OUR TEAM
THIS IS US...
Our leadership team members have diverse experience and industry intelligence. Collectively we have the knowledge, experience and financial acumen to bring our clients opportunities to grow their business with sound, innovative strategies.
Luke
Chief Executive Officer
Luke began his consulting career with Capgemini Ernst & Young in their St. Louis office, before moving to Northwest Arkansas in 2004. He has held positions at several of the nation’s largest consumer packaged goods companies including the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Ghirardelli Chocolate and Unilever. His many roles within these companies gave him the unique opportunity to develop a diverse skill set, allowing him to gain experience and expertise in logistics, category management, P&L management, strategy, team management and sales.
Luke earned his undergraduate degree from Tulane University before continuing his education at the University of Arkansas where he received a Master of Business Administration from the university’s Sam M. Walton College of Business.
In 2014, Luke’s daughter Sloane passed away, impacting both his personal and professional life. He now volunteers much of his time to other parents coping with child loss, in addition to serving on the Northwest Arkansas American Heart Association Board of Directors. Today, Luke approaches life with passion, enjoying live music, traveling, and going on adventures with his wife, Kimberly, and son, Carson. He is an avid foodie, particularly fond of New Orleans-inspired cuisine, and is an avid participant in the culture of that city, serving as a member of the Mardi Gras krewe.
Tim
Co-Founder
Originally from Olean, New York, Tim relocated to Northwest Arkansas in 2004. He has over 30 years of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, having taken on a variety of roles -- everything from engineering to product development, working supply chain, brand management and sales leadership. Tim earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, and holds an MBA from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Prior to New Nexus Group, he has worked for companies such as Cadbury Beverages, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, and IRI. Tim has been married to his wife Susan for 33 years, and they enjoy live music and outdoor activities such as biking. They have three daughters, Haley, Erin, and Tara.
Nic
Chief Customer Officer
Nic is a 2008 graduate of Indiana University and moved to Northwest Arkansas for his first job at the Walmart Home Office as a buyer trainee in the Shoe Department. Nic held several positions at Walmart and Walmart.com from 2008-2020 including Seasonal Candy Planner, Wine & Spirits Buyer, Frozen Pizza & Breakfast Sr. Buyer, eCommerce Sr. Buyer Floorcare & Large Appliances, Sr. Merchandise Mgr. Home Storage/Floorcare/Large Appliances, and Planning Director for the Home Division. In 2020, Nic left Walmart to pursue a food innovation idea and began working at Happi Foodi as their Vice President of Sales & Business Development. Since Day 1 of being a merchant, Nic is all about putting the customer first and bringing to the market disruptive innovation where it is needed as quickly as possible. When not advocating for the customer, Nic and his wife Olivia enjoy concerts and festivals, traveling to all parts of the world, hiking, golfing, attending the NCAA Final Four every year, and staying busy with their two Miniature Schnauzers, Aikman and Ripley.
Brendon
SVP
Merchandising Operations
Brendon began his retail career with Walmart in 2003, learning the store level complexities as a store support manager while attending college at Henderson State University. This experience opened doors that allowed him to take a leadership position after graduation with BBA Corporation, an industry leading omni channel book company, where he grew from Store Manager to Market Manager, before making the move up to Northwest Arkansas and back to Walmart Home Office in 2014. Brendon’s experience at Walmart spanned across multiple categories within Food, from cookies and crackers to pasta and pasta sauce and many in between. Within merchandising operations Brendon honed his expertise in commodities, managing end-to-end supply chain for some of the largest categories within Dry Grocery, namely shelf stable proteins, coffee, and tea. His experience was further expanded when he gained responsibility for the commercial bread department, mastering the highly complex omni channel supply chain processes for both. After a fulfilling career with Walmart, Brendon sought an opportunity to innovate within food for Happi Foodi as their VP of Customer Supply Chain and Operations. This role allowed disruption with speed to become a natural part of his retail arsenal. After the workday is done, Brendon and his wife Kristin enjoy boating on Beaver Lake, attending concerts, and showing their daughter Kylie the ropes when it comes to negotiation.
Amanda
Senior
Sales Director
Amanda is a 13-year veteran of both Walmart and Sam’s Club, where she was a Merchant for categories ranging from Birdseed to Beer with P&Ls exceeding $2B. Amanda has a customer-obsessed, solution-driven mentality who is an expert in strategic joint business planning, omnichannel product launches, P&L budget management, and vendor negotiations. To diversify her professional experience, Amanda left Walmart in 2021 to join Hormel Foods, where she worked as the Senior Account Executive on the Jennie-O Turkey Store business for the Walmart & Sam's Club account. A native Arkansan, Amanda holds an undergraduate degree in Financial Management from the Sam M. Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas and an MBA from John Brown University. Outside of work, Amanda can be found in the Ozarks Camping–with her Husband, Morgan, young son Graham, and their dog, Hank, or relaxing with a glass of wine while listening to True Crime podcasts.
