HSWLA's APRIL GUEST SPEAKER
Heather Baker PRESIDENT / PUBLISHER AY MEDIA GROUP
Join us April 10, 2025!
Heather Baker
PRESIDENT / PUBLISHER AY MEDIA GROUP
Veteran publishing executive and businesswoman Heather Baker boasts more than 25 years of experience in the publishing industry, building her career on the born-in Arkansas attributes of hard work, vision and the drive to succeed in a male-dominated industry.
A native of Little Rock, Baker showed an entrepreneurial streak from a young age. After graduating from Jacksonville High School, she headed to the University of Arkansas where she turned her passion for cars into her first publication, Arkansas AutoBuyer. This drew the blueprint for every publication that she would create in the years to come, including the outdoors-focused Arkansas Wild and Savvy Kids family magazine, published by the Arkansas Times.
In her current role of President and Publisher at AY Media Group, a multimedia firm based in Little Rock, Baker has demonstrated the full measure of her expertise and business intuition. The company publishes the flagship publication on Arkansas lifestyle, AY About You and Arkansas Money & Politics, highlighting business and policy making in the Natural State. Baker also publishes the annual Mental Health Guide of Arkansas which examines important issues concerning mental illness, treatment options, addiction, suicide, recovery and other elements of great importance to the families of Arkansas.
Under her guidance and leadership, AY Media Group has grown to elite status in media circles both in the local market and nationally. She’s augmented this success with her broadcast work, including gracing the screen at Little Rock’s THV11 and through current collaborations with KARK, FOX16 and 103.7 the Buzz.
A mother of two, Baker has also shown leadership in the effort to make Arkansas communities safer. In 2022, after narrowly escaping an attempted carjacking, she turned the harrowing experience into untiring advocacy for victims of violence through various platforms, including working with the Arkansas legislature and members of Congress. Her passion for the cause led her to work with the nonprofit Women’s Own Worth for which she was honored as Woman of the Year in 2019 and in 2023 for outstanding dedication toward violence awareness.
Other important charitable service includes five years as a state board member for Junior Achievement of Arkansas, during which time she served as honorary chair for the 2023 Legacy Award Business Luncheon; a four-year American Heart Association Circle of Red honoree and 2024 honorary chair of the American Heart Association’s Central Arkansas Go Red for Women movement; and chair of the 2024 Delta Diamond Chef gala, to be held in October.
Her status as an influencer, combined with her vibrant personality, has made Baker a sought-after emcee, judge and media personality. A short list of her emcee work includes the 2013 Children’s Tumor Foundation’s Dancing With Our Stars, which helped raise $100,000; last year’s Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas Woman of Inspiration event honoring Danyelle Musselman which set a record for funds raised; and the 2024 ALS in Wonderland gala, A World of Pure Imagination, promoting awareness for the cause. Earlier this year, she also co-emceed JA’s Legacy Award Gala, honoring Walmart CEO Doug McMillon’s induction to the organization’s Hall of Fame.
For every hour she commits in support of public events, there are dozens more spent behind the scenes in service to causes great and small including Project Zero, Ronald McDonald House, 20th Century Club, Wolfe Street Foundation, Second Chance Youth Ranch, Hunger Relief Alliance and other groups too numerous to mention.
Heather Baker’s dedication, accomplishment and community involvement make her a true role model for women in business and an inspiration to all.
About HSWLA
MISSION
The Mission of the Hot Springs Women's Leadership Alliance is to bring together a diverse group of women leaders to collaborate and encourage each other through mentorship, education, and support.
Objectives:
- Build and foster a community of successful and influential women within our community.
- Encourage professional growth through leadership, education, and support.
- Build relationships and encourage mentorship from within the organization.
- Raise positive awareness about our members and their potential within our community.
- Recognize and nominate women leaders for awards and acknowledgements.
- Keep members top of mind for committees, advisory boards, and positions of influence.
- Provide information on resources to support women owned businesses.
- Community engagement and non-political advocacy for topics selected by the members.
- Identify and encourage young women of promise.
- Serve as role models within our community.
