About

Itzel (she/her/hers) is the Little Rock Kiva Hub Capital Access Manage for Forge as well as the Little Rock Business Consultant for Conexion de Negocios Latinos (Latinx Business Connections) where she provides support to Latinx business owners. Itzel holds a master’s degree in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas. 

She has worked for several nonprofits in Arkansas focusing on educational equity and immigrants’ rights advocacy. She previously worked as the Director for Replicate, an initiative of the City of Hope Outreach (CoHO) where she was responsible for the implementation, coordination, and logistical support of nonprofit organizations established and supported by CoHO.

Itzel serves as a board member for the Women’s Leadership Network and Create Little Rock.

Latanyua Taylor Robinson is a native of Stuttgart, who currently lives in Crittenden County. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has almost three decades of practical experience in industrial manufacturing / engineering, workforce, and business development from a wide variety of industries. She has held leadership roles in operations, engineering, quality, and marketing management. 

Along with her role at FORGE, Latanyua is active in community and economic development throughout Eastern Arkansas. Self-described as a serial entrepreneur, Latanyua is the Founder & President of Latrobe LLC, a consulting firm focused on the career readiness, commercial readiness, and community readiness for individuals, businesses, and institutions ( www.LATROBELLC.com ). LATROBE LLC has been providing management consulting in industrial manufacturing and transportation for over a decade. In 2019, the business evolved into a consulting firm that operates transactional businesses to provides livable wage job opportunities. The Mission of LATROBE LLC is to advocate for Economic Empowerment thru Education + work Experience + Entrepreneurship. 

Latanyua is excited to grow FORGE’s mission in the Arkansas Delta region. As a small business owner, she lives the same experience of entrepreneurs and startups who need access to non-traditional funding sources and to technical assistance in commercial business development. 

Mark was born and raised in Northwest Arkansas. After graduating from Huntsville High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Mark has worked in the banking industry for over 35 years, spending almost all of that time in lending, and most recently as a Senior Loan Officer at Arvest Bank in Huntsville. Mark is involved in many community organizations, including the Huntsville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Huntsville Lions Club, and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Housing Authority Development District, where he has held various leadership positions over the years. Mark lives in Huntsville with his wife of 28 years and has two grown children.

Originally from Cambridge, Illinois, Brea attended Black Hawk East College in Kewanee, Illinois. After graduating with an Associate’s degree in Applied Animal & Equestrian Science, Brea trained racehorses in Chicago and worked as a scheduling coordinator at an animal boarding facility. She then took a position with a wholesale meat packing company, Valley Meats, overseeing accounts across the country. Eventually relocating to Northwest Arkansas, Brea learned of FORGE’s work promoting community and economic development and knew she wanted to be a part of the team. The endless possibilities for outdoor activities, kayaking, fishing, hiking and horseback riding are a few of the reasons Brea moved to the area.

Jay has more than 20 years of business operations experience in the engineering and technology, financial services, healthcare, and consulting arenas. Jay possesses onsite and virtual international team experience from Germany, Switzerland, and Mexico. Jay has served as a C-Suite level professional, is a business owner focused primarily on but not limited to risk management and succession planning. He understands collaboration with the CEO and other senior and C-level employees to affect results. Jay has provided more than 15 years of volunteer service with over 8 years directly associated with teaching business concepts and life skills as a Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) mentor and a Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE) counselor. He earned a M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship from University of Dallas in Irving, TX and a B.S. in Industrial Technology with a minor in Operations Management from Texas A&M University in Commerce, TX. Jay values family time with wife Julia, and three children, Amon, Jerusha, and Lauren.

Sandra is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. Sandra has lived in the US for over 14 years. Through her experience as an immigrant, she is committed on helping others succeed. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Arkansas and has spent years in cross-functional roles ranging from operations, engineering, finance, and analytics. She is the co-founder of Bites & Bowls a local’s favorite in Northwest Arkansas. When Sandra is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Sina, and their son, Jahangir.

In addition to her work as the South Arkansas Regional Director at FORGE, Megan works as an Instructor of Finance in the Rankin College of Business at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. She has a B.S. in Agriculture Business and an M.B.A., both from Southern Arkansas University. Prior to the transition to full-time faculty, Megan was the Center Director for the SAU Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. She has extensive experience working with small businesses and enjoys being able to assist entrepreneurs in achieving their business goals. She is active in her church and works with the youth at First Baptist Church in Taylor. She also serves on the board of the Walker’s Creek/Stateline Public Water Authority, serving as its vice president.

Bill Fox comes to FORGE with 15 years of business consulting experience. He served for 11 years as a business consultant and Center Director for the Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas. During his career at the U of A, Bill worked and consulted with businesses from a wide range of business sectors, from retail and restaurants, to health care and professional services. He has conducted numerous seminars on a variety of topics including; business planning and strategy, starting a business, marketing, cash flow management, financing options, and more. Bill also taught Strategic Management as an adjunct faculty at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Jerry Huddleston brings more than fifteen years of experience in compliance reporting, personnel management, financial analysis, and data analytics to FORGE. He is a graduate of John Brown University, possessing a B.S. in Organizational Management and an MBA in Leadership and Ethics. Jerry studied entrepreneurship in Northwest Arkansas for his master’s degree and is going to bring valuable insights and technical assistance to FORGE clients. A self-described “data nerd”, Jerry loves to delve deep into data, finding patterns and cycles that can then be used for the betterment of the organization. “I am excited to be joining the FORGE leadership team,” says Jerry. “I have been familiar with FORGE for over a decade, and have always found its mission of community development to be of paramount importance in Arkansas. There is so much talent and there exist so many possibilities for success in Arkansas. Often, folks just need some help to get things started. I can’t wait to start making a positive difference for my neighbors and fellow Arkansans.” Born in Little Rock and raised in North Central Arkansas, Jerry has called Arkansas home for most of his professional career, and currently makes his home in Fayetteville.

Brittany was born and raised in Huntsville, AR. Where she graduated high school with honors. Brittany is your typical small town girl and loves hunting, fishing, riding four wheelers and horses, rodeoing with her in-laws, spending free time at the river with friends and family, and going jeeping whenever possible. Brittany grew up on a farm and still lives on that farm with her husband and two young boys. Brittany is currently attending college to receive her associate’s degree in accounting and later on pursuing her bachelor’s degree.

Philip Adams has served as the Executive Director of FORGE since March 2020 after having joined the staff in 2019 as the Northwest Arkansas Regional Director. Previously, he served as the Director of Arkansas PROMISE, a five-year, $35 million federal grant to the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Education. Services provided through PROMISE included paid work experiences, intensive case management, employment training and support for youth and families, benefits counseling, and health and wellness education. Families also participated in financial literacy workshops that focus on asset building, financial planning and financial management. In 2018, Adams was honored by the Association on Higher Education and Disability for his work to promote social justice for people with disabilities in their communities. Adams formerly worked as an organic farmer in Nashville, TN, and as special assistant for agency and legislative affairs in Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe’s office. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, and lives with his two children in Fayetteville, AR.