Finding Home in Northwest Arkansas

A journey through the country that led to a hidden gem

I was born and raised in California’s Central Valley—fields, orchards, and the kind of heat that makes you question your life choices by noon. From there, life took me on one heck of a ride.

As a performer with Santa Clara Vanguard, I traveled across the country, city after city, stadium after stadium. Then, as a member of the U.S. Army, I was stationed in Hawaii, Iraq, South Korea, Alabama, and Texas—each place adding something new to my life experience. After my military service, I found myself living in places like Washington State, Las Vegas, Wyoming, and Oklahoma.

Needless to say, I’ve seen a lot—big cities, rural communities, international deployments, and everything in between.

But when I moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2022, I’ll be honest… I didn’t know much. Okay, I knew almost nothing.

There was a university here, cool. But I didn’t even know Walmart was based here. Yeah, that Walmart. What?! I was definitely late to the party.

But something surprising happened: I fell in love with the area.

The weather is actually pretty great (minus a few mood-swing days), the outdoor activities are everywhere, and the local communities are vibrant and welcoming. But more than anything, it’s the people here that make Northwest Arkansas special.

Whether it’s business networking events, random conversations at coffee shops, or just the friendliness of strangers—you feel it. This place has heart. It’s a community that values connection, growth, and supporting one another. And for someone like me, who’s lived a life full of movement, that means everything.

So, thank you, Northwest Arkansas—for being an unexpected but amazing chapter in my journey.

If you’re new here or just passing through, I get it. But if you stick around, you might just fall in love with it too.

Let’s start Doing Business Right—right here in NWA!