Central to NWA: A UCA Podcast

University of Central Arkansas

Central to NWA: A UCA Podcast is the University of Central Arkansas’ official platform for deepening its presence and building relationships in Northwest Arkansas. Hosted by Paul Gatling, UCA’s Senior Director of Northwest Arkansas Engagement, the show connects alumni, business leaders, and community partners through interviews and relevant conversations. Some guests will be UCA graduates making an impact in the region. Others will include industry voices, institutional partners, campus leaders in Conway, and community leaders in Northwest Arkansas, all of whom are shaping this region from different perspectives. Each episode explores how leadership, workforce and education intersect in one of the country’s fastest-growing regions. The goal is straightforward: listen, connect and make sure UCA has a stronger, more visible presence in Northwest Arkansas. If you want to stay plugged into the people and ideas defining Northwest Arkansas, this is the channel.

  1. Jun 9

    Ep. 15 - Region-First Growth: Robert Burns on Shaping Northwest Arkansas

    Growth is a massive regional win, but unmanaged expansion quickly turns into a infrastructure and talent leak. As populations spike, civic leaders face the ultimate balancing act: keeping a booming economy running efficiently while protecting the unique social fabric that made people want to move there in the first place. We sit down with Robert Burns, the home region program director of the Walton Family Foundation, to discuss exactly how a world-class philanthropic organization strategically deploys capital to support sustainable growth across specific regions. We get into the tactical execution of the foundation's newly released 2030 strategy, mapping out actionable approaches to physical infrastructure, career-connected learning, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Robert breaks down the importance of relationship density, showcasing how cross-industry collaboration keeps talent pipelines full in rapidly developing areas like Benton and Washington counties. We also dive into the operational mechanics of grant evaluations, discussing how key performance indicators and true stakeholder alignment transform high-level concepts into localized community development programs. A scaling region requires more than just high-level economic theory; it takes massive investments in the literal nuts and bolts of municipal utilities, regional transport networks, and localized workforce upskilling. True community development happens when you look at the human element of growth, realizing that the individuals who live closest to a specific challenge are always the ones equipped with the most sustainable solutions. Viewers will walk away with a fresh systems-level framework for managing rapid community growth without diluting regional culture or identity. If you care about regional economic development, strategic philanthropic grant making, and building sustainable civic pipelines, you will get a lot from this conversation. Subscribe to the channel and share this episode with someone working to build stronger, more inclusive local communities. For those watching, what unique strategy or grassroots initiative does your hometown use to welcome new residents while honoring long-standing traditions? Let us know in the comments.

    52 min

  2. May 26

    Ep. 14 - Career Trajectory Shifts: From Small Business to NASA COO with Amir Deylami

    Operating a massive tech hub in the middle of the world's most aggressive innovation environment leaves zero margin for error. When you are responsible for keeping a 2,000 acre campus running smoothly to support human spaceflight, theory takes a backseat to real world execution. In this episode, host Paul Gatling sits down with Amir Deylami, the Chief Operating Officer of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, to unpack what it takes to manage billions in critical government assets while living thousands of miles away in Northwest Arkansas. We sit down to discuss the realities of coordinating a massive ecosystem across federal agencies, private enterprise, and higher education. Amir Deylami shares his professional trajectory from a childhood running cash registers in Alabama to raising his hand for high stakes assignments that caught the attention of NASA headquarters. We get into the actual logistics of driving rapid organizational change, the distinct regional similarities between Silicon Valley tech giants and corporate mainstays like Walmart and JB Hunt, and his recent experience mentoring the next generation of business students as an executive in residence at the University of Central Arkansas. Amir highlights a core philosophy that has guided his entire tenure: you must architect from the right by identifying your exact desired outcome before mapping out the players needed to get you there. The real differentiating factor for successful leaders is the grueling, slow work of building interpersonal trust. Amir candidly breaks down the mental toll and logistical grind of working around the clock across multiple time zones, balancing family life in a new community, and overcoming the institutional inertia often associated with government entities. Viewers will walk away with a practical framework for early career planning, an understanding of why agility and resilience matter more than static skills in the age of artificial intelligence, and a firsthand account of the preparation behind the historic Artemis missions. If you care about organizational leadership, technological innovation ecosystems, and practical career development, you’ll get a lot from this conversation. Please make sure to subscribe to the channel and share this episode with someone looking to scale their management capabilities. What is the most critical process or outcome in your own organization that you need to start architecting from the right today?

