Each year, Arkansas Business presents its 40 Under 40 list to recognize intriguing business and political leaders under 40 years old. Three individuals with connections to UCA were recognized at the 2026 awards luncheon Wednesday, June 3, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. They shared their secrets to success, especially their lessons learned and advice for their 18-year-old selves.
Ashton Collier ’09 is the chief financial officer for the Northwest Arkansas National Airport in Bentonville. She earned an accounting degree from UCA in 2009 and is an active CPA with 15 years of experience in public, corporate and nonprofit/governmental accounting.
First job and lesson learned
“I’ve always enjoyed earning my own money, so I started babysitting at 12. The biggest lesson I learned was responsibility. I understood that someone was trusting me to care for what mattered most to them, their children, and that pushed me to be dependable and attentive. It also taught me patience and communication, since every child is different.”
Advice for your 18-year-old self
“I would tell my 18-year-old self not to compare your path to others. I remember a time in school when my friends got into the gifted and talented program and I didn’t. I felt like a failure. But staying focused, working hard and believing in myself allowed me to achieve success later. That experience taught me that your path may be different, but determination and perseverance can turn early setbacks into lasting accomplishments.”
Learn more about Ashton Collier’s success from her ABPG interview.
Amir Deylami, who served as an Executive in Residence for the UCA College of Business last spring, was also a member of the 2026 class. Deylami is chief operating officer and associate center director for the NASA Ames Research Center. He leads teams to enable $2.5 billion-plus in private investment, accelerating public-private partnerships and innovation. He is the former NASA CFO/deputy CFO, overseeing financial portfolios up to $4 billion.
First job and lesson learned
“I began working in my family’s small business at the age of 5 and later assumed operational responsibility as a teenager. It taught me about the true meaning of hard work and dedication and that accountability is immediate — results reflect ownership. That foundation shaped how I lead today: setting clear expectations, driving disciplined execution, and taking full responsibility for outcomes.”
Advice for your 18-year-old self
“Work hard, stay disciplined and trust your instincts. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Step into the opportunity, grow and continuously add value. It’s all going to work out.”
Learn more about Amir Deylami’s success from his ABPG interview.
UCA Director of Athletics Matt Whiting is among the 2026 Class. He was named director of athletics at UCA in 2024 at age 36. Whiting oversees a department that includes 18 Division I sports, 13 head coaches and 450-plus student athletes. He has also led record fundraising efforts for UCA athletics, totaling more than $15 million in gifts since 2016.
First job and lesson learned
“My first professional job was as assistant athletic director for external relations at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. I learned the value of developing strong relationships with our constituents and working diligently to support the needs of our student-athletes, coaches and programs. This opportunity expanded my understanding of collegiate athletics administration and opened the door for my career in this industry.”
Advice for your 18-year-old self
“It is never as good as it seems, and it is never as bad as it seems. Bring a great attitude and great effort every day, and do your best to make a positive impact in whatever you are doing.”
Learn more about Matt Whiting’s success from his ABPG interview.
Future plans: “I have accepted a position as one of two banker foundation trainees at Simmons Bank. I will work at their headquarters in an 18-month training program rotating through departments such as corporate finance, retail banking, HR, and credit. I am excited to work with one of the best banks in Arkansas to learn how banks operate and contribute to helping communities.”
Future plans: “I will assume an audit position at Ernst & Young in Rogers, Arkansas, starting in September.”
Future plans: “Continue working at Landmark CPAs in the Tax Department.”
Future plans: “After graduation, I intend to start my career as a data analyst and continue developing my technical and analytical skills. I plan on building experience with tools such as SQL, Python, and data visualization, with the long term goal being a senior data analyst.”
Future plans: “Work full time earning certifications, after experiencing work for a while I will consider grad school.”
Future Plans: “Hopefully I’ll reach the job market with enough heat that they find me the best available candidate, but that’s not where I plan on stopping. I would love to go after my masters (or even my doctorate) in the future. Hopefully I can do both as me and my family move forward on our separate and joined journeys.”
Future plans: “After graduation, I plan to continue working in data analytics and use my skills to support data-driven decision-making and improve outcomes within my organization.”
Future plans: “I intend to pursue my doctorate in economics at Florida State University.”
Future plans: “After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in the insurance industry in the Central Arkansas area. I hope to work at an agency that offers a clear path toward becoming a producer. My goal is to continue building my knowledge of insurance and risk management while gaining hands-on experience in the field. I look forward to developing strong professional relationships, growing my skills, and establishing a long-term career helping clients protect what matters most to them.”
Future plans: “I am going to get my master’s in Information Management here at UCA and continue playing on the Women’s Soccer team.”
