2018 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Inductees Named

Submitted

The inductees of the 2018 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame are (l-r) James "Jim" A. Bottin, the late John D. Correnti, the late Herbert H. McAdams II and James "Kirk" Thompson.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Four business leaders who have made significant contributions to an array of Arkansas industries – finance and banking, fitness, transportation and steel – make up the 2018 class of inductees for the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.

The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Board announced that these leading businessmen will be added to the list of 78 distinguished members of the Hall of Fame during a gala event on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018:

• James “Jim” A. Bottin, founder and chairman of the software company ABC Financial Services, tailored to the fitness industry
• The late John D. Correnti, former chairman and chief executive officer, Big River Steel
• The late Herbert H. McAdams II, former chairman and chief executive officer, Citizens Bank of Jonesboro and Union National Bank of Little Rock
• James “Kirk” Thompson, chairman, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.

“Arkansas is more productive and stronger today because of these outstanding business leaders,” Walton College Dean Matthew A. Waller said. “They transformed our state’s steel, banking, transportation and fitness industries. Each created jobs, built successful businesses and made Arkansas shine.” 

The Arkansas Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. The Arkansas Business Hall of Fame is permanently housed in the atrium of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development at the Walton College on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.

Ann Bordelon, Walton College alumna and chief financial officer of Mitchell Communications Group, chaired the selection committee of nine business and community leaders who reviewed nominations from throughout the state and chose the inductees. Criteria for selection included: the significance of the impact made as a business leader, the concern demonstrated for improving the community and the display of ethics in all business dealings. In addition, living inductees must be over the age of 60.

The list of previous inductees into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame is available at walton.uark.edu/abhf.

Tickets to the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a black-tie optional event, are $150 per person. For more information about tickets and event sponsorships, please contact the Walton College office of external relations at Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development 217, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701-1201, 479-575-6146, by email at abhf@walton.uark.edu, or on the Web at walton.uark.edu/abhf.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.