NW Arkansas Talent Showcase (July 2024)
Northwest Arkansas
Follow along as we share all things Northwest Arkansas. #FindingNWA
With Independence Day around the corner, it seems fitting to feature four individuals bursting with talent and driven by a burning desire to make a positive impact on everyone they encounter.
From local governance and higher education to digital marketing, technology and music consulting, these professionals bring a dazzling array of skills and passions to the table.
Meet the Members
Chrystal T. - Field of Interest: Higher Education/Digital Media/Storytelling
Communication as an area of study has been of interest to Chrystal due to its relevance and impact on everyday life. In childhood, she was the kid reading the back of cereal boxes, happily soaking up the storylines from her favorite TV shows and spending copious amounts of time messaging friends after school via text or instant messaging platforms (MSN Messenger was a good time, predictive texting, not so much). “A core memory for me is the experience of going to bookstores on the weekend with my parents and selecting new stories to dive into. My world was widened through reading, and that has influenced my desire to be a storyteller.”
In stories, there are joys and pitfalls and this has been true throughout Chrystal’s life. Her career path has been a journey through various positions across different industries: retail, banking, information security, and now higher education. In each role, she has demonstrated flexibility and adaptability by quickly learning new systems and processes. In addition to Chrystal’s graduate school studies, she has pursued additional certifications, specifically within the realm of project management. “Through the Reimagine Arkansas grant, I was able to complete the training program for the Certified Associate in Project Management. As my career experience has spanned multiple roles, I have learned the benefit of applying project management principles to deliver successful outcomes regardless of the industry or organizational context.”
Outside of work, Chrystal is motivated to help others by volunteering. In her volunteering journey, Chrystal completed ERT training in order to be a part of recovery teams that assisted families affected by natural disasters. “This experience took me to Houston, Texas and Slidell, Louisiana for hurricane recovery efforts. Also, I had the opportunity to assist here in Arkansas in Mountain Home for tornado recovery. Otherwise, my volunteer efforts were focused on preparing and serving meals at a community center. These volunteer issues still remain near and dear to me, and after graduation, I am hoping to work with additional community organizations such as Canopy NWA and the Ozark Literacy Council.”
Chrystal’s heart is focused on helping people. Whatever the role or the context of the project, people have remained at the center of her focus, driving her passion to make a positive impact in both professional and community settings.
You can follow Chrystal’s journey to collect and share the experiences of people in creative communities via The Dramateurg on Instagram (@thedramateurg).
Sumiko Sprinkle - Field of Interest: Technology/Music/Non-Profit
Sumiko landed in Northwest Arkansas as one of the lucky 100 recipients (out of 60,000 applicants) of the NWA Council's "Life Works Here" Talent Incentive. Previously based in Nashville, TN, Sumiko is a music business consultant, organizing events with industry executives while providing insight, expertise, and career direction for aspiring talent. Prior to that, she founded a music and arts oriented nonprofit working with underserved students primarily on the Navajo and Apache reservations.
Sumiko is a connector. A primary motivator for her is the importance of community-building, whether it's finding like-minded individuals or rallying diverse interests around a common initiative. Sumiko is both analytical and creative, which allows her to gain a unique perspective on the gaps in an organization or industry, often identifying key opportunities otherwise missed.
As a regular guest speaker for Berklee College of Music, Sumiko tells students, "Who you are matters far more than what you can do. When we approach the world with gratitude, humility, and a willingness to learn, our perceived barriers often disappear."
When it’s time to get refreshed, you’ll always find Sumiko outdoors, maybe tying a few flies for the next river adventure. She is also an astronomy enthusiast, captivated by the latest discoveries revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope, and loves keeping up with breakthroughs in tech and science.
Brock B. - Field of Interest: Local Governance
Brock Burnett grew up in Greenwood, Arkansas and made the move to NWA for college in 2014. After graduating college, Brock and his family moved to Bentonville and has been in love with the area ever since. The Burnetts enjoy going to community events, playing pickleball, and indulging in the outdoor activities this area provides.
Brock is very problem-solving oriented. When given a problem that needs to be solved, he quickly creates several effective solutions and poses them for discussion with his team. “Due to being problem-solving oriented, I usually learn new things fast so I’m able to jump into a role and provide impact. I also do well with having personalized and casual conversation with employees and customers to make for a better, more trustworthy work environment.”
After a tough day or difficult stretch of work, Brock likes to recharge by rotating between sociality and isolation. “When craving social exposure, I really enjoy doing things with friends or trying new things and meeting new people. When I need some separation from the world, I like to read, do some introspection to make sure I’m checking up with myself, or learn new things that I’m interested in. My interests are widespread so I can always find something new to entertain me.”
领英推荐
Joseph Bacon - Field of Interest: Marketing/Business Development
Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, Joseph, or “Joey”, as most people call him, has developed a strong connection to his hometown. Though he spent a couple of years in Northwest Arkansas (NWA), a place he fell in love with, Little Rock remains his base of operations for now.
Joey is a dedicated marketing professional with a zest for life. His background, interests, and professional experiences paint a picture of someone passionate about his work, enjoys diverse activities, and has clear aspirations for the future. Joey serves as a marketing assistant, for which he thrives. His responsibilities span from client account management, campaign planning, web page development, and email marketing to copywriting. The aspect of his job he enjoys most is building relationships with clients.
As an outgoing individual, he values the trust and connections he forms, always ensuring clients feel cared for and supported in their success. Initially drawn to the finance industry, Joey discovered his true passion for marketing during his college years. His love for clients and project management steered him towards a career where he could be the main point of contact for clients and oversee projects from inception to completion. This realization shaped his career path and fueled his enthusiasm for his work. His strongest attributes are his soft skills: communication, teamwork, critical thinking, adaptability, empathy, and relationship building. These skills have been instrumental in his career, enabling him to manage projects and foster strong client relationships effectively. Motivated by his enjoyment of work and desire for financial freedom, Joey finds that getting up and going to work each day is a breeze.
Looking to the future, he aspires to own his own marketing or advertising firm. He also dreams of working with charities and possibly venturing into real estate development.
Outside of the daily grind, Joey has a variety of interests and passions. Growing up, he played soccer and still enjoys the sport. His primary leisure activity now is golfing, which he finds enjoyable and stress-relieving. In addition to golfing, he cherishes time spent with friends, traveling, and watching every game of his favorite soccer team, Arsenal, during the season.
We hope you will reach out and consider connecting with these bright and capable individuals.
If you would like us to facilitate an intro or know someone who might be interested in connecting with any of the members, 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 a safe and happy 4th,
Justin Stewart, MBA and Aron Shelton, Talent Initiatives Team at Northwest Arkansas Council
Previous Showcases:
I write and bite!
5 个月Thank you very much, Northwest Arkansas Council and Justin Stewart, MBA, for including me in the Talent Showcase feature! It is lovely to receive support from your organization in my career journey. To community members, I am looking forward to speaking with you about shared interests and opportunities. Let's connect and build a thriving community together.
Founder | Music Industry Consultant
5 个月What an honor, thanks so much for the feature! Appreciate the work that the Northwest Arkansas Council is doing. I'm actively looking to connect more with my new community, so all please feel free to reach out with any projects, opportunities, or questions! Would love to have some conversations about what's moving and shaking here in NWA!