Abby Smith joined Heartland Forward as its Program Manager, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development. Growing up in a small town, community has always been a determining factor in Smith’s career. After graduating from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Social Work, Smith took a role with SOAR Afterschool for five years, where she served at all levels, from Site Director in her first year leading direct, on-the-ground programming to Director of Operations in her final year, leading fundraising efforts and operational functions of the organization. While at SOAR, Abby helped launch and grow a collaborative effort between education partners and the regional community to promote workforce development and 21st-century skills in elementary, middle, and junior high students across Northwest Arkansas and the state at large.

During her final year with the SOAR organization, Abby obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of Arkansas, where she found her passion for macro-level work seeking to address systemic challenges from a holistic, research-based perspective. After a year-long stint as the Community Development Officer for The Bank of Fayetteville’s Northwest Arkansas market, Smith joined Heartland Forward, where she currently serves as the Program Manager for Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development.

In 2023, Smith was awarded by the University of Arkansas’ School of Social Work for Excellence in the Field for her community development work in the region while with SOAR. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Yvonne Richardson Community Center in Fayetteville and is active in philanthropy, serving on multiple fundraising committees for local nonprofits. Abby grew up in the heartland, raised in Northwest Arkansas.