Summary:
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies!
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with James Bell, vice president of Bentonville Economic Development and host of the Bentonville Beacon Podcast, a show that tells the stories of triumph and growth through the lives of the business leaders, executives, and business owners of Bentonville, Arkansas. Additionally, James is an accomplished senior executive and previous founder with more than twenty-five years of experience in diverse business environments. His passion for economic development and entrepreneurship led him to return to Arkansas to help advance Bentonville’s recognized success. Throughout this episode, James discusses his excitement about seeing Bentonville continue to establish itself as a place where his son can grow up and explore, as well as the state of innovative healthcare and mobility coming to Northwest Arkansas.
Show Notes:
(1:06) Introduction to James
(4:54) Working at the Bentonville Chamber of Commerce
(6:17) Starting a Business in Bentonville
(8:20) Northwest Arkansas’s Healthcare Ecosystem
(17:02) What Makes Bentonville Special
(22:33 About The Ledger
(27:37) Bentonville’s Exciting Future with Mobility
(34:44) James’ Favorite Barbeque
(37:37) Advice to Younger Self
(40:02) Closing Question
Links:
Bentonville Economic Development
Quotes:
“I love that I get to help people do the things that they most want, that they’re most passionate about. I get to help them build their businesses or decide whether they should be here in Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas.” – James Bell, (5:42)
“If you look at that breadth of businesses, starting from the standpoint of potential customers to just the opportunity to learn from experts and access an amazing workforce, it’s all here.” – James Bell, (6:57)
“…they’re going to build a transformational healthcare system. I can’t wait to see what all that means, but what I do know from my experience is that all this transpired in the past five years. I can’t imagine it happening anywhere else in thirty, forty, or fifty. And I think that says a lot about this place and how people think here.” – James Bell, (14:03)
“You have this amazing place where people are sort of pulling and working together and moving in the same direction. You can stand in the square in Fayetteville, stand in the square in Bentonville, in Rogers, in Springdale, and you can feel the energy.” – James Bell, (18:23)
Building a Better Bentonville with James Bell
On this episode, hosts Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with James Bell, vice president of Bentonville Economic Development and host of the Bentonville Beacon Podcast, a show that tells the stories of triumph and growth through the lives of the business leaders, executives, and business owners of Bentonville, Arkansas. Additionally, James is an accomplished senior executive and previous founder with more than twenty-five years of experience in diverse business environments. His passion for economic development and entrepreneurship led him to return to Arkansas to help advance Bentonville’s recognized success. Throughout this episode, James discusses his excitement about seeing Bentonville continue to establish itself as a place where his son can grow up and explore, as well as the state of innovative healthcare and mobility coming to Northwest Arkansas.
What Bentonville Has to Offer
Answering why entrepreneurs should be excited about moving or starting their business in Bentonville is easy because the world’s largest business is headquartered there, along with over fourteen hundred of its vendors. There is undoubtedly an ample amount of customers and the opportunities to access influential industry leaders are abundant. Add in Bentonville’s welcoming and helpful culture, and you have the perfect equation for creating a successful metropolis where people can live the life they deserve.
“If you look at that breadth of businesses, starting from the standpoint of potential customers to just the opportunity to learn from experts and access an amazing workforce, it’s all here.” – James Bell, (6:57)
Aside from the business aspects of the area, Bentonville is also an amazing place to be because of its outdoor recreation opportunities, music and art scene, family-friendly culture, and high-quality restaurants. Known for being the mountain bike capital of the world and home to the world-renowned museum Crystal Bridges, it’s no surprise that Northwest Arkansas’s population is expected to reach one million residents by 2035.
Bentonville’s Budding Healthcare Scene
In the recent past, Northwest Arkansas was reported to not have enough medical specialists or residencies in its healthcare ecosystem, resulting in the area losing around one billion dollars a year from community members traveling elsewhere to receive healthcare. However, with Walmart actively establishing thousands of clinics across the country to deliver affordable and accessible healthcare, it leaves the impression that there’s a bright future in store for Bentonville’s healthcare ecosystem.
“…they’re going to build a transformational healthcare system. I can’t wait to see what all that means, but what I do know from my experience is that all this transpired in the past five years. I can’t imagine it happening anywhere else in thirty, forty, or fifty. And I think that says a lot about this place and how people think here.” – James Bell, (14:03)
Moreover, Walmart’s mission to provide convenient healthcare services beyond primary care introduces endless integration options with the Walmart app that could potentially impact long-lasting behavioral change. Moreover, Washington Regional Medical Center has announced eighty new residencies. The new Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, the first institute in the world focused on whole health, is set to have its first class of students in 2025.
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