Ep. 16 - Economic Development Playbook: Boosting Wages Through Global Reach

Domestic markets only tell part of the story. Staying localized limits your growth potential, locks you out of massive consumer bases, and leaves your business vulnerable to regional economic dips. In today’s interconnected environment, hiding behind state borders means leaving substantial revenue on the table. We sit down with Jonathan Bricker, Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at Regions Bank, to unpack exactly how regional operations can pivot toward international expansion.

We get into the tactical mechanics of mitigating risk when shipping overseas, handling high-level supply chain disruptions, and managing global capital. Jonathan Bricker shares his unique framework for identifying accidental exporters businesses that fall into international sales by chance but lack the infrastructure to scale them. We also explore the intersection of civic responsibility and economic development, detailing how local chambers and specialized bank infrastructure work together to support medium sized entities looking to cross borders.

Forging a career path in international finance is rarely a straight line, and the logistics behind trade compliance require absolute resilience. It takes continuous adaptation to handle unpredictable tariff adjustments and fluctuating shipping networks without disrupting your bottom line. Viewers will walk away with a clear blueprint on how to turn localized manufacturing into a highly diversified, global operation that drives job creation and commands higher corporate wages.

If you care about commercial finance, economic development, and scaling international logistics networks, you’ll get a lot from this conversation. Make sure to subscribe to the channel and share this episode with someone looking to grow their business.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

This is Central to NWA, a UCA podcast. I'm your host, Paul Gatling, and we are bringing the University of Central Arkansas to Northwest Arkansas. Each episode, we will talk with leaders, alumni, and innovators driving this region forward. People who are shaping industries and defining what is next for our state. Let's get started. All right, we are back now with another edition of Central to NWA, a UCA podcast. Paul Gallon here with you. And my guest today is somebody that I have known for uh a while. Our paths crossed uh a few times. I was the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, but um, it wasn't until we sat down uh at uh, well, right next door. He rose coffee uh here from Podcast Videos Studios. And uh after I joined UCA, really got to hear his uh full story. Little Rock Native, UCA alumni, uh played soccer for the Bears, also student athlete, uh, then spent 14 years in investment banking, built a career in commercial uh finance with uh a specialty that um you know most bankers in this market don't really have. Yes. And now is doing some of the most uh, I think, most important work, uh, economic work in the state of Arkansas. So Jonathan Bricker, vice president at Regions Bank, joining us today. Welcome to Central DWA. Well, thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01 1:22

Um, yeah, that was quite the intro. Congratulations to you on the uh successful podcast. Yeah, it's been fun. Yeah, it seems fun. I love watching them. And uh, I mean, you've had so many just influential people and uh important people. It's uh congratulations.

SPEAKER_00 1:37

I think you are uh episode 16. I think we're up to now since we started uh uh let's see, Aaron Nolan was number one. That was late October, I think. Wow. Wow, and here we are in the summer.

SPEAKER_01 1:49

Yeah, well, I guess I guess the rest of your VIP list was on vacation this week because I don't know what I'm doing here, but we're gonna tell everybody what you're doing here, and I'm gonna tell everybody what you're doing here.

SPEAKER_00 2:01

So uh, and like I said, you know, Jonathan, if somebody met you today, um, you know, they'd see you know commercial banker, someone heavily involved uh in international trade, chair of the Arkansas District Export Council, right? So I'm sure if you start peeling back all those things, it seems like a very, you know, nonlinear path, right? And and I'm sure looking back on it now, it seems like it all fit together, but um, yeah, it's probably not the way it felt at the time, did it?

SPEAKER_01 2:28

No, I in fact, I mean, I felt like I didn't really have a path. Uh and then once it kind of showed itself to me, I, you know, I've really come to appreciate it and and love it.

SPEAKER_00 2:40

Yeah, well, you've come to thrive in it as well, you know, uh servant leadership with the deck and then you know, Regions Bank and all the work that you're doing, not just here in Northwest Arkansas, but uh throughout the state. So let's go back to the beginning. Like I said, Little Rock kid, you know, Little Rock guy, uh Catholic high school graduate. That's right. I believe right.

SPEAKER_01 2:57

You're raised in Little Rock, graduated Catholic high in '95. 95. Tilling, tilling on myself there if the gray hair didn't already do it.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

That's right. Yeah, you and me both with the with our gray hair. So when you were growing up, you know, uh, what did your future look like? I mean, did you have a plan? Did you as a Catholic high school, you know, teen, what did you figure you were going to be doing?

