Past Speakers

As the Director of the Little Rock Zoo, Susan Altrui serves as a visionary leader for one of Arkansas’s premier attractions, dedicated to wildlife conservation and education. Under her leadership, the Zoo has reached historic milestones, including more than doubling its annual revenue and tripling fundraising efforts. Most notably, Susan secured the largest private donation in the institution's history and successfully spearheaded a $12 million bond for transformative capital investments. Her commitment to excellence ensures that the Zoo maintains the prestigious standards of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums while caring for hundreds of diverse species.

An influential figure in central Arkansas, Susan’s impact extends well beyond the Zoo gates. She currently lends her expertise to the boards of Keep Little Rock Beautiful, the Arkansas Tennis Association, and Wildwood Park for the Arts, and is a former board chair for the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. A lifelong central Arkansan with a Master’s in Communication from Colorado State University and a bachelors in the same from Arkansas State, Susan has been honored as an Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 recipient and awarded the Distinguished Sales & Marketing award by SMEI. Today, she continues to shape the cultural and conservation landscape of her community.

Toni Lindsey serves as the Director of Governmental Affairs and Leadership Arkansas Program Director for the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas. In these roles, she fosters relationships with local chambers, business leaders, and elected officials across Northwest Arkansas and the state, while representing the priorities of the State Chamber and AIA before committees, boards, state agencies, the Governor’s Office, the Arkansas Legislature and in Washington, D.C.

Prior to her current position, Toni spent more nearly 17 years with the University of Arkansas Department of Athletics, where she served as Director of Special Events and Television Show Coordinator for the Head Football and Basketball Coaches’ Shows. During her tenure, she led the planning and execution of numerous high-profile events, including the year-long 100 Years of Razorback Athletics celebration, Tailgate at the Top, Signing Day Arkansas, Rockin’ with the Razorbacks, and the Razorback Football Kickoff Luncheon. She also played a lead role in milestone events such as the 1994 National Championship Basketball Reunion (2009), the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the 1964 National Championship Football Team (2014) and served on the committee for the retirement gala honoring legendary track coach John McDonnell.

Originally from Jacksonville, Arkansas, Toni and her husband, Michael, reside in Bentonville with their son, Thomas Gray—an open-heart surgery warrior who inspires their family daily—and his four-legged best friend, Hee Hee. She is also a proud bonus mom to Bailey, a 2026 Graduate of NYU Law School in New York City, and Amelia, who just completed her first year of graduate school at NYU.

Lisa Carey is an entrepreneur, author, historian, and longtime advocate for the stories and people of Hot Springs and Arkansas.

She is the owner of All Things Arkansas and All Things Natural in downtown Hot Springs and the author of Quartz in Their Veins: A History of Quartz Crystal in the Ouachita Mountains and the Legacy of the Coleman Brothers.

Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree from Trinity University and her master’s degree from the University of Arkansas. She is a 2025 graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.

Her commitment to Arkansas history and small business extends beyond her own work. Lisa serves on the board of the Garland County Historical Society and on the State Advisory Board of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.

Through her businesses, writing, and community involvement, Lisa has made a career of preserving Arkansas stories, supporting Arkansas businesses, and sharing what makes this state—and especially Hot Springs—so distinctive.