Future plans: “For the first 6 months after graduation, I plan to go through a 6-month online portfolio school program. So I will not immediately be applying for jobs after graduation. I will be going through an Art Direction program where I will learn everything about Art Direction in Advertising, including designing, creating campaigns, and working with Adobe. Once I complete that program, my goal is to pursue a full-time position in an Advertising Agency!”
Future plans: “To find a job after graduation, connect with other entrepreneurs, and get started on opening my own business.”
Future plans: “I’ve interviewed for a job, and I’m in the onboarding process right now!”
Future plans: “I aimed to begin teaching adjunct classes and take the next steps in my career. I started teaching the semester after I graduated. I use the skills I have gained in my current role and am exploring options for the right next full-time role.”
Future plans: ” I intend to become an auditor for a firm with the future hope of becoming a forensic accountant.”
Future plans: “By utilizing my financial and healthcare administration skills, which I have developed over my academic career and will further develop through my internship, I want to pursue a career with a hospital or healthcare organization to make an impact on their long-term sustainability and achieve more favorable patient outcomes.”
Future plans: “After graduation, I intend to pursue CPA licensure as I work full time as an audit staff.”
Future plans: “After graduating in December, I plan to start working full time in the insurance industry and continue my education through attaining insurance designations.”
Future plans: “After graduation I hope to land an inventory management role here in Central Arkansas. I look forward to applying what I’ve learned here at UCA and my internships at the Allen Lund Company and Tractor Supply Company.”
Future plans: “Upon graduation, I will start my MAcc degree in the fall of 2026. I then plan to prepare and sit for my CPA licensure exam. One day in the future, I plan to open my own consulting firm, focusing my services on small and family-owned businesses. I also aspire to open my own foundation that focuses on youth financial literacy. I also plan to eventually go to seminary and do a two-year Journeyman program with the North American Mission Board.”
Future plans: “Work as a software engineer for a couple of years before eventually transitioning into DevOps or cybersecurity.”
Future Plans: “After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in finance while continuing to grow my business experience. As a licensed pilot, I also hope to explore opportunities in corporate aviation, combining my passion for flying with my professional goals. Long term, I hope to build a career that blends finance and aviation.”
The Bears Advancing Supply Chain and Operations Management (BASCOM) club had a meeting and went on a Westrock tour. The club’s meeting featured a presentation by VP of Inside Sales, Blake Marchese and Josh from Priority1, a third-party logistics company. They provided an overview of their services, technology, and career opportunities. They explained their non-asset-based business model and discussed the range of transportation services they support, including LTL, truckload, expedited, and international shipping.
featured a discussion with Steven Bauer, Co-Founder of DBI Sales, at our meeting in March. Steven has almost 30 years of experience in Sales and Business Management working with companies like Cadbury, Jack Link’s Jerky, Kraft, Sweet Baby Rays, and HARIBO. Steven shared insights about retail operations and supply chain management. Steven explained his current role as a broker, helping small- to medium-sized manufacturers get their products into major retailers like Walmart and Sam’s Club, detailing the process from initial qualification through execution. The conversation covered various aspects of retail, including seasonal challenges, product placement strategies, and the importance of building trust with retailers. Students asked questions about getting started in the industry, handling international supply chains, and navigating the complexities of working with large retailers like Walmart. Steven emphasized the value of gaining corporate experience early in one’s career and stressed the importance of relationships and trust in the retail business.
KIMBERLY NURICUMBO
TYMERA MARSH
IZZY SAETELLE
MASON SMITH
Lucas Hayes, Rebecca Gaither, and Izzy Saettele won first prize in the Deloitte Best Practices competition for their creative presentation at the Beta Alpha Psi annual conference; also, the chapter was recognized as ”Gold” status.
Many thanks to the Conway Chamber for allowing some of our Student Ambassadors and Girls Who Code Officers to attend the Women in Business ceremony this fall.
The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame held its annual induction banquet on campus on October 16. Six Arkansans were inducted, and five scholarships were awarded to UCA insurance students.
Ivan Hudson, Director of the UCA Center for Insurance, was recently sworn in as the Treasurer for the Arkansas Association of Realtist, the local Board of 
As this fall’s Allison Entrepreneurship Series Speaker, Jakob Michaelis, a partner at Dave Creek Media, shared lunch and his extensive experience identifying timely solutions, including a new app, with students and faculty.
Undergraduate students, Oluwadamilola Osundolire (Economics) and Robert Walker (Finance), mentored by Dr. Alex Chen presented their artificial intelligence research at the DSI conference in Orlando, FL. Dr. Ming Li also presented her research.
Conductor hosted a widely attended series of workshops throughout the semester, including a student pitch competition. Local CPAs Zee Barfoote and Austin Malone discussed handling a startup’s early finances in their Conductor session called “Your Startup’s First CFO: YOU!” as part of the Conductor series.