WELCOME TO SOUTHERN PROFESSIONALS INC
WE ARE..
YOUR PARTNER, YOUR PROFESSIONAL SALES TEAM, EXPERTS IN THE VALUE CHANNEL
Our mission is to guide our retailers and manufacturers as they navigate through the purchasing, promotional, and customer service process.
What We Do
We specialize in building new brands and launching private label programs.
Let Us Help You Get your Product In Stores
Southern Professionals, Inc. is a full-service brokerage firm partnering with manufacturers and retailers since 1979. We are a team oriented company that works very closely with our buyers and manufacturers to ensure our clients achieve excellent results and substantial business growth.
Retailers we specialize WITH
Testimonials
Southern Professionals is here to help grow your business. We are passionate about providing the most outstanding service possible and since 1979 we have built our company on strong relationships and providing the best service possible.
Our Team
Bert Blackburn
Bert has three daughters, and his world revolves around them. When he isn't working or with the girls, he tries to exercise in the outdoors. Bert's passion for serving others and providing the best service possible to our clients sets the tone for our entire team. When asked what he loves most about being part of the Southern Professionals team he simply said, "I truly care for our people, I love serving our clients, and I love that we can support organizations who are making a difference in this world.
Waylon Smith
Dr. Hayes Wade
Larry Burris
Larry started dating his wife Peggy in college where he played football and was also a member of the track team. Larry and Peggy have two boys, Wyatt, and Emitt. The family enjoys taking trips around the United States to watch various professional sporting events. Larry has over 25 years of experience in the CPG industry working in manufacturing and is excited to be a member of the Southern Professionals team. His favorite part about Southern Professionals is the family legacy Al and Bobbi started in 1979, which continues to thrive today.
Rick Sailing
Dena Harris
Dena lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, and has two boys, one of whom is in the Navy. She is an avid animal lover and has five dogs, one cat, and a saltwater aquarium. In her spare time, she works with a dog rescue, hence all the dogs. She also loves to play tennis and enjoys quality time outside. Dena has been calling on Walmart and Sam’s for over 25 years and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Southern Professionals family. Over the course of her career, she has held various roles: analytics, category management, marketing, and sales. She is very excited to bring her expertise to the team.
Oriel Jones-Stanley
Rachel Newman
Jodie Peterson
Justine Cruz
In 2020, Justine Cruz and their partner solidified their commitment to each other in the face of global uncertainty. The couple enjoys taking long drives, streaming shows on Netflix, and engaging in karaoke during their downtime.
Professionally, Justine Cruz is distinguished by an expansive understanding of the digital landscape, particularly in Digital Advertising. They have adeptly leveraged this knowledge across various roles, demonstrating versatility and proficiency.
At Southern Professionals, Justine values the collaborative spirit and the supportive culture that prevails. Here, the team works in unison towards shared goals, fostering each other's development, and ensuring superior service to their clients.
Bree Cannon
Bree is from Bentonville, Arkansas where she lives with her spouse and two pets. She loves the vibrant culinary and art scene and enjoys indulging in nature walks across the Northwest Arkansas region. Bree has amassed valuable experience across diverse fields in communications, technology & innovation, merchandising, and marketing during her tenure at Walmart and in non-profit. She is excited to leverage her expertise on the Southern Professionals team to support you and your business!
Hart Pettit
Hart and his wife, Whitney, have been married since 2005 and have a son and a daughter. When he's not traveling for his daughter's dance competitions, he enjoys hunting and fishing with his son. His favorite thing about Southern Professionals is the team's dedication to their customers.
Kate Price
Kate lives in Norfolk, Virginia with her two children and was born and raised in Virginia Beach. She enjoys doing fun projects with the kids, attending local charity events, and going to the beach (of course). Kate comes from the buying side of merchandising and has been involved in various roles and categories at the Navy Exchange and Dollar Tree. She is excited to bring her talent and expertise to the Southern Professionals team!
Andrew Carney
Andrew currently resides in Bentonville, AR. He enjoys football, family and music. The best part of working at Southern Professionals is the collaborative effort to help deliver the best service to the customers and suppliers as well as giving back to the community.
Maura Huddleston Whitney
Maura started her career in specialty retail, developing children’s toys for HearthSong and Magic Cabin. Since then, she spent nearly five years with Family Dollar, honing her merchandising skills as an Associate Merchant in Seasonal and Stationery. Eager to tackle a new challenge, Maura joined BIC, where she spent 2.5 years working with customers across various channels, including pOpshelf, HEB, and Walgreens, dedicating her time to building strong relationships and driving sales.
In her downtime, Maura enjoys life in Norfolk with her husband, Chris, their son, Patrick, and their playful dogs, Lou and Gunner. She’s a family enthusiast who loves being able to get together with her 9 nieces and nephews whenever they have the chance. On the weekends, she’s exploring local trails and enjoying a warm cup of coffee at local cafes.
Hailey Crain
Hailey and her husband Justin have three kids – Jake, Sadie, and Cody. She enjoys spending time with her family, baking, traveling and is very active in her church. A Tennessee girl through & through, she now lives just outside of Nashville. With over 19 years of merchandising experience, she is thrilled to bring her retail knowledge to the Southern Professionals team. What she loves about Southern Professionals is their dedication to their customers. Having witnessed it firsthand, she is excited to continue the legacy and be a part of such an amazing team.
Taylor Licause
Taylor has been married to his wife Courtney since 2014 and is a proud girl dad to three beautiful daughters: Harper, Isabelle and Blakely. His world revolves around his family, but when he’s not with them, you’ll likely find him caring for his ever-growing collection of indoor plants or enjoying time on the water. What Taylor loves most about being a part of the Southern Professionals team is the shared commitment to doing right by people, both clients and community, and delivering a level of service that truly makes a difference.
Andrew Carney
Andrew currently resides in Bentonville, AR. He enjoys football, family and music. The best part of working at Southern Professionals is the collaborative effort to help deliver the best service to the customers and suppliers as well as giving back to the community.
Maura Huddleston Whitney
Maura started her career in specialty retail, developing children’s toys for HearthSong and Magic Cabin. Since then, she spent nearly five years with Family Dollar, honing her merchandising skills as an Associate Merchant in Seasonal and Stationery. Eager to tackle a new challenge, Maura joined BIC, where she spent 2.5 years working with customers across various channels, including pOpshelf, HEB, and Walgreens, dedicating her time to building strong relationships and driving sales.
In her downtime, Maura enjoys life in Norfolk with her husband, Chris, their son, Patrick, and their playful dogs, Lou and Gunner. She’s a family enthusiast who loves being able to get together with her 9 nieces and nephews whenever they have the chance. On the weekends, she’s exploring local trails and enjoying a warm cup of coffee at local cafes.
Hailey Crain
Hailey and her husband Justin have three kids – Jake, Sadie, and Cody. She enjoys spending time with her family, baking, traveling and is very active in her church. A Tennessee girl through & through, she now lives just outside of Nashville. With over 19 years of merchandising experience, she is thrilled to bring her retail knowledge to the Southern Professionals team. What she loves about Southern Professionals is their dedication to their customers. Having witnessed it firsthand, she is excited to continue the legacy and be a part of such an amazing team.
A COMPANY THAT CARES
Our Roots.
Southern Professionals has convenient locations in Bentonville, Arkansas and Atlanta (Woodstock), Georgia to better serve you.