Summary
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sat down with his friend and colleague, Kris Adams. Kris is the director of the Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit, a job for which he is clearly passionate. James and Kris discussed their love of Bentonville, what makes a non-Arkansas native like Kris stick around, and of course, the upcoming Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit. Thank you for tuning in!
‍
Show Notes:
(1:24) Introducing Kris Adams
(2:07) Kris’ Passion for Technology and His Role in It
(3:01) All about the NWA Technology Summit
(13:32) Pitch Competition Information
(20:48) Kris’ Journey to the Summit
(25:16) Because Bentonville
(32:02) How to Sign Up for the NWA Technology Summit
(33:30) Superpowers and Closing Thoughts
‍
‍Links
JAMES BELL
KRIS ADAMS
NWA TECH SUMMIT
‍
Quotes
“[The NWA Tech Summit] is the premier technology conference here in the heartlands. And we believe that because of our size, pulling in about 1,400 in-person participants in 2019, and then over the last couple of years virtually, about 1,200, that size alone makes us unparalleled in the region for technology conferences.” Kris Adams (3:04)

‍“If you have a cool toy to bring with you, bring it and show it off. Because now that we’re back in person, we’re not stuck in the confines of being behind a screen for a virtual event. If you have something flashy and exciting and fun that you  can show us, that we can touch and see, that’s what we want to have at the Tech Summit this year.” Kris Adams, (19:35)

“This is the way I [can] have my cake and eat it too. I could get to play with all of this fun tech, and then use it as a way to continue to help make Bentonville and the surrounding area better.” Kris Adams, (22:00)

‍“You know, when you move somewhere, you move with some hopes and expectations for what the local area will be like. We knew what we had seen on paper and what we’d seen on a screen, and then to really come and experience it in person, it just blew away even our wildest expectations.” Kris Adams, (24:05)
‍
Preparing for the Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit with Kris Adams
‍On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sat down with his friend and colleague, Kris Adams. Kris is the director of the Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit, a job for which he is clearly passionate. James and Kris discussed their love of Bentonville, what makes a non-Arkansas native like Kris stick around, and of course, the upcoming Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit.
‍
‍NWA Tech Summit
‍“[The NWA Tech Summit] is the premier technology conference here in the heartlands. And we believe that because of our size, pulling in about 1,400 in-person participants in 2019, and then over the last couple of years virtually, about 1,200, that size alone makes us unparalleled in the region for technology conferences.” Kris Adams (3:04)COVID-19 changed everything during the height of its power in 2020 and 2021, and one of the casualties has definitely been the conference circuit. Many organizations attempted virtual options for their gatherings, but it wasn’t always with the desired result. The NWA Tech Summit, however, held its numbers nearly to the line, which shows how needed a conference like this is, and how much the business community thrives because of it.“If you have a cool toy to bring with you, bring it and show it off. Because now that we’re back in person, we’re not stuck in the confines of being behind a screen for a virtual event. If you have something flashy and exciting and fun that you  can show us, that we can touch and see, that’s what we want to have at the Tech Summit this year.” Kris Adams, (19:35)With backers like Walmart, Tyson, and JB Hunt, the summit is poised to be incredible, and Kris is inviting all the movers and shakers in the area to join in the fun. There are five track options to be a part of this year, including Mobility and Supply Chain, Cyber Security, Health and Wellness, Web3, and Entrepreneurship (including a pitch competition!), and Kris wants all of them to be jam-packed with the coolest things to see and experience. There is still space for vendors and booths, and the world wants to see what Bentonville’s innovators have to offer. 
‍
‍Why Bentonville?
‍“This is the way I [can] have my cake and eat it too. I could get to play with all of this fun tech, and then use it as a way to continue to help make Bentonville and the surrounding area better.” Kris Adams, (22:00)With a background in faith-based and nonprofit work, and not being an Arkansas native, Kris may seem like an interesting choice as a champion for the technology scene in Northwest Arkansas. However, it is actually because of his experience in coming to Bentonville that he is the perfect person to be the self-proclaimed “ringleader” of the NWA Tech Summit. He has enjoyed combining his two loves of making Bentonville an amazing place to live and work and truly helping people through his nonprofit expertise. Kris and his team love what Bentonville has to offer so much that they are including a tour of the area in the conference experience for the NWA Tech Summit. While lamenting that often when attending a conference, one doesn’t get to actually experience the hosting city, they decided that they would spread the “unconventional convention” out across the downtown Bentonville area so that attendees will have the opportunity to sightsee and explore as a part of their Summit experience. This years’ theme is “Fast Forward,” as a nod to the catching-up that businesses are having to do as the world comes out of the pandemic. Kris sees this wonderful area around him helping each other and bringing each other up as they strive to live and work at a sped-up pace, and he wants the summit to be part of the solution. Bentonville residents’ willingness to help each other live and thrive is what inspires Kris to do this, and he hopes these values will be evident and be shared by everyone who attends the NWA Tech Summit as well.“You know, when you move somewhere, you move with some hopes and expectations for what the local area will be like. We knew what we had seen on paper and what we’d seen on a screen, and then to really come and experience it in person, it just blew away even our wildest expectations.” Kris Adams, (24:05)
‍
Attend the NWA Technology Summit this Year!
This year, the Northwest Arkansas Tech Summit will be returning for an exciting in-person event all across Downtown Bentonville October 16-18, 2022. The event will focus on technological advancements in five different tracks: Mobility & Supply Chain, Health & Wellness, Entrepreneurship, Cybersecurity, and Web3. CLICK HERE to register today! We hope to see you there!
‍‍
Get Connected!
‍Thanks for tuning in to this episode of The Bentonville Beacon! Join us weekly for more stories from entrepreneurs and business leaders who are making a positive impact on Bentonville’s culture, community, and lifestyle. Don’t forget, Bentonville is a place where you can have more of what you want and less of what you don’t!