Join us as we sit down with our friend Matt Duckworth to discuss how to build a high performing accounting department. He will break down the different positions of an accounting team and their importance and will detail how to craft a winning team. Matthew is the founder of Rhapsodi, a financial services firm that helps early & mid-career CEOs achieve $100 million exits through acquisition and smarter financial management.  He has acted as CFO or Advisor to some of the southeast US’s top-performing businesses, including the region’s second-largest fitness chain and one of the region’s largest funeral home chains.  During this time, he led multiple M&A transactions for himself and his clients and has helped create over $30 million in equity value for clients in the last 3 years. Matt is a former Adjunct Professor in Financing Entrepreneurial Ventures at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and has contributed to two published books, The Minimum Wage Millionaire by Bill Edgar and Bonds: The Unbeaten Path to Secure Investment Growth by Stan & Hildy Richelson (Bloomberg Press). Matt holds a Master of Business Administration, has passed FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities certifications, and holds an Advanced Certification in Value Investing from Columbia University.  Follow or Connect with Matt at https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-duckworth-53529711/For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

In this episode, we talk all things cyber security with Cody Griffin from Staley Technologies including, current trends and threats in the industry, what steps organizations should be taking to protect themselves, as well as some wild stories about personal and corporate threats he has encountered. Cody is the Division President at Staley Technologies over Cyber Security and Managed IT services. Cody has more than 20 years of experience in both public and private industry and as a partner in Risk Assurance and Managed IT / Cyber Security Services practices. He began his career in the risk assurance and advisory practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Cody’s industry experience includes information technology, cyber security, telecommunications, retail, financial institutions, energy, higher education and transportation. Cody is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). He also has an MBA in Management Information Systems from Texas Tech University, and a Bachelors in Accounting from Oklahoma State University. Connect with Cody: (1) Cody Griffin CPA.CITP CISA | LinkedInLearn more about Staley Technologies Risk Assurance and Managed IT Services: Reliable Managed IT Services Provider (staleytechnologies.com)For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

In this episode, we explore the state of the Arkansas economy, job market, and what we can expect in 2024 and beyond. Join us as we talk with Mervin Jebaraj, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research for the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. He has contributed to economic thinking and public policy discussion that journalists, business people, and community leaders alike rely on to understand how national and regional issues impact Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas as a whole. Arkansas Business and the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal recognized Mervin in their 40 Under 40 lists and on the Arkansas 250 list. He makes presentations that share the center’s expertise directly to over 5,000 individuals annually and tens of thousands more hear and see his economic analysis and commentary through TV, radio and print media. Jebaraj serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics and the Board of Directors of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport “Connect with Mervin: Mervin Jebaraj | LinkedInFor more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

Natalie Bartholomew, a.k.a. "The Girl Banker," is the Community President of First Community Bank in Northwest Arkansas. A career banker with 22 years of experience, she has expertise in retail, culture building, strategic planning, human resources, and marketing.Natalie has received many honors recognizing her work over the years. Recently, she was recognized from the American Bankers Association on the 2023 Emerging Leaders List and she was named a University of Arkansas Agricultural Business and Economics Distinguished Young Alumni. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Arkansas and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Boulder, Colorado, where she now serves as a faculty member. In November 2017, Natalie launched The Girl Banker platform to advocate for women in banking and working moms. Natalie uses this platform to act on her passion for educating young women on opportunities within the banking industry and raising awareness of what it means to be a community banker. The Girl Banker has grown to include a podcast and has offered Natalie the opportunity to speak at events across the country. Connect with Natalie: Natalie Bartholomew | LinkedInThe Girl Banker: The Girl BankerFor more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine introduce their new recruitment company, Arkansas Talent Group, and are thrilled to share the entire journey with their audience! Tune in to this episode where they discuss what they have been up to the last 12 months during their non-compete, recounting their experiences and unveiling the story behind the inception of Arkansas Talent Group. Discover the mission, differentiators, and the passionate drive that fuels their commitment to this venture. For those who have been following their journey, this episode promises valuable insights and a chance to finally hear the details. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the listeners, partners, and friends for their unwavering support and encouragement—this company is a testament to their shared journey! Arkansas Talent Group: Arkansas Talent Group | Connecting Top Talent in Arkansas Stephanie Shine- stephanie.shine@arkansastalentgroup.com Chris Chunn- chris.chunn@arkansastalentgroup.com Rock City Digital (website team): Little Rock's Best Digital Marketing Agency | Rock City DigitalElevate Recruiting Summit: Elevate Recruiting Summit (elevaterecruitingar.com)For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

