ABOUT US
Our Vision:
Be the premier media and marketing source in Arkansas, connecting people, places & culture.
Our Mission:
To provide relevant media, celebrating the human element of the businesses, nonprofits, and people who make Arkansas a vibrant place to live.
Celebrate Arkansas Magazine began in November 2003 to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Northwest Arkansas. Almost 20 years and 225 issues later, Celebrate Arkansas continues to feature Arkansas' finest businesses, entrepreneurs, and lifestyles each month. Available throughout local retailers such as Walmart, Barnes and Noble, Sam's Club, and more, Celebrate Arkansas also extends its reach throughout Northwest Arkansas through its subscription-based service.
WYLEY ELLIOTT — Editor-in-Chief
Nickname: Will
Favorite Movie Star: Sandra Bullock
Favorite pastime: Swimming
Greatest advice ever received: In all things choose “joy.”
Unique feature: Military walk
Born: Bentonville, Ark.
Raised: Cabot, Ark.
Education: University of Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist University
Aspiration: Be more like my dad
Greatest moment in life: The day I married my wife
Favorite sports team: Arkansas Razorbacks
Most admired famous person: Sam Walton
Favorite Movie: Titanic
Pet Peeve: Mean people
Quote: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Who shares your birthday: George H. W. Bush
Favorite publication, other than CA: People magazine
STEPHANIE ELLIOTT — Executive Director of Operations
Nickname: Stamp
Favorite pastime: playing with my cats
Greatest advice ever received: Don’t throw a pity party, no one will come.
Born: Ft. Smith, Ark.
Raised: Vian, Okla.
Education: Oklahoma State University
Favorite Movie: Sound of Music
Aspiration: To act and sing in a musical production
Greatest Accomplishment: Raising two Godly young women
Favorite Sports Team: OK State Cowboys & AR Razorbacks
Pet Peeve: Bad drivers
Who shares your birthday: Thurgood Marshall
Favorite publication, other than CA: Real Simple
JUSTIN FRONING — Executive Director of Creative
Nickname: J-Fro
Favorite Movie Star: Tom Hanks
Favorite pastime: Playing with my family
Unique feature: Was formerly a touring professional musician
Born: Fayetteville, Ark.
Raised: Northwest Arkansas
Education: University of Arkansas, Tauernhof Bibel Schule, Schladming, Austria
Aspiration: Creating designs and illustration that make a societal impact
Greatest moment in life: It’s a tie. My wedding day and the births of my children.
Favorite sports team: Arkansas Razorbacks / Seattle Seahawks
Most admired famous person: Jesus
Favorite Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Pet Peeve: Incorrect grammar
Who shares your birthday: Jonah Hill and BatDad
Favorite publication, other than CA: Communication Arts
JOCELYN MURPHY — Managing Editor
Nickname: Joc (but only if I like you)
Favorite Movie Star: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman
Favorite pastime: Board games with friends
Greatest advice ever received: Don't make decisions based on those who will be disappointed by that choice; instead on whether you will disappoint yourself
Born: Memphis, Tenn.
Raised: Memphis and St. Louis
Education: University of Arkansas — dual concentration in Print/Editorial and Broadcast Journalism
Aspiration: To write a book, and to travel the world
Greatest moment in life: My youngest brother asking me to be a groomswoman in his wedding party, and having the honor of standing with both my brothers as the first of our three siblings got married.
Favorite Food: Donuts and steak...but not together
Favorite Movie: When Harry Met Sally, and The Holiday
Pet Peeve: Spoilers for brand new movies or TV episodes
Quote: She believed she could, so she did.
Who shares your birthday: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Pete Davidson
Favorite publication, other than CA: Travel + Leisure Magazine
ALEXA WILLIAMS — Director of Growth & Development
Nickname: ARae
Favorite Movie Star: Matthew McConaughey
Favorite pastime: Sunday Family Pizza & Movie Night
Greatest advice ever received: You can be anything, but you can’t be everything
Born: Little Rock, AR
Raised: Washington D.C., Ft. Hood Texas, Booneville Arkansas, Cabot Arkansas (Army Brat)
Education: Master's of Business Administration, University of Central Arkansas
Aspiration: Have a Christmas Tree Farm
Greatest moment in life: Marrying Taylor Williams and becoming a mom
Favorite sports team: Razorback Baseball Team
Most admired famous person: Condoleezza Rice
Favorite Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life & Harry Potter Movies
Pet Peeve: Slow Drivers
Quote: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts” - Winston Churchill
Who shares your birthday: Vince Lombardi and Joe Montana (apparently, I should’ve played football)
Favorite publication, other than CA: The Magnolia Journal
DANIEL YEAGER — Senior Graphic Designer
Nickname: Daniel (My first name is actually William)
Favorite Movie Star: Jim Carrey
Favorite pastime: Bike rides
Greatest advice ever received: My Uncle Ben once told me, “With great power, comes great responsibility."
Unique feature: I'm a ginger
Born: Rogers, Ark.
Raised: Bentonville, Ark.
Education: NorthWest Arkansas Community College
Aspiration: To be like my friends at Celebrate Arkansas.
Greatest moment in life: Day of salvation
Favorite sports team: “We like sports and we don’t care who knows."
Most admired famous person: Jesus
Favorite Movie: Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind
Pet Peeve: Tardiness
Quote: Jesus + Nothing = Everything
Who shares your birthday: Peter Parker (Probably not but lets just say he does)
Favorite publication, other than CA: The Amazing Spider-Man comics
BILL BROTHERS — Brand Ambassador
Nickname: Bill (William is my formal name)
Favorite Movie Star: Robin Williams
Favorite pastime: Travel
Greatest advice ever received: Measure twice; cut once.
Unique feature: Left handed
Born: Hannibal, Mo.
Raised: Several places, but mainly Joplin, Mo.
Education: Kansas State University
Aspiration: To be a good husband and father
Greatest moment in life: Seeing our kids grow up to be great adults
Favorite sports team: St. Louis Cardinals
Most admired famous person: Mother Theresa
Favorite Movie: Field of Dreams
Pet Peeve: Rude people
Quote: “No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.” -Abraham Lincoln
Who shares your birthday: Sam Elliott
Favorite publication, other than CA: ESPN magazine
AARYN WHITNEY — Social Media Coordinator
Nickname: AA, Little Wyley
Favorite Movie Star: Reese Witherspoon
Favorite pastime: Talking and traveling
Greatest advice ever received: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” -C.T Studd
Born: Mountain Home, Arkansas
Raised: Spa City (Hot Springs) & Bentonville
Education: Ouachita Baptist University
Aspiration: Point people to Jesus and make the best ever homemade biscuits!
Greatest moment in life: Walking down the aisle with my daddy to marry my husband Clark and the birth of my son Baylor!
Favorite sports team: #WPS
Favorite Movie: Pride & Prejudice
Pet Peeve: When someone messages me on Facebook Messenger but has my phone number.
Quote: "The difference between a weed and a flower is perspective." -My morning tea bag quote
Who shares your birthday: Cher
Favorite publication, other than CA: Better Homes & Gardens Magazine