:
(0:53) Introduction to Kourtney
(1:58) Kourtney’s Role at Walmart
(6:07) A Mobility-Centered Walmart Campus
(8:43) Getting People on Bikes
(10:38) Shared Mobility Options
(12:37) Making People Comfortable on Bikes
(14:44) A Company that Cares
(17:32) The Future of Bentonville
(20:43) Ten Quick Favorites
(24:04) Mountain Bike Capital of the World
(26:58) Closing Questions
Links
Bentonville Economic Development
Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art | Nature & Trails
Quotes
“From an entrepreneurial standpoint, the best way I know to build something is to first hear from your customer and my customers are the associates. So we have had a number of information gathering events and bike demos.” - Kourtney Barrett, (6:31)
“When there’s less automobiles, people seem to breathe a little easier and there’s a little less stress. So working together with the city, with trailblazers, and with different organizations, has provided quick access to researching best practices.” - Kourtney Barrett, (9:22)
“We have the city focusing on helping us have safe routes on the street infrastructure...That’s very important when it comes to associates and residents that haven’t been on a bike in a while. It needs to be a fun and good experience and safety is paramount. You have to feel safe to want to do it.” - Kourtney Barrett, (12:47)
“This campus is a game changer and it’s an example to the rest of the world on how to have an environment that is a winning working environment for the associates and what happens when you provide outdoor spaces for them to work and connect with others and promote movement throughout the day.” - Kourtney Barrett, (16:00)
Next Episode
Touring the World's Best Mountain Biking Trails with Mark Marsiglio & Charles Greathouse of TrailPilot
Summary
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Mark Marsiglio, Co-founder of TrailPilot, and his business advisor, Charles Greathouse. TrailPilot is an iOS and Android audio guide app designed to help mountain bikers navigate off-road adventures. The app gives riders expert advice on trail features and provides turn-by-turn directions based on their GPS location. Throughout the episode, James, Mark and Charles discuss the ins and outs of TrailPilot, their experience with being a Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program cohort and how Bentonville is working to be ‘unrecreateable.’
Thanks for tuning in!
Show Notes:
(0:56) Introduction to Mark and Charles
(2:52) About TrailPilot
(5:35) Accessibility for Beginners and Visitors
(8:40) The Cost of TrailPilot
(9:47) Next Year's Forecast
(11:03) Being a GORP Cohort
(16:41) Advice for Those That Want to Join GORP
(20:47) The Past and Future of Bentonville
(28:26) Bentonville Favorites
(36:01) #Bentonville Story
(38:53) Closing Questions
Links
Bentonville Economic Development
Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program
Quotes
“They don’t have to wonder where they are, and most importantly, they don’t have to wonder what things the trail has in store for them that they might not expect. We want a rider to enjoy the trail more on their first run and be able to have a safer experience that is not going to surprise them.” - Mark Marsiglio, (3:12)
“It turned out to be a great opportunity, and I learned a lot and got a lot of resources and education focused on personal commitment from my side to have the accountability of the program behind me. It resulted in gre...
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