Amber Long is a planner for the City of Rogers, Arkansas, and a published writer, with great enthusiasm for community service and creative storytelling. She graduated from The Ohio State University (‘19) with a B.S. in City and Regional Planning, and a B.A. in English and Comparative Studies. She is experienced in working with historically marginalized and underserved groups, including people of color, youth, seniors, and returned citizens.

Mervin Jebaraj is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research. He has contributed to economic thinking and public policy discussion that journalists, business people, and community leaders alike rely on to understand how national and regional issues impact Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas as a whole. Arkansas Business and the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal recognized Mervin in their 40 Under 40 lists and on the Arkansas 250 list. He makes presentations that share the center’s expertise directly to over 5,000 individuals annually and tens of thousands more hear and see his economic analysis and commentary through TV, radio and print media. Jebaraj serves on the Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics, and the Board of Directors of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport.

Ryann knew Northwest Arkansas would be her home as soon as she arrived on campus at the University of Arkansas in the Fall of 2009. Originally from Carthage, Missouri, Ryann graduated from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in 2013. Working at Sherwin Williams in college, Ryann was introduced to commercial construction. After 5 years in the industry, she launched Hartley Commercial, a flooring and painting contracting company. Ryann serves on the Board of Directors for the Associated Builders and Contractors Association as the Northwest Arkansas Young Professional liaison. She is the Co-Founder of the non-profit EQUIPPED, which serves to provide sports equipment to student-athletes in Benton & Washington counties. Ryann loves taking advantage of all Northwest Arkansas has to offer with her wife, Kristin, and two kids, Graham and Collin.

Lindsay Brugger is Vice President, Urban Resilience for the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global nonprofit organization comprising more than 45,000 real estate and urban development professionals dedicated to advancing the Institute’s mission of shaping the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. Ms. Brugger leads ULI’s Urban Resilience Program to advance the real estate industry’s understanding of climate risk, catalyze action to reduce vulnerability, and support communities in becoming more climate resilient. A licensed architect, certified passive house consultant, and frequent speaker, Ms. Brugger has worked for over a decade at the intersection of resilience, adaptation, and the built environment. She began her career as a practicing architect; extending her services to Architecture for Humanity DC where she co-founded and directed the Resilience by Design Program. Prior to joining ULI, Ms. Brugger was the Director of Resilience Knowledge and Engagement at the American Institute of Architects. During her tenure, she championed resilience, climate adaptation, and disaster assistance; creating tools and resources to help AIA’s 95,000 architects build new skillsets, integrate resilience into practice, and support their communities pre- and post-disaster. An avid partner in advancing resilience action throughout the building industry, Ms. Brugger often serves as a subject matter expert on climate adaptation and the built environment, supporting organizations and initiatives such as the National Institute of Building Sciences, the National Institute of Standards & Technology, and the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit. Ms. Brugger received a Master of Architecture and B.S. in Architecture from Roger Williams University; as well as the Alpha Rho Chi Medal for her leadership and service.

Jeremy Hudson is CEO of Specialized Real Estate Group in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a company focused on developing and managing walkable, healthy, and sustainable multifamily communities. He has developed over 1.3 million SF of apartment buildings completed or under development that are registered for LEED certification, including the award-winning Eco Modern Flats.

Jessica is passionate about making a positive impact on the built environment. She is prosperous in a collaborative environment where she is able to integrate research, analysis, design, and technical expertise to provide thoughtful solutions at the intersection of culture, entrepreneurship, development, and the environment. Her education and experience building two successful architecture firms and a non-profit has provided her with the critical thinking, organizational, and communication skills necessary to accomplish a variety of tasks with focus and grit. Her favorite part of her job is building a thriving practice, what she refers to as the frontend work: developing client relationships, proposals and contracts, market research, initial concept development, and managing design staff. She loves an opportunity to create good in her community and she believes that designing creative solutions to perceived conundrums, within a specified budget, is a welcome challenge. Jessica is a registered architect and a licensed Realtor. As the Owner of Resource Design, Co-founder of the Rogers Experimental House, and a former City of Rogers Public Art Commissioner, Jess is passionate about what makes a community an inviting and fun place to live, work, and play. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the National Association or Realtors, the Urban Land Institute, and the Congress for New Urbanism. She is also a founding member of Valkyrie Design Cooperative, which strives to empower women in the design profession. Jessica received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oklahoma, and a Master of Science in Design Research from the University of Michigan. Her career began as an architectural designer in Oklahoma, designing primary schools at a mid-sized firm. After graduation from Michigan she moved to Rome, Georgia. Once there, she began work with a local architect and they soon became equal partners in CEVIAN Design Lab, an