SPEAKER_01 3:16

That's a really good question. It took me a while to uh mature, might be the right word, you know. My grandmother, I was, you know, basically raised by my grandparents. My mom was definitely in the picture, but you know, she was working multiple jobs to try to make ends meet. And my grandmother stayed home. Um, so that's kind of where I've I've picked up my manners and I pick up after myself. I make my bed in the mornings, you know, all those kind of good things. Right. So the if you were to ask her, it was it was pretty strenuous on her.

SPEAKER_00 3:52

As as a young teen boy would be on most grandparents, I'm sure. So how does uh a Little Rock kid end up uh at UCA in Conway? Was that always on the radar or just uh how did you how did you end up in Conway?

SPEAKER_01 4:06

Yeah, honestly, um college wasn't even on the radar for me. I uh I struggled in high school. Um I just I didn't apply myself like I should have, or like I could have. I was more uh interested in friends and soccer. Okay. Um that was my life. In fact, the guys that I played soccer with at Calicond are still some of my deepest and closest friends.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

Right. You probably needed a good conversation with with Father Tribu, right? Oh yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

He uh he sent me straight a couple of times. I bet. I bet I bet it needed to happen. Right. So, you know, eventually my grandmother was adamant that you are going to college. You know, against my against my desires, I did, but then at the same time, I was really excited to move out of the house. Uh, you know, I want to be my own man and uh forge my own path. Right. And so it sounds like she helped put you on that path. She did.

SPEAKER_00 5:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:03

Absolutely. She kept me on the straight narrow. Um, so that's that's how I ended up at UCA. Not too far away, right? Uh, but still somewhat on my own.

SPEAKER_00 5:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

And soccer, is that something you started as a kid? I mean, you grew up playing the sport? Correct. Since uh first grade. And back in those days, soccer in Arkansas wasn't really a thing. Um, and then you know, at Catholic, I played all four years and then got to UCA, and UCA didn't even have a soccer team.

SPEAKER_00 5:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:33

Um, so there was so you're on the first team.

SPEAKER_00 5:36

Correct. Okay. Correct. So what year was this? Like you said, soccer has come a long way. Right, it really has, especially in Arkansas, the last 30 years.

SPEAKER_01 5:44

Let's see. So, I mean, I started in '95. It was probably the 96, 97 team, somewhere around there. Okay. Um, it was kind of a I want to say it was a hodgepodge of a team, but we were the all-stars of Arkansas. But Arkansas as a whole was so far behind that. That was a low role bar. It was. But you know, guys that we ran into in high school that we were competing against, we were now playing with. Right. So it was kind of a strange dynamic. And then, you know, we were all going through the same things together, you know, freshman or sophomore year of college, first team, never traveled, never got to go, you know, eat at Western Sizzling on the university's dime. That was crazy. You know, that was worth it right there.

SPEAKER_02 6:35

Right. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

I mean, so paint that picture. That what who were you playing? Where where did you travel to? What was the uh what was the schedule like? I mean typical game we like.

SPEAKER_01 6:45

Right. Oklahoma. I felt like we went there quite a bit.

SPEAKER_00 6:49

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 6:49

Um, you know, again, studies weren't my priority, right? But soccer was um during the suburbs. Uh I lived on campus because as a student athlete, we got uh to eat in the dining hall, uh, which was great. And we were practicing three days a week. Yeah, or sorry, three times a day. Okay. And uh, and then you know, started just uh living in the fraternity house. Yeah again, that's where the social aspect kind of uh soccer and social.

SPEAKER_00 7:20

Right. So you weren't taking advantage of those long bus and van rides with uh you know uh book in your hand, nothing like that. I was definitely not doing that. So yeah, you were a uh a Sigma NU, correct, I believe. And uh I think you still are on their for alumni board. That's her. Yeah, so I mean that's that's not nothing. That's a real ongoing commitment. What did that brotherhood mean? What did the Sigma New fraternity mean to you? Sure.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

It really, I mean, when people think of a traditional fraternity or fraternity house, it is, it's really what you make of it. And it's kind of who you are going into it. Um, you know, I was I didn't see myself as being uh a fraternity guy, but at UCA, once you're out of the dorm, it was a little bit challenging at the time. It was a smaller school and people kind of disappeared on the weekends. Well, at the fraternity house, you know, everybody stayed put and had a good time. Um the times that I were there, I found myself in more of a leadership role as the vice president of the active chapter at a time. So I held multiple leadership positions. So I would always be the one that would go out and speak to the lovely police officers if uh they were to somehow the spokesman. Right, right, exactly. Or if you know we did anything and uh interviews needed to be had, that's that was the role that I kind of stepped into.

