Lorenzo Stephens Named to Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 for Innovation in Hospitality

March 25, 2025
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4 Minute Read
Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 2025 Lorenzo Stephens

MAGNOLIA, AR — Magnolia native Lorenzo Stephens has been named to the prestigious Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 Class of 2025 list for his innovation in the hospitality industry.

The annual list recognizes 40 professionals under the age of 40 who are making a significant impact in business, politics, and community leadership across the state.

Stephens currently serves as the Business Development Manager for Lefty’s and MuleKick, two of Magnolia’s standout restaurants.

 His work spans a wide range of disciplines — from brand strategy and web development to guest experience innovation and data analytics — all rooted in his background in creative design and technology.

“We always get a kick out of it when people ask, ‘What does that guy on the laptop all the time even do?’” says Stephens.

“And honestly, I still don’t know how to answer it. I just know I’m always trying to help us find what’s next — even if we don’t know it exists yet.”

After freelancing in web development, branding, and SEO across the state, he discovered MuleKick during a visit home to Magnolia in 2020.

“I walked into MuleKick right before COVID and remember thinking — what is this place, and what is it doing in Magnolia?

Then I just kept showing up every day until Christy [Ouei] finally reached out to me about a different venture. We stayed there until 3am talking about philosophy, business strategies & things that interested us.

That conversation changed the course of my entire career.”

Since joining the team under owners Christy Ouei and Burt Adams, Stephens has helped lead award-winning efforts — including MuleKick’s recent full rebrand and Lefty’s recognition as Best New Restaurant (2024) and Best Cocktail Lounge (2025).

“Lefty’s and MuleKick are next level because Christy and Burt are next level,” says Stephens.
 
“They’re always pushing the needle, and they allow me to  create with autonomy.  I think having supportive owners that know how to generate & foster creativity – without micromanaging – are as important as the creative ideas themselves.  
 
It’s never about doing things the traditional way — it’s about doing what actually connects with people — and I get to do that because of them.”
 
In his evolving role, Stephens has helped redefine what “business development” looks like in the hospitality world.
 
“To me, business development is everything that touches the guest before they walk in — and everything that stays with them after they leave.”
 
“It’s branding, yes, but it’s also innovating how we serve, communicate, and design experiences that actually matter. Whether that’s using guest data to craft better menus or building systems that make service smoother — I just want to help create the kind of experience you’d expect in Houston or NYC, right here in Magnolia.”
 
Christy Ouei, owner of MuleKick and Lefty’s, credits that mindset with helping take the businesses to new heights.
 
“Lorenzo has a rare combination of creative instinct, analytical depth, and fearless curiosity,” says Ouei.
 
“He doesn’t just think outside the box — he usually figures out how to build a new one. From day one, we’ve trusted him to challenge the way things are done and lead us into what’s next.”
 

That trust — and the freedom to explore beyond traditional roles — has allowed Stephens to grow not just as a strategist, but as a hospitality professional in the truest sense.

“I’ve always been behind a screen. But hospitality is about people — and I’ve come to absolutely love interacting with our guests. Some nights, they’re the ones who give me the energy to keep going. Just being present with them and our staff… that’s where the magic happens.”

 

Being honored alongside statewide leaders — and as one of the only individuals from the restaurant industry — is a moment Stephens says he never expected.

“It means the world to me. I think the only other people from Magnolia to ever make this list are Dr. Jay Franks [Southern Medical Group],  Chris Gosnell, and Monty Harrington. [Farmers Bank & Trust] — local guys that I admire and am lucky enough to call friends. To be included in that company… I’m just truly, truly humbled.”

His message to his hometown is one of possibility and pride.

 

“Let’s continue to embrace and develop the growth of our town. Magnolia has what it takes to become a destination — and we deserve that.”

And as for what’s next?

 
“I want to take our brands to a national stage. We’re doing things that most people wouldn’t expect to see in a small Southern town — and that’s exactly why we’re going to keep going.”

About Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 

Now in its 32nd year, the Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honors outstanding young professionals across Arkansas in business, nonprofit leadership, and public service.

Honorees are selected from more than 500 nominations each year and represent a diverse mix of industries and impact.
For more information on the 40 Under 40 class of 2025, visit arkansasbusiness.com/event/40.

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