Steven
Sales
Director
A Little Rock native, Steven Nichols is an analytics and sales professional, with 15 years of experience with Walmart and Sam’s Club. Steven’s expertise is in business development, customer insights, syndicated data and account management. He has lived in Northwest Arkansas for 19 years and has held analytics roles at Walmart, Samsclub.com, and sales roles in the adult beverage category. Steven earned an MBA from University of Arkansas in 2013 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems from the University of Arkansas. He has two young boys, Knox and Lincoln, a daughter named Quinn, and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling. He is also passionate about traveling and is always in pursuit of great music, wine and culinary experiences.
Laura
Senior Sales Manager
e-commerce
Laura is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. After college she started her own business as the owner/designer of Laura Madison Premium Denim, a tall women’s denim line, that she ran for 8 years. She sold her line to boutiques and customers across the US as well as the UK and Australia. She then transitioned to the Sam’s Club Corporate office, working in Club Pickup, on the Jewelry/Apparel dotcom buying team and as a Web Content Producer where she supported all dotcom buying teams. Laura has been supporting suppliers from the broker side since 2020 in the creative space as well as in Account Management. When she isn’t working, she loves watching her daughter, Madison, play volleyball in high school and club. She also loves traveling, swimming, shopping , spending time with family, and the RAZORBACKS!!
Trent
Senior Manager - Merchandising Operations
Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Trent moved to Northwest Arkansas with his family in 2001 and has lived in the area most of his life. In 2011, he attended the University of Arkansas (U of A) to pursue a degree in Marketing Management. While working towards his degree, Trent spent time working for a broker in Rogers where he discovered a passion for Retail Sales. Upon graduating from the U of A, Trent took a position with Domtar Personal Care to support Walmart’s Private Label Diaper and Adult Incontinence business. During those four years at Domtar, Trent developed a strong foundation of Replenishment and Supply Chain Management experience that he continues to develop at New Nexus Group. Outside of the office, Trent has a passion for hockey, pickleball, fishing, live music and spending time with his friends, family, and girlfriend Erica.
Alex
Manager - Merchandising
Operations
Alex moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2002 from Centennial, Colorado and fell in love with the area. He has been married to Maggie, a kindergarten teacher for nine years. They love animals and have three dogs and a cat. Alex is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus in analytics from University of Central Arkansas. Working in supply chain and analytics is his passion. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, playing board games or enjoying a game of basketball or ping pong. He is also a loyal Denver Broncos fan and continues to root for them from Northwest Arkansas.
Karlee
National Account
Manager
Originally from New Braunfels, Texas, Karlee and her husband,Tanner, relocated to Northwest Arkansas in 2017 shortly after they were married. Before joining New Nexus Group, she worked for Tyson in a variety of capacities; as a Deductions Analyst, Senior Supervisor of Accounting and as a sales execution and pricing analyst. Currently, Karlee is pursuing her undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business and expects to graduate in Spring of 2025. Tanner and Karlee live in Centerton with their three children; Braelynn, Maci and Brooks. An interesting thing about Karlee is that she and her husband are beekeepers and have been establishing an apiary on a property they share with their friends. In addition to beekeeping, she has recently added a couple other hobbies to her agenda; gardening and CrossFit. When not working, she enjoys travelling with her family, checking out new restaurants and breweries and is considered an avid Texas A&M fan along with the rest of her family members!
Shari
Director of
Administration
Shari is native to Northwest Arkansas and has experienced the tremendous business growth in the area firsthand. She has been in the supply chain industry for over 12 years and has worked for large companies such as Apex Tool Group and Crane Valves North America. Shari’s finance, supply chain/logistics, and inventory management experience has assisted companies in improving their business operations, increasing sales and profits, and providing the right products to market on time for superior customer service. She studied Business Administration at the University of Arkansas. When away from the office, Shari is an artist and exhibitor and enjoys all the local art presentations and events. Growing up on Beaver Lake, Shari and her family spend time boating, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors.
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Nilu
Sales and
Office Coordinator
Originally from Tehran, Iran, Nilu relocated to Northwest Arkansas in 2000 and has since has since made the area her home. With over 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Nilu has served as a Licensed Optician and Director of Product Sales in the Ophthalmology industry. She is known for her exceptional leadership skills, effective management style, and strategic planning abilities, which have consistently driven her teams to success. Nilu has successfully spearheaded the development and launch of a private label eyewear brand, leveraging her strong relationships with key suppliers. Beyond her professional achievements, Nilu is passionate about plants, especially succulents, and is skilled in creating stunning succulent arrangements. She also enjoys boating on Beaver Lake with her husband and two children, attending concerts, and exploring new travel destinations.