Yume Rudzinski earned a Bachelor of Architecture and a Minor in Gerontology at Syracuse University. Over 30 years of professional practice, Yume has worked on a range of public and private projects such as schools, museums, hospitals, nursing homes, multi-family and variety of commercial buildings. She taught in the School of Architect at K-State and University of Arkansas until 2006, when she established Architects 226 in Fayetteville with her partner, Russell Rudzinski. Currently, Yume is a Director of Development at Blue Crane, a development and real estate company that strives to create places for humanity to flourish in Northwest Arkansas.

Meredith is a graduate of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where she earned a degree in Architecture. She is NCARB Certified, a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction and Homes, and a member of the Arkansas Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. Previously, Meredith served as a project architect for a firm in the Pacific Northwest. During her time in Portland, she worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from a biodynamic winery to a new 6-mile long light rail alignment in the core of the Portland metro area. The majority of her work focused on transit-related projects including creating sustainable, healthy work environments for transit maintenance employees. Due to the nature of large transit projects, Meredith gained experience with public and private clients and multi-disciplinary contracts where she coordinated with architects, engineers, planners, landscape architects, contractors, developers, and government agencies. She was responsible for the coordination of construction documents and, during construction, managed the submittal reviews, RFI’s, change orders, and other field changes related to those projects. As Director of Operations for the Sustainability Division, Meredith’s current responsibilities include leading the sustainable consulting division as well as providing assistance to owners, architects, engineers, and contractors, helping enhance their ability to budget, plan, design, and finance a facility that respects occupant needs, financial responsibilities, and the environment.

Michael Parker began working in the construction industry after obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from Auburn University, with a Minor in Business Administration. He has spent more than half of his 31-year career working for Nabholz, starting as the EVP of Preconstruction and working his way up to his current position as President of Central Operations. In 2013, Michael co-founded Entegrity Energy Partners, which is wholly owned by Nabholz and he currently serves as the Company’s President. Michael brings to each project his experience with a variety of areas — including construction, specialty services, energy services, and environmental services. He is especially skilled in energy services, preconstruction, management, and thinking outside of the box. Michael is also a LEED Accredited Professional, is certified through the Advanced Management Program and holds an ASHE Healthcare Construction Certificate. A regular contributor to a variety of causes in his community, he is a member of the Northwest Arkansas Council, serves on the Executive Committee of the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce Board, the Urban Land Institute NWA Advisory Board, the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association Board and the Dean’s Circle of the Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design. He is a past chair for the Arkansas Chapter of the United States Green Building Council. Current responsibilities include managing all aspects of Nabholz’s Central Operations as well as Entegrity Energy Partners.

Native of Northwest Arkansas. Began career in the field of public administration and planning at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission as a sophomore in high school and spent twenty years working with local governments in Benton and Washington Counties on planning matters, grant administration and financial management. Left the Commission to serve as deputy city clerk and later administrative assistant for the City of Lowell. In August 1996, became the first Director of Planning for the City of Springdale. Responsible for planning, the Community Development Block Grant program,; project oversight for construction of Arvest Ballpark; project development and oversight of the Springdale portion of the Razorback Regional Greenway through downtown Springdale, downtown Springdale Master Plan development and implementation as well as development and construction of an expanded trails program. Member of the Beaver Watershed Alliance, Chairman Razorback Greenway Alliance, American Planning Association, Arkansas APA Chapter, Chairman of the NWARPC Technical Advisory Committee, Rodeo Foundation Committee and member of Springdale Rotary.

Love life! Be Prepared! Understand the value of not understanding! I began my career 1994 with a small community bank that continued to grow through acquisitions and mergers, including the merger with Centennial Bank in 2013. As the NWA Division President, I have expanded my roles, but I do not forget my roots as a community bank lender. Served on several boards, including The New School, 7hills Homeless Center, Fayetteville Area Community Foundation, and Pagnozzi Charities. Named Arkansas Business “40 Under 40.” The past has built my future, but I remember the windshield is much larger than the rearview mirror.