SPEAKER_00 8:48

Okay, so yeah, so and I would imagine kind of like um, you know, Catholic High gave you lifelong friends, soccer gave you lifelong friends, your fraternity experience has given you lifeless. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 9:00

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 9:01

And so you left uh UCA with uh I think marketing and management correct degrees, right? So what were you expecting your career to look like? Um, I mean, did you have any idea you'd spend the next you know 20 some odd years working in finance and working your way up in finance? Oh, not at all.

SPEAKER_01 9:17

That was the last thing that I thought I would I was gonna do. Um I really didn't know what I wanted to do. I just knew that I wanted to finally graduate. You see? I know. Right, right. That's my uh yeah. It's it's been quite the journey. Um I just knew I needed that paper in hand.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

Yeah, so I wanted to ask you about that. I mean, obviously you're uh I think a you know May 2001 graduate. So yeah your viewers can do the math. Yeah, that's right. Well, yeah, yeah, that's fit on the blank years. But you know, so yeah, May 2001, and then uh, you know, several months later, as you're getting your career started, we have you know, 9-11. That's when you're starting your career. That's when you're trying to find out what you're gonna do. Where were you and what were you doing?

SPEAKER_01 10:00

Absolutely, and I think everybody knows right where they were and what was happening. I was starting my first job out of college, and I went to work for U.S. food service.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:10

Um, and I was on my way to training and didn't get much training done that day. We were all just glued to the television, right? Not knowing what was going on and just wanting to be surrounded by your people, you know, making sure everybody's safe.

SPEAKER_00 10:26

Right. Okay. So your finance career starts with um a long stretch at Cruising Associates in Little Rock doing investment banking, um, fixed income work. At what point did um I think you spent 14 years there. I did. Right. What point did Northwest Arkansas enter the picture for you?

SPEAKER_01 10:43

Not until well after that. Okay. Um, you know, I was I was at Cruising Associates for, you know, 14 years, and it was probably the most rewarding and educating career that I could have ever had. Um, you know, my careers up to this point had kind of taught me more of the social aspect, everything from you know, managing Shorty Small's restaurant in Little Rock to manage people um and processes to finally, you know, becoming a a big kid and getting a a real job. Right. But just being surrounded by um you know educated people that were willing to take personal risks because it was a commission-only position. So it was uh you eat what you kill. Yeah, if you're not at the desk, you're not making money. Um, fortunately for me, I had a uh trading assistant that I had full faith in and that I knew that if I were traveling, um I knew that she could hold down the fort. Okay. Um so I covered Connecticut and Boston and Ohio. So it was a challenge for me to build relationships outside of easily travelable areas. Um but I did that, and then once that kind of took its toll on me, I said, you know, markets are changing, I need to change a pace, um need to take a step back. And that's it, it was more like two steps back to take one step forward. Yeah. Step back from the travel. Step back from the travel, step back from the risk reward of being a commission only uh broker. But um, yeah, I finally made that move. I went to work for Rvest Bank. It was kind of neat. Um my my boss at the time asked me if I had any international experience. And uh I said, actually, yes, sir, I sure do. I said, I uh sold some bonds to a lady in Singapore. Does that count? And he just started laughing. He's like, Bricker, no, that doesn't count. He's like, but you know, we we can teach you everything that you need to know as far as that goes. Yeah, and so that's the move that precipitated you to Northwest Arkansas. Correct. I was uh I was lucky enough to cover the entire state of Arkansas, and it was fun to be able to spend my time forging relationships and partnerships, I guess locally, compared to what I was normally doing. So um it had me coming up here to the you know Northwest Arkansas area about once a week, once every two weeks, uh, to the point where, you know, just like everybody else, you fall in love with it. Yeah. You know, and then I got tired of sleeping in hotel rooms by myself and I wanted my family to be up here with me. So I rolled out the red carpet, didn't even tell them what my plan was. Yeah. Uh I just tried to show them what all it had to offer in a couple of different weekends. And then as we were sitting at the house one day, I was like, girls, y'all remember how much fun it was in northwest Arkansas? We went to Hootie and the Blowfish. I was gonna say, Ask, what was the red carpet? What did you what was from? We went to the gymnasium. Yep, sure. Um we went to Crystal Bridges, we went to um at the time it was where Wrights is now, there was a pinnacle restaurant and had a playground. So it was so neat that the kids had their own space. Yeah, walked over to Hooting the Blowfish, went to a razor back baseball game. I mean, you name it, we did it. Yep. And uh that's when I said, remember how much fun we had? And they're like, yeah. And so, what would you think about moving up there? And that kind of was a shock to the family.

