Walmart Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer Donna Morris will speak at the 2023 State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report luncheon later this month.
Morris, who is a member of the Northwest Arkansas Council’s Executive Committee, joins University of Arkansas economist Mervin Jebaraj as the Oct. 25 luncheon’s presenters.
The Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, in collaboration with the Council, will release the annual report at 11:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville Town Center.
At Walmart, Morris is responsible for attracting, retaining and developing talent for more than 2 million associates around the world. She joined Walmart in 2020 from Adobe and has more than 25 years of experience in developing and managing agile teams, delivering innovative people solutions and building an inclusive and high-performance culture.
Jebaraj, who is director of the UA Center for Business and Economic Research, has been involved with the State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report since it was first published in 2011. The report, which he’ll discuss, is a detailed, targeted snapshot of the region’s economy, comparing it to peers around the country that include Raleigh, North Carolina, and Austin, Texas.
Last year’s report noted the region’s median income in recent years rose faster than in its peers, but housing prices grew quickly as well. As Council President and CEO Nelson Peacock said at the time, the report underscores NWA’s relative advantage in tackling its biggest needs.
“We’re learning a lot from similar high-performing economic communities that have already experienced the growth ahead of us,” Peacock said.
Those interested in attending the Oct. 25 event can register online or by calling 479-575-4151.