Matthew Hoffman AIA is President of MBL Planning and President/ Co-Founder of Pattern Zones Co. Over ten years with the City of Fayetteville Arkansas, Mr. Hoffman served as Chairman of the Planning Commission, the Board of Adjustments, and the city’s Long Range Planning Committee. His work in architecture and urbanism has been recognized by state and national awards from the American Institute of Architects, World Architecture News, the American Planning Association, and the Congress for the New Urbanism. Mr. Hoffman has been an invited speaker on architecture and planning topics at various events with the Urban Land Institute, the American Planning Association, the American Institute of Architects, and the Congress for the New Urbanism. Mr. Hoffman’s portfolio at MBL Planning currently includes urban design projects in four different states, and he is a member of the master planning and architectural design team for Walmart’s new 350-acre Home Office in Bentonville Arkansas. In 2021, Hoffman was welcomed to membership in The Urban Guild.

Mr. Diamond is a founding partner of Caisson Capital Partners and is a member of the investment committee. He is responsible for all day-to-day activities related to capital raising, investor relations, transaction sourcing and investment execution. Mr. Diamond has over a decade of professional experience in real estate private equity as well as investment banking and capital markets. He has executed real estate transactions across the U.S. including in major markets such as New York City. In addition to his role at Caisson Capital, Mr. Diamond also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Arkansas Walton School of Business. Over his career, Mr. Diamond has been involved both domestically and internationally in the execution of over $20 billion of transactions in both public and private markets. Prior firms include Arc Real Estate, Ackman-Ziff Real Estate, UBS Investment Bank, Barclays Capital and Wells Fargo Securities. Mr. Diamond has an M.S. in finance from Villanova University and a B.S. in architecture with certificates in finance and entrepreneurship from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Meredith is a senior program officer for the Home Region Program. Prior to joining the foundation, Meredith worked in urban planning and design for Dover, Kohl & Partners in Miami, Florida. She also served as the director of the main street program in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Meredith is an AICP-certified planner with a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy.

Ben Perea is the Chief Infrastructure Officer at the Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA). He joined XNA in 2023 as Director of Construction after a 14-year career with Garver’s Aviation Team. Ben is a licensed professional engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Central Arkansas and a Bachelor and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas. During his tenure at Garver, Ben served in various roles at over 90 airports across the country, including Dallas Love Field, New Orleans International, Little Rock National, and Northwest Arkansas National Airport. In his free time you can find Ben spending time with his wife Maggie and two sons, cheering on the Razorbacks, or playing card and/or board games (Current Favorite: Hanabi).

Lisa Knemeyer Skiles is a practicing architect focused on single-family residential, small commercial projects, and historic building preservation. Applying a modern sensibility to create well-articulated spaces, several of her firm’s designs have been published and earned design award recognition. She holds a USGBC LEED AP with a Homes Specialty accreditation. Lisa studied at the University of Arkansas with degrees from the Walton College of Business and Fay Jones School of Architecture. Undergraduate honors included AMA Student of the Year, Edward Durell Stone Design and Barbara C. Crook Technology Awards, and faculty juried Pella Prize. Skiles has continued an interest in lifelong learning with her May 2023 completion of a Master of Science in Biomimicry from Arizona State University earning Outstanding Graduate honors for the School of Complex Adaptive Systems. The study of biomimicry seeks inspiration from nature to create sustainable solutions for human challenges. Prior, Skiles honed marketing management expertise within REIT property management companies earning International Council of Shopping Center’s Certified Marketing Director status and co-leading a company trainee program. During this time she was named to the Arkansas Business 40 under 40 list. Lisa serves as City of Goshen Planning Commission Co-Chair and just completed Planning Official certification from Arkansas APA. Beginning in 2024, Skiles joined the Preserve Arkansas Board of Directors. In addition, she enjoys periodic adjunct teaching in the Fay Jones School of Architecture for Interior Architecture studios and is an ongoing summer instructor for Design Camp for grades 9-12. Lisa has served on AIA Arkansas Board of Directors and currently serves on its DEI Committee.