Ouachita Stories

magazine

Alumni profile: Mitch Bettis (’90)

Problem-solver, people-builder

May 15, 2019 - Rachel Gaddis

In seventh grade, Mitch Bettis discovered the world of publications as a paper boy for Arkadelphia’s newspaper, the Siftings-Herald.

“I loved everything about it,” Bettis said. “I loved the fact that, a couple of hours ago, there was nothing. Now, there were words and photos; it was a tangible product.”

As president and CEO of Arkansas Business Publishing Group (ABPG) in Little Rock, Bettis directs the creation and sales efforts of more than 30 of Arkansas’ top weekly, monthly, semiannual and annual publications, including Arkansas Business, Little Rock Soirée, Arkansas Bride, Little Rock Family and others. He purchased the company this spring after serving six years as president and previously as general manager and publisher of Arkansas Business.

“On a practical level, I’m just a problem-solver,” he said. “I remove obstacles for our team, and we are helping our readers solve problems. But the joy, for me, is that we get to do those things, and we get to create a meaningful product. We get to change people’s lives: our readers get something they haven’t read before, and we help our advertisers be more successful. I think that’s a noble and wonderful place to be in business.”

With experience as an advertiser, editor, marketer and publisher for a handful of newspapers and magazines in Arkansas, Louisiana and Colorado, Bettis has led ABPG publications to several consecutive years of growth, even in a challenging media environment.

Bettis traces his business – and service – mindset all the way back to his Ouachita experience; specifically, to his professors and mentors like Dr. Bill Downs, and continues to give back to students as a member of the Hickingbotham School of Business Executive Advisory Board.

“But really, his influence on our program and our students predates this service by many years,” noted Bryan McKinney, dean of the Hickingbotham School. “He has always given time to students seeking career advice. And he has hired a tremendous number of Ouachita students over the years. And each time, he takes a personal interest in these graduates’ development as people and professionals. Every school needs a Mitch Bettis. I’m thankful for him.”

The impression that Downs made affected Bettis’ professional life “as a manager of people.” Downs was not only a man of faith and compassion, Bettis said, but he also offered feedback – and much of his time – to his students.

“What both of those things taught me is that we can have high expectations of others, we can rise, we can do more and we can do better,” Bettis said. “And, we can do it with our faith.”

“I had the benefit of teaching at Ouachita for one year,” Bettis continued, “but I look at what I do on a daily basis in this company as a teaching moment, as a teaching exercise. For me, it’s about making everyone better, giving them opportunities to do better while doing quality work, and being a service to our clients and readers.”