Ben Rhoads, AICP, a graduate of the University of Colorado, has worked nearly 20 years for the City of Siloam Springs, AR in city planning. His current role is Senior Planner where he oversees the implementation of the community’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, Our Vision, Our Future. Ben also oversees the community’s current planning program. His current work includes crafting the City’s updated unified development code and seeking avenues for future annexations for a rapidly growing community. Ben’s passion is for urban design through well-crafted policy and guiding future developments which will improve the overall quality of life of the citizens he serves. Prior to his work in Siloam Springs, Ben worked for David Evans and Associates in Denver, Colorado as an Environmental Planner focusing on NEPA compliance for state funded transportation projects. Ben lives in Siloam Springs with his husband Jonathan, two cats, and a dog.

A seasoned professional in the AEC industry, Erin Adkins-Oury has served for five years as the Director of Commercial Development at High Street Real Estate & Development. With the expertise of 25 years in building systems engineering, commercial contracting, and real estate development, she excels in effectively communicating and coordinating with all project stakeholders. Erin also has a passion for small-scale and infill residential development, particularly in the hands-on revitalization of existing attainable housing stock. She actively supports organizations advocating for gender equality and inclusion in the construction and development industries, offering guidance and mentorship to those in need. As the Vice Chair of the City of Fayetteville Board of Adjustments, Erin dedicates herself to equitable and balanced development, contributing to the betterment of her community.

Dayton Castleman is an artist, educator, consultant, curator, writer, and public speaker. His artwork has been exhibited in museums, universities, and galleries, including The International Sculpture Center, DePaul University Museum of Art, Loyola University Museum of Art, The Singer Sweatshop in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Nomas Projects in Dundee, Scotland. He has also collaborated with his wife Karen developing and producing dance projects with world-class dancers from Momix, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Dayton was born and grew up in New Orleans. He received a BA in Art from Belhaven University (1998), followed Karen’s dance career to Philadelphia in 2001, working as an art handler. In 2004 he founded the Church Studios, re-purposing the upper floors of a large church near the Philadelphia Museum of Art into artist studios that have continued to operate as a recognized work space and a cultural hub for dozens of artists over the last two decades. He pursued his graduate study at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, where he received his Master’s of Fine Arts in sculpture (2008), and received a Graduate Fellowship award upon completion. He taught for four years in a tenure-track position at Trinity Christian College in Chicagoland, heading up the sculpture program in addition to teaching design, drawing, and digital media. In 2012 he dove into the cultural renaissance of Bentonville Arkansas, working at Phat Tire bike shop, as a museum educator at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and as the opening Museum Manager at 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville, developing public programming and overseeing the museum operations of the innovative hospitality concept and multi-venue museum of contemporary art for seven years. He currently serves on the City of Rogers Arts Public Arts Commission, and he assumed his current role as Director of Creative Placemaking at Rogers-based architecture firm Verdant Studio in March of 2020. He and his wife Karen live in downtown Rogers Arkansas, and have an 18 year-old, and two kids aged 10 & 8.

Strategic Marketer, Networker, and Connected Communicator, Lindsay L. Young, MBA, CPSM, enjoys sharing her knowledge and expertise on all things marketing. She has been active in many industry organizations, including NAWIC. As Chief Difference Maker of nu marketing, Lindsay works closely with clients helping them with all things marketing including marketing and business development strategies, brand perception surveys, social media presence, customer and employee events, interview presentations, trade show implementation, employee training, and project management of branding and website redevelopment.