Mentor

Ron is the president and CEO of Curtis H. Stout Inc. in Little Rock, a manufacturer’s representative specializing in the lighting industry. He attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, before moving to Little Rock in 1974. Smith owned Lighting & Electrical Sales before merging with Curtis Stout in 1997. Under his leadership, Curtis Stout has become one of the largest sales representatives for electrical equipment manufacturers in the nation, with multiple offices across the South. The company represents various product lines, including lighting, utility, GE switchgear, and energy systems, and has achieved significant growth and stability.

Mentor

Ethan has served Sage Partners previously as an intern and currently as an Analyst since June 2022. In his time with Sage, he has worked exclusively alongside Sage brokers representing numerous Fortune 500 clients specifically tailoring his focus on property valuation, site selection, and underwriting services. He has valuated or underwritten over 300 properties across the state of Arkansas ranging from office, retail, and industrial uses as well as performed overall portfolio analysis projects for many private, public, and governmental organizations. Prior to his time at Sage, Ethan graduated from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville with his BSBA in Finance concentrated in Real Estate, and Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock, AR.

Mentor

Cody is the Head Baseball Coach of North Little Rock High School and one of our esteemed mentors. With a rich 30-year background in Sales and Marketing across the US and UK, he brings a wealth of experience from diverse sectors including Pharmaceutical Sales in Dermatology and Women's Health, Minor League Sports with Mandalay Baseball Properties, IT Software, and Semiconductor Manufacturing. His journey to his dream job reflects a profound realization to pursue his true passion - teaching and coaching. He has an impressive coaching portfolio in NCAA, high school, and USSSA Developmental Leagues. A firm believer in the power of collaboration, he is committed to helping others achieve their goals and measures success by the positive impact he has on the performance of those around him. His journey and philosophy make him an invaluable mentor to those aspiring to reach new heights in their personal and professional lives.

Mentor

Srividya has completed three Master's degrees in Foreign Languages, Teaching, and Curriculum Design across three continents. She taught Spanish from 1996 to 2007, then opened a Kumon franchise in 2010, managing it with dedication and retaining a stable workforce. In 2018, she founded the Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation to promote Indian performing arts in Northwest Arkansas, establishing the Kalaloka Institute of Arts. In 2021, she co-founded "Entrepreneurship of the Self" with her husband, Arun Gopinath, which became One Step 2Forward, providing mentoring and life coaching to minorities and women, especially Asian Indians.

Mentor

Cedric has over 15 years of experience leading business analytics, planning, and merchandising across Walmart, Macy’s, and Wards, optimizing sales, profit, inventory assortments, competitive pricing, and marketing strategies. As Director of Business Analytics at large corporations, he leveraged data to support strategic decision-making and operational excellence, partnering with senior leadership and fostering team collaboration to achieve goals. Recently, Cedric focused on career development, attaining a Master of Business degree in Business Analytics with exemplary academic achievement, earning induction into Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society. He seeks to leverage his education, experience, and skills in a Director of Business Management role to deliver innovation and company value.