Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1483272
Matt Bumgarner Strategic HR Partner, Tyson Foods In Matt's role as a Strategic HR Partner, he leads and directs a group of human resources professionals to execute a strategy to optimize human capital that contributes to the achieve- ment of business unit objectives. In close partnership with People Operations and the Centers Of Excellence, in this position he sets strategy to utilize the skills of Tyson's workforce, enhance the company's competitive advantage, and increase team member engagement. He is also retired from the Arkansas Army National Guard after 20 years of service. " " Experience with Leadership Fayetteville I was in Leadership Fayetteville Class 27 and I also was the Chairman for Leadership Fayetteville Class 31. At the time, the main reason I applied for the program is that I wanted to become more involved in the Fay- etteville community and build a network of like minded individuals who were looking to do the same. Project The way the program was designed when I went through was that there were a multitude of individual project suggestions to help guide you throughout the class. One of the most memorable individual projects for me during the program was going out to the Washington County Jail on a Friday night and spending time with the employees there. During that visit we were given insight to the various roles and responsibilities for the officers, jailers, etc. I also participated with a group of people building care packs that included clothing items, toiletries, and various other items that we were able to distribute throughout the com- munity and the 7 Hills Shelter. Benefits and connections I have long lasting friendships from my time in the program and also have made connec- tions with leaders throughout the community. This has helped tremendously with my own personal growth as I have been able to interact and learn from so many talented individuals. I think the program exposed me to various leaders in the community and even within my own cohort. Through these interactions with successful leaders I feel that it provided me with more insight into what makes leaders success- ful. Through the leadership program you have direct face-to-face interaction with leaders from all types of backgrounds. In many ways, my current community in- volvement is directly related to the Leadership Fayetteville program. We toured the Children's Safety Center as a part of the program and I be- came involved with the planning committee for the Dream Big Charity Gala. I participated with that event in that capacity for a few years and also was the Chairman for the event one year as well. After that I approached the CSC about joining the Board of Directors and I have been serving in that role for several years now. I was connected with so many great organizations just like the CSC during my time in Leadership Fayetteville. Favorite program aspect "My favorite overall aspect of the program was the people, and that is what makes the Fayetteville community so great as well. There were so many people in the program who had a strong desire to not only get involved in the community but to make it a better place to live. So having a program like Leadership Fayette- ville that continues to cultivate those ideas and relationships is such a benefit. Recommendation Make sure you truly have the time to dedi- cate to the program because you will get out of the program exactly what you put into it. Best things about Fayetteville There are just so many things that are won- derful about the quality of life in Fayetteville. For me personally, access to so many outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, fishing, cycling, and so much more is a huge plus. I also love that we have several venues that provide access to live music and great locally owned restau- rants. Finally our access to education, world- class healthcare, and innovation centers makes Fayetteville a great place for anyone at any stage of life. 13 Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce