How do you turn your passion for duck hunting into a nationally recognized brand rooted in culture, hospitality, and grit?
In this episode of NWA Founders, we sit down with JD Blagg, Aaron Seifritz, and Josh Teff - the three founders of Fowlco Outfitters, a waterfowl-focused outfitting and lifestyle brand based in Oklahoma, to hear how they’ve built one of the most respected names in modern hunting. What began as a interesting idea has evolved into a high-end guiding service, a product line, and a brand that’s redefining waterfowl culture across the country. From the first hunts to national brand partnerships and apparel drops, this episode covers the full journey.

Summary

Fowlco was born from deep friendship and a shared obsession with duck hunting. The founders leaned on hard-earned skills, local knowledge, and a relentless work ethic to create an outfitting experience that felt different - more personal, more consistent, and more premium. Word spread quickly, and what started small grew into something that now draws clients from across the country.

Early on, the team understood the power of brand. Through cinematic storytelling, a clean aesthetic, and thoughtful product design, Fowlco grew from a local guide service into an authentic lifestyle brand. Instead of chasing trends or gimmicks, they built a brand rooted in who they are and it resonated with hunters far beyond Arkansas.

With growth came challenges: training new guides, managing demand, and expanding without compromising their standards. The team shares how they’ve scaled with intention, created systems that reinforce their values, and kept their heads down through it all. Whether they’re guiding executives or cleaning gear at midnight, they’re still doing the little things right.

Highlights

00:15 – The origin of Fowlco: three friends, one pit blind, and a whole lot of passion

15:00 – Building a premium hospitality experience in the middle of a duck field

30:00 – Brand building through design, photography, and storytelling

45:00 – Launching Fowlco gear: what it takes to create products that hold up

60:00 – Growing the team and training the next generation of guides

75:00 – Staying grounded: hard work, small-town roots, and long-term vision

90:00 – Final reflections and advice to anyone building something from scratch

Nick's 3 Key Takeaways

1. Take the long way - Fowlco didn’t rush growth, they prioritized relationships, authenticity, and product over shortcuts.
2. Be real - Everything from their gear to their hospitality is an extension of who they are. Authenticity isn’t a marketing strategy, it’s their core advantage.
3. Put your head down and do the work - Success didn’t come from luck, it came from early mornings, late nights, and doing the work others overlook.

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What does it look like to run a financial firm built on trust, resilience, and generational vision?
In this episode of NWA Founders, we sit down with Brock Gearhart, CEO of Greenwood Gearhart, to explore how he transformed a respected Fayetteville-based firm into a 1.7 billion dollar wealth management leader with deep ties to the community and a clear strategy for the future. From his early days on Wall Street to returning home at the height of the 2008 financial crisis, Brock shares how he navigated economic turmoil, led through generational transition, and kept clients first through it all. If you care about legacy, strategic growth, and building businesses that last, this conversation is a masterclass in leadership through long-term thinking.

Summary

Greenwood Gearhart was founded by pioneer Mary Ann Greenwood, who built a fiduciary firm well ahead of its time. Brock stepped in with a plan to honor her values while expanding the firm's offerings. From adding estate planning and financial concierge services to developing one of the region's only independent family office models, Brock walks us through how the business scaled with integrity.

As Greenwood Gearhart enters its “3.0” phase, Brock emphasizes a renewed focus on client outcomes, culture, and innovation. With an intentional hiring strategy centered on people-first values (not just financial acumen) his team has helped drive smart growth without sacrificing quality. The firm now manages over $1.7B while delivering deeper service through comprehensive financial planning and investment management.

Brock also shares the story behind Natural Capital, a private investment firm he co-founded with Marshall Saviers, Todd Simmons, and Brad Henry. With a focus on real estate and operating businesses in Northwest Arkansas, Natural Capital has raised over $150M to date, mostly from Arkansans. The goal? Keep the state’s best deals in-state, create shared upside, and give Arkansas investors access to institutional-grade opportunities.

Highlights

00:15 – How Greenwood Gearhart stands out in a crowded industry

15:00 – Lessons from Wall Street and the 2008 crisis

30:00 – Transitioning the firm from Mary Ann Greenwood (founder)

45:00 – Scaling from $150M to $1.7B

60:00 – Building Natural Capital to keep opportunity in Arkansas

75:00 – Brock’s leadership philosophy

90:00 – The next era of Greenwood Gearhart

Takeaways

1. Trust and clarity outperform short-term performance - Brock’s firm focuses on long-term client outcomes—helping people live more fulfilled lives, not just outperform benchmarks.
2. Growth should make the product better, not worse - Greenwood Gearhart’s services have improved as the firm scaled—proving that growth and excellence can go hand in hand.
3. Put down roots to grow real value - Natural Capital is a case study in how to invest where you live, keep capital local, and serve your community while earning strong returns.

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What do you get when a college student blends together a family recipe and a vision for something bigger than herself?
In this episode of NWA Founders, we sit down with KK Goodwin, founder and CEO of Mamaka Bowls, a cali-inspired smoothie bowl restaurant with a cult following across 9 US locations. What began as a side hustle out of a Fayetteville college house has become a powerful example of purpose-driven entrepreneurship, nostalgic brand building, and operational grit. From avoiding the franchise model to opening stores with a credit card, KK shares how Mamaka grew one bowl at a time—without compromising culture or creativity.

Summary

Mamaka’s story began with KKs mom’s homemade granola recipe and a Google phone number in high school. With no outside investment, she revived the concept in college, hand-delivering smoothie bowls made in her shared house. By graduation day, she opened Mamaka’s first retail location in Fayetteville—with no restaurant experience, no commercial kitchen, and no formal business plan.

Mamaka grew fast—but intentionally. KK and her team opened nine stores in seven years, expanding into Texas, North Carolina, and beyond, all while refusing to franchise. Instead, Mamaka stayed operator-led, building strong culture and daily team calls that measure everything from net profit to labor percentages. KK walks us through the costs, chaos, and clarity behind sustainable scaling.

KK shares how brand consistency, aesthetic integrity, and people-first leadership drive Mamaka’s momentum. With a yearlong pause in store openings, she’s now focused on perfecting systems, expanding lifestyle products, and preparing for the next wave of growth—without chasing trends or losing control of what makes Mamaka special.

Highlights

00:00 – Origins of Mamaka Bowls

15:00 – Launching Mamaka's first ever location in Fayetteville

30:00 – First year emotions

45:00 – Expanding to Waco

1:00:00 – Fort Worth and locations 4, 5, & 6

1:15:00 – 9 stores in 7 years = choosing to pause

1:30:00 – Dreams for Mamaka Bowls

Takeaways

1. Start scrappy, scale intentionally – KK’s first two stores were launched without loans, and her story proves you don’t need big capital to build a big business—just consistency and care.
2. Culture is a competitive advantage – Mamaka’s daily metrics calls and internal team systems help the brand maintain quality and unity across nine locations.
3. Pausing can be powerful – After explosive growth, KK is stepping back—not because growth has stopped, but because the best next step is building a business that lasts.

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