    38 min

  3. May 12

    Ep. 13 - Delusional Ambition: Scaling a Financial Empire with Kristin Daniel

    Financial volatility is often just a symptom of excessive noise, and for many high-stakes founders, "doing it all" is the fastest way to lose everything. In an era where everyone with an Instagram account claims to be a market expert, the real challenge isn't finding information; it's finding clarity. We sit down with Kristin Daniel, founder of Parity Financial Group, to discuss how she built a premier wealth management firm by embracing what she calls "delusional ambition" and a relentless focus on the unglamorous work of execution. We get into the tactical realities of scaling a financial practice through organic growth and aggressive mergers and acquisitions. Kristin shares her journey from a town of 278 people to managing ultra-high net worth portfolios in the heart of Bentonville. We explore the specific mechanics of the "fractional family office" model, the importance of asking deep-seated psychological questions about money, and how the UCA Commitment is paving the way for the next generation of Arkansas leaders. Kristin also highlights her unique philosophy on "concierge" service, acting as the strategic quarterback for entrepreneurs who have their business in order but their personal financials in a mess. The truth about elite performance is that it usually involves a decade of working 50-hour retail weeks and operating out of a closet during a global pandemic. Success isn't about a single "aha" moment; it's about the grit required to manage three distinct non-profit leadership roles while simultaneously navigating the technical hurdles of business integration. You will walk away with a fundamental shift in how you view capacity, a reminder that humility is a leader's greatest asset, and a warning to keep your blinders on when the market starts to scream. If you care about wealth preservation, community impact, and the future of the Arkansas economy, you’ll get a lot from this conversation. Subscribe and share this episode with a fellow founder who is ready to scale. What is the biggest "delusional" goal you’ve set for your business this year that you’re determined to hit? Let us know in the comments.

    46 min

  4. Apr 21

    Ep. 12 - Life in Education: Dr. Bobby New’s Legacy

    A Fayetteville superintendent who also spent 26 years flying helicopters and airplanes as an Army and National Guard aviator has a different way of talking about leadership: calm, practical, and shaped by responsibility that never really shuts off. We’re joined by Dr. Bobby New, UCA class of 1971, to walk through the moments that formed his view of Arkansas public education and the people who make schools work. We start with Conway, football, and arriving at what was then State College of Arkansas, where coaches and instructors provided the kind of hands-on guidance that sticks for decades. From there, Bobby’s path takes a sharp turn into ROTC, active duty, and flight school, before circling back to UCA as a graduate assistant. That decision launches a career that spans teaching, administration, statewide work at the Arkansas Department of Education, and ultimately district leadership including 13 years as superintendent of Fayetteville Public Schools. Along the way we get into what the public often misses about the superintendent job, why evenings and weekends belong to students as much as administrators, and how extracurriculars like band and athletics can become a powerful engine for student engagement. Bobby also shares advice for new teachers, what has changed in classrooms, and what never changes about reaching kids with empathy and clear expectations. If you care about school leadership, teacher development, Arkansas education, or the real behind-the-scenes work of running a district, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with an educator you respect, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

    46 min

  5. Apr 7

    Ep. 11 - Banking on Relationships: Ron Branscum's Playbook

    Your banker can’t approve what they can’t understand and most business owners don’t realize how often the deal breaks down long before the loan committee meets. We’re joined by Ron Branscum, a University of Central Arkansas alum who has lived the full arc of finance in Northwest Arkansas: state bank examiner, commercial lender, market builder, business owner, and now a consultant helping companies tell a clearer financial story. Ron shares what he learned on championship-level UCA basketball teams about attitude, roles, and leadership, then connects that mindset to community banking and relationship-based lending. We talk about why “community banker” is more than a title, how trust is built before the ask, and why you should never waste time chasing a loan that doesn’t fit your bank’s credit box. He also reflects on the region’s transformation, including the early days of Pinnacle Hills and the vision that turned dirt roads into an economic engine. The conversation gets practical for entrepreneurs and operators. Ron explains what he looks for first in a set of financial statements, why the debt-to-equity ratio matters, and how cash flow pressure feels different when payroll is on you. He also breaks down the common mistakes that make small business loans harder than they should be and how a lender-ready financial packet changes the outcome. Finally, Ron connects business growth to education through his service as a Northwest Arkansas Community College trustee, including workforce development, construction trades, healthcare programs, and the funding challenge behind campus expansion. If you care about small business finance, community banking, business consulting, and building a stronger Northwest Arkansas, hit play and take notes. Subscribe, share this with a business owner who needs it, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway.

    45 min

  6. Mar 17

    Ep. 10 - Leading With Impact: Philanthropy and the Amazeum with Jennifer Belt

    A career can look like a zigzag until you hear the why. Jennifer Martinez Belt went from an Arkansas newsroom dream to Capitol Hill and the White House, then back home to build stronger communities through nonprofit fundraising and philanthropy. Now, as Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville, she’s helping shape what childhood learning and family access can look like in a fast-growing Northwest Arkansas. We talk about what surprised her most in Washington, DC, why 9/11 changed her calculus, and how those years taught her urgency, pacing, and the behind-the-scenes reality of how decisions get made. From there, we get practical about giving: philanthropy is not just big checks. Jennifer breaks it down to time, talent, and treasure, and explains why “on fire fundraising” can’t replace disciplined development, strong boards, and long-term donor relationships. Then we go inside the Amazeum’s mission and momentum: playful learning, a safe place for families, and a commitment to affordability and access. Jennifer shares what it takes to lead a $25 million capital campaign, why the Early Learning Advancement Center is a priority for Arkansas families, how teen programming fits into the vision, and what it means to expand beyond the museum walls with a new children’s space at XNA airport. She also reflects on raising teens in Bentonville, advocating as a parent, and what Northwest Arkansas nonprofits will need over the next decade: collaboration, focus, and the courage to think ahead. If you care about Northwest Arkansas philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, early childhood education, or the role of museums in community growth, hit play. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

