Dan oversees the vision of The Happy Group Inc., which encompasses The Happy Egg Co. and Arena. He brings 20 years of experience in go-to-market strategy, branding, business development and executive management to the enterprise. Dan and his wife Catherine have three sons. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading, sports, and finding ways to compete in every area of life.
As President of Arena Tom is responsible for helping the organization devote all energy to serving clients and to building their brands at retail. He has decades of experience across academic and business sectors, including: Strategy consulting, executive leadership, organizational start-ups, and as a university professor. He serves on both corporate and non-profit boards. Tom and Susan have three grown children and seven grandchildren. They love traveling and spending time together.
Clay leads a sales team in their efforts to deliver incredible results for the businesses they serve. He brings over 50 years of experience in successful national selling strategies, brand development and team management to his role. Clay, his wife Lori, and their five daughters live outside of Fayetteville. Clay enjoys tea parties, fishing, motorcycles and “tractor time” on their small family farm.
Shara leads a sales team at Arena, backed by 30 years’ experience in sales and marketing. After her first career in IT, she joined the retail vendor world helping businesses succeed through excellence in analytics, category management and sales across various categories. Shara has a BSBA in Accounting from the University of Arkansas. She loves living in Bentonville, raising her two daughters.
Kirk leads one of Arena’s business units as a Sales Director. He joined us from Walmart, where he spent more than 6 years as a senior buyer. Kirk has over 15 years of retail experience, with roles spanning from sales, category management, shopper insights, & finance. He is passionate about building brands and helping companies reach their full potential.
Kirk keeps busy at home with his 4 children: Grace (16), Ben (13), Rhett (11) & Yohana (9). He also has an 18-month old chocolate lab named Jake.
Garrett brings strong retail expertise to the Arena team earned over 8+ years sales experience to Walmart & Sam’s Club. He has managed a wide range of brands in his career across multiple categories and is passionate about helping brands succeed. Garrett & his wife Stephanie have three rambunctious sons and live in Fayetteville. They enjoy all things sports, the Hogs and being outside.
With a diverse background in higher education and business, Shannon assists the Sales Directors in multiple ways, including in sales, analytics, retail strategy, project management, and marketing. She also leads several small and mid-sized brands as they grow their business at Walmart. Shannon and her husband, Mark, live in Lowell with their two dogs, Edmund and Murphy.
Jessica provides meaningful insights and data solutions to help shape the strategy of her client businesses. She has 12+ years of analytics experience in CPG categories, including personal care, OTC pharmacy, impulse, home and grocery. Jessica has a BA in Communications - Public Relations from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. She lives in Rogers with her husband and three sons.
Shawn oversees the replenishment side of the business utilizing his experience gained through working at multiple startups and Walmart. He desires to use his expertise and drive to help businesses reach their full selling potential within the retail space. Shawn and his wife, Ragan, live in Fayetteville and argue it’s the best city in NWA. House projects, presidential biographies, and grabbing drinks with friends are usually on his weekend to-do list.
Sarah is an Account Coordinator for our Sales team, having started her career with Arena as a summer intern. She provides analytical work, strategic sales planning and internal business reporting. When she is not at work, she attends the University of Arkansas. Sarah will complete her final year with a degree in Marketing and Business Analytics.
Jenna brings experience across multiple areas to the Arena, focusing on business partnerships and internal analytics. She values creating meaningful experiences and insights for our team and clients. Jenna has a degree in Hospitality Management from Missouri State University. She is a self-proclaimed foodie, enjoys traveling internationally, drinking iced coffee, reading and the outdoors.
Gena supports Arena as Executive Assistant to the President and also serves as Office Manager. In addition, she carries responsibility for revenue-generating Special Projects. Gena loves helping teammates shine, including creating a positive environment around the office for employees and clients. She has a BA in Communications from the University of Arkansas. Gena and her husband Bart and have two adult children, Taylor and Kate. She enjoys remodeling homes, being an Airbnb superhost, and living off the Bentonville Square in Walmart’s hometown.
