Northwest Arkansas’ “energy gamers” are influential individuals who’ve made a distinction in our neighborhood in 2022, those that made head-turning strikes.

Why it issues: These influential people are serving to form Northwest Arkansas as we speak and for generations to come back.

The way it works: The 5 folks and teams we spotlight are elected officers, neighborhood activists and key members of the enterprise neighborhood.

• We made this record utilizing our personal experience, polling readers and thru interviews with influential folks.
• The unscientific record is produced solely by the Axios NWA editorial staff and never influenced by promoting in any means.
• Individuals who made the facility record weren’t notified of their choice till publication.

Of word: We acknowledge that numerous folks advance the economic system, tradition and livability right here, each within the highlight and behind the scenes.

• We’re merely highlighting a number of.

1. Plaintiffs, Brandt et al v. Rutledge et al

4 Arkansas transgender youths, their households and two medical doctors mixed efforts with the American Civil Liberties Union in a grievance in opposition to the state’s legal professional basic in 2021.

• They’re searching for to completely overturn Arkansas’ 2021 regulation banning gender-affirming medical look after minors.
• The households had been vocal by way of 2022, talking with nationwide media — “60 Minutes,” the New York Occasions and NPR — elevating public discourse in regards to the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, gender dysphoria and elevated authorities intrusion into folks’s non-public lives.
• Why it issues: Gender-affirming care is broadly supported as applicable and medically obligatory by main well being teams, together with the American Medical Affiliation and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Largest transfer of 2022: After dealing with authorized arguments from the state to implement the ban, the households and the ACLU efficiently stored the regulation from taking impact this 12 months, till a federal bench trial started in October.

What we’re watching: The watershed trial concluded Dec. 1, however U.S. District Choose James M. Moody Jr. hasn’t supplied a timeline for his determination.

• Sure, and: How the Arkansas Legislature and the state’s new governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, react to the ruling.

2. Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Sarah Huckabee Sanders served as White Home press secretary for 2 years throughout former President Trump’s administration, was a senior adviser to Sen. Tom Cotton in 2014 and marketing campaign supervisor for Sen. John Boozman in 2010. She additionally served as nationwide political director on former Gov. Mike Huckabee’s 2008 presidential bid. Huckabee is her father.

Largest transfer of 2022: Sanders gained the gubernatorial election with almost 63% of the votes solid, making her the primary lady to steer the Pure State.

What we’re watching: The whole lot. Sanders supplied few particulars about how she intends to manipulate throughout her marketing campaign.

• Questions stay about how clear her administration will probably be with the general public and media.

3. Rafael Rios

Rafael Rios co-founded a meals truck in 2012, and he is since added one other truck, a restaurant in Bentonville and a downtown Rogers eatery. Many substances featured on the menu are from the household farm in Little Flock.

Largest transfer of 2022: Being named a James Beard Award semifinalist as among the finest cooks within the South.

• Yeyo’s in Bentonville was included on the New York Occasions’ 2022 America’s Finest Eating places record, the one Arkansas institution to make it.

What we’re watching: Extra nationwide consideration to the NWA culinary scene because of Yeyo’s scrumptious dishes.

4. Charles Robinson

Charles Robinson served as interim chancellor since August 2021 and was lately named to the function completely. He is worn many hats in his 23 years on the college, beginning as a professor specializing in Southern historical past and race relations. He has since held roles comparable to vice chancellor for range and neighborhood and vice provost for range.

• Robinson established the Faculty Entry Initiative, a readiness outreach program for underrepresented college students, and he led the principle capital marketing campaign initiative for Advance Arkansas, a $10 million scholarship effort for first-generation, low-income Arkansans, based on the college.

Largest transfer of 2022: Being named chancellor after a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees in November. He would be the first Black individual to serve within the function.

What we’re watching: What he’ll do now that he is secured the management spot.

5. The Younger Waltons

Steuart and Tom are brothers and the grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton, who’re utilizing affect to boost the standard of life of their yard, partially by way of their Runway Group holding firm.

The younger Waltons are serving to construct NWA’s sense of neighborhood by investing in inexperienced areas, artwork and music, out of doors recreation, the culinary scene, engaging actual property growth and superior mobility.

• Steuart sits on Walmart’s board of administrators.
• Tom is on the board on the Walton Household Basis, which makes grants to quite a lot of regional tasks. The muse is spearheading a market aimed toward serving to native farmers and meals entrepreneurs.
• Olivia Walton, who’s married to Tom, chairs the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Artwork and is the manager board chair at sister arts heart The Momentary.

Largest transfer of 2022: Internet hosting the inaugural FORMAT Competition (For Music, Artwork, Know-how) in Bentonville in September.

What we’re watching: What Steuart and Tom plan to do with the Walmart campus. They introduced this 12 months that Blue Crane, a growth firm underneath the Runway Group umbrella, will purchase the prevailing buildings and land as Walmart plans to maneuver staff to a brand new, under-construction campus. They’ve not mentioned what they intend to do with the property.

Individuals on our radar

We even have our eyes on those that might have a giant 2023.

• Carol Silva Moralez — The president and CEO of Upskill NWA, a program lately launched by Excellerate Basis that provides monetary help to low-income, nontraditional college students pursuing careers in well being care.
• Hunter Yurachek — The individual with probably the most management of Razorback athletics is arguably one of many state’s energy gamers. Below his management, Arkansas soccer and basketball applications have rebounded from less-than-ideal standing. He’ll be price watching subsequent 12 months.

In memoriam

We need to keep in mind two energy gamers who handed away this 12 months.

• Cameron Smith, founding father of Cameron Smith & Associates recruiting agency, and Mary Ann Greenwood, founder of monetary advisory agency Greenwood Gearhart, invested time and huge mental capital to form Northwest Arkansas.
• They’re missed.

Go deeper: See all 200 of Axios Native’s Energy Gamers in 2022