Join us as we sit down with Stuart McLendon from Flexion Point, Inc. to discuss the labor market shortage, what fractional CFO services are and how it can help bridge the gap for businesses. Stuart McLendon is a native of North Little Rock, Arkansas where he continues to reside with his wife and their three children. He graduated from the Donaghey Scholars at UA Little Rock with degrees in Finance and International Business. Stuart’s career started at CFO Network, where he gained national recognition as an expert on financial analysis, corporate structures, and business valuations.  Since then, Stuart has led several high-growth businesses, from hospitality to mineral rights and real estate development, as a full-time CFO, and has recently launched a fractional executive consulting firm, Flexion Point, Inc.Connect with Stuart: Stuart McLendon | LinkedInEmail Stuart: smclendon@flexionpoint.com Learn more about Flexion Point: Flexion Point, Inc.: About | LinkedInWebsite: https://flexionpoint.com/For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

What is the REAL cost of turnover in organizations? Sadly, what us thinking about this topic was due to the performance of the Arkansas Razorbacks Football Team this year. Chris is a proud alumni and fan, but there was so much talk about what would happen to Sam Pittman, and what would be “the cost” of what it would take to “buy him out” of his contract. And then it randomly got us thinking “I wonder what the “real cost” around organizations was when they have turnover in their organizations locally, not just multi-million-dollar contract coaches. We wanted to learn more ourselves. In the recruitment industry, naturally, we see turnover happening in organizations and the entire life cycle as well as some of the cost and frustrations to employers. In this episode we have some really interesting statistics and topics to discuss around turnover. Quick fact: “It is estimated that losing an employee can cost a company one half to two times the employee’s salary. Depending on the individual level of seniority, the financial burden fluctuates.” We plan to dive deeper in the real costs, including the intangible costs of turnover. For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

Sarah is the Vice President of People at ATG (Applied Technology Group) and is a passionate HR professional and an exceptional leader at ATG. We talk with Sarah about her background and career in HR, including her new role at ATG, and all of the industry leading initiatives that her and her teams are doing to help their employees achieve work/life balance that is "actually that good", including introducing a sabbatical program. Throughout her career, Sarah has worked in various industries, including technology, telecommunications, transportation, and banking, where she gained experience in talent acquisition, leadership development, corporate training, strategic HR, and mergers and acquisitions. Her exceptional skills and dedication have also been recognized, leading to her nomination and selection to attend WICT’s (Women in Cable Telecommunications) Rising Leaders program. This program offers intensive immersion in leadership analysis and case study work to enhance cable business acumen. Most recently, Sarah has been accepted as a member of the CHIEF network: a private network for executive women with a mission to change the face of leadership. Sarah graduated from Arkansas State with a degree in Psychology.  Connect with Sarah:  Sarah Walters SPHR | LinkedIn Applied Technology Group (ATG):   https://atgusa.com/ For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

Jessie Wilson is the VP, Client Engagement and Corporate Senior Trainer for Dale Carnegie Training. She has over 13+ years’ sales leadership experience, with 12+ years’ experience as a multi-course certified Senior Trainer and Executive Coach. Her territories include Arkansas, west Tennessee, north Mississippi, south Missouri, and parts of Oklahoma and Texas. Jessie is passionate about training and helping others and provides world-class training to organizations.  She holds a BA in Professional Sales, with a minor in Spanish from Harding University.  Jessie is passionate about giving back to the community and serves as the Rotary International Club 99 Board of Directors and is an ICM Board Director.  She has been recognized as an Arkansas Business 20 in their 20’s and member of Leadership Greater Little Rock, Class XXX . Lastly, Jessie has been recognized worldwide by Dale Carnegie and Associates as being in the top consultants in North America for the past several years.Join us as we dive into why developing people matters. Don't miss out on this incredible conversation that explores the essence of leadership, people development, professional growth, and team dynamics.Dale Carnegie: https://www.dalecarnegie.com Connect with Jessie: (1) Jessie Wilson | LinkedInFor more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

