Northwest Arkansas Collaboratory

Catherine Gates

Catherine Gates is Vice President of Business Partnerships for Polished Network, a national non-profit that emboldens women in their faith and work. She is the author of The Confidence Cornerstone: A Woman’s Guide to Fearless Leadership. Catherine has contributed to several faith-and-work Bible studies, YouVersion reading plans, and books from other authors including the iWork4Him and sheWorks4Him publications. She is a powerful speaker and frequent podcast contributor.

Catherine is on the steering committee for the National Faith & Work Association (NFWA.org); the board of Ladies of Grace, a women’s prison ministry; and on the Advisory board of Keirus by KJE, a DEI strategy consulting. She is passionate about helping people achieve more of their God-given potential by bringing faith into every area of life.

Jessica Simms

Jessica Simms is a native of New Jersey and a Northwest Arkansas resident. She is the mom of twin girls, Austin and Kendall. Jessica and her girls love to spend time reading and playing outside, especially in the summer!

She is the Partner Success Specialist at Workmatters, a non-profit based in Northwest Arkansas whose mission is to transform the workplace by equipping Christian leaders to integrate their faith at work. She joined the Workmatters team in July of 2021 as the Marketing Manager and transitioned to her current role in May of 2022.

Prior to Workmatters, Jessica was an Assistant Director of Communications for the Razorbacks at the University of Arkansas, where she managed social media accounts, website content, and written collateral for Razorback Softball, Volleyball, Gymnastics, and Women’s Tennis. Jessica also spent multiple years working in collegiate athletic programs. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, and her Master of Education in Sport and Wellness Leadership at Howard Payne University.

Jessica naturally brings harmony to any group and enjoys cultivating the potential in others. Those in her circle would say she has a contagious enthusiasm and is optimistic, hopeful, and fun-loving.

Jessica is a member of Cross Church-Fayetteville, where she was baptized on June 6, 2021. She also serves as a small group leader for 3rd and 4th-grade girls as a part of Cross Kids Ministry. Jessica is also a WiM Collaboratory alumna.