SPEAKER_00 14:35

Yeah. Great street, great strategy, though. Great strategy. So yeah, you came into our vest very in a very specific niche, you know, vice president of international business developments, a very specific lane. So, you know, outside of the Singapore experience that you sold them on, you know, how did you develop that that experience, that expertise?

SPEAKER_01 14:57

Just trying to soak up everything that I could. Um, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by um people with experience and not just at the bank, but throughout all the conversations and the people that I came across along the way. So that's when I was introduced to the Arkansas District Export Council. Yeah. Um, and they took me in under their wing and um just kind of showed me the ropes and then COVID hit. Right. And I was like, oh, now what?

SPEAKER_00 15:33

No, yeah, everybody had to recalibrate then. Right. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, so you joined the deck in 2019 as a member. Correct. Uh, but you've been the chairman, I think what, five years now? Almost five years. Okay. Well, we're gonna we'll get we'll get to that that experience because I do I want to spend a lot of time on that. But um uh you made the move from Rvest to Regions, correct. I think in 2023. What were you going toward there? What was the what were the details of that job transition?

SPEAKER_01 15:59

Sure. Um, you know, I really during my time as becoming a a member of the District X War Council, um, it opened me up to being able to tour and meet manufacturers across the state. Right. Um and I'll go back and say I never really wanted to get into banking to begin with. Um and I sure didn't want to be one of those bankers that you see hopping around to different bank different bank. I mean, that's a stigma. It can be a trait, you know. And uh that's why I never want to go to work for a bank. And then I was like, now I get it. Now I now I understand why why people make the moves that they do. I have found that regions has some other services because it's such a large publicly held institution that they've got other services that are community or smaller regional banks that don't have global. Global. Yep. Um, so I've really found that it is a great fit for what interests me.

SPEAKER_00 17:07

Right. And really your job is about connecting um uh businesses, Northwest Arkansas businesses, Arkansas businesses, to um global capital and uh international trade infrastructure, right? Correct. Yeah. So um, you know, is is I guess that's a what does a typical engagement look like for you uh as a regions um banker wearing that hat? Sure.

SPEAKER_01 17:31

Um yeah, because I wear multiple hats, it's turned into, and this is kind of going down the rabbit hole, but um, you know, we here in Northwest Arkansas, I feel like I've really created an ecosystem, if you will, between the chambers, the Northwest Arkansas Council. We all work very well together. Okay. So I wear my district export council hat in that regard, and then they pull me into meetings and introducing me to people. And then that turns into risk mitigation and banking. So I'm able to kind of take each hat on and off when the time comes.

SPEAKER_00 18:10

Well, I do want to, like I said, uh, I think this could be a real educational moment for a lot of people who may not be familiar with the district export council. So yeah, I want I want to spend some real time on this. So um, what is the Arkansas District Export Council? You know, how does someone and how does somebody uh end up chairing the Arkansas District Export Council? Good question.

SPEAKER_01 18:31

Uh again, you know, we kind of went back to um life kind of throws you into situations that you don't really plan for. Well, I didn't plan to be the chair. Sure. That wasn't my goal. Um, I was a brand new member. I was kind of the marketing chair at the time, but again, COVID hit. So what does that look like now? Um then it came time for that chairman's turn to end. His two vice chairs that were supposed to be in waiting ended up not being able to really fill that role along with their full-time job. So I got the call. Get down to you. Yep, it got it trickled down. You know, that's that trickle down you talked about. It trickled down to me. Um, but I came in at a time where everybody was open to change because we didn't know what to expect. So we were really able, the executive team and myself were really able to mold it into what we thought that it should look like. Okay. So what is the what is what should it look like? Well, Arkansas District Export Council were uh appointed by the U.S. Commercial Service. Uh, we are made up of real-world international expertise people. We range um across many different things like uh logistics, uh supply chain, attorneys. I'm the only banker on the group. Again, that kind of helps you know me and into certain conversations. Okay. But you name it, we've got somebody that can answer questions and mentor. Okay. And then we also go across different sectors, uh, aerospace and defense, agriculture, which happened to be our number one and number two largest export out of the state of Arkansas. Yep. So while we may not have all the answers, we can connect you to someone who does. Right.