We chat with Claire Brown, CEO at PowerWomen, Owner/Principal Broker at Move Realty, author, executive business coach, and women empowerment role model. She also hosts a very successful podcast, the Power Women Podcast, and mentor's women and men in her field. When thinking about someone who could discuss women in the workforce and how to rise above adversity, we had to tell her story!An early marriage and later divorce prompted her to take a deep look at herself, who she was, and what she wanted in the dating and in life. During this introspective period, Claire discovered a need for connection with other women who were willing to support and encourage one another as they navigated similar situations and life. Now, her Power Women Facebook group has almost 23,000 members and she has written a book called Ring or Fling! Today, Claire offers business coaching services for women (and men!) who are ready to empower themselves and work towards a new vision for their lives.  Connect with Claire on LInkedin: Claire BrownPower Women Website: Home - The Power WomenThe Power Women Podcast: Podcast - The Power WomenLittle Rock PowerWomen: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1807102609586780/ For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

In this episode of Arkansas Talent, we talk with Bradley Eagle about his progressive career in accounting and get a sneak peek into the world of working for the Arkansas Travelers. Brad was hired in 2014 and currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the Arkansas Travelers. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2011 with a degree in Accountancy.  In July of 2012, Brad left Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield to become a Tax Accountant for Dillard's. During his time at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Dillard's, Brad attended the MBA program at UALR where he graduated with his Master's in Business Administration. In 2017 Brad was issued his CPA license from the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy which he maintains to this day. Brad was born and raised in Star City, Arkansas. Outside the office he loves spending time with his wife Katie and playing with their little girl Valie. When he isn’t enjoying family time and cheering on the Razorbacks, you can find him deer hunting in the woods or duck hunting in the fields.Connect with Brad: (1) Bradley Eagle, CPA | LinkedInArkansas Travelers: Arkansas Travelers | MiLB.comFor more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

In this episode of Arkansas Talent, we talk with Kait Hill about her personal story and her journey with the implementing the 4-day work week in her organization. She discusses what worked and what didn't and what she ultimately landed on for her company.  As the founder and driving force behind Rock City Digital, Kait Hill is one of Arkansas' most promising young business leaders. With a clear vision for the future of business, Kait is committed to cultivating a culture of innovation and efficiency. Her progressive thinking and remarkable achievements have garnered widespread recognition, including the Small Business Owner 30 & Under award from the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce in 2019 and a feature in Local Magazine as a Woman to Watch in 2020. Setting herself apart with a unique approach, Kait distinguishes herself in the business world through her fresh and innovative perspective. She recognizes the vital role played by individuals within an organization and highly values their contributions. Emphasizing a team-centered philosophy, Kait has carefully curated a group of passionate professionals who share a deep love for their work and a genuine connection with their colleagues. This valuable teamwork is evident in the exceptional level of dedication and consistent quality of service that Rock City Digital delivers to its clients. Moreover, her company has been recognized for it’s excellence, receiving the Best Web Designer & Best Advertising Agency awards from highly regarded publications such as AY Magazine, Arkansas Money & Politics, and Arkansas Times for three consecutive years.Get in touch with Kait on Linkedin: (2) Kait Hill ☀️ | LinkedInCheck out Rock City Digital: Little Rock's Best Digital Marketing Agency | Rock City DigitalFor more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

Gina Smith is the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Consultant of Rock Region Consulting, Inc., which helps small to mid-size businesses improve their human resources by creating a culture of compliance, supporting employee engagement and building efficient administrative processes.Gina talks with us about what DEIB, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. She discusses how to foster a DEIB culture, which includes training & education, recruitment & hiring, how to measure your success, and what we can expect the future of DEIB. As a specialist on all matters affecting work, workers and the workplace, Gina is frequently sought-after to advise on critical workforce concerns—from sexual harassment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Experienced in both the not-for-profit and for-profit space, her decade of industry leadership includes roles in retail, manufacturing, healthcare, communications, IT, hospitality and unionized environments.Gina holds a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management from Webster University. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She also holds a Professional Human Resource (PHR) certification as well as several other certifications such as a (DDI), Certified Facilitator and Ken Blanchard Certified Trainer certifications. and a HR Consultant certification.Get in touch with Gina through LinkedIn: Gina Smith, PHR, MA | LinkedInRock Region Consulting: Human Resource Consulting | Rock Region Consulting | Little RockFor more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

