Suzanne Grobmyer
Chief of Staff, Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism
About me: I was raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where I received a bachelor of arts with a degree in political science. Upon graduation, I began my career in public affairs and consulting in Little Rock, later transitioning to nonprofits. Prior to joining the department, I was executive director of the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation.
During my time with the foundation, we were proud to develop and open Monument Trails in partnership with Arkansas State Parks, develop the first professionally built mountain bike trails in a city park in Little Rock, partner with the city of Benton to develop a bike park and produce the Arkansas High Country Route, a 1,100-mile route that goes from central Arkansas to northwest Arkansas. In January, I was appointed by Gov. Sanders to be chief of staff for the department with a heightened focus on outdoor recreation and the outdoor economy.
Lives/Works in: Little Rock
Best Career Advice: Hard work is good work. I consider a lot of my success in life as a matter of going the extra mile. I’ve learned the value of hard work for the results, but also for creating purpose and value in my own life. It is the one thing I know everyone can do without any additional training with the biggest payoff.
Lesson Learned the Hard Way: You are the only person responsible for your own happiness and health. You must do both, otherwise you won’t be able to excel. To do good work, you must be good to yourself.
Call to Action: People need to engage in civic discussions and participate where their interests are. Don’t leave problems to complaints. Turn them into action and help find a solution.
What Keeps Me Motivated: My supportive and kind husband Andrew and our two young kids Armie and Margaret not only motivate me and push me to be a sharper thinker, but also help me experience life in a different way. Ultimately, it’s creating a life I alone could not create.
TOP 100 WOMEN OF IMPACT IN ARKANSAS 2023
A Women’s Foundation of Arkansas Initiative