SPEAKER_00 20:27

And there are um, I think 59 of these district export councils, six around the country. So, federal program, as you mentioned, what what are some of the things that you guys, the organization does actually day to day? I know you have a big annual awards banquet and awards are a big part. You do webinars, you do you know, B2B marketing.

SPEAKER_01 20:47

What are some of the things that well actually let me ask you a question? You were uh kind enough to attend one of our webinars this week. I was and it was uh regarding global supply chain. Um, I know that's not really in your sandbox per se, but I appreciate you being on. You're correct, yeah. But what did what did you think of it?

SPEAKER_00 21:05

Right. I I thought there was a lot of participation and uh a lot of interest because uh the global supply chain affects everybody. So while I'm not sure that I I didn't know who all was there, uh I would imagine you had a lot of people from a lot of different industries who were kind of like me. I was curious and you said, hey, we're doing this, why don't you tap in? And so I did for a few minutes. And uh I would imagine you had a lot of interest uh across a lot of different industries. We did.

SPEAKER_01 21:32

And we not only had interest from Arkansas companies, but we had interest from people across the United States and even some globally. So the reach of the Arkansas District Export Council is more than just statewide, yeah. Which I just find is I mean, the power of the internet, right? Right.

SPEAKER_00 21:49

Yeah, when you were rattling off all the attendees and where they were from, I'm like, hmm, yeah, that's impressive.

SPEAKER_01 21:54

I mean, it still surprises me. Yeah. But the goal was you know, for you. To kind of see what we do, but also in your infinite Robodex that you have, um, next time you're having a coffee with someone and you hear the buzzwords like export or import or any kind of global ties, I'm hoping that you're like, hey, Bricker, you're sending me a text. I need you to meet so-and-so. Yeah. And then it just spurs conversation. Is uh is tariff a buzzword or is that an aughty word? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:31

Yes, that has definitely been uh I can only imagine how that has impacted your work the last two to three years. It is. What are the what's the biggest impact? Just the conversations, the the uncertainty. Uncertainty.

SPEAKER_01 22:43

You know, people are willing to pay what they need to pay. They just need to know what it is, right? All of the back and forth has just caused so much disruption in supply chain that it's around COVID levels of disruption.

SPEAKER_00 23:01

I want to highlight something for our listeners that I think is important in that little services we're talking about. Everything the district export council officers offices uh offers are free, free to Arkansas businesses. Absolutely. Do you think the word gets out the way it should about that?

SPEAKER_01 23:17

You know, that's uh that that was the number one goal I had coming in as chair is to bring awareness to the deck. Um, you know, we were and luckily we have so many great strategic partners. We work with the U.S. Commercial Service, we work with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions, the Arkansas World Trade Center. Um, Denise Thomas and I are, you know, we started off as, I guess, strategic partners and have become such great friends. We have traveled multiple places together, and I can't speak highly enough of the World Trade Center. Yeah. But the local chambers have really started helping promote as well because the chambers, to me, they have their figures on the pulse of the community. So while they're out there having conversations with their members, that's when they know to pull me into a manufacturing tour or an industry uh council where they bring in people to the chamber and I may speak there. Um so that you know, speaking engagements, webinars, the governor's award ceremony is a huge uh deal for us. But huge deal for UCA too, one of your award winners last year. Yeah, right. Absolutely. They're our first uh university uh to win a governor's award. And the work that the international uh department is doing down there is phenomenal. I wish that would have been a thing when I was there. Sure.

SPEAKER_00 24:48

Who um I mean you said your job is to teach businesses um how to become exporters, right? Who who are the typical businesses you work with? Is it a big manufacturer? Is it the small company who's never even thought about exporting or somewhere in between?

