NW Arkansas Talent Showcase (February 2023)

Since launching, over 900 members have joined the?Northwest Arkansas Talent Network?to explore career opportunities with regional employers. This month, we were able to meet one-on-one with nine exceptional members who are open to exploring new opportunities. The showcase below is intended to offer you a glimpse of the person behind the profile. Click on their names to dive into their professional backgrounds, and let us know if you'd like to call dibs on any introductions!

Featured Members of the NW Arkansas Talent Network

Erin Ternes - Field of Interest: UX Design?

Erin's personality, at work and otherwise, is well-rounded: she is independent and resourceful, yet an excellent collaborator; light-hearted and playful, yet determined and professional; artistic and creative, yet logical and organized. Friends and co-workers alike describe her as endlessly optimistic, deeply curious, inclusive, and adaptable. Erin loves Northwest Arkansas and her hometown, Fayetteville, because they have a small-town feel while also offering a lot of opportunities. Her favorite local activities include canoeing the Buffalo River with her husband and dog, hiking, attending art shows and concerts, and trying out new restaurants.

Allison A. - Field of Interest: Organizational Development - Human Resources/Social Work

Allison currently splits her time between Little Rock and NWA, but she hopes to fully transition by finding a full-time role based in NWA that is as supportive and suitable as her current role. She is organized, hardworking, compassionate, funny, and pleasant to be around. Allison is a quick study and, given the opportunity, is willing to go the extra mile in a crisis or because something truly matters. “I've been described as a ‘connector.’ Not only do I seem to know someone everywhere I go, but I also love connecting people with others who would benefit from knowing them. I feel confident in my public speaking and presentation skills; whether it is one-on-one or in a large group, I can hold my own. In many of the volunteer and community opportunities I have put myself in, I am often the only voice from the mental health and human behavior side, so I feel comfortable holding that responsibility and speaking up as an advocate.”

Adrianne Marcum - Field of Interest: Engineering/Product Management & Social Justice

Adrianne is a down-to-earth technical leader with strong communication and organizational skills. Her risk management skills include experience across several industries, working in both enterprise and start-up environments within technical and management positions. She recently relocated from Texas to enjoy more time outdoors with her family and a little slower pace of life. Adrianne is personally and professionally motivated by continual progression and the acquisition of new knowledge. Her current learning pursuits include cloud infrastructure, identity and access management, security operations, mountain biking, Spanish, and constructing moss walls. She excels at grasping business requirements, analyzing technical solutions and constraints, and applying creative problem-solving to achieve team goals. Adrianne will find interesting aspects in any business, but she will thrive in a mission-focused environment that highlights sustainability, social justice, and equitable access. She is open to technical program, product, or engineering management opportunities.

Wendy Eidson MA TESOL NBCT - Field of Interest: Project/Operations Management

Wendy is looking to transition her multifunctional skillset from the classroom to an organization's project management team. She is a team player who thrives on change and out-of-the box solutions. She brings out the best in others and leads by example. She is creative, organized, and innovative. Wendy is a people person and an asset to any team she is on. Wendy has continuously gone above and beyond in her role as an educator. This is best exemplified by how she engages her students in a way that helps them make connections to the real world. Wendy has a genuine interest in seeing others succeed. She builds the type of relationships that allow her to meet others where they are at and work collaboratively to create individual goals and pathways to success.

Christopher J. Edquist, CFCE, CC - Field of Interest: Digital Forensics?

Chris brings over 18 years of experience as a digital forensics professional across both the private and public sectors and enjoys using both technical and analytical skills to answer critical questions posed by his clients. In his downtime, this nearly lifelong resident of Arkansas loves to take advantage of all that NWA has to offer. Chris enjoys hiking, biking, and camping. Tennis and running are two other favorite pastimes. Chris also enjoys spending time relaxing with his family and friends, often cooking out and calling those "Hogs!"

Ana Lasa - Field of Interest: Corporate Communications

Ana is a proud Chilean and Uruguayan. She is also a soccer and yoga enthusiast. Being a mother and a spouse motivates Ana to pursue greatness every day. “My family and I recently moved to Bentonville, which has pleasantly surprised me through the kindness of its people, the weather, and great food!” Ana is very efficient, honest, dedicated, and likes to bring a touch of organization to the challenges she takes on (be it at home or work). Overall, Ana loves to continue learning and growing in a place where she can interact with diverse teammates and have fun while making an impact.

Savannah McCall - Field of Interest: Supply Chain & Logistics

Savannah is an experienced Account Representative with a demonstrated history of working in the Steel Wire and Logistics industries. She is skilled in account management, implementing new marketing strategies, on-time delivery improvement, and social media management. Savannah is also a strong business professional. She has a bachelor's degree with a business marketing focus from Anderson University. Being fairly new to the area, Savannah and her husband enjoy trying local restaurants as well as going to Razorback games.

Sam Smith - Field of Interest: Operations Management/Finance

Sam has 10 years of experience developing people, leading high-performing teams, and solving difficult problems in high-stress environments. Sam is passionate about investing in people, building teams, and continuously learning to be able to overcome any challenge. “My wife and I have moved all over the country while in the military but are making NWA our home. We love exploring the trails with our three dogs, golfing, and discovering all that the area has to offer.”?

Marcy Pummill - Field of Interest: Human Resources/Public Relations

As a soon-to-be Bella Vista resident, Marcy sees moving to NWA as a type of homecoming, where the beautiful, wooded mountains of her childhood memories meet the amazing opportunities of today. She, her husband, and their 11-year-old son are ready to immerse themselves in the outdoor amenities, the arts and culture, and the small-town pleasures that NWA has to offer. Moving to NWA was a no-brainer because there are so many job opportunities and great schools, and the cost of living is still relatively low. And of course, there is a thriving pickleball community, which the Pummills say is a must-have. Throughout her adult life, Marcy has been fortunate to have had a variety of fun careers and jobs and has picked up a wealth of knowledge and experience along the way that will translate well into any career path that she embarks on next. She loves to problem-solve, organize, help people, and create workplace efficiency. Marcy has over 20 years’ experience in administration, customer service, HR, marketing and advertising, PR, public speaking (teaching and coaching), communications, bookkeeping, and inventory management fields at managerial, director, and owner levels. She is looking for a career where she can use her existing skills and talents to promote excellence in the workplace at a managerial level, all while acquiring new skills and knowledge that will help propel her into the future.

If you are looking for talent, we hope you will reach and consider opening your doors to these bright and capable individuals.

If you would like us to facilitate an intro or know someone who might be interested in connecting with this talent, visit and/or share this link with them:?https://people.getro.com/app/shared-lists/talent-showcase

If you would like to be featured in a future showcase, we invite you to join the?Northwest Arkansas Talent Network?and reach out to?Justin Stewart, MBA?on Linkedin or via email at?[email protected]

Wishing you all the best,

Aron Shelton?and?Justin Stewart, MBA, Talent Initiatives Team at?Northwest Arkansas Council