In our Ladies Issue, it’s only fitting to spotlight four dynamic women—Ro Bailey, Denise Garner, Christy Slay, and Amy Reeves Robinson—whose stories embody resilience, leadership, and impact. From public service to fashion, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, these women are forging bold paths and uplifting others across Northwest Arkansas and beyond.
Ro Bailey
Ro’s journey is one of resilience. A U.S. Army veteran, professional model, mentor, and owner of RetRO Clothing, she navigated a turbulent path marked by a divorce and her mother’s cancer diagnosis within just two months. Overwhelmed, she sought solace with a friend in Northwest Arkansas, whose words changed everything: “You can’t heal in the same place that made you sick.” With that in mind, she packed her 1998 Volkswagen Beetle, her three-year-old son, and a few belongings, leaving Tennessee for Arkansas to start anew. Their first home was a small apartment with just a futon, but Ro’s Army experience reminded her: “Everything is temporary.”
Determined to rebuild, Ro took a job at Dillard’s, but life had bigger plans. When Cumulus Radio reached out, she discovered her natural talent for using her voice. From there, she began exploring modeling, something she had once viewed as just a side hustle. It wasn’t until she connected with NWA Fashion Week through Interform that she truly found her purpose mentoring aspiring models. Now, she teaches others to set boundaries, drown out industry noise, and trust the process. Her mantra, “Rejection is protection,” reflects her journey as proof that resilience transforms adversity into strength and that life’s toughest detours often guide us to our true path.
Denise Garner
“I hope when I leave the legislature that people remember that I strived to pull everyone together,” says Denise, who never planned on entering politics but is now serving her fourth term in the Arkansas House. When she first moved to Arkansas 48 years ago, her husband was working on Governor Tucker's campaign. She was focused on her nursing career but her passion for advocacy was soon ignited. Over the years, she worked with nonprofits and became a delegate for Hillary Clinton in 2016. It was during an Emerge boot camp that Denise found her true calling and decided to run for office. Armed with years of experience in healthcare and nonprofit work, she ran to educate and listen to her constituents. To everyone’s surprise (including her own) she won by 15 points, leaving her supporters in stunned silence.
Reflecting on her journey, Denise shares, “From elementary school, my parents worried I was more interested in getting to know people than anything else,” a curiosity that has since become her greatest strength. Her proudest achievement came in 2010 when she helped launch FEED Communities, working to tackle child hunger in Arkansas. Denise encourages women to fight imposter syndrome and step up to lead. “We need women from all walks of life--teachers, farmers, and beyond--leading our state.” Her hope is to leave behind a legacy of collaboration, connection, and meaningful change.
Christy Slay
Christy Slay is a trailblazer, a woman of tenacity, and as one coworker aptly put it, an "empathetic bada**," balancing a kind heart with an unwavering drive to create change. With a PhD in biology, she began in field research but soon saw business as the key to real-world impact. Driven to bridge science and industry, Christy found her calling at The Sustainability Consortium, co-created by Arizona State University and the University of Arkansas. When she first approached the group, they weren't sure what to do with a biologist, but over the past 16 years, she has led the organization in developing a global, transparent, scientifically-based system for measuring and reporting product sustainability.
Christy’s leadership is driven by the belief that anything is possible. Under her guidance, TSC has become a trusted resource for businesses, helping them navigate challenges and implement sustainable practices. Looking ahead, Christy’s professional goal is to make all products sustainable, a game-changing feat she believes is within reach. Personally, she hopes to leave a legacy of care and inspiration, ensuring those she works with feel supported and empowered. Christy encourages Fayetteville to contribute to sustainability by voting with their dollars and exploring resources like TSC’s Sustainable Snapshots.
Amy Reeves Robinson
Amy is a woman who looks beyond titles to truly understand who people are. She recalls a moment at a Magdalene House workshop when a woman called her brave, a sentiment she strives to embody in every facet of life. Her career journey has led her through banking, law, and a deep love for business. Amy co-founded Springline Group with her husband, to help startups, applying her Silicon Valley experience to go beyond funding and focus instead on uncovering a company’s core and driving meaningful change. This revelation led her to pivot toward helping women-owned businesses.
Amy’s vision expanded after a transformative trip to Pakistan for a national business competition, where she saw the power of women supporting women. Inspired, she delivered a TEDx Fayetteville talk, “I Believe in Tribes of Women,” which grew into Tribe of Women, LLC, fostering cultures of female support. In this spirit, she led programs for the short-lived, but impactful Company Club: a clubhouse for women. When COVID hit, Amy transitioned the spirit of that endeavor into NEXXT - A catalyst community for women. Through 2022, this was a virtual platform focused on fostering identity and strengthening women in aspects of their lives. Now, she is exploring new gathering spaces for women to connect and thrive. Amy embodies bravery, reminding us that courage and fear can coexist, urging us to “Do it scared.” From motherhood to global ventures, her impact extends throughout NWA and beyond.