Summary
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Randy Wilburn, Founder and Host of I am Northwest Arkansas, a blog and podcast that covers business, culture, entrepreneurship and everyday life in the Ozarks. Randy is also a consultant who teaches business leaders how to podcast at a high level, as well as Chief Encourager at Encourage Build Grow, a leadership development consulting service that helps people discover how to “Get 1% better every day.” Throughout this episode, Randy discusses his various ventures and why Bentonville and the other cities that make up Northwest Arkansas are amazing places to build businesses and experience life, resulting in one of the fastest growing-cities and fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. Also during this episode, Randy announces his newest venture!

Thanks for tuning in!

‍Show Notes
Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.
(0:52) Introduction to Randy Wilburn
(4:45) How Northwest Arkansas Has Changed
(11:22) How NWA Has Helped Randy Live His Best Life
(15:49) About Encourage Build Grow
(25:07) About the I am Northwest Arkansas Podcast
(33:03) What Business Leaders Should Consider about Bentonville
(38:13) #BecauseBentonville Story
(43:00) Events That Have Shaped Randy’s Life
(51:31) Closing Question
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‍Links‍‍‍‍‍‍
JAMES BELL
BENTONVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT‍‍
RANDY WILBURN
I AM NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
ENCOURAGE BUILD GROW
ONBOARD NWA
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Quotes
“What I’ve experienced in Northwest Arkansas gives me hope for the greater nation, and I know a lot of what’s driven here right now, a lot of it is economically driven, but I also see the social aspects that are playing into that, and I think that’s important and that shouldn’t be lost on anyone.” – Randy Wilburn, (14:21)

“We understand and know local businesses and organizations, we interview them all the time. This is a natural connection between the community we’re building with I am Northwest Arkansas and the online job board.” – Randy Wilburn, (23:21)
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“When you think about Bentonville, think about a city that is pro business, right? I think every city in Northwest Arkansas is pro business…but when I look at the city that is really open to helping steward this next round of entrepreneurship in this area, Bentonville is firmly a great place to do that.” – Randy Wilburn, (33:04)

“I’m putting Northwest Arkansas, as well as all four of the major cities, including Bentonville, up against any of these other major cities in terms of what’s available and what we have access to, and here’s the thing, it’s only going to get better.” – Randy Wilburn, (36:39)‍

Showcasing the Intersection of Culture and Entrepreneurship in Northwest Arkansas with Randy Wilburn
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Randy Wilburn, Founder and Host of I am Northwest Arkansas, a blog and podcast that covers business, culture, entrepreneurship and everyday life in the Ozarks. Randy is also a consultant who teaches business leaders how to podcast at a high level, as well as Chief Encourager at Encourage Build Grow, a leadership development consulting service that helps people discover how to “Get 1% better every day.” Throughout this episode, Randy discusses his various ventures and why Bentonville and the other cities that make up Northwest Arkansas are amazing places to build businesses and experience life, resulting in one of the fastest growing-cities and fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. Also during this episode, Randy announces his newest venture!

Highlighting Northwest Arkansas
After becoming an unexpected transplant to NWA, Randy concluded a podcast would be the best way to meet new people and learn more about the area. As a result, he created the I am Northwest Arkansas podcast to offer a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between entrepreneurship and the vibrant Northwest Arkansas community. The core essence of NWA is to cultivate a culture of cooperation and an unwavering commitment to crafting the most exceptional rendition of the region, and I am Northwest Arkansas seeks to highlight that.
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Furthermore, the I am Northwest Arkansas podcast serves as the on-the-ground authority, authenticating and endorsing the NWA experience for those considering a move to this locale. Delving into local events, uplifting narratives, engaging activities, noteworthy destinations, eateries and beyond, I am Northwest Arkansas embodies the welcoming and supportive nature exhibited by the community, extending a warm embrace to both current and prospective inhabitants of the region.

“I’m putting Northwest Arkansas, as well as all four of the major cities, including Bentonville, up against any of these other major cities in terms of what’s available and what we have access to, and here’s the thing, it’s only going to get better.” – Randy Wilburn, (36:39)

Making Jobs More Accessible
In addition to hosting the I am Northwest Arkansas podcast, Randy is also a podcasting consultant, teaching storytelling and podcast strategy. Consequently, Randy recognizes how often small to midsize businesses are overlooked in the recruitment process, leaving them in need of new hires. That is why he is launching OnBoard NWA to act as a hyper-local job board for startups and nonprofit organizations.

With OnBoard NWA, startups and nonprofits will have a pipeline to young talent attending the University of Arkansas. Moreover, something unique about OnBoard NWA is it offers the ability to create a sonic job posting, meaning there are audio components incorporated where potential hires can hear from the founder or hiring manager of the companies.

“We understand and know local businesses and organizations, we interview them all the time. This is a natural connection between the community we’re building with I am Northwest Arkansas and the online job board.” – Randy Wilburn, (23:21)
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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 Bentonville. If you are interested in discussing whether your business should have a presence in Bentonville or would like to discuss this podcast, please contact James Bell. You may reach James at jbell@greaterbentonville.com or (479) 273-2841.