Verdant Studio

I distinctly remember some of the perplexed responses and concerns I received from friends in Chicago 13 years ago when I shared that I'd resigned from my teaching position and was going to relocate with my family to Bentonville, Arkansas. In many respects all I could perceive was the excitement of being immersed in a historic cultural experiment and being present and working from the very beginning, and was oblivious to the risk that my friends saw. I'm grateful to Michelle for taking the time to listen and tell a little of that crazy story. I'm glad we did it!

Are you part of a faith-based organization in Northwest Arkansas looking to create affordable housing? If your community has underutilized land but isn’t sure how to turn it into housing opportunities, ULI NWA can help! We are initiating a new educational program that offers real solutions to the regional affordable housing crisis.?Faithful Foundations encourages faith based communities to leverage the development of underutilized land into affordable housing. Through workshops, coaching, and technical assistance, we will equip organizations with the skills to plan, fund, and develop housing projects. Join our virtual information session on Thursday, March 13th at 3pm to learn more and ask any questions! Click the link to RSVP for your organization or click the share button to send to someone you know >> bit.ly/FF-InfoSession

?ULI NWA Place Summit Speaker Announcement? ?Tiffany Elder; Realtor & Real Estate Investor, Paradigm Properties Tiffany Elder is a highly accomplished real estate professional and investor based in the Triangle area of North Carolina. With a robust background as a former software engineer in financial services and an MBA graduate from UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School, Tiffany brings a unique blend of analytical prowess and strategic insight to her clients. ?Tim Conklin; Executive Director, NWA Housing Committee & Regional Planning Commission Tim?Conklin?is the Executive Director for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. He has lived and worked in the Ozarks for over 30 years. Prior experience includes working 16 years at the City of Fayetteville and five years working at metropolitan planning organizations in Springfield, MO and Fort Smith, AR. ?Norman Garrick; Professor Emeritus; University of Connecticut/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Norman Garrick is a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Garrick is also a former national board member of The Congress for the New Urbanism, co-chair of CNU’s Transportation Task Force and a CNU Fellow. He specializes in the planning and designing urban transportation systems, including transit, streets, street networks, parking, bicycle and pedestrian facilities. ?Jessica Hester; CEO + Principal Architect, Verdant Studio A native of Northwest Arkansas, Jessica loves shaping the built environment in ways that elevate the quality of life for the many communities Verdant Studio serves. A Placemaker at heart, she is a licensed Realtor and an active member of the NWA chapter of the Urban Land Institute focused on building a Women’s Leadership Initiative. ?Mary Madden; Madden Planning LLC Mary Madden is an urban planner and designer with over 25 years of experience in community development and historic preservation at all levels of government. Her practice focuses on revising zoning codes to support smart growth, sustainability, and New Urbanism, working with a diverse range of communities. Learn more at placesummit.uli.org

For two years, Art in Place has connected the real estate and art communities in Northwest Arkansas through programming, networking, and collaboration. Now a permanent initiative of ULI NWA, it continues to foster valuable relationships between artists and developers. Join us at MIXD Gallery in Bentonville, on November 12th from 5:30-8pm for an informal gathering to network and celebrate the people shaping our built environment. By Design features a curated selection of Ozark-based artists and designers blending fine art with functional design. Enjoy delicious small bites from Oven and Tap Oven and Tap and refreshing beverages! Be sure to register at the link https://lnkd.in/gxcd2dAJ to reserve your spot.