Kelly Carney, SPHR, is the Vice President, Human Capital and Chief People Officer for Southwest Power Pool, where she oversees the human resources and learning and development teams and has over 20 years of experience in human resources and has worked across a variety of industries. She previously served as vice president of human resources and chief administrative officer at Delta Dental of Arkansas. She also serves on the board of the Leadership Foundation for Women and the governance board for Arkansas Hospice. She has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Administration from the University of Kansas and has a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation from the Human Resources Certification Institute. In this episode, we talk with Kelly about how her and her teams have been on a journey to flexibility and how they have had to adapt and change as an organization post covid. We tap into some great information on how they attract talent and work hard to keep their employees happy to retain them long term. Get in touch with Kelly-(1) Kelly Carney | LinkedInLearn more about SPP on LinkedIn: (1) Southwest Power Pool: Overview | LinkedInSPP website: Home - Southwest Power Pool (spp.org)For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

In this episode of Arkansas Talent, we talk with Co-Founders of Skills Lab, Beth Pittman and Christie Martin about how new leaders and seasoned leaders alike can home in on their management skills. They will touch on tips like meeting etiquette, communication, creating boundaries, and what you can skip if you aspire to be a great manager. Beth Pittman and Christie Martin started their careers in a Fortune 100 company handling recruiting, job design, organizational, and change management for a variety of departments. They have combined 40 years of experience working with businesses of every size and people at every career stage. Both natives of Arkansas, it has been their privilege to see so many clients grow and thrive in Arkansas and across the country. They have proven expertise in helping companies to find and grow talent and helping candidates to set themselves apart. They both are passionate about using their skills to impact their community and increase workforce preparedness for the underserved. You can find out more about skills lab and what they offer at https://skillslabtraining.com/.For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

In this episode of Arkansas Talent, we talk with Allison Cox, Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer at Encore Bank about what they are doing differently to attract and retain talent as well as how they have created a "Win Together Culture." Allison has 25 years of experience with seven of those years in the banking industry. As Chief People Officer for Encore Bank, Allison oversees HR, Marketing, Communications, Investor Relations, Training and Experience.  She received her Bachelor of Arts from Hendrix College. Allison serves as Board Chair for the Central Arkansas Alzheimer’s Association and will be co-chairing the Evolve Gala with her husband in 2024 to raise money for Centers for Youth and Families. Allison is a past 40 under 40 in Arkansas recipient, class of Leadership AR VII and named to Arkansas Money & Politics’ list of 2022 Women in Banking.Encore Bank is a private boutique bank that provides a full suite of financial products and services with a commercial focus on businesses, owners, professionals, and their families.  We can't wait to share with you the story of this incredibly fast-growing organization as well as more about Allison and her story. For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

In this episode of the Arkansas Talent Podcast, we speak with Antwan Phillips regarding why Little Rock is a great place to live and work....and why we #lovelittlerock. Antwan discusses the recent and upcoming projects and initiatives the city has planned and what makes the state and city a great place to move to and reside.Antwan Phillips serves as the Position 9 At-Large City Director. Phillips was elected to his first term in November 2020, serving as the City of Little Rock’s newest Director. Phillips was born and built in Little Rock. He is a graduate of John L. McClellan High School. After earning a degree in American Politics from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, he came back to Little Rock and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Director Phillips has practiced law for over a decade with Wright, Lindsey & Jennings law firm, where he is a partner. At Wright, Lindsey and Jennings, Phillips specializes in trucking litigation, dental malpractice, and municipal governmental relations. Director Phillips was recognized by Arkansas Business in 2013 as one of their “20 in their 20s” and in 2020 as one of their “40 under 40.” Phillips has also served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas, Little Rock Public Education Foundation, Little Rock Area Public Education Stakeholder Group, and the Pulaski County Imagination Library. He served as cochair for the Think Big Little Rock strategic planning initiative, which was charged with strategizing ways to enhance life in Little Rock and the surrounding communities. Since 2017, Phillips has also been named by Arkansas Business’ as one of the 200 most influential Arkansans. In 2017, Phillips, along with other alums of McClellan, founded the Friends and Alumni of McClellan Foundation to provide scholarships for McClellan’s graduating seniors. In 2018, Phillips launched the “Rock the Culture” podcast to discuss and provide perspective and conversation on all things Central Arkansas, all things Little Rock, all things the Culture For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

