Welcome to this week’s Stoppage Time edition of the Pitch to Pro podcast, where we feature a powerful five-minute excerpt from one of our previous full-length conversations. In this episode, we take you deep into the economic transformation of Northwest Arkansas — a region whose growth story is often reduced to headlines about big-name companies. But there’s more to the evolution than just corporate giants, and this clip brings out the layered dynamics behind how real, sustainable regional development takes shape.

Our guest, Mervin Jebaraj, breaks down the phases of growth, starting in the 1990s when expansion was driven directly by the region's “big three” corporations and the university. That first wave was about attracting talent to those anchor institutions. The early 2000s saw a second wave: businesses that existed primarily to serve or collaborate with those core companies began thriving. Then came a third generation — companies that supported the support companies — creating a complex, interdependent economic engine that fueled unprecedented job growth.

But the conversation takes a turn when we explore the present and emerging future. Growth in Northwest Arkansas today is increasingly defined by lifestyle and infrastructure: healthcare, education, hospitality, and other services required to support the ballooning population. The pandemic highlighted this shift even more. Remote workers flocked to the area, bringing jobs from outside and proving that quality of life can be just as magnetic as corporate opportunity. Still, the region isn’t quite at the point where people move without a plan — like they might to New York, Austin, or LA — but it’s inching closer.

This episode also addresses what it means to be a “self-sustaining” region — one that can attract people and businesses simply because of what it is, not just who’s hiring. Mervin paints a picture of what it would take for Northwest Arkansas to become one of those places where people show up, figure it out, and still thrive even if Plan A doesn’t work. That kind of organic, resilient growth is aspirational — and, according to this conversation, within reach.

To close, we look at how the region measures itself. Initially benchmarked against metros of similar size, Northwest Arkansas consistently led in key indicators. So, the comparison group shifted to larger aspirational peers like Kansas City and Omaha — and the region still holds its own. This clip offers a compelling window into how smart, long-term growth is being mapped, managed, and measured. If you’ve ever wondered how a mid-sized community becomes a nationally respected economic player, this Stoppage Time episode is a masterclass in just that.