Summary
Join host James Bell in this third 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 Paul Jones
(1:53) About Gravity Industries
(9:01) Paul’s Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit Experience
(16:10) Introducing Daizhan Ennals
(18:02) About Renewed Robotics
(20:07) Daizhan’s NWA Tech Summit Experience
(21:16) Daizhan’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(23:53) Introducing Lonnie Emard
(25:27) About Arkansas Center for Data Sciences (ACDS)
(30:32) Lonnie’s NWA Tech Summit Experience
(32:39) Lonnie’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(37:04) Introducing Scott Benedict
(40:07) About McMillanDoolittle
(42:09) Scott’s NWA Tech Summit Experience
(43:09) Scott’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(45:47) Introducing Micy Liu
(47:53) About Life Mission Capital
(48:29) Micy’s NWA Tech Summit Experience
(52:20) Micy’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(59:19) Closing Thoughts
Links
Bentonville Economic Development
Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit
Arkansas Center for Data Sciences
Quotes
“We are in preparations now to do this race series, and we are currently looking for more locations. And Bentonville has been such a fantastic place and everyone’s so welcoming that we really do want to try and push something to come out here. So watch this space, but hopefully we’ll be here for a race series in the future.” – Paul Jones, (8:26)
“I’ve seen some very eager sixteen year olds from Bentonville High School, as well as students from Texas and California, come to get a hands on [experience] where the new technology is going to be developed in America. And a lot of people believe that Bentonville in Northwest Arkansas can definitely be that spot.” – Daizhan Ennals, (20:48)
“Only in Bentonville, with Walmart giving an opportunity to [a nontraditional candidate] that might have otherwise never gotten that chance, do we get to be a part of that process. To chalk it up, I think we’re seeing that all over the state but clearly in Bentonville because of the relationship of organizations with Walmart that is so willing to be that community partner.” – Lonnie Emard, (34:03)
“I think the most obvious visual is when you spend any time in the Bentonville Square because, as I was telling somebody last week, I had lunch at Table Mesa and I was telling them that it used to be an office supply store for many years. And normally, on any given weekday if you were on the square, there was nobody else there. But this particular day when we were coming out of Table Mesa, the square was full, we could not get a parking spot, just all sorts of neat activity going on. And I think that’s indicative of the area in total in that the square has become a hub of activity.” – Scott Benedict, (38:11)
“Especially with the Walton Family Foundation and what you guys are doing there to build amenities in the area, it makes it even more attractive. I mean, yesterday we heard about an interesting stats update from Robert Burns with the Walton Family Foundation. He talked about move speed a couple of years ago. It’s thirty people per day moving in right now. So it’s like a twenty percent growth in how many are moving in per day.” – Micy Liu, (54:12)
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.
Additional Links
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