SPEAKER_01 25:03

Yeah, it's kind of it's it runs the gamut. You know, the large companies, they have um in-house specialists that are able to do that. So really, you know, our target is um the small and medium-sized entities or small businesses. Um, you know, we have found that most of our exporters are accidental exporters. They may receive an order from, say, Canada, which is Arkansas's largest trading partner. Well, you want to make that sell as a business, but how do you do it? If you've never done it before, you don't know what you don't know how to play the game. Right. And it and it can be scary. Um, so that's really, you know, that's that's our role is to make exporting less scary. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 25:54

I have to ask you about this last December. You mentioned Denise and the great work she does at the Trade Center Arkansas here and Rogers. Uh, they presented you their unsung champion of the year award. Yeah. And that recognition came from Denise and um who is, you know, she's somebody who's always trying to find a way to uh to work together, work for the greater good of a lot of different stakeholders. But uh what does that partnership and that collaboration with the World Trade Center look like on the ground up here?

SPEAKER_01 26:23

Right. Um, you know, we are quite the duo, and not just Denise. Uh everybody at the World Trade Center has expertise that I feel like gets a little bit overlooked in Arkansas. Yeah. Um, so you know, the partnership there and that makes when I can bring Denise or the team into a conversation, that is me providing value to the company that I'm talking to that I feel like most people can't provide.

SPEAKER_00 26:58

So um I have to ask you about the moment at the awards ceremony. Um, you know, your daughter showed up, you know, Adelaide and Millie and your wife and uh Jacqueline Henderson, your manager from the bank. I don't think you saw that company. I didn't. I don't think you knew about that. Tell me what that felt like. That was quite the surprise.

SPEAKER_01 27:16

I I didn't say anything at at the home. Um, you know, I brought uh Stan, my my co-worker. Yeah. Uh he's like, I'll go with you. I was like, fantastic. Uh I knew Jacqueline knew about it. Um, I didn't tell my family because kind of viewed it as well, A, they were in school. Um, B, it was kind of more just uh my my work. Um and then I walked in, I started talking to people, and I look over and I see Adelaide, my oldest daughter, and it just kind of caught me off guard. And I looked over and I see my youngest Millie, and then I see my wife, Brooke. And I mean, I'm kind of getting a little teary just talking about it because I didn't tell them.

SPEAKER_00 28:02

Right.

SPEAKER_01 28:02

Um, but Jacqueline that you mentioned had reached out to my wife, and she's like, I bet Brickard didn't tell you that he was getting this. Right. And she was absolutely right. And then my youngest kind of gave me a little bit of a scolding later on that night. She said, Dad, if you're going to win something, let us know about it. Sure.

SPEAKER_00 28:21

Well, I mean, and I know you, I know that comes from a place of humility, and you've been pretty consistent in saying that the award belongs to uh the whole deck and to the whole economic development uh uh team across the state. And um, I I could appreciate that. Obviously, I can appreciate the humility, but I want to push back and say that servant leadership is a skill and it doesn't happen automatically. So uh you are to be recognized for that, I think. And so, you know, what does it take to lead an all-volunteer organization? I mean, effectively over, you know, now five years. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:56

Um, you know, I guess just the desire to want to help um people and their businesses, which ultimately helps their families. Um, you know, kind of, I guess the leadership style I'd say is I try to lead from the front. Yep. I which I know that kind of sounds a little bit redundant, but I can't ask other people to do things or follow me that I'm not willing to do myself. Sure. So I don't feel like, you know, I and I learned this, you know, professionally and socially.

SPEAKER_00 29:38

If you could sit down with any um small to mid-sized manufacturer in Arkansas who has not seriously thought about exporting it, what what's the one thing you would want them uh to walk away with knowing?

SPEAKER_01 29:52

Sure. So most of you know, exporters, well, let me back up. Okay, I feel like Arkansas companies are very humble people they don't want help. They've done things the same point for decades from you know, multi-generational manufacturers have always done things that the company was left to them that way. But the global trade is not as big as one may think that it is, and there are ways to mitigate risk when doing business overseas. Companies that export ride the economic wave better than companies that only sell domestically because their client base is wider. Yeah. They also um they produce more goods, which means that they have to hire more people. So it's a job creation. And and also companies that export pay higher wages than companies that only sell domestically. So it really is an economic development play for your company to export. Right.

SPEAKER_00 31:09

Did you ever, in your wildest dreams, think you would be an economic development advocate in the state of Arkansas?

SPEAKER_01 31:15

Not at all.