    53 min

  7. Mar 3

    Ep. 9 - From UCA to ULI: Leading Change With Wes Craiglow

    What if the places we love aren’t accidents, but the result of clear choices about streets, water, parks, and where capital flows? We sit down with Wes Craiglow, executive director of ULI Northwest Arkansas and UCA alum, to unpack how our built environment silently shapes daily life: where we live, how we move, what we can afford, and the bonds we form with neighbors. Wes draws on his years as a Conway city planner and a 25-year Army career to explain why smart growth requires a long horizon and a steady hand. We explore the Urban Land Institute’s role as a neutral convener, bringing together public officials, private developers, utility leaders, academics, and citizens to solve complex problems. Wes makes the case for regional collaboration in a polycentric metro, where decisions about infrastructure, zoning, and tax base ripple across city lines. He introduces the “Northwest Arkansas Promise”: a life where access to great schools, jobs, trails, arts, and daily amenities sits close to home at a price families can manage. Keeping that promise, he argues, depends on building infrastructure before rooftops, ensuring predictable entitlements, and helping fast-growing small cities develop distinct identities and stable sales-tax bases. From housing mix and affordability to stormwater and mobility, we connect the dots between policy and lived experience. Wes challenges us to avoid a future of copy-paste suburbs by investing in planning capacity and main streets that feel unique and resilient. Along the way, he shares why bicycling, family life in Fayetteville, and an outdoor ethic keep him grounded in the region he serves. If you care about how Northwest Arkansas grows; on purpose, not by accident, this conversation offers a practical roadmap and a hopeful vision. Subscribe, share with a neighbor, and leave a review with the one investment you believe would safeguard the promise for the next generation.

    47 min

  8. Feb 17

    Ep. 8 - From UCA to CEO: Alexa Williams’ Journey

    A double alum with a double take on impact. We’re joined by Alexa Williams, president of Celebrate Arkansas, to explore how a regional magazine became a precision PR platform that connects businesses, nonprofits, and culture across Northwest Arkansas, without losing the soul of print. Alexa’s path runs from HR to tech to graphic design, then into entrepreneurship with Glass Ivy, and ultimately into leading a brand known for standout covers and community-first storytelling. We dig into the practical playbook: why internships in HR and marketing gave Alexa an edge, how a hybrid MBA unlocked momentum while working full time, and what it takes to build a client base that lasts a decade. She shares the moment a cold call turned into her first long-term account, the strategy behind Celebrate’s year-ahead editorial calendar, and why “print is dead” misses the point when distribution is targeted and the audience is crystal clear. Expect insights on brand trust, targeted media, and the power of return on relationship in a region dense with nonprofits. Beyond business, Alexa gets honest about leading while parenting: choosing non-negotiables like school drop-offs, embracing an unpredictable schedule with a shared digital calendar, and finding reset time through weekly rock climbing. We also spotlight recent cover wins, from a food and beverage issue with Feeding America’s Claire Babineaux-Fontenot to a culture-jolting Nelly cover with Walton Arts Center, showing how local teams can deliver national-quality storytelling. If you care about Northwest Arkansas growth, UCA roots, entrepreneurship, or the future of regional media, this conversation delivers practical takeaways and fresh energy. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Arkansas stories, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show.

    44 min
See All (15)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Central to NWA: A UCA Podcast is the University of Central Arkansas’ official platform for deepening its presence and building relationships in Northwest Arkansas. Hosted by Paul Gatling, UCA’s Senior Director of Northwest Arkansas Engagement, the show connects alumni, business leaders, and community partners through interviews and relevant conversations. Some guests will be UCA graduates making an impact in the region. Others will include industry voices, institutional partners, campus leaders in Conway, and community leaders in Northwest Arkansas, all of whom are shaping this region from different perspectives. Each episode explores how leadership, workforce and education intersect in one of the country’s fastest-growing regions. The goal is straightforward: listen, connect and make sure UCA has a stronger, more visible presence in Northwest Arkansas. If you want to stay plugged into the people and ideas defining Northwest Arkansas, this is the channel.

Information

  • Creator
    University of Central Arkansas
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Central to NWA: A UCA Podcast
  • Show Website
    Central to NWA: A UCA Podcast