Industry, Government, University Leaders Unite to Shape Arkansas Transportation

Leaders from industry, government and higher education gathered June 11, 2026, at the CSCMP Supply Chain Hall of Fame in Rogers for the AR-STRIDES Industry-Government-University Roundtable. The event brought together experts in supply chain, transportation, logistics, engineering, infrastructure, workforce, finance, advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence from across the state to identify the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Arkansas' data transportation ecosystem.

As Arkansas continues to grow as a national logistics and supply chain hub, the U of A hosted the roundtable as a part of the Arkansas Smart Transportation Research Incubator through Data Engineering and Science, known as AR-STRIDES, a National Science Foundation-funded initiative led by the U of A through the Department of Industrial Engineering in the College of Engineering that focuses on advancing transportation and logistics innovation through data analytics and interdisciplinary research to strengthen Arkansas' long-term economic competitiveness.

The roundtable was designed and facilitated by the Supply Chain Management Research Center within the J.B. Hunt Transport Department of Supply Chain Management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business. As one of AR-STRIDES' use-inspired integration activities, the forum gathered expert insights that will guide future AR-STRIDES research initiatives, industry needs reports, workforce development programs and partnerships. By fostering collaboration among industry, government and academic stakeholders, the event also helped the AR-STRIDES research team identify opportunities where data science, analytics, engineering and supply chain expertise can address real-world transportation and logistics challenges.

Industry and government representation included Sam's Club, Walmart, J.B. Hunt, ArcBest, Tyson Foods, Uber Freight, Danone North America, Simmons Foods, WATCO Logistics, Maersk, Northwest Arkansas Feeding America Food Bank, Arkansas Department of Transportation, Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, Beaver Water District, Western Arkansas Planning and Development District, the Port of Little Rock, Beaver Water District, Emery Sapp & Soons, and Burns & McDonnell. AR-STRIDES researchers from academic institutions included the U of A, Arkansas State University, Southern Arkansas University, U of A NorthArk and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The participation across the state reflects the initiative's commitment to building research capacity and developing transportation and logistics solutions that benefit Arkansas communities and industries statewide.

Transportation and logistics play a vital role in Arkansas' economy, supporting industries ranging from retail and manufacturing to agriculture and freight transportation. As supply chains become increasingly data-driven and technology-enabled, organizers said the discussions will help identify opportunities where research and innovation can create practical value for Arkansas businesses, public agencies and communities.

"Learning from world-class transportation and logistics leaders enables our team to develop use-inspired solutions to their data-driven challenges. Integrating industry insights into our research and workforce development activities will allow AR-STRIDES to enhance the research competitiveness of Arkansas," said Heather Nachtmann, Ph.D., program director of AR-STRIDES, professor of industrial engineering, Earl J. and Lillian P. Dyess Endowed Chair in Engineering and director of the Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center at the U of A.

Participants discussed topics ranging from artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to infrastructure planning, freight movement and workforce development. Organizers said insights from the roundtable will help guide future AR-STRIDES activities and strengthen collaboration among researchers, industry leaders and public agencies.

"Industry leaders can help university researchers stay connected to the real-world challenges that will shape the future. In supply chain especially, industry is often focused on solving customer-facing problems while also preparing for the infrastructure, technology and talent needs ahead. When industry and universities collaborate, researchers gain practical insight into emerging challenges, students better understand how their areas of study apply in the real world, and both sides can accelerate meaningful progress in AI, technology and operational innovation," said Johnathan Williams, senior director of Supply Chain AI Acceleration at Walmart.

Several participants emphasized that transportation and logistics challenges extend beyond individual organizations and regions, making statewide collaboration essential to Arkansas' long-term competitiveness.

"As Arkansas continues to grow its economic base and attract industry form around the world, it becomes critical that the State of Arkansas engage and implement a statewide strategy to improve efficiency in transportation and logistics. If we do not have a unified approach to transportation and logistics, the state of Arkansas and its communities will lose the economic advantage over those states that have developed a statewide plan," said Bryan Day, executive director of the Port of Little Rock.

The roundtable also highlighted the importance of maintaining strong connections between research, workforce development and industry needs as transportation and supply chain systems continue to evolve.

"There's real value in providing a forum for this kind of dialogue. It helps ensure research and workforce development stay connected to how the industry actually operates and how decisions get made. That alignment not only leads to work that can be applied in practice but also helps prepare people entering the field to contribute more quickly and effectively," said Kirby Clark, vice president of financial planning and analysis at ArcBest.

Insights gathered during the roundtable will guide future AR-STRIDES research initiatives, workforce development programs and industry partnerships. The forum fostered a unique collaboration among stakeholders as AR-STRIDES aims to accelerate and strengthen Arkansas' position as a leader in transportation and logistics.

Acknowledgment: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant number 2445877.

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

About the College of Engineering: The University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the state's largest engineering school, offering graduate and undergraduate degrees, online studies and interdisciplinary programs. It enrolls more than 4,700 students and employs more than 150 faculty and researchers along with nearly 200 staff members. Its research enterprise generated $47 million in new research awards in Fiscal Year 2025. The college's strategic plan, Vision 2035, seeks to build the premier STEM workforce in accordance with three key objectives: Initiating lifelong student success, generating transformational and relevant knowledge, and becoming the destination of choice among educators, students, staff, industry, alumni and the community. As part of this, the college is increasing graduates and research productivity to expand its footprint as an entrepreneurial engineering platform serving Arkansas and the world. The college embraces its pivotal role in driving economic growth, fueling innovation and educating the next generation of engineers, computer scientists and data scientists to address current and future societal challenges. 

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is one of the nation's leading public business schools, serving more than 10,300 students across undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs. Through applied learning, impactful research, and deep industry partnerships, Walton prepares leaders to compete and innovate in a global economy.