Three years after its revival, Little Rock Soirée magazine and the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas have again teamed up to announce this year’s list of the Top 100 Women of Arkansas.
The initiative drew more than 400 nominations from across the state, and after months of vetting, the resulting list of honorees highlights some of Arkansas’ most exceptional leaders in their professions, industries and communities.
“The Top 100 Women of Arkansas is more than a recognition, it is a powerful reflection of the leadership, vision and service shaping our state’s future,” says Mandy Richardson, Little Rock Soirée publisher, Arkansas Business Publishing Group consumer division president and Soirée Women’s Leadership Symposium founder. “Little Rock Soirée is honored to partner with the WFA to celebrate women whose professional accomplishments are matched by their meaningful investments in their communities. As we publish this triennial project, we are proud to help preserve their stories, amplify their impact and inspire the next generation of Arkansas women to lead boldly.”
Helmed by Olivia Farrell, former owner of ABPG (Little Rock Soirée‘s parent company), the initial list helped launch the WFA nearly three decades ago, and was revived in 2023 as part of the nonprofit’s 25th anniversary. It is now published triennially, with the 2026 list categorized by industry rather than region and set to release in a dedicated print publication and digital feature in December.
“Women are not simply participating in Arkansas’ economy and communities, they are shaping them,” WFA CEO Anna Beth Gorman says. “The Top 100 Women of Arkansas gives us an opportunity to recognize the women whose leadership, ideas and influence are moving our state forward, often while creating opportunities for others along the way.
“At the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, we believe visibility matters. When we name and celebrate women’s impact, we help change the perception of who holds influence, who leads and who belongs at the tables where decisions are made. We are proud to partner with ABPG to tell these stories and to recognize 100 women who represent the extraordinary depth of women’s leadership across our state.”
Without further ado, here are the Top 100 Women in Arkansas:
Elizabeth Burns Anderson
Farmers Bank & Trust, Arkansas State Police Foundation
Lexi Applequist
Humimic Biosystems, University of Arkansas Department of Biomedical Engineering
Melissa Bandy
Mitchell Williams
Heidi Banse
College of Veterinary Medicine, Arkansas State University
Natalie Bartholomew
First Community Bank, The Girl Banker
Alicia Berkemeyer
Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield
Sylvia Blain
Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
Anastasia Blaylock
The Citizens Bank
Jean Block
Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority
Mellie Boagni
Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, Rural Health Association of Arkansas
Matuschka Lindo Briggs
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Little Rock Branch
Ashley Caldwell
embecta, University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees
Kristi Casey
Rock Dental Brands
Lauren Waldrip Clay
Arkansas Advanced Energy
Jena Compton
Simmons Bank
Esperanza Massana Crane
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Dr. Summer L. DeProw
University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College
Marcy Doderer
Arkansas Children’s
Dr. Peggy Doss
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Dr. Christina Drale
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Dr. Nichola Driver
Clinton School of Public Service
Angela Duran
Excel by Eight
Lisa Ferrell
Rockwater Village / Marina, Jackson Law Firm
Jessica Hughes Ford
Arkansas Community Foundation
Catherine Fothergill
Ballet Arkansas
Nicole Frey
Arkansas State University System Foundation
Eliza Hussman Gaines
WEHCO Media, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Jordan Garner
IVY35 Ventures, Tyson Family Foundation
Natalie Ghidotti
Ghidotti
Kelley Hamby
Baptist Health
Janet Harris
Winthrop Rockefeller Institute
Garbo Hearne
Hearne Fine Art
Judy Simmons Henry
Wright Lindsey Jennings
Ronda Henry-Tillman, M.D.
UAMS Health
Marico Bryant Howe, Ph.D.
Community Health Centers of Arkansas
Mimi Margaret Myer Hurst
Stephens, Stephens Capital Management
Annemarie Dillard Jazic
Dillard’s
Heather Jones
Bank of America
Jessie Xu Jones
Arkansas Department of Transportation
Jane A. Kim
Wright Lindsey Jennings
Ashley Knight
Harvest Group
Serafina Lalany
StartupNWA, Northwest Arkansas Council
Laura Landreaux
Entergy Arkansas
Kathleen Lawson
Economics Arkansas
Margot Lemaster
EngageNWA, Northwest Arkansas Council
Christina Littlejohn
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
Nikki Lovell
Mitchell Williams
Elizabeth Machen
Simmons Bank
Mandy Macke
Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation
Dr. Terisa Riley Maestas
University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
Sharmila Makhija, M.D.
Alice L. Walton School of Medicine
Janet Mann
Arkansas Department of Human Services
Kim Markland
Bank of Little Rock
Susannah T. Marshall
Arkansas State Bank Department, Arkansas Securities Department
Carla M. Martin
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Janell Mason
Ronald McDonald House Arkansas & North Louisiana, Ronald McDonald House Global Board of Trustees
Ashley McMillan, DDS
Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, Arkansas Children’s Dental Program
Dr. Constance Meadors
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Kristin Merlo
Delta Dental of Arkansas
Mary Mickel
AM Group
Donna Morris
Walmart
Karama Neal, Ph.D.
Neal Firm
Kim LaScola Needy
University of Arkansas
Shannon Newton
Arkansas Trucking Association
Laura Nick
Garver
Cathy Hastings Owen
Eagle Bank & Trust Company, State Holding Company
Stefani K. Pawluk
Northwest Arkansas Council
Karla Payne
Arvest Bank
Susan Peacock
Crystal Bridges, the Momentary, Arkansas Alcohol & Beverage Control Board
Dr. Karen Petersen
Hendrix College
Erika Petersen, M.D.
UAMS Health
Suzanne Peyton
Clinton National Airport
Rebecca Pittillo
Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas
Dr. Victoria Ramirez
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Bourgon Reynolds
Rose Law Firm
Andrea Ritchie
AM Group
Yara Robertson, M.D.
CARTI
Amy Rogers
W&W AFCO Steel
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders
State of Arkansas
Janell Schmidt
Lexicon
Stephanie Shine
Arkansas Talent Group
Blair Shriner
Westrock Coffee Company
Carrie Simpson
Southwest Power Pool
Shelley Simpson
J.B. Hunt Transport
Jennie Stewart
Kutak Rock
Melissa P. Taverner, Ph.D.
Lyon College
Allison J. H. Thompson
Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County, Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Port Authority
Lorrie Trogden
Arkansas Bankers Association
Stephanie Tully-Dartez, Ph.D.
South Arkansas College
Olivia Tyson
Tyson Foods, Tyson Family Foundation
Katherine Vasilos
CJRW
Brooke Vines
Vines Brookshire
Sharon Tallach Vogelpohl
mhp.si
Jamie Jones Walsworth
Friday, Eldredge & Clark
Millie Ward
Stone Ward
Latriece Watkins
Sam’s Club
Mindy West
Murphy USA
Lisa Willenberg
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
Ashley Kemp Wimberley
Arkansas Press Association
Cindy Wolfe
Bank OZK
Learn more about the Top 100 Women of Arkansas and the WFA’s year-round work on the nonprofit’s website.