Coffee, doors, steel, and employee staffing and recruiting are some of the products and services provided by executives inducted into the 2026 Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.
The inductees were announced Wednesday (Oct. 22) by the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.
This year’s inductees have been involved in a wide range of industries, including staffing, distribution, construction, investment, steel production, consumer products, and communications. Their entrepreneurial drive and visionary leadership have created opportunities, advanced innovation, and improved lives across Arkansas, the nation, and the world, the university noted in a press release.
The 2026 inductees are:
• Scott Ford, co-founder and CEO of Westrock Coffee Company, Little Rock
Westrock Coffee provides coffee sourcing, supply chain management, product development, roasting, packaging, and distribution services to the retail, foodservice and restaurant, convenience store and travel center, CPG, non-commercial, and hospitality industries around the world. With offices in 10 countries, Westrock sources coffee and tea from 35 origin countries.
• James T. Dyke, former chairman, Dyke Industries, Little Rock
Dyke Industries is a privately held company and has been in business since 1866. Dyke Industries, Inc. is the corporate successor to two millwork manufacturing companies, Dyke Bros., established in Fort Smith, Ark., in 1870, and Cole Manufacturing Company, established in Memphis, Tenn., 1866. The company has 14 distribution outlets that service 18 states with residential and commercial building materials including interior and exterior doors, millwork, and windows.
• Dave Stickler, chief executive officer, HYBAR LLC, Osceola, Ark.
Hybar is a new startup steel producer located in Osceola. Hybar produces rebar steel from scrap metal and operates an adjacent Mississippi River port and the largest behind the meter solar power generation and battery storage facility in the United States. When Hybar is fully operational, it will employ more than 154 workers, and produce 700,000 tons of rebar annually.
• Sue Walk Burnett, president, Burnett Specialists, Houston, Texas
Established in 1974, Burnett Personnel Services was founded by Burnett with just five employees. Using her car as collateral and a $10,000 loan for the start-up, she created a profitable company by the end of the first year. Burnett Specialists now has 9 offices in 6 major Texas cities, including Houston, The Woodlands, El Paso, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas.
“Each year, the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame reminds us of the power of vision, perseverance and commitment to community,” said Brent Williams, dean of the Walton College. “The 2026 inductees exemplify those values. From transforming industries to creating opportunities across Arkansas and beyond, their leadership and integrity continue to inspire our students and strengthen the state’s business legacy.”
Established in 1999, the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame recognizes Arkansans — by birth or by choice — who have achieved success as business leaders and demonstrated a lasting influence on the state’s economy and reputation.
The Hall of Fame, located in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development at the University of Arkansas, is dedicated to honoring, preserving and perpetuating the legacies of those who have brought distinction to Arkansas through outstanding business accomplishments.
The 2026 selection committee, chaired by Jason LaFrance, Walton College alumnus and president of Dale Capital Partners, consisted of 11 business and community leaders.
A black-tie optional induction ceremony honoring the 2026 class will be held Feb. 20, 2026, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. For information about tables, tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact the Walton College Office of External Relations at 479-575-6146 or [email protected].
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