Summary
Join host James Bell in the final episode of a special four-part series of The Bentonville Beacon podcast, featuring live-recorded conversations at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit with the thinkers and doers shaping the future of global tech in Bentonville. The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference and serves to enhance, prepare and diversify the Northwest Arkansas economy. Now in its tenth year, the event is hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce and is supported by nearly 100 partners, including the Walton Family Foundation, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Verizon, Salesforce, T-Mobile for Business, Zebra, Scott Family Amazeum and Arvest. These episodes bring together voices from the event to share their company’s stories, personal insights and unique #BecauseBentonville moments that define the community’s character. Tune in as we explore the innovations and experiences that are fostering a culture where technology meets the essence of Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas!
Show Notes
(1:12) Introducing Ranu Jung and I³R
(7:12) Ranu’s Ernst & Young Innovator of the Year Award
(8:48) Ranu’s #BecauseBentonville Story
( 11:49) Introducing Justin Urso and the Walton College Master of Science in Product Innovation
(13:28) About the McMillon Innovation Studio
(16:59) Justin’s Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit Experiences
(18:17) Justin’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(21:10) Introducing Randy Wilburn
(24:15) Randy’s Northwest Arkansas Tech Summit Experience
(26:18) Randy’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(31:29) Introducing to Jack Short and the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce
(34:56) Jack’s NWA Technology Summit Experience
(35:38) Jack’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(38:53) Introducing Katie Thompson and Science Venture Studio at Winrock International
(47:11) Katie’s NWA Tech Summit Experience
(50:01) Katie’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(53:59) Closing Thoughts
Links
Bentonville Economic Development
Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit
Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I³R) at University of Arkansas
McMillon Innovation Studio at University of Arkansas
Master of Science in Product Innovation (MSPI) at University of Arkansas
Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce
Science Venture Studio at Winrock International
Quotes
“You walk into this place, Northwest Arkansas, and what do you see on The Momentary shouting out in pink? You belong here. This place has a unique situation. Think of it like a baby and a toddler growing up, and excitement of people coming together and all sectors, right? There is the private industry. There’s the philanthropic organizations. There is an entrepreneurial spirit. What did I hear, thirty-six people a day coming into this place. Only in [Bentonville and NWA] can you think about a future where people say, ‘Are you crazy that you’re going to be able to deploy solutions?’ It’s like, no, we are not because we are together. We have the ability in this place, unlike many other places, to not only think of solutions, not only produce solutions, not only deliver them, but actually deploy them and be able to move them at scale. So converge and together find the solutions and then distribute an impact at scale and really globally ultimately.” – Ranu Jung, (8:52)
“[The Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit] has been incredible. The biggest thing about all of this is just seeing the growth in the community, the industry, and the tech leaders’ companies that are not from this area coming here to be part of this.” – Justin Urso, (17:00)
“I think only in Bentonville can you go to a building and ride into that building on your bike, ride around that building and experience what it’s like for a cyclist to be able to commute to work and commute to a building that’s actually built for them. And that’s the beauty…I have a space at the Ledger. I can ride my bike to work and park it almost basically at my office, and it is perfectly suited and set up for the environment that we’re trying to create in Northwest Arkansas of more people on bikes using alternative transportation and providing them with the necessary resources so that they can really take advantage of that.” – Randy Wilburn, (26:19)
“I would tell them that what they’re experiencing in Northwest Arkansas is the future of what the United States is going to be like. Because I do believe we’re setting a new standard for what things can be like from a diversity perspective, from an employment perspective, from a jobs creation perspective and from an education perspective.” – Randy Wilburn, (30:16)
“The Greater Bentonville Area specifically is Bentonville, Centerton, Pea Ridge and Bella Vista, and that is our framework of who we encompass as the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce. But the chamber membership itself, our member base, it’s international, it’s global. We got people from all across the world who are members with us, and it just makes for a very fantastic experience as a chamber member.” – Jack Short, (34:00)
“[In Bentonville] there’s so many opportunities for my kids to explore their creativity and explore the environment and stuff. I mean the Amazeum is one of the places that we love to go to, but now my kids are getting older and they want to go see the artwork and go to Crystal Bridges…I didn’t get those experiences growing up because I grew up in a very, very small town, but I’m able to share those experiences, and get to experience it myself but also see my kids experience them, and I hope that it’s given them some inspiration to be whoever they want to be.” – Katie Thompson, (50:29)
Get Connected!
Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Bentonville Beacon! Join us weekly for more stories and advice from the entrepreneurs, business executives and community leaders who are sparking the rise of the Greater Bentonville area. If you are interested in discussing whether your business should have a presence in Greater Bentonville or would like to discuss this podcast, please contact James Bell. You may reach James at jbell@greaterbentonville.com or (479) 273-2841.
Links for Additional Mentions
Camping at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
Specialized Bentonville Experience Center
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
