1. NOVEMBER 2016
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alsoPROFILE: Meet Tina Winham,
a role model for women
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P ROFIL E | BY GL ENDA GRAVES | PORTRAIT PHOTOS BY K ERRI M CM AHON
22 | CITISCAPES • NOVEMBER 2016

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TINA WINHAM
A ROLE MODEL
FOR WOMENSometimes it’s positive events in a
person’s childhood that steer them to
greatness as adults, but then sometimes
it’s a negative event or memory that
pushes people to do better when they
are grown. For Tina Winham of Rogers,
it was the latter. “I did not have a lot
of strong women role models as a
child,” she explains. “In my household,
women did not have value.” But when
she left home in Gravette to attend
college at the University of Arkansas,
she began to see that what she had
known her whole life was not the
norm. “And that is when I realized that
I control my own destiny. That I was
able to do whatever I wanted
to do with my life.”

4. 24 | CITISCAPES • NOVEMBER 2016
P ROFIL E
fter only two years in college,
Tina made the decision to take
a job with Cott Beverages, a
supplier. “I dropped out of
school to take that job but it was like
winning the lottery for me,” she says. “The
fact that I had a chance to start a career
was amazing. I was hired for an entry-level
position, but then went through about eight
different roles within the company. I had
such wonderful mentors.” After working
for 14 years, Tina made the decision to go
back to college and finish her degree.
In the meantime, she met someone who
would be a very important part of her
future. “I met Jeff Winham through mutual
friends 18 years ago,” she says. “I was still
in the process of figuring me out. And
he was the opposite of what I ever knew
growing up. He totally supports me in
every way.” They married and had a little
girl they named Lexy, who is now 16 and
attends Haas Hall Academy. Tina says, “I
make sure to tell her every single day how
smart and beautiful she is, always leading
with the smart. I push her to broaden her
mindset and make sure that I’m not just
telling her she can do or be anything, but
showing her.”
In 2003, while looking for training
opportunities when she was still working
with Cott, Tina first heard about the Junior
League of Northwest Arkansas. “I heard
their focus was domestic violence and I
wanted to get involved. I talked a friend
into joining with me. I was so nervous
about it because I’m pretty introverted,” she
says. While serving on the Junior League,
Tina says something really special started
to take place. “I was growing and didn’t
even realize it. Something about being
involved with the Junior League was very
empowering for me.”
While working with the Junior League,
Tina was asked to serve on the board of
directors for the Northwest Arkansas
Women’s Shelter. “I remember getting into
my car one night after a board meeting and
just crying. I couldn’t believe that I could
really help people who were going through
that. Although I may not have experienced
physical abuse while I was growing up, I
had seen my fair share of mental abuse and
knew what that could do to women.” She
has served on that board for 10 years now,
making a huge impact on the organization.
She helped implement programs to teach
about healthy relationships in local schools
and she also helped develop transitional
housing initiatives for the shelter.
10Things
toKnow
AboutTina
1. The proudest moment
in my life has been
becoming a mother.
2. The one convenience I would like to do without is 24/7
access (email, text, etc.), taking a break from technology
once in a while is necessary for our sanity.
3. If I didn’t live in Arkansas, I would live in New York City!
4. My friends would say that my worst habit is
double-booking!
5. My favorite vacation spot is Hawaii…or any beach spot.
6. I keep books on my nightstand, right now I’m reading
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.
7. When I want to unwind, I spend time with friends.
8. Every day I remember and appreciate how lucky I am
to have great family and friends and be a part of our
Northwest Arkansas community.
9. I think people would be surprised to know that I’m
an introvert.
10. My favorite food is…anything I don’t have to make!
Tina (seated, center), the 2015 president of the Junior League
of Northwest Arkansas, with that year’s board members.
A

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Tina has served in a number of
leadership roles for the Junior League of
Northwest Arkansas, including immediate
past president, membership vice president,
communication vice president, new member
chair and several ad hoc committees. She
is completely committed to her community
and continues to focus on anything that
can empower women and children to reach
their potential. She seems to have something
burning within her that keeps her focused on
her goals to help others. She says, “I believe
it’s so important to make changes within our
community that allow us to provide strong
role models for our young women.”
Tina has become one of those strong role
models for women. She was recognized
in 2011 by the Northwest Arkansas Business
Journal as one of the 40 Under 40. As it is
with most treasures, she was not hidden
for long. This summer, the Association of
Junior Leagues International announced
that Tina was named at-large director for
the board of directors. She is the first
woman from Arkansas to ever serve on the
international board.
Tina began her term in June of this year.
The meetings take place every other month in
locations all over the globe, with a conference
call on the off months. “Right now we are
researching women’s issues around the globe
and looking for shared issues that we can use
to rally all of the leagues around the world,”
she says. “The purpose of the Junior League
is to meet a need within a community, and
those needs may be different all around the
world, but there has to be something that is
common, something that we can change. We
have 150,000 members. I have to believe that
it is possible and we are powerful and can
improve the lives of women.”
Right now Tina is running full steam
ahead. She works a full-time job, is working
on her MBA and is continuing with her
commitments to the community. When
asked how she balances it all, she says, “You
just make the most of the time you have
available. I jump from one thing to the next.
I don’t have a lot of down time, but I don’t
mind it because I love my life. If you find
something you are really passionate about,
it is not really work. It becomes a purpose
and a part of who you are and you don’t
need a break.” It helps that her husband is
especially supportive. “He understands how
I grew up and knows why I have a desire to
be involved in women and children’s issues,”
she says.
Tina’s life could have taken many different
turns, but she took control of her destiny and
now can be proud of the person she has
become. And it’s not just her own life. She is
changing lives for women around the globe,
making a true difference and being a strong
role model for women near and far. ■