SPEAKER_00 31:17

Uh well, you are, and you're one of the chief advocates for Arkansas. So uh keep up that great work. And on that same note, we we're glad that you are uh a chief advocate for the University of Central Arkansas here as a as a member of our inaugural UCA Northwest Arkansas Advisory Council. And I think it's worth you know reminding our listeners about that, which you know, we started that last fall with seven founding members and uh really to help us unlock untapped potential here to strengthen our alumni uh engagement here and and uh just build support uh for UCA uh and uh for us to play a meaningful role here, and also for Northwest Arkansas to play a meaningful role for for UCA and our future. So um a couple of UCA questions, you know, for you, just from where you said as somebody who spent your your career working with businesses and um and now chairs the the statewide uh deck. Um, what what do you see as UCA's biggest um uh opportunity here in Northwest Arkansas? Is it is it more alum line engagement? Is it more civic engagement? Is it more, you know, what? Sure.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

Um well I will say the the Northwest Arkansas Council uh has, I know it hasn't been around long, but it has been so much fun. And the group that you've brought together has, I felt like, I mean, we're also like-minded, yeah, and we really blended together very well, very quickly. Um so you're saying we picked the right seven people. You did. You absolutely did.

SPEAKER_00 32:47

It's almost like you know what you're doing. Right. Well, I mean, we we've got we've got a little over 4,000 alumni in Benton and Washington counties, and um, we were very um strategic in uh who we wanted to, you know, ride alongside with us and be part of this group to help us uh advocate and help us be ambassadors for uh your alma mater here in Northwest Arkansas. So I appreciate you saying that. And um, you know, when you're in rooms with, you know, Northwest Arkansas business leaders, you know, what do they need to know? Uh what do you do you tell them about what a university like UCA is positioned to do? What can we offer Northwest Arkansas? Sure.

SPEAKER_01 33:26

Uh I mean it fills holes that you may not know exist. Um you know, maybe somebody doesn't want to go to a large institution. Yeah. Maybe someone wants the more personal relationship and being known on campus, you know, before you even get there. You know, we went and toured for my oldest daughter who just graduated from Bentonville High. We went and toured and people knew who we were before we got there. Right. And you don't get that everywhere. You know, she is one that she knew that she didn't want to go to a large university. Right. She didn't want to feel just like a number. And I feel like UCA really uh fills that void for people.

SPEAKER_00 34:14

Well, that is an excellent uh point that I'm really glad you made because I really think we do have the personal touch uh, you know, for campus visits, and then when you're a student, and then on a lot of different levels, there's a personal touch that um is not uh the norm at a lot of schools. But um, what what else would you say to another NWA professional, maybe another alumni up here uh in Northwest Arkansas, who has drifted from the institution or maybe is not as engaged as isn't what quite sure what their connection to the school looks like these days. What would you say to them?

SPEAKER_01 34:44

Well, and I think that's really what the council, and I know you did this by design, but maybe we as individuals didn't have that foresight going forward, you know, and being on the council, it's something as simple as, you know, carrying a UCA pin, that's right, into a meeting. Um, and then that, you know, something as simple as that can spur conversation. Oh, I didn't know you went to UCA. Oh, tell me about UCA. So that's where it goes. And then, you know, if you come across an alumni up here and then you tell them that, you know, you guys are having these alumni events, you know, that's not what this whole thing is. It's not just an alumni gathering, it's it's more than that. So that's where I feel like the conversation is very easy to be had.

SPEAKER_00 35:36

Right. And there's a lot of exciting conversations. I'm glad you said that. That's kind of what this uh the way, a good way to describe it. There's a lot of exciting conversations in Northwest Arkansas, and we want to be one of those. We want to be a part of that. We want to be uh a strong and visible uh presence here. So when, yeah, we we do have an opportunity to uh connect alumni with each other or to just build relationships or create opportunities for our students and our graduates up here. UCA is more uh top of mind than maybe it has been in the past uh two years or five years or nine years, whatever it is.

SPEAKER_01 36:14

Uh it's reconnected me to a couple of fraternity brothers that I didn't even know lived up here. Right. I was like, oh great, right. Why have I missed this many years of talking with you?

SPEAKER_00 36:24

Yeah, I know. Well, I'm glad you said that. I appreciate that. So you mentioned earlier the ecosystem and and uh and the growth story up here has been driven largely by the Walmart you know ecosystem through the years. But uh, you know, again, your work touches the whole state. How do you think about Northwest Arkansas's role in Arkansas's larger global economy? Sure. Um and I think I saw the number like 94% of uh the global trade uh area is outside of Arkansas. Very good, right? So yeah, I remember that one. It's actually outside the United States.

