American Swiss Foundation takes Swiss leaders to Northwest Arkansas

The American Swiss Foundation brought Swiss and U.S. business, government and civic leaders to Northwest Arkansas on Oct. 27-28 for a two-day program focused on economic growth, workforce development, healthcare and public-private collaboration. The visit highlighted how the region’s institutions and companies, including Walmart, are shaping one of the country’s most dynamic business hubs.

Why it matters: - The program was built around a comparison between Northwest Arkansas and Switzerland. - Both regions show how places outside major capitals can build global influence through talent, entrepreneurship and strong institutions. - The visit aimed to deepen U.S.-Swiss exchange on economic growth and talent development. - The delegation explored how public-private partnerships can help communities adapt and thrive.

What happened: - The American Swiss Foundation convened Swiss and American business, government and civic leaders in Northwest Arkansas on Oct. 27-28, 2026. - The two-day program included visits to regional institutions and meetings with local leaders. - The itinerary opened with a tour of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. - Regional leaders joining the opening discussion included Brandom Gengelbach of the Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Ron Maloney of the Northwest Arkansas Council and Krista Cupp of Heartland Forward. - Philip Ryan of the ASF Advisory Council moderated the opening conversation. - The delegation visited the Bentonville Institute of Technology and the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. - Laura MacDonald and Michael Reksulak, founding faculty members of the Bentonville Institute of Technology, discussed education innovation. - Sharmila Makhija, MD, MBA, founding dean and CEO of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, and Claude Pirtle, MD, MBA, MSACI, president of the Heartland Whole Health Institute, discussed medical education and whole-person health. - The program also covered agriculture, international trade and the future of food. - The delegation toured Crystal Bridges again in the evening, including an art trail visit at Skyspace. - On Oct. 28, the delegation looked at Walmart’s history and regional impact. - Fritz Steiger, founding executive of the Walmart Foundation, presented on Walmart philanthropy and Bentonville. - Vanessa E. Beary, Ed.D., M.Phil., executive director of the American Swiss Foundation, moderated that discussion. - A panel on global supply chains and the future of work featured Nathan Hill of Walmart and Sam's Club at Nestlé USA Inc. and Seth Levey of Glencore. - Nathan George of the ASF Alumni Committee moderated that session. - The delegation also toured The Walmart Museum and Walmart’s Home Office campus. - Workforce development remained a central theme throughout the second day. - The Honorable Mike Rodgers, chief workforce officer for the State of Arkansas, joined a fireside chat on workforce priorities. - The Honorable Stephanie Orman, mayor of Bentonville, joined a conversation on civic leadership and the region’s transformation. - Alison Mathieu of ABB’s NEMA Motors Division and Dr. Ken Warden, commissioner of higher education, discussed apprenticeships, higher education, manufacturing and talent development. - Tom Fetters of The Adecco Group North America joined a session on workforce solutions for a changing economy. - Alison R. Williams of Willco consulting moderated the workforce sessions. - The program ended with a dinner hosted by Gregory Field Price, ASF board member and chair of the ASF Programs Committee. - H.E. Dr. Ralf Heckner, Switzerland’s ambassador to the United States, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson delivered remarks at the dinner.

The details: - The program linked education, healthcare, agriculture, trade, culture and workforce issues to the region’s broader economic story. - Conversations focused on how Northwest Arkansas is blending entrepreneurial heritage with investment in innovation and community institutions. - The agenda included technical education, medical education, whole-person health and manufacturing talent pipelines. - The Walmart-related sessions emphasized the company’s long-running influence on Bentonville and the surrounding economy. - The dinner brought together the delegation and Arkansas leaders for a farm-to-table tasting menu and closing conversation.

Between the lines: - The ASF is using place-based exchange programs to turn abstract ideas about free enterprise and leadership into direct peer learning. - Northwest Arkansas served as a case study for how private companies, civic groups and education providers can shape regional competitiveness. - The focus on workforce and education suggests the most urgent challenge is matching talent systems to a fast-changing economy. - The Swiss angle reflects a broader effort to identify shared lessons between two smaller but globally connected economies.

What's next: - The American Swiss Foundation said programs like this will continue as part of its mission to connect Swiss and American leaders. - The organization plans to keep using dialogue and shared learning to build relationships and identify new areas for collaboration. - Alumni from the foundation’s Young Leaders conferences now number more than 1,800 and remain part of that network.

The bottom line: - The Arkansas visit was both a leadership exchange and a policy tour, with Northwest Arkansas presented as a model for how regional ecosystems can compete globally through institutions, talent and cooperation.