After more than 20 years serving in the Pea Ridge, Arkansas, government, I have come to understand that leadership is not just about making decisions – it’s about making informed, strategic and collaborative choices that will shape our city for generations to come.
Since taking the oath of office as mayor of Pea Ridge, I’ve sought opportunities to strengthen my leadership and ensure that our community continues to grow in a sustainable, well-planned way. I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Community Development Institute (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas, and the lessons learned, the connections made and the strategies gained have reshaped how we approach economic growth, infrastructure planning and community development in Pea Ridge.
When I was first asked to participate in CDI, I didn’t know what to expect. But from day one, it became evident that this was an unparalleled opportunity to learn from experts and peers. Our class was particularly unique — we had five mayors, including leaders from Elkins, Lowell and Prairie Grove. It was a rare and valuable experience to be in a room with fellow elected officials, all facing similar challenges and eager to find sustainable solutions. Even beyond Arkansas, we made connections with officials from Texas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, who gave us an even broader economic and community development perspective.
One of my biggest takeaways was how we communicate with retail developers and site selectors, whose job is to choose the optimal location for a new business location, considering various factors like accessibility, infrastructure and market conditions.
When businesses consider moving to Pea Ridge, they’re not just looking at population numbers; they need a complete picture of our infrastructure, emergency services and overall community amenities.
To accommodate the influx of people moving to Northwest Arkansas, we’ve completely transformed how we present Pea Ridge to potential investors, and business development is a stronger, more integral part of my resume and role as mayor. It’s no coincidence that we’ve landed five new businesses in the past two years, with more on the horizon.
For years, Pea Ridge, like many small communities, operated reactively — responding to growth rather than planning for it. But now we’re aware of the importance of proactive planning — we delved into master land use plans, infrastructure expansion and sustainable development. We asked ourselves tough questions: Are we preparing for the next decade of growth? Do we have the water and sewer capacity to support our rapid expansion? Are we positioning our city to attract and retain residents and businesses?
These are all essential questions as Northwest Arkansas experienced unprecedented growth. And thanks to this newfound focus, we updated our wastewater treatment plant in 2021 to accommodate up to 25,000 residents — ensuring we’re ahead of the curve rather than playing catch-up.
One of the most eye-opening experiences was the poverty simulation. It forced me to step into the shoes of those struggling to access transportation, child care and basic necessities. This exercise underscored a crucial lesson: City planning isn’t just about growth; it’s about ensuring growth is inclusive and accessible to everyone. This perspective shift has led us to refine our development review process, ensuring we consider how every decision impacts the entire community.
The experience of collaborating and learning from other mayors and municipalities in the region has fundamentally reshaped how we approach growth, leadership and community development in Pea Ridge. We are now better positioned for sustainable success, and I am more confident than ever that we are moving in the right direction.
A version of this article was originally published on July 6, 2025 in Talk Business & Politics.