SPEAKER_01 36:58

Outside the United States, right? So that's why if you're you know always selling domestically, you know, pun intended, you're missing the boat. Is it too yeah, but no, Northwest Arkansas it brings its own um you know, success stories. Of course, you've got the the proteins that are going worldwide, you've got logistics carriers, but you've also got manufacturers, you've got the even things that are so important to Northwest Arkansas. Mountain bike trail design is now leaving Bentonville and going global.

SPEAKER_00 37:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:36

We had an award winner out of Bentonville a couple of years ago. That that is what they do. They travel to resorts across the world and design mountain bike trails. I did not know that. Huh. And that yeah, perfect. Yeah, most people don't know how many cool things Arkansas companies make or do. Right. And that's why I feel like the deck really highlights these companies, especially during the governor's award ceremony. Right.

SPEAKER_00 38:05

That work in itself, I mean, Regions Bank, Great Bank, great people, Stan Jacqueline, all the great people, that's fun. But your work just with the district export council seems so fascinating and so interesting. And I can tell that you really enjoy it. Um, well, what would you tell somebody uh who's a student or somebody that wants to be involved in something like that or says, I want that job, what advice would you give them to be because that's not necessarily a path that you see yourself on in Arkansas, global trade and importing exporting? Correct. Landlock state, you don't really think about that, maybe. What would you tell somebody like that?

SPEAKER_01 38:39

You know, it's it's funny that you mentioned that. Um, because as I am more than likely stepping back from the chair position of the deck in the near future, um, I'm trying to figure out the ways that I'm going to give back um and spend my time going forward. And one of those is I'm having a like I'm getting pulled and drawn into helping students, whether it's uh an intern pipeline to become a future workforce development. I don't know what that looks like. Um luckily I'm surrounding myself with people that are helping to kind of shape this. So I can't really speak too much to it now because it doesn't exist. Right. But I want to be able to be a connector of sorts between students and Arkansas companies to where the students will stay in Arkansas once graduating.

SPEAKER_00 39:40

Right. Well, I'm I'm excited to hear that you'll have some more free time that you could, you know, develop to the Northwest Arkansas Advisory Council. That's right. Uh so that's good. I'm gonna make a note of that. So all right, Jonathan, this has been great. What's what's on your radar right now going forward? Whether at the bank, at the deck, you know, personally, anywhere. That what what's going on with you? What should people What are you paying attention to right now?

SPEAKER_01 40:00

That's a good question. Um, you know, I'm I'm trying to figure out that next step. Um I want to be a resource for people. That has kind of been my driving force. I really want people to feel comfortable to reach out to me to bring me into challenging conversations. Um, you know, and that's kind of what keeps me going is being able to make an impact, uh whether that's through my clients or whether it's through the RDEC. Um, and hopefully I'm creating opportunities for others that are as rewarding as the ones that I have had. Um, you know, I've been fortunate to to have so many, to meet so many interesting people. Um, and if my girls can see firsthand, you know, that that that they can get the same joy out of life of helping others, I think that will be kind of mission accomplished.

SPEAKER_00 41:04

Sure. All right. And I'd I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this too. I think you met uh Brooke, your wife at UCA, right? I actually met her in high school.

SPEAKER_01 41:11

In high school, okay. Yeah. But she's a UCA. She is a UCA alum. She started off at UALR playing soccer for them. And then she, you know, she became a physical therapist at the U at UCA, but I think she moved up there to be closer to me.

SPEAKER_00 41:27

Oh, well, that goes without saying, right? Right. That's what I'm going with. Yeah, absolutely. All right. Well, great stuff. Listen, Jonathan, thank you again for being here. It was great to great to visit with you. Uh proud of you and and uh really appreciate all the work that you're helping us do for the UCA here in Northwest, Arkansas. Absolutely. Happy to do it. And if you need anything from me, you know how to get a hold of them. Perfect. All right, Jonathan Bricker, he's the vice president at Regents Bank and the chairman of the Arkansas District Export Council. And that'll do it for this edition of Central to NWA. As always, we appreciate you tuning in. I'm Paul Gatling. Until next time, Coles. That's it for this episode of Central to NWA, a UCA podcast. I'm Paul Gatling, Senior Director of Northwest Arkansas Engagement for the University of Central Arkansas. Be sure to subscribe to the show and follow UCA on all the appropriate social media. I'll see you next time on Central to NWA.