NWA Council Celebrates 25 Years

The Northwest Arkansas Council celebrated its 25th anniversary at its annual meeting at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art on Monday.

The council was founded in 1990 by some of the area’s top business leaders as a conduit to improve the region’s economic development. Some of the accomplishments highlighted at the meeting were Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport and the completion of Interstate 49.

“The confidence that the Northwest Arkansas Council provided to northwest Arkansas perhaps is not transferrable, but as a state we can learn from the confidence that you instilled into our economy, into our community, into our state leadership,” said Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the meeting’s keynote speaker. “Hats off to you for what you’ve done in terms of vision and in terms of confidence.”

Arkansas Rep. Steve Womack said in a video message that the council was the “catalyst” for the region’s development.

Roz Brewer, the president CEO of Sam’s Club, stepped down after serving as the council’s co-chair in 2014-15. Jim Walton, the chairman of the Arvest Bank Group, was named the co-chair for 2015-16.

Marshall Saviers of Sage Partners was elected to a three-year term on the council’s executive committee. The council also awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership to Uvalde Lindsey, one of the original members of the council who served as executive director from 1990-2005.

“It’s rare that for 25 years the true leadership of a region can come together and unselfishly work together for the common good,” Lindsey said.