In this episode of Arkansas Talent, we have the opportunity to chat with Jon Harrison,  Founder and CEO of the Jon Harrison company. Jon’s mission is to transform workplace cultures into positive, thriving entities. Early in his career at Caterpillar Inc., a Fortune 100 company, Jon was recognized for his leadership approach and people skills, and the ability to drive bottom line results. Over the last half of his career, Jon was tasked with leading and transforming under-performing entities around the globe into thriving businesses. Some of his accomplishments include: leading the revival of an underperforming facility in Melbourne, Australia and overseeing the restructuring of a joint venture and company culture for thousands of employees in Japan. In his last assignment, Jon led the startup of a $180 million state-of-the art manufacturing facility in Little Rock, AR. It was during his time at Caterpillar that Jon saw first-hand how disengaged employees not only affect the bottom line of a business, they also experience having a lack of purpose, physical and emotional health issues, and negative relationships with family and friends. After seeing first-hand the impact that a high expectations/values-based work environment had on people’s lives and business results, Jon felt called to help other organizations and people achieve the same results. In 2011, Jon did just that by taking a leap of faith, leaving his executive life behind, and starting his own firm. Jon’s firm addresses the issue of “disengaged employees” head-on and shares his simple and proven method to organizations via training, advising and one-on-one coaching. Jon holds a BS in Business Economics from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Duke University. For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

In this episode, Chris & Stephanie talk with Daryl Seaton, President of Sowell Managment about his personal story and his experience implementing and daily practice of EOS (The Entrepreneurial Operating System) at Sowell.  Daryl discusses what EOS is, how it has impacted the business and a few key topics in EOS like Right Person- Right Seat, Creating Rocks, and Scorecards as well as the importance of "letting go of the vine."Daryl is a native of Northern California, Daryl began his career in financial services in 2000 with a Fortune 100 company in Sacramento, Calif. Swiftly becoming a top producer, he was promoted and in due course held responsibilities for recruiting, developing, and leading 150-plus agents/financial advisors with more than $1 billion in assets! Daryl later formed his own firm that started as a hybrid and then a Registered Investment Advisory Firm. It was at that time that he met Bill Sowell and started a partnership with Sowell Management.  After a robust eight-year relationship, Daryl accepted an invitation in 2020 to join the Sowell Management team. In 2020 Daryl started as chief operating officer, his role as an integrator is taking the company to the next peak of growth. Daryl is central to the growth planning that remains focused on new horizons for advisors, varying the offerings, and integrated technologies. By the end of 2021 Daryl was promoted to President of Sowell Management. After more than 20 years, Daryl considers himself to be a true seasoned leader in finance. His career has spanned both corporate, business ownership and community involvement. Daryl is an outdoor enthusiast and food and wine aficionado. By far, his pride and joy is his family. With the love of his life, Tammy, they are raising two boys of great character and faith – Jake and Nate. For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.

In this Episode, we discuss the future of AI with Chris Hill, Director of IT at Windstream Communications. Chris will discuss what AI is, how we are using it already in our daily lives and how accountants and hr professionals could be using the technology to help with their communication and productivity. He will also give us a sneak peek into what he predicts the future of AI will be. Chris is a native of Arkansas, and graduated from Arkansas State University with a degree in Management Information Systems and later earned an MBA from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He also holds a certificate in Business Analytics from the Sam Walton School of Business. With 24 years of experience in Telecommunications and Information Technology, Chris has served in various leadership roles with Alltel, Allied Wireless, AT&T, and Windstream. At Windstream, he spearheaded the creation and deployment of Robotic Process Automation and ChatBot programs. Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field of IT and is excited to share his insights with you. For more information, staffing, or career advice, get in touch with Chris Chunn and Stephanie Shine via Linkedin.