Bentonville, AR - Don Soderquist was recently elected to Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation (NWACF) Board of Directors. Soderquist is the retired Senior Vice Chairman of Wal-Mart Stores.

"NWACF is pleased to have Don Soderquist bring his talent and leadership experience to our board. He is well known for being able to make organizations grow and expand their visions," stated Gene Groseclos, Chair of NWACF.

In 1980, Soderquist joined Wal-Mart Stores as Executive Vice President and served in several other executive positions until his appointment in early 1988 to Vice Chairman and Chief Operating officer. In January, 1999, he was promoted to Senior Vice Chairman of the corporation. Prior to his joining Wal-Mart, Soderquist served sixteen years with Ben Franklin, including six years as President and Chief Executive Officer.

Education includes a BA degree in Business Administration in 1955 from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. In 1990, he received the Outstanding Business leader Award from Northwood Institute in Palm Beach, Florida. Soderquist was inducted into the Retailing Hall of Fame in 1996. He has also received Honorary Doctors Degrees from the following institutions: Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri; John Brown University in Siloam Springs; and Judson College in Elgin, Illinois.

Soderquist continues to serve in leadership roles on the boards for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., International Mass Retail Association, ARVEST Bank in Rogers, and ServiceMaster, Inc. He created the Soderquist Center for Business Leadership and Ethics in 1999 at John Brown University and also serves on their Board of Trustees.

NWACF was founded in 1998 as the Community Foundation of Bentonville, Bella Vista. In November, 1999, its purpose was expanded to include all of northwest Arkansas, and to serve as the lead public foundation operated in connection with CommunityCare Foundation, Inc.